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Hemp News, Laws & Product Updates

A curated news hub focused on hemp regulation and policy changes, cannabinoids (CBD/Delta-8/Delta-9/hemp-derived THC), lab testing and COAs, product safety, brands, and industry trends.

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https://hightimes.com/

From the Makers of the VOLCANO – The Breathtaking New VENTY

German innovation has once again taken center stage with STORZ & BICKEL’s introduction of the VENTY, one of the highest-performing portable vaporizers on the market. As the world’s only medically certified manufacturers of vaporizers and makers of the iconic VOLCANO series, STORZ & BICKEL have come up with truly game-changing features for the new slim, fast, and customizable VENTY. Jürgen Bickel, founder and managing director, introduced the breathtaking new portable device in the company’s latest keynote on October 17th. The first and probably most interesting standout feature of the VENTY is its lightning-fast heat-up time. Equipped with two powerful Li-ion batteries, an intelligent software design, and an innovative mini-heater, STORZ & BICKEL’s new powerhouse reaches the desired temperature within an unmatched 20 seconds. This promises minimal waiting and a seamless vaping experience. About the use of the VENTY, Jürgen Bickel stated: “It technically still is a session vaporizer, but it comes very close to an on-demand device. I just turn it on while walking down the stairs, and the VENTY is always ready for powerful, spontaneous, and discreet moments.” With this astonishingly short heat-up time in a portable device, the German manufacturer and market leader is indeed breaking records, unleashing potential. Distinguishing itself from competitors and giving users full control over their vaporizing experience, STORZ & BICKEL engineered the first portable vaporizer of its kind to offer an adjustable airflow. Moreover, the VENTY is one of the highest-performing portable devices on the market, with an impressive maximum of 20 liters of air per minute. STORZ & BICKEL thereby nearly doubled the amount of cool, tasty vapor in comparison to its predecessor and all-time throne holder, the MIGHTY+. The VENTY’s customizable airflow settings ensure an exceptionally low draw resistance while allowing users to tailor each session to their exact preferences. On top of that, the VENTY includes a newly developed flowmeter that measures the negative pressure of the inhalation and dynamically adjusts the heating to match the draw. This results in consistent and excellent vapor production, no matter the intensity of the inhalation. These new features, combined with the VENTY’s temperature precision, which is modifiable and visible for the user directly on the device, make it as easy as it has never been before to find your own personal sweet spot. STORZ & BICKEL, never shy about groundbreaking innovations, re-designed their patented convection and conduction heater and cooling technology for the VENTY. Moreover, the company came up with a new and, so far, the most sophisticated heating management system these pioneers have ever built. The re-shaped Cooling Unit and housing encapsulating the heater are made of medical-grade PEEK – a material used in medical engineering and aerospace. The ingeniously efficient new mini heater provides the fastest heat-up time of any STORZ & BICKEL vaporizer so far. It consists of an electrifiable, thus heated, wire around the heating block with holes in its center, through which air is drawn. At its maximum stage, the VENTY boasts a maximum power usage of 130 Watts at 16 Amps and therefore exceeds the currently highest-performing portable vaporizer from STORZ & BICKEL – the MIGHTY+, with a maximum of 40 Watts – by far, setting new industry standards again. The smart new VENTY supports Bluetooth and is customizable with the STORZ & BICKEL Web App. Various settings can be accessed and adjusted, like the desired temperature from 40°C – 210°C (104°F – 410°F), two pre-set Booster temperatures, the display’s brightness, vibration settings, and an ECO-charge mode. The new device allows users to modify the vaporizer to their personal taste, while software updates over the air can be implemented – all from the convenience of their smartphones. Crafted according to the high standards for medically certified manufacturers, the VENTY guarantees superior quality in performance and endurance. Therefore, it complements an active lifestyle, offering a breath of fresh adventure, whether on a mountain peak or oceanside. The VENTY is splash-proof, all materials are food-safe, and the housing is non-heat-conductive, making it touch-proof, despite the power unleashed inside this smart, sturdy, and sleek device. STORZ & BICKEL is the unattained global leading brand for high-end vaporizers and is truly unique as the world’s first medically certified manufacturer of vaporizers. Based in Tuttlingen, Germany, STORZ & BICKEL continuously drives the advancement of vaporization technology, providing a safe and efficient means of consuming cannabis for medical as well as recreational purposes. For more than 20 years, the company and their commitment to quality, innovation, and compliance have consistently delivered exceptional products that meet and exceed the highest industry standards. From the iconic VOLCANO series to the new portable VENTY, the state-of-the-art vaporizers of STORZ & BICKEL, Made in Germany, seamlessly blend reliable innovative technology with timeless elegance and promise an elevated everyday vaporization experience.
https://hightimes.com/

Green Wednesday Adult-Use Cannabis Surpassed $9 Million in Sales

The day before Thanksgiving, often referred to as “Green Wednesday” in the cannabis industry, saw a record number of sales once again. According to data collected by Jane Technologies, recreational sales on Nov. 22 reached $9,209,061.73—an 18.12% increase from Green Friday sales data in 2022, which landed at $7,795,803,80 last year. Adult-use cannabis sales on Nov. 22 had also increased by 90.5% in comparison to sales on the three previous Wednesdays, including Nov. 1, Nov. 8, and Nov. 15, which collected a total of $4,833,890.74. In products for Green Wednesday sales, flower led the way with the most sales, clocking in at $3,352,845.91, followed by vape-related products at $2,533,166.62, edibles at $1,207,840.33, pre-rolls at $963,026.92, and lastly, extracts with $448,520.89. According to its website, Jane Technologies serves dispensaries in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Among these, the states with the highest sales revenue included Illinois ($2,868,215.31), California ($1,084,388.39), New Jersey ($880,127.66), Maryland ($758,727.23), and Washington ($709,599.95). Jane Technologies CEO and Cofounder, Socrates Rosenfeld, said in a press statement to Business of Cannabis that the cannabis industry’s future is continuing to grow.  “As we approach 2024, the US cannabis industry finds itself at an exciting point in time. With the government’s recent actions on issues like SAFER and rescheduling, the end of cannabis prohibition has never felt closer to becoming a reality,” Rosenfeld said in a press release. “With future consumer growth expected to be exponential and large mainstream brands anticipated to enter the space, current Industry operators must continue to invest in scalable solutions to remain competitive.” Medical cannabis sales on Green Wednesday, however, continue to drop. While medical sales reached $8,166,102.75, it was an 11.1% decline compared to last year’s sales at $9,191,493.38. Product popularity was similar to that of adult use sales, with a slight variation. Medical cannabis flowers reached $3,922,135.11, followed by vape-related products at $2,174,895.66, edibles at $896,241.66, extracts $592,565.12, and lastly, pre-rolls at $327,542.51. The states with the highest collection of sales varies a bit more than that of the adult-use sales, with Pennsylvania in the lead ($2,577,176.05), followed by Florida ($1,229,439.36), Ohio ($756,845.71), Maryland ($585,176.82), and Virginia ($561,534.87). Black Friday reports are still rolling in, but traffic was high in many markets. Reports from Michigan show long lines and interest for special deals, according to Levels general manager Drew McCarthy. “Black Friday is a big stressful day, after a big stressful day,” said McCarthy. “So, we wanted to give back to people and be able to have them not just take back the product they bought, but something extra to go and share with people around them and kind of go and promote that holiday spirit.”  According to BDSA data analyst Brendan Mitchel-Chesebro, Black Friday weekend continues  to reflect increased interest and traffic. “Black Friday consistently experiences the highest surge in cannabis sales of any holiday, other than 420,” Brendan Mitchel-Chesebro said, according to The Fresh Toast. “These insights are important for retailers looking to optimize their holiday strategies. By preparing for increased foot traffic with increased staff and an ample supply of popular products instead of leaning into promotions, retailers will win with consumers this holiday season.” Green Wednesday and Black Friday continue to be one of the major cannabis sales holidays of the year. This year, some state cannabis agencies joined in to promote sales and support. The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) posted on social media to deter black market sales and encourage legal sales. “Don’t follow the hordes of shoppers today! Friday shop smart, shop licensed cannabis,” DCC wrote online. “To find your nearest licensed retailer please visit: https://search.cannabis.ca.gov/retailers.” The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) shared efforts to support cannabis dispensaries as small businesses.” While you grab some #BlackFriday deals, take a note from #NYCCB member, Hope Knight and support #SmallBusinessSaturdays at one of your local dispensaries,” OCM wrote.  Additionally in Connecticut on Thanksgiving Day, liquor stores were closed and other stores that sell alcohol and were open on that day were not permitted to sell alcohol. However, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection issued a notice stating that cannabis sales are permitted on Thanksgiving. The holiday season is also the time of year we begin to see cannabis brands offering support to local communities. Puff Cannabis handed out an estimated 2,500 turkeys this year for people in need, which was twice the amount that the brand gave out in 2022. “The goal of Puff Cannabis Company from the beginning has been to offer top- notch cannabis products while building a knowledgeable and customer-focused team,” said Puff Cannabis founder Justin Elias. “We are honored to have grown to 12 dispensary locations throughout Michigan in only four years, with many locations on tap to open in 2024.” MariMed, which operates in Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, and Delaware, announced that it would be donating 800 turkeys this year as well. “Doing our part to support the communities we serve is an important part of MariMed’s mission to improve people’s lives every day,” said MariMed CEO Jon Levine. “This is the third consecutive year of our Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, which has become a wonderful tradition that our entire MariMed family rallies behind. We’re proud that we can help ease the financial burden for so many people at this time of year.”
https://hightimes.com/

