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Costa Rica’s Congress on Tuesday approved the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, despite opposition from conservative groups and President Carlos Alvarado, who still needs to put his stamp of approval on the law.

The law allows for the production and processing of cannabis, but does not regulate its recreational use.

Independent lawmaker Zoila Volio, who backed the law and called the move a milestone, said it would not open the floodgates to increased drug use in Costa Rica.

“I trust that President Alvarado has understood that and will not veto it,” said Volio.

If Alvarado vetoes the law, lawmakers would need to again vote on it and approve it with a qualified majority.

When you are too close to any open flame, the pain acts as a warning system. When your skin, joints, muscles, or other organs are damaged, pain prompts you to seek medical attention.

It is a generally acknowledged sensation felt in subtle ways or as potent and more piercing sensations. This warning sign is frequently beneficial since it encourages you to analyse and take action to repair and relieve unpleasant reactions. Pain, however beneficial it may be, does not eliminate the sensations you are experiencing, which can range from moderate to severe.

When you’re in pain as a result of an injury, or even if it’s chronic, you need aid to get it under control. When the pain is so terrible that it impairs your quality of life, relief is vital. If you’ve decided to try CBD, you’re probably aware that there are many options available. A topical treatment might be the most soothing choice to attempt if you’re suffering from joint stiffness and muscular discomfort. You may use a tincture, which can get under the tongue, pills, or even sweets like candies to make dosing more enjoyable. Another treatment, such as a CBD hemp cream for joint pain, has pain-relieving effects of CBD but also nourishes and soothes dry skin.

What is CBD cream?

CBD can be inside oils, such as hemp seed oil, and then used as a component in skin creams and lotions.

It has anti-inflammatory effects, according to research, and may assist with the symptoms of several skin disorders.

The Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association is encouraging its members to provide free or low-cost cannabis products to patients with severe or terminal illnesses.

MCMA’s Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution last week that asks member companies to create a program to ensure seriously ill patients have access to low- or no-cost cannabis products that are tested, labeled, tracked, and licensed.

MCMA represents cannabis businesses across the state.

“Just like any other form of medicine, patients with cancer and other severe or terminal illnesses deserve to know their cannabis has met the highest standards for testing, tracking, licensing and safety — and our members’ products do just that,” MCMA Executive Director Stephen Linder said in a news release. “Michigan’s patients rely on cannabis as medicine and deserve to know where their cannabis comes from and what’s in it. We encourage our member companies to assess the specific needs of these patients in their communities and help ensure they have access to safe, tested cannabis products.”
 

Here’s the resolution:
 

The Board of Directors of the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association hereby resolves: The membership of the MCMA is committed to making sure that patients and children with chronic illnesses such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, autism, and many other chronic or terminal illnesses should have access to safe, tested and cost-effective medical cannabis products.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, or OMMA, released a patient advisory Monday for the state when a specific batch of pot came back positive for the compound THC-O-acetate.

In their release acting as a “smoke signal”, the governing agency said it’s a combination that could prove dangerous.

The situation all started when the OMMA received a complaint from a patient who had a bad experience on the green.

“We discovered that there was a product that tested positive for a compound called THC-O-acetate,” said Kelsey Pagonis, the communications manager for the agency. “We don’t yet have that confirmed where it happened in the supply chain.”

Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that "marijuana preserved with honey" cures 40 different medical conditions, including Alzheimer's, diabetes and high blood pressure. The posts are misleading; there is no evidence the purported remedy can cure these conditions. Health experts said people should see a doctor if they have health concerns. "Recipe of marijuana preserved with honey, cures 40 different diseases," reads a Thai-language Facebook post from September 18 shared more than 600 times. The post lists a variety of health conditions, including Alzheimer's, diabetes and high blood pressure. 

