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https://hightimes.com/

Colorado Gun Rights Org Pushes Voter Initiative Allowing MJ Users To Obtain Concealed Carry Permits

As adult-use cannabis reform has continued to expand throughout the United States, a number of courts have increasingly challenged the current federal law deeming that “a person who is an unlawful user of or who is addicted to a controlled substance” cannot possess a firearm. This law has regularly been extended to cannabis users, even in states that have legalized it. In recent years, this oft-criticized policy has been met with challenges by numerous federal courts deeming it unconstitutional given the current state of legal cannabis throughout the U.S. As the first state to usher in legal adult-use cannabis, Colorado is once again looking to make waves in the cannabis world by letting voters decide whether or not cannabis consumers should be allowed under state law to qualify for concealed carry permits, Denver7 reports. Pro-gun rights organization Guns for Everyone posed the question, which could appear as an initiative on the November 2024 ballot. The organization trains for concealed carry permits, offering free classes for those new to firearms, tactics classes “for those who want to learn about the neuroscience during a fight” along with a class focused on gun law, according to its website. Guns for Everyone Co-founder Edgar Antillon said that the question boils down to a “freedom issue,” especially relevant given that Colorado introduced recreational cannabis laws more than 10 years ago. “It’s one of those silly things that has been going on for a while. We’ve legalized marijuana, but we don’t give [users] the ability to defend themselves,” Antillon said. “Alcohol users get to defend themselves. Why not marijuana users?” Currently, sheriffs in Colorado cannot issue concealed carry permits to those “ineligible” under federal law. Since cannabis is still listed as a controlled substance, this prevents issuance of permits to anyone who is “an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.” The initiative currently looks to amend Colorado law to include that “a sheriff shall not use a permit applicant’s lawful use of marijuana … as a basis for denying the applicant a permit.” Backers appeared at a Denver hearing on Tuesday to review comments and possible changes to the measure before submitting it to the secretary of state for review. If passed, the initiative is set to take effect in December 2024, though this was flagged as a potential issue at the hearing, as election results may not be certified by that time, as reported by Marijuana Moment. Officials asked backers if the date could potentially be pushed back or if the proposal could be effective through a governor proclamation after election results are officially certified. Antillon and fellow Co-founder Isaac Chase both said they would be open to these options. The Office of Legislative Services’ Conrad Imel also questioned if the initiative, as it is currently, could be interpreted to remove Colorado’s reference to other firearms restrictions, like bans for those who are dishonorably discharged from the military or who are committed to a mental institution. Antillon said that this was not the intent of the proposal and indicated that the campaign would strike the provision in question. Antillon also addressed a concern surrounding the proposal’s possible intent to remove the authority of local sheriffs issuing permits to deny applications based on “a reasonable belief that documented previous behavior by the applicant makes it likely that the applicant will present a danger to the applicant’s self or others.” He said that this was not an aim of the proposal, adding that the goal was to reach a “fine balance” between protecting public safety and the freedom of the people. “We don’t want to tackle all of the issues at the same time,” Antillon said. As written, the measure would determine unlawful cannabis use through state law rather than federal law, which is the current practice. This would effectively create a divide between Colorado’s gun laws and the current federal law. Up next, the initiative must be accepted and titled by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. At that point, organizers would be in the clear to begin collecting the required 125,000 signatures to put the issue before voters on Election Day next year.

https://hightimes.com/

Study Shows Evidence that CBD-Infused Tampons Are Effective for Treating Menstrual Pain

A new study published in the Journal of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders recently examined the efficacy of CBD tampons as a method of treating severe menstrual cramps and associated pain. In “Efficacy and usability of a cannabidiol-infused tampon for the relief of primary dysmenorrhea,” researchers found evidence that CBD-infused tampons “achieved statistically significant pain reduction” and that such tampons offer “fewer side effects than anti-inflammatories, while producing a similar pain-relieving effect.” The study was published on Dec. 19 but will be published in the March 2024 issue of Journal of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders. The study team included five researchers from Anne’s Day Ltd. in the United Kingdom (described as a natural sciences and engineering development company), and one representative from the Institute for Medical Research in Bulgaria. Lead author Valentina Milanova is also CEO and founder of Daye, which puts a focus on conducting its own research to provide to its consumers. Daye sells a wide variety of tampons, pads, and claims to be the first company to make CBD-infused tampons. “The findings indicate the potential of CBD-infused tampons as a promising option for managing menstrual pain,” the researchers wrote in their joint conclusion. “Further research and exploration of this innovative product can contribute to the management of primary dysmenorrhea.” According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, primary dysmenorrhea is another term to describe cramping pain brought on by menstrual periods, which affect anywhere between 50%-95% of menstruating individuals. The study explores how the human body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors are present throughout uterine tissue, which makes cannabinoids in that area easy to administer and feel relief. A total of 114 participants (18-45 years of age) in the study were either presented with a CBD-infused tampon, or a regular tampon, and were interviewed about their various levels of pain, “including vaginal irritation, sensitisation, systemic toxicity, material-mediated pyrogenicity, and potential toxic shock syndrome risk.” The study took place over the course of three months. The results show that 37%-40% saw improvements with vaginal dryness, and 37%-40% said they experienced “improvements in mood or overall well-being.” Overall, over 80% described the product they tried as “satisfactory or enjoyable.” While positive, the researchers admitted that the study sample size is small, and should they revisit the topic again, they would improve their scope of study by recording pain data from both before and after participants have applied their CBD-infused or normal tampon. Additionally, they said that more research should be conducted in order to determine the efficacy of CBD-infused tampons further. “Future clinical research recommendations would include understanding the effectiveness of using CBD tampons against menstrual pain,” researchers concluded. “To further investigate the effects of CBD on pain, a metabolomics study to evaluate pain serum biomarkers or to assess the levels of CBD and painkillers in blood samples would be recommended.” Daye also features an article about CBD and explores what is currently known about CBD for period care and treatment. “CBD is often considered as a more natural and holistic approach to pain relief as opposed to taking opioids or traditional pain medication,” Dr. Semiya Aziz told Daye. “CBD is also generally considered to have lower risks and fewer side effects compared to traditional pain medication. There are promising results regarding CBD’s role in pain management, however, there is plenty more work that needs to be done in this field before it can be considered as an alternative option for traditional pain relief.” Numerous other studies have been published on the topic of cannabis as a treatment alternative for other medications. Earlier this summer, the University of Alberta completed research on its review of middle aged women in Canada. It found that out of 1,485 participants, 499 said that they currently use cannabis, and 978 said they have used it in the past. “Of the 499 current cannabis users, over 75% were using cannabis for medical purposes. Most common reasons for current use were sleep (65%), anxiety (45%) and muscle/joint achiness (33%),” researchers explained. “In current users, 74% indicated that cannabis was helpful for symptoms. Current cannabis users were more likely to report experiencing menopause symptoms compared with non-users. History of smoking and general health status were associated with current cannabis use.” A study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, entitled “The holistic effects of medical cannabis compared to opioids on pain experience in Finnish patients with chronic pain,” found that opioids and cannabis are “equally efficacious” at reducing pain. The sample size of the study included 201 chronic pain participants, with 40 who use medical cannabis and 161 who use opioids to treat their pain symptoms. Of the two groups, 45% of medical cannabis consumers say they also have used opioids to treat their pain, while only 4.3% of the opioid consumers have tried using medical cannabis as an alternative treatment. Additionally, the medical cannabis group were more relaxed, slept better, and had improved moods. “The results of the present study underline that the psychoactive effects of [medical cannabis] can be therapeutically positive and have beneficial effects on mood and functioning,” the study authors concluded. “However, this conclusion would require more robust testing, ideally in randomized controlled trials.” Even celebrities such as Hulk Hogan have come out in favor of supporting cannabis as a way to replace both opioids as well as alcohol.

https://hightimes.com/

Doctors Warn About Emergence of ‘Trip-Killers’

