WeedLife News Network

The cannabis industry is no stranger to automation.

Connected sensors that monitor temperature, humidity and soil conditions help achieve optimal grows; trimming and bucking machines are commonly used for processing; curious consumers can receive advice from medical chatbots; and, increasingly, automated budtenders are popping up in dispensaries and other locations.

That was the case last week in Colorado, where “anna”, an automated weed vending machine, made its debut in a Strawberry Fields dispensary in Pueblo, reports the Denver Post. The machines will also be heading to Starbuds, a second Colorado-based dispensary, later this year.

“There are experienced cannabis customers who don’t necessarily need that one-on-one interaction with a budtender,” Matt Frost, founder and CEO of anna, told the Post. “They know what they want before they walk in, they’re ready to go in and out. By doing this, we’re giving more time back to the people who do need hand-holding and want that education from a live person.”

Four machines are up and running at Strawberry Fields. Customers need to show identification to an employee before they can access the machines, which come equipped with a real-time touchscreen menu of what’s available in the dispensary, and allow consumers to pay with cash or card, before dispensing the item. Customers can also place orders ahead of time using the anna app.

With a plethora of cannabidiol (CBD) beverages in the marketplace, it surprises some to learn they are technically illegal. It is not a gray area, nor is it something some states allow. They are illegal, but they are out there. In fact, the CBD drink category had more new product introductions than any other no-alcohol, ready-to-drink beverage category in the first quarter of 2020, according to Beverage Marketing Corp.

Derived from hemp or marijuana, both part of the herbaceous flowering plant known as Cannabis sativa, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound known for its health and wellness properties. Consumption is associated with relaxation, pain relief, improved sleep, positive mood, better memory and stress response. It is not to be confused with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the feeling commonly referred to as “stoned.”

In the United States, as of Dec. 20, 2018, hemp-derived cannabis ingredients with less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis of THC may be sold in commercial consumer products such as tinctures or extracts. The US Food and Drug Administration does not recognize CBD as a food or beverage ingredient nor as a dietary supplement; however, the agency is currently not stopping its use in most cases, and innovators are taking their chances.

“The CBD-infused beverage market is currently in limbo as the federal government has yet to issue final guidelines on whether CBD is permissible in food and drink, and, if so, at what dosages,” says Gary Hemphill, managing director of research at Beverage Marketing Corp. “Initial hearings were held in spring 2019, but there still has been no guidance, hampered not only by the inherent slowness of government but also other issues taking obvious priority.

“A recent FDA report seemed to splash further cold water on the segment, claiming that about half of products contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, but are not identified as containing THC on labels, and that a majority of the products it tested contained either 20% less or 20% more CBD than what is stated on labels.”

A new kind of vending machine is coming to Massachusetts — a self-checkout kiosk for cannabis dispensaries.

Boston-based anna, which also has a presence in Colorado, announced this week that it would deploy its self-checkout products in two Colorado dispensaries this week. The company is expected to launch in Massachusetts in September, deploying 14 units across the two states within the next eight weeks.

Further rollouts are anticipated in Nevada, California and Canada.

With anna’s devices, customers can browse in-store using the touchscreen interface or use online ordering by scanning their QR code upon arrival, keeping the checkout process to less than a minute.

According to a demo on the company's website, local agents are tasked with verifying customer's ages through their driver's licenses, and approving payment before orders can be processed.

Quite a few adults in the United States have consumed marijuana in the past year. This is according to a new study published in the journal BMJ Open and epublished by the U.S. National Institute of Health. The study is titled Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the changes in marijuana use in the USA, 2005-2018.

According to the study, almost one our of every four adults who live in the United States say that they have consumed marijuana in the past year. For the study researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center examined marijuana use from a nationally representative sample of over 35,000 US adults. They found that “Overall, 53.5 percent of the US adult population reported ever using marijuana between 2005 and 2018. The prevalence of lifetime marijuana use, and first use before the age of 18, remained stable between 2005 and 2018. Overall 22.6 percent of US adults reported using marijuana within the last year.”

The full abstract can be found below:

Objectives Understanding trends of marijuana use in the USA throughout a period of particularly high adoption of marijuana-legalisation, and understanding demographics most at risk of use, is important in evolving healthcare policy and intervention. This study analyses the demographic-specific changes in the prevalence of marijuana use in the USA between 2005 and 2018.

Adults residing in states where retail marijuana sales are legally regulated tend to hold a positive impression of the marketplace, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Investigators affiliated with the University of Waterloo, School of Public Health in Canada surveyed 5,530 respondents residing in Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Authors reported: “The current findings suggest generally positive perceptions of the legal cannabis market. Most respondents, including frequent cannabis consumers, perceived legal cannabis to be of equal or greater quality and convenience, and as safer to buy and use than cannabis from illegal sources.”

