Cannabis

Should You Add Hemp Beverages To Your Tailgating

Published

6 months ago

September 13, 2024

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Fall is football season which means it is time for tailgate parties! Maybe you should add hemp to the buffet!

Football season is here – and whether college or professional, tailgating is a thing. It takes place around sporting events, festivals and concerts. There is usually food, drinks, music and a good time. But, should you add hemp beverages to your tailgating? While marijuana is slowly becoming legal across the national, some big football states aren’t there. But hemp is legal and even some deep anti-marijuana states are embracing it. Texas, a huge football state, has hemp beverages sold at local and national chains. Hemp beverage can be seen as taking a bite out of the White Claw market, yet a bit healthier.

The nemesis of marijuana, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is proud of his blocking federal progress, but he has ensured hemp has a green light. Hemp beverage have become a billion dollar market. Wana Brands, a leader in the cannabis industry, has rolled out 3 beverages. Bayou Beverages out of Texas has taken the state by storm with products in Total Wine and convenience stores around the state. Hemp is sold like alcohol with restrictions on age and how it is sold.

Hemp or CBD drinks are created by infusing hemp extract, derived from the cannabis plant, into a liquid base. The most popular hemp-infused drinks include water, juice, tea, and coffee. One of the big differences between marijuana and hemp drinks is the “high”. With Delta-9 hemp, consumers tend to have a more intense experience and comes on faster than THC. It is a euphoric high when altered sensory perception and a sense of relaxation.

California Governor Newsom is supporting emergency rules to curb sale of hemp products with potent high. The state is struggling with their cannabis industry, high taxes and allowing the black market to run free have hurt mom and pop businesses. While consumers have been high, the states oversight has been driving them to hemp and to the marijuana black market.

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Cannabis

JFK And Marijuana – The Fresh Toast

Published

8 hours ago

March 19, 2025

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JFK is a hot topic again. If he were alive, what would be his take on marijuana?

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, has long been a subject of fascination and speculation, including rumors about his alleged cannabis use. While there are some unconfirmed reports, it stands to reason he would consider the plant for his chronic pain. He suffered from Addison’s disease, chronic back problems, osteoporosis, and digestive issues, which he managed in secret. He took numerous medications and approaches to manage his health conditions. So what about JFK and marijuana?

Medical marijuana has a rich history as a therapeutic agent, dating back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, including those in China, India, and Egypt, utilized cannabis to treat ailments such as pain, inflammation, and digestive issues. In Victorian England, it gained popularity as a painkiller, with even Queen Victoria reportedly using it for postpartum relief.

Today, medical marijuana is widely recognized for its ability to manage chronic pain. Studies show it can alleviate conditions like neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis-related discomfort. Unlike opioids, cannabis offers pain relief with fewer risks of dependency and sedation, improving patients’ quality of life. Additionally, cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system to modulate pain and inflammation effectively.

It makes sense Kennedy would consider cannabis. One unconfirmed, secondhand account suggests that Kennedy smoked marijuana once at the White House. This story, published in the National Enquirer in 1976, claimed that Kennedy smoked marijuana with Mary Meyer, one of his mistresses. John F. Kennedy’s relationship with Dr. Max Jacobson, nicknamed “Dr. Feelgood,” was a controversial one beginning during his presidential campaign in 1960. Dr. Jacobson was known for administering “vitamin shots” that were actually laced with amphetamines and other substances.

The 1960s, during and after Kennedy’s presidency, saw a significant increase in marijuana use among the white upper middle class. This cultural shift may have contributed to the rumors and speculation about Kennedy’s personal habits. Reports commissioned during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations found marijuana use did not induce violence or lead to the use of heavier drugs, which began to change public perceptions about the substance

Stacey Flores Chandler, a reference archivist at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, stated that she found no evidence in Kennedy’s medical records or secondary sources indicating that he used cannabis to treat his medical conditions. Today, Kennedy would join millions of senior citizens who lean on medical marijuana to treat inflammation, chronic pain and sleep issues.

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Cannabis

The Connection Between Lollapalooza And Marijuana

Published

16 hours ago

March 18, 2025

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It is one of the iconic festivals and sits at the center of music, culture and cannabis.

Lollapalooza is one of OG music festivals with a rich history spanning over three decades. It was conceived and created in 1991 by Perry Farrell, the lead singer of Jane’s Addiction, as a farewell tour for his band. What began as a traveling music festival quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon which has left an indelible mark on the music industry. This year’s line up includes Tyler the Creator, The Killers, Hozier, Stray Kids and more. With all the excitement, crowds and music…what is the connection between Lollapalooza and marijuana?