Jon’s Stone-Cold Cop List #44: Green Everyday

It may be the first week off I’ve had in ages, but you know I couldn’t let another month close without dropping you a new list of heat to acquire. I know last week was all about supposed deals amidst all the stuff we’re already thankful for, but the good news is over here life’s green everyday – we don’t have to limit it to just one that’s designed by corporations to suck your coffers dry. There are always deals if you know where to shop! Anyway, November’s just about over, it’s officially (at least) hoodie weather everywhere, and the real holiday madness is about to begin. I’ve already seen several Christmas ads, and parking lots turning into open-air tree markets, and I’m already sick of the holly jolly nonsense. Maybe I’m cynical, maybe I’m old, but this is by far the least Christmas spirit I’ve ever felt, so, drugs it is to spice things up.  Below are some of my latest favorites, as well as some fun events happening this week that I figured I’d throw in in case you’re in town. For those on the east coast, we’ll be rolling pretty deep to Miami next week for Terp Basel. Come hang out! As always, feel free to pop me a line on twitter to tell me what you hate about this, or on the rare occasion what you loved, I’m always happy to argue with you.  We’re big fans of Preferred Gardens over here. From the immaculate flower they produce, to the massive team/entourage they roll around with, everything about these guys is top tier. I was late to the party only first getting to link up with them at the beginning of the year, but I’ve seen them many times since and the consensus remains: They’re fun to be around, and their work ALWAYS smokes. The last time I mentioned them in a list I gave props to the joints these guys put out. In the immortal words of the team, ‘these doinks don’t suck,’ and in fact, I started calling them one ashers, as that’s really all that you’ll need if you know what you’re doing. That said, having now had a few more chances to get hands on with the flower in its original form, I’m happy to share that they’re all bleeding terps, even through a blunt.  This is one I’d been hearing rumblings of for a while. There are few cultivars that hit the street with this much hype in tow, and typically when I see something pop off that fast I tend to assume it’s a smoke & mirrors play. The hype is usually just marketing. But friends, I’m here to tell you that’s not the case with Venom, this one’s a real smoker. A cross of Animal Face & Sin Mintz, originally bred by Ronin Seeds, grown by Cannapy Builders, and popularized by West Coast Connoisseurs, Ted from Alien Labs showed me some of the Living Soil batch they put out recently and man, I got so high that I forgot what time my flight was – while looking at my confirmation. I hear there’s a new batch that’ll be cured up in Jan that’s expected to be very special, so I’m excited to cop a bit more for myself. I suggest you do the same. At the Full Moon Sesh last month there was one pickup that made it into my bag that exceeded all others in terms of my excitement to consume it. Now this was a hyper privileged batch, and I’m not sure when a full run will hit the streets, but Serge certainly has a hit on his hands with this one, and it seems like a light washer, so if you see this on a menu somewhere don’t sleep on your chance to taste it. Maybe the most Pina Colada-y terps I’ve ever experienced, and from fresh press no less, the Colada was washed by frequent purveyors of hype Feel Good LA. Grown by Serge, but originally bred by Beleaf the Hunter Gatherer, this one’s not only terpy, it smacks too. It might taste like that light drink you sip by the pool, but you’re going to feel it like a tidal wave. Another frequent flier on the cop list, Pelli’s incredible legacy has been shouted from the rooftops (and included in rap songs) for literal decades, but his new hash holes? I gotta say, Pelli’s in the zone right now. He’s been hard at work hunting for his next new flavors, some phenos of which I was fortunate enough to get to check out at Full Moon, but he’s been twisting up the classics lately and they’re just as fresh as ever. His Ropeium (which was paired with GG4) remains my favorite, but that Super Gremlin stays a superstar as well! I actually meant to get this one in the last list so I apologize for the delayed notice, but the Z that Your Highness has been rocking lately is worth calling attention to. A bit darker than most of the Z we typically see floating around – which if anything just makes it more market viable – every time I’ve seen them this year the weed seems to somehow keep getting better. They’re also a ton of fun. At every one of Jimi’s Transbay events they always had one of the best set ups, and the aesthetics and merch continue to set an example for the rest of us. These guys have had a really good year. From winning one of the most coveted competitions on the east coast through a collaboration with Cipher Genetics on ‘Blue Lobster’ – which is a well-known but rare delicacy for those back east (I know a lot of west coasters are like ‘tf is that?’) – to now launching that same strain on the rec market out here in California, a rare feat for an east coast label, the gang from Maine has been doing some truly impressive work. And before you ask, it’s not just the Lobster. I’ve had the good fortune of trying several of their cultivars, and they’re all in the upper echelon. I don’t want this to come off as a slight because the genetics are clearly great, but I also wonder if these guys have some special curing techniques as well because every sample I’ve seen has smoked immaculate. When I did the High Grade Confirmed event last month, Firefly Organics was the brand one of the founders was most excited to show me, and with good reason – these guys were an exciting discovery. I got to check out three cultivars, of which the Albariño was definitely my fav, but it had that orange stain your mouth terp that not everyone loves, so I also want to recommend the White Niño, which was my favorite of the other two. That said, they all tasted delicious, and were clean smokers, so it’s worth tapping in with whatever you can from this crew. I’d been following Pleasant Effects for awhile now, and while from afar I’ve been a fan of what he’s been putting out online, having finally gotten a chance to get my hands on his small batch grow I’ve got to say, it smokes even better than it looks – and that’s already set a high bar. True to his name, the high is *at the very least* effectively described as pleasant, and strong, with all four of the varietals I sampled rocking me. My favorite of the gang was probably his SD Warheads, but the Permanent Market and Sherbanger were also definitely amongst the best expressions I’ve seen. Another one of my favorite finds from my most recent trip back east, Bushwacker’s flower smokes as good as his jar looks, which is worth celebrating in and of itself in this marketing-driven society we live in. That said, while the Grapeful Dead (a Runtz x Coffin Candy) was definitely my favorite jar, it was the Pandemonium (Z x Sherbanger) that stole the show for me. I also smoked the Sake Bomb, which is pictured above and a cross of Sherbanger & Gelato 33, and while not my favorite of the bunch, was absolutely a serious smoker. These guys might’ve been a new name for me, but they definitely know what they’re doing. One to keep an eye on for sure. Sacred Fruits has been producing high quality mushroom products since their inception, and while typically they buck the trends of the market, skipping over-popularized low-hanging fruit like gummies or chocolate, their latest product is likely their most familiar and entry-level SKU yet. We’ve all heard of Mushroom Tea, perhaps the easiest way to down the magic you’re after, but it’s not like they were just selling these tea bags at the grocery store. While still not at the grocer, you can now get a pre-blended journey through their Magic Tea, which I’ve affectionately started calling Sacred Tea. A box comes with 5 teabags, each packing 1.4 grams of mushrooms as well as a delicious blend to help mask the taste. It’s recommended you steep these for 20 minutes to maximize the effect. It was an eventful weekend online for Vandul, who participated in one of the most ridiculous art beefs to ever grace the internet, but I realized amidst the madness that I haven’t told you guys about his Hostage series yet, which I’ve been obsessed with for months. While I recognize there are serious world events happening right now and don’t say this to make light of anything happening abroad, it feels safe to include as he’s attacking corporations, rather than any perceivable innocents, and consumerism is killing us all. He’s been crafting some of my favorite toys for years now, but this new series really tickles me in a special type of way. I’ve already bought Hostages 1 & 2 (Mickey & Kaws) and can’t wait for the next drop. These don’t usually last long so if this is up your alley I wouldn’t sleep on it… This is another artist I’ve been a fan of for a long time that’s making cool shit that I’m realizing I can include in here because who is going to tell me I can’t? Dogman crafts incredibly intricate hand made toys that are far better than most of the handmade DIY stuff you see on platforms like Etsy, and he regularly makes small runs for events in our community, like the Very Heady Halloween sesh. Most of his characters are hilarious commentary on world events or creative bootlegs of pop culture heroes, like the Elmer’s Greenhouse shown above, and honestly I’ve started amassing a collection over here.  Following the success of Hash Hole Island earlier this summer, CGO is back with another event, and this time he’s starting up a national holiday. The combination of 4/20 & 7/10, our two days already dedicated to weed and hash, 11/30 this year represents the inaugural Hash Hole Day. Coming downstate this time to maximize the hype, the event will be hosted by industry godfathers Berner and Adam Ill, who it’s worth mentioning has been celebrating this combo holiday for a few years now, though not dubbing it Hash Hole Day. Taking place at Optimist Studios on the west side, I’m excited to celebrate with you all on Thursday! Speaking of events this week, on Friday some of the best weed-friendly comedians in the game are doing a special night of smoke and comedy at GOAT’s new spot in West Hollywood and it promises to be a night to remember. Featuring WEIRDOS alum Frank Castillo and Steve Furey, as well as Trevor Wallace, Ron Funches and Jil Chrissie, the lineup is clearly stacked, and it’s likely that many of the jokes will be at our expense, so it’ll be worth pulling up if you’re in town. Going to Comedy shows is one of my favorite things to do, and I’ve realized recently how many of my friends just… never go to them, so if you’re not already regularly doing this, this is also just a good idea for your mental, gangster. Doesn’t have to be this one specifically, just get out and laugh a bit. It’s medicine, too.  I simply can’t close this out without once again shouting out Weed & Wagyu and the gang over LA FAV. At Jesse’s memorial at Archie’s earlier this month, LA FAV dropped a new collab with his Weed & Wagyu brand to honor his legacy, and it’s actually the fulfillment of his original plan for Not Another Lemon Cherry Gelato – spoofing the Not Another Teen Movie poster and replacing the characters with our community’s usual suspects. This got the nepotism tag because I’m on the jar, as is Jesse and TrulyRedPanda, but true to form for the gang even the most novice of consumers won’t mistake this Bubble Zum for an LCG. They won’t be complaining about it, either! Also, fuck SSENSE (the fashion co, not the weed guys) for covering up Saber’s mural!
https://hightimes.com/

