WeedLife News Network

You have to know what ratio suits you best. And the only way to do this is to sample some strains.

The expansion and growth of the legalized marijuana market in several countries imply that cannabis smokers are free to choose from several options of cannabis. People that procure their products from the right legal sources tend to notice the THC and CBD content percentage stated clearly on the product. In addition to the CBD to THC ratio other key details are also stated.

However, some consumers have no idea of the usefulness of the CBD to THC ratio, the few that do tend not to pay attention to it unless they have to.

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Most times, the consumers that pay the most attention to the ratio are the medical patients being prescribed cannabis-based medication.

There are nearly 800 strains of cannabis available on the legal market, with more being cultivated all the time. On top of that, there are countless formulations of edibles, tinctures and other cannabis products.

Like the wine industry, cannabis is a complicated market for consumers. In the wine industry, sommeliers guide consumers into making choices based on region, vintage and other attributes. Cannabis is primed for a similar approach, but not nearly enough dispensaries are staffed with the sort of experts to provide it.

For new cannabis consumers, purchasing product can be a daunting experience. Indica, sativa or hybrid? Flower or concentrate? How much of this candy bar are they supposed to eat? The choices can be overwhelming, and they’re compounded by the gnawing fear that getting the answers wrong will lead to money wasted on a bad experience.

Well-intentioned budtenders do their best to guide the shopping experience, but their advice is almost exclusively based on subjective experience and often delivered while simply trying to make a sale (maybe even a sale of a particular product that’s been on the shelf too long) and keep the line moving. It’s not an ideal situation for consumers.

The retail cannabis industry is ripe for customer service and expert advice provided by certified cannabis concierges.

New York’s off-duty conduct law prohibiting employers from taking action against employees for lawful activity done while off the clock now includes cannabis, a byproduct of the state’s legalization of pot last month.

Here’s the gist, which comes via a helpful primer published by The National Law Review.

New York has a law barring employers from any discrimination against employees for various lawful activities performed outside the job, which include political activities (like running for office or campaigning on behalf of a candidate), recreational activities, and the consumption of certain legal products.

That last part is most relevant here. The off-duty conduct law now covers an individual’s legal use of consumable products, “including cannabis in accordance with state law, prior to the beginning or after the conclusion of the employee’s work hours, and off of the employer’s premises and without use of the employer’s equipment or other property;” and “including cannabis in accordance with state law, outside work hours, off of the employer’s premises and without use of the employer’s equipment or other property.”

But the amended off-duty conduct law carves out circumstances under which an employer would not be in violation for crying foul on an employee’s pot use. Those exceptions include situations when “the employer’s actions were required by state or federal statute, regulation, ordinance, or other state or federal governmental mandate,” or if “the employee is impaired by the use of cannabis, meaning the employee manifests specific articulable symptoms while working that decrease or lessen the employee’s performance of the duties or tasks of the employee’s job position.” 

While the USPS could have banned vaping products altogether as part of the new rule, it now seems that they are taking time to revisit the implications.

In a move that should encourage the cannabis industry, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is delaying the implementation of its new rules for the enforcement of a ban on direct-to-consumer mailing of vaping products. As we reported earlier this year, recent amendments to the PACT Act (Preventing All Cigarette Trafficking) required the USPS to issue regulations putting into effect the new ban on USPS mailing vape products from retailers to consumers.

I remain optimistic about mailability, despite the grim outlook lately with this news. One reason is that the principles of statutory interpretation lend credibility to the argument that the ban does not apply to vaping products that are not used to deliver tobacco or nicotine. While the USPS could have banned vaping products altogether as part of the new rule, it now seems that they are taking time to revisit the implications of an all-encompassing prohibition on shipments of vaping products. The USPS must not exceed its own legal authority under the PACT Act by regulating vaping products that fall outside the definition of tobacco product, as such a rule could be subject to challenge by various industry groups.

Photo via pxhere

If you’ve been following our PACT Act updates, by now you might recall that he amended PACT Act now defines Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) as “any electronic device that, through an aerosolized solution, delivers nicotine, flavor, or any other substance to the user inhaling from the device; includes—an e-cigarette; e-hookah; e-cigar; vape pen; advanced refillable personal vaporizer; electronic pipe; and any component, liquid, part, or accessory of a device described without regard to whether the component, liquid, part, or accessory is sold separately from the device.”

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources released updated guidance on Wednesday making way for more than 70,000 acres belonging to its Agricultural Preservation Restriction and Farm Viability Enhancement programs to be used to grow cannabis and hemp.

The APR program was established in 1977 and offers to pay farmland owners the difference between fair market value and the agricultural value of their farms in exchange for permanent deed restrictions which preserve farmland for agricultural use in the future, according to the department website.

