WEEDecide

A medical marijuana bill is ready to be signed into law in Utah. * This article was originally published here

The Vermont House of Representatives passed a bill that would clear the way for a legal cannabis market. * This article was originally published here

Gathering with friends to kick back and smoke up has been a time-honored way to enjoy cannabis for decades (and not just among the young). And the sense of belonging to a vibrant 420 community can often be just as important as the buzz. However, legalization in many states, combined with the growing focus on health and well being, has led many who enjoy the green – or have started using it to treat medical conditions – to search for healthier ways to indulge. It’s common knowledge that the THC and CBD in marijuana can provide important health benefits, and that smoking pot doesn’t carry the major risks associated with smoking tobacco. But inhaling smoke from burning plant matter of any type isn’t the kindest thing anyone can do to their lungs. The process can aggravate pulmonary problems like asthma and COPD, and some studies suggest that long term weed smoking can actually create them. There once was a time when stoner bona fides depended primarily on how quickly and expertly you ...

Over the past few years, CBD has been hailed as something of a cure-all: no matter what the ailment or issue, there's some company out there purporting to solve it with CBD. From health to beauty, new CBD businesses and products keep cropping up, some of them amusingly niche. But do these products actually serve a purpose, or are they simply exploiting a trend?  We asked experts for their take on the strangest, most obscure CBD products currently on the market. Here's what they said.  Nails Inc Just Kinda Bliss Nail Polish Duo This nail polish is infused with sativa seed oil, which contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. But for CBD to strengthen and shine your nails, you'd have to ingest it, says Nicco Reggente, PhD, neuroscientist and CEO of Strain Genie. “Applying it topically on the nail where there are no CB receptors will most likely not benefit from CBD, although the fats it is mixed with should help. But then….why add CBD?” The only time CBD may b...

Activists in Ohio are working to legalize recreational/adult-use marijuana in November, 2020. * This article was originally published here

Mike Bloomberg, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate , released a criminal justice reform plan on Tuesday that calls for the decriminalization of marijuana possession and mass expungements for prior cannabis convictions. The former New York City mayor — who has recently faced sharp criticism in recent days over a resurfaced 2015 recording of him defending controversial stop-and-frisk law enforcement tactics and racially disparate marijuana arrests — seems to be trying to repair his image on policing issues as primary season heats up. The United States has a mass incarceration problem. Over 2M people are currently in prison. As mayor, I cut incarceration in New York City by 39%. I’ll do the same for the nation, and protect people at every touchpoint in the justice system. https://t.co/2rXa21vCjc — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 18, 2020 Among Bloomberg's reform proposals is to “de-criminalize the use and possession of marijuana nationwide, commute all e...

The House vote marked the first time a medical marijuana bill passed either legislative chamber in Kentucky. * This article was originally published here

The NFL Players Association could soon vote on an agreement with the league that includes sharply reduced penalties for marijuana use by football players and dramatically shortens the annual window during which they may be tested for cannabis and other drugs. While the proposed changes haven't been publicly released, the collective bargaining agreement that's circulating among officials would reportedly make it so players would only be subject to a two-week testing period, instead of the current four-month window that now begins on the unofficial marijuana holiday April 20 (4/20) and ends in August. Additionally, severe penalties for cannabis offenses would reportedly be lifted. The agreement “would include dramatically reduced penalties, with suspensions happening only in the event of extreme and repeated disregard of the policy or significant violations of applicable law regarding the possession and use of marijuana,” NBC Sports's ProFootballTalk reported . Th...

There comes a time in every stoner's life when both the weed budget and your supply are seriously dwindling. Enter crumble , the reasonably priced concentrate here to answer your prayers.  Crumble is an extract, a form of cannabis concentrate made using a solvent. Unlike other forms of concentrates — which are fluid or sticky — crumble is known for its uniquely dry texture which crumbles when handled. You can dab or vape it on its own or sprinkle it over your bud to add an extra kick to your bowls, blunts, and joints.  This versatility, combined with its potency, makes crumble one of the best-kept secrets in the world of concentrates —but not for long. The cat is officially out of the bag. Our guide will break down exactly how to use crumble to stretch your weed budget until payday.  Shopping for concentrates on a budget Though a gram of concentrate will cost you more than a gram of flower , concentrates are often more cost-effective thanks to their increased potenc...