‘Grim Reefer’ AZ Weed Recalled Due to Mold Contamination

A particular strain of cannabis flower literally named “Grim Reefer” has been recalled from Arizona dispensaries due to potential mold contamination.  The Arizona Department of Health Services issued a recall Monday for certain cannabis products that may have been contaminated with aspergillus mold. “An Arizona marijuana establishment has voluntarily recalled specific products due to possible contamination with Aspergillus, a fungus that can cause allergic reactions or infection, usually in people already sick with something else,” said a written press release from the ADHS. “The products being voluntarily recalled is the Nirvana Center’s Grim Reefer, Batch number PHX1091-GR.” The ADHS said that the cause of the possible contamination was due to laboratory testing that did not follow state guidelines, though the press release did not say exactly how the labs were skirting guidelines, only that whatever was being done elicited the possibility of false negative results for certain contaminants.  “ADHS Laboratory auditors discovered discrepancies during a routine inspection, potentially leading to false negative results for contaminants being reported,” the press release said. “Once ADHS discovered the potential contamination, they contacted the facility that produced the products. The licensee took immediate action to work with all distribution and retail partners to remove any potentially impacted products from store shelves.” There has not yet been any issues reported with people who have consumed the Grim Reefer, nor with any of the other cannabis product recalls from aspergillus in Arizona. The Nirvana Center voluntarily recalled all the potentially contaminated products, presumably before they could make anybody sick.  “To date, no illnesses have been reported. This announcement is being made out of an abundance of caution,” the press release said. “Patients who have purchased potentially contaminated products should not ingest, inhale, or otherwise consume them and should dispose of them. If you have already consumed any of the products and have any of the symptoms described below, please contact your healthcare provider or seek care in the event of an emergency.” According to the Center for Disease Control, aspergillus is a type of fungus with over 180 known species, about 40 of which have been known to cause unpleasant or harmful reactions in humans. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common “strain,” if you will, of the fungus. People with healthy immune systems typically don’t experience a reaction to aspergillus, but people with weakened immune systems have been known to have reactions to it in the form of ailments like lung or sinus infections which can spread to the rest of the body.  Most people breathe aspergillus every day without getting sick, but in those it does affect the fungus can cause an illness known as aspergillosis. Most of the symptoms of aspergillosis can be likened to a combination of asthma and allergy attacks, according to the CDC.  Aspergillus recalls in cannabis products have actually been happening with some form of regularity as more states legalize and enact different standards of lab testing. In Oregon, for instance, there was a big problem with products testing positive for aspergillus beyond the allowed levels but the laws ended up getting repealed and recalled products were eventually sold after local cannabis farmers appealed to the state legislature that some level of aspergillus is near-impossible to avoid when growing cannabis.  “The industry was concerned that that was not a workable standard that could be met, particularly for growers who are growing directly in soil,” said attorney Kevin Jacoby to KLCC. Jacoby represented the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon in a legal challenge to the state’s aspergillus laws with regard to cannabis.  Oregon’s change of heart has not stopped the ADHS from recalling the Grim Reefer, however. Nor has it stopped the state health authority from recalling nine other batches of potentially contaminated cannabis just this year. Almost all the batches recalled were due to possible aspergillus contamination, though some were for salmonella as well. Several of the past incidents of aspergillus contamination also cited poor lab etiquette or improperly reported lab results.  Interestingly enough, two of those product recalls were ultimately – recalled – because there’s a law in Arizona with regard to cannabis testing facilities that if a product fails testing it can be sent to a second lab. If it passes testing at the second lab, the product is sent to a third lab and the third lab’s result is the final one. Three of the ten batches recalled in 2023 for aspergillus in Arizona met this standard, had their recalls lifted, and were ultimately sold to the general public. 
https://hightimes.com/

Cartel’s Primary Pot Distributor ‘El Mago’ Shot Dead in Los Angeles

A top member of the Sinaloa cartel responsible for allegedly distributing thousands of pounds of illegal cannabis was shot and killed in Southern California. Eduardo Escobedo, 39, was found dead Thursday close to the intersection of Rosecrans and Towne avenues in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Escobedo and another man were both killed following a shooting incident. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office identified the second man who was shot dead as Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr., 47. Escobedo and De Los Angeles died at the scene after sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of shots being fired in an industrial area filled with warehouses. A third man was taken to a hospital close by with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. The third man was not identified. Police officers and firefighter-paramedics arrived at the scene Thanksgiving morning after the shoot at an industrial property filled with warehouses. ABC 7 reports that details about the shooting are scarce as officers sort through information. “We have no motive at this time. It appears that there was some type of gathering or party at the location from last night to early this morning,” sheriff’s Lt. Omar Camacho told ABC 7 Eyewitness News at the scene. ABC 7 reports that details about the shooting are scarce. “We have no motive at this time. It appears that there was some type of gathering or party at the location from last night to early this morning,” sheriff’s Lt. Omar Camacho told ABC 7 Eyewitness News at the scene. Video footage shows that investigators examined a black sedan that was near the bodies with its front doors open. Forty-foot shipping containers, semi trucks, and a forklift were all located nearby and provided a hidden spot where the crime could take place. The Los Angeles Times reports that Escobedo is a convicted drug trafficker nicknamed “El Mago,” which is “The Magician,” in Spanish. Escobedo was the primary local cannabis distributor for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Police believe Escobedo also allegedly put out a hit on a rival trafficker who was shot dead in his Bentley on the 101 Freeway in 2008. Escobedo was never charged in the murder, but his brother and another man were convicted and are serving life sentences. In October 2013, Escobedo was wiretapped and allegedly recorded speaking with Guzmán Salazar about smuggling over five tons of cannabis through a tunnel under the U.S.-Mexico border, prosecutors said. Escobedo also allegedly laundered the drug earnings by purchasing exotic cars and shipping them to the cartel’s main hub in Culiacan, Sinaloa. He served nearly five years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than 22,000 pounds of pot and laundering drug proceeds. For reference, 22,000 pounds is the equivalent of 11 tons or 10,000 kilos of pot. He was released in 2018 after serving time. Then Escobedo eluded capture by police for over a decade. El Chapo, on the other hand, was arrested in 2014 in Mazatlan. In 2019, he was convicted by a jury of being a principal leader of a continuing criminal under his leadership of the crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel.  In 2019, El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years, and was ordered to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture. The sentence marks the end of a 30-year drug trafficking career that saw Guzmán rise to the top of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa drug cartel.  Addressing the court at his sentencing hearing at the Federal District Court in Brooklyn, New York, Guzmán said he had not been given a fair trial and complained about being held in solitary confinement at Manhattan’s federal correctional facility before and during his three-month trial. “Since the government of the United States is going to send me to a prison where my name will never be heard again, I take advantage of this opportunity to say there was no justice here,” he said. El Chapo’s wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, was released in September of this year from a California halfway house. Aispuro was sentenced in 2021 to three years in prison after pleading guilty to helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar criminal empire. She had faced a minimum of 10 years in prison, but was spared under a so-called “safety valve” provision because she had no prior criminal record, was not considered a leader, and was not personally involved with violence. Guzman Salazar is one of Mexico’s most wanted men. Escobedo lived it up on social media in recent years, posting photos with Floyd Mayweather, Al Pacino, and others. He donned attire by Dolce and Gabbana and diamond-encrusted jewelry. No arrests have been announced by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
https://hightimes.com/

New York Cannabis Regulators Reach Settlement in Lawsuit Blocking Dispensary Openings

New York’s cannabis regulatory agency on Monday announced that it has reached a settlement in two lawsuits that have been blocking the opening of retail weed dispensaries for months. The settlement sets the stage for more than 400 Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licensees to finally open their businesses after months of waiting for the lawsuit to be resolved. The lawsuits against New York’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) are challenging the agency’s process for awarding licenses for the state’s first recreational cannabis dispensaries, which were reserved for individuals with previous marijuana-related offenses on their record. One of the lawsuits was filed by a group of military veterans, while the second legal action was brought by a group of medical marijuana companies seeking access to New York’s lucrative retail weed market. In August, after only a handful of recreational pot shops had opened, state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant issued a temporary injunction blocking the opening of additional dispensaries with licenses issued under the CAURD program. The judge ruled that the CCB had improperly reserved all of the initial retail dispensary licenses for those with pot convictions instead of considering a wider group of social equity applicants outlined by New York’s 2021 law legalizing adult-use cannabis. Some of the businesses were later allowed to open their doors, but less than three dozen shops have begun serving customers across the state. At the same time, more than 400 businesses approved for CAURD licenses have been left in limbo while the legal drama continues. At an emergency meeting of the CCB on Monday, the board voted to approve a settlement agreement state lawyers negotiated with attorneys for the plaintiffs in the lawsuits.  “Today’s approval of the settlement agreement by the New York State Cannabis Control Board marks a momentous step forward in our mission to cultivate a diverse and inclusive cannabis market,” CCB Chair Tremaine Wright said in a statement from the agency. “Once this settlement is approved, we are hopeful those impacted by the injunction will be empowered to open their storefronts and embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, bringing us closer to our goals.” The settlement follows the CCB’s recent approval of a new cannabis application period for licenses to grow, distribute and sell cannabis. The new application window is expected to result in more than 1,000 new licenses for New York’s recreational cannabis market, which has been stunted by the delayed approval of licensed retailers. “Today, we are one step closer to resolving litigation brought forth by equity entrepreneurs and our medical operators who felt that they were being left behind,” said Chris Alexander, executive director of New York’s Office of Cannabis Management. “Now that we have opened up licensing to all equity entrepreneurs and provided a clear pathway to participation in the adult-use market for our medical operators, we are able to continue to move this program forward together.” The CCB noted that with the settlement, more than 400 CAURD licensees will be able to proceed with opening their shops. Michelle Bodian, a partner at the cannabis law firm Vicente LLP, said “It’s a good day for the NY cannabis industry,” when details of the settlement were released on Tuesday.  “With the settlement agreements filed in both lawsuits, we know NY has the potential to have many more adult-use stores in 2024,” Bodian wrote in an email to High Times. “Although the state cannot award any more provisional CAURD licenses till April, the 436 provisional CAURD licensees can move forward towards a final license. In addition, five registered organizations will be permitted to transition one store to the adult-use market on or after December 29, 2023. Osbert Orduna, CEO of The Cannabis Place, owns a Queens-based licensed pot delivery service but was blocked from opening an approved dispensary on Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village because of the injunction. “After months of the harmful impact on legal operators trying to open, there is some great holiday daze for the entire cannabis community,” Orduna told the New York Post.
https://hightimes.com/

