Presently, Austria is in a fascinating position as regards cannabis legalization. The third member of the European DACH alliance (a union that also consists of Switzerland and Germany) momentarily has no apparent legislative pathway to cannabis adult-use reform. This continues to be the situation even though its other trade partners are advocating for such debate in the European Union.

While that is the current situation, sales of dronabinol keep increasing every year in Austria even though it is not manufactured locally. The AGES (The Austrian Agency for Food and Health) cultivates medical cannabis flowers in hundreds of kilos annually which are exported to neighboring countries. Historically, a larger percentage is exported into Germany which is then refined into dronabinol and re-imported back to Austria.

As it stands, while the medical cannabis market in Austria is smaller when compared to that of Germany – limited cultivation with zero extraction – both countries do share some awful similarities. One of such similarities would be patients face several challenges regarding the procurement of insurance reimbursement. In Germany presently, the fastest and guaranteed approach is to sue, which considering the stockpile of legal cases, is merely another reason for further delay and gridlock.

Advocates in Austria are now looking to do away with all of this and be direct with recreational cannabis legalization even if not through Congress but by the legitimate challenge

The State of Cannabis Reform in Austria

The issues surrounding cannabis in Austria are quite complex given so many great areas regarding cannabis laws. Official adult use of cannabis is illegal in the country, but 30% to 40% of some young citizens between the age of 15 and 24 years have tried cannabis. As things stand herbal cannabis products are the most seized drugs across the. A country with hash holding the second position.

Among young citizens, medical use of cannabis is considered more acceptable compared to adult use. A survey carried out in 2017 discovered that 78% of young adults agreed with this bias. They believe medical marijuana should only be sold on doctor’s prescriptions and be made available only in pharmacies. Just a small percentage (29%) supported that marijuana is made available to adults aged 21 years and above.

The same survey also indicated that even though cannabis is used for medical purposes, a larger percentage of Austrians want it to be tightly regulated. Only a small percentage of 26% approved that everyone should be able to cultivate cannabis for medical use. 20% remained unsure and 53% disagreed. Just about 21% approved that medical cannabis is made available at hemp shops and drug stores for purchase without a doctor’s prescription while 59% were against it. In summary, while the Austrian government do not plan to enact more stringent restrictions, support for less stringent laws does not seem popular among Austrians.

Cannabis reform in Austria still has a long way to go. At the moment, it is illegal for citizens to sell, buy, consume, or cultivate cannabis (except the plant is not allowed to bloom). However, possession of cannabis flowers in small quantities has been decriminalized since 2016.

Nonetheless, like every other country that has continuously stalled on cannabis reform, the case continues to progress in the court.

The Supreme Court Challenge May Change the Game

Things might soon change for recreational cannabis reform in Austria. Right now, a conceivable deal-breaking case is now pending at the Constitutional Court in the country. The court is presently assessing a private petition issued by a 26-year-old named Paul Burger. 

In 2020, Burger, in possession of a half-burned joint, was arrested by two undercover cops in Vienna. Now, together with a renowned lawyer, Dr. Helmut Graupner, he had a good chance to win the cases. Dr. Helumt Graupner is also known to have previously challenged the ban on same-sex marriage in the country, a case which he won. So, many advocates are hoping he succeeds in this one too.

With Burger’s petition, the highest court in Austria must now examine if the Narcotics Drugs Act in Austria is constitutional. The argument brought forward which is similar to that before the Supreme Court in Mexico is that private cannabis use does not endanger others.

Hence, the right to self-determination and privacy should protect cannabis use that doesn’t harm others. This same argument is also very similar to the idea responsible for the legalization of assisted suicide which was enacted earlier this year in Austria.

The Black Sheep or Potential Market Leader?

The legality of private use, cultivation, and possession of cannabis is an issue that has hovered across the legalization debate in Europe. Although, the debate is not as direct compared to the context of North America ( You can check both Mexico and Canada. Just last year, Albert Tio put up a legal challenge in Spain as regards access discussion when it was brought to the clubs. But unfortunately, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the legal challenge.

In the German context, before 2017, patients’ legal challenges became the game-changer for cannabis legalization. But, as patients began to count on their wins on the legal front, the Bundestag enacted new statutes. For instance, one of the laws demanded that patients must not cultivate their cannabis. Rather, they should obtain it through a pharmacy based on a doctor’s prescription. Furthermore, the law compelled that provided the patient’s condition could not be cared for with other medications, insurers were expected to reimburse.

As it stands, the model has greatly failed which is why the German government is now back in the process of enacting legalization measures before the year ends.

