WeedLife News Network

American Cannabis Company, Inc.
(OTCQB: AMMJ) (“ACC” or “Company”), a full-service business-to-business cannabis and hemp
consulting solutions provider and licensed owner operator, is pleased to announce that its
proprietary potting mix, SoHum Living Soils®, was recently awarded an official certification from
the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).

OMRI's mission is to provide the agricultural industry with peace of mind in knowing that
quality materials are consistent and organic as a standard. This organization provided an
independent review of SoHum Living Soils®, looking at each individual input that is intended for
use in certified organic cultivation and production.

According to a research study published by the University Of New Mexico and Releaf App in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, cannabis flower may be effective in providing immediate relief for the symptoms of depression — a condition affecting roughly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S., and often leading to other ailments like cancer, substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. “The findings suggest that, at least in the short term, the vast majority of patients that use cannabis experience antidepressant effects, although the magnitude of the effect and extent of side effect experiences vary with chemotypic properties of the plant,” the paper reads.

The Research

The study, titled “The Effectiveness of Cannabis Flower for Immediate Relief from Symptoms of Depression,” was led by the founders of University of New Mexico’s Marijuana Research Fund, Jacob Vigil, Psychology Associate Professor at UNM, and Sarah See Stith, Economics Assistant Professor at UNM.

After reviewing 5,876 outcomes reported anonymously by 1,819 individuals tracking their cannabis use for treating depression through the Releaf App, the researchers concluded that, on average, patients reported an improvement in symptoms of nearly 4 points on a scale of 0 to 10, just moments after consuming whole, dried, natural cannabis flower – widely known as cannabis buds.

“One of the more interesting findings from this study is that cannabis flower with relatively high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is particularly associated with immediate reductions in the intensity of depressive feelings,” said Jacob Miguel Vigil. “The differences in time-to-effect and relative side effect prevalence across products and users could arise from other antidepressant and synergistic compounds in the plant beyond THC or cannabidiol (CBD), including minor cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.”

Further Detail

Per the study, most of the patients using natural cannabis flower products to treat their depression symptoms reported antidepressant effects. However, the magnitude of these effects and extent of experienced side effects varied alongside the properties of each plant.

 More and more states are beginning to implement legislation to regulate cannabis products. As sales of such products are becoming more prevalent, new and important regulations are expected to be implemented. One of the major concerns over cannabis abuse revolves around operating a vehicle while impaired. Generally, law enforcement officers may conduct field tests such as sobriety tests or even sample tests. However, sobriety tests can be inaccurate, while sample tests may not receive results for days or even weeks. As a result, companies within the cannabis marketspace began to develop the necessary technology for law enforcement agencies to use in crackdowns on drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. Cannabix Technologies Inc. (OTC: BLOZF) (CSE: BLO), OrganiGram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: OGI), HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO), Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB)

Presently, the medical cannabis sector accounts for a majority of the market share, as progress is slowly being made in removing the stigmas associated with such products. Overall, the legal cannabis market is permeating throughout the U.S. states and is helping to create a multi-billion-dollar industry. While medical cannabis still dominates that broad cannabis marketplace, the growing awareness and legalization efforts are expected to further propel the overall industry forward. In 2020, legal cannabis sales in the U.S were up 46% from 2019, reaching a new record of USD 17.5 Billion, according to cannabinoid market research firm BDSA.

Cannabix Technologies Inc. (OTC: BLOZF) (CSE: BLO) just announced breaking news that,

"it is ramping up subject beta testing in a high-volume clinic in the Northwestern US and will ship an additional THC Breath Analyzer ("THCBA") unit to the site. The collaborating clinic has a robust drug testing operation and is one of the top drug testing providers to employers within its respective state. The Company also reports that it has shipped two THCBA devices to a biomedical clinic in southern Ontario for beta-testing.

The THCBA is a drug screening device for employers and other markets who are seeking a way to quickly (in less than 5 minutes), easily and non-invasively test for recent use of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC") - the psychoactive component of marijuana that causes impairment. The THCBA consists of a handheld device and protective case which houses a sterilization module, sample preparation stage, device recovery station and integrated battery charging system. Over the course of 2020 to present the Company has been relentlessly focused on building the THCBA from bench prototypes to the current hand-held portable version 3.0 system. Over recent months, this proof-of-concept system has been introduced into small scale beta-testing sites. The focus of the beta-testing has been to gather information on user and administrator experience, identifying cross-reactivity of other substances within a semi-controlled study population and to further collect data and train the device's machine learning database and sensitivity profile. Furthermore, feedback has been provided in areas of handling, connectivity, operating procedures and data management.

