WeedLife News Network

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.

When Philip Morris International (PMI) CEO Jacek Olczak told The Mail on Sunday that the UK government should treat cigarettes like petrol cars and ban them in 10 years, many wondered why the world’s biggest tobacco company would self-sabotage itself with such a draconian statement.

Hemp is a cannabis sativa plant that contains only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient typically associated with marijuana.

The market for industrial hemp, which can be used to make a wide variety of products, was estimated to be US$5 billion in 2019 and is forecast to grow to US$36 billion by 2026.

More hemp being turned into more products means more hemp waste, which is the stalk after the leaves, flower and seeds have been removed.

The 2021 Tokyo games is the first Olympics in which athletes are permitted to use CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants.

This year, some of the greatest athletes in the world, including Megan Rapinoe (women’s soccer) and Devon Allen (men’s track and field) have trained using CBD products to boost their athletic performance, thanks to a change in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) policies that removed CBD from the prohibited substances list.

The use of marijuana (AKA all products containing the psychoactive compound THC) is still prohibited.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) pulled CBD from its prohibited substances list in 2017. That change did not go into effect until January 1, 2018, though, and there was no time for athletes to incorporate CBD use into training before the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Very little research has been conducted on CBD, but users generally report feeling more relaxed after using this cannabis compound, without experiencing the psychoactive effects or “high” that THC induces.

The cannabis industry has gone from budding to booming in the past few years. Recreational cannabis sales are legal in 18 states to date (and Washington, D.C.) and in 2020, Americans spent over $18 billion on legal weed – a 71% increase from the year prior.

Despite making permanent such pandemic-era innovations as “beer to go,” Florida lawmakers haven't acted to codify a recently expired policy allowing medical marijuana patients to renew their certifications virtually.

With the state's nearly 600,000 patients now required to visit a doctor in-person for recertification, pressure is mounting for the legislature to act during its 2022 regular session.

The policy allowing telemedicine to be used for medical marijuana patient recertification was promulgated by an executive order signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the start of the pandemic. The order expired June 26, nearly two months after the end of this year's regular legislative session.

Measures to expand telemedicine were considered, but making the medical marijuana telemedicine policy permanent wasn't in the offing.

"We've grown accustomed to this virtual world that we live in, and a lot of these things make things easier," said Taylor Biehl of the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida, a lobby group pushing for easier access to the drug.

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.

CNBC reports that governmental behavior is being noticed in the judicial branch. The focus is upon comments of Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court. Over the years, he has been derided by the press, largely for not asking questions during oral arguments. But, appointed in 1991, Justice Thomas is the senior member of this court, and he brings an interesting perspective to things. His writing was most recently here in Near Unanimity, Untethered (June 2021), an advocacy for standards and principles to guide the law. His special concurrence described in Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore (March 2020) regarding federal preemption is also worthy of note.

The recent CNBC article focuses upon Thomas' comments regarding Gonzales v. Raich, 545 US 1 (2005). There, the Court concluded that federal law regarding marijuana could be enforced despite contrary state laws. One might expect the case to be heavy with Supremacy Clause discussion, but it is all about interstate commerce. The Court's decision in Wickard v. Fillburn plays predominantly in the analysis. Wickard is the foundation of the Court's conclusions regarding modern interpretation of the Interstate Commerce Clause, and has its share of critics. It is foundational to the Court's conclusion that your government can compel you to purchase products or services you do not desire. See NFIB v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. 519 (2012).

CNBC's analysis of the comments regarding Raich are presented in parallel with a recent decision by the Court not to hear a case regarding tax deductions claimed by marijuana businesses in Colorado. The discussion regards whether Justice Thomas' perspectives might signal coming change in the court's perspective on marijuana. Justice Thomas was seen as critical of the inconsistent state laws regarding the production, possession, and sale of pot. He suggested that

Note that this suggests interstate commerce as did Wickard and Raich. Justice Thomas was critical of the federal law regarding marijuana. Included is the clear and definitive "marihuana is illegal" that comes from its listing in Schedule I by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Inclusion on that list, by definition, means that a substance (pot) is a "drug() with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. " Thus, the very term "Medical Marijuana" may be an oxymoron. (2015).

Where There’s Smoke…

The production and distribution of cannabis, once known to many only as marijuana, is the newest and most variegated industry in America. Some would even say it is one of the toughest industries in America in which to do business. This article will discuss a few unique challenges from a financial perspective faced by the industry.

The first complexity starts with the difference between cannabis and CBD. When you look at a cannabis plant and a hemp plant side by side, the plants themselves look identical to an untrained eye, making it a bit challenging to identify, as the real difference lies in the chemistry of the plants.

A recent lawsuit filed against the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) claims that the organization did not make its meeting agenda available to the public, which violated a state law known as the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

The lawsuit is led by Tulsa-based attorney Ron Durbin of Durbin Law – Viridian, who spoke at a rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on July 30. “One of the main reasons I’m here today is, we filed a new lawsuit against the OMMA, against Director Williams, against her secretary, against a lot of the new members of the board of health and the food safety standard board,” Durbin said.

Approximately 100 people attended the rally, according to Fox 25. “We don’t want to do this; this is ridiculous that we have to continue to do this stuff, but if they keep forcing our hand, we’re going to keep doing it.”

