WeedLife News Network

LOS ANGELES - Change is in the air in the cannabis world.

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."

Thousands of Vermonters have made their way to cannabis dispensaries since October 1, but the technology for determining whether a person is driving while under the influence is lagging behind legalization.

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.

Contrary to popular belief, cannabis can actually make some people “less cool,” according to researchers at Harvard Community College.

Earlier this week, Hawaii’s Cannabis Taskforce met again in the move forward toward possibly legalizing marijuana in Hawaii.

The state has now projected that at least $50 million in tax revenue is possible through legalizing sales without a prescription. Others are certain that the state’s estimates are extraordinarily low. Hawaii has been looking at ways to be less tourist-dependent; could this be it?

This comes as the state’s research arm, UHERO recently said, “Hawaii’s economy is extraordinarily specialized in tourism, resulting in vulnerability to
external shocks and diminishing productivity growth. In response… policy-makers in Hawaii increasingly emphasize diversification.”

Currently, marijuana use in Hawaii is limited to those with a medical need. Dispensaries exist but are only allowed to sell to those with medical marijuana cards.

Green administration is pro-green.

There is a sense that if Josh Green is elected (a largely foregone conclusion), he will help move legalizing marijuana forward. He said recently, “I think that people already have moved past that culturally as a concern.” He’d like to see tax money from marijuana sales be invested in “our mental healthcare system for the good of all.” While supporting mental health is good, we are wondering if there are other places the money should be invested too, like affordable housing.

Alternative to Hawaii travel’s tax money?

Marijuana would have a long way to go in replacing Hawaii’s tourism taxes. The state says that in 2019, pre-Covid, for example, it collected $600 million in accommodation taxes alone.

When you think of cannabidiol, you might picture an oil-based tincture that you buy and put in a drink or under the tongue. If so, it's time to think again.

While oil-based CBD products tend to dominate the market, a recent study conducted in conjunction with Colorado State University's Health and Exercise program and co-funded by Caliper Foods, a company that produces cannabinoids, and NextEvo Naturals, a water-soluble CBD outfit, found that water-soluble CBD products are actually absorbed better into the bloodstream than oil-based CBD products or a CBD isolate. The study also found that water-based CBD is absorbed better when it's accompanied by food.

The study, conducted over eight months, took five formulations — one CBD isolate, three water-soluble formulations and one with CBD dissolved in medium-chain triglyceride oil, fat made from coconut and palm kernel oils — and measured how much of the CBD was absorbed into the bloodstreams of fourteen males participating in the research, as well as how long it stayed in the bloodstreams.

The results showed a significant variance between the different formulas. One of the water-soluble formulations had a circulating CBD concentration of 3.1 nanograms per milliliter, while the oil-soluble formulation had a CBD concentration of only 0.4 nanograms per milliliter.

LITTLE ROCK - A well-known entertainer and marijuana “enthusiast” has lent his support to the effort to legalize recreational use for adults in Arkansas.

In an Instagram post, rapper Snoop Dogg called for Arkansans to vote yes on Ballot Issue 4. If passed, the ballot issue will permit the adult use of marijuana without a medical waiver card.

In making the post, he added, “F.y.i. Do what you got 2 do n vote,” followed by a small bright emoticon.

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., has frequently been identified with recreational marijuana use as part of his stage persona. His initial recognition as a recording star was his multiple appearances on André “Dr. Dré” Brown’s album “The Chronic” in 1993, its name being slang for high-grade marijuana.

As markets mature, cannabis users seek diversity and higher potency, triggering the demand for manufactured cannabis products. (Benzinga)

According to The Brightfield Group, a cannabis analytics firm, cannabis consumers are turning to extracts and concentrates as they seek more bang for their buck.

Falling flower prices and economics of scale behind producing extracts such as live resin or rosin, weigh in as factors that contribute to their popularity among cannabis users.

As markets mature, cannabis users seek diversity and higher potency, triggering the demand for manufactured cannabis products.

“More than 64% of consumers are using cannabis at least daily. … The more frequently you use it, the higher your tolerance becomes. That’s helping build the concentrates market,” Bethany Gomez, Brightfield’s managing director told MJBizDaily.

