Professor presents research on driving under the influence of Cannabis
“You all must be here for the free samples,” joked Ari Kirshenbaum, St. Michael’s professor of psychology. Through Kirshenbaum’s research, he discovered that the effects of cannabis on a driver operating a vehicle is no laughing matter. The McCarthy Arts Recital Hall was busy and lively, with over
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At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the School of Pharmacy decided that informing students on the history of marijuana, a drug that is currently illegal in the state of Wisconsin, is valuable knowledge to educate students on before they enter the workforce Lucas Richert, an associate professor
Smoking Cannabis versus Edibles: Is one better for the brain?
Each way of consumption has a high that kicks in a little differently and comes with its own set of pluses and minuses. Everyone who enjoys cannabis has their preferred method of consumption, from vaping to eating, drinking and even good old-fashioned smoking. Each way of consumption has a high that
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OXFORD - Oxford City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night allowing for medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within the city. However, council members added two provisions to the ordinance, one of which tightens up the requirements for setting up operations and the other earmarking any tax
CannaVerse aims to be at the forefront of this movement by offering an all-encompassing hub for people who want to get involved with cannabis or are already part of the industry — called Cannaland.
Created by CannaVerse, Cannaland is the world's first cannabis-themed metaverse that features a dedicated business-to-business (B2B) strategy in addition to its business-to-consumer (B2C) services. Unlike other players who singularly focus on the consumer experience, Cannaland has been designed to help both consumers and businesses make the most out of the budding cannabis industry.
Cannaland also strives to dispel the traditional boundaries and constraints that blunt the potential of the cannabis industry. Its solution? One unified ecosystem to empower cultivation, extraction, consumption, community, infrastructure, globalization and so much more for consumers and businesses alike — all through the virtual frontier!
It's not always easy to weed out the good from the bad, but when it comes to Cannaland, it's an unmistakable virtual paradise for cannabis enthusiasts. It’s the world's first dedicated platform for cannabis enthusiasts and canna-curious people to come together in the digital world from the comfort of their homes.
Cannaland will be a platform for users to socialize, collaborate and transact — all in a single place. Not only that, but Cannaland will offer virtual experiences that will let users experience the world of cannabis like never before. Interactive concerts, comedy shows, festivals and sports events are just a few examples of how Cannaland plans to reward cannabis enthusiasts.
Through Kirshenbaum’s research, he discovered that the effects of cannabis on a driver operating a vehicle is no laughing matter.
The McCarthy Arts Recital Hall was busy and lively, with over 40 attendees filling the auditorium for Kirshenbaum’s presentation of “Weed and the Wheel.” Among many notable awards and publications, he also receives funding from the National Health and Science Foundations for his research.
Throughout his presentation, Kirshenbaum explained how cannabis affects people, especially when driving cars. He also discussed the decriminalization of cannabis in Vermont, as recreational dispensaries in Vermont opened in the state on Oct. 1.
Kirshenbaum quotes the actor Bill Murray’s famous quote on the decriminalization of the drug, “I find it quite ironic that the most dangerous thing about weed is getting caught with it.” He noted that critical thinking is crucial when encountering quotes like these. Cannabis is dangerous, but there are legal drugs that are far more harmful. What Kirshenbaum believes is that there is a lack of knowledge of the addictive nature of weed. “People don’t have an accurate understanding of the risks. Many people misunderstand the differences between fact and opinion when dealing with the effects of cannabis,” Kirshenbaum said. He hopes that one day “smoking and driving becomes as taboo as drinking and driving.”
Kirshenbaum’s work focuses on the ability to detect if a driver is impaired after smoking weed. He created an app called Indicator. The app is a series of games, mainly reaction based, that determine how cannabis affects the user’s cognition.
As of today, 19 U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana and as many as half of all young adults in the country have used cannabis. With the stigma around recreational use crumbling, it’s important to talk about the mental-health consequences of marijuana use.
The main psychoactive cannabinoids found in marijuana, THC and CBD, are intoxicants. These compounds interact with your brain and body chemistry in complex ways to induce feelings of pleasure, relief, and well-being. Along with its positive effects, marijuana can also stir up negative feelings like anxiety and paranoia.
Moderation is the key to maintaining a healthy relationship with marijuana. Consider these 3 false but widely-held myths you need to stop believing to have a healthy relationship with marijuana.