"Use the entire cannabis trunk, as well as leaves, root and flowers. Chop them into pieces, sundry them, and leave them for 15 days. Have a teaspoon every day before going to bed". Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on Facebook, taken on October 18, 2021 Marijuana has been used as a traditional herb for centuries in Thailand but was banned decades ago. In February 2019, Thailand legalised the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In December 2020, marijuana was removed from a government list of "harmful drugs", meaning it is now legal to plant it domestically if government approval is obtained. A similar claim was shared here, here and here on Facebook.  The claim is misleading: experts say there is insufficient evidence to prove that the purported remedy cures any health conditions. 'No evidence' Dr Khwanchai Wisitanon, deputy director of Thailand's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said there was no evidence to prove the effectiveness of the purported remedy.

"Based on the medical record, there is no research to support the claim," he told AFP.  "If you are diagnosed with a certain disease, you should seek health professionals' advice for medical treatments". Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, an expert on medical marijuana at Chulalongkorn University, also said there was insufficient evidence to prove the purported recipe can "cure" diseases. "There is no evidence to suggest the claim is correct," he told AFP.

"It is true that marijuana has anti-inflammatory properties, but patients should not rely on it in order to get better. They should always seek professional medical advice." Although marijuana may have properties that can alleviate certain symptoms, it cannot "cure" diseases, according to Pakakrong Kwankhao, head of Chaopraya Abhaiphubejhr Hospital's Centre for Evidence-based Thai Traditional and Herbal Medicine. "Marijuana can help alleviate some symptoms. It can ease the patient's pain or make the patient get rested or be happy. However, it still lacks evidence that it can be used to "cure" any diseases," she told AFP.

The skeletal system is an essential of the human anatomy. We need our skeletal system to stand erect, to walk properly and function optimally. The sad reality is that, a lot of people take their bone health for granted thereby affecting the skeletal system.

For some individuals, poor bone health is caused by the strenuous activities that they engage in on a daily basis. For others, it is poor workout routines that leaves a strain on the bones.

Cannabis has emerged as a possible remedy for poor bone health in recent times, but just how?

Our bones are essential to our proper functioning as humans. Without bones, we will simply be a pool of tissues that cannot accomplish the most basic activities. Our muscles and tissues attach to the bones, giving our body shape and form. The functions of our bones can be broken into three main parts.

Best Practices for Good Bone Health

When it comes to figuring out the best practices for good bone health, there are two simple answers: movement and nutrition. Food provides your bones with the necessary nutrients and building blocks, while movement helps the bone to remodel itself in the best way to give the body a great shape.

Week after week, thousands of new patients enroll in Missouri’s fast-growing medical marijuana program. Less than a year since the start of retail sales, nearly 150,000 Missourians with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and 20 other qualifying conditions can now safely purchase their medicine at any of the more than 150 dispensaries approved to operate so far.

What those patients can’t now do — thanks to a vague, overly broad and confusing rule interpretation recently announced by the state Department of Health and Senior Services — is access complete information related to the manufacture, quality, safety, contents, application and pricing of medical cannabis products in Missouri.

The department’s ban on “promotional events” may be rooted in the best of intentions, but its prohibition on “any activity, advertisement or publicity designed to increase interest in purchasing medical marijuana or a particular product or brand” is an unduly restrictive burden.

Many medical cannabis patients, including those we both treat at our St. Louis practices, as well as across the state, are on fixed incomes. It’s imperative that they know which dispensaries carry their preferred products and how much those products cost so that they can locate, budget and shop accordingly. Dispensaries offer promotional pricing to help patients afford their medicine and use these opportunities to educate and inform patients.

State regulators routinely refer to the importance of patient education in an arena in which many program participants may still be unfamiliar. The ability to discuss the direct-to-patient benefits allowed by dispensary education events cannot be realized if these patients are unaware of the cannabis retail outlet’s available pricing programs and products.

The days of Reefer Madness hysteria seem long behind us as more and more states legalize recreational marijuana. (Last week, one of the most conservative Supreme Court justices, Clarence Thomas, said he believed federal anti-marijuana laws might no longer be necessary.) Although pot is no longer considered the mania-inducing menace of years past, it's not harm free—like many milder, legal substances such as caffeine, pot can cause negative side effects if you use too much. Here are some potential physical reactions that may surprise you. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You May Have Already Had COVID.

