Different parts of the world operate differently with their own trends, but some things seem to remain relatively constant across cultures. While joint smoking is hands down the most popular way to smoke that I’ve seen anywhere, bongs have always been a close second, even more than vaping. So what’s one way to improve the overall bong experience? Bong water flavors! Good for making each bong hit a truly tasty experience. Bong water flavors are the perfect way to keep your bong tasting fresh and delicious. Check out options in stores, or go through your kitchen to find the best ingredients for a DIY job. We’re here to deliver the top cannabis news of today. Subscribe to THC Weekly Newsletter for tons more stories like this one. Plus, gain access to exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more, along with premiere offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which will save you lots of $$. You can find them in our “Best-of” lists! A bit on bongsFist off, a ‘bong’ is a form of ‘waterpipe’, which is a smoking device that uses water to filter the smoke. Waterpipes have a chamber that can be made air tight when the user puts their mouth to the mouthpiece. This chamber needs a stem which leads to a bowl where an herb can be burned (or vaporized if using a dab), with the other opening leading to the mouthpiece. Many bongs have a third opening which goes by many names including: ‘carb’, ‘choke’, and ‘hole’, which is used to clear the built-up smoke in the chamber. The hole must be blocked (usually with a finger) while lighting the herbs and inhaling the smoke. Much of the smoke gets inhaled, while much goes to this chamber. The chamber can then be cleared by taking the finger off the carb, and inhaling the built-up smoke. If a bong doesn’t have a carb, it usually has a removable bowl which can be taken off the stem, and which then functions the same way. Generally any cheap homemade bong will use this method, with super cheaply made bongs having neither. A ’waterpipe’ can denote several different styles of smoking devices. There’s the standard bong design of today with a chamber leading up to a cylindrical tube and opening, sometimes going three-feet high. There are ‘dabs’ which actually vaporize, though the concentrate used for them is indeed lit on fire. There are ‘hookahs’ which can be seen throughout the Middle East, and which incorporate tubes to suck the air through and which use a form of tobacco; and ‘bubblers’ which are like little handheld bongs that look more like pipes, but with a water chamber. ![]() Bong waterBong water serves a very specific purpose. First, it cools the very hot air produced by the combustion of the cannabis so that it’s more comfortable to breathe in, and way less harsh than a standard pipe or joint. Second, the water filters the smoke by trapping the heavier particles within in when the air goes through, keeping them out of the user’s lungs. Prior to vapes coming out, this filtration made bongs the healthiest way to smoke. The classic bong ‘gurgle’ sound happens when the air is sucked through the water with the carb held closed (if one exists). Bongs are known for creating very big hits, that hit very hard, making users very high off of just one hit. As you can imagine, constantly sucking gritty smoke through water, can make the water pretty dirty. And if you’re a bong smoker, you know that not only does the water look dirty after only a couple hits, but it starts to smell very bad too. Every bong smoker knows the trials and tribulations of a knocked over bong and split bong water, and the smell that seems to never go away. And just as it smells pretty bad pretty fast, it starts to taste pretty bad as well. As most people don’t change the water every other hit, it suffices to say that something to improve the taste can make for a much happier smoking experience. Bong water flavorsBong water flavors are exactly what they sound like. Something to put into the bong water to make your bong hits taste good. This goes for when using nice, newly-changed bongwater, as well as for keeping the bong smokable after many hits have been taken, and the water has been clogged up with ash. Bong water flavors are simply liquid flavoring concoctions that are meant to be mixed with water for use in your bong. Sometimes the instructions say to mix with a certain amount of water first (to get the right concentration) before putting whatever is necessary in the water compartment. One brand Original Bong Water Flavours puts out bong water flavors ($9.99) like Blueberry, Apple Kiwi, Peach, and Watermelon among others. All flavorings use natural and artificial flavors, are non-toxic, and stipulated to not be for internal consumption. Some companies provide flavor drops like the company Bong Drops, which just require a drop or two to be added to bong water, rather than for a mixture to be made using more water. The company puts out regular drops (15ml for $8.99) in flavors like Cotton Candy, Banana, and Watermelon Sugar. This company also provides a line of organic drops (15ml for $9.99) in flavors: Organic Clove Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, and Organic Orange Oil. ![]() Some even offer not only flavoring, but a way to keep your bong cleaner. The company Piece Water puts out its namesake solution with a proprietary blend of mineral, vegetable, and fruit extracts; that help to keep resin from building up while using the bong; aid in faster, easier cleaning; and provide a fresh taste for puffing. As per the company, use of their Piece Water should mean better smelling bong water, with no need for harsh cleaning chemicals. Interested users can purchase 4oz for $7, 12oz for $14, or three 12oz bottles for $25. DIY bong water flavorsTruth is, much like the no-name bong industry (most of us just buy random pieces or make our own), you can add flavor to your bong water in a no-brand