In the event of a bad psychedelic trip, you may be better off riding it through than taking additional drugs to extinguish the trip—which can actually be more dangerous. In a new study, doctors are warning about so-called “trip-killers,” or drugs used to counteract the effects of a psychedelic trip. What they found is that over half of anecdotal recommendations online call for benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, alcohol, and other remedies, but found that trip-killers are often more dangerous than the psychedelics themselves. This LSD Reddit thread, for instance, has trip-killer recommendations. Less than 2% of recommendations they found were for CBD or cannabis to lessen a trip. The study, “Trip-killers: a concerning practice associated with psychedelic drug use,” was published in Emergency Medicine Journal on Dec. 19. It was announced in a news release the same day. There’s no Narcan to end a psychedelic trip, but people have tried various drugs to do just that. Researchers found that drugs such as benzodiazepines and antipsychotics are the options most frequently recommended, but warnings about their potential side effects are rarely included, they noticed. Benzodiazepines or benzos, are central nervous system (CNS) depressants primarily used to treat anxiety. Benzos are dangerous in numerous ways—notably there’s a risk of overdose, and also a risk of powerful dependence that can lead to dementia. Like fentanyl, benzodiazepines can stop breathing, and there are few ways to reverse a benzo overdose. The intensity of a psychedelic trip can lead to distress, agitation, and psychosis, and researchers cited recent data indicating that more than 8% of drug-related trips to emergency rooms in Europe involve psychedelic drugs. The study was led by Manchester-based Dr. Gregory Yates, in the U.K., who thinks there is a huge lack of peer-reviewed research showing how these drugs are being used and the risks involved. Instead of going to a doctor, which is pretty much impossible to do during a trip, psychonauts are turning to Reddit. “There are multiple ways to control a ‘bad trip’ and avoid hospitalization. One is to take psychedelics under the supervision of a ‘trip-sitter’—a non-intoxicated friend who can provide psychological support. Another is to use additional psychoactive drugs—‘trip-killers’—to attenuate or prematurely end the psychedelic experience. Trip-killers are not new, but have received increased attention on social media in recent years.” “Information on trip-killers is not available through drug advice services, despite the probable risks they pose,” researchers wrote. “To our knowledge, no relevant papers have been published in the medical literature. It was the aim of our study to gather descriptive data on the use of psychedelic trip killers by analysing posts made on Reddit, a publicly accessible, anonymous social media website.” Researchers analyzed posts on social media platforms like Reddit, and found 128 threads created between 2015 and 2023, with a total of 709 posts. “The most recommended trip-killer, with 440 recommendations, comprising nearly half (46%) of all the trip-killers mentioned in posts, were benzodiazepines, known for their sedative effects and physical dependence. Benzos were followed by several different antipsychotics (171;18%). One in 10 recommendations were for antidepressants, while 1 in 20 were for alcohol. Opioids, antihistamines, herbal remedies, such as camomile and valerian, and prescribed sleeping pills, attracted 3% each. Cannabis and cannabidiol each took 2% of the vote share.” Trip-killers were mostly discussed in reference to countering the effects of LSD (235 recommendations), magic mushrooms (143), and MDMA, popularly known as ecstasy (21). Set and setting are so important when it involves psychedelics and hallucinogens. Not observing set and setting, or disregarding the profound nature of psychedelics can lead to bad trips, which can be terrifying. Much like the United States, leaders in Europe are currently figuring out how to incorporate psychedelic therapy into its healthcare landscape most effectively. A European lobby group representing developers and professionals within the industry advocates for including seasoned practitioners as integral members of a multidisciplinary advisory body. Seasoned practitioners—i.e. trip sitters—would serve as a guiding authority, offering essential insights to regulators and healthcare practitioners regarding optimal practices as the field expands and changes. This effort comes from the European Psychedelic Access Research and European Alliance (PAREA), as reported by Politico, as per a briefing document slated for submission to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The document reads that people with actual experience with psychedelics should have say-so over the dos and don’ts of psychedelic trips. This aligns with the idea that those with an actual relationship with the substance, rather than simply a desire to profit from it, makes for better business, as seen in the cannabis industry as well. If psychedelics are taken with better care, often with a trip-sitter involved, bad trips would be less common and people would be less reliant on so-called trip-killers.

https://hightimes.com/

California Approves Rules for Making Drinking Water From Sewage

California legislators have approved regulations for water companies to begin purifying sewage water for people to drink. In a state with over 39 million residents regularly stricken by years-long droughts, water companies will soon be permitted but not required to recycle toilet water, extensively treat it, and send it right back to kitchen sinks. California is the second state after Colorado to approve such measures. “Water is so precious in California. It is important that we use it more than once,” said Jennifer West, managing director of WateReuse California, an advocacy group “After 13 years of steady advocacy, fundraising and outreach by WRCA, California is posed to adopt statewide regulations for Direct Potable Reuse,” a portion of the WatReuse California website reads. “It is a major milestone for the state and WRCA as DPR regulations have long been one of the primary objectives of the association. According to an article by the Associated Press, California has actually been using recycled waste water for quite a while just about everywhere besides kitchen faucets. Waste water is used to make ice skating rinks, to water crops and if you’ve gone skiing in the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe your skis were likely gliding over – you guessed it- recycled sewage. So much for ‘don’t eat the yellow snow.’ The new regulations dictate that water companies will be required to treat the waste water for all pathogens and viruses, even if none are detected. This differs from traditional purification which only treats the water for known pathogens. The waste water purification process also strips the water of its minerals, which have to be added back in at the end of the process unlike regularly treated drinking water. Darrin Polhemus, deputy director of the division of drinking water for the California Water Resources Control Board said this will likely make the recycled waste water taste better than traditionally processed drinking water. “It’s at the same drinking water quality, and probably better in many instances,” Polhemus said to the Associated Press. The regulations took over ten years to develop and underwent thorough, extensive scrutiny by several teams of scientists before they were approved ahead of the Dec 31 deadline set by state law for the California Water Resources Control Board to approve the new regulations. It turns out this new development in water purification is actually somewhat arbitrary when modern water treatment practices are considered. According to Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the Water Resources Control Board, waste water is often treated and then pumped into rivers. That river water flows into neighboring water districts where it is used as regular drinking water. “Anyone out there taking drinking water downstream from a wastewater treatment plant discharge — which, I promise you, you’re all doing — is already drinking toilet to tap,” Esquivel said to the Associated Press. “All water is recycled. What we have here are standards, science and — importantly — monitoring that allow us to have the faith that it is pure water.” These somewhat icky realities of current water treatment practices notwithstanding, public perception of waste water treatment will almost certainly be a tall mountain to climb for water companies. According to the Associated Press, a waste water treatment center in San Jose is offering tours to the general public to educate the public about the process and ease any concerns they may harbor about the water they will soon be using to cook, bathe and drink. Kirsten Struve, assistant officer for the water supply division at the Santa Clara Valley Water District told the Associated Press this water is already being used to irrigate parks and soccer fields and such. “We live in California where the drought happens all the time. And with climate change, it will only get worse,” Struve said. “And this is a drought-resistant supply that we will need in the future to meet the demands of our communities.” Water companies across the Golden State are gearing up to begin treating waste water as soon as possible. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, for instance, plans to produce up to 150 million gallons per day of treated waste water, according to the Associated Press. In fact, nearly half of San Diego’s drinking water is slated to come from treated waste water by 2035.

https://hightimes.com/

New Bill Directs Government Agencies To Disclose Information About UFOs

Congress passed a bill Monday that directs the United States government to publicly disclose information pertaining to unidentified anomalous phenomena, more commonly known as UFOs, but the catch is they have many years to do so. A portion of the annual defense policy bill contained a directive to all government agencies maintaining that all records pertaining to UFOs be disclosed to the general public within 25 years of their creation. President Biden is expected to sign the bill, which also gives the president the power of blocking certain records from becoming public in the interest of national security. “Closely modeled on the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, this Act would establish under the National Archives a government-wide collection of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) records and a mandate to declassify and publicly release these records,” a portion of the bill read. “The conference agreement includes only the requirements to establish a government-wide UAP records collection; to transfer records to the collection; and to review the records for disclosure decisions under a set of authorized grounds for postponing disclosure.” Some legislators have argued the bill does not go far enough to force the hand of certain arms of government which appear to have gone to great lengths to prevent information about UFO sightings from being released. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who sponsored the bill, originally wanted a presidential commission to be formed which would review the collection of UFO-related documents to determine what, if any, the public interest of such information may be. “It is really an outrage the House didn’t work with us on adopting our proposal for a review board,” Schumer said to The New York Times. “It means that declassification of U.A.P. records will be largely up to the same entities that have blocked and obfuscated their disclosure for decades.” Co-sponsor of the bill Senator Mike Rounds (R – South Dakota) reinforced disappointment to the Time with regard to the somewhat weak language of the final bill. “We are lacking oversight opportunities, and we are not fulfilling our responsibilities,” Senator Rounds said. Rep Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) wanted to avoid the review process entirely and directly disclose UFO-related documents to the public so long as doing so would not endanger national security or reveal the sources and methods of such information. “We got ripped off,” Burchett said to the Times. “We got completely hosed. They stripped out every part.” Schumer still chose to praise the bill’s passing as a momentous step forward in the name of public transparency surrounding a topic long since shrouded in government red tape and mystery, even in the face of mounting public and congressional scrutiny as members of the military have come forward to report what they’ve seen on podcasts and broadcast media channels. “This is a major, major win for government transparency on U.A.P.s, and it gives us a strong foundation for more action in the future,”Schumer said to the Times. Congress has been ramping up pressure in recent years on the Pentagon and other government agencies to increase UFO-related transparency. A Congressional hearing in July of this year heard three U.S. military members attest that not only is the government hiding information about UFO sightings, they may also have recovered crashed ships and non-human biologics, which is a fancy phrase meaning alien corpses. One of those military members, Retired Navy Cmdr. David Fravor, whose UFO video was released by the Pentagon in 2020, said at the hearing that what he witnessed was unlike any technology he has ever seen and far beyond the U.S. military’s technological capacities. “The technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had,” Fravor said. “I’m not a UFO fanatic. But what we saw with four sets of eyes — we have nothing close to it. It was incredible technology.” Another of the military members who testified that day, a former Navy fighter pilot named Ryan Graves, testified he had been involved in a similar incident where he saw a dark gray cube inside a clear sphere capable of remaining stationary in the skies even in the face of hurricane-force winds. Graves was also the one who testified about the possibility of non-human biologics. “I urge us to put aside stigma and address the security and safety issue this topic represents,” Graves said at the hearing. “If UAP are foreign drones, it is an urgent national security problem. If it is something else, it is an issue for science. In either case, unidentified objects are a concern for flight safety. The American people deserve to know what is happening in our skies. It is long overdue.”

