A new year and a new you, people make resolutions to lose weight, exercise more and be healthier. In fact, these are 3 of the top 5 goals set. Only 9% of those who make resolutions complete them, per the Ohio State University. In fact, research goes on to show that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January. But we have a couple of suggestions to help you be successful.
First, is manage expectations. Start with the goal of moving more instead of running a half-marathon. Moving more opens the door to your body and mind to fold in exercise when given the chance and getting used to the concept. Yoga, moving and marijuana can help you hit your new you physically and mentally.
Yoga, even 5-10 minutes, can be done anywhere and opens the body and mind. It improves strength, balance and flexibility which can work toward longer term fitness goals. It can relax you and help you sleep better along with providing more energy and brighter moods.
Marijuana has a long term relationship with the ancient practice. Cannabis can be a helpful tool for enhancing your yoga practice in many ways. By reducing stress, anxiety, and pain, cannabis can help you achieve greater physical and mental relaxation. Additionally, cannabis can help heighten your awareness, allowing you to stay more present and focused during your practice. When it comes to the postures, a general rule of thumb is to stay away from poses that have a higher level of risk for injury, which will be different for everyone.
If you plan to consume right before practice, smoking or vaping creates an immediate onset. But smoking produces potentially harmful carcinogens, so if you’d like to create minimal harm you can choose vaping. An easier way if you have time prior is to consider a gummy or a sublingual spray or chocolate. You can have a micro-dose and have just enough to put your body and mind into a good spot but still focused.
If moving and yoga are new, cannabis can also be an anti-inflammatory as you change thinks up to your muscles. As you head into the new year, getting your body to move is essential to both your physical and mental heath, and cannabis can play a part.
It has been clear the DEA is slow to change for cannabis…but have they done something shady?
It has been clear Anne Milgram, the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), is no fan of cannabis and is not pleased with the push to reschedule. Now a lawsuit says DEA acting in bad faith over marijuana. David Heldreth, CEO of psychedelic research firm Panacea Plant Sciences, claims the DEA’s recent actions violate federal law and constitutional principles. Filed in filed in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington, names the Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and DEA Judge John J. Mulrooney II as defendants. So what’s going on?
It is no secret, the current President isn’t a fan of cannabis and waited 3 years to fulfill his 2020 promise to help the industry. The timing allowed his administration to pass the decision to the next president. DEA head Milgram has been reluctant about the issue despite recommendation from Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians. All of those agencies recommended the change due to clear research showing the medical benefits of cannabis, especially with cancer, chronic pain, PTSD, and inflammation. For the DEA not to follow goes against all precedent.
Heldreth’s alleges legal violations in the DEA’s rulemaking process. He contends the agency failed to consult Native American tribes despite ignificant impact rescheduling marijuana would have on tribal law enforcement and health services. Additionally, Heldreth challenges the constitutionality of the DEA’s Administrative Law Judges, arguing their appointment by the DEA administrator violates Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
Heldreth is the latest in complaints as a Veteran’s organization is claiming they have been blocked from the hearings, despite the Veteran’s administration working with the industry to figure out a pathway for veterans with PTSD.
Milgam has been obstructive to the late in term admisntration’s move, working to stop the process. After the announcement to reschedule, Anne Milgram made the unusual request of a “off the record/no notes meeting” to top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”. What followed with a request to the Department of Justice (DOJ) which would slow the process if not stop it. The DOJ pushed back on the request.
With millions of patients using medical marijuana, including veterans, plus thousands of mom and pop businesses, Milgram’s actions are murky. Science has changed the direction and it seems the DEA is the only agency standing against the movement.
If you drink alcohol, you can drink, but it has to be out of your body’s system. it is recommended you not have booze 24 hours before donating. Like alcohol, you can donate blood, but you have to let the marijuana move out of your system. Potential donors cannot give if cannabis use impairs their memory or comprehension. The Red Cross does not test blood donations for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the principle psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. But you should wait 24 hours from the last time you are high.
Donating blood is easy. You go to the nearest location, sign in, show ID, and read some information. You’ll answer questions online or in person, and receive a health check.
The acutional process is easy, a sterile needle is inserted into a vein in your arm, and blood is drawn into a bag. The donation usually takes 8–10 minutes and feels like a quick pinch. Afterwards they providea snack and drink and 10–15 minutes to recovery before resuming your day.
The cannabis industry is concerned about the direction of regulations – and the DEA is still against the plant.
The cannabis industry is very concerned for the future. While many supported the incoming president with hopes for action, things look rough. The Speaker of the House is against legal marijuana, the pro-weed Attorney General nominee seems to be in trouble, and some of the new Senate leadership feel cannabis issues as dead on arrival. And is this giving an indicator to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to not do anything? It is the DEA against the vast majority of the public about marijuana.
Every poll shows at least 88% of the population is for some form of legal cannabis. Florida had almost 57% of their voting public support full recreation. Almost all major medical organizing including the federal government’s Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians have supported rescheduling. Their reason is proven science around it providing clear medical benefits. But the DEA seems to be against it.
Now, the DEA and their Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney has denied a key group from being part of the hearing. Cannabis has been proven to help with PTSD and the Veterans adminstartion has rearranged its process to allow veterans to seek this option of treatment. The Veterans Action Council (VAC), an organization supporting cannabis access for military veterans, petitioned request “status as an interested party” to give testimony.
This is a follow up from an earlier requested to participate. Despite working with the government, the group was not included on the list of 25 participants released Oct. 31 by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.
According to a footnote in the order denying the Veteran group a chance to testify, the DEA could allow more participants to testify. But DEA DIrector Milgam has shown no love for cannabis or the industry, and the current list leans heavily into the anti-cannabis group and against the general public.
As reported in early summer, Director Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes. This has made the industry very anxious and hoping for a positive outcome for the thousands of mom and pop businesses.