It’s a familiar feeling for many who use marijuana: once you imbibe and the plant starts working its magic, every action of your day is made exponentially better with every hit. Pick up your perfect strain and savor the wondrous enhancements of marijuana.
Food And Drink
This one is as obvious as the smoke wafting out your living room window, but it’s also likely the most enhanceable, and thus takes first. Drinks like root beer or fresh squeezed juices taste delicious — even more so than usual — not only because the taste buds are stimulated, but because cannabis often causes what’s known colloquially as cottonmouth. Food on the other hand not only tastes better, but for those who need an appetite stimulant, it makes it go down easier and more abundantly. Cannabis can also enhance food as a delicious, nutritious and fun addition to most any recipe…
Though giggles or paranoia about performance can be bedroom buzzkills, they are the exceptions, not the rules, and usually occur by overdoing it on a high octane sativa. Some couples are actually experimenting with microdosing cannabis before entering a boudoir, savoring the experience of a light buzz that opens them up emotionally and sexually. Skin feels softer, sensations are enhanced and an even deeper mental connection is all common with cannabis as an aphrodisiac. Don’t be afraid to ask your local budtender which strains are best suited for sexual enhancement.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Movies in general are zoned into in depth if they already are set to resonate. Cannabis helps make plot connections and brings one to more deeply analyze a character’s motives, but undoubtedly the best movies to watch while high are either comedy or horror. A good comedy is absolutely enhanced by a joint or two both before and during. Belly laughs and the giggles are in store for high minded comedy connoisseurs. Horror on the other hand becomes even more suspenseful, the music winding up the heartstrings so that jumping out of the seat or letting loose a little yelp is imminent.
Social anxiety runs rampant in the U.S. and, yes, there’s a strain (or 10) that deals directly with the out and about jitters. Aside from making being a social butterfly tolerable for the shy or anxious, cannabis also has the ability to enhance social situations and lead the direction of a party to the mellow, fun, relaxing and laughing good time it aspires to be. Cannabis is being normalized all around and rather than the couch-locked stereotype of cannabis users in a group, marijuana is being used as a social lubricant akin to the social use of alcohol.
Having A “Talk”
When you and a loved one have reached an impasse, sometimes the best medicine is to pass the literal peace pipe. Cannabis is capable of opening up outlooks and the ability to see another’s perspective, even if it’s contrary to your own. The depth of discourse is also enhanced by the shared experience of cannabis. This type of enhancement is best done with either vaping or smoking the herb, as passing it back and forth and sharing in its properties creates a common ground and a springboard to delve deeper.
Exploring A Museum
Photo by Free-Photos via Pixabay
The wonders to be found at historical, modern, classical and contemporary museums become all the more wonderful when experienced in a lifted state. As long as you’re taking public transportation or are walking, this is especially true of bringing your kids to the museum. Your own deeper dive into the artifacts and images will engage everyone involved and bring wonderment to the table. Cannabis helps us to take our time and be patient, curious and enthralled with what surrounds, especially when covered in eye candy and the curious histories of man- and animalkind.
The End Of A Long Day
Sometimes a day can leave a person feeling used up. Heavy, tired, maybe a little cranky and snippy even. Taking a few pulls off the right strain or a dropperful of tincture may be just the ticket to reset your mind before bed and stave of anxiety dreams. In this case, rather than enhancing the state your already in, cannabis enhances you to the next level up. Instead of feeling as if the world was out to get you, you see that a bossy supervisor, a nail-clicking co-worker, bumper to bumper traffic and the like are mere nuisances, while in truth your life is full of blessings, including the cannabinoids you’re ingesting to make most everything extracurricular, creative or fun all the better.
There is a buzz about sore throats today. While they are most common in colder months, spring allergies bring the pain also. This is often due to postnasal drip, which is when mucus from the nose and sinuses drains down the back of the throat, causing irritation and a scratchy feeling. Overuse of the voice, like talking loudly or singing for long periods, can tire out and strain the muscles in your throat, causing them to feel sore. The good news is cannabis can help a sore throat.
For those seeking natural alternatives to manage cold symptoms, cannabis is emerging as a promising option for throat irritation. Increasing research at medical center specifically targeting sore throats shows early insights. The data suggests cannabinoids and terpenes could offer symptom relief through their unique properties.
Photo by Esther Kelleter / EyeEm/Getty Images
Cannabis contains compounds like THC and CBD, which studies indicate possess anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce throat swelling and irritation. Terpenes such as eucalyptol—found in some strains—are traditionally associated with decongestant effects, potentially easing respiratory discomfort. These components work synergistically to calm inflamed tissues, though their direct impact on sore throats requires further clinical validation.
Smoking cannabis while ill remains controversial due to potential throat irritation from heat and smoke. Instead, experts recommend gentler options:
Edibles/lozenges: THC or CBD-infused products bypass inhalation, delivering localized relief without aggravating the throat.
Cannabis tea: Warm beverages with cannabis extracts may soothe scratchy throats while providing hydration.