Gomez said consumers are more price sensitive given inflation, and products have become much more refined in branding and packaging.

Whether your dog has anxiety or you just need him to chill out a bit while you’re working, you may be looking for products that can help calm your pup.

Best Overall CBD Dog Treats: MediPets CBD Dog Treats Burger Beef Minis

Arkansas business leaders joined Gov. Asa Hutchinson Monday in calling for voters to oppose Issue 4, the general election ballot measure that would legalize adult use cannabis. At a news conference at the headquarters of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce in Little Rock, the industry representatives said legalizing recreational marijuana would compound problems for workforce recruitment and safety.

Issue 4 supporters said the arguments were no different than when medical marijuana was proposed in 2016, and that Arkansas businesses have not suffered since its passage.

Leaders from the trucking, construction and agricultural industries joined Hutchinson in condemning the proposal.

“It’s a nightmare for the industry, for the people we have to work on the highways and buildings around the state,” said Haskell Dickinson, former chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Arkansas. “We will have a challenge determining who can come to work… we don’t know how to handle it and no one else does either.”

“Issue 4 threatens the fair growth of business, by enriching marijuana monopolies and hamstringing industries like trucking that have long-served as the foundation for our state’s economy,” said Shannon Newton, President of the Arkansas Trucking Association.

A member of the Partnership for a Healthy Iowa is calling for a statewide campaign to reverse widespread social acceptance of marijuana among young people.

Why it matters: He believes it can help save children from longer-term substance abuse issues or death.

Driving the news: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among people between the ages of 15 and 19 in the U.S., according to the CDC.

Almost 25% of 11th graders and more than 20% of eighth graders who responded to the Iowa Department of Public Health's 2021 youth survey reported they thought about suicide in the past year.

Yes, and: Growing research suggests frequent use and higher-potency marijuana dramatically increases the chances of developing psychosis, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The availability, potency and diversity of marijuana products is rising, making it one of the top health and safety concerns, according to an October report by the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.

There are various mechanisms by which cannabis could impact creativity and focus. But is there any scientific data that supports the idea that it actually has a positive effect on either?

Many people who consume cannabis for a cognitive boost are seeking to enhance their creativity and their focus at the same time.

It could be a computer programmer who finds that consuming a 1:1 CBD-THC edible in the morning settles her nerves for the day and opens her mind up to new solutions; a 70-year-old triathlete who discovers that a few drops of a sativa tincture allows him to stay focused during grueling bike rides; or a PhD student who breaks up long hours in the lab with a few tokes from a high-CBD joint.

Is cannabis or CBD the right choice for you to enhance your focus and creativity? Jointly can help you find out, but first let’s review what is known about cannabis, focus, and creativity!

Is Cannabis a Cognitive Booster?

In the popular imagination, cannabis has a much closer link to creativity than it does to focus, but there is also a long tradition of cannabis being used to enhance focus, especially during prolonged physical activities.

Wrestlers in Northern India traditionally took bhang, a cannabis infused drink, “to ensure long term concentration during exhausting all day practice.” Similarly, a survey of adult athletes who use cannabis revealed that 46.3% of athletes who used cannabis in the hour prior to exercising did so to improve focus.

Cannabis has come a long way in the US since it was first legalized medically in California in 1996.

Now, 18 states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana, 21 have legalized medical marijuana, and Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota have all put recreational marijuana on the ballot for the midterm election season. And with over a third of the country readily available with dispensaries, restaurants, tours, and even churches, a cannabis-themed vacation is far from far-fetched.

Still, you might be wondering where to go. A study conducted by Upgraded Points, a company that helps consumers with information on points and miles, conducted a study to find the best cities for a cannabis vacation.

The study found that the most cost-effective places for a cannabis vacation are Oakland, California and Spokane, Washington. Researchers said the data showed a correlation that the longer a state has had legalized recreational cannabis (Wahington tied with Colorado for first in 2012 and California in 2016) had, the lowest prices. A four-day cannabis vacation in Oakland would run you about $1,068, followed by Spokane with $1,135. However, go somewhere where the cost of living is high, and you’ll pay the price. A four-day stay in Anchorage, Alaska, will run you $1,551, with Los Angeles trailing behind at $1,540.