The science is conclusive: The THC concentration in marijuana is on the rise. A recent study published in The Lancet found that this increase in potency brings a slew of serious mental health risks for marijuana users. The study revealed that high-potency cannabis use was associated with a fourfold increase in the likelihood of addiction when compared to low-potency cannabis use. The research is in line with real-world trends in cannabis addiction treatment, which, in the past decade, has seen a 76% increase. According to CDC estimates, around 30% of all marijuana users in the U.S. meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder.
In addition, those who use high-potency cannabis were found to be at higher risk for developing cannabis-induced psychosis, a serious mental health condition characterized by hallucinations and delusions.
In the first few months, lots of people have opened weed dispensaries, and their customers have smoked a lot of weed.
Thailand’s marijuana industry has a joyful, freewheeling vibe on a street level. Some dispensaries offer workshops on rolling joints and brewing “weed tea.” Next week, one is holding “yoga on high” class; the ticket price includes a joint, a beverage, a snack and a yoga mat rental.
“It’s good because you can just go out and buy it whenever you want,” said Ak Sudasna, 50, who owns a real estate company in Bangkok and typically purchases about 40 grams of marijuana per month, for about $15 a gram, from shops near his home.
“It’s nice for the tourists,” he added. “It’s nice for the country.”
But the high times may not last. Sprawling draft legislation, which is expected to move through parliament in the coming weeks, will seek to regulate legal gray areas around the cultivation, sale and consumption of the drug. It could become law as early as next year.
Everyone who enjoys cannabis has their preferred method of consumption, from vaping to eating, drinking and even good old-fashioned smoking.
Each way of consumption has a high that kicks in a little differently and comes with its own unique set of pluses and minuses.
While many of the pros and cons associated with how a person consumes weed are minor, others are a bit more substantial.
In fact, the way in which marijuana is consumed can even affect how healthy (or unhealthy) the substance is for one’s body — even the brain. After all, all the organs that interact with THC eventually lead to the brain in one way or another.
When it comes to eating or smoking weed, which is better for brain health?
In addition to demonstrating therapeutic efficacy and pain relief, the objective is to provide credible, reliable, and verifiable data to the relevant authorities to regulate the availability of medicinal cannabis.
A global crisis continues to arise as a result of opioid misuse, which is responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
Overdose deaths from drugs in the United States numbered 91,799 in 2020, with opioids accounting for 68,630 (74.8%). According to estimates by the World Health Organization focused on opioid overdose, approximately 115,000 people died of opioid overdose in 2017.
Medications such as morphine, fentanyl, and tramadol are commonly used as opioid pain relievers.
The WHO further states that it is possible to become dependent on opioids if non-medical use, prolonged use, misuse, and use without medical supervision are involved. Overdoses caused by opioids can be fatal due to their pharmacological effects.
On 19th October, key aspects of Germany’s plans to legalise cannabis were leaked, sparking widespread discussion regarding the direction of the final paper and the efficacy of the plans.
The Federal Cabinet has since decided on the key points of the law and presented them at a federal press conference. If successful the new law would allow possession of cannabis up to 30g for personal use, the home cultivation of up to 3 plants and the sale of the drug via licensed shops and pharmacies.
Of course, sale and possession are only permitted for those over the age of 18, with the government considering an upper limit on the THC content of products sold to under 21s. There would also be a complete ban on advertising, as well as a graduated tax based on THC levels.
It was rumoured that the plans could come into force as early as next year, however Burkhard Blienert, Federal Drug and Addiction Commissioner, stated it would be unlikely for cannabis to be legalised before 2024 at the earliest.
The Federal Health Minister has already warned that this is not yet a breakthrough for German drug policy, as concerns have been raised as to whether the plans for legalisation can be enforced at all. Numerous lawyers have pointed out that the way Germany has planned to legalise cannabis would violate various UN agreements and, most importantly, European law.
Everyone who enjoys marijuana has their preferred method of consumption. In these advanced and semi-legal times, that can be anything from vaporizing to eating to drinking or even good old fashioned smoking. Each way of consumption has a high that kicks in a little differently and comes with its unique set of benefits and downsides.