Psilocybin, ADHD Medication Together? Study Reveals Potential of Combined Approach

Researchers observed a notable development in an ongoing study of microdosing for ADHD. Two weeks into the research, participants using traditional ADHD medication reported lower mindfulness levels compared to those not on medication. But at the four-week mark, regardless of medication, both groups demonstrated improvements in mindfulness, indicating a leveling effect as a result of continued microdosing with psilocybin, Psychedelic Spotlight reports.  The study on microdosing, published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry Journal, analyzed data from 233 individuals, most diagnosed with ADHD or experiencing severe symptoms. About a third of the participants used ADHD medication daily. These include pharmaceuticals like Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta. Both groups, those medicated with such drugs, as well as those “untreated,” microdosed psilocybin mushrooms. As High Times reported, it’s worth noting that for those people in the trial taking Adderall, getting their medicine may have been a struggle recently due to a medication shortage. The shortage of Adderall, which started in the fall of 2022, was initially expected to be a short-term issue. The FDA predicted a resolution within a month or two. However, this has yet to be the case. In August 2023, a joint statement acknowledged the ongoing shortage, describing it as ‘understandably frustrating’ for patients and healthcare providers. The joint notice explained that the shortage began due to a manufacturing delay by one drug maker last fall. Although this issue has been resolved, its impact persists, exacerbated by an unprecedented increase in stimulant medication prescriptions. Over the past decade, from 2012 to 2021, there has been a 45.5 percent rise in the dispensing of stimulants, including amphetamine products and other similar medications in the U.S. So, while the study in question looked at people microdosing and those microdosing in addition to taking such medications, there is also a potential role for psychedelics to step in when traditional pharmaceutical methods fail.  Researchers began the study with an initial assessment of mindfulness and personality traits of all study participants. The scientists continued the research with additional check-ins at two and four weeks. The research team anticipated that microdosing would enhance ‘trait mindfulness,’ which is the ability to be consciously aware of and attentive to present thoughts, feelings, and sensations without excessive reaction. They also expected improvements in traits such as conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness, coupled with a reduction in neuroticism. Two weeks into the study, participants on traditional ADHD medication showed lower mindfulness levels compared to those not using medication. Yet, after four weeks of microdosing, this disparity went away, with both medicated and non-medicated groups having similar improvements in mindfulness.  Additionally, four weeks into the study, the microdosers with ADHD showed the average mindfulness levels of the general population. Specifically, they demonstrated increased mindfulness, excelling in areas like acting with awareness and non-judgmentally accepting their inner experiences. Additionally, these individuals exhibited a decrease in neuroticism, indicating reduced emotional instability. PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other comorbid diagnoses had no impact on the study’s participant’s results.  Yet, the participants did not meet all of the researchers’ expectations. For instance, personality traits like agreeableness and openness didn’t change much, suggesting that microdosing may have a “ceiling effect;” in other words, it only helps so much.  The findings still hold important implications. Firstly, they indicate that microdosing has the potential to impact stable traits such as mindfulness and neuroticism for people with ADHD. The result showed that ADHD medication did not affect these changes, suggesting that microdosing could enhance existing treatment models and increase the quality of life for those with ADHD.  In the future, such findings could help people with ADHD plan a multi-faceted treatment approach that yields better results than traditional medications or even just psychedelic therapy alone.  And researchers are studying microdosing psilocybin to treat more mental health conditions than ADHD. In August of this year, scientists explored how psilocybin affects various brain networks and how it can potentially help people with depression, High Times reported.  According to the preprint study titled “Psilocybin desynchronizes brain networks” offers an in-depth analysis of the effects of psilocybin on the brain’s default mode network (DMN). Researchers closely examined how psilocybin interacts with and influences the DMN. “Psilocybin-driven desynchronization was observed across [the] association cortex but strongest in the default mode network (DMN), which is connected to the anterior hippocampus and thought to create our sense of self,” the researchers noted in their findings. The study highlights that the most significant impacts of psilocybin on the DMN were observed in areas like the thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and hippocampus. The researchers further elaborated in their abstract, “Persistent suppression of hippocampal-DMN connectivity represents a candidate neuroanatomical and mechanistic correlate for pro-plasticity and anti-depressant effects of psilocybin.” Here’s to finding new ways to help psilocybin improve the lives of those living with mental health conditions. 
https://hightimes.com/

New President of Ecuador Makes Drug Possession Illegal Again

Ecuador’s newly-elected president has re-outlawed drug possession just a few days after taking power as part of a campaign promise to crack down on narcotics trafficking. President Daniel Noboa announced Thursday, less than two days after taking office, that he would be changing the nation’s drug laws to once again make possession of small amounts of drugs a crime, walking back legislation enacted by Democratic Socialist President Rafael Correa’s administration about a decade ago.  Previously, Ecuadorians were permitted to carry up to 10 grams of cannabis, two grams of cocaine paste (the raw materials made from coca leaves used to synthesize cocaine in a lab), one gram of cocaine, 0.10 grams of heroin and 0.04 grams of amphetamine. However, Noboa’s office opted to enact a zero tolerance drug possession policy on the grounds that to permit possession would encourage “microtrafficking.” “What we promise, we deliver. Through the Ministry of the Interior, I have ordered the repeal of the CONSEP Resolution, thus removing the drug consumption table that encourages microtrafficking,” Noboa’s office said in a translated Facebook post. “In this way, we care for the future of Ecuadorian families and protect our children, girls and adolescents from the use of psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs.” Narcotics trafficking in Ecuador, mainly cocaine, has been responsible for widespread violence, robberies, murder and kidnappings for years much like some of their other neighboring South American countries. There were over 4,600 deaths related to violence in the country in 2022 alone, according to Al Jazeera. In addition to trying to curb drug trafficking, Noboa also opted to direct his cabinet members to create programs that would offer rehabilitation help to habitual users and to additionally develop “coordinated information, prevention and control programs on the consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances.” The original drug possession laws made in 2013 were made to address what President Correa’s administration characterized as a public health crisis with respect to drug use. Correa directed the courts to somehow distinguish between people who were trafficking and people who were simply using drugs, hence the small possession limits. It was not immediately clear how Noboa’s administration would differentiate between traffickers and users, if at all. His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, announced that he was going to repeal the laws in 2021 but never followed through.  In a previous Facebook post on the day Noboa took office, Noboa announced that the “Drug Board,” which was the term used for the reference table of allowable drugs and possession limits, was on its way out signifying the end of legal drug possession in the country. He symbolized this by ripping up a piece of paper in a Facebook video.  “Today the Drug Board is leaving! For our children, for our young people, for our families, for our country,” Noboa’s post said. “The New Ecuador is already here.” Noboa defeated a protégée of Correa, Luisa Gonzalez, in the general election on October 15. Noboa will remain in office until May 2025. He is not serving a full term as president because he was elected to finish President Lasso’s appointment. President Lasso stepped down in lieu of having impeachment proceedings take place against him. Violence soared in Ecuador during Lasso’s term as president. The violent murder rate nearly doubled during Lasso’s short reign as president, even to the point of presidential candidates opting to wear bulletproof vests while campaigning.  “The Mission takes note that presidential candidates have had to resort to wearing bulletproof vests in order to campaign, a fact that limits their ability to move and express themselves in public spaces,” said members of the Organization of American States in a statement earlier this year. “The Mission reiterates its concern about the alarming climate of violence that has overshadowed the electoral campaign in Ecuador.” Noboa’s term as president also kicked off with the announcement of his presidential cabinet on Thursday, which his administration touted as being composed of almost all women and young people. It would appear Noboa is taking a somewhat radical approach to leading a country that has been awash with violence and corruption for several preceding leadership terms.  “I want to thank my initial work team who helped me bring together all these people with special qualities. They all  have the courage, the conviction, the strength to serve the country at its worst possible moment. That is not easy, that requires an additional degree of patriotism and empathy towards the  Ecuadorian people.”
https://hightimes.com/