way. With just the right ingredients in your house, you can have your bong tasting way better, without buying a product at all. What are some of the best things to use? Well, fruit juice is one option, to give your bong water a nice fruity appeal (requires washing after use to keep sugar from attracting dirt and bacteria). Other options include sparkling water for the carbonation buzz, Gatorade for its surgery sweetness (also requires washing your bong after due to sugar), or any kind of tea, which can actually be used hot or cold, though hot is not recommended for non-glass pieces. Or, just throw some orange or lemon peels in the water to give it an infused fruit taste. What’s another interesting option? Wine! While high proof spirits are not recommended since breathing in alcohol fumes can be dangerous, and holding a flame near a highly flammable liquid could lead to bad things, the lower proof wine actually works well. It is recommended to use something like Lambrusco – sweet sparkling wine, or a red wine. Much like with Gatorade and fruit juice, the bong should be washed out after since wine has a high sugar content. And while it’s not actually a flavor, ice has been a standard bong go-to for decades, providing a way to make a cooler, smoother hit for the user. Ice can be used on its own, or along with any other flavoring method (whether you buy it or find it in your house), to create that much better of a smoking experience each time. Hot, carbonated, and alcohol – unlikely bong water additionsI mentioned a few things here which all go against logic, so I wanted to explain better. First off, putting ice in a bong is standard, but something hot? Unexpectedly, hot water hits are almost always said to produce smoother, less burning hits. This could be because hotter air has a higher water vapor content, making for a less harsh hit. Some say it makes you more high, but the jury’s out on that one. Nevertheless, for those who want something to warm them up in the winter, instead of making a cup of tea, you can make yourself a hot bong hit instead. Or use the tea for bong water flavors, and get the heated hit, with the taste of tea. ![]() What about carbonated liquids to serve as bong water flavors? The carbonation is said to make a tingling sensation in the throat, and to provide very crisp hits. It was likened to smoking Pop Rocks, if that appeals to you. And though breathing in too much carbonation isn’t necessarily a good thing, when doing this in moderation, it can make for zesty, popping bong hits. Maybe not the norm, but an interesting bong idea. Last, but not least, the idea of alcohol in a bong is a general no-no because of the danger of breathing in vaporized alcohol fumes. For this reason, and the risk of combustion, its best to use a low alcohol wine if going in this direction. Another issue is that alcohol is a solvent for THC, so there is some concern that THC could be lost by dragging the smoke through the alcohol. However, having made tinctures for years using alcohol (including weed tinctures), I know that it takes time for the alcohol to do its job, and a brief bong hit wouldn’t likely be enough to make much difference. It should probably also be stated, the wine should not be drank after. ConclusionNo one said that just because you’re a bong smoker, that you have to deal with bad-tasting bong hits. With tons of bong water flavors to choose from in stores, and plenty of options for DIY flavors, you can have your bong tasting great, for every hit you take. Hello readers! Welcome to CBDtesters.co, your #1 web spot for the best independent news coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics-related industry, relevant to today. Join us whenever possible to stay in-the-loop on the constantly-changing universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re always on top of the latest story. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post Bong Water Flavors for Tasty Smoking appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/18/bong-water-flavors-for-tasty-smoking/
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” – Charles DickensUniversity, college, higher education, or whatever you want to call it, can be an extremely stressful time. However, it can also be the best time of your life. It’s the first time many kids are finally free from parental or school limitations. It’s the first time many kids experience alcohol, drugs and many other activities. On the other hand, it’s also a time filled with deadlines, mental health issues and heartbreak. Essentially, it’s a complete and utter mind field that no one can really prepare you for. That’s why I wanted to tell you a true story. A story of a friend of mine, let’s call him John. John had an up and down experience at university and it was ketamine that, he says, was a big part of that. Ketamine – or horse tranquiliser – has been known to be the university drug of choice in the UK, and today you’re going to find out why…courtesy of John. Make sure to sign up for The Psychedelics Weekly Newsletter to stay informed on everything important going on today, as well as to get access to exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got great offers on cannabinoids like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC , which you can find by going to our “Best-of” lists! KetamineKetamine has a variety of different names, just like all recreationally used substances. These include: ket, wonk, K, donkey dust, Klein and many more. Whatever you want to call it, this drug was originally used – and still is – as an anaesthetic for doctors and veterinarians. This is often why people refer to this drug as a ‘horse tranquiliser’, because it literally is. Although, if you ever hear a drug dealer refer to their ketamine as ‘rhino ketamine’, then that’s probably just a marketing tool rather than hard cold facts. Ketamine is known by