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. 

Cannabis Conference 2021, the industry’s leading event for plant-touching businesses, was host to nearly 3,000 cannabis professionals in August, who came together for the first time in two years to share the latest technologies and solutions, business strategies and more at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

On the 85,000-square-foot trade show floor, 175 exhibitors showcased their products and services, while nearly 90 speakers shared their expertise during Cannabis Conference’s 40-plus session educational program. Sessions were jam-packed with business, cultivation, extraction and dispensary insights. After a monumental year in cannabis—there was much to discuss and break down.

More than six months after Texas legalized hemp, marijuana prosecution cases fell dramatically, with prosecutors filing fewer criminal charges while unleashing a struggle for police departments who now need to test substances in private labs, in order to prove illegal marijuana possession.

Since Gov. Greg Abbott signed the legalization of hemp at the beginning of June, focusing on agricultural practices and regulations, the number of misdemeanor marijuana possession cases dropped nearly two-thirds across Texas.

In 2018, Texas prosecutors filed about 5,900 new misdemeanor marijuana possession cases a month, as reported by the Texas Tribune, the first five months of 2019 saw an average of more than 5,600 new cases filed a month.

However, since June -when the hemp law was enacted- the number of cases has been slashed by more than half. In November, less than 2,000 new cases were filed, according to court data.

“In 2019, #txlege legalized hemp and threw into chaos the prosecution of marijuana crimes. From 2018 to 2019, pot possession arrests plummeted from 62.9k to 45.1k. In 2020, that number kept falling. @TxDPS reported 23.7k arrests statewide”. Reporter Jolie McCullough tweeted.

Trulieve, a cannabis company that operates across 11 U.S. states, has completed the acquisition of Arizona-based Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. The US$2.1 billion deal was first announced in May. Trulieve is now the largest and most profitable cannabis operation in the U.S., according to the company’s announcement.

Marijuana enforcement officials, city council members, and citizens all came together to discuss marijuana sales in the city, the timeline, and the economic impact at the 5th annual Western Colorado Economic Summit at the Grand Junction Convention Center on Thursday. City Council member, Abe Herman says, “Things we’ve come to consensus on is the cap of the number stores which is ten stores throughout the city. We have agreement from council on that, and the other item is the selection process for those ten stores which is a weighted lottery.”

Herman is pushing for store owners to give back to the community through non-profits and other ventures instead of just chasing profits. “Rather than it being pure chance, it will be weighted towards operators we feel are going to meet the goals and the vision we have for the community,” said Herman.

Also discussed were buffer zones of 1,000 feet from schools, 500 feet from parks, and rehabilitation facilities, but it could all change. Herman says, “Nothing is concrete at this point cause we haven’t adopted regulations yet.”

The marijuana city sales power point presentation may be done, but the city council policy discussions continue including a special tax rate of 6% with a total rate of over 26%. Community Development Director Tamra Allen says, “15% sales tax for marijuana, and that goes to the state. We get 10% of that back or 1.5%.”

Most decisions can change, but what won’t change is where the revenue is going. “For administration enforcement related to marijuana in the city is one. And, the second one is to the highest priorities of the recently adopted parks recreation open space master plan,” said Director Allen.

Problems with sleep are common. In recent research, 48 per cent of UK adults said sleeping badly had a negative effect on their mental health. For teenagers, this proportion was significantly higher — 66 per cent.The large number of people experiencing sleep problems makes for an attractive market. Some companies have seized the opportunity to provide remedies, including several manufacturers of cannabis products.

Changes to the way cannabis is regulated in many countries, including the UK, have helped the boom in cannabis products, with more people able to access these types of offerings — even if the cannabis compounds that can be used in sleep products in some countries are more limited than in others. In the U.S., where cannabis is fully legal in many states, California-based Ganja Goddess reported more than a sevenfold increase in revenue for its cannabis sleep products during the first year of the COVID pandemic.

Cannabis and sleep

Sleep disturbance is a common feature of withdrawal from cannabis use, indicating there may well be a relationship between cannabis use and sleep. But we still don’t have a clear understanding of the mechanisms in the brain involved in this relationship.

The effects of cannabis are due to a group of chemicals in the drug called cannabinoids. These include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive substance in cannabis. CBN and CBD don’t cause you to get high in the same way.