Minnesota Launches Pilot Program for Roadside Saliva Drug Tests

The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) announced its pilot project to launch a cannabis saliva test for determining impairment in drivers. According to OTS Director Mike Hanson, the test is being designed to determine recent impairment. “We’re not looking to find somebody who used 10 days or 14 days ago. We’re looking for somebody who used within the last couple of hours,” Hanson explained. The saliva test would screen for a total of six substances, such as cannabis and opioids, using both the SoToxa Mobile Test System and Dräger DrugTest 5000. Both devices have already previously been tested in other states. The state’s 320 Drug Recognition Evaluators (DREs), who have been trained to recognize signs of impairment due to substances other than alcohol, will be given saliva devices for the program. A majority of the DREs are local law enforcement officers, but one-third are state troopers. “We’re going to get a good sampling not only in metro areas, but also in the greater Minnesota areas that will give us an idea of how prevalent drug impaired driving is on our roads,” Hanson continued. In practice, if an officer comes across a driver who appears to be impaired, they will ask them to perform field sobriety tests, followed by swabbing their mouth, if they consent. “That swab is then inserted into a cartridge, and that cartridge then is inserted into the instrument. Roughly five minutes later, you will get your result,” Hanson said. A news report from Fox 9 explained that individuals won’t be arrested or have their licenses revoked while participating. The pilot program will help the department gather data by using participants who provide voluntary saliva samples. The goal is to determine the presence of one of the six substances, not the varying levels of a substance within a person’s body. “If you have Delta 9 in your system, that tells the officer [the driver] used recently, and that very likely is the cause of their impairment, or part of their impairment if they’re using other things in in conjunction with that cannabis,” Hanson said. Data shows that between 2013-2017, there were 8,069 incidents involving intoxicated drivers, and between 2018-2022, that number increased to 15,810. The goal is that OTS will gather data and submit it to the Minnesota Legislature in fall 2024, with the goal of asking lawmakers to update state law to allow the devices to be used by law enforcement to arrest impaired drivers. In Michigan in 2017, a similar Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program was launched with the use of a device called an Alere DDS2, which tests for amphetamine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and opiates. Between 2019-2020, Phase II of the program was launched. Similar roadside saliva tests have been implemented in Alabama and Kansas as well. Following adult-use cannabis legalization in Canada in 2018, the country altered its laws to permit the use of roadside saliva drug tests with the Dräger DrugTest 5000. In 2019, the Canadian government approved the SoToxa Mobile Test System for use by law enforcement.  The Victorian Parliament in Australia recently approved a bill to address and implement a medical cannabis driving trial in October 2023 as well. “This bill will allow us to deliver a world-leading research trial into medical cannabis and driving, enhancing our understanding of how cannabis affects driving behavior and informing future reform,” said road safety minister Melissa Horne. Victoria was the first Australian province to legalize medical cannabis six years ago. “The reality is patients continue to wait. Medicinal cannabis has been prescribed since 2016, that’s a long time for patients to have to wait for a resolution,” said Australia MP Rachel Payne. “A medicinal cannabis patient should be treated like any other patient who is prescribed medicine by a doctor who also provides appropriate advice about when that patient is safe to drive.” However, there are concerns regarding the efficacy of these roadside drug tests. In 2019, a Vancouver-based attorney found that the Dräger DrugTest 5000 was not a reliable way to determine impairment, claiming that it was producing false positives for people who had only consumed CBD. “We found there was a retention period of half an hour. It was still found in the mouth even though there were no lingering effects in the body,” said attorney Kyla Lee. Other complaints included that the device wasn’t performing properly in cold weather. “We need to put more effort in this country into finding a device that can tell the difference between something that’s impairing a person and something that’s merely present in their system,” Lee explained. In September of this year, an article published on the American Council on Science and Health website explained how these drug tests are still not up to par. In a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, determined that roadside saliva tests in theory are useful, but not accurate. “One court concluded that ‘there is as yet no scientific agreement on whether, and, if so, to what extent, these types of tests are indicative of marijuana intoxication,'” researchers wrote.
https://hightimes.com/

Feds Tell Farmers To Grow Hemp or Weed, But Not Both

Hemp farmers in several states are being told by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they can grow cannabis or hemp but not both, according to a report from Politico.  Thousands of farmers from coast to coast saw the 2018 Farm Bill’s legalization of hemp agriculture as a new avenue to profitability for the operations. And as the legalization of marijuana has continued to spread across the country, some hemp farmers are seeing new opportunities in growing weed under cannabis programs regulated by the state. But that business plan is now in jeopardy as the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed growers in several states that their federal license to grow hemp is subject to cancellation if the farmers continue to cultivate both hemp and marijuana. “It’s another attack on the little guy,” said Connor Reeves, a cannabis attorney with the firm McLaughlin PC in Jackson, Mississippi. “They don’t seem to care how it impacts small farmers and folks in rural parts of the country that are otherwise following the law.” The USDA approves all state hemp programs as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. The agency also directly regulates hemp growers in eight states, including Mississippi, that do not have their own regulatory program. Seven of those states have also legalized medical or recreational cannabis.  Eric Sorenson, a hemp farmer in Mississippi, explored cultivating medical marijuana after it was legalized in the state last year. But his plans were thwarted by the USDA, which informed him that he would lose his license to grow hemp if also grew medicinal weed. “While Medical Cannabis is not federally legal, we will not be able to allow you to maintain your current hemp license in addition to the medical cannabis cultivator license,” the USDA wrote to Sorenson in an email obtained by Politico. “It doesn’t make any sense,” said Sorenson, who also founded the Mississippi Industrial Hemp Association. “It’s the same plant.” The USDA declined to comment on the decision to rescind or deny specific hemp licenses. But Allan Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the agency, said that the issue is complicated because of the varying legality of marijuana at the state and federal levels. “While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production, marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “This presents a unique jurisdictional and regulatory landscape that producers of more traditional agricultural commodities do not have to navigate.” Rodriguez added that USDA remains “committed” to helping farmers learn about hemp-related rules and connecting farmers with research, risk management and conservation tools. USDA also said that the department oversees “all states and growers in the [hemp] program in the same way,” although at least some states that regulate hemp directly have issued both hemp and marijuana cultivation licenses to some growers. Farmers in Vermont, where the USDA oversees hemp agriculture, have also been told by the agency that they cannot grow both hemp and marijuana. Sam Bellavance, a Vermont cannabis farmer, had separate licenses to grow both marijuana and hemp before the USDA revoked the hemp license earlier this year. He expects his operation to miss out on about $250,000 in revenue because of the loss of the hemp license. “It was definitely a huge blow to our business,” said Bellavance. But other Vermont farmers are still growing both hemp and marijuana. Vermont Cannabis Control Board Compliance Director Cary Giguere said that his agency is aware of some growers who are still cultivating both crops. Hemp industry officials say that the inconsistency in regulation has led some retailers to shy away from carrying hemp products. That hesitancy has in part led to a decline in hemp prices that has caused many growers to give up or scale back their hemp operations. In 2019, farmers planted 275,000 acres of hemp, but that fell to just 21,000 acres last year, according to data from Hemp Benchmarks. Industry insiders say that the USDA’s decision to rescind hemp licenses is causing further turmoil in the regulated hemp industry. “It’s just another example of the absurdity of keeping a substance, for which now 55 percent of Americans live in a jurisdiction where it’s legal, federally illegal,” said Tim Bryon Fair, founder of the Vermont Cannabis Solutions law practice. “It’s insane.” Sherry Boodram, the CEO and co-founder of cannabis consulting firm CannDelta Inc., told High Times that the problem of farmers losing their hemp licenses illustrates the problems caused by the continued prohibition of marijuana at the federal level. “The disconnect between US federal and state laws pertaining to cannabis will continue to create unfair barriers for industry participants until cannabis becomes federally legal. This is an example of the unexpected hurdles the industry is continuing to be faced with,” Boodram writes in an email. “The fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is revoking hemp licenses for farmers who were given the choice to grow cannabis in states where it’s legal, is in my opinion, as ridiculous as legally being able to sell hemp-derived THC (such as delta 8).”
https://hightimes.com/

Wisconsin Lawmakers Push To Improve Veterans’ Access to Magic Mushrooms

The legislation, co-sponsored by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, would create “a new separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the medicinal psilocybin treatment fund and establishes a pilot program to study the effects of medicinal psilocybin treatment on patients with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD),” according to a summary of the bill. The bill would require the pilot program to be established by “the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with that institution’s Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances and its School of Pharmacy.”  “The individuals eligible to participate in the pilot program must be veterans who are 21 years of age or older and who suffer from treatment-resistant PTSD. Individuals who are law enforcement officers are not eligible to participate in the pilot program study. The psilocybin therapy provided by the pilot program must be provided through pathways approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and the research accomplished in the pilot program may be accomplished in conjunction with other medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration,” the bill’s summary reads.  “The board must ensure that no health information disclosed in the course of conducting the program contains personally identifiable information. The researchers conducting the program must create reports for the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature regarding progress of the pilot program and the studies conducted as part of the program. The medicinal psilocybin treatment fund created in this bill consists of donations, gifts, grants, bequests, moneys transferred from the general fund, and all earnings and other investment income of the fund. This trust fund is managed by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. Moneys in the fund may be expended for the purpose for which any donation, gift, grant, or bequest is made and for the administration of the pilot program.” As the research community increasingly highlights the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like mushrooms, military veterans in the United States have embraced the treatment –– even though it remains illegal under federal law. A growing number of those veterans are going to Mexico, where they are able to obtain the psychedelic treatment options. The inability for many U.S. veterans to receive those treatments is why Wisconsin state Sen. Jesse James, a Republican, introduced the bill there. “Our federal government has failed us when it comes to marijuana and the psilocybin and all these other variants that are out there in doing these studies,” James, a veteran of the Gulf War, told Wisconsin Public Radio. “So, if states have to take it upon themselves to do it, then I guess that’s what we should be doing.” James said that clinical trials in other states have showcased the promise of psilocybin mushrooms. “(Patients) have higher energy levels, improved familial relationships with their loved ones,” James said, as quoted by Wisconsin Public Radio. “They’re communicating more, enhancing their work performance of all things. I mean, this is what excites me because this is what we need in our society right now.” James is co-sponsoring the bill Democratic state Rep. Clinton Anderson. “I think our veterans deserve the absolute best, and that includes us accessing other opportunities for treatment for them,” Anderson said, as quoted by Wisconsin Public Radio. “Let’s try to find some alternatives to treatment for our veterans who serve our country,” Anderson continued. “And I think that’s something we should all be able to get behind. Otherwise, we’re just playing political theater when we talk about how important our veterans are.” There have been similar displays of bipartisan support for such proposals on Capitol Hill.  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican, introduced legislation this summer that would direct the Department of Defense to research psychedelics. Crenshaw, a far-right conservative from Texas, noted that he had formed a “real wild coalition” with Ocasio-Ortez, the progressive from New York. “Psychedelics have shown so much promise,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “We desperately need the resources to treat PTSD, traumatic brain injury and depression. At least one in two PTSD patients cannot tolerate or do not respond adequately to existing treatments.” Officials at the state level are not waiting for Washington to act, however.  Massachusetts Gov. Maura T. Healey filed a bill earlier this month featuring a proposal to research the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for veterans. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and this transformative legislation marks an important step toward ensuring that Massachusetts supports them in return,” said Healey. “From day one, our administration has been committed to revitalizing veterans’ services in Massachusetts and ensuring that every one of these heroes receives the benefits, resources and support that they deserve.”
https://hightimes.com/

Cannabeginners: What is Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv)?