https://hightimes.com/

Maven Genetics To Retire Strain ‘French Laundry’ Due to Cease-and-Desist Letter

Many of us have had the privilege of trying Maven Genetics’ French Laundry. In the August 2023 issue of High Times Magazine, we explored the brand’s impeccable selection of strains, French Laundry included, which won numerous awards this year at the Farmers Cup in February, The Emerald Cup in May, Zalympix in June, High Times Cannabis Cup SoCal: People’s Choice Edition 2023 in July, and the Transbay Challenge in August. Needless to say, it was French Laundry’s year. Unfortunately, due to receiving a cease and desist letter from The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, California, Maven Genetics has announced that it will no longer be using the name. “It is with a blend of pride and a touch of regret that Maven announces a significant development regarding one of our most celebrated strains, French Laundry,” Maven Genetics wrote in a press release. “As the year draws to a close, we face a challenging twist. Maven has received a cease and desist letter from the renowned Napa restaurant French Laundry, citing trademark infringement issues. Our strain’s name, meant as a playful tribute to its parent genetics, was never intended to infringe on any trademark. However, to avoid potential legal entanglements, we have made the difficult decision to retire the French Laundry name from our product lineup.” Henceforth, the strain will be called FKAFL, which stands for “formerly known as French Laundry.” Maven Genetics brand director Miguel De Vivo told Forbes that the name never intended to overlap with the trademarked “French Laundry” restaurant. FKAFL is a cross between LA Rouge and The Soap, and the name “French Laundry” was a blend of merging a laundry detergent theme with French inspiration brought by LA Rouge. “Little did we know, the cultivar got attention,” De Vivo said. Although it’s a bummer to see French Laundry go, it’s hardly going to stop Maven Genetics from celebrating FKAFL and promoting many of the brand’s overall unique strain library. “Despite this turn of events, our commitment to innovation remains strong,” Maven Genetics wrote. “Our genetic library is brimming with exciting new strains, several of which are offsprings of French Laundry. We are confident that these new creations will uphold the esteemed legacy of French Laundry and eagerly anticipate their introduction to our community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers and supporters for their passionate support of French Laundry. Your enthusiasm fuels our mission to continually push the boundaries of cannabis cultivation and breeding.” Maven Genetics has already removed “French Laundry” from its website and is making immediate plans to make changes to product packaging as well. De Vivo added that this will be the last time we see French Laundry, but it’s just the beginning for FKAFL. “Given that we have many strains coming from that genetic lineage, we weren’t sure if we would continue with FL [French Laundry],” De Vivo explained. “However, with a few more amazing batches in production, it came down to figuring out, how are we going to reintroduce it to the market and potentially close the FL chapter on our terms.” In a silver lining perspective, De Vivo added that it’s a big deal for a cannabis brand to get on the radar of a reputable restaurant like The French Laundry. “The normalizing aspect of it, the fact that we’re garnering attention from the culinary world at such a level,” says De Vivo. “For us, it’s surprising that they noticed. Being in the same realm is exciting.” The past decade has changed a lot for the cannabis industry, not just with the increase of states legalizing medical and/or recreational cannabis, but a shift in cannabis product names from infringing upon trademarks to developing fully unique, trademarked names. One of the first major examples of this was in June 2014 when Hershey filed a lawsuit against a Colorado-based edibles brand, called Tincturebelle, and a Washington-based dispensary called Conscious Care Cooperative, for using Hershey-inspired brand names. The suit was settled by October 2014. In February 2014, a girl scout set up her cookie table outside of a Los Angeles dispensary and sold out within hours. The event garnered national attention, and eventually led the Girl Scouts of America to send a letter about the infringement of the strain Girl Scout Cookies upon its registered trademark in 2015. Another prominent representation of this was in August 2017 when the glue company Gorilla Glue Co. filed a lawsuit against GG Strains for trademark infringement. By October 2017 they reached a settlement, which required the website gorillaglue4.com to be transferred to the ownership of the glue company, that any use of the word “gorilla” or gorilla imagery was prohibited, and the cannabis brand would refer to its products as “GG” instead. However, the settlement also stated that neither company would “disparage each others’ companies, services or actions,” according to a High Times report. GG Strains co-founder Ross Johnson remained optimistic about the situation. “We’re going to survive; we’re going to overcome it,” Johnson said. “Is it a setback? Most definitely, it is a setback. But it’s all behind us now, and it’s allowing us to move forward.” Since then, many large companies have targeted cannabis brands for similar reasons. In September 2017, a dispensary named Buds R Us in Detroit, Michigan, received a letter from Toys “R” Us threatening to sue for trademark infringement. In February 2019, UPS (United Parcel Service) sued cannabis delivery businesses like United Pot Smokers, UPS420, and THCPlant. In July 2019, Sour Patch Kids candy maker also targeted illegal cannabis makers marketing their products as “Stoney Patch.” Mars Wrigley won a trademark lawsuit in August 2022 for the use of Skittles likeness on illegal cannabis products.

https://hightimes.com/

Deontay Wilder ‘Reborn’ After Ayahuasca Trip

One of the world’s best heavyweight boxers and Olympics medalist, Deontay Wilder, 38, said he was transformed after embarking on an ayahuasca experience in Costa Rica. After a life-changing experience of his own, the boxer wants to share what ayahuasca can do to improve mental health. Wilder described the experience in an interview with The Telegraph, explaining that he went to The Rythmia Ayahuasca Retreat Center, an upscale ayahuasca retreat in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where he was “reborn.” The Rythmia Ayahuasca Retreat Center describes itself as one of the first legal, medically-licensed plant medicine retreat centers in the world. “Ah man, ayahuasca has been… man it’s been one of the top things in my life that I’m glad that I’ve experienced,” Wilder told The Telegraph. “One of the best journeys to experience, it’s been a beautiful thing for me and if you ask my wife [Telli Swift] she’ll say that it made me more sensitive, and she’s probably right, but it also made me happier as well.” Rythmia provides a 7-day excursion, and provides perks like farm-to-table meals, ceremonies, cleanses, and massages to prepare guests for their journeys into the mind. A team of staff physicians and experts attend to guests’ needs. For Wilder, the experience was transformative. “I find myself appreciating even the smallest of the smallest things—and not saying that I didn’t before—but the appreciation level has increased,” Wilder told the outlet. “Ayahuasca has done some beautiful things for a lot of individuals, not only just including myself, where they brought affirmation to their life, or some type of understanding of the path that they are running in their life. I’m looking forward to doing it many, many more times. I’m actually looking to do it after this fight as well.” “Sometimes people get very fearful and afraid of certain things, how is it or what it’s going to be like… but in this place, you may not see what you want, you may not get what you want, but you’ll leave with what you need,” Wilder said. It takes two or more plants to activate the psychoactive properties of DMT-rich ayahuasca. High Times has reported ayahuasca is a concentrated liquid made from prolonged heating or boiling of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of the Psychotria viridis plant to create a tea containing DMT, the psychedelic active element of the brew. A 2022 study from the University of Melbourne took a closer look with data from an online Global Ayahuasca Survey, carried out between 2017 and 2019, of 10,836 people over the age of 18 who used ayahuasca at least once. While vomiting is common, researchers found ayahuasca’s benefits outweigh the risks. Researchers found that acute physical adverse effects, primarily vomiting, were reported by 69.9% of respondents, and 55.9% reported adverse mental health effects in the weeks or months following consumption. Though the majority, around 88% of people surveyed, considered these effects as part of the process of growth or integration after the ceremony, and those who experienced these side effects said they were expected. The boxer prepares to box Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia this weekend on Dec. 23. Wilder joins athletes like Daniel Carcillo, Mike Tyson, UFC fighter Ian McCall, and others who also did ayahuasca retreats. After going public about his ayahuasca experience in 2022 the NFL says that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not violate league rules when he previously consumed the psychoactive beverage ayahuasca. “For me, I didn’t do that and think ‘oh, I’m never playing football again,’” Rodgers told USA Today. “No, it gave me a deep and meaningful appreciation for life. My intention the first night going in was ‘I want to feel what pure love feels like.’ That was my intention. And I did. I really did. I had a magical experience with the sensation of feeling a hundred different hands on my body imparting a blessing of love and forgiveness for myself and gratitude for this life from what seemed to be my ancestors.” Other people who advocate for the powers of ayahuasca include Megan Fox and even Prince Harry admitted to undergoing an ayahuasca experience. It’s no toy, however, and should be taken very seriously. “With a name that literally means ‘the vine of death,’ this Amazonian brew is not a simple recreational psychedelic trip, so be warned about that reality from the start,” High Times reported in 2017, showing premade ayahuasca packs that are sold in other countries. “Although ayahuasca does induce vivid and colorful visions that can be breathtakingly beautiful and lead to incredibly meaningful insights, it’s also often an intense experience, not just mentally, but physically as well.” Most people would be much better off with the guidance from an experienced shaman or a physician.

