WeedLife News Network

Italy is set to allow the small-scale cultivation of cannabis plants at home after a reform was approved by the Lower House's justice committee on Wednesday.

The reform decriminalises the growth of up to four cannabis plants at home.

However, it also increases the penalties for crimes linked to the trafficking and dealing of cannabis, with the maximum sentence increasing from six to ten years.

The reform, which was put forward by Italian MP Riccardo Magi, makes Italy one of the first countries in Europe to decriminalize the domestic cultivation of cannabis for personal use, with Spain and Czech Republic also permitting the growth of up to five plants at home. 

It triggered calls for further legalization from weed advocates and anger from the country’s conservatives.  

You can add The Boston Beer Company (NYSE: SAM) to the list of major alcohol conglomerates to become levered to the cannabis industry. (article originally appeared on Technical420.com)

Through a product development agreement with Peak Processing Solutions, a subsidiary of Althea Group Holdings (ASX: AGH), and WeedMD Rx Inc., a subsidiary of Entourage Health Corp (TSX Venture: ENTG) (OTCQX: ETRGF), Boston Beer will be positioned to capitalize on the burgeoning cannabis beverage market and we are favorable on the development for the entire cannabis sector. 

Under the product development agreement, Peak will provide research and development services including laboratory support and the testing of various product formulations and recipes, for a new line of cannabis beverage products. 

ZUMBROTA, Minn. (WCCO) — A farmer south of the cities is hoping you’ll make his place a new fall tradition. He has a maze made out of a hemp field, about an hour south of the cities in Zumbrota. The owner tells WCCO he is using the attraction for education.

Ted Galaty is the owner and operator of Hemp Maze Minnesota. The maze is located at Willow’s Keep Farm just south of Zumbrota on Highway 5.

A science major at St. Olaf, Galaty never thought he’d be a cannabis aficionado. The west coast native made a deal with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to create this one of a kind hemp maze.

“As far as I know it’s the only hemp maze in Minnesota and probably in the United States,” he said.

The hemp maze is 2 acres, takes about 20 minutes to get through and Galaty insists its kid-friendly. He says it’s all about education – his plants and are not used for recreational purposes, but functional ones.

The global cannabis beverage market is estimated to reach $2.8 billion by 2025 and is projected to see a growth rate of 17.8% from 2019 to 2025. As consumer behavior shifts from carbonated soft drinks to health sodas and legalization gains more footholds across the country, the cannabis beverage market pivots to offer consumers potent and flavor-forward beverages that offer a fresh take on the time-honored ritual of “kicking back with a cold one”. Innovative technologies are likewise flourishing, a development that both drives and responds to growth in the cannabis beverages market.

Liposomal and nanoemulsion delivery systems, clean, water-soluble nanotechnology, and ionization technology are just some of the ways that companies are raising the bar on absorption and therapeutic benefit when it comes to cannabis drinks. Bioavailability has been an ongoing problem in the cannabis beverage market along with ascribing a specific potency or benefit to cannabis drinks. Nanoemulsion in particular seems to be a promising technological advancement, with a global market value that could rise to $14.91 billion by 2025. Nanoemulsions are “fine oil/water dispersions stabilized by an interfacial film of surfactant molecule”, which gives them an edge over products requiring external oils or fats since they can be brought into the brain more quickly. 

Quicksilver Scientific has refined their nanoemulsion process for use by heavy hitters in the cannabis industry such as Truss CBD USA, a joint venture between Molson Coors and HEXO Cannabisnew to create a U.S. line of non-alcoholic hemp beverages. ECS Brands employs biomimicry in its hemp water, which naturally replicates the way the body absorbs fat-soluble compounds. A combination of stabilized gold hemp seed oil and bioactive saponins from green tea provides enhanced bioavailability of oil-soluble cannabinoids and other nutrients by a purported factor of 500-1000%. Ionization technology, used by companies like LifeTonic (maker of “socially empowering” CBD and CBG beverages), converts cannabinoids from neutrally-charged oils into electrically-charged ions capable of dissolving in water. This means that the molecules can be absorbed directly into the mouth before even entering the digestive tract. 

Converting cannabinoids and other fat-soluble nutrients into water-soluble constituents has turned a lingering problem into big business and big science for cannabis companies, and it seems like everyday businesses are claiming the fastest rate of absorption or the purest formulation. Consumers are demanding and getting, more bang for their buck as cannabis delivery systems are refined to deliver on the promised benefits of adding a little cannabis to their beverage equation.