The lawsuit claims that new, emergency rules for the industry, which went into effect on July 1, were agreed upon without making the community properly aware.

The lawsuit states that the OMMA violated the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, which requires that all state meetings (such as local boards, commissions and all other groups) must be open to the public, and must post an agenda regarding topics of discussion. According to Durbin, the OMMA violated this law. 

As much as I loathe playing pundit, I am often asked by journalists, legislators and business leaders: Will cannabis be legalized this year? Until recently, I was telling people the chances were slim to none. But something has changed recently—and the building momentum feels like Colorado in 2014. 

At that point, I was the newly minted cannabis czar, appointed by then-Governor John Hickenlooper to oversee the establishment of the nation's first legal cannabis market. Since then, I have advised and consulted with 19 different governments on implementing legal cannabis frameworks—there is something about this moment that feels like legalization is just around the corner. As of 2021, 18 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized adult-use cannabis, and an astounding 36 states and D.C. have legalized cannabis for medical use. In the last 12 months, 10 states have approved cannabis measures—ranging from full legalization in New York to decriminalization in Alabama.

Momentum is building for legalization, both in the raw numbers of states but also in broad, bipartisan public support. Multiple polls released this year show a majority of Americans support adult-use cannabis and an even larger majority support cannabis for medical use. Even in deep-red states like South Dakota, 54 percent of voters approved legalizing cannabis at the ballot box. But like in South Dakota, where resistance from the governor has slowed implementation of a legal cannabis market, support for legalization in the nation's capital has lagged that of the public. The tide is shifting, however, and Democrats and Republicans in Congress are no doubt taking note.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), joined by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), speak at a press conference on introducing legislation to end federal cannabis prohibition on July 14, 2021.KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES

Recently, the greatly anticipated draft "trio bill"—aptly nicknamed for the three-way cannabis reform effort by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore,) and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.)—was revealed, intended to spur discussion before a formal bill is introduced. With broad public support and both parties introducing bills to establish legal cannabis at the federal level, cannabis legalization is surely on the horizon.

From a dispensary to your front door — that's the promise of Doobie, St. Louis' only cannabis home delivery service, which on July 22 marked its first day of ferrying orders to medical marijuana patients in the metro area.

While the service can feel at first like DoorDash for weed, Doobie presently connects patients only with products at Jane Dispensary (6662 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-464-4420). On a recent weekday, the service sent a shiny white van with ice-cooled bags of THC gummies to a residence in south St. Louis.

Four New England states now allow medical and recreational use of marijuana, which means local companies must review their current drug testing and substance use policies to ensure they are compliant with state and federal laws.

With Connecticut legalizing recreational marijuana in June — and Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont laws already in place — only New Hampshire and Rhode Island remain as holdouts for legalization. The provisions of the Connecticut law that affect employers will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Investors can finally see the first rays of sunlight after a terrible year for this pot grower.

On July 28, Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) stock surged by 26% in a single trading day after the company published strong quarterly results -- the first earnings report its $4 billion merger with fellow Canadian pot grower Aphria. Revenue shot up, the company finally turned a profit, and its international expansion has begun to pay off. 

Tilray desperately needed that good news, as its shares are down almost 50% year to date. Let's look at why the future looks bright for this once-beaten-down marijuana company. 

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.

Tammy Turner and Kerry Buffington, the co-owners of Kapstone Employment Services in Detroit, had to have a conversation with a client recently that they're not used to having.

"We actually had to go to them and say, 'Listen, this is not being consistent with the labor market now. Marijuana is legal and you're passing up on good talent,' " Turner remembers telling the client.

Turner said they were interviewing candidates for open positions at this company, and staff at their employment agency ask candidates whether they can pass a drug test as a part of their routine questions. She said, more often than not, candidates are honest and will say whether they would test positive for marijuana.

Consumers and investors alike are excited about the emergence of the cannabis industry in the U.S. Legalization is gaining momentum state by state and social acceptance at the federal level. Specialty retailer GrowGeneration (NASDAQ: GRWG) is a potential stock for investors looking for broad exposure to U.S. cannabis. Here are three reasons why GrowGeneration is positioned to thrive in the coming years.

1. Cannabis laws are rapidly changing

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational cannabis. Since then, the momentum has picked up across the United States. Recreational cannabis is now legal in 19 states, and 36 have legalized it for medicinal use.

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.

In January 2021, recreational marijuana became legal in Arizona thanks to the passage of Prop 207 in November 2020. In the months since, dispensaries have opened their doors to recreational marijuana sales and proved to be a powerful economic engine.

“It looks like Arizona is set to hit the $1 billion sales mark at the end of the year, which is huge in comparison to other states in their first year of recreational sales,” says Greta Brandt, president of The Flower Shop, mentioning that Colorado took about two years to do the same. Taxes collected from these transactions have added $75 million to the state’s coffers to date.

But besides increasing tax revenues, is Prop 207 on track to achieve its stated goals after six months of legalization?

Unlocking an Industry

Before marijuana was legalized for recreational users ages 21 and older, Arizona voters approved Prop 203 in 2010 which created the state’s medical marijuana (MMJ) program.

“The Arizona Department of Health Services has run a wonderful, tight-knit MMJ program, and they’re doing the same for recreational. They shut down rogue operators and are trying to regulate that side of the industry very seriously,” Brandt contends.