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THE DEA DECIDES TO RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA

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In a historic move the Drug Enforcement Agency announced it plans to reschedule cannabis.  Monumental shift in the marijuana industry.

After three years of waiting for President Biden to fulfill his promise of doing something about legal cannabis, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced its plan to reschedule cannabis. This follows the recommendations from Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Agency (FDA).  They are sending their recommendation to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review of the impact on the budget. The shifts acknowledged the medical benefits of cannabis and can pave the way for PTSD treatment for veterans, something the President and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

“Moving to Schedule III is the single biggest thing that can happen to the US cannabis industry. It removes the 280E tax burden, increases medical research, and opens the investor base. Today is truly a tipping point for this burgeoning industry.” declared Jesse Redmond, Managing Director at Water Tower Research.

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“This historic move from the Biden Administration to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III reflects changes in the scientific and medical understanding of cannabis. It echoes moves in other countries around the world. Domestically, it lays the groundwork for federal tax benefits for the cannabis industry, as cannabis businesses will be treated like other businesses with regard to deductions and credits. It will also lower the costs and hurdles of conducting research on the plant and its products. Despite skeptics arguing that this spells the beginning of the end of the cannabis industry as we know, those doomsday scenarios fail to answer a basic question: why would the Biden Administration want to crack down on a substance that it classifies as “less dangerous” when it refused to crack down on the substance when it was a Schedule I substance? Little, if anything, will change at the state regulatory level, but that should not take away from the historic nature of this decision. Cannabis has been a Schedule I substance for 54 years, and despite multiple opportunities to reclassify it in decades’ past, today is the first time the US Government has been willing to say otherwise” shares John Hudak, Director, Maine Office of Cannabis.

Hudak is widely respected in the industry and has been a thought leader for the growing industry. The move reclassifies cannabis from Schedule 1 of dangerous drug with zero medical benefits to to Schedule III such as ketamine, Tylenol with codeine, and anabolic steroids. The timing is still unsettled, but there is hope it will have an impact in 2024.  The industry as been struggling under schedule III despite a huge growth of consumers.  This will also open the door more for mainstream companies to become involved in the market.

RELATED: Marijuana MicroDosing Can Improve Mundane Tasks

“While this is great news for the cannabis industry, it’s too early to break out the Champagne,” said Lonnie Rosenwald, Partner at Zuber Lawler, LLP. “We don’t know yet when rescheduling will occur, or, perhaps more important, when the tax changes will take effect.  For companies and entrepreneurs considering entering the industry, rescheduling alone shoudl provide an incentive to launch their businesses. But existing cannabis businesses will have to wait to see whether they’ll be able to deduct business expenses on their 2024 or 2025 returns. We expect answers to these questions in the coming weeks.” says Lonnie Rosenwald, an attorney for Zuber Lawler, a national law firm which covers the cannabis industry.

This is a historic shift for the federal government and puts in more in line with the American Medical Association, most medical professionals, Canada and the general public.

 



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How Cannabis Can Help With Dysmenorrhea

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Millions suffer, but relief could be here thanks to science and a simple plant.  Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

It is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but the painful truth is a majority of women will suffer it at some point and finding relief is invaluable. Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain or discomfort during menstruation. It is a common gynecologic problem, but the pain can range from dull cramps to indescribable agony. Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.

Medicinal cannabis has emerged as a potential treatment option for dysmenorrhea, offering hope for the tens of millions of women who suffer from menstrual pain. Current medical management options primarily consisting of over-the-counter pain relievers and hormonal contraceptives. The effectiveness of these treatments vary greatly.

The endocannabinoid system plays a role in uterine function and pain perception. Cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R, as well as TRPV receptors, have been identified in human myometrial tissue. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a primary component of cannabis, can act as a cannabinoid agonist, potentially triggering myometrial relaxation and easing menstrual pain.

Photo by Esther Kelleter/Getty

The potential benefits of cannabis for dysmenorrhea includes pain relief, improved sleep quality, and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical pain relievers. While research specifically on cannabis for dysmenorrhea is growing, studies on chronic pain provide some insights:

  • A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios may offer moderate improvement in pain severity.
  • A meta-analysis of 32 trials showed that medical cannabis or cannabinoids resulted in small to very small improvements in pain relief, physical functioning, and sleep quality among chronic pain patients.

There is significant interest in using cannabis for gynecologic pain management:

  • A survey found that 61.2% of women who had never used cannabis and 90.0% of those who had were willing to try it for gynecologic pain.
  • After cannabis legalization in Canada, current cannabis use increased from 13.3% to 21.5% among women with self-reported moderate-to-severe pelvic pain.

With th American Medical Association, American College of Physicians and even AARP recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis, it is critical more research is funded.  Millions of women may be in pain needlessly due to untreated dysmenorrhea.