We’ve all been there, even if money isn’t the issue. You go for your weed stash, open the jar or baggie or wherever you keep it – and there’s almost nothing left. You can’t afford to buy more, or your dealer is out of town, or it’s the middle of the night and the dispensaries are closed. It doesn’t matter why. You’re stuck with the small amount of flower you have left – and you were really planning to get wasted tonight. What do you do? Putting aside the possibility that you take your mother’s (or friend’s, or therapist’s) advice and just go to bed sober, all you can do is make the most of what you have. Here are the 6 Ways to Get the Highest from a Small Amount of Weed 1. Don’t Even Think About a Joint or a Blunt The least-efficient way to get high is to roll a joint or a blunt because they require a lot of bud (figure each one uses about half a gram) and a lot of that great smoke ends up wasted. We don’t have to tell you why; whenever you’re not dragging, the pot is still bur...

The second biggest talking point is the NFL’s longstanding ban on cannabis use. * This article was originally published here

Film and television, for many of us, were the first places we saw cannabis users humanized. In a society where we were raised to “Just Say No,” who can forget the positive impact when we saw the joyous, peaceful festivities depicted in Woodstock ? Who didn't laugh at rather than scorn classic pot-smoking teenage comedies like Dazed and Confused or Superbad ? Who didn't abandon their own 'Reefer Madness' stereotypes after getting schooled on medical cannabis by Sanjay Gupta's Weed ? But across the Pacific, one country is working to make sure its citizens see no marijuana in moving pictures. According to a new report released by digital streaming giant Netflix, the company complied with several demands from Singapore's government that they remove content from their service. That includes three pieces of cannabis-themed programming: Cooking on High , The Legend of 420 and Disjointed . The other two films were Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation...

Budding cannabis growers often shoot for the moon and go the hydroponic route instantly. However, the high cost of the equipment and the level of experience necessary to successfully grow plants in water means that this often results in disappointment. What many weed growers don’t know is that, with the right materials and care, extremely high-quality results are possible by growing in soil. One of the most critical decisions a cannabis grower has to make is the type of soil in which they are going to grow their plants. Believe it or not, there is an enormous variety of soil options available on the market. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right soil for your plants. In this post, we’ll show you our ten favorite options and also discuss the various factors that should shape your decisions when choosing the best soil for weed. 1. Fox Farm FX14047 2-Cubic Feet FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil FoxFarms’ reputation speaks for itself. It is one of t...

While South Park’s take on the cannabis industry and culture may seem critical, it’s important to remember the context. * This article was originally published here

Edibles present the opportunity for people to explore the medical benefits of marijuana without needing to smoke it. They are a safer method of ingestion as you are not inhaling smoke laced with pollutants like carbon, tar, and other carcinogens. Medical cannabis users tend to have a lot of questions on how to determine the THC content of a homemade edible. Since THC levels vary widely, this can be quite tricky. Even after baking the batch, you might not be sure how many milligrams of THC are in each serving. The amount of THC directly relates to potency and the effects you will feel after eating the edible. Every person has a different tolerance, and you need to be sure you are not overdoing it while also getting satisfactory results. Cannabis plants are not lab-tested, so precise measurements are often difficult to ascertain. However, with the right steps and knowledge, you can get pretty close to estimating THC levels and potency. Dosing Homemade Edibles We can start by looking...

With 22% of 18—29-year-olds in the US smoking weed , the issue of cannabis usage is coming up more and more on dates and in relationships. Dating apps like Hinge and Bumble have features for people to indicate whether they smoke weed, and there are several dating apps just for cannabis users.  Sex and weed have been mingling for years. There are plenty of studies that find that cannabis can increase sexual activity and enjoyment , and a slew of sex-focused cannabis products promise to reduce pain associated with intercourse and enhance the experience in the bedroom, so it's not much of a surprise to find weed factoring into more aspects of dating.  But anti-weed stigma is a real issue for singles: 76% of women and 62% of men in a 2015 survey by the dating app Match said they wouldn't date regular smokers. On top of that, some challenges can come up once smokers are in relationships, like negotiating each other's usage and navigating consent under the influence. F...