The more a person uses cannabis, the more likely it will be to develop a tolerance. As with many other substances, cannabis tolerance occurs naturally as the body gets used to weed and reduces its response to the drug.

While tolerance may be a fix for such issues as bad highs, wild munchies and paranoia, it usually also ushers in a new set of problems.Fortunately, cannabis tolerance is a fairly simple enough problem to solve.

Tolerance breaks are popular for a reason, and by taking a break from weed for a couple of weeks, the body is likely to experience a stronger and revitalized response to the drug.

It’s best to keep an eye out for these three problems associated with developing a high THC tolerance.

Less therapeutic effect

Developing a high tolerance for cannabis means that a person won’t get as high as previously. For everyday users, this can be a bummer, but for people who use cannabis for therapeutic or relief purposes, it’s likely to be more significant.

(Originally posted on Westword-Herbert Fuego)

Denver history was made last week when the city's first legal recreational marijuana deliveries took place. After a soft launch, Doobba, Denver's first marijuana delivery service, is now handling orders from the public for Strawberry Fields dispensary, with plans to partner with more stores in the near future.
 

We were lucky enough to get on the list for Doobba's first round of deliveries, and the transaction was smooth and simple enough. But ordering weed isn't the same as ordering pizza or booze, and you'll need  to know a few things before getting text updates regarding your ounce of GMO ZKittlez.

There will be speed bumps
Hey, this isn't just new. It's unique. Marijuana delivery has more rules than alcohol or prescription drug deliveries, and more rules usually bring extra steps and a longer wait. That's not factoring in the geographical size of Denver, either. Until dozens of dispensaries offer the service in Denver and employees are up to speed, expect deliveries to take an hour or longer. Drivers are only allowed to carry a certain amount of product in their cars, and they're not rolling dispensaries — they need to return to the store to fill your order. Text alerts should keep you updated, though, so it's not like your weed dealer texting "On my way," only to show up twelve hours later.

Is high driving becoming an issue that society needs to take seriously? The data on this subject is mixed.

Commercial drivers are testing positive for marijuana more these days than any other drug, according to a recent report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

It’s an issue that many trucking companies and courier services must contend with as parts of the United States have gone legal. However, federal restrictions make testing positive for pot a big, fat no-no for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. Therefore, drivers can face a wealth of repercussions if they can’t pass a drug test.

Photo by Jed Villejo via Unsplash

If a CDL holder fails a drug test, which is mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), they could find themselves in a heap of trouble. They may be forced to attend a drug and alcohol program and take a Return to Duty test, including a drug screen, before being allowed to drive again. From there, the driver could be subject to a minimum of six random drug tests and have to attend more drug classes and jump through additional hoops for the next five years to keep working.

It can’t.

Using hemp and cannabis as an ingredient in dishes can be intimidating. You may not know where to start, what you need to start, or what you can get out of infused recipes. If you’re a vegan consumer, the list of fears can be even more daunting. For example, why is it so hard to find vegan edibles in dispensaries? Does everything need to have cannabutter in it? How much knowledge does crafting vegan cannabis cuisine need?

As a cannabis and plant-based PR firm, we’re here to help make your experience in the kitchen as enjoyable as possible. Follow these tips to get started. You’ll be whipping up vegan cannabis brownies in no time!

1. Choose Your Adventure

If you’re new to cooking with hemp and cannabis, it’s important to think about what you hope to gain from the activity. Are you hoping to cut down your trips to the dispensaries and become your own edible supplier? Are you looking for a customized high that you have complete control of? Are you looking for a new ingredient to inspire you in the kitchen? Or seeking to take advantage of a variety of health benefits?

Whatever the reason might be, it’s a good idea to flesh out your curiosities and create a game plan that will help you achieve your end goal.

The total amount of cannabis seized has an estimated potential street value of $1.2million. (New South Wales Police)

Plan a trip to Las Vegas for 2022, because cannabis consumption lounges will finally become a reality in Nevada.

By the middle of next year, Nevada is poised to offer a new type of venue to get high.

State lawmakers on Wednesday approved funding for the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board to oversee so-called “cannabis consumption lounges” there.

