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 A campaign pushing to legalize marijuana in Ohio will have to collect a new batch of petition signatures after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost rejected the first batch the group submitted, citing issues with how the petition summarized the group’s proposed law change.

Have you tried Delta 8?

It’s found in Louisville hemp shops. Your fave Instagram influencer is pushing it on their profile. Your friend offered you a hit off his vape last time you saw him.

It’s a “legal weed.” You don’t really understand what it is or how you’re able to use it in a state as anti-pot as Kentucky. But sure, you’ll try it. 

The answers behind what it is and its legality are more complicated than it may seem based on Delta 8’s ubiquitousness. 

But, let’s start with the basic facts. 

There are major risks associated with the consumption of large amounts of cannabis by young children. Unlike in adults, the risks to children include coma and even death if the child is so profoundly sedated that they cannot protect their airway. Other effects include tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory depression severe enough to require ventilation. Cannabis ingestion in children is an immediate medical emergency. The risks were recently highlighted in a segment from CBS News.

The legalization of recreational marijuana in a number of states has been linked to an increase in the overall use of cannabis products, which includes a substantial increase in the consumption of edible cannabis. The more widespread availability of edibles poses new risks of accidental exposure, especially in children. Edibles are commonly made as gummies, cookies, brownies, and other sweets that can be attractive to children, and the doses in an individual gummy, etc., in many cases exceed the average dose for an adult.

Reports from poison control centers document a substantial increase in the number of reports related to cannabis in recent years, and reports from edibles are substantially overrepresented: despite accounting for only 11.1% of cannabis sales, 48% of reports involving children under 10 were from the consumption of edibles.

There is evidence that links the increased rate of unintentional pediatric exposure to cannabis to the changing legal status of the drug. From 2005 to 2011, the rates of pediatric exposure rose 30.3% in legal states, whereas there was no change in non-legal states. Therefore, the expectation is that unintentional pediatric exposure will be a worsening problem as more regions of the country decriminalize cannabis and expand access to the drug.

A Cannabis Antidote Could Be The Solution

Anebulo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANEB) is investing in a solution to this worsening problem. The company’s lead drug ANEB-001 is an antidote to cannabis intoxication that could quickly reverse the effects of a THC and other cannabinoids in a child. ANEB-001 binds to the receptor in the brain responsible for the effects of cannabinoids (the CB1 receptor) and prevents it from being engaged by THC. This is similar in principle to how Narcan (naloxone) can be used to reverse an opioid overdose.

There are now two separate efforts to legalize marijuana in Ohio.

On Friday, two Democratic lawmakers in the Ohio House introduced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana. House Bill 382 would allow Ohioans to purchase and use marijuana and cultivate up to 12 plants.

The bill hasn’t been assigned to a committee yet. The measure’s main authors are state Reps. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, and Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland. The bill already has 10 co-sponsors, all Democrats.

The measure would levy a 10% excise tax on marijuana sales, with money going to public schools along with road and bridge construction. In addition, up to $20 million would be used for clinical trials to see if marijuana can be used to treat veterans and prevent veteran suicides, according to a news release issued by Weinstein and Upchurch.

Also last week, an initiative petition, “An Act to Regulate and Control Adult Use Cannabis,” and the signatures of 1,000 Ohio voters backing it was submitted to the attorney general’s office.

From high quality oils and tinctures, to delicious edibles and soothing topicals, it seems there’s something for everyone when it comes to Cannabidiol (or “CBD” for short).

Don’t get us wrong, having various CBD products to choose from is amazing. It gives people the chance to enjoy and experience the medicinal properties of CBD in a way that’s best for them.

But honestly, do you find yourself a bit overwhelmed by the crazy amount of CBD products floating around the internet and in CBD dispensaries?

If you answered yes, then we may have a solution for you… CBD hemp flower!

Benefits of CBD hemp flower

For many people, consuming CBD has become a key part of maintaining the overall health and wellness.

A new study shows promising evidence that CBD can benefit patients, specifically those with epilepsy, in myriad ways.

Despite years in the medical marijuana market, many still doubt the efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating symptoms for physical and mental health conditions such as anxiety or epilepsy. But a new study published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior indicates that epilepsy patients who used a form of artisanal CBD-based product showed “higher quality of life, lower psychiatric symptom severity, and improved sleep” than those who did not.

The study indicates that cost and access were driving factors in epilepsy patients who opted for artisanal CBD instead of Epidiolex, the CBD-based drug approved by the FDA back in 2018 to treat two rare and severe forms of epilepsy that manifest in early childhood: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Unlike many CBD products for sale online and in-stores made from hemp-derived CBD, Epidiolex is made from cannabis, and marked a shift in how the medical world viewed the plant.

Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/Getty Images

“This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies. And, the FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. said in a press release.