Conclusion

Considering decisions on the Austrian case are to be made around the same time, this could set a precedent in the German-speaking region of Austria. Ultimately, this could formalize adult-use cannabis reform across Europe and not only in the DACH countries.

MORE ON EUROPEAN CANNABIS, READ THIS…

GERMANY LEGALIZES RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, EUROPE RUSHES TO CATCH UP!

New York cannabis lovers are all going into a frenzy presently following a recent statement by the Mayor of the city. Eric Adams appeared to tell the people of New York to continue to light up till the recreational market in the state matures. On hearing this many cannabis enthusiasts in the state are jubilating already as well as most cannabis advocates. Others on the other hand are still quite apprehensive. Read on as we explore what this means for all parties in the cannabis industry in New York.

Mayor Eric Adams spoke on Friday at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo) where he asked everyone to “light up”. The congress lasted from June 1 to 3 in New York City where he spoke on many topics regarding the cannabis markets in and out of New York. Mayor Adams asked attendees to stand strong and support New York cannabis businesses during the gray period until the New York market is fully matured. By this, he meant the period with which cannabis business owners need to wait till licensing is available for the recreational market.

Mayor Adams was the keynote speaker at the CWCBExpo which also featured other top personalities in the cannabis industry. Among the list of top personalities include Charles Beams of Weedmaps and Nick Kovaceich from Greelane Holdings. Also, it is not a cannabis expo if cannabis regulators are not present as Tremaine Wright from the NYS Cannabis Control Board was present to give a rule update.

Many attendees looked forward to the expo after the Mayor was announced as the keynote speaker following a press release last month. Attendees and different cannabis enthusiasts in the state were eager to know the position of the Mayor on the market presently. Also many were waiting to know what to expect from the new recreational cannabis market set to be effected in the state. The Mayor didn’t disappoint as he was straight to the point in assuring cannabis lovers of what to expect. This was when he made the popular statement “Enjoy yourself, light up, and spend some money “.

There are a number of take-home points from what Mayor Eric Adams had to say at the expo. First on the list is that the cannabis market is very important to the state as a source of revenue. The fiscal spending plan for 2023 by Governor Kathy Hochul shows that the state stands to pull in $1.25 billion from cannabis in six years. This means the legal medical marijuana market and the incoming recreational market are big cash cows for the state.

Another point the Mayor addressed is the issue of the gray area following the approval and implementation of the recreational market in the state. Due to structures and regulations still being put in place by the regulatory bodies, the adult-use retail market hasn’t commenced in the state. This is despite the fact that legislation for the market has been passed since March 2021.

The Mayor assured attendees that he doesn’t have any plans to clamp down on retail cannabis operators during this transition period. This is because he believes it is a gray area and he also believes that the legislature can’t do the same except they give a warning. By this, he spoke about the recent bill seeking to empower state officials to clamp down on retail operators selling recreational cannabis during this period.

Mayor Adams is also seeking to help New Yorkers apply for adult-use licenses after he allocated $5 million to help give them the needed boost. This is good news for many considering that many had fears of a clampdown given the Mayor’s history as a cop with the New York Police Department (NYPD). Those fears have all been allayed following the disposition of the Mayor and his speech at the conference.

The Mayor also used the opportunity to address the issue of weed trucks that are currently everywhere in the city of New York. The Mayor believes it is them that the legal path is quite better and more dependable. This he mentioned as he sought to stress that he is out to ensure that all in the cannabis industry are carried along and no one is shortchanged.

New York will be joining the list of states factoring social equity in their cannabis policy which includes New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts. The need for equity is that it is more important to legalize recreational cannabis the right way than it is to legalize it early. This is evident in New Jersey where diversely-owned businesses possess most of the recreational licenses. This includes Blacks, Asians, Veterans, women, or people who are from zones impacted by the War on Drugs.

The Mayor of New York is following this line as he seeks to ensure that social equity debts are paid before the recreational markets open. He also hopes to address the issue of diverse people being more arrested for low-level cannabis charges compared to whites. The Mayor also suggested that summons can be used to address simple cannabis crimes. This further strengthens his voice for an all-inclusive market that is devoid of discrimination and disenfranchisement.

As we wait for the new era for recreational marijuana in New York City, the recent statements of the Mayor come as a breath of fresh air. It comes right after a bill to clamp down on retail cannabis operators during this transition period failed to get its third vote on the Senate floor. This shows that many of the lawmakers are of the same view as the Mayor in allowing the cannabis market and its users to thrive. So, we go with the words of the Mayor and enjoin all cannabis users and lovers to light up.