doctors to be the most successful substance to anaesthetise larger animals, this is why it’s often used on horses. Mind Bloom writes: “In large animals, such as horses, gas-based anesthetics like nitrous oxide require several parts to administer. Dosage and administration are important safety considerations when dealing with an animal weighing several hundred pounds. This is why ketamine, which can be safely administered in one injection, is often used in veterinary clinics.” Whilst this might seem alarming, ketamine is used as a party drug frequently. Whilst enough of it could take down a horse, when handled responsibly, it is used to give a buzz of anti-anxiety, joy and positive dissociation. However, of course, too much can cause the dreaded ‘K-hole’. We’ll get on to that later. HistoryIn 1956, a drug known as phencyclidine was used as an anaesthetic on monkeys. In consequence, they tried using it on human beings. However, people began to experience odd side effects. With this substance, patients would wake up without sensations in their limbs. After a bit of messing around with the formula, Dr. Calvin Lee Stevens formulated the drug that we now call ketamine. This substance was used in the Vietnam war to give to injured soldiers, as well as for those suffering from schizophrenia and depression. However, the use of this drug as a recreational substance caused it to be made illegal in the majority of countries. NowKetamine is currently going through a medical renaissance. Many professionals are finally beginning to acknowledge it as a useful medicine in the mental health industry. In the UK, ketamine is still illegal and a Class B drug – alongside cannabis and amphetamines. However, esketamine was recently made legal to be used medically. This drug is a ketamine-like drug that is used to treat severe depression. The Guardian writes: “Esketamine, taken as a nasal spray, is one of the first rapid-acting drugs for depression and the first in decades that is thought to work in a fundamentally different way in the brain.” This drug, which is very similar to ketamine, has been championed for its instant anti-depressant effects. Most drugs take weeks or even months to help people’s mood, whereas this drug has been shown to have enduring effects within hours. Unfortunately, when John was at university, this drug was not legal. John & KetamineLet’s get back to John, and the story of his experience with ketamine at university. Just to be clear – university is a higher education course that occurs in the UK just after secondary school. So around the ages of 18-22. ![]() When John first arrived at university he had tried some drugs before – the likes of MDMA, ecstasy and cannabis – but ketamine was a substance he didn’t really know much about. It’s often that young adults instantly jump at the idea of taking ecstasy as a first substance because of the instant euphoria, connection with other young people and the youthful non-existent comedowns. However, as you get older, the horrific comedowns of ecstasy or even cocaine seem to make the drug less appealing. Ketamine is different. Ketamine doesn’t seem to burden the user with the same level of next day existential dread. John’s First ExperienceJohn’s first experience of ketamine came in his first year at a friend’s house party. Levels by Avicii was playing and he was probably wearing some terrible ‘Johnny Cash’ T-shirt. Not that there’s anything wrong with Johnny Cash, just that he probably had never even listened to even one of his songs. Not even ‘hurt’. A friend of John’s came over to him and said there was a girl in the corner offering bumps of MDMA, and that if he went quick there may be still some left. John, feeling pretty anxious due to the fact he knew no one at the party, ran over and found this girl. She reluctantly gave him a bump. He asked why she wasn’t bombing it, which was a more usual way of taking MDMA. In response, the girl stared at him and replied: ‘that was ket, not MDMA, idiot’. About half an hour later, John began to feel wobbly. Like everything was slowing down. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, it was just interesting. This feeling of warmth and calmness then bathed over him. He began walking around the party, speaking to everyone he could see. It was the first time he felt not even an inch of anxiety. It wasn’t the same sense of overpowering euphoria that ecstasy offers, but it was instead an easiness. A simple feeling of acceptance to everything and everyone. John loved it. John’s K-HoleAs John began his second year, he was going out a lot more. He was listening to more experimental music and enjoying attending events with music that matched the drugs he liked taking. For instance, funk and soul music events he found to go well with MDMA. And, for ketamine, he enjoyed going to jungle-music nights. However, on this specific night, John made the error of forgetting how much ketamine he’d taken. With a lot of alcohol consumed, John began taking too frequent visits to the toilet for a key of ketamine. Usually it takes around 30-40 minutes for a bump of ket to be fully experienced. However, if you take too much too quickly, it can cause the dreaded k-hole. This was what John experienced. Very Well Mind writes: “One way to think about a k-hole is a state between intoxication and a coma. As the consciousness of the real world diminishes, alterations in your senses may lead to illusions and hallucinations. While temporary, some users may show ongoing dissociative and psychotic symptoms.” John remembers time standing still. At one point, he often thought that he may be dead. That perhaps this was what death felt like. Whilst it may have only lasted 10-15 minutes, this K-hole felt like it lasted days. Whilst it may be hard to understand why anyone would take a drug that could so easily lead to a horrific experience like this, John felt if he was