You’re probably familiar with sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and even pumpkin seeds. But hemp plants also produce edible seeds that can be used in a variety of ways — and the seeds happen to be nutrient powerhouses. Here’s the scoop on hemp seed benefits, as well as ways to incorporate the seeds into meals and snacks. Image credit: Canvast Supply Co./Unsplash

Hemp seed nutrition

Hemp seeds are loaded with nutrients. A 3-tablespoon portion provides 166 calories with almost 10 grams of protein, 14 grams of anti-inflammatory fat, and just 2.5 grams of carb with 1 gram as fibre. Hemp seeds are also packed with key vitamins and minerals, including 100% of the daily value (DV) for manganese, a nutrient needed to maintain strong bones and produce collagen for healthy skin and joints.

With that portion of hemp seeds, you’ll also take in 25% of the DV for zinc, which supports immune function, and 10%-25% of the recommended intake for key energy-supporting B vitamins. Hemp seeds are also rich in a variety of antioxidants and protective bioactive compounds, according to a 2020 review published in the journal Nutrients.

Hemp seeds are also high in magnesium, a mineral that supports learning, memory, mood, and healthy sleep. For example, Organic Hulled Hemp Seeds from 365 by Whole Foods provides 45% of the daily need for magnesium in a 3-tablespoon serving. That magnesium content might be especially good news for athletes, who’ve shown to have improved strength, oxygen uptake, energy production, and electrolyte balance with a higher magnesium intake.

Ways to eat hemp seeds

Hemp seeds, which may also be labelled as “hemp hearts” (aka, hulled hemp seeds), have a subtle nutty flavour and crunchy texture. They can be eaten as is or incorporated into a variety of dishes. At breakfast, blend them into smoothies or sprinkle onto cereal, oatmeal, overnight oats, açaí bowls, yoghurt, fresh fruit, or avocado. Add hemp seeds to homemade energy balls, salads, hummus, cooked veggies, falafel, and slaw, or enjoy them as a garnish on nearly any dish, from soup to stir frys. Hemp seeds can also be incorporated into pancakes, as well as baked goods like bread, cookies, and muffins.

Tetra Bio-Pharma reports research the company has conducted on cannabis plant residue has demonstrated that what was previously considered “waste material” can increase the growth of beneficial gut microbes.

If granted, the patent application would protect the use of cannabis plant residue material containing cannabinoids within a specified profile range as an “oral prebiotic component alone or in combination with other pro, post, para, or prebiotics as a dietary supplement for gastrointestinal health.” / PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

Cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development company, Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc., has filed a patent application for a possible novel prebiotic supplement that can be made from cannabis waste.

The research group identified depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders as conditions that could benefit from psilocybin therapies.

The group identified depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders as conditions that could benefit from psilocybin therapies. / PHOTO BY JAX10289 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

A state government-established Oregon advisory board has released a new report stating that psilocybin could be an effective tool in treating a variety of psychiatric conditions.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Focusing on social equity, a black woman whose business certifies residents for Connecticut’s medical marijuana card is taking advantage of measures in a new state law that target the issue most important to her.

A groundbreaking part of the new law, which went into effect July 1, is social equity.

It requires half of all licenses for entry into the state’s marijuana business be reserved for social-equity applicants, those from areas disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, according to the U.S. Census.

For Smith-Bolden, the new law means “righting the wrongs.”

“That, to me, is a positive thing,” Smith-Bolden said, “but what I don’t like is that, if you’re expunging records because you’re acknowledging that those charges were racially motivated — and should be rescinded so that the legislation protects the communities it once criminalized — then why would you not allow for people with criminal histories to engage in the industry?”

When the first Missouri dispensaries opened their doors in 2020, getting a Missouri marijuana card didn’t really do much for qualifying patients. The selection of medical marijuana products only covered a narrow spectrum of needs, and there were no options for people with a very low or high tolerance to THC.

Fortunately for residents of the Show Me State, the medical marijuana selection is now flourishing. From St. Louis to KC, St. Joseph to Poplar Bluff, and everywhere in between, you can find exactly what you’re looking for, whether it’s edibles with a higher CBD content, vape pens with a higher THC content, or a perfectly balanced smokable flower.

While using medical marijuana without becoming uncomfortably impaired is one of the top concerns most of our patients have, it’s also important to help people with an exceptionally high THC tolerance get the most out of their natural treatment plan as well.

For those of you who struggle to get the kind of relief you’re looking for because your body just doesn’t seem to register the results, we see you, too. In this post, we are going to take a look at reasons for some people’s tolerance to be higher than others’, and what you can do to boost the effectiveness of your cannabis every time you use it.