1. Anxiety

Marijuana has a long reputation as a relaxant. But taking too much of it can have the opposite effect, causing anxiety, paranoia, and even panic attacks, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "A fatal overdose is unlikely, but that doesn't mean marijuana is harmless," the CDC warns.

Some heavy marijuana users experience severe nausea, vomiting, and pain after using cannabis. It's called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, and the symptoms tend not to respond to drug treatment. Experts estimate 2.7 million Americans experience the condition, which is frequently misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem or GI issue before the true culprit is discovered. (Last year, it was the subject of the Washington Post's "Medical Mysteries" column.) "CHS went from being something we didn't know about and never talked about to a very common problem over the last five years," Dr. Eric Lavonas, a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians, told the New York Times. It has a simple cure: Stop smoking pot.

3. Trouble Breathing

Just like cigarettes, marijuana joints require you to inhale smoke, which can lead to breathing issues. "Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and people who smoke marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke tobacco," says the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). "These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections." However, the agency notes, smoking pot has not been found to raise lung cancer risk.

4. Rapid Heart Rate

Also surprising for a renowned chill-out drug: Smoking marijuana can increase blood pressure, says the Mayo Clinic. "Marijuana raises heart rate for up to three hours after smoking," says NIDA. "This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk."

Cannabis and its effect on sex is a topic that is often discussed. But cannabis and its effect on the sex lives of seniors doesn’t get nearly as much coverage, but it should.

The range of which cannabis can affect someone’s sex life is wide, from simply helping people feel more turned on, to opening the mind to deeper intimacy and promoting mindfulness. When applied to seniors, cannabis can provide an even larger influence, offering relaxation and increased libido, while also treating symptoms that naturally appear as people grow older and their bodies start to change.

Forbes spoke with Ashley Manta, a coach that specializes in the “cannasexual.” She said, “Cannabis is so useful for seniors because it addresses the common things that get in the way of intimacy. For folks whose bodies are aging, one of the more common things is pain. Whether from arthritis, stiffness or an injury, pain can be very distracting when it comes to pleasure.”

Cannabis and its use on seniors is a topic worth pursuing and initiating. Studies show that cannabis use among seniors steadily increases year after year, with a majority of people growing more educated on the subject and learning to use the plant to their advantage. Cannabis’s influence can be beneficial for a variety of aspects in seniors’ lives, like treating chronic conditions or providing some escape from stress. Sex is the least discussed of these issues, but it’s just as important.

As more companies continue to get involved with cannabis, there will likely be more products designed to reach a variety of people, including older demographics who want to have sex because it’s fun and healthy, and it makes them happy.

The Long Beach City Council this week voted to allow more cannabis dispensaries and delivery-only marijuana businesses, but asked staff to figure out how to pay for the expanded program without raising taxes.

“It could potentially cripple the businesses we’re trying to lift up,” Councilman Al Austin said about the rejected tax increase. “That’s my real concern.”

The city’s social equity program was created in 2018 to allow those who were targeted for cannabis-related crimes to benefit from legalization.

The ordinance will allow eight more dispensaries to operate in Long Beach, exclusive to those who qualify for the equity program.

To qualify, equity applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Through the first nine months of this year Illinois has already far exceeded the more than $669 million it did in adult-use recreational cannabis sales in 2020.

September sales totaled $121,717,709.51, compared to the $67,648,362.14 in statewide sales in September 2020.

The monthly report the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation released this week shows $997,067,100.34 in recreational cannabis sales through the first nine months of this year.

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In addition to the significant increase in recreational cannabis sales over the last year, the number of Illinoisans registered for medical marijuana has also continued to grow by a large margin each year.

An eight-year-old Woodstock child ate a large quantity of cannabis gummies over the weekend. The child was rushed to hospital and was in stable condition. Woodstock police wanted to remind people who consume cannabis, particularly edibles such as gummies or other sweets, to be mindful of safe storage away from children. Police encourage adults to safely store any alcohol and cannabis products out of reach or behind locked doors to ensure children do not consume them by mistake.