https://hightimes.com/

Border Patrol Seizes $10 Million Worth of Narcotics Hidden in Jalapeño Paste

Things got a bit spicy for border patrol officers in San Diego last week. It was there, near the United States-Mexico border, that officers discovered more than $10 million worth of hard narcotics that had been hidden in a shipment of jalapeño paste. The bust went down on December 13. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said that they encountered a 28-year-old male driving a commercial tractor-trailer with a shipment manifested as jalapeño paste” at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility. “The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer and shipment,” the agency said in a press release issued this week. “In the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more closely. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 349 suspicious packages from vats of jalapeño paste. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a weight of 3,161.43 pounds and cocaine with a weight of 522.50 pounds,” the press releases continued. As Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Michael Scappechio told the Los Angeles Times: “It was an extremely spicy situation.” “You never really know what you’re dealing with just in terms of dangerous narcotics and then you throw in there all that organic material; we had to break out the full [personal protective equipment],” Scappechio said. “We won’t expose the reasons that led to the further examination,” Scappechio added, “but agent suspicion is often used.” Rosa Hernandez, the director at the Otay Mesa Port, credited the unit’s K-9 teams for the bust. “Our K-9 teams are an invaluable component of our counter-narcotics operations, providing a reliable and unequaled mobile detection capability,” said Hernandez “By implementing local operations under Operation Apollo and CBP’s Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and other Synthetic Drugs, we will continue to secure communities and stifle the growth of transnational criminal organizations, one seizure after another.” According to local news station NBC San Diego, the “narcotics-in-jalapeño-paste seizure was just one of many successful drug busts in the border town recently.” The United States Coast Guard said that it seized 18,219 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $239 million in the Pacific Ocean that was offloaded in San Diego earlier this month. According to the Coast Guard, the offload was the “result of six separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Waesche and Active in November.” According to the Coast Guard, the Waesche “is one of four Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Alameda, California.” National security cutters “can operate in the most demanding open ocean environments, including the hazardous fisheries of the North Pacific and the vast approaches of the Southern Pacific, where a large amount of narcotics traffic occurs,” the Coast Guard said. “The biggest of the six interdictions was the most recent interdiction, occurring Nov. 20, which was an interdiction of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying more than 5,500 pounds of cocaine. The interdiction of the SPSS was the first in the Eastern Pacific since 2020,” the Coast Guard said in a press release. Capt. Robert Mohr, commanding officer of the Waesche, said that all “four of our interdictions on this patrol are crucial to the Coast Guard’s efforts to keep illicit drugs off the streets, but our last interdiction of a semi-submersible vessel was noteworthy since it was the first semi-submersible interdicted in the Eastern Pacific in over three years.” “I am extremely impressed with the crew’s dedication throughout this dynamic patrol. They overcame multiple challenges with collective hard work, ingenuity, and positive attitudes to keep us in pursuit of these cartels and their dangerous drugs. A successful patrol like this one is rewarding and leads to better retention and recruiting efforts because everybody feels a sense of accomplishment,” Mohr said. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, said he was “proud of the unity of effort displayed by U.S. Coast Guard members aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche and our partners who stopped these narcotics from entering our Nation through the maritime domain.” The Coast Guard said that multiple agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, “collaborate in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, all play a role in counternarcotic operations.” “The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdictions and criminal prosecutions,” the press release said.

https://hightimes.com/

One Out of Five American Adults Say They’ve Tried Hemp-Derived Products, Study Indicates

Over one-fifth of adults in America reported using hemp-derived cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a survey of responses collected last summer. Researchers not only identified the extent of how popular hemp-derived products are, but emphasized that states that prohibit cannabis lead to a higher rate of delta-8 THC use—probably because that’s all people can get legally in those states. The study, “Past-Year Use Prevalence of Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Cannabinol, and Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Among US Adults,” was published Dec. 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and referenced data gathered in a 2019 Gallup poll. According to the new findings, 25.2% of adults reported past-year use of any emerging hemp-derived cannabinoid, including delta-8 THC, CBD, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), etc. Of those, 21% of adults said they had used CBD specifically. Other products derived from hemp had lower rates of use: 11.9% of the survey respondents reported using delta-8 THC, 5.2% reported using CBG, and 4.4% reported using CBN—one of the least significant cannabinoids. The study was written by doctors Adrianne R. Wilson-Poe, Tristin Smith, Michael R. Elliott, Daniel J. Kruger, and Kevin F. Boehnke. “We provide the first estimates, to our knowledge, of past-year use prevalence of CBN, Δ8-THC, and CBG in the US. A Gallup poll reported that 14% of US adults personally used CBD in 2019; our reported 21% use prevalence of CBD represents a 50% increase over the past 4 years,” researchers wrote. “Prevalence of past-year cannabis use was somewhat higher than in other studies but was similarly associated with younger age, and past-year cannabis use was also associated with using emerging cannabinoid products,” the report continues. “Higher Δ8-THC use in states without medical or adult-use cannabis laws suggests that cannabis prohibition may unintentionally promote Δ8-THC use. There are few controlled human studies with emerging cannabinoids, but surveys suggest these products are used for treating sleep or pain1 and in place of other drugs, including pain medications.” The researchers noted that hemp products are frequently psychoactive, and these are the main compounds they’re concerned with. “Based on these results, we support ongoing public health surveillance efforts targeting emerging cannabinoids because of lack of industry standards to protect consumers and similar pharmacology or effects of Δ9-THC and its hemp-derived impairing analogues (eg, Δ8-THC), which may be of particular concern for adolescents and young adults,” the study reports. “Study limitations included not assessing emerging cannabinoid use patterns (eg, dose and use frequency) and possible sampling biases, although NORC implements probability-based recruitment best practices for their AmeriSpeak panel. Our results highlight the importance of future research to better understand perceptions of safety, motivations for use, and outcomes of use of these products.” Researchers cautioned that the products are not regulated and could put patients at the risk of adverse effects from unknown contaminants. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the cultivation and sale of hemp, and it created a legal loophole, allowing hemp-derived products that are now sold online and at smoke shops, gas stations, and other retailers. Medscape reports that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate hemp-derived products; therefore, no federal standards exist for testing ingredients for safety or verification of ingredients as listed on labels. “If someone is picking up one of these products to use medically, and it ends up having heavy metals and pesticides and it doesn’t even have the active ingredient in it, that is not good,” said Kevin F. Boehnke, PhD, a research assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In states where medical cannabis is legal, residents had 56% lower odds of using delta-8 THC, whereas those in states where adult-use cannabis is legal had 55% lower odds of using delta-8 THC than those surveyed in states without legalization. The findings suggest “cannabis prohibition may unintentionally promote delta-8-THC use,” Boehnke and his colleagues wrote. Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, a pediatrician and professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, told Medscape that she has seen a large increase in patients who say they use cannabinoid products, and believe them to be “natural.” “My official response to patients who ask me for my opinion is that I don’t have enough scientific background to give an opinion: If you think it helps you and you have no side effects, then I’m not going to tell you to stop,” Kuo said. The FDA warns about delta-8 THC and similar products, which it says are products that have not been proven to be safe.

https://hightimes.com/

Jon’s Stone-Cold Cop List #45: Vices (Miami and Otherwise)