Commenting on the study’s findings, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “This data once again affirms that most voters do not experience ‘buyer’s remorse’ following marijuana legalization. In the minds of most Americans, these laws are operating as voters intended and in a manner that is consistent with their expectations.”

Armentano further acknowledged that no state that has legalized the use of cannabis for either medical or adult-use purposes has ever repealed their law.

June marks the first month in Colorado history that recreational marijuana shops sold more than $150 million worth of products as cannabis consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to set industry records.

Recreational marijuana consumers spent $158,102,628 at Colorado shops in June, according to data from the Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division. It’s a 6% increase of the previous single-month recreational sales record of $149,186,615 that was set in May, state data shows.

Last June, rec shops sold roughly $122.4 million in products. Before this year, monthly recreational sales had only eclipsed $140 million one time, in August 2019, state data shows. That month, dispensaries combined to sell $173,219,859 worth of products.

Medical marijuana sales took a step back in June. After setting a new record with $42,989,322 in sales in May, medical dispensaries sold $40,770,582 worth of products in the month, according to the MED’s monthly sales report.

Still, the industry comfortably set a new record for total business volume.

For the same reason that cancer patients rely on weed to fight the nasty effects of chemotherapy, a person with a hangover can use it to keep from loitering on the bathroom floor.

The hangover that comes after a night of heavy drinking is a cruel reminder that we are delicate beasts that, no matter how much Bukowski we wear on our sleeves during the celebration, we can’t hold our liquor worth a damn. But no matter how many times we’ve been slumped over the toilet, dry-heaving in ways that make us look like an old cobra that was sold to a circus sideshow for a dime bag, we continue to engage in this lunatic behavior as though we are incapable of learning a lesson. 

It’s like no sooner than the Jack Daniels induced fog in the brain starts to subside from one too many beers, shots and “Hell Yeahs!,” another weekend sneaks up and, once again, threatens to turn us into a wad of the feel bads. Indeed, for the party people of the planet, the hangover is the bane of their existence, a painful roadblock that stands in the way of livin’ la vida loca with the kind of enthusiasm that would have even Jim Morrison saying, “Whoa! You’d better slow it down there, pal.”  

What’s worse is there is no known cure for a hangover, which means too much booze tonight and you’re inevitably going to be paying for it tomorrow.

The good news is there is evidence that marijuana can help squash those pesky hangovers and get the sipping socialite back on the barstool in no time. But how? Well, federal studies have shown that cannabis can help fight nausea and vomiting. So, for the same reason that cancer patients often rely on the herb to fight the nasty effects of chemotherapy, a person with a hangover can use it to keep from loitering on the bathroom floor.

The adult-use cannabis market in Illinois is booming. Illinois has sold about $300 million worth of cannabis products since the adult-use market opened in January.  The state hit record-breaking sales once again in July and is expected to continue on an upwards curve as the market grows and stabilizes. 

A lot of Illinois’ sales can be attributed to COVID-19. Dispensaries were declared essential businesses and remained open during America’s closing period over March and April. The Illinois adult-use cannabis market continues to set records, and has since May. The Chicago Tribune reported July’s sales as a 75% increase over February, the lowest reported sales at $34.8 million. Many cannabis brands reported their customers to be using more cannabis products than normal due to their heightened stress levels during the pandemic and other issues happening in the United States during this time. 

Adult-use cannabis went into law in Illinois on June 25th, 2019 when it received Governor Jay Pritzker’s signature. It was the 11th state in the US to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes and the first to do so via legislative action. The bill passed 66-47 after being revised to a slightly more restrictive version. 

Adult-use sales began on January 1st, 2020. The state reported sales to reach $110 million from the sale of 2.6 million cannabis items in the first three months of operation, with $3.6 million of that being on the first day. The data confirms roughly 75% of that spending to be coming from residents of Illinois. The Illinois adult-use market is predicted to experience enormous growth – with sales expected to surpass $1 billion in sales in 2025. According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the state sold $60,956,981.41 worth of cannabis products and 1,270,063 cannabis items. 

Linda Marsicano is the Vice President of Corporate Communications for Green Thumb Industries (OTC:GTBIF). Green Thumb Industries has eight cannabis retail stores in Illinois. She told Green Market Report, “After record-breaking sales in June of $47.6 million, Illinois adult-use cannabis sales increased by more than 25% month-over-month to $60.9 million in July. Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the cannabis industry has successfully pivoted and continued to safely operate as an essential service. We continue to see strong demand for adult-use cannabis, an increase in supply as operators ramp up capacity and new store openings throughout the state.  We look forward to the next chapter for Illinois’ cannabis industry with the award of social equity licenses in the near future.” 