We’ve all heard about how THC can give you the munchies, but did you know there is another cannabinoid that can give you the un-munchies, the unchies? Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) has shown such promise for controlling diet and weight loss that it has been patented for it.  While THCv wasn’t one of the first cannabinoids discovered like CBN or CBD, it was part of the second wave of cannabinoids identified during the 1960s and 1970s, like CBG. Specifically, THCv was first discovered by Edward Gill and a team of researchers in 1970, who found it in a sample of cannabis tincture, which was a legal medicine in the UK at the time. The name Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) was coined by Merkus in a study the following year.  Sources online are mixed when it comes to the purported intoxicating effects of THCv. A chapter in the 2016 book The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis is clear that “High doses of Δ9-THCV have been reported to produce a psychoactive effect characterized as mild intoxication.” The authors noted a dose dependent effect, where THCv was “capable of behaving either as a CB1 antagonist or, at higher doses, as a CB1 agonist in vivo.” A 2023 study is the most recent to find “THC-like effects” at higher doses, “though mild and not associated with impairment.”  On the other hand, a literature review released in 2020 was unambiguously clear, “The main advantage of THCV over THC is the lack of psychoactive effects.” The authors addressed the mechanism through which THCv affects the body, furthering their argument, “Unlike THC, which is psychoactive and an agonist at the CB1 and CB2 receptors, THCV is a non-psychoactive, neutral CB1 antagonist.” Additionally, in a 2021 article Jonathan Vaught, PhD, the CEO of Front Range Biosciences, said “People report that, when [THCV] is used in combination with THC, THCV can mitigate [the intoxicating] effects of THC.” One related and unique finding about THCv came from this 2023 study, which found “THCV and its metabolites were endowed with the advantage of blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration compared to THCA.” In other words, THCv had an easier time passing through the blood-brain barrier than THCa (the precursor of THC). So whether or not THCv produces feelings of intoxication, it does seem to have an easier time impacting the brain than THCa.  Since its discovery more than fifty years ago, much has been learned about the medical effects of THCv, with the bulk of research focused on its ability to combat obesity and aid people suffering from diabetes. In 2013, a team of researchers from GW Pharmaceuticals (GW) found “THCV is a new potential treatment against obesity-associated glucose intolerance,” which could make it a benefit to people with type 2 diabetes. Some of the same researchers followed up on their study with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and found that “THCV [helped with] glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes.” Since then, multiple teams of other researchers have added to the growing body of evidence that THCv is a benefit to those with type 2 diabetes. GW’s researchers also highlighted THCv’s benefits to those with obesity or looking to diet, “THCV is a novel compound with hypophagic properties and a potential treatment for obesity.” In 2015, other GW-affiliated researchers found that THC had “therapeutic activity in obesity, perhaps with a lowered risk of depressive side effects.” That mention of depression is a reference to Rimonabant, a CB1 antagonist and inverse agonist that was briefly on the market before being pulled in 2008 because it caused depression and suicide. Another team of GW researchers were the first to find that THCv “decreases resting state functional connectivity in the default mode network” of the brain which “suggests possible therapeutic activity of THCv for obesity.” Additionally, THCv has been shown to have benefits to those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, schizophrenia, cancer, pain, inflammation, and untreatable epilepsy. Finally, some research has indicated that both THCv and CBD can “modulate the effects of THC via direct blockade of cannabinoid CB1 receptors,” similar to Rimonabant, but without the unwanted mental health impacts. Given all the promising research on THCv, it should come as no surprise that there are several patents on this cannabinoid and plants that produce it. As much of the research on THCv was done by GW, they hold many of the patents. In 2002, GW first applied for their patent on THCv extracts, which they reapplied for several times before ultimately withdrawing it. In 2005, they applied for two still-active patents on THCv in the treatment of “obesity, schizophrenia, epilepsy, cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, bone disorders, bulimia, obesity associated with type II diabetes (non-insulin dependant diabetes) and in the treatment of drug, alcohol and nicotine abuse or dependency.” In 2009, GW applied for a still pending patent on using THCv and CBD to treat epilepsy. In 2011, they applied for a now published patent on THCv in production of insulin and blood glucose (diabetes). While for years THCv was a relatively rare cannabinoid, found in Durban Poison and few other cultivars, in the past few years there has been a surge of breeding for THCv. First, cultivars like Black Beauty and Doug’s Varin were developed, and earlier this year GTR Seeds released multiple THCv cultivars. In 2021, the furor over THCv hit its fever pitch, and the world’s first THCv plant patents were issued to GenCann, LLC (GenCann) for three different cultivars, V1, V2, and V3. To learn more about GenCann’s plants and patents, High Times spoke to Mike Kahn, their Chief Cannabis Officer. “I believe we are the only ones in the world to have both plant and utility patents,” said Kahn, “The plant covers any clones and the utility covers anything derived from the plants.” Each cultivar is a little different, but Kahn said “V1 and V2 are both higher THCv than THC.”  Until Phylos Bioscience got a plant patent for a THCv cultivar last year, GenCann’s patents were the only ones to mention THCv. Kahn was critical of Phylos’ propagation methods which relied on “selfing,” which Kahn described as “rubbing colloidal silver on a female plant which causes it to produce male pollen to impregnate that plant or another female, like feminized seeds.” Kahn says that selfing produces less stable genetics than GenCann’s more natural method of open pollination and selection of phenotypes for linebreeding, though their method also came with risks. “A bear came and destroyed all but eight plants,” said Kahn, but thankfully they could salvage those plants and didn’t lose their genetics.  Kahn was an advocate for growing THCv outdoors, “speak to anyone working with THCv, they all say it needs to be grown outdoors,” as the landrace genetics at the root of most THCv cultivars tend to produce very large plants. He was also a strong advocate for quality, organic sourcing, “Where is the COA should be the first question asked about THCv flower,” Kahn also was skeptical of THCv converted from CBD (like delta-8) or made by yeast. When it came down to the debate around THCv being intoxicating, Kahn said “It is like CBD, it is psychotropic but not psychoactive.”  Whether you are looking to try something old school, like Durban Poison, or something more modern like V1, thankfully there are a lot more options out there for THCv-rich flower and manufactured products.
https://hightimes.com/

Concerned Neighbors Complain About Ducks Working on Vermont Cannabis Farm

A Vermont cannabis farmer has attracted some unwanted attention from his community and neighbors due to some unconventional employees on his cannabis farm: 30 ducks of all shapes, sizes and breeds. Jason Struthers of Essex Junction, Vermont grows 100 licensed cannabis plants at his property. He uses duck manure to fertilize those plants after he bought them to use as meat but opted to let them hang out a while instead.  “I actually bought the ducks initially to use them as meat. But I became attached to them too quickly and didn’t want to slaughter them all,” Struthers said to MyNBC5. “And I was also very new to the process and didn’t really understand it. So I just incorporated it into a permaculture.” Struthers told High Times the duck manure is more useful to him than other fertilizer options because of the speed at which it’s ready to use in his garden. He said this came in handy particularly during the COVID-19  pandemic when supplies across all economic sectors were scarce and highly inflated. “I have created a duck permaculture. Duck manure is one of the few that can be added directly to gardens without composting or fermentation,” Struthers said. “I’ve been able to create the vast majority of my organic fertilizer needs with the ducks. During COVID, organic fertilizers (everything actually) [were] scarce and extremely expensive. I was able to avoid all that with my ducks.” Struthers has over seven varieties of ducks now and his cannabis farm appears to be running strong. However, some of his neighboring community members have voiced concerns both to Struthers and to community leaders about both the smell of the cannabis and the sound of the ducks.  “I have ducks of several different varieties. Pekin, Muscovy, Khaki Campbell, Cayuga, Poofy Heads, Swedish Blue, and hybrids of each that have interbred,” Struthers told High Times. “My neighbors want me to move because they are very sensitive to smell and sound. They don’t like my cannabis or my ducks.” According to MyNBC5, Struthers cannabis farm is in a bit of a gray area because you’re technically not allowed to have a “farm” in his neighborhood. Struthers lives in an R-1 zone, which does not allow for farms, but his cannabis cultivation license originally protected him from having to relocate his ducks in a ruling by the Essex Junction Development Review Board.  However, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture officially designated Struthers’ property a farm in May of this year. This caused the review board to reverse their decision during a review of the case in September. They told Struthers he could keep his cannabis plants, but the ducks had to go.  One of Struthers neighbors who is currently involved in litigation against Struthers and his mallard companions told MyNBC5 that Struthers’ cannabis farm has made life rather unpleasant for those living around him.  “It really impacts us just not being able to enjoy our outside, you know, our lot. We can enjoy the inside, mostly. But if we go outside, then we’re subject to the smells, the noises,” said Wille Padnos, Struthers’ neighbor, to MyNBC5.  Both Struthers and Padnos reportedly filed appeals in response to the review board’s decision. Struthers filed an appeal to keep his ducks and Padnos filed an appeal to make Struthers move his cannabis farm and the ducks somewhere else entirely.  Struthers has not yet given up on his ducks. According to MyNBC5, the process of going through both appeals in court could take months until the fate of the ducks and the weed has been decided. However, the court could decide to fine Struthers as much as $200 per day while the proceedings take place if he opts to keep his ducks.  “H.270 was specifically tailored to protect people like me from municipalities like the City Of Essex Junction. They can not make me stop Cannabis farming unless the legislation is changed,” Struthers said. “The city council recently drafted a letter to representatives, asking to do just that. I will be writing to the same legislators, asking not only to maintain the protections H.270 provides to small cultivators, but to strengthen them.”
https://hightimes.com/