Reasons Why Some People Have a Higher Tolerance to THC

There are two main reasons why some people have a higher tolerance to THC than others. Mitigation strategies will be approximately the same no matter what your reasons are, and it will likely take a bit of trial and error in order to find the solutions that work best for you. But experimentation is half the fun, right?

We talk a lot about melatonin here at cbdMD because it works so well in combination with CBD. But we realize - we've kind of dropped the ball, so to speak. We have yet to address what we've assumed everyone knows. Most people know what melatonin does but have no idea what melatonin is. We thought it's time we get to the bottom of these questions: What is melatonin? What is melatonin used for? We'll also explain how it works in your body and why we love pairing it with CBD so you can get your best sleep.

And do we need to even talk about why sleep is so important for your body? Ask those dark circles under your eyes if sleep is one of the most crucial things you do for your body. We cannot survive without sleep, an essential function of our body that allows our mind and body to recharge themselves and do crucial reparative work. Our cognitive function, memory, and our immune systems all depend on the work of sleep. And to make sure we get enough of it, our bodies produce a natural 'drowsy' hormone.

So, let's talk about melatonin, nature's little sleeping helper. Here's what we'll cover today:

Key Questions We'll Answer (and More!)

What Is Melatonin?

If you’re one of the millions of people who have trouble sleeping, you may have considered a cannabis compound, such as CBD. Some say cannabis compounds are helpful, but more research is needed. And they might not be legal, depending on where you live. Look up the laws to know what’s allowed.

What Does the Research Say About Cannabis?

Also known as marijuana, there’s growing interest in the health benefits of cannabis, specifically cannabis compounds. Two cannabinoids that get a lot of attention are:

Research results on cannabis and sleep are mixed. So far, there haven’t been many controlled studies to show that THC, CBD, or a combination of both can boost sleep quality, says Bhanuprakash (Bhanu) Kolla, MD. He’s an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology and a consultant for Mayo Clinic’s Center for Sleep Medicine in Rochester, MN.

But some studies show promise. That includes a small one on dronabinol, a human-made version of medical THC. Early research shows it might help with obstructive sleep apnea. But “at this point, we do not recommend the use of cannabis products for treatment of sleep apnea or other sleep disorders,” Kolla says.

Ryan Vandrey, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimoe, looks at how cannabis use affects sleep. He says there’s evidence that THC can help you fall asleep faster in the short-term. But “there’s a big gap in our knowledge” for how cannabis affects overall sleep quality long-term or if it can help people with sleep disorders.

A nightly dose of medicinal cannabis (MC) improved sleep and other quality of life (QOL) outcomes in patients with high-grade gliomas, according to results of a study published in Frontiers in Oncology.

Researchers conducted a randomized, phase 2 trial comparing 2 ratios of oral MC oil in patients diagnosed with recurrent or inoperable high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme and grade III anaplastic astrocytoma.

The study enrolled 88 patients. Their average age was 53.3 years, a majority of patients were White (95.2%), and about half were women (49.4%).

Patients were randomly assigned to receive a 1:1 ratio of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) or a 4:1 ratio of THC to CBD. In the 1:1 group, the dose of THC was 4.6 mg/ml, and the CBD dose was 4.8 mg/ml. In the 4:1 group, the THC dose was 15 mg/ml, and the CBD dose was 3.8 mg/ml.

The researchers assessed QOL changes from baseline to week 12 using a paired t-test for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Brain (FACT-Br). The results showed greater improvements in physical domains (P =.025), functional domains (P =.014), and sleep (P =.009) with the 1:1 ratio over the 4:1 ratio.

Darren McCarty said he wouldn't be alive today if he never found marijuana.

The former NHL star and four-time Stanley Cup champion balanced a 16-year hockey career with binge drinking and alcoholism, McCarty told Insider in an interview. But once he retired in 2009, there was no sport left to balance out his addiction, and his drinking habits escalated to life-threatening levels over the next six years.

"I was 280 pounds," McCarty said. "My blood pressure when I was in the hospital was 265 over 145. I should be dead."

But in November 2015, he made the decision to do a seven-day detox in his garage while under the care of his wife Sheryl Simmons, who served as his nurse.

But the key ingredient that helped McCarty get through the detox, he said, was Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO, a cannabis-oil product with high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana that gets users high.

Children whose parents regularly smoke or vape marijuana may experience viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, more frequently than those whose parents do not smoke, according to a study published in the journal Pediatric Research.

Researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado, USA surveyed 1,491 parents and caregivers who lived in Colorado, a US state where recreational and medicinal use of marijuana is legal. The researchers found that parents who regularly smoked or vaped marijuana reported that their children experienced more viral respiratory infections in the year prior to the survey, compared to children whose parents did not smoke tobacco or marijuana. Parents who smoked or vaped marijuana reported that their children had not experienced other conditions often related to second-hand tobacco smoke exposure, such as ear infections and asthma attacks, more frequently nor that they had visited a hospital emergency department more often in the previous year, compared to children whose parents did not smoke.