While many of the pros and cons associated with how you consume your weed are minor and superficial, others are a bit more serious. In fact, the way you consume your marijuana can even affect how healthy (or unhealthy) the substance is for your body — even your brain. After all, all the organs that interact with THC eventually lead to the brain in one way or another. When it comes to eating or smoking your weed, which is better for your brain health?
People prefer smoking weed instead of eating it for many reasons, but one of the main ones is the speed in which weed hits you when you smoke versus when you eat it. As we previously reported, smoking weed kicks in much faster than edibles. This not only allows you to get high quicker (which is often the goal), but it also prevents you from consuming too much THC at once. It is much easier to control your dosage and prevent overdoing it, which is great since overdoing it can have negative effects on the brain, including memory issues and paranoia.
Smoking weed, however, can do some real damage to your lungs. As we previously reported, cannabis can cause all sorts of lung issues over time. While these lung issues might seem bad enough to steer you towards a different consumption method, there is also evidence that suggests poor lung health can even affect your brain. According to the book An Overview and Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions, “Lung disease and impaired lung function were associated with greater risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment through both Alzheimer’s disease and cerebrovascular aetiologies.”
While it might be easier to dose and get high quickly, the potentially compounding health issues with consistently smoking your weed might be why many consumers prefer to eat their THC.
Lawmakers already approved legislation this year to take steps to implement recreational marijuana with voter approval, but the General Assembly left matters of licensing and taxes for lawmakers to decide next year.
The constitutional amendment states that recreational marijuana would not be legal until July 2023 for people 21 and over. If voters approve, the law includes provisions spelling out a transitional period between Jan. 1 and July 1 that would include a fine of up to $100 for possession of marijuana of under an ounce and a half.
In addition, legislation will remove criminal penalties for up to 2.5 ounces and create a civil citation. Existing laws on marijuana possession would apply to possession of more than 2.5 ounces.
It also makes changes in criminal law and creates a process for expungement of past marijuana possession convictions.
Starting Jan. 1, a person who is convicted of possession of cannabis may file a petition for expungement after the completion of the sentence and probation. By July 1, 2024, the state’s department of corrections would be required to expunge all cases in which the possession of cannabis is the only charge in the case, and if the charge was issued before July 1, 2023.
When Colorado voters legalized use, possession and sale of small amounts of marijuana 10 years ago, they faced a lot of unknowns.
“A great experiment,” is what legalization skeptic-turned-believer John Hickenlooper, who was the state’s governor a decade ago and is now a U.S. senator, has called it.
But how has that experiment turned out? Have the promises been kept? Have the fears of legalization opponents been borne out?When the blue book, the nonpartisan voter guide, was distributed to voters in 2012, it contained three arguments for legalization and three arguments against. Here we take those arguments directly from the blue book and break them down to see what happened and what didn’t.
Arguments For
1) Current state policies that criminalize marijuana fail to prevent its use and availability and have contributed to an underground market. By creating a framework for marijuana to be legal, taxed, and regulated under state law, Amendment 64 provides a new direction for the state.
BERLIN - Germany’s health minister unveiled a plan late last month to decriminalize the possession of up to 30 grams (about 1 ounce) of cannabis and to allow the sale of the substance to adults for recreational purposes in a controlled market.
Berlin will check with the European Union’s executive commission whether the plan approved by the German government is in line with EU laws and would proceed with legislation “on this basis” only if it gets the green light, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.
Lauterbach said the new rules could serve as “a model for Europe.” Realistically, they won’t take effect before 2024, he said.
The plan calls for cannabis to be grown under license and sold to adults at licensed outlets to combat the black market, Lauterbach said. Individuals would be allowed to grow up to three plants, and to buy or possess 20 to 30 grams of marijuana.
If the legislation comes as planned, “this would be, on the one hand, the most liberal cannabis legalization project in Europe, and on the other hand it would also be the most tightly regulated market,” Lauterbach said.
Advocates are calling for an expansion of President Joe Biden’s cannabis pardon, specifically, one that includes immigrants who have been deported because of these types of offences.
Biden’s pardons affect almost 6,500 Americans. Still, they only affect U.S. residents and citizens.
ABC News reports more than 130 advocacy groups are planning on collaborating on a letter to Biden, asking him to expand the pardons and include refugees, asylum seekers and visa holders with cannabis convictions.