The past few weeks have flown by. I know it hasn’t been a full month since the last one, but we’ve got a lot to talk about. We may be getting into the holiday season, but things don’t seem to be slowing down as much as in years past. That probably has to do with my schedule, but we’ll pretend it’s a worldwide problem. Last week we (Jimi, Matt, Adam & I) were down in Miami for Terp Basel, and my long-awaited first Art Basel experience, which was everything I’d hoped it’d be. This past weekend was DesignerCon in LA, which was a little light in comparison to years past, but the Slick drop was what I went for – and thankfully scored, and I’m not complaining about my wallet not losing as much weight as it did last time. Because of all this I haven’t had a moment to catch my breath. It’s been an absolute marathon all year, but when it’s as filled with art as these past few I don’t have much to complain about. If you’re curious about what we saw, I’ve highlighted both the Scope and Basel shows on my IG stories, but what you should really do is just go next year. It was incredible, and worth all the traffic annoyance. It’s also worth noting that we absolutely destroyed an AirBnB with Gel Blasters in the middle of the night while we were down in Florida. Those things are hella fun but I have no idea why they’d give them out at a weed event – especially in a stand your ground state. They know we’re about to act up with ‘em. We also had a fun run-in with som spray packs – which admittedly smelled way more appealing than I imagined they would. Shit was NOT smoking though – because you know we had to try it, for science. I don’t think any of us got past the first round. Those are not included on this list, and I will not slander the name of the brand we met with because they were actually nice people – and their niche made their game make more sense – but I after getting hands on with some of the buds I don’t think anyone can be mislead with what’s happening over there so I feel better about the whole situation. Think that’s all I’ve got to rant about this week – as always, don’t hesitate to hit me up on twitter to complain about whatever it is you’re mad at today, or to put me on to something dope. And read WEIRDOS – I don’t know if I’ve said that here before, but I’m really proud of what’s been happening over there lately. If you dig this, you’ll probably dig that more. Farewell for now. This one’s going to be a bit all over the place as I’ve got a lot I want to shout out around these two. First off, for Wavez latest drop he had Feel Good LA wash a bunch of it and I’ve got to say, for all those of you out there thinking he’s just a meme page, you clearly haven’t smoked any of his work. Y’all know I’m a fan of Zazul, so of course that was my favorite of the crop, but unlike most of the varieties of this on the market his cut has less straight sweetness and more flavor complexity, with an almost creamy candy and yet sharp finish. It’s hard to describe, but that’s often the case with Feel Good’s work – the texture shines. I can say the same thing about his recent Jerry Chelato release, which was far from what I expected. There’s definitely some sort of Cherry Gelato in there, but with far more pine present than you’d guess. While I’m here I should also mention the fresh press that Wavez put out with Passion 4 Hashing – I’m not usually the biggest press fan, but that Ligma Ball Z is definitely something worth bragging about. Now I know these are polarizing, but I love me some orange terps, and Studio 8’s Mikan is a real citrus burner. With that flavor that will absolutely stain your palate but some gas on the finish that will likely encourage wider appeal than to just citrus buffs, Dan put me onto this one in Miami and I’ve got to say it’s immediately a new favorite. Studio 8’s a new name for me and I don’t know much about them, but since they were put into my hand by Dan I know they’re super hyphy and probably incredibly hard to acquire, but once you know, you’re on the hunt, and I’m excited to see what other magic these guys are brewing. Pine Park’s back and it’s better than ever thanks to a new partnership with the legends over at Green Dawg Cultivators. Dropping three strains onto the California rec market earlier this month, including Zzz, Black Sherb, and Smartiez, I am pleased to report that all three are smoking tough. Now I know these guys had released a cheaper line back in the day, and it didn’t all receive rave reviews, but I’m here to certify that the new stuff – while still focused on keeping the price low and providing as much value to the consumer as possible – is tops by any standard. Obviously my favorite was the Zzz, which is a Zkittlez cut – not a Zoap cut as the name may lead you to believe, but you can never go wrong with a Green Dawg sack. This one’s another New York cat I tapped in with on my last trip back east that, while it might have taken me a little bit to crack the jars because I’ve been moving around so much, was a set I cooked through quickly once I realized what I had. Showing out on cuts of Purple Octane Jealousy, Gelonade, and my personal favorite, Z Pie, these jars didn’t just have a great nose, they also looked great, and smoked immaculately. I usually don’t tear through a flavor so quick, I like to savor them, but these had me craving more. I cooked through all three in two days – and that’s not a slight to the effect, it’s a testament to the high quality smoking experience it provides. While we’re talking about the East Coast, I forgot to mention on the last list the best hash I found that trip. Hailing from Maine, which seems to be a trend for excellent hash, Hidden Forest sold out so quick at the High Grade Confirmed event that I only got to really get hands on with one cultivar, but oh boy am I glad I did, because this was surely special. A cross of Papaya & Piegasm, Hidden Forest’s Berry Fizz smells even better than it sounds, with a nose reminiscent of that Izze carbonated juice drink, and the flavor to match. I understand why these guys got mobbed so quick: the hype is real. They will definitely be one I’m keeping my eye on going forward – and visiting early. Gelatti’s not a new name to me, but I guess I haven’t been paying enough attention to what has been going on over there because those dudes have some serious heat in their repertoire right now. We caught up in Miami and they showed me some of their Cherry Push Pop, a collab with Major League Exotics, and their Blue Z, again with Major League Exotics and this time with Smoke Up in tow. I’ve got to say, both cuts were highly impressive, with the Cherry Push Pop being one of my most desired smokes right now. Starting the day with Blue Z and chilling out in the afternoon with the Cherry is a formula for success. Now these guys are staples in the industry so I shouldn’t be putting anyone on to the Cannon Co right now – afterall, they are the creators of the Kimber Cannon, one of the OG fatties regularly for sale back in the 215 days, so they’ve been here for a long time. However, what I do want to talk about today is what they’re doing with their hash hole’s lately that has me hyped. When we caught up at Terp Basel these guys showed me their dual chamber rolls, that is a donut with two hash holes inside, and while it’s not a new concept to me, it was the best smoking one I’ve tried yet. I know they’re playing around with even crazier rolls – some with three and even four chambers, so maybe we’ll get something really crazy in the future. Keep an eye out! This one’s admittedly difficult for me to talk about, but the team’s been putting in great work down south and they deserve their shine despite me not actually being able to say the brand’s name. They told me it’s okay in this context but… you’ll get the picture. N.W.O really does have it, and across various forms. While the hash is good – in fact, I loved the Banana Splitz I got my hands on – what really excites me is their hot sauce. And not just hot sauce! They’ve got Sweet Chili and BBQ sauce too, and unlike a lot of the medicated sauces you see on the market, this one SMACKS. I may not be able to say the brand’s name, but bet I’m keeping some of these bottles around, so don’t get mad at me if you see this on me in the future – I didn’t brand it! There are few brands with as much hype behind them as SuperDope, and while that’s of course a good thing for their brand, and those looking for the heat, I tend to look for the less acclaimed brands when I’m out on the hunt for new terps. Sometimes that gets the best of me, as I’d admittedly not paid much attention to SuperDope during their rise to stardom. That said, I got to spend some time with their team while at Terp Basel and I’ve got to say, there is certainly more than hype behind this one. While only sampling their Lemon Popperz this time, I’ve got to say it was a much brighter and flavorful smoke than I expected, and provided a strong, lasting high that kept me lit through the flight back to LA. Zatix has been all over the place this year. I swear it feels like they were at just about every party I attended in 2023, despite the coast. As a result of their impressive ground game I’ve become very familiar with both their Blue Guava and OG Diesel over the past few months, but today’s mention is actually about the new Z they brought out at Terp Basel in Miami. Dubbed Zaturn Space Candy, the rolls they were handing out at the booth became my daily wake up routine while in Florida. It was the perfect start to the day. The buds were flavorful, the smoke was clean, and the high was right. I’m sure these guys have no plans on slowing down, but if you haven’t tapped in yet, now’s the time. I’ve been waiting for this collab for literal years, so when I heard the OG Slick x Jason Freeny LA Hands were dropping at DesignerCon you know I couldn’t miss it. Two masters of their craft – OG Slick, the graffiti legend credited with creating the iconic LA Hands, and Jason Freeny, who has dissected just about every pop culture icon under the sun – have been teasing this collaboration since at least 2020. The murdered out edition sold before even I could get there, but I managed to snag a pair of the classic hands, as well as the new Freeny collab. I’ve got a pair of LA Hands in every room of my house now, and I still feel like I need more. If you’re looking for a fun dive through cannabis history, Malcolm MacKinnon just released his latest book, Pot Shots: The Journey of a High Times Photographer, and it’s a pretty prolific look at the evolution of modern cannabis culture through the eyes of one of High Times’ most notorious editors, Dan Skye. For those who don’t know, Malcolm is Dan Skye, but back when he started writing it wasn’t exactly safe to be out there with your government name, so Dan was his chosen nom de plume. The new book covers his journey across hundreds of gardens over the past few decades, as well as the celebrities and activists he met throughout his travels, and it’s a stellar reminder of just how far things have come. I highly recommend this one, especially to anyone who thinks they’re the first to do anything here. We’re just the latest in a long line of advocates.

https://hightimes.com/

Italian MJ Reform Campaign Gains Nearly Half of Needed Signatures in One Week

As Germany looks ahead to potentially legalize adult-use cannabis in 2024, another European country is hoping to follow suit. So far, the quick progress and public interest is promising. Cannabis reform advocates in Italy shared last week that in just one week they reached nearly half of the required signatures needed to place a cannabis legalization measure before the parliament. Campaigning began earlier in December, and advocates have six months to gather the 50,000 total signatures. The legalization bill, with the translated title “The decriminalization of the cultivation for personal use and in associated form of cannabis,” would allow for individuals to cultivate up to four cannabis plants for personal use and would create cannabis social clubs to grow and distribute to its members. The bill would also allow for individuals to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis, and the current “administrative penalties provided for today, such as the withdrawal of [a driver’s] license and passport, will be abolished,” according to the campaign. The effort is the second recent push in Italy for cannabis reform. The first looked at cannabis legalization and psychedelic reform back in 2021, though the referendum was ultimately blocked by a top Italian court from going before voters because it did not meet constitutional standards. Some of the same organizers who supported that first effort, including advocate and former Italian senator Marco Perduca, are once again fighting for this new cannabis-specific effort. “Despite the defeat we suffered after the collection of signatures with the legal cannabis referendum, we have decided to insist until things change,” Perduca recently said in a translated email to supporters. “Parliament will be forced to listen to us, but only when we have collected 50,000 signatures. Don’t miss your signature to change Italy.”’ Antonella Soldo, a coordinator with one of the petition’s lead advocacy groups Associazione Meglio Legale (Better Legal Association), pointed to the immediate interest and support surrounding the cannabis legislation, calling the response “no coincidence“ in a statement. “Do you know why this issue is so popular? Because it’s about people’s lives,” Soldo said. “Because every Italian family knows what anti-drug dogs mean in schools, the fear of stigma, of criminalization. The fight against cannabis is nothing more than a useless waste of resources that does not serve to stop the mafias but instead impacts people.” A growing number of countries in Europe are turning to adult-use cannabis legalization, though Germany has garnered substantial attention recently as it steadily inches forward to ushering in its new era of legal recreational cannabis. Meglio Legale touched on following in Germany’s footsteps in a Facebook post earlier this week, nodding to German Prime Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach’s comment that the initiative is aimed at protecting “the good of young people.” “And in Italy everything is silent? Not really,” the translated post reads. “A few days ago Better Legal and 30 other associations launched a bill on a popular initiative to ‘do like in Germany’ and legalize domestic cannabis growing.” According to Soldo, the Italian bill was also inspired by Germany’s legislation. “In a few months, Germany will legalize the cultivation of cannabis,” she said. “At that point, the Italian Parliament can no longer refuse to acknowledge that prohibition has failed.” The German draft law would allow residents to grow up to three plants at home, possessing no more than 50 grams of cannabis cultivation at home. The legislation would also allow people to carry 25-30 grams of cannabis in public and 50-60 grams in private. It would also similarly open social clubs to grow and distribute cannabis exclusively to members. Legalization of cannabis possession and cultivation is set to take effect on April 1, 2024, while cannabis social clubs would be established later in the year.