Legal marijuana products contain extraordinary levels of THC, which could cause dependence and mental health issues with habitual use.

The marijuana you see in stores today isn’t like what the hippies rolled in the 70s. If you follow cannabis news, you have likely heard some version of that sentiment by a public health official. Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams claimed that today’s cannabis “ain’t your mother’s marijuana” but was three times stronger than weed in the 1990s.

Marijuana advocate and Canadian author Dana Larsen actually calculated how strong today’s cannabis would be if you accepted similar lawmaker sentiments throughout history. That includes claims by 2002 White House Drug Czar John Walters, who said that cannabis at the time was 30 times stronger than what baby boomers smoked, and current Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden, who once argued that comparing 1990s weed to cannabis in the 60s was like “comparing buckshot in a shotgun shell to a laser-guided missile.”

Using all of these historical statements would mean that today’s cannabis is 12,600 times stronger than it was in the 60s, according to Larsen’s calculations. And while that is highly unlikely, we shouldn’t discount how and why cannabis potency has changed in the past decade or so.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released a study last week that examined THC concentrations of weed products sold in legal dispensaries. The report was requested by the Colorado General Assembly. Longitudinal reports like this that are focused on markets in Colorado and Washington provide great insight into the state of legal weed and its effects on consumers, as the two states were the first to legalize recreational cannabis.

CBD could prove to be an effective treatment for people suffering from marijuana use disorder, the results of a new study published this week have shown. 

Inspired by a “substantial and unmet clinical need” for the treatment of cannabis use disorders, researchers from the University of Bath in the UK conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial that uncovered the potential of cannabidiol in helping people addicted to weed quit the habit. 

Eighty-two people identified as being addicted to marijuana participated in the study. During the first study, participants were given either a placebo or prescription-grade CBD twice a day for a period of four weeks. Those given CBD received a daily dose of either 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg. 

Although those given 200 mg of the non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana saw no improvement in their condition, study participants on the higher doses of CBD significantly cut back on their marijuana use. Moreover, no adverse effects were reported among participants. 

“There are currently no safe and effective treatments available for prescription to help people with cannabis use problems. This is a large and unmet clinical need and could help people to quit in an acceptable treatment format,” Tom Freeman, who co-authored the study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, told Inverse. 

CBD strains aren’t as popular as those containing THC, but there’s plenty of perks associated with them. CBD is the second most common cannabinoid, and it’s everywhere, from tinctures and oils to clothes and pillows. Still, when it comes to smoking and vaping, the majority of people are looking for THC strains, even when they’re after therapeutic effects like pain and anxiety relief.

Even if CBD isn’t known for its psychoactive effects, its presence in cannabis strains has been associated with pleasant and mellow highs, some of which are perfect for beginners or for people who don’t want to worry about having a cannabis infused panic attack. Thanks to it’s less intoxicating properties, CBD dominant strains are great for people who are looking for medicinal benefits of the plant or are planning on consuming it during the middle of the day, before doing an activity that requires some concentration.

CBD strains are not as popular as THC strains, which is why it may be more difficult to find them in your favorite dispensary. But, as more and more people continue to get involved with CBD, the more common these strains will become.

The effects of CBD strains are similar to the effects produced by consuming CBD oils and products, only acting faster due to the way in which the compound is ingested. These strains tend to provide relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety and even seizures. When vaped or smoked, these strains produce positive highs, leaving consumers with a clear head. Unlike THC dominant strains, CBD strains are not associated with side effects, such as anxiety, dizziness, increased heart rate and nervousness.

Warm greetings, readers! I’m Chelsea Cebara, a cannabis and relationship expert, and I’ve been invited to guide readers though some of the issues unique to the intersection of loving weed and being human. I’ve been a sex educator and relationship coach, and I made my name in the cannabis industry by developing the world’s first water-based THC lube, Velvet Swing.

The stigma around cannabis is relaxing more each day, and it’s high time we talked openly about the challenges, passion and joy this plant can bring to our lives and relationships.

Here’s a question I received recently:

My husband and I have a tension point around my cannabis use. I use MJ for physical pain/mental health, but my husband generally thinks all drugs are bad – even though he knows marijuana provides me relief. He usually doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his disapproval when I consume. What can I do to convince him that medical marijuana is safe and effective?

Before we start solving this problem, let me share some background, and ultimately useless, information.