able to harness the powers of ketamine, he’d be able to live a happier life. In a sense, this k-hole was the wake up call he needed. He wouldn’t exploit ketamine again. John’s Studying & Mental HealthJohn began using small amounts of ketamine to microdose during his studying. He found that if he took the perfect amount, at the right time, he’d be able to study for longer without losing focus. He also found he became more interested in the topic he was looking at. He knew that if he took too much, he would end up being too inactive to work, so he understood it was a bit of a balancing act. ![]() John also was dealing with social anxiety and mild depression at university. According to Mind, 1 in 5 UK students are diagnosed with a mental health problem whilst at university. He found that ketamine was the perfect drug to use to quell these feelings of anxiety and depression. Just as esketamine is being used now, the drug would chill him out, and allow him to speak to people with ease, as well as diminishing negative and intrusive thought patterns. John was using ketamine to help him through the struggles, surprises and downsides of university. However, he was beginning to realise he was becoming dependent on ketamine. The EndAs John neared the end of university he realised how he often would need ketamine in order to go to a social event or get through a stressful situation. Due to this, he decided to go cold turkey during a ‘dry January’. This is where people decide to not take any substances during the first month of the year. Whilst it was difficult, and slightly miserable, this month allowed John to force himself through situations that would usually require ketamine. Now, John still uses ketamine, but does not rely on it. However, he has spoken to his doctor about the potential use of esketamine. Perhaps if it had been available whilst John was at university, he would have been able to have a healthier relationship with the substance. Welcome to the site! Thanks for stopping by CBDtesters.co, the preeminent internet location for all cannabis and psychedelics-related news that’s important today. Read thru the site regularly to stay knowledgeable on the quickly-moving landscape of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The Psychedelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re never behind on what’s going on. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post Ketamine at University: A True Story appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/17/ketamine-and-university/ When cannabis markets started opening, one of the more consistent factors in legislation was the advent of very large taxes, and in many forms. From excise taxes to local taxes to sales taxes to THC taxes, states with legal policies are going crazy to bring in as much tax money as possible, no matter how much it raises the price. Now, recent reports point to how Massachusetts just brought in more cannabis taxes than alcohol taxes, not because cannabis is more popular, but because it’s taxed higher. Massachusetts just brought in way more money from cannabis taxes than it did for alcohol taxes. Does this make sense, or does it show a failing of the legal cannabis industry? We cover all of it, and are excited to provide you with the best news possible. Sign up for THC Weekly Newsletter for the most important stories going on, and take advantage of exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and much, much more! Additionally, we offer great savings for cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC. Check out our “Best-of” lists to find them! Taxes, taxes, taxesThere are a bunch of different ways to tax a product, and different markets are obliged to carry out certain taxes for their own specific products. When we buy something in a store, we see the sales tax applied in America, but this is just one of many taxes that might be factored into the overall price of the product, in this case cannabis. Cannabis taxes fall into the following groups: Sales tax: This is the one we’re most familiar with because we watch it being applied to the product in question when we get to the cashier. This tax is imposed by the government at the point of sale, and amounts to a specific percentage of the price of the product being bought. This rate can be different between states and locations. Excise tax – This tax is put on specific goods. These taxes get absorbed into the sales price and are paid most of the time between a manufacturer and vendor, though it factors into the overall cost of the item. An excise sales tax is an excise tax that gets collected at sale like a sales tax. A ‘sin tax’ is an excise tax specifically imposed on goods that are thought to be harmful or dangerous to society. Sin taxes are higher than standard taxes for this reason. Cultivation tax – This tax applies to all the cannabis that’s cultivated for either recreational or medical purposes. Much like an excise tax, its absorbed into the final price, with the amount paid at the time of transfer to a distributor from a manufacturer. ![]() THC taxes – These are taxes designed to add more to the price depending on the amount of THC in the product. These taxes vary not just on the THC content, but on the type of product. There can be different tax amounts for standard products vs infused products, generally with a THC cutoff above which the tax rate increases. Local cannabis business tax – This tax is collected on non-medical cannabis businesses, which means it applies to all recreational businesses/products. Some locations mix it up a bit, like Alaska, which charges taxes in dollar amounts, rather than percentages, and these taxes get paid by growers. These taxes are flat rates for specific products: flowers, immature flowers, trim, and clones, and this operates as a sort of excise and sales tax for the state. Massachusetts collects more from cannabis