The negative impact that exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke can have on children's health has been extensively studied but the impact of second-hand marijuana smoke on young children is unclear. Our findings identify the potential for increased respiratory infections in children exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke. This could have significant healthcare implications as more states in the USA move towards legalising recreational marijuana use."

Adam Johnson, Corresponding Author

Of the parents and caregivers who participated in the survey, 78 (5.2%) reported regularly smoking or vaping only marijuana, 214 (14.3%) reported regularly smoking only tobacco and 80 (5.4%) reported regularly smoking both marijuana and tobacco. The researchers found that those who only smoked marijuana tended to be younger, educated to a higher level, less likely to identify as Hispanic, and have a higher income than those who did not smoke or who only smoked tobacco. Parents and caregivers who smoked both marijuana and tobacco tended to be younger and were less likely to identify as Hispanic than non-smokers. They also had lower income and education levels than non-smokers, compared to those who only smoked marijuana and those who only smoked tobacco.

Alabama became the 36th state to allow cannabis for medical use when Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act on May 17, 2021. The act establishes a process through which applicants will compete for a limited number of licenses in the following categories: (1) cultivator; (2) processor; (3) dispensary; and (4) “integrated facility” (which can cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis under one license), as well as a to-be-determined number of licenses for secure transporters and testing laboratories. A 14-member Medical Cannabis Commission licenses and regulates the medical cannabis program, with input from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries on cultivation matters. The act requires that the Commission and the department adopt regulations that allow license applications by September 1, 2022.

This article provides an overview of the requirements for obtaining a dispensary license, and is part of a series of similar overviews for the other five license categories. 

What is a dispensary license?

A dispensary license authorizes the licensee to: (1) purchase and transfer cannabis from a processor, integrated facility, or cultivator, if the cultivator contracted with a processor to process its cannabis on the cultivator’s behalf; and (2) dispense and sell medical cannabis to a registered qualified patient or registered caregiver.

How many dispensary licenses will be issued?

The act authorizes the Commission to issue four dispensary licenses. At least one license must be awarded to a business entity that is 51%+ owned by individuals of “African American, Native American, Asian, or Hispanic descent,” and “managed and controlled” by such individuals “in its daily operations.” Each dispensary licensee may operate up to three dispensing sites, each of which must be in a different county from any other dispensing site and is subject to other restrictions.

What are the requirements for obtaining a dispensary license?

Applicants for a dispensary license must pay a non-refundable application fee of $2,500. Each “owner, shareholder, director, [and] board member” of an applicant, along with each “individual with an economic interest in an applicant,” must submit to a “state and national criminal background check.” If any “owner, director, board member, or individual with a controlling interest” has been “convicted of or released from incarceration for [any] felony” or “convicted of a controlled substance-related felony” within the last 10 years, the applicant is ineligible for a license.

When it comes to CBD, entrepreneurs would be well served to start with the end in mind. 

The foreseeable outcome is federal regulation – just like any other consumed food or dietary supplement on the market.

While it is understandable that CBD manufacturers would prefer to run their businesses without any government intervention, being left unchecked has made the sector vulnerable to unscrupulous behavior.

Without regulation in place, anyone can sell CBD products.

Consequently, there are plenty of bad actors out there without experience growing hemp or making high-quality hemp extracts.

The legal cannabis market is planned to reach $43 billion by 2025. In the US, as of July 1, 2021, 47 states have legalized cannabis, of which 19 states have legalized it for both recreational and medical use. This means that 43% of the US adult population resides in these states and that by 2025, 5.4 million Americans will be registered as patients in medical cannabis states.

Looking at these numbers, a question that often arises is - will all these people be able to get life insurance coverage?

Up until recently, using marijuana was taboo and was not supported, even condoned, by the health care and life insurance fields. Things have changed, research shows more in-depth findings, and customer behavior and demand have shifted.

When insurers review an individual applying, there are quite a few factors considered:

Age

PIERRE, S.D. — As the November deadline for proposed laws concerning legalized medical cannabis approaches, the South Dakota Department of Health is holding a public hearing to consider the adoption and amendment of proposed rules for South Dakota medical cannabis program.

The hearing will be held on Aug. 18, 2021 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. CDT, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. MDT in Conference Room 3 of the Kneip Building, 700 Governor’s Drive in Pierre. Anyone interested in testifying for or against the proposed rules may do so by appearing in person or remotely at the hearing.

To testify remotely, you must register by Aug. 13, 2021 by clicking here.

If you cannot make it in person or remotely, written comments and materials must reach the South Dakota Department of Health — 600 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota 57501 — by Aug. 28, 2021.

After the hearing, the DOH will consider all written and oral comments.