Lollapalooza has become increasingly intertwined with cannabis culture in recent years, especially since Illinois legalized recreational use in 2020. The four-day festival in Chicago’s Grant Park has seen a significant uptick in cannabis consumption and sales, reflecting broader trends in festival drug use and the growing acceptance of marijuana.

The Connection Between Lollapalooza And Marijuana

In 2021, Illinois experienced record-breaking cannabis sales during the month of Lollapalooza, with nearly $128 million in total recreational receipts. This surge was largely attributed to out-of-state visitors attending the festival, with some nearby dispensaries reporting sales increases of up to 50%. The legalization of marijuana has created a new dynamic for both festival organizers and attendees, with dispensaries gearing up for the influx of customers during the event.

Despite the legal status of cannabis in Illinois, it’s important to note consuming is still prohibited in Chicago parks, including Grant Park where Lollapalooza takes place. However, enforcement appears to be relatively lax, with many attendees reporting they’ve been able to consume cannabis without significant issues. And with vapes, oils and edibles, it is much more discreet. The festival has adapted to this new reality, with some dispensaries offering innovative solutions like shuttle services and even mobile smoking lounges to cater to festivalgoers.

A 2018 survey of festival attendees revealed that marijuana was the second most commonly used substance at music festivals, after alcohol. More recent data suggests this trend is continuing, with a 2024 poll indicating that 65% of festival-goers plan to consume cannabis at events.Lollapalooza consistently ranks among the top festivals for drug use, including marijuana

The intersection of Lollapalooza and marijuana has also had economic implications for Chicago and Illinois. The increased cannabis sales during the festival period contribute significantly to tax revenues, with Illinois reportedly taking in more tax dollars from marijuana than alcohol in early 2021. This financial boost has allowed the state to fund various social equity programs and community initiatives.

As Lollapalooza continues to evolve alongside changing cannabis laws and cultural attitudes, it serves as a microcosm of the broader shifts occurring in society. The festival’s relationship with marijuana highlights the complex interplay between music, culture, law enforcement, and economic factors in the ongoing cannabis legalization movement.

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Cannabis

The Cannabis Industry Needs Luck With The DEA

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2025

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It will take more than Irish luck to help the cannabis industry win over the DEA.

Million of consumers are fans of cannabis, not only to chill out but for medical reasons. In fact, it has become a replacement for alcohol and spanned a movement call California sober. Aside from the thousands of mom and pop small business owners, cannabis employees over 440,000 people. Even the staid AARP has agreed it has health benefits. Over 80% of the country believe it should be legal in some form, but the cannabis industry needs luck with the DEA to move forward. Rescheduling cannabis means changing its classification under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), moving it from a more restrictive schedule (like Schedule I) to a less restrictive one (like Schedule III), acknowledging its potential medical uses while still maintaining regulatory controls.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had scheduled hearings on the proposed rescheduling of cannabis to begin on January 21, 2025. However, these hearings were abruptly canceled by DEA Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney following legal challenges from pro-reform witnesses. This cancellation has pushed back the rescheduling process by at least three months, with no clear timeline for when it might resume.

DEA Interim Final Rule: What Is 'Synthetically Derived THC'? — Photo by Xvision/Getty Images

The delay stems from allegations of improper communications between DEA officials and anti-rescheduling witnesses. While Judge Mulrooney rejected some key arguments from rescheduling proponents, he granted a request for leave to file an interlocutory appeal, effectively putting the entire process on hold.

The transition to the current administration has further complicated matters. On February 11, 2025, Terrance C. Cole was nominated for DEA administrator, an individual known for his opposition to cannabis reform. This nomination signals a potential shift in the DEA’s approach to marijuana policy, which could further impede rescheduling efforts.

Even if rescheduling were to move forward, it would face significant regulatory challenges. Critics argue that as a Schedule III drug, marijuana would remain under DEA regulation, requiring the approximately 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. to register with the DEA and fulfill strict reporting requirements.

The cannabis industry eagerly awaits rescheduling, as it would bring significant benefits, including the ability to claim federal tax deductions and credits currently prohibited under 26 U.S.C. § 280E. However, the ongoing delays and potential policy shifts under the new administration have created uncertainty in the market.

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