https://hightimes.com/

Negative Experiences with Psychedelics Linked to Stressful Environments, Other Risk Factors

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London has found that stressful environments and other risk factors were associated with negative experiences with psychedelics, reaffirming the notion that set and setting play significant roles in positive experiences with drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and MDMA. The study, which was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, gives new insight into the potential negative outcomes of using psychedelics in a clinical setting to treat serious mental health conditions. Over the past several years, psychedelic drugs have received renewed interest in their potential to treat mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression, severe anxiety and substance misuse disorders. Research is lacking, however, that focuses specifically on the possible negative outcomes of using psychedelic drugs such as acutely challenging experiences commonly referred to as “bad trips.” Study author Rebecka Bremler of Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research told PsyPost that there was “a lack of research into this topic – at least when we started the project in 2021. There was (is) all of this amazing research on psychedelics’ positive effects on mental health, and some on acute challenging experiences (‘bad trips’) with psychedelics and what may contribute to them, but not so much on long-term negative psychological responses (which is what we focused on here).” “We wanted to find what may be potential risk factors for having these experiences, but also for people who had had them to be heard,” Bremler added. “The latter was one of the reasons why we included extended participants’ quotes in the article: to tell it in their own words as much as possible.” To conduct the study, the team of researchers identified potential participants by reaching out to individuals and forums interested in psychedelics on social media platforms including Reddit and Twitter. Participants who reported negative psychological symptoms lasting more than 72 after using psychedelics including LSD, psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, mescaline and MDMA were selected as potential candidates for the research. The initial phase of the study consisted of an online survey that was available between November 2021 and April 2022. After providing consent, respondents were asked a series of questions about their experience with psychedelics. Of the 84 respondents who began it, 32 completed the entire initial survey, which included the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) to measure the intensity of any negative experiences while using psychedelic drugs. A smaller group of participants was then selected for more detailed interviews by the researchers. A total of 15 of the 20 participants contacted for further interviews, including a mix of ages and genders, completed the process. The loosely structured interviews were conducted by mental health professionals, who further explored the participants’ experience using psychedelics. The participants scored higher than average scores on the CEQ, indicating more severe challenging experiences. The most commonly reported symptoms were anxiety and panic. The published study includes detailed accounts culled from the interviews to illustrate the challenging experiences. Many of the participants, especially those who had taken classic psychedelics such as LSD, characterized the acute psychedelic experiences as negative or frightening. The researchers also explored the potential risk factors that may be associated with negative psychedelic experiences. Significant factors included the dose and purity of the drug taken, the frequency of use before the negative experience, personal and family mental history and the use of other substances. The researchers also identified the environment in which the psychedelic drug was taken as a key factor associated with negative experiences, adding further credence to the idea that set and setting play crucial roles in positive outcomes with psychedelics. Stressful or unsafe environments, negative expectations and a lack of social support during and after the psychedelic experience were all associated with negative outcomes. “The potential risk factors that we identified based on the interviews were very similar to what previous research has found to be risk factors for having a challenging acute experience or ‘bad trip,’” Bremler explained. “All but one participant who had used a classic psychedelic also talked about having a difficult acute psychedelic experience, and then what they described as something similar to a trauma response in the following weeks, months or even years.” “We know from previous research that psychedelics make us more sensitive to our environment – both external and internal (internal meaning, for example, mental health, previous life experiences, or even our mood that day),” she continued. “So, it makes sense that there’s a potential to have lasting negative effects on mental health, just as it can have positive effects.” The researchers noted limitations of the study, including relying on self-reported data about the experiences and possible inaccuracies in reporting previous drug use. The authors also called for continued research, including comprehensive studies with larger sample sizes and a diverse group of participants, to study the long-term effects of psychedelics. “Important remaining questions to address would, for example, be to further investigate the potential risk factors that we found here,” Bremler said. “There’s so much more to research in this field, and this ‘other’ side of psychedelics is just as important to know more about as the positive side — especially as psychedelic treatment becomes legal.”

https://hightimes.com/

Nebraska Advocates Report Progress, Continue Collecting Signatures for 2024 Medical Cannabis Ballot

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) recently provided an update on its journey to collect the necessary number of signatures to qualify its two cannabis legalization ballot initiatives for 2024. In order to qualify, Nebraska initiatives need enough to cover 7% of voters in the state, as well as 5% of voters from 38 of the 98 total Nebraska counties. NMM stated that it has collected signatures in 16 counties so far, and plans to add four more counties to that list before the end of 2023. According to NMM, it will need to collect 125,000 raw signatures for both of its petitions and submit them no later than July 3, 2024. This includes the Patient Protection Act (which would protect patients using medical cannabis from prosecution) and the Medical Cannabis Regulation Act (which would implement a commission to manage a state program and develop a regulatory framework). In preparation for the year to come, the advocacy group recently asked its followers and supporters on social media to send in any lingering signature petitions as soon as possible. “Nebraska medical cannabis warriors – we need every petition in the state back ASAP so that we can get an accurate count going in to 2024,” NMM wrote. “Whether you have 1 signature or 100 signatures, please send them now. This is crucial for us to allocate our resources wisely next year.” In an email newsletter, NMM campaign manager Crista Eggers wrote a positive statement about what they’ve accomplished so far, and praised volunteers for their hard work so far. “Since relaunching our campaign, I’m inspired and hopeful to see Nebraskans of all ages, regions, and political affiliations coming together to support legalizing medical marijuana,” Eggers wrote. “Door knocking, house calls, and stopping by a few local establishments, combined with the force and drive of two amazing grassroots collectors, was a force to be reckoned with.” Earlier this month, NMM posted a story on its social media pages sharing the efforts of two individuals who put their best foot forward for the cause. “Two amazing people went into a county today to collect what we needed to qualify it. Night fell and they still needed about 15 more signatures. They were told they could call it a day, but they said no. They talked with every single person. They made house calls. And they just collected that final signature that got them to their goal,” Eggers explained. “This campaign is made up of these types of stories. This campaign is made up of these types of people. This campaign doesn’t quit until the job is done. Bring it 2024…” The medical cannabis ballot initiative campaign was launched by NMM earlier this year in May. “We have no choice but to keep petitioning our government,”said Eggers. “The Legislature refuses to act despite the will of over 80% of Nebraskans, from all parties, regions, ages, etc., supporting this.” Unfortunately, there are key government legislators contributing to the opposition, including Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen recently said that medical cannabis “poses demonstrated harms to our children.” “Access to medical marijuana should only happen if it has undergone the FDA-approved process,” Pillen said in September. Back in 2021, Sen. Pete Ricketts made headlines when he said: “If you legalize marijuana, you’re going to kill your kids.” Eggers, who is mother to a son who has suffered from epileptic seizures since he was two, responded to the statement at the time, explaining that she knows what’s best for her child. “I know what is killing my child, and that is having horrific seizures daily for the last five, six years,” Eggers said. A medical cannabis ballot initiative was initially proposed in 2020 but it did not make it onto the ballot because of a Supreme court ruling about the state’s single-subject rule. Advocates got right back to work in 2021 with their eyes set on 2022. “We’ve received so much encouragement from individuals all across the state, who support the many patients like our son Colton, who desperately need access to this medicine,” Eggers wrote at the time. “No matter what your political background is, we should all agree that criminalizing a medicine that has the potential to alleviate suffering, is both cruel and inhumane.” Unfortunately, that initiative didn’t meet the requirement either because volunteers didn’t quite meet the 5% voter signature requirement from 38 out of 93 counties. Sen. Anna Wishart is the NMM co-chair and has been supporting medical cannabis legislative efforts in the past, although many attempts were met with opposition and stalled in the legislature. Most recently in January 2023, she introduced a medical cannabis bill that she called “one of the most conservative medical cannabis bills in the nation,” but it didn’t not receive any additional advancements after April. In September Eggers said she looks forward to the day when she can tell her son that they finally succeeded in bringing medical cannabis to their home state. “I do know that day will come when I get to tell him and that he will understand that by sharing something that’s very personal and very painful, he helped make a change,” Eggers told the Nebraska Examiner. “Someday there will be a parent that I get to talk to and they won’t have had to fight this battle.”