San Diego County cannabis activists have set their sights on the upcoming election as their next chance to affect change.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors declined to take action on a proposal that would end a ban on cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas of the county and establish the framework for a social equity program in a regulated marijuana industry. The motion to approve the proposal from Supervisor Nathan Fletcher died a quick death at a meeting on Wednesday when it failed to receive a second from any of his colleagues on the board.

Fletcher’s proposal would have ended a ban on commercial cannabis activity enacted by the board in 2017. Under that ban, no recreational cannabis businesses are permitted to operate in the unincorporated areas of California’s southwestern-most county. Additionally, five medical marijuana dispensaries currently operating would be forced to close by 2022.

After the meeting, Fletcher issued a statement expressing his disappointment in his fellow board members, calling out one vocal cannabis opponent by name and noting that the proposal enjoyed support from many civic leaders in the county.

“Our proposal would have allowed for the development of a cannabis industry that is safe, regulated, and legal. Instead, led by Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, the Board doubled down on an outdated and out-of-touch view of legal cannabis,” Fletcher said in an email. “By saying no to  creating a regulated market, they have opened the floodgates for more illegal shops, more criminal activity, and substantial losses in tax revenue to our county.”

What’s the difference between stepping inside a neighborhood weed store and retail outlets designed to cater to the alcohol consumer?

Back when cannabis advocates were first successfully moving to legalize marijuana for recreational use at the state level, one of the most popular phrases used to describe what that might look like is “in a manner similar to alcohol.” The gist of the pitch was that upon the legalization of marijuana, there would be a taxed and regulated market put into place — same as the alcohol trade — that would allow adults 21 and older to buy cannabis products close to the same way they might purchase beer at a liquor store.

Fast forward a few years and there are now marijuana dispensaries open in several states, with more of them set to come. But what is the difference between stepping inside a neighborhood weed store and retail outlets designed to cater to the alcohol consumer? You might be surprised to learn that the two are very different.

Unlike the average liquor store, marijuana dispensaries like to make sure a person is of legal age before they ever step inside. These establishments typically have security personnel standing at the entrance to check IDs.

You won’t see a weed buyer standing at the cash register of a cannabis dispensary patting their pockets in a panicked quest to produce a driver’s license that may or may not exist. You know the ones who might say, “I don’t know what to tell you, I guess I left my ID at home,” while trying to convince the clerk that they are indeed 21. Without proof that a person is a legal age to buy weed, they simply are not getting any further than the front door. 

Alcohol customers can walk into a liquor store and track down their beverage of choice without much social interaction. They do not need to be told where to find the Mad Dog 20/20, and they sure don’t need someone to explain to them how the beverage might make them feel. 

Massachusetts health officials are getting ready to phase vapes back in.

Last year, in November, Massachusetts quarantined at least 600,000 vape products during the vaping sickness scare. Now, these products can be retested and either sold or recycled into new products, as long as they pass additional testing performed at approved facilities. 

According to a press release from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) in Massachusetts released Monday, now that three rounds of testing and a public comment period have passed, the businesses can proceed with making use of these products, as long as they are clearly labeled with warnings explaining they were previously quarantined after passing the testing cycle. 

After two testing attempts, the products must be thrown out if they do not pass. The public comment period allowed people to speak out about whether or not they supported the reuse or use of these products or saw any issues with the attempt to salvage any of them. Only after this time was it deemed that the products could be further tested and then resold or repurposed. 

“Since the Commonwealth declared a vaping public health emergency last fall, the Commission has dedicated significant energy and resources to investigating the additives, hardware, and storage practices that licensees use to produce and sell cannabis vaporizer products,” Commission Executive Director Shawn Collins said in the press release. “Fortunately, repeat tests of licensed product samples did not return any detectable levels of [vitamin E acetate]; unfortunately, they did establish that heavy metal contamination may increase in vaping products over time.”

A report released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) this week revealed that THC levels in cannabis products sold in the state are on the rise.

The THC in Colorado Marijuana Report 2020, compiled by the CDPHE’s Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee, also takes a look at the health implications of the rising potency of marijuana in Colorado, which was one of the first two U.S. states to legalize recreational sales. 

Since legalization took effect in 2012, the report notes “it is apparent that progress has occurred quicker in the marijuana industry than in science.”

“The sheer quantity and variety of marijuana products available on the retail market place is proof of this rapid advancement,” it continues, before concluding that, based on various studies, this trend of increasing THC concentration has been “happening worldwide and it appears to be increasing on a yearly basis.”  

On average, cannabis flower bought on the Colorado market has 19.56% THC, however, the report underlines there have been instances of “some retail marijuana stores advertising up to 95% THC in concentrate products.” 