NEW YORK CITY’S CANNABIS BOOM, READ MORE…

NYC MARIJUANA ARRESTS DROP 95% AFTER LEGALIZATION!

Cannabis users have always been associated as laid-back, relaxed, friendly, and always smiling. How can we not; after all, weed makes us happier people and we tend to just be more chilled out about life compared to non-users.

Now, there’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that marijuana use makes us more empathetic and overall nicer people.

The latest of these studies was conducted by researchers from the University of New Mexico (UNM), entitled “Cannabis consumption and prosociality.” The results, which were published in the journal, Scientific Reports, had fascinating insights on the emotional and behavioral patterns of cannabis users. The researchers analyzed 146 adults from 18 to 25 years old, and found that marijuana users showed more empathy, morality in decision-making, and pro-social behavior compared to non-users.

According to University of New Mexico psychology professor Jacob Vigil, who was also the study’s lead psychologist, he was intrigued on the results of a National Institute of Health lecture saying that cannabis consumers weren’t as motivated by money. “It seemed as though cannabis tends to result in a psychological shift from externally pressured goals… And to me, my observation is that cannabis tends to result from that kind of egocentric or perhaps, externally pressurized trajectory towards one that is more primal and one that is more concerned with humanity in a broader collective context,” explained Vigil to The Daily Lobo.

“Most investigations into the effects of cannabis use have focused on the negative consequences of cannabis addiction or the physical health effects of cannabis use,” Vigil said. “Almost no formal scientific attention has been devoted to understanding the other psychological and behavioral effects of plant consumption, despite it being so widely used throughout human history,” he added.

Sarah Stith, a researcher for the study and an Economics Professor at UNM said that THC users portrayed more pro-social behaviors. She went on to add that there was a causal association between these behaviors and cannabis use. “Positive benefits seem to really be correlated with the recency of cannabis use,” she disclosed to The Daily Lobo. “You know, maybe there’s some negative behavioral changes or secondhand smoke or things like that,” she added, “but in this case, it’s suggesting, actually, that people might get along better if they were consuming cannabis, which is pretty extreme.”

It makes total sense, considering that marijuana users are so laid back.

But there are other studies and hypothesis that shed interesting data on how this happens in the human body. Cannabis use does have an effect on emotional regulation and processing, as well as overall psychological responses. It reduces our stress responses which we can say helps us see the world more peacefully and make decisions with less ego involved.

The ego itself is not bad; in fact, a healthy and balanced ego has helped humans survive. Other animals have it in varying capacities, but the ego has evolved through the centuries. Yet, humans that have a either an underdeveloped or overdeveloped ego can each have problems – perhaps depression or causing trouble to others in the world due to their self-centered nature. Being able to strike a balancing act of our needs and those of others is where empathy comes in, and marijuana can be a fantastic tool for accessing that part of the brain.

The Role of Entheogens In How We Perceive The World

Empathy, or the ability to put yourself in another’s shoes to see the world from a different perspective, has long been one of the foundations of marijuana culture.  Ask any cannabis user and we can tell you that while it’s difficult to explain why, we do feel a more amplified sense of love towards ourselves and other people under the influence. That’s why being able to feel empathetic and become a nicer person in general is easier for cannabis users.

After all, marijuana is one of the oldest entheogens known to man.

Entheogens refer to a plant-based substance that can induce a state of higher consciousness, and which can bring about a change. It has been used since ancient times for spiritual and religious reasons, so these findings are no surprise. Today, the use of entheogens are on the rise yet again, with marijuana being the most popular and accessible of the lot, given its wide legalization in the United States and the rest of the world. Its use makes mystical experiences more democratized, and as more people consume the drug, it can inspire feelings of reduce egocentrism.

“Many of the challenges facing the world today, such as the environmental crisis and hostilities within and between cultures, stem from a lack of appreciate for the profound interconnectedness of all people and all things,” wrote psycho-pharmacologist Roland Griffiths in his blog, discussing the ethical effect of entheogens.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide shared in 2017 the findings of their study that suggests, when we are in an altered state of consciousness triggered by psychedelic drugs, we experience a temporary loss of ego. Though the drug in the study was magic mushrooms and LSD, marijuana does have psychedelic effects when THC is used. “We know quite a lot about the neurochemistry of psychedelic drugs and how they work on the brain. What’s poorly understood is the more complex relationship between the brain, our sense of self, and how we perceive the world,” explains Professor Gerrans.