taxes than alcoholLast week it was reported that Massachusetts had collected more from cannabis taxes than for alcohol taxes for the first half of the fiscal year. In Mid-December 2021, according to the Cannabis Control Commission, Massachusetts collected $74.2 million in cannabis excise taxes, and $51.3 million for alcohol excise taxes. For anyone concerned, no need to worry! People aren’t suddenly drinking less, and they’re likely not smoking more. But they are buying products in legal dispensaries. Massachusetts dispensaries have brought in $2.54 billion in revenue from the recreational market alone since the market opened in 2018. Excise taxes specifically have brought in $112 million from the recreational market in 2021, with a total of $208 million in total tax revenue brought in last fiscal year from cannabis. In terms of all recreational states, the total revenue from the start of regulated markets back in 2014, has topped $10 billion in tax revenue. So how were these incredibly high numbers already achieved, when the alcohol industry isn’t bringing in that much? Because the cannabis industry is taxed at a much higher rate than the alcohol industry. The tax in question is the excise tax, that pesky tax between manufacturers and vendors which customers never see added on. And in this case, we’re talking about sin taxes. Exorbitantly high taxes for items deemed dangerous by the government. Alcohol excise taxes are charged in Massachusetts for each gallon produced. Though tax rates have changed through history, the last several years have been pretty consistent. Wines are taxed at $0.55-$0.70/gallon, for hard liquor $4.05/gallon, and beer at $3.30/31 gallon. When looking at a gallon of whiskey in Massachusetts, it’ll have $4.05 applied on the state level, and $2.70 (or above) on the federal level, for a total of approximately $6.75 a gallon. For a cheaper bottle of $40, this does amount to about 16% of the total, but would also have the 6.25% sales tax added for a new total of $9.25, or 23% of the initial value. But if you’re paying for a $100 bottle, it’s only 6.7% before the sales tax. When a sales tax of 6.25% is added for a total of $13 in taxes, the taxes become 13% of the initial price. At the same time, Massachusetts charges 10.75% per the projected retail price of recreational cannabis as an excise tax, as well as a 6.25% state sales tax, and local taxes up to 3%. That’s as much as 20%. So if an eighth of weed has a projected retail price of $40 to start, it’ll have $4.30 added by the 10.75% excise tax, $2.5 added on for the 6.25% sales tax, and if a 3% local tax is applied, that would be another $1.2 added. This totals $8 added to the $40, making a 20% increase to $48. ![]() Commission Executive Director Shawn Collins pat his agency on the back, saying “This number also underscores the entire agency’s tireless efforts, particularly those of our hardworking staff, to thoughtfully regulate a safe, accessible, and effective adult-use marketplace that keeps critical tenets of our mission—public health, public safety, and equity, among others—front of mind.” What about alcohol and cigarettes?Alcohol and cigarettes are different because they are both taxed by the federal government, as well as state and local governments. Cannabis is only taxed in state and local governments since it has no federal legalization. Alcohol has a myriad of taxes put on it by the federal government, depending on the type of alcohol, and the amount produced. It should be mentioned that taxes increase steeply after a certain amount of production. For example, the $2.70 per hard liquor gallon rate of 2020, increased to $13.34 after the first 100,000, gallons then to $13.50 for anything above 22,230,000 gallons. For distilled spirits, excise taxes can range at the federal level from $2.70-$13.50/gallon, which depends on how much the producer produces. Then the product has another $4.05/gallon excise tax added on by the state of Massachusetts, as well as the sales tax of 6.25%, also mentioned above, and possibly other local taxes. Cigarettes are similar. As of March 15th, 2021, cigarette taxes between states varied, with a range anywhere between $0.37 per pack to $4.50 per pack. These rates have risen quickly in the last few years. The last federal increase was way back in 2009, when the federal cigarette tax went to $1.01 per pack, an increase of $0.62 from $0.39. This was done via the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, and has not been touched since that time. So, if you’re buying a pack of cigarettes in Massachusetts, the price includes $3.51 in state excise taxes for a 20-cigarette pack, $1.01 in federal taxes, plus the 6.25% sales tax. Other local taxes could be added in as well. If the pack of cigarettes starts at a cost of $6, it’ll actually cost 6+$0.38 (sales tax)+$3.51(state excise tax)+$1.01(federal excise tax)=$11.20, nearly double the price. This means nearly half that cost is taxes alone. Of course cigarettes, like alcohol, are actually very bad for health, so the idea of making them harder to get, makes way more sense than with a plant with tons of medical values. To make it all more insane, vape products, the healthier option to cigarettes, which don’t kill 480,000 people a year, have an excise tax of 75% added in Massachusetts, as well as a 210% excise tax for smokeless tobacco products. Why Massachusetts cannabis taxes might be badTruth is, while it looks like a lot of money, and it is, it might be coming at the cost of the industry altogether. While the apparent line was that this $112 million in excise taxes collected was 206% higher than projected, this means either, a positive spin on lower than expected general sales, or that the state already factored in the always present, and not really shrinking, black market. How big it is in Massachusetts? By November 2020 it was already being written about that the high cost of Massachusetts dispensaries, was driving away clientele. According to cannabis analytics firm BDSA, via CommonWealth Magazine, 68% of cannabis users were still buying from the black market in Massachusetts in 2020, two years after dispensaries started opening. To be fair, I can find no original report by BDSA, only different sources referencing the CommonWealth article, so how that number was established is unknown. But it does make sense. ![]() California has had such issues battling the black market that the industry had a bailout approved in the state. And in literally every legal market there are complaints of not being able to compete adequately with the black market. Let’s be honest, it’s a few years in, and the black market is still bigger, even in Massachusetts. