WeedLife News Network

Parents encouraged to talk to their kids early and often to prevent substance abuse.

SAN DIEGO - San Diego health officials last week highlighted the mental health-related risks of marijuana, particularly frequent use of high-potency cannabis among youth.

The potency of cannabis — measured by the amount of THC found in products — has been on the rise for years, with a roughly 0.20 percent increase every year from 1970 to 2017, according to a study published by the Society for the Study of Addiction. THC is the chemical that gives cannabis its effect.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which cites various studies, regular use of marijuana, especially high-potency cannabis, is a risk factor for psychosis and mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.

Among youth, the risk is greater.

It’s for this reason that officials with Family Health Centers of San Diego, Scripps Mercy Hospital and Marijuana Prevention Initiative urged parents last week to talk to their children early and often about the risks. The Marijuana Prevention Initiative held a news conference Thursday at the City Heights Family Health Center.

Cannabis is often marketed and presented as a less problematic drug than its contemporaries alcohol and tobacco.

However, just like everything else in this world, there is a risk associated with cannabis use.

Lucky for you, dear reader, there are ways to mitigate this risk while still partaking.

In a new review of previous studies published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, scientists have created general guidelines for lower-risk cannabis use. 

The article contains 12 recommendations, but there are a few major, actionable guidelines: Delay cannabis use until adulthood, avoid high-potency THC products, use infrequently, abstain from inhalation methods and refrain from driving high. 

First is waiting until adulthood. Luckily, you have confirmed you’re at least 21 to enter this section, so you’re at much lower risk than adolescents for cannabis use. Cannabis use prior to the completion of puberty is associated with “adverse health and psycho-social effects, especially in those who engage in intensive use,” according to the study.

While societal rules are changing, people’s personal norms aren’t because if it’s acceptable to smoke weed outside, how do parents set ground rules at home?

As of the time of writing, 18 states and the District of Columbia have already legalized marijuana for recreational use. A majority of US states have also approved it for medicinal use. In these areas, it’s legal for adults over the age of 18 — parents included — to consume marijuana the way they would a bottle of beer.

However, the stigma is still there. The cultural bias can still be astounding especially for parents who need marijuana the most. Each state has its own specific laws regarding cannabis use though in many cases, it’s far too easy to charge a parent for endangerment or even child neglect if they consume marijuana and others suspect that their children are being put at risk.

While we’re living in terrific times — legal marijuana and all — parents must still think carefully and strategize around cannabis consumption. Whether or not your cannabis use puts your child at risk, it will depend on many things such as how conservative your social circle is, whether you act impaired around your child or not, and what your lawyer thinks.

Unfortunately, there are many gray areas still at this time when it comes to parenting, child safety, and marijuana use.

There are many parents who have no problem consuming responsibly. After all, what ‘harm’ is being done when you smoke a few puffs when your kid is in bed? Then there again, there are also those who abuse it, and they give the rest of the responsible parents a bad rap.

The dispensary will be rolling into Fort Worth Oct. 8 and Dallas Oct 10.

Though the cannabis legalization movement in the U.S. has spawned plenty of "bud and breakfasts" and weed-friendly, budget hotels, a handful of boutique hoteliers are targeting the high-end cannabis traveler - no pun intended.

Expansion at the sector's more premium end comes as the number of Americans interested in cannabis-related travel has swelled, according to Brian Applegarth, founder of the Cannabis Travel Association and Cultivar Brands, a strategic marketing agency specializing in the cannabis industry.

In early 2020, just prior to the pandemic, Cultivar partnered with MMGY Travel Intelligence to analyze the burgeoning cannabis traveler segment. They discovered that 29% of all active leisure travelers in the U.S. could be identified as being part of a growing "cannabis-motivated travel audience."

Findings from a recent pandemic-era survey, released this summer, indicate that the size of that audience has increased to 37% of all active leisure travelers, with Gen Z and millennial travelers, in particular, reporting overwhelming interest in engaging in at least one cannabis-related activity while on vacation.

"There's also this sophisticated kind of connoisseur" that's emerging, said Applegarth. "And the data shows, if you look at the median and mean household incomes, the cannabis-interested audience has a very compelling profile when it comes to disposable income."

California leads the way

The trend is being led by properties in California, both an early adopter of relaxed marijuana laws and the nation's top grower of cannabis.

BOISE - Starting Nov. 1, all stores will have to stop selling pet CBD and hemp products.

For pet supply store Bark N' Purr, owner Jennifer Willett said this will not only have an impact on her store but also the customers.

"We have had people in the store crying. We have had testimonials on social media. We have had phone calls. Just people saying what do I do now," Willett said.

For five years, the store has been carrying a variety of CBD and hemp products.

"Our products are 0.0% THC, third party tested, so that means there's nothing sliding through here that is going to be dangerous to an animal," Willett said.

According to the ISDA, these products are illegal.

A pregnant woman in Alabama was kept in jail for three months after officials learned that she had smoked cannabis and, reportedly, she’s not the only one.