https://hightimes.com/

Long Beach, California Tackles Stoned Driving with Safety Program

Long Beach, California is developing ways to teach local residents how to responsibly consume cannabis without getting behind the wheel. Given that cannabis sales in Long Beach contributed more tax revenue in 2022 than oil, it’s a big facet of the city and leaders hope to keep cannabis use safer. The City of Long Beach announced that its Department of Health and Human Services was awarded a $285,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to educate locals about responsible cannabis use and its goal to reduce cannabis-impaired driving related collisions. “This grant fuels the City’s ongoing effort to keep everyone on our roadways safe,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “It’s important that people get informed. This means, the public should know that driving under the influence includes cannabis, illegal substances, and even some medications.” The Health Department’s GreenlightLB Program will utilize grant funds to support activities that aim to educate community members about the dangers of driving while impaired by cannabis and drugs, as well as promote safer choices, including safe driving behaviors. The funding will be allocated to support several activities between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, including the following: “Our top priority is the safety of our community,” said Acting Health Department Director Alison King. “The efforts funded by OTS allow for evidence-based programs to increase awareness and help everyone make informed decisions and eliminate drug-impaired driving in Long Beach.” The city has been busy with initiatives to promote safety. Last year, the program reached 2,000 community members via the following methods: “Getting in a vehicle remains one of the most dangerous things we do,” said California Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney. “We must continue to work with our partners to shift that realization and make traveling on our roads safer.” It marks the seventh year the city’s Health Department has received an OTS grant for these purposes. The activities funded by this grant are in line with the Health Department’s plan to further develop a safe approach to responsible cannabis use. GreenlightLB’s program activities are also designed to advance goals identified in the City’s Safe Streets Action Plan to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2026. Last April, the city announced it would lower cannabis tax rates in an effort to generate more revenue. The Signal Tribune reported that after the Long Beach City Council unanimously approved the tax rate change, the Office of Cannabis Oversight began to establish a plan to lower taxes for recreational and medical cannabis use. The lower tax rates will be established as part of the city’s 2024 annual budget. “We should be aiming to create a positive feedback loop: reduce the tax burden on local operators, allow them to be competitive and expand their businesses, while rewarding those high road employers and operators who make investments back into our community, all while nurturing a new revenue source for the city,” said Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie. Long Beach is home to 32 retail cannabis stores and 37 cultivators. Since recreational cannabis use became legal in California in 2016, the tax rate in Long Beach was set at 8% for adult-use sales, 6% for medical-use sales, 1% for lab testing receipts, as well as $13.70 per square foot of canopy under cultivation. There is also a 10.25% general sales tax in California. Lowering cannabis tax rates is expected to cause an increase in legal cannabis sales, designed to attract people avoiding taxes.

https://hightimes.com/

Congress Approves Defense Bill Funding Psychedelic Research

Lawmakers in Congress last week passed a broad defense spending bill that includes funding to study psychedelics as a treatment for members of the U.S. military with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries. The legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), was passed by the Senate on Wednesday. The House of Representatives approved the bill one day later, sending the bill to the White House for consideration by President Joe Biden. Under the bill, the Department of Defense would be required to create a system to allow active duty service members with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to participate in clinical trials studying the psychedelic drugs psilocybin, MDMA, ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT as treatments for their conditions. The legislation appropriates $10 million for psychedelics research, which could be conducted in collaboration with academic institutions and eligible federal and state agencies. The bill also sets a 180-day time limit from the day the bill becomes effective for the Department of Defense to establish the psychedelics research program. The legislation was added to the NDAA by Texas Republican Representative Morgan Luttrell, a member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the NDAA Conference Committee, which reconciled differences in separate defense appropriations bills passed by the Senate and the House. “I was honored to see several of my amendments and priorities accepted into the final version of the bill, including clinical trials on psychedelic therapy to treat PTSD, support for TBI research, and other key provisions that will ensure a safer, stronger United States,” Luttrell said in a statement on Thursday. “This legislation will ensure America can face security challenges with lethality and readiness.” Luttrell’s psychedelics research amendment to the NDAA was based on the Douglas Mike Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act from fellow Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw. The bill is named for Douglas “Mike” Day, a Navy SEAL who suffered multiple bullet wounds while serving in Iraq and later died by suicide. “When you think of a hero, you think of a guy like Mike,” Crenshaw said. “Yet like so many other warriors, after Mike made it back home, he began an entirely different, more insidious battle. A battle with the demons that followed him.” Crenshaw first sponsored the legislation in 2019. The House approved the measure as part of the NDAA last year, but the Senate failed to include the psychedelic research provisions in the final version of the defense spending bill. “We have to think outside the box,” Crenshaw said during a June news conference unveiling this year’s version of the bill. “We’re never going to understand the extent to which psychedelics can help our service members until we start actually doing the necessary clinical trials in a controlled environment.” Crenshaw’s psychedelics research bill had broad bipartisan support, including co-sponsorship from progressive Democrats Representative Ro Khanna of California and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. “These are powerful substances, I don’t want to give that short shrift,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference during the summer. “But they also have powerful potential as well.” Luttrell said at the time that the legislation would give service members who have suffered the ravages of war new options for treating their injuries. “This is an alternative. This is not the end all, be all. We would never say that,” he said. “This is another tool that you can put in your proverbial toolbox to increase your quality of life.” The NDAA received final approval from Congress on Thursday and was sent to the White House. The president is expected to sign the bill, according to a report from CNBC.

https://hightimes.com/

Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Ends Pre-Employment Drug Testing for Pot

Cleveland, Ohio’s mayor announced the city would end its “antiquated” rules for employment, specifically removing the practice of drug-testing job applicants for cannabis. Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced Dec. 7 that the City of Cleveland has “modernized” its Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy to remove certain language around pre-employment cannabis testing that previously automatically disqualified job applicants. It’s his latest move after pushing to expunge low-level cannabis convictions. Pre-employment testing for city jobs will now be limited to only a few select positions that are identified as safety or security-sensitive, as well as positions that fall under the federal government’s Department of Transportation (DOT). The announcement was released on the same day that Issue 2 became law. Over 57% of voters in Ohio—and over 75% of Clevelanders—approved the bill 30 days ago. That means Cleveland residents approve of adult-use cannabis, three to one. “The criminalization of marijuana in our state and the punitive effects it has had on education, housing, and employment opportunities have lasted far too long, but will eventually be a thing of the past—thanks to Ohioans who made their voices heard loud and clear last month when they voted to approve Issue 2,” said Mayor Bibb. “We are proud to continue leading the way by rolling out these updates, which builds on our prior marijuana reform efforts and other initiatives aimed at improving our HR policies.” The following jobs are considered safety sensitive and will continue to drug test for pot: “We are constantly evaluating our policies to ensure they align with the needs and desires of both our current and prospective employees,” Director of Human Resources Matt Cole said in the release. “Pre-employment screening can oftentimes create obstacles in filling open positions by preventing otherwise qualified candidates from even applying. These policy updates are more cost-effective and will ultimately help us widen the applicant pool for several city positions.” The city of Baltimore, as well as Washington, Nevada, and Montana have enacted similar policies, and leaders in Cleveland noticed. Despite these changes, the city will still follow rules and regulations when it comes to the Drug-Free Workplace Act. “Maintaining a drug-free workplace is needed for obvious reasons, but it’s also important for us to be cognizant of the fact that the state is still finalizing regulation, taxation, and licensing terms and processes,” Law Director Mark Griffin said in the release. “We will be keeping a keen eye on how things get sorted out in the legislature and court system, and will adapt procedures and update policy as necessary as the situation evolves in Columbus.” The city noted that in 2022, the Bibb Administration filed motions to expunge over 4,000 cannabis-related conviction records and then pushed for changes to State law to simplify the expungement process. Thanks to these efforts, Ohio Senate Bill 288 was signed into law and took effect last April, allowing city officials to expunge records more efficiently and effectively. City officials also have partnered with other agencies to hold multiple expungement clinics. The Bibb Administration has also spearheaded various other HR policy-related updates since the mayor took office, including opening City Hall’s first gender-inclusive restroom last June and offering employees a new comprehensive paid parental leave policy. Bibb was young when he won office at age 34 as the city’s first millennial mayor. Last May, he moved to expunge low-level cannabis convictions. “I talked to so many residents who couldn’t get a job, who couldn’t get access to a student loan, who couldn’t get access to qualify for housing because they had collateral sanctions on their record, many of which stem from low-level marijuana convictions,” Bibb said. Grants to cover filing fees and expungement clinics are rolling out to make expungements possible. “We knew we were going to face some uphill battles in the legal system,” he said. Bibb also advocated for Senate Bill 288, which was signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last January. The bill helps enable the city of Cleveland to provide expungements by removing barriers that previously hindered Bibb’s attempts to expunge records even earlier. “We try to fight on behalf of our residents,” Bibb said. The Bibb administration also worked to notify eligible people with cannabis conviction records. After that, the city filed motions on behalf of those people using a $10,000 grant to help pay for filing fees related to expungement and the sealing of records. The city is working with organizations to host expungement clinics where people can file and close their cases, without going to court.