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe the legal industry will keep on growing. But there’s also the chance that the over-eagerness to overtax will lead to what’s going on in California. Massive overproduction, leading to massive price drops. And less taxes collected. ConclusionSo sure, it’s great that Massachusetts thinks its okay to add on as much as 20% in taxes. And yes, it does bring in decent revenue for now. But when the novelty wears off, there’ll still be a guy on the corner selling weed for way less, and he’ll have all the same stuff you can get in a dispensary. More important than that though, is this pervasive idea that cannabis needs to be treated more harshly than something like alcohol. These taxes get in the way of people being able to afford the product, meaning they’re sin taxes, like the tax on alcohol and cigarettes, meant for products that are considered harmful or dangerous to society. And Massachusetts has no problem overcharging people for…a plant. Realistically, if it continues, it won’t mean more and more sales, it’ll just mean death to the legal market, and a return to the black market. Or better yet, people just growing it for themselves. Hello and welcome! Thanks for dropping by CBDtesters.co, the #1 internet spot for the most thought-provoking and interesting cannabis and psychedelics-related news going on today. Join us frequently to remain informed on the constantly-in-motion landscape of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re always first to get the news. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post Massachusetts Rakes It In With Cannabis Taxes, More Than Alcohol appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/17/massachusetts-rakes-it-in-with-cannabis-taxes-more-than-alcohol/ One thing that is sorely lacking from California’s cannabis industry is consistency. Starting with statewide pot shortages just a couple of years ago, to a $100 million bailout last year, and now insane levels of overproduction that are driving market prices into the dirt – it seems that California keeps overcorrecting at every turn, and the ‘Golden State’ just can’t seem to get it right. A sharp rise in cannabis production to make up for prior deficits is having worrisome impacts on the state’s market, especially in the cultivation and wholesale sectors. According to numerous California farmers, flower prices are dropping substantially. On the retail side of things, concentrates and vape carts are cheaper than they have ever been. Some products and markets seem to be on better footing, but others may be in hot water. In California, things are often complicated and convoluted – but this is especially true of the state’s cannabis industry. Check back with us to see how it all unfolds. For more articles like this one, and exclusive deals on vapes, edibles, tinctures, and more, make sure to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter! We’ve also got great deals on cannabinoids like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC , which you can find by checking out our “Best-of” lists! Current state of affairs, indoor vs outdoor, top shelf vs midsAlthough it does vary quite a bit regionally, we’re getting reports that wholesale prices are down about 60% for outdoor-farmed flower and roughly 10-20% for indoor and light-deprivation crops. In Northern California, for example, costs are shockingly low, averaging $200-500 for outdoor and $600-800 for indoor and light-deprivation. This down from $800-1000 and $1300-$1600, respectively, just last year. “We are seeing flower prices in CA across a broad range, with most transactions within $550 to $3,350 per pound; with a roughly $400 spread between outdoor and greenhouse, and a roughly $700 spread between greenhouse and indoor,” New Leaf Data CEO Jonathan Rubin wrote in an interview with MJBizDaily. “What I am hearing is … any sort of outdoor product from last year is absolutely not moving at all, and if it is moving, the price point is as low as $275 to $500 max,” said another industry insider from Mendocino County, who requested their identity be withheld. “The market is super-flooded,” the source said. “There’s a huge glut. Nothing is moving. … Talking to the old-, old-timers, no one has ever seen it this bad. And it’s on both sides, the white and black (markets).” But down in Southern California, the situation seems a bit more stable; for now anyway, and for those growing indoor flower. Scott Raquiza, chief cannabis officer at Cream of the Crop Gardens in Perris, California, says that from what he has seen, indoor farmers are faring well at the moment, but anyone growing mids or bottom shelf buds “could be in serious trouble”. There’s definitely price compression happening compared to what pounds were fetching on the wholesale market in 2020,” Raquiza continued. “For commercial grows, non-AAA, you’re probably at a 40% price compression. Outdoor is 50%-60% price compression, and premium indoor is only 10-20% price compression,” he added. But it’s not just flower, prices for concentrates and carts are crumbling as