“This ‘ego dissolution’ results in a moment of expanded awareness, a feeling in which the mind is put more directly and intensely in touch with the world,” adds Professor Gerrans.

Conclusion

Society as a whole, globally, is now experiencing a shift in consciousness. Call it the woke movement, call it anything you want. But more people are using psychedelics than ever, and it has become clear that those causing problems in the world are those that don’t use psychedelics.

MORALITY ON CANNABIS, READ MORE…

GOOD PEOPLE DON’T SMOKE WEED – MORALITY PUSHED ON WEED SMOKERS?

Reddit Post – 33 years using cannabis and how it ruined my life

Hi, my name is Reginald and I’ve been smoking cannabis for over twenty years. I am not an addict. On the contrary, over the years of smoking cannabis, I have actually cut back and now enjoy cannabis in different configurations.

Sometimes I take tolerance breaks (which for me isn’t a difficult thing to do) – and other times I wake and bake and toss away any form of productivity – simply enjoying the day. There are millions like me. People who consume cannabis on the regular and have no intrinsic problem with the habit.

Do I feel “withdrawal symptoms” when I stop smoking weed. Of course! There’s a physiological change that occurs in my body – but to be honest, I would react the same way if I stop drinking coffee, eating sugar, or eating meat.

When you engage with a particular food or substance over a long time, your body adjusts and acclimatizes to the chemical profile introduced into your organism. When you abruptly remove it, or reduce it – the body notices.

This doesn’t mean I’m addicted.

I know addiction. I’ve been addicted to tobacco. I’ve found myself in a gaming hole of shame – spending money and time on something that provided no real value to my life.

But I can’t say the same for cannabis.

For me, cannabis has helped me through some rough times and while people may like to say, “You’re using weed as a crutch!” while they snarf down their clonazepam just to get through their day – for me cannabis provided some breathing room in dire emotional situations.

Is my example applicable to everyone?

Of course not!

I read a recent Reddit post on the subreddit /leaves –which basically are a bunch of people who are quitting weed talking to each other for support.

For this one guy, weed wasn’t something that took the edge of, it was the way of engaging with life all the time.

A Redditors tale…

The following is a post left by Redditor /WeDontNeedNoRoads. During the following dynamic we’ll be listening to his story while simultaneously analyzing the reasoning of the author in relation to his (or her) self-reflection.

I don’t do this to bash the Redditor, but rather to use it as a case study on the reasoning of individual in relation to their own pain and how we as humans tend to cast ourselves in a light which removes us from responsibility. This also isn’t saying that what the Redditor is experiencing wasn’t painful, difficult or true.

Within the subjective experience of the infinite expression that is humanity – “We Don’t Need No roads’” personal dance with cannabis made him conclude in this manner. To this person, their struggle with cannabis is real because of their conclusions of their own experiences.

Also, it’s important to note that I added the emphasis within the paragraphs yet aside from that, did not change anything. I will be posting a paragraph in italics and comment beneath each paragraph.

Let’s begin…

I’m 49 and have been a daily smoker since I was 16. I spent decades of having to smoke weed several times a day just to avoid going into fight or flight panic mode and to treat the chronic insomnia I thought I had, and my social anxiety got so crippling that I would sweat profusely and my heart would race when even thinking about an upcoming social interaction. It got so bad that I’ve lost most of my lifelong friends. I couldn’t even talk to them on the phone without major anxiety and eventually they drifted away. I became a complete wreck, came to hate being awake as it was so stressful just to exist.

Here the author mentions that they were smoking cannabis since the age of sixteen several times per day to just “avoid going into fight or flight mode” meaning that the person’s nervous system was stuck in the sympathetic mode and wasn’t able to regulate naturally to the parasympathetic mode.

When they smoked cannabis, it helped them shift from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic. This was also the reason why the author had insomnia – if you can’t enter into “Rest/Digest” mode then you won’t be sleeping very profoundly.

A lack of sleep has some profound side effects and occurs rather quickly. Here’s a short list of side effects of a lack of sleep published by the Cleveland Clinic.

• Lack of alertness. Even missing as little as 1.5 hours can have an impact on how you feel.

• Excessive daytime sleepiness. It can make you very sleepy and tired during the day.

• Impaired memory. Lack of sleep can affect your ability to think, remember and process information.

• Relationship stress. It can make you feel moody and you can become more likely to have conflicts with others.

• Quality of life. You may become less likely to participate in normal daily activities or to exercise.

• Greater likelihood for car accidents. Drowsy driving accounts for thousands of crashes, injuries and fatalities each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source

Lack of sleep also impairs your judgment, it affects critical thinking and mood regulation and affects every other part of your physiology in one way or another.