The Farm Viability Enhancement Program, in turn, provides business and technical assistance to established farmers through grant funding, in exchange for signing an agricultural covenant on the farm property to keep it in agricultural use for a five-, 10- or 15-year term, per the state website.

Under the new guidance released last week, both hemp and cannabis production will now be allowed on APR and Farm Viability Enhancement lands, so long as the land in question isn’t federally funded, because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.

Although the DAR did not say how many APR lands are beholden to federal restrictions, the guidance noted nearly all recently acquired APRs were purchased with federal financing.

Trying heirloom cannabis strains should definitely be high on the bucket list of every cannabis enthusiast.

In plain terms, an heirloom refers to a valuable item or artifact that has been passed down from one generation to another through decades and centuries. Heirloom cannabis strains have also been passed down through generations, but instead of being items and artifacts, they refer to cultivars of cannabis that have been around for a long while. These strains are revered and prized for their purity and historical value, hence the name.

This definition does not quite capture everything about heirloom cannabis strains, this is why this article will focus on everything you need to know about these strains, how they differ from landrace strains, as well as their benefits.

Photo by Yash Lucid from Pexels

What are Heirloom Cannabis Strains?

Heirloom cannabis strains are strains that have existed for many generations. However, this is not the only thing that makes them unique. Heirloom cannabis strains are distinct from other cannabis strains because of the purity which they offer. Unlike most strains of cannabis, heirloom cannabis strains have never been crossbred with any strain, only existing in their pure, natural form. This unadulterated and unchanged state gives heirloom cannabis its status as a prized strain.

Texas passed a bill through the House of Representatives today, titled HB 1535, that would expand the state’s medical cannabis program to cover more conditions, and therefore, service more people who rely on the plant.

Under HB 1535, the Texas medical cannabis expansion would cover chronic pain, all forms of cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill was drafted by Representative Stephanie Klick, a Republican and the same person who wrote the initial 2015 medical cannabis bill in Texas. 

As of now, only patients with terminal cancer, intractable epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, and other neurodivergent issues are covered. However, the only treatments available for medical patients are so low-THC that the legalization of hemp in 2019 has rendered the state’s medical cannabis law mostly meaningless, as even those without a prescription now have access to hemp-derived cannabinoids.

HB 1535 would change all of this. It would raise the THC cap from 0.5 percent to 5 percent, meaning that patients in Texas would now actually be able to access medicine with THC.

Still, however, the bill must now make it through a Senate committee, the whole Senate, and then get signed by the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, to become law, so this is by no means a done deal. 

New research affiliated with the University of Colorado at Boulder and published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors reveals that consumption of CBD-dominant cannabis may be associated with reduced alcohol intake. 

In order to test this, the researchers looked at cannabis use across 120 subjects and compared use of cannabis that was primarily CBD-heavy, THC-heavy, or a mix of both. This revealed that those who used CBD-dominant cannabis “drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days compared with the other groups.” Those who used THC/CBD cannabis or THC-only did not experience any reduced alcohol intake or change in their drinking patterns.

“Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effects of cannabis on alcohol consumption, with some studies suggesting that cannabis is a substitute for alcohol, whereas others suggest that cannabis complements alcohol, thereby increasing drinking. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown preclinical promise in decreasing alcohol consumption,” the researchers explained  “This study explores the effects of cannabis containing different potencies of CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on alcohol consumption.

The authors also claimed that the results of reduced alcohol intake were “consistent with preclinical work suggesting that CBD may be associated with decreased alcohol consumption.” Other, past studies that looked at CBD vs. opiates, heroin, tobacco, and other controlled substances revealed similar results.

They concluded: “The present study lends preliminary support to the notion that plant-based CBD may be associated with decreased alcohol consumption among regular cannabis users and suggests that it may be feasible for regular cannabis users to switch to a higher CBD, lower THC content cannabis strain for the purposes of reducing their alcohol intake.”

Every cannabis lover has their favorite stash of accouterments, be it books, smoking accessories, or fashion statements. Why should it be any different for marijuana moms? Whether your mom is new to the cannabis game or a seasoned veteran, you’ll find a perfect selection with this Mother’s Day gift guide for cannabis accessories. Or choose from a selection of THC gifts and hemp and CBD selections for Mother’s Day.

'Feminist Weed Farmer' by Madrone Stewart

 PHOTO COURTESY OF MICORCOSM PUBLISHING

Feminist Weed Farmer (Book) Weed is powerful medicine and growing your own is as empowering as it gets. Experienced Humboldt farmer Madrone Stewart shares her hard-won knowledge gained from years of growing cannabis, Zen meditation, and surviving as a woman in a male-dominated industry. She walks you through the big picture and each detail of growing backyard plants, from selecting seeds to harvest and processing. Humorous, sage, and with a big heart, each chapter is infused with what she’s learned about equalizing the weed industry, applying mindfulness to pest management, and the importance of owning each step of the process. If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own pot or make hash or kief at home, this book is your wise guide. Available online from Microcosm Publishing. For an extra special treat, get Mom’s garden started with a pack of quality cannabis seeds from Seed Vault of California.