Members of the Interim Finance Committee “unanimously approved three items that will provide the [Cannabis Compliance Board] with funds to hire more staff, work with the state attorney general’s office to hammer out regulations, and direct cannabis revenue toward education funding,” according to the Nevada Independent.

Tyler Klimas, the executive director of the Cannabis Compliance Board, told the committee on Wednesday that the additional funding places the new businesses on track to open their doors early next year.

“All goes as planned, we’re looking at—at least the first quarter, or the first half of 2022,” Klimas said, as quoted by the Nevada Independent. “Not only to see the lounges open, but then also the first part is where we would start to realize that revenue.”

Cannabis-centred website Flower and Freedom has announced plans to hire three “Cannabis Effects Specialists."

Do you want to make US$1,500 ($1,918) and smoke free weed for a month?

Cannabis-centred website Flower and Freedom has announced plans to hire three “Cannabis Effects Specialists,” per a report from Newsweek, promising that they “will pay you to take cannabis!”

“We have a few different theories behind the pros and cons of casual cannabis use, and we want to provide more information to our community,” reads the blog. “We are aware that cannabis can affect people in different ways, and different dosages will have different effects, but we are keen to test some of our theories!”

The company also specifies that although participation is not limited to U.S. residents, applicants must reside in a region where adult-use cannabis is legal.

Concerns over a potentially dangerous blend of marijuana laced with the powerful narcotic fentanyl has prompted Glynn County Police to urge local pot smokers to destroy their stash.

County police narcotics officers report operations this week “have resulted in seizures of cannabis/marijuana laced with the highly addictive opioid Fentanyl,” the department said in a public health advisory issued Thursday afternoon. Fentanyl often contributes to drug overdoses when dealers lace it into other street drugs, typically heroin.

County police urge those who have recently bought marijuana on the streets to destroy it. Because Fentanyl can lead to “acute respiratory distress and even death,” police warned that marijuana laced with the narcotic carries “the potential for a fatal dosage.”

Police reminded residents that a person cannot be charges for possession of any illegal drugs discovered as a result of the person seeking medical care for an overdose.

Gallup found that almost half of the adults in the US have tried cannabis at some point in their lives.

Almost half of adults in the United States said they have tried marijuana, according to the results of a new Gallup Poll released on Tuesday. At 49 percent, the figure is the highest that Gallup has recorded in its more than 50 years of asking Americans about their cannabis use. 

When Gallup first began surveying Americans about cannabis in 1969, only four percent of adults said that they had tried marijuana. Since that time the rate has increased steadily, rising to more than 20 percent in the 1977 survey. Roughly a third of adults surveyed in 1985 said that they had tried cannabis, and by 2015 the percentage had surpassed 40 percent. Gallup noted that much of the increase in marijuana experimentation reported over the last 50 years can be explained by generational patterns in the United States.

The generational data on marijuana use trends was taken from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits surveys from 2015 to 2021. Gallup noted that it does not yet have enough information on the trends of Generation Z, the oldest of whom are only 24 years old now. This year’s Consumption Habits poll was conducted from July 6 to 21.

Only 12 percent of those surveyed said that they “smoked marijuana,” a percentage that has held steady since 2017. In 2013, the first year Gallup asked if respondents smoked marijuana, only seven percent replied in the affirmative. The figure rose steadily to 11 percent by 2015 before peaking at 13 percent in 2016. Gallup did not ask the poll’s respondents if they consumed marijuana in any way other than smoking.

While the percentage of those who said they have tried marijuana varies little among baby boomers and subsequent generations, Gallup noted that younger Americans are more likely to say that they currently smoke marijuana. The combined data from 2015 to 2021 show that about 20 percent of millenials smoke marijuana. For Gen Xers the figure is 11 percent, while nine percent of baby boomers and only one percent of traditionalists say they currently smoke pot.

Hopewell Township is prohibiting all six cannabis business class licenses – for now.

Members of the Township Committee adopted an ordinance prohibiting any cannabis class business from operating in the township during a virtual meeting held Aug. 16. The ordinance’s adoption is before the state deadline for municipalities to opt in or opt out of recreational cannabis.

“This is the only way we can control our own destiny, which is to opt out. If we do not opt out we have no control,” Mayor Julie Blake said.

The decision to prohibit all classes is temporary and makes certain that the township meets the state deadline of Aug. 21.