In the UK, CBD products are available legally, providing they don’t contain more than 0.2 per cent THC. Retailers and suppliers make all kinds of assertions about the benefits of CBD products, including how CBD can improve sleep. There is some evidence to support these claims, but this is mainly based on animal and human observational studies rather than randomised control trials, where comparisons can be made between CBD and a placebo.

Marijuana is now legal in New York, but that doesn’t mean you can smoke it everywhere. Here’s a look at some of the rules on where you can and can’t smoke in the state. Generally, anywhere you’re not allowed to smoke a cigarette, you’re also not allowed to smoke a joint.That includes a host of places where smoking is banned under New York’s Clean Indoor Air Act:

But there’s more. Numerous cities and counties across the state have banned smoking in public parks and other locations.

With cannabis legislation flying about and American citizens being drawn into the appeal of marijuana, discussions have moved on to issues concerning cannabis-induced anxiety. Concerned communities are wondering if marijuana causes or helps to manage anxiety. And experts have explained that it works both ways.Marijuana-induced anxiety is often experienced by both long-term and new cannabis users. The type of cannabis being consumed does not matter, as both recreational and medical cannabis have been found to trigger the condition.

This article delves into the causes of weed anxiety, methods to combat its occurrence, as well as how to prevent it from occurring in new cannabis users.

Cannabis and Anxiety

These two have an intriguing connection. Researchers have carried out trials to explain this relationship. Some studies have involved the use of cannabis and its compounds to develop a potential form of anxiety treatment, while other studies have focused on looking for ways to develop and improve cannabinoid-based anxiolytic agents.

Weed Anxiety

For you to understand weed anxiety, you have to know the concept of anxiety itself. Anxiety induces a bunch of reactions like increased heartbeats, inability to focus, incessant worries, and sweating. It occurs in moments that cause an individual to relieve their doubts and insecurities.

Unlike brief anxiety moments that can be brushed off by composing yourself with breathing exercises, weed-induced anxiety is much more complicated.

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. 

Potency has increasingly become the name of the game in the world of cannabis as THC concentrations are reaching ever greater heights. If you're looking to find the strongest cannabis around, we're here to help. Just remember, these strains do not mess around. Exercising caution when consuming them would be wise even for experienced users with high tolerances.

WEDDING PIE

An indica-dominant hybrid that packs a punch with THC content reaching up to 26 percent, Wedding Pie is a great late-night "snack" just before bedtime. This relatively new strain is a cross between two other indica-dominant hybrids, Grape Pie and the extremely popular Wedding Cake — Wedding Cake was named strain of the year in 2019 by industry website Leafly. Caryophyllene and myrcene are the dominant terpenes, giving this pie a unique peppery flavor.

There are a few Wedding Pie options available in the region, but Longview-based producer Mama J's takes the top spot when it comes to THC. Their flower clocks in at 25.7 percent, making it a decent starting point if you don't want to jump straight into the high THC deep end. Find it at Royal's Cannabis and Sativa Sisters.

SCARLET QUEEN

Grown on the rolling hills of the Palouse, Burnwell's Scarlet Queen, simply called Scarlett, is one of the strongest flower options on the market. This sativa-dominant hybrid is a cross of two other queens, killer and space. Scarlett inherited the sticky buds its parents are known for but significantly upped their punch, landing at 30.6 percent THC. It also took on the myrcene levels of its parents, giving it a traditionally herbal flavor.

Don't let the smooth, subdued packaging fool you; this is without question an in-your-face strain. Find it at Cannabis & Glass, Spokane Green Leaf and Cinder.

Illegal activity within the medical marijuana industry was among the topics discussed at the recent interim study hearing at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

"This is very near and dear to my heart in Northwest Oklahoma," District Attorney Chris Boring shared. "It's bad. I hope that you guys can find some solutions and help us deal with this problem."

Lori Carter, deputy attorney general for public policy, presented information regarding the prosecution of illegal activities within the medical marijuana industry.

According to Carter, crimes accompanying the now legal marijuana industry include fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution, as well as other crimes.

"We are focusing on those as well as trying to keep everything else within the law," Carter said. "Our second role really is advising on policy."

Emerald Valley Gardens, a small cannabis gardening shop near Springfield, is bustling with customers. At the register, owner Madeline Thomas answers questions about where to find the right pots or which brands to buy for first-time growers. Shelves are lined with nutrients and soil, and draped with leafy trailing plants. 

Thomas has been in the cannabis industry for more than 10 years, and says she loves the business. Over the course of the past two years, she says, her clientele skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic because people had more time on their hands. 

