WEEDecide

Most cannabis strains are green, but why are some of them purple? * This article was originally published here

While studies have shown that endocannabinoids naturally regulate a variety of physiological processes in our bodies, scientists are now finding that their function also includes sending a message from our gut to our brain to tell us that we're full and should stop eating. That system, however, can get disrupted. Scientists decided to find out why. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) School of Medicine identified a molecular mechanism that disrupts this crucial communication between the gut and the brain. They found that overactive endocannabinoid activity in the gut can block, or even shut down, the signaling system that alerts the brain when it's time to stop eating.   “I've been studying obesity syndrome and food addiction for the past 15 years and the common thread that runs throughout all of this is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which activates the same receptors, especially where feeling full is concerned,” said Nicholas DiPatriz...

The most recent Weedmaps price index for an eighth of marijuana in established and emerging markets in the United States and Canada shows just how out of sync the economies of weed are in this era of patchwork legalization.  The average price of an eighth — 3.5 grams if you think and shop in metric measurements — varies across the U.S. from a low of $29.37 in Portland, Oregon , to a high of $53.19 in Oklahoma City.  For this report, Weedmaps uses its international listing service for dispensaries and their products, selecting a representative sample of American cities and states, plus Ontario , Canada , to compile the average price of all currently published menu-item eighths. Oklahoma City is one of four new cities added to the list, which now also includes Baltimore, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C . The spread between the lowest and the highest prices in July 2019 is $26.19. A number of factors feed into the disparity. In the five years since Oregon legalized marijuana, the state ...

The total number of marijuana-related arrests in 2018 climbed to nearly 29,000 – a total that is three times higher than 1999 totals, according to crime data compiled by the Virginia State Police. Marijuana-related arrests in Virginia have risen steadily in recent years – increasing an estimated 25 percent since 2016. The overwhelming majority of arrests are [read more] * This article was originally published here

American adults are nearly as likely to smoke marijuana as cigarettes, a new Gallup poll finds, with consumption of the latter at a 75-year low. In fact, adults between 18 and 29 are more likely to smoke marijuana than cigarettes — a trend that could have a significant impact on the tobacco and cannabis industries going forward. Fifteen percent of Americans now say they smoke cigarettes, compared with a high of 45% in the 1950s. Meanwhile, about 12% reported smoking cannabis — which is about the same level that it's been for the past four years. Public health campaigns have helped spread awareness about the dangers of cigarettes, which are responsible for the deaths of nearly 500,000 Americans each year. Conversely, the marijuana legalization movement has effectively put an emphasis on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. A separate Gallup poll in 2018 showed that Americans view marijuana as significantly less harmful than cigarettes . This latest survey doesn't directl...

Weed Party @ is a column by Michelle Lhooq and Lindsay MaHarry , two self-described “weed party girls.” The goal of the column is simple: Determine whether the party was cool. On June 22, 2019, Lindsay went to Food Flower Future's weed brunch celebrating the women, queer, and diverse individuals making the cannabis industry more inclusive. It's no secret that the cannabis industry, like mostly all industries before it, has been mostly represented by straight white men. And while there's still much work to do with regards to women , people of color , and LGBTQ people holding positions of leadership, the industry has seen an explosion of inclusivity and creativity in the past few years. Lest we forget, the plant itself is female, and since weed's explosion onto the scene in the 1960s, LGBTQ activists have been among the most influential in the fight for legality. On June 22, 2019, Food Flower Future and the hip, new cannabis brand Sonder threw a brunch celebrating...