Some holidays seem to roll around at just the right time, like my birthday when the last dregs of Christmas largesse are spent, Memorial Day when we need one last long weekend to get us through the school year before summer vacation, and now, National CBD Day on August 8th, just when the CBD market needs a boost from the deflating impacts of Covid-19. 

In a July 2020 report by The Brightfield Group, data analysts projected that CBD sales for 2020 will only be up 14% from 2019 rather than the 30% originally projected due to impacts of the Covid crisis. Store closures, spiking unemployment, and inaction by the FDA are all contributing to a sluggish market. The report also shows that nearly half of CBD consumers have moved their purchasing online due to coronavirus. CBD sales may be suffering due to the pandemic, but the surge in conditions triggered and exacerbated by the virus, such as anxiety (ranked the number one ailment of CBD users), depression (ranked second) and insomnia (ranked sixth) indicate that demand for CBD products will only increase as Covid-19 maintains its grip. 

Among the most popular products right now are edibles, with 33% of US consumers stating an increase in consumption when surveyed in June, with higher dosages reported among all products used. Vape products appear to be declining in popularity, however, due to negative media attention around inhalants and the increased likelihood that inhalant users will experience serious complications with Covid-19.  A surplus of hemp biomass is causing an overall price drop as well as hefty promotions and flash sales to incentivize consumers to sample the array of new products on the market, such as those with trendy ingredients like turmeric and ashwagandha as well as some lesser-known cannabinoids like CBG and CBN. Additionally, CBD companies are inundating the market with innovative products that go beyond the standard capsule and tincture delivery methods.

One example is VCC Brands’ Subtle Tea, a vegan, keto-friendly way to refresh the body and rejuvenate the mind with flavors like Jasmine Green Tea with Lychee and White Peach Tea with Cardamom. Another is TOCA Botanicals TOTO CBD Lubricant, to inspire pleasure and relaxation of a more intimate variety. Humans aren’t the only species feeling the shaky vibes of the 2020 rollercoaster, which is why Harvey’s All Naturals introduced their  Harvey’s All Naturals Elixir for Pets to address pet stress and anxiety as well as pain and inflammation.

2020 has been a rocky year for the economy, but with the FDA inching closer to a clearer, more consistent regulatory framework and the demand for products that can ease the tensions of one of the most dramatic periods in recent history ever rising, the CBD industry is poised for a major rebound. And with new products hitting the market just in time for National CBD Day (and beyond), there just might be a CBD product out there for everything the Covid Era still has in store.

According to a new report by the research firm New Frontier Data, the legal retail sales of marijuana and marijuana products in the United States reached all-time highs during the months of April and May.

According to the report which covered 24 legal recreational or medical marijuana programs, “Average consumer monthly spending rose to record highs in April and May, reaching $290 and $296, respectively.”

They found that “One unanticipated effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the growth acceleration of legal cannabis markets (and erosion of the illicit markets) in those states which have activated both medical and adult-use sales.”

The report states that “One unanticipated effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the growth acceleration of legal cannabis markets (and erosion of illicit markets) in those states which have activated both medical and adult-use sales. In 2019, the total combined illicit market for cannabis in the United States was an estimated $64 billion, which through the growth of currently legal markets is projected to shrink some $4 billion by 2022.”

It continues by stating that: “Through higher sales and increased patient participation in medical-only markets, the second quarter of 2020 saw surging patient counts in medical markets – particularly in those having 1) lower barriers to entry (i.e., less restrictive qualification requirements), and 2) more accessible markets (i.e., greater density among dispensaries).”

An analysis of police arrest data in Albany, New York shows that racial disparity in the enforcement of marijuana laws in Albany continues, despite assurances from the city’s police chief that the issue would be investigated following a report from a civil rights group last year.

In April 2019, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) released a report on the enforcement of cannabis laws that showed that Black people were far more likely than white people to be arrested for a marijuana violation in Albany. The disparity was documented despite strong evidence that the two groups use marijuana at approximately the same rates nationwide.

At that time, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins, who is Black, said that the city’s police did not target the Black community and that the disparity in arrests would be investigated. However, an analysis of police data by the Albany Times Union found that between July 9, 2019 and the same date this year, 97% of those arrested or cited for a marijuana offense in the city were Black. 

During that time, Albany police issued citations or made arrests for 134 marijuana offenses, the majority of which were civil violations or low-level misdemeanors, including 76 citations for marijuana possession. Only four of those charged with a marijuana offense during the time period were white. 

After the NYCLU report was released last year, the Albany branch of the NAACP met with police representatives to discuss the racial disparity. With no change evident a year later, Debora Brown-Johnson, the branch’s president, said last week that it’s time Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan took a look into the matter.