In the summer of 2020, Health Canada issued an advisory that children are being harmed after consuming illegal cannabis edibles that are not subject to safety and quality controls, do not have childproof packaging and have been stored by parents in places too easily accessible to kids. The caution was issued following several cases of children having been hospitalized after ingesting illegal weed edibles that looked like regular candies or treats.

Cannabis, also known as weed or marijuana, is used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Although restricted in most countries, the increasing legalization of cannabis for recreational and medicinal consumption means that cannabis use is rising. Cannabis is also the most common illicit drug used by pregnant women, but the effects of cannabis on embryonic development are not well understood. It is also important to understand the effects of cannabis on individuals with a genetic predisposition, which means they carry genetic mutations that increase the risk of environmental conditions triggering a defect or disease.

A new study from scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA, has now revealed that THC, the chemical in cannabis that causes the sensation of feeling ‘high’, can cause birth defects in genetically predisposed mice. In this case, the researchers investigated whether THC could exacerbate a mutation that affects a mechanism that cells use to communicate with each other, called Hedgehog signaling. “Several years ago, it was reported that THC could inhibit Hedgehog signaling in cells grown in a dish,” said the study’s lead author Robert Krauss, PhD, Professor of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “We reasoned that THC might be an environmental risk factor for birth defects, but that it would require additional risk factors, such as specific mutations in the genes required for Hedgehog signaling, to induce these defects in mice.”

To address this hypothesis, Dr. Krauss and colleagues administered a single dose of THC, equivalent to exposures achieved when humans smoke cannabis, to pregnant mice about a week after conception. They then studied the embryonic development of their pups, some of which carried a mutation that meant Hedgehog signaling was not functioning at full efficiency. The scientists found that pups without the mutation developed normally, even when exposed to THC, as did pups that carried the mutation but were not exposed to the drug. However, pups that were exposed to THC and carried the mutation developed a brain and face defect called holoprosencephaly, a common birth defect seen in 1 in 250 human conceptions that includes the failure of the forebrain to divide into two distinct segments.

These first studies in mice have important implications for human health, highlighting the need for more research into the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy in humans. “The THC concentration in cannabis is now very high, so it is important to perform epidemiology studies looking at whether cannabis consumption is associated with developmental defects. Women are already advised not to consume cannabis while pregnant, but our results show that embryos are sensitive at a very early period, before many women know they are pregnant. Cannabis consumption may therefore be inadvisable even when women are trying to get pregnant,” Dr. Krauss warned.

Although this study focussed on one chemical in cannabis and one genetic mutation, further research could reveal other combinations that cause similar effects. “Many of the mutations found in human holoprosencephaly patients could conceivably synergize with THC,” said Dr. Krauss. “We would also like to test the related chemical CBD in genetically predisposed mice. Like THC, CBD inhibits Hedgehog signaling in cells grown in a dish, but CBD appears to work differently. As CBD is widely available and often viewed as beneficial – or at least innocuous – it would be worth investigating this as well,” he added.

CBD Oracle (Tustin, CA), a cannabis review and news site, has published an analysis of 520 CBD companies, representing over 20,000 products. The study sought to uncover issues with transparency in the unregulated CBD marketplace, which can threaten consumer trust. According to a survey from Consumer Brands Association, 92% of American consumers either incorrectly assume or have no idea if CBD is federally regulated. Upon being informed that there are no federal agencies that regulate CBD products, 84% of respondents expressed concern about the safety of CBD products. 

CBD Oracle’s study offers an optimistic view of the industry. According to its findings, 89.4% of companies test their CBD products through accredited third-party labs, demonstrating a transparent industry. “Despite consumer apprehension being a huge problem, our analysis suggests an industry so conscious of its regulatory shortcomings it’s taking appropriate steps to fix them,” said Alisdair Mans Cornwell, senior editor at CBD Oracle, in a statement.

Additional findings showed that 89% of companies fully disclose their hemp source and cultivation practices. Most of U.S. hemp sourced for CBD products came from Colorado (30.1%), followed by Oregon (13.4%), then Kentucky and California (tied for 5.1%). Eight percent of hemp was source from Europe, according to the study. The most popular European sources of hemp were Holland, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Spain.