Cannabinoids inhibit 5-HT3 serotonin receptors, thereby providing relief from nausea and vomiting. * This article was originally published here

Ladies of Paradise will host Conversations, an event that will discuss the war on drugs and how attendees can work towards change together. * This article was originally published here

Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY) introduced The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. The Senate companion bill is carried by Senator Kamala Harris (CA). NORML Political Director Justin Strekal said, “Never in American history has the Chairman of the Judiciary introduced a bill to end federal [read more] * This article was originally published here

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) may no longer be a death sentence, but it is a life sentence for those who are coping with the chronic symptoms of the virus. Many people with HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) live to their full life expectancy but at the cost of their everyday well-being.  There are dozens of HIV/AIDS drugs on the market which reduce viral loads in the body and ease certain symptoms, but also cause unpleasant side effects such as headache and nausea. As a complementary medication, could cannabis improve the lives of HIV and AIDS patients?  Well-known as an appetite stimulant, cannabis has been used to manage the anorexia and wasting disease symptoms of HIV/AIDS, but the plant might be able to go even further beyond this basic treatment. In fact, some research has suggested that cannabis may help HIV/AIDS patients feel better, treat complications of the disease, and temper prescription drug side effects.  The Studies The onset of the AIDS epidem...

Health officials have expanded the pool of patients eligible to receive medical cannabis access. The State Health Department Secretary publicly announced on Thursday that patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders and/or Tourette syndrome will be eligible to receive recommendations to legally access medical cannabis products. The new rules take effect on July 20. [read more] * This article was originally published here

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on July 12, 2019, that it was “expediting” its efforts to develop rules for cannabidiol (CBD) and plans to issue a report on the department's progress by early fall, its acting chief information officer announced on Twitter. FDA Acting Chief Information Officer Amy Abernethy tweeted that “FDA is expediting its work to address the many questions about cannabidiol (CBD),” describing it as “an important national issue with public health impact.” 1/3 FDA is expediting its work to address the many questions about cannabidiol (CBD). This is an important national issue with public health impact, & an important topic for American hemp farmers and many other stakeholders. pic.twitter.com/XQbXb0KspU — Dr. Amy Abernethy (@DrAbernethyFDA) July 12, 2019 “We are enthusiastic about research into the therapeutic benefits of CBD products but also need to balance safety,” she said. “To understand the breadth of issues and gather data on safety...

We've got a long way to go to get physicians caught up on medical cannabis. * This article was originally published here

Another legal fight is underway over home marijuana delivery in California. A licensed cannabis company has sued Santa Cruz County, claiming that it's violating state law by prohibiting deliveries from out-of-county retailers into a swath of unincorporated areas. East of Eden Cannabis Co. lawsuit filed July 12, 2019, in  Santa Cruz County Superior Court comes as the latest development in a thorny legal fight over who decides where marijuana can be delivered in California , the largest legal marijuana market in the U.S. In court papers, the company said the county threatened to initiate a criminal investigation and seek to have its state license revoked if it continued to make deliveries into unincorporated areas. The county's actions are “in direct violation of state law permitting East of Eden to make deliveries into any jurisdiction in California,” the lawsuit said. The company, based in neighboring Monterey County, asked the court to allow it to resume deliveries and d...

Some California cannabis farmers are looking to borrow the wine industry's practice of verifying products by origin. In the United States and internationally, wine that's grown only within certain legally and geographically defined regions, called an appellation of origin or a viticultural area, can earn the right to claim heritage from that area. Now cannabis growers in Northern California's Emerald Triangle, regarded as the top cannabis farming area in the U.S., are looking for the same kind of protection.  Located north of California 's famous wine country, encompassing Napa and Sonoma counties, the Emerald Triangle comprises Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties. Growers there hope that by creating their own state-approved appellations of origin designations that they can protect and promote the region's unique growing conditions, strain varieties , and eco-friendly styles of cultivation . What makes Humboldt weed special? “We are talking about a living ...

In the past few years, dedicated scientists have spent countless hours sticking tiny adhesive discs containing cannabidiol (CBD) and THC onto the skin of small rodents and then studying the results. Through this painstaking research, they've learned a lot about the effectiveness of transdermal patches as a delivery system for cannabis. One important study conducted at the University of Kentucky on rats, for example, suggested that CBD patches can reduce inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis . However, it is far more difficult to conduct any kind of research on humans because of archaic  federal laws — marijuana is still considered an illegal drug by the feds — and nearly insurmountable bureaucracy , as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have chronicled. When it comes to anecdotal evidence of the efficacy of CBD patches, Jeremy Riggle, the chief operating scientist at Mary's Brands , which includes Mary's Nutritionals , Mary's Medi...