well. LeafLink, an online wholesale platform for the industry, has been tracking the prices from 1,128 retailers since 2017. According to their Wholesale Cannabis Pricing Guide for 2022, the biggest year-over-year price drop was for cartridges, but they reported “consistently low pricing across most categories”. It makes sense… because if farmers are having a hard time selling flower to anyone with the intent of reselling it, their next best option is to sell it at a low, bulk price to processors who can turn it into concentrates, which in turn drives down prices in the concentrate market as well. What about retail pricing?Although it does take a bit longer for these effects to trickle down to consumers, I and many others have seen a difference in dispensary pricing. Again, it varies by region, but I’ve noticed that prices for most products are lower to some degree, some only slightly (top-shelf bud) but other items dropped significantly (live resin carts). ![]() What initially caught my attention was some quick product research I did last week in preparation for my trip to California for the Emerald Conference. I was scrolling through Weedmaps looking for dispensaries near the convention that sell the brands that I like. The search results left with sticker shock in the best possible way. Not only were the carts I use considerably cheaper than they were last time I visited, but they’re about one-quarter of the price that I pay for the same exact brand at dispensaries in Illinois. For example, I was able to find a huge variety of full gram live resin carts for $30-40 each, whereas in Illinois I’m paying about $60 for just a half-gram! For the most part, I looked around San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, since that’s where I plan to be, but a quick search of Los Angeles and Bay Area dispensaries yielded similar pricing. However, because I so rarely shop in those areas, I don’t really have a baseline to compare that too. When I was at MJBizCon in October, I was told that it was difficult to find good quality flower in the Bay Area for less than $200/ounce, but that does not seem to be the case anymore. Too much pot!It’s all basic economics and at the root of the problem is a supply and demand issue. There is no foreseeable decline in demand for cannabis products in the near future, more people are using pot products every day. But as the industry grows and everyone scrambles to get their foot in the door, competition is incredibly fierce, and it causes the supply chain to get completely out of whack. What we’re left with is more pot than anyone can realistically sell. “California farmers are producing four to five times more cannabis than our legal market can consume,” says Humboldt County Growers Alliance executive director Natalynne DeLapp. “Simple supply and demand demonstrates that when your supply outpaces your demand, the prices go down. And now, the question of survivability is in question.” As of last month, there are 1,775 acres of California land that are zoned and licensed for cannabis cultivation, 435 of which are in Humbolt County, known as the epicenter of the West Coast’s cannabis production. The county has surpassed 6 million pounds of flower grown annually. Now keep in mind, that is only 24% of the state’s allocated cultivation land. Another area somewhat known for weed growing is the Coachella Valley. There are dozens of cultivation facilities in and around Desert Hot Springs, all of which can produce anywhere from 6,000 to 40,000 pounds of cannabis annually. All that said, Californians, as pot-friendly as we are known to be, only consume about 2.5 million pounds of cannabis every year. This is a rough estimate, but regardless, when we factor in all the unlicensed grow ops, it becomes obvious that the Golden State is quite literally, drowning in pot. “The bulk of this overproduction is attributable to large-scale farms outside the Emerald Triangle, on the Central Coast and elsewhere, where it’s common for single farms to be permitted for dozens of acres,” added DeLapp. “These areas are continuing to bring hundreds of acres of new production online despite the fact that there’s no market for new large-scale production.” How did this happen?It’s difficult to fully comprehend how California got to this point without understanding some key things about California’s complicated history with cannabis. Back in 1996, the state passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. The goal was to legalize cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, but the program remained largely unregulated and over the years, it became very recreational. To remedy the somewhat out of control situation, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed the Medical Marijuana Regulation Safety Act into law in October 2015. At the same time, Humbolt County was drafting the state’s first land use ordinance to prep for impending legalization by zoning certain areas for cultivation. By August 2016, over 2,500 growers had registered their farms with the county and were working the steps to becoming state-compliant. When Proposition 64 passed in November 2016 and cannabis was legalized recreationally, the state also made promises to end the cultivation cap by 2023. That means that California is looking at possibly unlimited cannabis cultivation as soon as next year. To add to the problem, the state also plans to allow even larger “Type 5” cultivation licenses to be issued in 2023 also. “When that acreage cap was eliminated, it allowed CDFA to start accepting stacked licensing which is what allowed for these very, very large farms to come online,” says DeLapp. “When we’re asking why there is an overproduction problem it is because of Prop. 64 and the removal of the acreage cap that failed to rein cannabis production in the state of California.” ![]() Many longtime growers, like Jason Gellman, owner and