Furthermore, the author speaks about their “social anxiety” which is a psychological disorder. A question that comes to my mind is, “was this person taking psychiatric treatment?” and was this person drinking at the same time they were smoking? Which came first? The Alcohol or the cannabis?

It’s obvious by admission of the author that the individual had some diagnosed or undiagnosed psychological disorder which could have stemmed from some sort of early childhood trauma that has been suppressed by the unconscious mind. Or perhaps his home environment wasn’t stable…these are all speculations of course, but a healthy person from a stable home environment rarely tends to develop “crippling social anxiety”.

You can see that this person had a degree of severity in relation to their mental illness due to the fact that even thinking about interactions or talking on the phone was enough to give them panic attacks. Yet instead of facing it, dealing with it…the author allegedly used drugs (not just cannabis) to mask the symptoms best s/he could. Self-medication is a common reaction from people suffering with mental illness.

Now that we have some sort of backstory, let’s continue to the more recent developments…

2 weeks ago I stopped all substances, caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, and have been forcing myself to go to the gym almost every day. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, I’ve cried frequently, not been able to sleep for several nights straight, my heat tolerance has gone haywire, and I haven’t been able to eat much. A lot of pain, basically. But in the last 3-4 days, I have started to become a different person. I feel more engaged and alive, my anxiety has fallen though the floor, I’m sleeping 8h straight and my appetite has returned with a vengeance. I now see that I was using cannabis to treat problems that were created by using cannabis in the first place, a vicious cycle which I’ve somehow not been able to see until almost 50 years old.

During this paragraph we can see the self-reported changes implement in the life of the author. Firstly, the elimination of “all substances/drugs” which includes caffeine, alcohol and cannabis…the author also made a lifestyle change by going to the gym.

As a result, the individual has been going through some sort of purge in their system. Quitting coffee is hardcore…and if you’re dependent on cannabis or alcohol, that would be true too. The author was most likely a heavy consumer of all substances, and thus an abrupt interruption of regular doses would have a severe physiological reaction.

Things like insomnia, pain, lack of appetite….are symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Similarly, caffeine is a hardcore drug…in facts, it is the world’s most consumed legal drug.

We are more dependent on the substance than we’d like to admit as a society…and withdrawal from caffeine also can be nerve-wrecking. All of the symptoms mentioned seem to be related more to the “purging of the system” from decades of dependence than anything else.

Then, the author notes a change occur…roughly between 10-14 days, which would be a good period for the body to eliminate a lot of toxins and recalibrate the endogenous chemical profile for baseline existence. In other words, at this point most addictions are “broken” and the rest is mainly an issue of willpower and psychology.

Fortunately, the author supplanted the lack of drugs with exercise, which is a good thing. However, considering the previously mentioned (un)diagnosed mental condition – even exercise could become the next “drug” since it would provide dopamine spikes and technically generate more endocannabinoids. Of course, this type of addiction can be beneficial to a person if managed correctly.

However, going to the gym isn’t addressing the core reasons why you have social anxiety, you’re not peering into the shadow parts of the self to figure out “what went wrong”. It’s still a mechanism of avoidance, albeit a much healthier and beneficial means.

Which is why the person is feeling like a different person. This is because the author is becoming a different person. Whatever it is you are doing, is making you into something.

If you eat donuts every day…you’re becoming fat. If you jog 5-miles every day – you’re becoming fitter. If you drink a six pack of Coors daily, you’re becoming an alcoholic.

The author is becoming someone else, and neurologically speaking – this is starting to rewire the brain to create a new “you”. During this phase, you can experience a type of euphoria akin to falling in love or earnestly forming part of a new religion…

Let’s continue…

If only I had recognised what I was doing to myself decades ago, my life would have been quite different. I am resolute that I will never touch cannabis again, most likely stop consuming alcohol too. Life is beginning to feel enjoyable for the first time since I was a teenager.

I agree with the author…if they only were able to recognize that utilizing any substance or activity to cover up the internal hurt and hidden traumas, only makes the trauma manifest in other ways. With some exploration, they could even discover that the trauma wasn’t even their own – yet if you’re stoned or drunk or busy all the time…you can’t get quiet enough to peer into the darkness.

It’s true, “if” we “could have” changed things in the past life “would have” been very different. Or not.

In my opinion this is the “addict’s trap” where they imagine a life where they “could have” performed better than they did because “FILL IN THE BLANK” was keeping them from achieving their goals. Yet that isn’t true now is it.