“Moving forward, we urge you to ensure that every step taken to remedy racial injustice includes relief to impacted immigrant communities,” notes a draft of the letter. “In particular, we urge you to extend protection to all immigrants, regardless of immigration status, and to take necessary steps to ensure that immigrants do not suffer negative immigration consequences from marijuana convictions.”
Per the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, over 48,000 immigrants were deported for cannabis possession between 2003 and 2020.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has made it clear that cannabis is a topic that’s been avidly discussed by members of Congress. Schumer suggests that soon there will be a bill addressing topics such as banking and the expungement of prior weed convictions.
His statements were made during a recent debate with his Republican opponent Joe Pinion. Schumer was asked specifically about the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act, commonly called the SAFE Banking Act.
“I am working in a bipartisan way with Democrats and Republicans to take the SAFE Banking Act, which allows financial institutions to involve themselves in cannabis companies and lend money to them — but it also does some things for justice, such as expunging a record,” Schumer said.
He also talked about expunging records and how important it was to act quickly. “I’m working with a bunch of Republican senators, a bunch of Democratic senators, to get something passed,” he said.
Pinion had a different outlook on cannabis, talking about the high levels of THC and how these are dangerous and different than in years past.
Investigators affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School assessed children’s perceptions of marijuana-related harms over three years in states with and without legal cannabis marketplaces.
They determined that “individual child-level characteristics, rather than state policy,” contribute primarily to young people’s attitudes toward cannabis.
“There was no significant main effect of state RCLs [recreational cannabis laws] on perceived risk of cannabis use, and no differences in change over time by state RCLs,” researchers reported.
They concluded, “This analysis indicates that state-level RCLs are not associated with differential perception of cannabis risk among children.”
The study’s conclusions are consistent with those of numerous others, finding that adult-use regulations are not associated with increased marijuana use or access among young people.
Recreational legalization has reached 19 states, with more than two-thirds of adults supporting some level of legalization, regulation, or taxation of cannabis. While federal legalization is closer than ever, top litigators who specialize in cannabis face a multitude of challenging regulations and gray areas in mitigating cases.
In an ever-evolving, maturing industry, change is a constant that requires companies and leaders to remain adaptable—especially in preparation for the post-prohibition era.
With cannabis steadily becoming easier to purchase legally, federal legalization may seem to lose its urgency in the eyes of the average consumer. However, legalization is essential for the growth and health of the industry as a whole, allowing for national safety standards, organic labeling, medical research, healthcare coverage of cannabis, and much more.
Regardless of the many positive impacts, legalization will alter the cannabis environment around the country. The federal government will earn revenue on cannabis taxes, yet rising taxes have forced many operators into financial hardships. From a regulatory standpoint, legalization and federal oversight of safety would stifle some anti-cannabis sentiment and boost trust in products. Interstate commerce of cannabis will allow flexibility in where businesses cultivate, manufacture, and more. Incredible potential exists for the post-legalization landscape—though not without challenges.
"Federal cannabis legalization remains a high priority for the industry, yet many operators fail to consider the depth and breadth of changes that will take place once that goal is achieved," said Kathee Brewer, editorial director at Inc Media, parent company of award-winning trade journal mg Magazine. "While nationwide safety standards and economies of scale most likely will be positive, other evolutions—like additional taxes, industry consolidation, and competition from corporate giants in the consumer packaged goods space—could produce unwelcome stress. Business leaders need to be ready for a number of potential scenarios, which makes planning for the future challenging."
Saint Michael’s College psychology Professor Ari Kirshenbaum has been researching the effects of cannabis on a person while driving. He presented his findings Thursday at a seminar on campus called Weed and the Wheel.
“Is weed addictive?” Kirshenbaum said. “Does weed impair driving skills? The answer to those questions is unequivocally yes.”
With help from a National Science Foundation grant, Kirshenbaum built as mobile app that helps build data on cannabis-related impairment. The app, which has about 1,000 users, has determined that decision making skills deteriorate by 33 percent while on cannabis and that the effects can last up to five hours after use.
According to the Vermont Health Department, THC has been detected in 23 percent of drivers in fatal crashes since 2017. Kirshenbaum said there is a reason why there are no reliable ways for law enforcement to measure THC levels in drivers.
“It’s because there is no linear relationship between concentration in your bloodstream and impairment,” he said.
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