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Staying Trim During The Holidays With Marijuana THCV

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The holidays are fun and full of family, activities, and food.  But does marijuana have a natural  secret weapon to help you at least not gain weight this season?

The holidays are here – turkeys, pie, and family favorites. Along with Christmas cookies, holiday cocktails, everything adds up and starts to make a difference in how clothes fit. On average, people gain between 1-2 pounds in November and December. Some studies suggest people gain more, with an average of 2–5 pounds. But is marijuana’s THCV your natural holiday weight loss plan. While Ozempic has been the wonder drug of weight loss, cannabis a natural plant used for thousands of years in medicine. Why not use to look good also? Here is some information and also advice on how much to take and how it works.

The most famous cannabinoids are THC or CBD. Legal to over 50% of the country and used by millions across the country.  While they are the most commonly used cannabinoids, the cannabis plant contains many other medically beneficial cannabinoids including THCV. Although THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) is similar to THC, it contains its own unique benefits.

Research points to THCV’s ability to block the body’s rewarding sensations while eating different foods. If you’re looking to keep your food cravings at bay or prevent the munchies, check out strains high in THCV, which will suppress your appetite, especially during the holidays.

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It has also been found that THCV in its purest form can calm the unreasonable urge to overeat while also reducing hunger cravings. Thus, consumption of THCV can be beneficial for those who struggle with weight gain and/or food craving. Since THCV can help curb one’s appetite, researchers believe there’s a potential for THCV helping people fight obesity and other related health issues.

It is important to manage the dosage. Start with a low dose of 5-7.5mg of THCV for appetite suppression effects. Options for taking THCV include gummies, tinctures, vapes, or THCV-rich cannabis strains Take THCV in the morning to help with focus and energy. Start on teh weekend so you can make sure it works in a way which is comfortable. Consume it with food to increase absorption.

Gummies and tincture/oils are the easiest ways to consume to manage the dosage. Start with half a gummy or 1 full gummy (typically 10mg) and adjust based on your response. You can increase to 2 gummies per day if needed. For tinctures, start with half a dropper or less and adjust as needed. Take THCV about an hour before you normally start feeling hungry

RELATED: Which Is More Effective For Marijuana Patients, THC Or CBD?

THCV should be part of a healthy routine including exercise and proper rest. Research on cannabis continues, to using THCV is not a long term solution, consider it for the holidays. As usual, take to your health professional to make sure it doesn’t interact poorly with any prescribed medications.  Start low and grow so you can pay attention how your body and mind reacts.



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Science Says Cannabis Can Be Making Us Healthier

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As it it becomes available to more people, there is a positive health change going on according to data.

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and and the side effects are doing even better than expected.  It seems the availability of legal marijuana is helping with the health of the general population. Studies in California, Canada and the now New Zealand have shown the upside of legalization. While cannabis has been used for health benefits for millions of years, reduction in more harmful intoxication products is another important wellness trend.

RELATED: Can CBD Oils Help With Anxiety & Depression

Alcohol consumption is associated with significant health risks, including liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers. In contrast, marijuana has not been linked to the same level of severe physical health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 36,000 annual U.S. deaths are attributed to chronic alcohol use, while there is no comparable category for marijuana-related deaths. Alcohol is also much more addictive than marijuana, causing long term physical and mental issues.

A study from New Zealand has found some interesting trends regarding the relationship between marijuana legalization and the consumption of alcohol and opioids.

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Following the legalization of marijuana in New Zealand, researchers observed a notable decline in alcohol consumption:

This suggests for adults, marijuana may be serving as a substitute for alcohol in some cases, particularly when it comes to heavy drinking episodes.

The relationship between marijuana legalization and opioid use appears more complex:

  • There was no clear evidence of marijuana legalization directly reducing opioid use or abuse.
  • However, some research indicates that people who use cannabis are more likely to initiate opioid use, with an odds ratio of 2.76 compared to non-cannabis users.
  • The likelihood of transitioning from opioid use to opioid use disorders among cannabis users was found to be 2.52 times higher than non-cannabis users.

The study also revealed some additional findings regarding substance use patterns:

  • Marijuana use increased by 16% among adults aged 21 and older following legalization.
  • There was a 5-6% increase in marijuana use initiation among adolescents and young adults aged 12-20. This would be go with the greater North American trend of California sober and Gen Z drifting away from alcohol and more into marijuana.
  • No significant changes were observed in the use of hard drugs like cocaine or heroin in any age group.

RELATED: Marijuana Use And Guy’s Member

These findings suggest while marijuana legalization may lead to decreased alcohol consumption among adults, it does not necessarily translate to reduced use of other substances, particularly opioids. The relationship between cannabis use and other substance use behaviors is complex and multifaceted. Time and more research should yield more benefits.



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