When it came to the most common type of CBD products offered, the majority of companies (72%) sell some type of CBD tincture. The second most popular option sold was topical CBD, offered by 65% of the companies in the analysis. The third and fourth most popular options were capsules and gummies, sold by 42% and 40% of companies, respectively. Unfortunately, 43% of CBD companies in the study did not disclose extraction methods used for their products. Of those that did disclose extraction methods, CO2 extraction was used by 42% of CBD companies, with ethanol extraction being the second most popular method (11%).

CBD Oracle also collected data about minor cannabinoids. According to its analysis, the most popular minor cannabinoid present in the marketplace is cannabigerol (CBG), sold by 20% of the 520 companies. This was followed by cannabinol (CBN), sold by 12% of the companies, and delta-8 THC, sold by 10% of the companies. CBD Oracle expected more companies to sell delta-8 THC. It cites data from New Fronteir Data that states sales of delta-8 THC has reached $10 million across the U.S. in 2020. Despite the exponential market growth of delta-8, CBD Oracle believes that restrictions on the sale of the minor cannabinoid across 19 states is likely contributing to relatively low adoption of delta-8 by manufacturers.

While most people can use marijuana without experiencing any issues whatsoever, fainting is a side effect that has been known to happen. Some medical experts say these blackout moments can occur since THC decreases blood pressure in the body.(As Originally Seen On Benzinga)

One second you’re at a party, laughing it up with friends like you’ve done a thousand times before when a joint makes its way into your hands. Nothing out of the ordinary here, except for the fact that by smoking with others, you are about to contract the germs of everyone else in the room, but that’s another story for another time. In this particular scenario, however, you take a hit off the joint, pass it to the left and continue to bask in the conversation going on around you.  

But then all of a sudden, things start to get weird.

You might feel at first as if you are going to vomit, and your senses might start going a bit haywire. You might even have some trouble catching your breath, saying something to the person next to you, like “Dang, what was in that weed.” You even consider excusing yourself for a minute to regain your faculties, but before you have any chance to make it to the bathroom, everything goes black. You are told later that you just dropped out completely after taking that hit of weed. 

Illinois Women in Cannabis to Host a Breast Cancer and Cannabis Conversation; Virtual Forum Contributes to October’s Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month  Free Oct. 6 Webinar Features Midwest Cancer & Cannabis Clinicians and Patients, and is sponsored by NuEra Cannabis, in honor of its “Pre-Rolls for a Cause” Campaign

Illinois Women in Cannabis (IWC), the state’s leading cannabis industry networking organization, will host a virtual breast cancer and cannabis conversation in honor of October’s annual breast cancer awareness month. 

“Breast Cancer and Cannabis: Considerations. Cautions. And Case Studies” will be a live webinar held Wednesday, October 6, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.. The free forum will feature a panel of multi-state Midwest women experienced with both breast cancer and cannabis, including leading Missouri cannabis patient advocates and product formulation experts. Breast cancer patients who are registered medical marijuana patients in their respective states, and receive guidance from one of the panel presenters will also join the conversation, sharing their valued perspectives and experiences. 

nuEra Cannabis, the Illinois owned and operated vertically integrated cannabis company, is sponsoring the educational event to complement nuEra’s “Pre-Rolls for a Cause” product and retail promotion. nuEra’s campaign commemorates breast cancer awareness month; it will donate proceeds from the promotion to Illinois cancer charities. Learn how you can support its initiative: nuEra Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser. 

“Illinois Women in Cannabis values being able to organize and host important conversations like this upcoming breast cancer awareness forum,” said the Executive Director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, Amor Montes de Oca. “IWC was founded the year Illinois approved medical use, so we’ve grown and evolved in tandem with the state’s cannabis program. Over these past seven years we’ve been able to expand our educational offerings, advocacy initiatives and community partnerships thanks to having active members and loyal support from cannabis businesses, like nuEra. This upcoming webinar reflects the important work IWC is able to do, thanks to its members and corporate sponsors,” Amor said.