https://hightimes.com/

Colorado Institute of Cannabis Research To Embark on Six New Cannabis Studies

Colorado State University (CSU), Pueblo’s Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) announced that it will fund $800,000 to cannabis research, split between six studies conducted by CSU and the University of Colorado (UC). The ICR is the official Cannabis Research Institute of Colorado, and as of 2019, funding comes from the Colorado Marijuana Tax Cash Fund. The six studies include a variety of unique topics related to CBD and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the various effects of THC and its properties that may lead to addiction disorder, new ways to measure impairment for cannabis in roadside tests, and more. According to an interview conducted by Westword with ICR director Chad Kelly, many more studies are already being conducted in Colorado. “There are a number of studies out there in which I’m very excited to see what the outcomes are. In many cases, I’m sure there will be additional research needed to carry it to the next level, but we’re really fortunate to be able to engage the best researchers throughout Colorado,” said Kelly. Endocannabinoids in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Changes with Cannabidiol (CBD) treatment Led by Dr. Nicole Tartaglia, who is also a professor at UC Anshutz Medical Campus, this study will explore how CBD shows promise as a treatment for behavioral difficulties in children with autism. “In this project we will compare levels of 14 different endocannabinoids and the primary enzymes that regulate them in autistic children 4-17 years of age from the CASCADE study to non-autistic children in the same age range,” an ICR study summary stated. “Further, we will study changes in the endocannabinoid system in autistic children after treatment with CBD, and also explore the endocannabinoid profile of autistic children who had a positive response to CBD treatment to help make better recommendations related to which autistic children might respond best to CBD treatment.” Examination of the bi-directional interactions between phytocannabinoids and a human-associated gut microbiota Co-led by Dr. Jessica Prenni and D. Tiffany Weir, this study will explore how phytocannabinoids interact with the human gut microbiome. “Successful completion of this project will generate fundamental knowledge around how phytocannabinoids modulate the gut microbiome and provide proof-of concept and preliminary data for exploring interindividual differences in phytocannabinoids metabolism that can be leveraged in future human clinical studies utilizing phytocannabinoids for reducing both intestinal and systemic inflammation,” the summary explained. Investigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons resulting from vaped or dabbed cannabis/cannabis-derived products with known adverse health effects The vitamin E acetate illness that occurred back in 2019 prompted many studies about the potential harms of vaping both cannabis or non-cannabis products. This study, led by Dr. Alison Pauer, will closely examine a toxicants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which is classified as a carcinogen. Specifically, the study claims that terpenes can produce PAH when cannabis is heated up to very high temperatures. “Thus, PAHs are already a public health concern, and we will investigate the potential generation of PAHs from vaping or electronic dabbing of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, especially those with high terpene concentrations,” ICR explained. Developing predictive models to distinguish alcohol use, cannabis use and co-use: an exploration of electroenceph-alography (EEG) metrics and traditional intoxication measures Determining cannabis impairment in drivers is difficult because it can remain in a person’s system long after a person has consumed. This study, led by CSU professors Dr. Hollis Karoly and Dr. Patti Davies, will explore the efficacy of separately identifying impairment through cannabis or alcohol with roadside tests using elecrtroencephalography (EEG). “The goal of this study is to use EEG to differentiate alcohol and cannabis co-intoxication from single-substance intoxication and identify which of the aforementioned neurocognitive components are most strongly associated with alcohol, cannabis or co-use,” the summary stated. Increasing the Analytical Testing Capability of Cannabinoids and Concomitant Phytomolecules in Cannabis-derived Plant Matrices For a more plant-focused study, Dr. Williem Baurerle seeks to examine cannabis water use requirements and determine the most efficient way to increase nutrients and conserve water in the process. Developing best practices to improve and optimize nutrient and irrigation efficiency will provide small- to large-scale Cannabis producers with scientific knowledge to increase their input efficiency, reduce resource waste, and increase the sustainability of a horticulture industry critical to Colorado’s economic growth and prosperity,” ICR explained. Identifying the neuronal cell-types responsible for the rewarding and aversive properties of THC UC Boulder professor Dr. David Root seeks to find out about how THC offers “rewarding qualities” and claims that it can sometimes lead to addiction. “Our primary goal is to identify which neurons in the brain’s ‘reward center’, the ventral tegmental area, are affected by THC, how these neurons are physiologically altered by THC, and the necessity of these neurons for the rewarding or aversive properties of THC,” the study summary stated. In addition to these six newest studies, ICR has also funded five cannabis studies in 2023 and 10 in 2022 that are ongoing. The ICR started in 2015, and has completed 40 studies since 2018.

https://hightimes.com/

New Study Reviews Inequity in Cannabis Research, Recommends How To Move Forward

A recent paper published in PNAS Nexus provides an in-depth review of the effects of the War on Drugs on people of color, the disproportionate ownership of cannabis businesses in today’s industry and how this affects cannabis research data, and recommendations to achieve inclusivity and improve representation. Entitled “Effects of historical inequity and institutional power on cannabis research: Moving toward equity and inclusion,” study authors include Renée Martin-Willett, Madeline Stanger, Wanda James, Angela D. Bryan, and L. Cinnamon Bidwell, and was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Given historical inequities in cannabis laws and policies, there is an obligation on the part of researchers and policy makers to actively work toward improving equity in cannabis research at a time when the field is rapidly expanding,” the authors stated in the study abstract. “We wish to propose a way forward for cannabis research that acknowledges this history of discrimination and misuse of institutional power and embraces equity and inclusion.” The negative effects of the War on Drugs, specifically for communities of color, is well known. However, the authors described how there is a clear disconnect in research regarding data that suggests that Hispanic, black, and white groups have all been negatively affected similarly. “As a result, existing distrust of the biomedical research establishment by communities of color may be exacerbated in the case of substance use research and cannabis research in particular,” the authors wrote. “Given these circumstances, we wish to propose a way forward for cannabis research that acknowledges this history of discrimination and misuse of institutional power and embraces equity and inclusion.” This paper is separated into three parts: a dive into the history of cannabis policies and enforcement, a discussion of more modern legalization trends and how they have affected current cannabis research, and a proposal to ensure that future cannabis research is more “productive and inclusionary.” In the historical portion of the paper, it reviews the ramp of the War on Drugs and its effect on Hispanic communities. “Despite the fact that few in the Hispanic community used cannabis, and many Mexican Americans viewed cannabis use as ‘a badge of inferiority,’ white legislators in the Western and Southeastern United States used racialized language in their arguments for cannabis prohibition that were in reality prompted by fears surrounding rising use by young white people,” the authors explained. Even though the President’s Crime Commission Report called drug policies “discriminatory and ineffective,” the effect of labeling cannabis as a Schedule I drug in 1971 led to the prosecution of millions of Americans, “with striking racial disparities in arrest rates.” Fast-forward to today, and those prosecutions have had longstanding impacts on communities. Other studies have found that a history of incarceration lead to “recidivism and future mental and physical health problems,” and “can create or intensify financial hardships, affect one’s ability to gain employment, secure a business or personal loan, work in certain industries, become politically involved, gain or keep a green card, and receive federal benefits such as student loans.” This often leads to lower graduation rates and children’s poor mental and physical health. Authors also point out that the growth of legalization and the “green rush” have allowed the cannabis industry to thrive but is owned in majority by “wealthy white men.” “Thus, while this growing industry could have potential to be profitable for minority business owners, the legacy of racialized drug policy continues; while historical drug policy disproportionately targeted communities of color, legalization has disproportionately enriched wealthy white communities,” they explained. Many states have implemented equity-focused policies, such as expungement services or reserving a certain number of licenses for social equity applicants but losing out on that initial momentum causes communities of color unable to get ahead, and “frustration and resentment continues to grow,” authors stated. The authors provide citations showing that biomedical research lacks diversity and has led to a distrust of research and medical establishments by communities of color, especially in cannabis research. Additionally, they only found one study that analyzed participation in cannabis research was affected by the participant’s perceived stigma. “While additional research is sorely needed in this area, we hypothesize that there are sizeable barriers to building a more inclusive cannabis research enterprise due to the historical reality of unequitable cannabis policy and enforcement, the stigma associated with cannabis use, and the broader distrust of the biomedical research establishment,” authors stated. In the final section of the paper, the authors propose their recommendations for improving cannabis and biomedical research in the future. This includes three primary steps. First, to “follow best practices for ethical research design” by improving minority representation as research participants, reducing the distrust between minority groups and research studies, and more. Second, “support the entry, continuation, and retention of scientists from underrepresented groups,” which includes demographic data collection to improve STEM outcomes, providing financial support for minority STEM students, and making courses more inclusive. Lastly, “support more equitable cannabis policy at the state and federal level,” which proposes descheduling cannabis and offering more support for marginalized groups (such as federal bankruptcy protection, minority-focused policies, improving inclusivity, and improving bank access). Countless generations of people of color have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs and has created a ripple effect of minority success and inclusivity in today’s cannabis industry. “Confronting these power structures at the state and federal level with equity-focused legislation and policy, supporting the entry and retention of scientists of color into the field, engaging in more ethical research practices, and practicing intentionally inclusive recruitment of participants will help to move the field of cannabis research forward,” the authors concluded. “Importantly though, these actions would also help ensure that the economic gains of the industry and the scientific benefits of research are equitably distributed.” The paper’s main points were summarized in this article, but the text in its entirety is a thorough source of information for the cannabis industry to read, comprehend, and help enact in the near future.

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