Timing edibles can be tricky. There’s no exact science, but there are some tips that can help you get the most out of heightening experiences.

Edibles are growing significantly in popularity, and are finding their way into all sorts of activities. From exercise, travel, sleep and everything in between, someone is popping an edible and seeing if it enhances the experience. Edibles do, in fact, enhance all sorts of activities (when practiced safely, of course). But they also take time to work their magic.

When it comes to edibles, it’s all about timing. Too soon and you’re high before you want to be. Too late and you’re staring at your watch wishing you ate your gummy sooner and wondering how much longer it will take to feel the effects. While there’s no definitive answer, here are some helpful tricks to enhance your edibles experience.

When You Have a Long Journey Ahead

Best Time: During Pre-Boarding Announcements

Edibles are becoming a companion of the avid traveler. For those who take frequent long flights (five hours or more), or are frequent riders of long buses and trains, edibles can really take the edge off. Even if you aren’t able to sleep, the anxiety and restlessness decreases. Suddenly, looking out your window is interesting, and just like that – you’re at your destination. But timing your edible for a long journey is critical.

If you have a coast to coast flight or something similar, around 6 hours, then a standard dose edible (between 5 and 10 mg — depending on your tolerance) is perfect. 

With so many beneficial compounds found in the cannabis plant, these can help supercharge your body with inflammation-fighting and immunity-boosting goodness.

Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular health trends today. Generally defined as abstaining from food and drink for a set number of hours, there are multiple ways that one can fast and still enjoy its health benefits.

Whether you choose to fast every day for at least 10 hours or more, fasting has been proven to improve health in many ways, including: autophagy (the body’s natural way of cleaning out damaged cells), promoting weight loss, improving cognitive function, reducing insulin resistance, fighting inflammation, improving heart health, and so much more. Fasting daily, or even during specific days in a week or month, is a practice that more people are doing.

In addition, it has been a growing trend for people to integrate cannabis into their healthy lifestyles. Individuals also use cannabis before or after a workout. A recent survey of 600 individuals in states where adult-use cannabis is legal showed that 81.7% of people recommended using marijuana with their workout.

“The majority of participants who endorsed using cannabis shortly before/after exercise reported that doing so enhances their enjoyment of and recovery from exercise, and approximately half reported that it increases their motivation to exercise,” said the study’s authors.

Cannabis certainly complements a healthy lifestyle in several ways:

Not all oils are created equal – sesame oil is perfect for stir-frying and sauteing, while olive oil is best for salads and baking.

Hemp oil, on the other hand, is in a class of its own. Hemp oil is a healthy and versatile cooking oil that can be used in many different ways. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the characteristics of hemp oil and how to use it in cooking healthy meals.  

What Is Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil comes from hemp seeds, a plant of the same species as cannabis (marijuana). However, hemp seeds lack Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance that gives marijuana its drug-like effects. 

Hemp oil is extracted the same way as olive oil.  The hemp plant seeds are cold pressed to get the oil, then kept in a cool, dark location for processing and transportation. Despite not being one of the most popular seeds right now, hemp seeds have long been a staple of the diets of Chinese and Indian people.

Hemp oil has a mild, nutty flavor and a light, delicate texture that makes it perfect for salads, dressings, sauces, and dips. You can also use hemp oil for baking biscuits, cakes, and other desserts. 

Is the U.S. finally ready to give THC drinks a shot? Some industry experts think so.

Now that people are officially smoking more cannabis than tobacco, it’s time for companies to try to make a profit off cannabis drinks. Weed-infused beverages haven’t amassed much success, mainly because THC is difficult to present in liquid form but also because the drinks tend to taste like grass.

Now, there’s a variety of brands hoping to change things by creating THC-infused drinks and providing a new and more accessible method to get high. Still, these products are in their infancy.

CNBC reports that the market is slowly getting crowded, with various companies trying to be the first to crack the formula and deliver the first successful and mainstream THC drink. “The choice for consumers was not as wide in the past but now we’ve seen dozens of companies get involved in the cannabis beverage space,” said Amanda Reiman, VP of public policy research at cannabis analytics firm New Frontier Data.

Some of the biggest beverage companies in America are getting involved in the cannabis drinks space; Pabst Blue Ribbon, Anheuser-Busch, Constellation Brands, Lagunitas Brewing Company, and Ceria are some of the biggest names on the list. PBR is selling non-alcoholic cannabis drinks containing 10mg of THC. The drinks are available in pineapple, mango, strawberry, and lemon flavors, and, since cannabis remains federally illegal, are sold online or in dispensaries located in legal states.

While cannabis drinks have been brought up in the past, some experts are calling this moment unique, and the right time for the drink to have its breakthrough. “There have been multiple false starts for anointing beverages as the next big thing,” said Keef Brands CEO Travis Tharp. “But I think we’ve gotten to a point where we are showing that the year over year growth is something that is substantial.”

If you do your research and follow these tips, you should have no problem enhancing your meditation practice with a little help from weed.