St. Louis Fails To Collect $500,000 in Pot Taxes

St. Louis city officials announced this week that a failure to meet a state deadline has resulted in a delay in the start of a new cannabis sales tax that will cost the city an estimated $500,000 in lost revenue. St. Louis voters approved the 3% cannabis sales tax in April following the statewide legalization of weed in the November 2022 election. Under Missouri’s marijuana legalization statute, local governments are permitted to add a cannabis sales tax on top of the state’s 6% pot sales tax. Earlier this year, St. Louis city officials put a 3% cannabis tax measure on the ballot, saying that the money would be used to address historic inequalities in the city. Former city Alderman Brandon Bosley, the sponsor of the cannabis tax proposal, said at the time that he hoped the money would be used for programs to help keep at-risk young people out of trouble. St. Louis voters approved the tax in an April election, giving the city the authority to collect the new cannabis tax. But before that could happen, the city was supposed to submit information including certified election results and a notification to the Missouri Department of Revenue that the tax would be levied. State law dictates that the new tax can be collected beginning on the first day of the second quarter after such notification is made. If the notification had been made by the end of June, the city could have begun collecting the tax on October 1. Last week, an employee in the city finance department told the mayor’s office that the required notifications to enact the new weed tax had not been sent to the state. “We’re grateful that they told us because we had no idea,” city spokesman Nick Dunne said in a statement to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Dunne said that St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Casey Millburg, her policy director, worked swiftly to resolve the issue after it came to light. The required paperwork was filed with the state Department of Revenue on November 14 and the city received word that everything was in order the following day. City officials also secured a waiver from the state allowing the tax to be collected beginning in January, rather than in April as prescribed by law. Because of the error, St. Louis is missing out on the cannabis sales taxes that could have been generated between October 1 and the end of the year. Dunne did not estimate how much revenue could have been collected from the tax during that time. But in May, city Budget Director Paul Payne told the Board of Aldermen that if statewide recreational sales are about $1 billion per year as estimated and the city receives the same share in taxes as it does with other consumer spending, the city’s annual weed tax revenue would be about $2.4 million per year, or an estimated $600,000 per quarter. If the city’s share of the regulated cannabis market is equal to its share of the dispensaries that have opened in Missouri so far, annual revenue would be roughly $2 million annually or approximately $500,000 per quarter. “Clearly, this is an oversight that even we weren’t thrilled with,” Dunne said. What’s not clear, however, is which city department is responsible for making the notification to the state to begin collecting the tax. Recently, such submissions have been completed by the mayor’s office. But Dunne noted that the city comptroller’s office and the Board of Elections have also taken care of such submissions in the past. After the oversight was revealed, Jones’ office issued a statement on the city’s failure. “While state law does not specifically define who is responsible for submitting the required documents to the Department of Revenue, the bottom line is that St. Louis will be precluded from collecting the additional 3% sales tax on cannabis products,” the statement reads. “That is unacceptable.” “We are looking at what we can do to more clearly define lines of responsibility,” Dunne told reporters. The shortfall of at least $500,000 is not an enormous portion of the city’s billion-dollar yearly budget. But Alderwoman Cara Spencer, the chair of the Board of Aldermen’s budget committee, said the amount is not insignificant, noting that the amount could pay for a proposed freeze on property taxes for seniors for a year. “It’s really disappointing,” Spencer said. “We need every dollar we can get.” “Frustrated is an understatement,” she added. “We just came through a very tough budget cycle. We’re looking at some very stark figures here.”
https://hightimes.com/

U.S. Virgin Islands Calls for People with Cannabis Convictions To Reach Out for Expungements

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. recently called out to residents with cannabis convictions to contact the government to determine if those convictions are eligible for expungement. The territory’s cannabis law, Act No. 8679, dictates that any cannabis convictions be automatically expunged if it involves an individual in possession of two ounces of cannabis or less. “This initiative reflects the Governor’s commitment to justice and fairness in applying the law, especially in light of recent changes that have made the expungement process more complex than initially intended,” the governor’s most recent notice stated. “However, to ensure full compliance and address any potential gaps in data received from the Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands, Governor Bryan requests individuals impacted by this law to proactively contact Government House.” Special Advisor Positive Nelson will manage the effort to expand expungement services by leading a designated task force, which includes “…representatives from the office of the Virgin Islands Attorney General, the Office of the Territorial Public Defender, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Bar Association, and the Virgin Islands Justice Institute.” The brief notice also stated that moving forward with the requirements of Act. No. 8679 “…represents a significant step toward rectifying past inequities in the criminal justice system. The Governor’s Office encourages all eligible individuals to come forward and take advantage of this opportunity for a fresh start.” Previously, the U.S. Virgin Islands government has been quiet on its progress regarding expungement. An article published by The Virgin Daily News last week stated that the government was supposed to issue the first “auto-expungement report” by Nov. 18, or 10 months after the passage of the cannabis act, but no updates had been provided regarding the progress of the initiative. Likewise, no announcements had been made regarding pardons by Bryan. Former Sen. Janelle Sarauw, a co-sponsor of the bill, told The Virgin Daily News he’s disappointed in the lack of progress. “I think it’s a travesty that the equity piece hasn’t even been addressed,” Sarauw said. “That was the intent of having the companion legislation to ensure that those who have been disenfranchised or locked up for cannabis can have a fair shot at life. And it’s just, it’s appalling that nothing has been done.”  The local news outlet claims it has repeatedly reached out to the government for updates, but was provided with little information. In September, Justice Department spokesperson Sandra Goomansingh responded to The Virgin Daily News’s requests, but only said that “your questions have been directed to the OCR so a comment should be forthcoming.” The law states that $250,000 has been earmarked to support an expungement program, but it appears that the funds have not yet been spent. Earlier in November, The Virgin Daily News reached out to the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) Director Hannah Carty, who estimated that the territory’s cannabis program would begin in January 2024, alongside the “Cannabis Registry system.” “The OCR is summarizing the information and will present the next steps at the next Board meeting,” Carty told the outlet. “The Board is scheduling a meeting in the next two weeks, pending member availability.” Currently, the Cannabis Advisory Board has room for a total of 11 representatives, but Bryan has only appointed four people so far. The U.S. Virgin Islands legalized adult-use cannabis when Bryan signed The Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act in January 2023. “We are bringing the opportunities to you, but you must also do your part to seize these opportunities,” Bryan said earlier this year. “It is my goal to make sure many of us who have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of cannabis are afforded every opportunity to participate in this new and legal cannabis industry.” At the time, he also explained that people with cannabis convictions should take action themselves in order to expedite expungement. “However, the best way to ensure the expungement of your records for marijuana related convictions and any other eligible convictions is to file a petition with the Court seeking that expungement,” Bryan said during the January legalization announcement. “Don’t wait for the opportunities to come to you, go out and grab them.” In September 2023, the Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs announced that the board officially released its draft rules to cover both medical and recreational cannabis regulation. This prompted an invitation for public comment, which lasted until Oct. 10. The cannabis law allows adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of cannabis, half an ounce of concentrates, or one ounce of products like edibles to be used recreationally, or for sacramental purposes. Additionally, medical cannabis patients may possess up to four ounces of cannabis, one ounce of concentrates, and two ounces of cannabis products. The law also allows cannabis cultivation for sacramental use, but only for those who apply and are approved for a permit. Cannabis sales will include a 18% tax on recreational products, and 3/4 of the revenue will go toward a general fund that provides 15% to behavioral health programs, 5% to support homelessness efforts, and 5% for youth-related programs.
https://hightimes.com/

Study: MMJ, Opioids Comparable in Treating Pain––Weed Carries More ‘Holistic’ Relief