Portland, Maine, turned out to be the second cheapest city due to the vast number of 420-friendly stays. The study found Portland has 102 cannabis-friendly Airbnb listings per 100,000 people. Denver reigns supreme due to its number of 420-friendly accommodations, its 64 licensed dispensaries per 100,000 people, and the average price of a quarter ounce of weed averaging at about $60 if you know the best spots to buy.

The 10 best cities for a cannabis vacation

To find the best cities for a cannabis vacation, Upgraded points looked at50 of the largest cities in states where recreational marijuana usage is legal. The cities were then ranked on a scale from one to five in 10 categories: average Cost of round trip airfare, the average nightly price at weed-friendly accommodations, number of weed-friendly Airbnbs, the average cost of rideshare, number of dispensaries, the average cost for a quarter-ounce of weed, number of guided cannabis tours, the average price of weed-friendly experiences on Eventbrite, and the number of available fast food restaurants. These scores were then rated according to their impact on cannabis tourism. Each city then received a final score on a scale of one to 50.

USC students and pro-cannabis groups on campus are hopeful for a renewed perspective on marijuana after President Joe Biden promised to fix the country’s “failed approach” toward the drug.

On Oct. 6, President Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of simple marijuana possession. The president released a series of Twitter statements justifying the decision and called on local and federal officials to review marijuana-related policies, such as the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. 

“Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana,” Biden wrote in a Twitter post following the pardons. “Today I announced a pardon of all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana, urged governors to do the same, and asked HHS and the DOJ to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.”

Biden pardoned prior federal offenders on the basis that people convicted of such offenses may be denied employment, housing or education.

Marijuana advocates at USC applauded Biden’s efforts while pushing for increased tolerance of the drug. Christophe Merriam, a freshman majoring in business of cinematic arts, said he believes the legalization of marijuana is long overdue.

“Nobody is dying from marijuana, and marijuana isn’t a health crisis,” Merriam said. “If you’re really gonna be like, ‘It makes a person lazy or act stupid,’ you can easily say the same thing about drinking, but drinking is so normal and socially acceptable, so that’s just ridiculous.”

This ain't your grandpa's weed. 

As cannabis becomes legal in more states in countries, it's a claim heard again and again: Today's marijuana is far more potent than it was in the '60s, supposedly. This week, Patrick Kennedy, a former Congressman from Rhode Island, repeated this assertion, tweeting, "The high concentration of THC in these marijuana products is not what people grew up with." THC is the main ingredient in cannabis responsible for the "stoned" or high feeling some people seek.

Though it might sound like one of many other drug scare tactics, there is some truth to the idea. Marijuana, the processed products of cannabis plants, is getting more potent over time. Thanks to specialized breeding techniques, cannabis can be cultivated to produce 30 percent THC or more — although there is a physical limit to how much the plant can actually spit out.

So how did this happen, and how has weed changed over the years? And does this really make it any more dangerous? 

The botany of really strong weed

Some of the stronger "weed" out there isn't actually weed, but concentrated versions of it — akin to how pure caffeine compares to coffee, or how cocaine is a concentrated version of the psychoactive drug in the coca leaf. To increase potency, cannabis chemists have, over the years, cooked up many different forms of concentrates. Recent concentrated cannabis innovations often involve industrial processing, and include butane hash oil, rosin, shatter, wax and budder. Some of these sticky confections can contain 90 percent THC or more. In June, The New York Times warned that teens are being poisoned by such products, triggering psychotic episodes and dependency.

Some health experts are extremely concerned about this trend, claiming it increases the risk of psychosis and addiction from ingesting cannabis. A recent review in The Lancet Psychiatry found that "higher potency cannabis is associated with poorer mental health outcomes." But the same researchers noted that these studies are prone to bias and have limitations, such as not measuring exposure levels.

Now that recreational marijuana may become legal in Iowa, employers should know how this will affect the workplace and its policies.