Sure, if you’re experiencing a crippling addiction…it may play a role in your poor performance but it was a lack of self-awareness that didn’t allow them to make appropriate changes. They are stuck on autopilot allowing the body to make most important decisions…fearing the hypothetical pain they would have to suffer if they were to disrupt their behavior.

It’s easier to crawl back into the bottle or snort a line than it is to sit with your pain and face it. But it’s also not your fault.

We’re not taught on how to deal with our emotions in society. We don’t learn it in school, we have no examples of it on television. We view life through the lens of fictionalized reality, where vertical framed videos show us the “lives” of others – with as many filters and emojis your heart can desire.

Desperately we want to see, eat, feel anything other than to sit quietly and hear the whispers of the infinite void within. The fact that the author is still drinking alcohol yet managed to “get rid of weed” suggests to me that the author was more of an alcoholic than a stoner.

Nonetheless, I’m glad that this individual is finding a path to self-realization and I wish him the best…

BUT…

Don’t be me. Stop now and don’t look back. I wish with all my heart that I’d never tried cannabis when I was 16. I was a semi functioning drug addict for 33 years without even realising it, and have lost the best years of my life to this insidious drug.

The author is missing the point. Cannabis didn’t ruin your life. You didn’t lose the “best years of your life”. All of this is exactly the type of thinking you’ll need to one day crawl back into a bottle and smoke some dank to take the edge off.

The problem here is that the author is externalizing her issues and projecting it onto cannabis. The “evil cannabis” is to blame for all of my past decisions. I was helpless against it…there was nothing I could do…until I did something.

The responsibility shifts away from the person because we like to be cast as either heroes or victims in our life – rarely the villain.

Unless the author is currently undergoing some sort of internal healing – these problems will manifest in some other way. Now, let’s end this piece by taking a look at how you can maintain a healthy relationship with cannabis and enjoy the benefits for decades without being a “semi-functioning drug addict”.

How to have a healthy relationship with cannabis

First of all, if you have been smoking for several years or even decades – that doesn’t mean that you are an addict. In fact, the vast majority of people who consume cannabis tend to down regulate consumption over the years.

While it’s true that cannabis can be a problem for some, for most people if you have to choose between sobriety and getting stoned because you have a lot of important things to do – productivity wins 9/10 times.

In every state that has legalized cannabis, productivity hasn’t gone down…in fact, fewer people are using sick days.

If you want to have a healthy relationship with cannabis, you must always have a healthy relationship with yourself first. This means becoming mindful of your behavior, thoughts, and emotions. About peering into the darkness of your soul and seeing which hidden traumas are influencing your life from within.

Cannabis can be used to cover up those pains for a short period of time, but unless you’re actually on a journey of self-discovery…suppressing your past pains will only manifest in unplanned manners. Use cannabis for self reflection.

I have been smoking for more than twenty years, but I often smoke a joint and remember the painful things in my life. I sit with the pain, and the cannabis helps me from getting consumed by it. It gives me that space where I can reflect and integrate, where I can do the necessary work to move forward.

But this is because I’m on an almost “holy quest” of self-discovery where the conflict, pains and challenges in my life are simply an opportunity to remedy something that has been hidden from me until now.

As for the author of the Reddit post, I only wish the best for their lives. At the end of the day, if they found a path to self-fulfillment and needs to demonize cannabis to remain true to the path…then cannabis can do that for you as well. Some people will reject this approach, others will embrace it and both of them would be correct if it serves the bottom line.

HEALTHY REALATIONSHIPS WITH WEED, READ MORE…

HOW CANNABIS CREATING HEALTHY INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS!

On the 19th of May 2022, a federal court in California ruled that the legalization of hemp at the federal level via the 2018 Farm Bill, eliminated restrictions on several cannabinoids as well as delta-8 THC.

According to reports from San Francisco Chronicles, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that substances containing delta-8 THC are legal. This is because the federal statute defines hemp as any part of the marijuana plant including extracts, cannabinoids, and all derivatives that contain less than 0.3% by weight of delta-9 THC.

The court, during the ruling, affirmed that the Constitution is silent about delta-8 THC

Delta-9 THC, which is often called THC is the most prominent psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis and stays federally illegal. It is categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance together with heroin, peyote, and methaqualone. In comparison, Delta-8 THC generally occurs in minute quantities in the marijuana plant.

However, modern production and cultivation techniques allow for minor cannabinoids to be refined and concentrated into consumer products. With that, delta-8 THC substances have grown in popularity over the years, particularly in cannabis legalized states.