“It’s been so cool,” she says. “We’ve seen people who haven’t ever grown a cannabis plant or ever had a vegetable garden come in here, which is great. They’re our favorite customers because they’re super enthusiastic.” 

According to the medical journal Journal of Addictive Diseases, medicinal cannabis use increased by 91 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Some cannabis users in Eugene have taken to self-growing while stuck at home, which is a more environmentally friendly alternative to purchasing from a large-scale dispensary.

Cannabis consumes a lot of water and energy. Thomas says lighting is one of the most important elements when growing cannabis because the goal is to replicate an outdoor environment in a controlled grow room. Indoor marijuana growth needs complex high-powered lighting systems that require an abundance of energy for use — annually equating to 300 million running vehicles, a total of 1 percent of national energy consumption in the U.S. 

Okay, we know that NASA's international space station and other such spacecraft can pick up a heck of a lot of what's happening here on the third planet from the sun, but an indoor cannabis farm? 

Last week, authorities in Nevada, along with an impressive backup of national law enforcers, raided what they called the largest illegal marijuana grow in Douglas County history, and perhaps one of the largest ever to be discovered in the state, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2017.

With 80 workers, the cannabis farm was also the largest employer in the area, rivaling several smaller firms in Douglas County, which is located some 20 miles south of Nevada’s state capital Carson City and borders Lake Tahoe.

The numbers associated with the 160-greenhouse pot grow on 22 acres of land were "staggering," reported the Record-Courier.

What did authorities do with 62 tons of weed? 

They buried it, "…hopefully deep enough to discourage anyone else from trying to dig it up," according to the newspaper. 

A total of $1.5 million in state funding will be coming to three North Coast counties to fight what officials are calling the "worst of the worst" illegal cannabis grows. North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire; alongside Mendocino County Supervisor John Haschak and the sheriffs of Trinity, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties; announced Wednesday that the funding is meant to support enforcement of laws surrounding unpermitted cannabis farms.

McGuire said Wednesday that the Humboldt and Mendocino County Sheriff's Offices will each receive $600-thousand and the Trinity County Sheriff's Office will receive $300-thousand. The funding is supposed to help staff the departments target the sites generating serious environmental and violent crimes.

Humboldt Sheriff William Honsal said during a virtual press conference with reporters that decades ago, illegal marijuana farms were small in nature, but now organized crime operations have taken hold and are abusing the environment.

"We have significant organized crime, drug cartels, and drug trafficking organizations that have really come in to take advantage of this market," Honsal said. "Now they're buying private land all over the county and they don't care about our county, they care about one thing and that's making money. It's greed."

Honsal noted that his office has seen increased rates of human and labor trafficking on these sites in recent years, and that is why serious state funding is needed to combat these grow sites.

Marijuana may have been legalized in New York state earlier this year, but Johnson City residents may soon be restricted in where it’s legal to light up. 

The village is looking to pass an amendment to local law that would add cannabis to the list of substances restricted from spaces like public parks and other village-owned property. Tobacco smoking and vaping are already banned from those public spaces. 

“This adds cannabis to our list of things you can’t do in public parks and public property similar to the no-smoking rules we have now,” said Mayor Greg Deemie. “We’re just adding recreational marijuana to it. Right now cigarettes and vaping is already banned in the parks and certain other areas in the village. We’re just basically adding (cannabis) to the list of things you cannot do.” 

Johnson City's action will be the subject of a public hearing at the village’s Oct. 5 meeting before coming before the board for a vote. Deemie said the primary goal is to protect residents from secondhand smoke in Johnson City’s public parks.  

This isn’t the first time Johnson City has been at the forefront of local policy changes. Laura Kelly, Community Engagement Coordinator for Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga, said the village was among the first in Broome County to enact a tobacco-free parks policy. Kelly expects other municipalities in the region to follow the village’s lead once again when it comes to restricting cannabis use in public parks. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Tuesday requiring hospitals and other health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana, Marijuana Moment reported.

The governor approved the legislation, also known as “Ryan’s Law,” sponsored by State Sen. Ben Hueso (D), who had been pushing for this measure for years.

The issue arose over whether medical facilities in legal marijuana states can legally allow certain patients to use medical cannabis without jeopardizing the facility’s federal funding.

Hueso recently asked the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to clarify the subject.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) responded in a letter to Hueso that there are no federal regulations that specifically address the issue and that the agency was not aware of any cases where funding had been pulled due to a hospital or long-term facility allowing patients to use medical marijuana.