Mexican Sugar Skull Bong from Mota Glass.

Both tea and cannabis have a rich history dating thousands of years, with their origins tracing back to China and Central Asia, respectively. It was with the help of colonizers that both these cultivable plants spread to different parts of the world and became highly prized commodities.  

Drinking tea has many health benefits thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, many studies have shown cannabis consumption can help relieve chronic pain and manage stress.

Many companies have recently started pairing tea with cannabis to deliver multiple benefits in one approachable product.

CBD is one of the many naturally occurring chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, contained in the cannabis plant.

The compound has been linked to health benefits such as aiding in managing stress, anxiety, and depression, reducing chronic pain, and as a possible treatment for epilepsy and seizures.

When I lived and worked in Mexico City, illegal drugs were shunned by the “gente decente” (decent people) in virtually all classes.

Being known as a drug user carried a very bad stigma. At the time, I had the unfortunate luck of having my name be Pacheco, which in Mexico was used as slang equivalent to “stoner” in the U.S. Asking somebody, “Eres muy Pacheco?” meant, “Are you really stoned?” However, even joking about smoking marijuana or other drugs was generally frowned upon.

Therefore, I have been very interested in seeing Mexico inch closer and closer to legalizing marijuana as a recreational drug.

On March 10, Mexico’s lower house of Congress voted in favor of medical, industrial and recreational legalization of marijuana. The bill, which would allow adults over 18 to possess up to 28 grams of marijuana, now goes to Mexico’s Senate, which is not expected to begin debate on it until September. Political experts in Mexico are predicting that the Senate will pass this bill and send it to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), who is expected to sign the bill into law.

HempFlax saw its profits before tax skyrocket 616 per cent in 2020 to €659,000, as demand grew for its construction materials and CBD.

The EU’s biggest hemp grower, headquartered in Holland, saw full year revenues up 43 per cent to €14.5m in 2020, with EBITDA increasing 63 per cent to €1.8m.

The numbers were in part driven by a 1,089 per cent increase in sales of the group’s construction materials, arising from its May 2020 acquisition of Thermo Natur, a German manufacturer of nature fibre insulation.

The group also saw a 43 per cent increase in sales of CBD – a compound found in hemp that is legal for consumption, and often used for pain relief or relief from anxiety or depression.

2 Marijuana Stocks To Watch As More Momentum Enters The Cannabis Sector

With marijuana stocks finally catching a wave of upward momentum investors want to know how long this will last. Now there is no way to be 100 percent certain how long this momentum will last. However with earnings soon to be reported by various cannabis companies some marijuana stocks may continue to rise. Shareholders have been waiting to see a rise in trading ever since mid-February when many cannabis stocks started to drop in the market.

While it’s important to have a fixed standard of intoxication for cannabis, we should not simply put up a number arbitrarily.

Researchers in Australia found that you can be stoned for up to 10 hours depending on the means and the potency of the cannabis you consume.

Impairment is important because it will be the indicator that determine whether people can drive or not. Currently there are no real standards for the duration of intoxication mainly because cannabis impairment differs from person to person.

Photo by Alex Moiseev via Unsplash

For example, depending on your tolerance levels, a high could last you as little as an hour. Yet the prevalence of THC would be high. Therefore, the presence of THC does not indicate intoxication, but due to the lagging nature of law reform, the “presence of THC” could be more than enough to revoke one’s license.

When it comes to the growing cannabis industry, everyone wants the best product. And this means, producers are constantly finding ways to up their game. One of the latest trends in the cannabis world? Fresh frozen cannabis, and using cold to boost cannabis flowers and create concentrates like live resin.

When it comes to cannabis extracts, some of the most popular right now are delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC, two alternate versions of THC that provide users with slightly different benefits. Delta-8 THC actually causes less anxiety, promotes a clear-headed high, and comes with less psychoactive effects than standard delta-9. Interested in trying this alternate version? We’ve got some of the best delta-8 THC deals out there for you to check it out today!

When it comes to new products within a vastly growing industry, rife with massive amounts of competition, it can be expected that different techniques will be developed and used to increase efficacy of products. Sometimes these won’t be more than gimmicks – ways to increase interest from buyers without providing a real benefit. And sometimes, these techniques will truly be beneficial, offering a higher-level product. Such seems to be the case with fresh frozen cannabis.

What is fresh frozen cannabis?