Similar to delta-9 THC, delta-8 THC also has psychoactive properties. However, users claim that the experience is typically more repressed with mild side effects compared to delta-9 THC. Although some cannabis advocates and several health professionals have affirmed that little is still known about the possible risks and health impacts of delta-8 THC.

For its part, the Ninth Circuit panel remarked that while delta-8 THC has intoxicating and psychoactive properties, it does not fall within hemp’s definition of federal law, hence it is legal.

According to one of the judges in the three-judge panel, Judge D. Michael Fisher, wrote that regardless of the decision to legalize delta-8 THC, the Court won’t alter its judgment for Congress. All three judges that gave the ruling were appointed by Republican presidents. According to Fisher, if a loophole was inadvertently created by lawmakers who didn’t plan to legalize delta-8 THC, then it is congress’ responsibility to fix such a mistake.

The Controversy

The Ninth Circuit judgment originates from a controversy over apparent copyright and trademark violation that hinged on the legality of delta-8 THC. The controversy kicked off when AK Futures, a company that produces vaping products and e-cigarettes, accused Boyd Street Distro of producing sham versions of its products which contain delta-8 THC.

According to data on appeal, it was proven that delta-8 THC products produced by AK Futures are lawful under the Farm Act and hence may get trademark security. On the other hand, Boyd Street claimed the products in question were bought from an individual who claims to be AK Futures’ authorized dealer. AK Futures then claimed its full inventory for that same product had been sold out and won’t be selling the brand shortly.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Boyd Street’s lawyer, Darrel Menthe, argued that no evidence that Congress had plans to legalize delta-8 THC was brought forward. If substances that contain cannabinoids are considered legal, then state and federal governments will probably regulate cannabis products to make use of them safely and not advertised to children.

Darrell Menthe further added that Boyd Street has no primary plans to appeal the decision of the Court.

The director of NORML California, Dale Gieringer, during an interview with the Chronicle, affirmed that it would be more ideal from a policy point of view to just legalize delta-9 THC. He believes that since extensive studies and research has been carried out on the cannabinoid for decades, delta-9 THC is more understood than delta-8 THC.

The Aftermath of the Court ruling

With the 2018 Farm bill enacted into law, delta-8 THC and several minor cannabinoids are now in a kind of legal grey area. While a lot of businesses in the cannabis industry argue that the products are legal, a lot of legislators in many states believe otherwise.

Now, the controversy has bubbled up reaching the federal level. To this end, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), earlier this month, published its first set of warning letters. The letters were issued to cannabis firms as regards the alleged illegal sale of substances that contains delta-8 THC.

Before the warning letters, the FDA had initially published a notice to caution consumers of such products. This approach is similar to how the FDA sent warning letters to several companies over unlicensed advertisements of CBD.

At the moment, the FDA regulations do not allow for the advertisement of cannabinoids in the food supply. However, cannabis advocates and lawmakers have been pressuring the agency to modify its laws to permit the marketing of CBD since hemp has been legalized at the federal level.

As things stand, both parties now have congressional lawmakers pushing the FDA to create new regulations on CBD. Dr. Robert M. Cliff, the FDA Commissioner, during a hearing at the U.S House committee, affirmed that he will be needing a lot of support from Congress to make such development possible.

According to Dr. Robert M. Cliff, the present councils on the food side of the drug side will not be willing to provide what is needed to achieve such a goal. Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Administration, since late last year, has signaled that delta-8 THC is legal under the law.

In the same last year, the Texas state government also declared that delta-8 was illegal. This was a development many oppositions challenged in court achieving a pause on the proposed ban by state enforcement.

Conclusion

The controversy between AK Futures and Boyd Street gave enough clarity regarding the legality of e-cigarettes and delta-8 THC products under federal statute. It proves that federal courts are not paying close attention to the loopholes in psychoactive hemp derivatives that were not found in the Farm Bill of 2018.

However, irrespective of your feelings about delta-8 THC, this is a major turnaround in the history of marijuana legalization.

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Study Finds That Cannabis Is Safe For Treating Cancer Pain – Cancer Patients No Longer Need Opioids

As if being diagnosed with the Big C wasn’t bad enough, cancer patients often have to deal with a multitude of other debilitating conditions, with the worst being cancer-related pain.

While a cancer diagnosis doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be in pain, some 55% of cancer patients and 40% of survivors still suffer from chronic pain. Almost half of patients have to use opioids to manage the severe pain caused by the cancer itself which in most cases prevents patients as well as survivors from living a normal life. There are many factors that contribute to how much pain one feels; some days may be filled with pain while others are more tolerable, but no matter what, pain shouldn’t be accepted as part of cancer. There are treatments that are safe and effective available.