“To make sure that we meet our state deadline, this ordinance would opt the township out of all cannabis activities for now. The main objective of that is to meet the state deadline,” said Scott Miccio, township attorney from law firm Parker McCay. “If we do not meet the state deadline it will be forced upon the Township of Hopewell and the township would not have a choice of rolling the aspects it wants to opt into.”

Over drinks with his alleged accomplice Saturday night, an off-duty Portland firefighter decided to “teach a lesson’' to a man who he had learned reportedly burglarized the marijuana dispensary he owned, according to police, prosecutors and state records.

Meanwhile, an Uber driver had called police at 10:39 p.m. Saturday and reported seeing a man forced at gunpoint into a black Range Rover near Southwest Taylor Street and Broadway. The man being forced into the SUV unsuccessfully tried to brace himself against the door frame to avoid being pushed inside the vehicle, the Uber driver told police, according to the affidavit.

The Uber driver and the victim’s friends confirmed that the occupants of the stopped Range Rover were involved in the abduction, Molina wrote in the affidavit.

Police searched inside Oregon Hemp House for the man abducted but didn’t find him there either, according to the affidavit.

Lee, when interviewed by two Portland police detectives, said that Bourland had learned that a man had recently burglarized his business and had stolen marijuana, according to the affidavit.

DETROIT, Aug. 16, 2021 /CNW/ - Gage Growth Corp. ("Gage" or the "Company") (CSE: GAGE) a leading high-quality cannabis brand and operator in Michigan, today announced their third social equity grant recipient, Margaeux Bruner, Founder of Holi Smokeables, who will be awarded the grant for her product The Holi Flower, an exclusive hemp wrap cone.

"Michigan is a state that has been deeply impacted by the tragic effects of the War on Drugs. Social equity initiatives like Gage's generous grant program provide Black-owned businesses with a more level playing field to compete with deep-pocketed operators in their community," said Bruner. "We are grateful to receive this grant from Gage in order to bring unparalleled and innovative quality hemp products and accessories to the Michigan market."

Bruner founded Holi Smokeables in December 2020 and will launch the Holi hemp wrap cone in August. The company specializes in sustainable hemp paper products and accessories that honor the ethos of the flower. Prior to founding Holi Smokeables, Michigan's Attorney General, Dana Nessel, selected Bruner to serve on the state's Marijuana Legal Workgroup, which worked to ensure that the state's marijuana proposals and regulations are fairly, equally and appropriately implemented. Bruner also previously served as the Commissioner of the Impaired Driving Safety Committee, representing qualified and registered patients. During the 2018 Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol campaign, Bruner served as a Designated Speaker and Strategist on behalf of the Marijuana Policy Project. She will be speaking at the National Cannabis Festival on August 28, 2021, as well as the NECANN Boston event on September 12, 2021.

"Our social equity program is committed to not only making Michigan's cannabis industry more accessible to entrepreneurs but also amplifying the exceptional talents that make up our business community," said Fabian Monaco, CEO of Gage. "Margaeux is a tremendous business leader, and we are confident in her ability to leverage this grant to build Holi Smokeables into an impactful brand."

"We are thrilled to name Margaeux Bruner as our third social equity recipient," said Sydney Bowden, Community Coordinator at Gage. "In addition to her company being an asset to the retail sector, Bruner has been a tireless advocate for social equity in cannabis and in Michigan. We look forward to watching her grow this new venture and supporting other businesses like hers through our grant efforts."

Individual consumers in Arizona seem to be safe in possessing it. The Smart and Safe Act that voters approved last year allows people 21 and older to legally have five grams or less of any marijuana concentrate. That includes a Delta 8 gummy or vape cartridge.

The first thing to know about the increasingly popular cannabinoid called Delta 8 THC is that, unlike CBD, it will get you high.

How high? The internet is replete with articles and videos that attempt to detail and describe the difference between a Delta 8 buzz and that of normal marijuana, which contains Delta 9 THC. The overall verdict is that Delta 8 won't get you as intensely high as normal Delta 9 weed. Some estimates declare it 55 to 75 percent as potent as Delta 9. This has led people to call it "marijuana lite" or market it as a type of pot that provides a more clear-headed, less-impairing buzz.

The second thing to know about Delta 8 is that its legality is complicated, much like the cannabis plant from which it's extracted.

But business operators selling Delta 8 could be taking a risk. Due to its unforeseen rise in popularity over the last year, state and federal laws are ill-equipped to deal with this new chemical compound.