Beyond direct throat relief, cannabis may improve overall wellness during illness. THC’s appetite-stimulating properties can combat reduced hunger, while its relaxing effects might promote restorative sleep. CBD’s muscle-relaxing qualities could help alleviate the body aches often accompanying colds.
While preliminary findings are encouraging, users should consult healthcare providers before combining cannabis with conventional cold medications due to potential interactions. Starting with low-dose CBD products may offer benefits without psychoactive effects. As legalization expands, more targeted research is expected to clarify cannabis’s role in respiratory health.
Innovative cannabis formulations—from throat-calming lozenges to anti-inflammatory teas—are redefining how we approach minor ailments. For those navigating cold season, these plant-based solutions present a compelling fusion of traditional herbal wisdom and modern cannabinoid science
Part of the cannabis industry supported the new president, betting he was going to move and move quickly on cannabis – the White House finally commented.
The cannabis industry has been a boon for consumers, medical patients, veterans and legal states, but for the thousands of mom and pop businesses is has been a roller coaster. With a huge demand, it would seem to be easy money, but the federal, tax, and banking restrictions have made it difficult to grow and expand. Part of the industry were all for the new administration assuming they would support positive change, but many in the new cabinet and the House Speaker Mike Johnson are foes. Now the White House finally comments on marijuana industry…and it doesn’t show a clear path.
The administration’s current stance on marijuana reform is marked by inaction, despite campaign promises and earlier signals of support for cannabis-related reforms. A White House official recently confirmed that “no action is being considered at this time” regarding marijuana policy, leaving advocates and industry stakeholders uncertain about the administration’s priorities.
During his campaign, the resident expressed support for rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which would move it from Schedule I to Schedule III, easing restrictions on medical use and enabling cannabis businesses to access banking and tax benefits. However, since taking office, no concrete steps have been taken to advance this initiative. A DEA hearing on rescheduling, initially planned for January 2025, was postponed due to procedural appeals and remains unscheduled.
The president has also voiced support for state autonomy in cannabis policy and endorsed state-level legalization initiatives, such as Florida’s failed 2024 ballot measure for recreational marijuana. While this reflects a more favorable stance compared to his first term, his administration has yet to prioritize federal reforms like the SAFE Banking Act, which would facilitate banking services for cannabis businesses. Efforts to include such measures in a government funding bill late last year were unsuccessful.
The delay in federal action has significant implications for the cannabis industry. Rescheduling marijuana could alleviate financial burdens by eliminating restrictions under IRS Code Section 280E and promoting medical research. However, the stalled process leaves businesses navigating regulatory uncertainties and limited financial access.
While stakeholders continue lobbying for reform, the administration appears focused on other priorities such as immigration and foreign policy. Advocates hope the President will leverage his influence to advance cannabis reform, but for now, the issue remains sidelined. Until then the industry struggles and waits.
States are starting to scramble with looming budget deficients, but marijuana is a boon to some – especially one state.
The new federal administration is revamping how the government operates. With Doge, they are changing agencies and reducing services and support of states, which has left budget deficients in many. But some states have legal marijana and it has been a boon, for like alcohol…people are still consuming. States who are fully legal are making more money on weed than booze and this state’s cannabis revenue keeps pouring in. Missouri, the show me state, is being shown unexpected revenue.
“Due to a strong cannabis market and effective, efficient regulation of that market,” Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, told The Independent this week, “the funds available for the ultimate beneficiaries of the cannabis regulatory program continue to outpace expectations.”
Funds will help veterans and other key projects. The other benefit is as seen in data from legal states, teen use is down so it frees up some other funds. Legal states are seeing benefits from legal cannabis including lower teen use and crime reduction.
States with legal cannabis are experiencing a significant boost in tax revenue, surpassing those generated by alcohol sales. This trend highlights the economic benefits of marijuana legalization, as cannabis markets expand and mature.
In California, cannabis excise taxes have consistently outperformed alcohol-related taxes, bringing in over double the revenue. Colorado has seen even more striking results, with marijuana tax revenues totaling seven times those of alcohol. Similarly, Massachusetts has collected more tax revenue from marijuana than alcohol since fiscal year 2021, marking a notable shift in state finances.
Nationally, legal cannabis states generated nearly $3 billion in excise taxes on marijuana in 2021—20% more than alcohol taxes. By 2024, total adult-use cannabis tax revenue exceeded $20 billion, with states like Illinois and Washington reporting record-breaking contributions. Illinois alone collected $451.9 million from cannabis taxes in fiscal year 2022—one-and-a-half times the revenue from alcohol.
The funds are being put to good use. States like Illinois are channeling marijuana tax dollars into mental health services and community programs, while Colorado has invested nearly $500 million into public education. California has allocated millions to nonprofits addressing the impacts of the war on drugs.
This growing revenue stream underscores the potential of cannabis legalization to support vital public services and bolster state economies. As more states embrace regulated marijuana markets, the financial benefits are expected to continue flourishing.