This difference may cause immense confusion and complications for employers. For example, federal law still considers marijuana use illegal. THC, the intoxicating chemical contained in marijuana, is a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Congress considers Schedule 1 substances very addictive with no medical value. Today, marijuana is much stronger and contains twenty to twenty-five percent THC compared to the less than two percent THC from the 1970s. 

With this difference in legality, employers find themselves in a complicated situation where they must decide how best to handle marijuana. For example, employers with federal contracts may find they must ban marijuana use. Furthermore, marijuana use can lead to intoxication on the job, causing significant safety issues. These issues may earn disapproval from workers’ compensation, insurance and other liability insurance carriers, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

For now, guidance for determining the difference between recreational and medical use remains minimal, which makes it difficult for employers to restrict marijuana use. This difficulty further complicates policies because Iowa already legalized medical marijuana, joining thirty-six other states with this decision. In this case, Iowa does not provide protections for employees who use medical marijuana from adverse action from employers, though fifteen other states do. However, even in those states that provide protections, the protections generally do not apply to workers who show up to work impaired due to safety concerns.

State and federal courts appear to agree on one issue: whether the Americans with Disabilities Act protects employees using medical marijuana from adverse employment actions. For now, both courts favor employers against these claims. Regardless, it is best to be careful and work with employees to find a reasonable accommodation because this could change.

Employers can also help protect themselves by updating workplace drug policies that include any disciplinary consequences. Also, they should document employee behavior when an incident occurs and obtain signed witness statements.

HARRISBURG — The Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted 4-0 Thursday to approve final regulations for the state’s six-year-old medical marijuana program but not until commissioners spent hours debating a controversial testing provision.

Under the regulations, growers are required to get marijuana material tested twice by two different labs — once at the time of harvest and again after the marijuana has been processed into the product that would be sold in the dispensaries.

Trade groups had strongly opposed the regulation saying that requiring two labs to test the product at different times in the process will accomplish nothing.

In arguing for the need for the use of two labs, Department of Health officials asserted that it will prevent growers from relying on labs that fudge their results.

In other states, there have been allegations that labs have results inflating the amount of THC in the marijuana products.

Judith Cassell, an attorney with Cannabis Law PA, said that using different labs at different stages of the production process won’t shed any light on whether the THC levels detected by the lab tests are accurate. The THC levels may change from the time of harvest to later in the production process. THC is the substance that has an effect on a person’s mental state.

Washington, D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) made a significant move this week for two industries – tourism and cannabis.(Benzinga)

On Monday, Bowser signed a bill that would allow tourists visiting the nation's capital to self-certify as medical marijuana patients without a physician's recommendation. 

The action comes some three months after she signed the Medical Marijuana Self-Certification Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 into law, which allows D.C. residents to self-certify as MMJ patients and buy cannabis from licensed retailers.

Now, the self-certification right is basically extended to non-residents visiting the capital.

Why Self-Certification In The First Place?

Though adult-use cannabis was legalized in Washington D.C. in 2014, a rider that has remained valid throughout several presidential budget proposals has prevented the District from fully exercising its legal cannabis program.

This legislation enables the District to bypass the rider that has prevented D.C. from using its local taxes to implement a system of legal cannabis commerce.

Cannabis consumers are increasing across legal states, with polls showing that they’ll soon become the new normal.

Marijuana’s increase in popularity continues to surprise everyone over the age of 18, with a new poll showing that the drug is well on its way to becoming the new normal.

The numbers, reported by a study from the University of Michigan, show that more and more young adults living in legal states are regularly consuming marijuana.

Researchers also share that the jump in numbers is driven in large percentages by women. The study’s data show that this change is a marked departure from the numbers belonging to previous generations, when men were the principal marijuana consumers, or, at least the ones who were open with polls about their cannabis habits.

The Hill spoke with several young adults from states where cannabis is on the ballot in November, who shared why they enjoyed marijuana and why their generation was so open to its use. “It really helps with sleep,” said Allison. “It’s great for stress, anxiety. And my generation has huge anxiety problems.”

Earlier this month, the Biden administration issued a pardon for non-violent cannabis offenses, asking governors and state leaders to follow their lead. Per Biden, one of the main reasons behind the pardons is social justice, hoping to benefit minorities and those who’ve been impacted by the war on drugs.