Marijuana and meditation are kindred spirits in a way. People use both separately to find a sense of peace, tranquility and the feeling of being present in the moment. Marijuana has also infused itself into many forms of meditation over the years.

Weed has spiritual roots in meditation that date back to some of the oldest meditating civilizations. In fact, according to VICE, “The Vedas—historical texts written in India around 1500 BC—name cannabis as one of the five sacred plants.”   

While meditation and marijuana are connected, it does not mean that when you take a bong rip and close your eyes you will find your zen. If you are interested in using marijuana to elevate your meditation, you need to look deeper at meditative practices, and how marijuana affects your mind and body.

In order to have a successful and meaningful meditative practice with marijuana, you need to do a bit of planning. But if you do your research and follow these five tips, you should have no problem enhancing your meditation practice with a little help from weed.

Take The Proper Dosage

Perhaps the most important guiding principle when combining marijuana and meditation is taking the right dosage. The amount of marijuana you need for your meditation depends on exactly how high you think you should be for the practice. Many people like to microdose in order to get some calming effects without being too mentally altered, while others prefer being completely high when they try to find inner peace. 

After consuming their pills and THC reaching its peak effect, investigators provided participants with emotional regulation tasks

A new U.S. study seems to support the idea that THC has a positive effect on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Published in the journal Neuropharmacology and conducted by researchers from Wayne State University, the small study signals that the combination of a specific type of therapy and moderate amounts of THC were particularly beneficial for people with PTSD.

Participants were scanned on a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures the small changes in blood flow that occur with brain activity, while researchers conducted regular check-ins on their mental state.

After consuming their pills and THC reaching its peak effect, investigators provided participants with emotional regulation tasks, such as displaying triggering images and repeating this process. The goal of the exercise was to have participants reappraise the images and, thus, help to successfully regulate their emotions.

Results showed that participants who had consumed THC were able to reduce and manage their negative emotions. The compound also activated areas of participants’ brains normally stunted in people with PTSD.

BOZEMAN - Recreational marijuana sales became legal this year in Montana, but that doesn’t mean it’s allowed everywhere.

It’s still against policy if a student 21 years or older purchases marijuana and takes it onto Montana State University or University of Montana's campus.

“We certainly recognize the new dynamic with dispensaries all around campus and across the river downtown. So, you know, last spring was a learning opportunity for us, but there were no major incidents,” University of Montana communications director Dave Kuntz said.

The short answer is the federal government hasn’t legalized recreational marijuana. MSU says since they receive federal funds, they must adhere to all federal laws.

The University of Montana has the same policy.

“We'll just continue to work with students and make sure that we’re striking that right balance of understanding the new laws that are here in place, but also, you know, keeping our policies and campus consistent from year to year,” Kuntz said.

Approximately 147 million people worldwide consume cannabis, or marijuana each year; a number that continues to grow, especially in North America and Europe, according to the World Health Organization.

At the same time, the cannabis available today is more potent than ever before. A systematic review published in Addiction found that levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the active ingredient in marijuana—has been increasing for decades. The review found that, in a gram of herbal cannabis, the part typically smoked, THC concentrations have increased by approximately 2.9 milligrams each year since the 1970s. A standard dose of THC is considered to be between 5 and 10 mg, which typically produces a mild intoxication for non-regular users. In the review, researchers measured concentrations as high as 20 mg of THC per gram of herbal cannabis.

Now, new research finds that higher concentrations of THC lead to higher rates of addiction and mental health problems. The data come from a new meta-analysis published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry that included 20 studies comparing the effects of higher and lower potencies of marijuana.

The authors found that participants who used higher-potency marijuana were more likely to experience psychosis than those who used lower-potency marijuana. Higher potency marijuana, especially when used daily, also led to an increased risk of psychotic relapse.

Users of higher potency marijuana are also more likely to become addicted to the drug and develop more severe dependence. One study found that higher-potency marijuana was four times more addictive compared to lower-potency marijuana.

The review found that the effect of higher potency marijuana on depression and anxiety is unclear.

'The pandemic, with all its mental stressors and turmoil, has likely contributed to the rise'

News 6 traffic expert answers viewer questions.

ORLANDO - News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.

Trooper Steve on Thursday was asked, “Can you be charged with a DUI for using marijuana?”

“Yes,” Trooper Steve said. “If your normal faculties are impaired by anything that affects your operation of a motor vehicle, you could be charged with DUI.”

There are medical laws that pertain to transportation, but we’re talking about driving under the influence of the drug, Trooper Steve said.

“Under no circumstance, whether you’re prescribed marijuana or another type of narcotic, can you operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of that substance,” he said.

Concerns have been expressed that young people are using vapes which contain cannabis extracts, and that these products are being purchased online or “under the counter”.

Denis Murray, one of the country’s senior adolescent addiction counsellors, confirmed that a vape given to him by a concerned parent contained an oily liquid which subsequently tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — a controlled drug.