Unfortunately, opioid medications have become the standard treatment for severe pain, cancer or not. These ultra-strong chemical drugs may be effective at numbing pain, but at what cost? The opioid epidemic in America has taken millions of lives because it’s far too easy to overdose on it. Yet medical professionals continue to prescribe opioids to cancer patients and other terminally ill because it’s what helps them manage pain.

Opioids are extremely addictive, and even the slightest overdose can cause death.

So what are cancer patients struggling with pain left to do?

Cannabis is a Safe Alternative to Opioids

Medical marijuana has been making waves for its powerful ability to treat pain safely and naturally. This is critical for cancer patients.

A brand-new assessment focusing on the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for pain caused by cancer confirms this. The study, which was published in the medical journal, Frontiers in Pain Research, was conducted by researchers in Israel. “Traditionally, cancer-related pain is mainly treated by opioid analgesics, but most oncologists perceive opioid treatment as hazardous, so alternative therapies are required,” says David Meiri, the study’s author, and an assistant professor at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology.

“Our study is the first to assess the possible benefits of medical cannabis for cancer-related pain in oncology patients; gathering information from the start of treatment and with repeated follow-ups for an extended period of time, to get a thorough analysis of its effectiveness,” he said.

For the assessment, they spoke with cancer patients who were seeking other choices available to treat their pain as well as other cancer symptom relief. They then worked with oncologists who issued a license for medical cannabis for their cancer patients, and interested patients who wanted to join the study were asked for their feedback.

“We encountered numerous cancer patients who asked us whether medical cannabis treatment can benefit their health,” explains Gil Bar-Sela, the study’s co-author, who is also an associate professor at the Ha’Emek Medical Center Afula.

The authors particularly wanted to get more information on cannabis for cancer-related pain. “Our review of existing research revealed that actually not much was known regarding its effectiveness, particularly for the treatment of cancer-related pain, and of what was known, most findings were inconclusive,” he adds.

“Patients completed anonymous questionnaires before starting treatment, and again at several time points during the following six months. We gathered data on a number of factors, including pain measures, analgesics consumption, cancer symptom burden, sexual problems, and side effects,” Bar-Sela adds.

After reviewing the data, the researchers found that a great deal of outcome measures revealed improvements. Cancer symptoms as well as pain scores were reduced though it was more significant that the patients were able to stop their intake of opioids or other painkillers. Additionally, they reported that almost half the participants were successfully able to wean off all painkillers just 6 months after treatment with medical marijuana.

“Medical cannabis has been suggested as a possible remedy for appetite loss, however, most patients in this study still lost weight. As a substantial portion were diagnosed with progressive cancer, a weight decline is expected with disease progression,” Meiri said.

Other Studies Reflect Similar Findings

In a 2021 clinical trial conducted by researchers at Minnesota’s Cancer Research Center together with the Minnesota Department of Health involved analyzing patients with stage IV cancer and their consumption of opioids and license cannabis products.

Thirty participants in the study were tasked to consume plant-derived extracts during the trial, starting at 2.5-5mg of THC/CBD, increasing to 30-40mg of THC and CBD each day for the course of the study which lasted two to four weeks. “Medical cannabis use led to improvements in achieving personalized pain goals and lower overall opioid requirements. No serious adverse events with cannabis were reported, and most patients who used cannabis reported that benefits outweighed negative effects.”

“Our results support prior studies suggesting cannabis may improve pain and minimize opioid utilization in both cancer and non-cancer settings… Incorporating cannabis into routine cancer care may improve pain control and minimize opioid requirements,” the authors concluded.

Meanwhile, a 2018 assessment from the European Journal of Internal Medicine, conducted by Tikun Olam researchers, looked at how effective cannabis was for cancer patients. They found that cannabis was efficient in decreasing cancer patients’ intake of opioids within 6 months from the time they started consuming it.

 Lihi Bar-lev Schleider, the study’s lead researcher, disclosed to the Rolling Stone that, “Cannabis is a very good alternative to reduce opioid consumption, to increase quality of life, and to reduce pain, nausea and vomiting.”

Conclusion

There is solid data out there about the efficacy of cannabis for treating cancer symptoms, including pain – which in itself is already very difficult to treat. If you or a loved one is taking opioid medications for cancer, speak to your oncologist about weaning off the drugs and switching to cannabis instead for a safer experience and improved quality of life.

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