How is a harvest usually done? Ever since cannabis began being planted as a crop, the standard harvesting method has been to air dry the cannabis. The basics involve hanging the plants out after they’ve reached their full potential, and taking off the leaves. Then the plants are put in a dark room, with the right temperature and humidity, for several weeks, or until the plants dry out to a desirable level. Many will then put the plants in a sealable container that can be opened at intervals to let air in and out. As stated, this is a basic process, followed by large-scale farmers, as well as home-cultivators.

If all of that sounds about right, the inclusion of using cold is a slightly different method, that can help boost the overall final product. So, what is it? It’s essentially a different method of harvesting, or rather, a new method to be employed in the harvesting process. In the fresh frozen process, the cannabis plants are cut, and all leaves, branches and stems are removed, but no curing is done.

Healthcare professionals should engage older adults in cannabis discussions given that some people are using weed to self-treat different conditions without first seeking medical input or advice, suggests a new U.S. study.

Published online this week in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, investigators from the University of Texas at Austin explored the health-related characteristics, cannabis use patterns and marijuana sources of medical and non-medical weed users 50 and older.

The initial thought was medical users are more likely than non-medical users to have physical and mental health problems, use healthcare services, discuss their drug use with a healthcare professional and use weed more frequently. To see if that was, indeed, the case, researchers looked at 17,685 people based on data from the 2018 and 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The study determined the rate of past-year cannabis use was 8.9 per cent, 18.5 per cent of whom reported medical use, notes the study. Medical use sought to address, among other conditions, chronic pain, depression and arthritis.

Medical use of cannabis was associated with lower odds of alcohol use disorder, but higher odds of discussing drug use with healthcare professionals (four times higher than recreational users) and buying cannabis at a dispensary.

Gradually and steadily, all cannabinoids like CBD, THC 8, CBG, CBN, etc., are getting the attention they deserve. Though studies are still at the early stages, all of these compounds have shown promising medicinal benefits.

We all know THC 8 has blown the market, and marijuana users turn towards Delta 8 THC. Known as the little sister of THC 9, it is famously known for giving a smooth high.

Some benefits of high quality THC Delta 8 are boosts energy levels, great for appetite, mellow and clear-headed, providing you with high, relieves pain and inflammation.

It does not make you feel overwhelmed, chaotic and paranoid unlike, THC 9. If you are consuming THC 8 for the first time or are just a regular user, you should know the factors that enhance and reduce the longevity of THC 8. It depends on many factors which are different for each person. let us see what those factors are-

 Factors that affect the longevity of delta 8 THC

1.     

Earlier this month, Mexico’s push to legalize recreational cannabis was halted after Senate Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal said that is attempting to extend the Supreme Court’s deadline to change the current law.

This development was not well received by the market as Mexico was on the verge of becoming the third country to legalize recreational cannabis. So far this year, we have seen a spike in the number of viewers that are closely following the Mexican cannabis market, and this is an opportunity that we have been bullish on.

Large-scale Canadian Licensed Producers (LPs) such as Canopy Growth Corporation (WEED.TO) (CGC) and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB.TO) (ACB) claim to be levered the Mexican cannabis market and we will monitor how the industry advances from here.

If you read a lot of mainstream media, you probably believe that the American entrepreneur is dead, undone by big-box retail and online behemoths like Amazon, that entrepreneurial energy and innovation have disappeared into a maze of international trade agreements and a haze of opioid addiction and despair. You might think a nation that once prided itself on small business is now nothing but a playground for hedge funds and billionaires to squeeze every last penny out of the working men and women of this country. And while much of that may be true, it’s not the whole story. Not by a long shot. 

I consult with small businesses and regional entrepreneurs every day, and I’m here to tell you they’re alive and well. Many are already successful in other businesses but want to get into the weed game. This is a diverse group of people representing all races and classes but have one thing in common: a deep belief that they can do it. Some are new to owning and operating a business but they have skills and motivation. They see themselves as good leaders, maybe better than the ones they report to now. And they’re willing and able to take the risks necessary to make it in the cannabis industry. They don’t want to be MSOs. Not one of them wants global domination. What they do want is to own and operate cannabis companies and contribute to their own community. They want longevity, not exits. 

Interested cannabis entrepreneurs are looking for guidance, but have their own vision and know the impact they wish to have in their town or city. This is the American dream in action and the global cannabis industry is lighting a fire underneath these emerging business leaders. 

I’m excited to discover that my fellow American entrepreneurs are as active and innovative as ever. I have clients all over the country, like a dynamic Black woman entrepreneur in Atlantic City who has been successful in the senior care industry and now wants to own a weed shop. Or, real estate developers in New Jersey who are building a regional, vertically integrated facility in Massachusetts. Another group in Mississippi started by two brothers have had success in other industries and want to bring this medicine to their state. They all want to make money, sure, but they’re just as motivated to be pillars in the community. These are not hedge funds, VCs, consulting firms, or holding companies. These are independent entrepreneurs and they want in.