There has been plenty of recent research affirming that medical cannabis is indeed a suitable alternative to opioids, with many users finding they are able to reduce or eliminate opioid use entirely after maintaining a medical cannabis regimen. Now, one study is taking a closer look at the specific holistic effects that both medical cannabis and opioids provide to get more insight on the efficacy of each substance as it pertains to chronic pain management. The recent study, “The holistic effects of medical cannabis compared to opioids on pain experience in Finnish patients with chronic pain,” was conducted by a team of researchers from Åbo Akademi University, who looked into the effects of medical cannabis and opioids for chronic pain treatment. Published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, the study aimed to take a closer look at how effective medical cannabis is compared to traditional opioids in treating chronic pain, as cannabis use for symptom management has become increasingly more common in recent years. Results suggested that opioids and cannabis are both “equally efficacious” at mitigating pain intensity in patients with chronic pain, while cannabis offered more “holistic” relief in improving sleep, focus and emotional wellbeing To investigate the efficacy of both substances, researchers had subjects complete retrospective surveys to measure the positive and negative phenomenological effects of both cannabis and opioids.  The sample included 201 chronic pain patients, with 40 who used medical cannabis and 161 who used opioids to treat pain. Each group had some crossover, with about 45% of medical cannabis patients reporting the use of opioids to treat pain and about 4.3% of opioid users having used medical cannabis. Participants were asked to evaluate statements detailing positive and negative effects of their medications, with researchers comparing scores from the two groups. While neither opioids nor medical cannabis are first-line treatments for chronic pain, researchers noted that both are commonly used when other treatments cannot provide sufficient relief. Recreational users of cannabis or opioids or people who used either substance to treat conditions other than chronic pain were also “explicitly asked not to partake in the study.” The analysis revealed three experience factors: negative side effects, positive holistic effects and positive emotional effects. The medical cannabis group received higher scores than the opioid group in the positive emotional effects and holistic positive effects, with no difference in negative effects. Ultimately, researchers concluded from the self-ported data that, while both medical cannabis and opioids were “perceived to be equally efficacious in reducing pain intensity,” medical cannabis positively affects broader factors related to pain, like emotion, functionality and an overall sense of wellbeing. “Both MC and opioids were perceived to reduce pain intensity equally well. The group differences support the hypothesis that the effects of [medical cannabis] on pain are more holistic than those of opioids,” authors state. The study also notes that the strongest difference between the two groups — which were more commonly reported in the medical cannabis group — were deeper relaxation, better sleep, improved mood and the ability to feel pain without reacting to it. “In sum, the results lend support to the notion that the psychoactive effects of MC are relevant to its therapeutic effect on pain, in line with suggestions in previous literature,” authors said. However, they noted that their use of “psychoactive” isn’t in reference to something producing an altered state of consciousness or distorting perception, but “instead something that holistically alters consciousness to a more positive direction, or towards ‘normality.’” Researchers also said that there were no indications of medical cannabis distorting cognitive processes. Instead, it was perceived to improve memory, focus and clarity of thought. “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,” authors conclude. “However, this conclusion would require more robust testing, ideally in randomized controlled trials.”
https://hightimes.com/

U.S. Military Veterans Are Going to Mexico for Psychedelic Treatment

A recent report by CBS News highlighted this trend, noting that as “ many veterans with PTSD remain desperate for healing, a growing number are turning to psychedelic-assisted treatment in Mexico — using substances the government they fought for says are illegal.” “As I watched more of my teammates…more veterans start to take their own lives, I realized that that’s an option,” Herb Daniels, a former Green Beret, told CBS. Following his retirement from the military, Daniels “said he faced a profound darkness that started to consume him,” which ultimately resulted in multiple suicide attempts. He ultimately “found out about VETS, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions,” a “nonprofit organization funds grants for veterans to go to Mexico for treatment that isn’t legal in the United States,” according to CBS News.  The organization shuttles veterans from San Diego to Mexico for a psychedelic retreat each week. Daniels embarked on his first retreat last year. CBS News has more on the experience: “Upon arrival at the retreat site, the location of which CBS News was asked not to disclose for the safety and security of the participants, the veterans met with a local facilitator, Juan Aguilar, who guided them through the process. Aguilar first focused on setting intentions and preparing the veterans for their experience. The therapy session started with the use of mapacho smoke to cleanse the space, followed by a focused meditation with the medicine. The heart of the treatment involves a short, intense, psychedelic experience. During his session, Daniels went through a range of emotions, visibly moved as tears rolled down his face. The experience lasted about 10 minutes, and he said it felt ‘magical, like a fresh start.’” “My heart was just opened, wide open, and there was laid bare so much pain, so much anger and as soon as I let it go, I became aware of my presence again, and I felt my body just relax,” Daniels told the network. According to CBS, Daniels “and his wife now dedicate themselves to assisting veterans in getting the help they need – by helping them get to Mexico for treatment.” The story highlights a significant component of the drive to make psychedelics legal in the United States: researchers are increasingly convinced of their potential as a form of mental health treatment, and they have been vulnerable populations, including returning veterans. Earlier this month, Massachusetts Gov. Maura T. Healey filed legislation that includes a proposal to the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for veterans. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and this transformative legislation marks an important step toward ensuring that Massachusetts supports them in return,” said Healey. “From day one, our administration has been committed to revitalizing veterans’ services in Massachusetts and ensuring that every one of these heroes receives the benefits, resources and support that they deserve.” Veterans advocacy groups applauded the bill. “We’re grateful to Governor Healey and her team for recognizing the need for giving back to the heroes who have served our country, both at home and overseas,” said Bill LeBeau, Adjutant for Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars. “With this bill, the Healey-Driscoll Administration demonstrates a real commitment to accomplishing outcomes for our Veterans that will be meaningful and impactful in so many ways; it also sends a signal that more needs to be done to support them.” The most decisive action will have to come from Washington, however, as psychedelics remain prohibited under federal law.  A growing number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill have publicly endorsed making psychedelics legal for mental health treatment.  Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) introduced a bill this summer that would direct the Department of Defense to research psychedelics. “This is a real wild coalition,” Crenshaw said after introducing the measure, noting the ideological composition of the bill’s sponsors. The most crucial show of support would come from the White House, and there were signals earlier this year that President Joe Biden could actually be amenable to psychedelic treatment. Biden’s younger brother, Frank Biden, said as much in an interview this past summer.  “He is very open-minded,” Frank Biden said in an interview with radio host Michael Smerconish.  “Put it that way. I don’t want to speak; I’m talking brother-to-brother. Brother-to-brother,” he added. “The question is, is the world, is the U.S. ready for this? My opinion is that we are on the cusp of a consciousness that needs to be brought about to solve a lot of the problems in and around addiction, but as importantly, to make us aware of the fact that we’re all one people and we’ve got to come together.”
https://hightimes.com/

Reviewing Binoid’s 7 Gram Disposable

Binoid has just launched something that the industry didn’t think was possible just a few years ago – a disposable vaping device that carries a stunning 7 grams of vape oil, powered by a comprehensive battery and advanced coil.  This rechargeable vaping device is referred to as the “Slush Series”, named after the lineup of strains that are all inspired by slushie beverages.   Placing THCA front and center, the vape oil contains additional cannabinoids as well, for a fully satisfying experience that Binoid can deliver like no other.  We got to try this disposable for ourselves, so we’re going to review it for you right now. You can also jump right in and experience this awesome 7 Gram Disposable with the code HIGHTIMES30 for 30% off with fast and free shipping here. But first, let’s take a look at the 7 gram review. Binoid’s 7 Gram THCA Disposable Vape is the first of its kind, as no disposable vaping device has managed to pull off 7 whole grams of cannabis-based vape oil yet. It features a rechargeable battery, and is ready to vape right off the bat, as no setup is required. Aside from occasional recharging, it doesn’t need any maintenance, and it contains a blend of live resin and cannabinoid distillates, both of which have undergone strict third-party testing. Let’s talk about the first impression. The box has a cool design on it, and the labeling covers all of your bases pertaining to things like ingredients, directions, the name of the strain, and so on. The device itself is visually striking – obviously not a necessity, but really does catch the eye and make the overall experience all the more enjoyable. The most unique device in the THC industry.  Strains are super important, and today’s stoners care abouts strains more than ever.  Keep in mind that these strains come in the form of live resin hemp extract – an ultra-rich and flavorful extract that come from fresh, flash-frozen, rather than dry-cured flower, and retains a higher level of trichomes for a stronger concentration of terpenes.   The strain options all belong to the “Slush Series,” which is the brand’s playful variety of strains named after slushy drinks.  The options are: Now we can move onto the cannabinoid blend itself. The 7 gram disposables line comes in two choices, as 1 of 2 cannabinoid blends is assigned to each strain above. First, you have THCA + delta 9P + delta 9H. The THCA is self-explanatory, and the latter two cannabinoids are isomers of delta 9, bonded to THC-P and THC-H respectively, offering even more potency than their naturally occurring counterparts.   The second option is THCA + HHC-P, the cannabinoid that’s 10 times as intoxicating as HHC. Either way, prepare to get really high, as these cannabinoid blends are both very powerful. The Binoid 7 gram device performs great, we’re pleased to say. The pulls are nice and smooth, and the high-capacity battery lends itself to nicely sized, fluffy clouds.  We didn’t run into any issues whatsoever, thankfully. Most issues with larger disposables is that they leak, clog and don’t work after a few grams. We still have 1 gram left in the tank and the device is still running. This is great news for those who want a great value disposable. We went with Grape Slushie, because it’s a great afternoon vape that can be enjoyed with friends.  Before we talk about the high itself, let’s dive into the flavor.  This is a very, very delicious strain that, to us, tasted like sweet, plump grapes blended with sour citrus. There’s a sugary sweetness to it that makes you want to lick your lips after each puff, and no doubt, the fact that it’s live resin really helps make it even tastier. The high kicked in within about 10 minutes – probably thanks largely to the potency of the cannabinoids – and immediately, there was a feeling of giddy euphoria, and the giggly effects are legit. The high lasted for about 3 hours, and the general “lifted” effect persisted the whole time. There was no crash or couchlock at any point, and we were able to stay relatively clear-minded, while there was a clear body high effect that felt warm and tingly. Binoid has done it again – this time, with a first-of-its-kind vaping system that’s convenient, portable, and powerful, with 7 whopping grams of potent cannabinoids and delicious terpenes. Fortunately, it’s already available on their website, so you don’t have to wait to find out for yourself why this exquisite vaping system has got it all. Try the 7 Gram THCA Disposable Vape at Binoid for yourself, and choose from some phenomenal strains, all in mouthwatering live resin form.  To Buy The First 7 Gram THC Disposable Click Here

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