operator of Ridgeline Farms in Southern Humboldt County, fear the industry as we know it, might be on its way out the door. “We got to hold the line on prices, there has to be a cap on square footage or a cap on licenses,” he said. “If the state allows unlimited cultivation come in 2023, we can just kiss this industry goodbye but right now we still have a fighting chance.” No end in sightBecause of all the caveats mentioned above, many industry experts believe this trend will continue for months, possibly years. It’s already to the point that farmers are sitting on pounds of flower that they simply cannot move, so when their corps are ready this year, they’re not anticipating to see an early harvest price bump that has been commonplace in years prior. Jonathan Rubin, Founder and CEO of Cannabis Benchmarks, said that in addition to other legal markets are seeing significant drops in wholesale pricing as well, especially Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. “For the West Coast states, there was a significant amount of inventory that remained unsold deep into this year from a big outdoor harvest in 2020, and in California, it seems that 2020 and 2021’s harvests were similarly robust,” he stated. Rubin continued: “Additionally, cultivators that had spent previous years getting through the state’s stringent licensing process came online and started producing this year, including larger light deprivation operations outside of northern California, and generated a surge of supply beginning this summer, which caused prices to start to fall ahead of the autumn crop.” A solid number of California sources, as well as a handful from the Pacific Northwest, agree that prices are likely to continue dropping. “I expect it to continue to go down, as we get closer to the start of the fall harvest,” said Adrian Sedlin, the CEO of Santa Barbara-based Canndescent, a large commercial grower with multiple locations throughout the state.. “We’re going to start from a lower place than we have in a while, and … it’s going to be interesting to see how people play it, when we get to November-December, and what are people going to do with their product?” Of particular concern is the well-being of smaller, craft and homestead operations that don’t have the means to compete with largescale factory farms. “I think there are going to be a lot of farmers that this is not sustainable for,” said Gordon from HCGA. “Most people are buckling in and looking at the next two to three years – before we have interstate commerce – and saying, ‘How can we get through this? Can we operate at a loss for two to three years at a loss?’” he added. Conclusioncalifornia cannabis Welcome all! Thanks for stopping by CBDtesters.co, the preeminent internet location for the most important and thought-provoking cannabis and psychedelics-related news globally. Visit us regularly to stay on-top of the fast-paced world of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, so you’re sure to never miss a story. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post California is Drowning in Cannabis, Product Prices Plummet appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/17/california-is-drowning-in-cannabis-product-prices-plummet/ Who knew that the coronavirus was going to end up causing the cancellation of so many events. Remember when people were talking about it at the end of 2019? Many people believed it would be out of our hair in a few months. Well, essentially three years later, here we are. It’s 2022 and covid is still causing the cancellation of many important festivals and events.So, if you’re a cannabis lover, then it’s no surprise that you may be slightly worried about the 2022 cannabis events coming up. You might be thinking…are they happening? Well, whilst covid can strike it’s cruel blow at any time, as it stands, many are still going ahead. So, today we’ll be looking through the European cannabis events of 2022 and seeing which ones are still happening. 2022 is expected to be an incredible year for the industry as a whole. Amazing shows, pending legalizations, and so many new products and compounds hitting the shelves. The cannabis trade-show experience is unparalleled, so if you can, go to as many as you possible! For more articles like this one, and exclusive deals on trade show tickets and various products, make sure to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter! We’ve also got great deals on cannabinoids like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC , which you can find by going to our “Best-of” lists!” What is a Cannabis Event?Cannabis events happen all over the world and they have been for decades. They can take many varying forms. Some events are based around cannabis businesses, some events have live music and chill out spaces, and other events have a plethora of cannabis seeds and buds. Of course, the types of events that happen will change depending on the home nation’s laws on cannabis. Nonetheless, each cannabis event is different and has its individual benefits. “Malta is to become the first European country to legalise the growing and possession of cannabis for personal use” – The Week Whilst most of Europe has legalized medical cannabis, the continent isn’t quite at the same stage of progression as North America. Recreational cannabis is only technically legal in Malta and partially Luxembourg. However, Germany looks to be following suit in a few years. Regardless of laws, Europe has some fantastic cannabis events coming in 2022. SpannabisDates: 11-13 March ![]() AboutSpannabis is “three days of fair where exhibitors, professionals and visitors from the cannabis sector will be able to exchange opinions and have the opportunity to create new contacts and search for potential clients” Spannabis is a cannabis event spaced over three days, including around 280 international exhibitors. It boasts being the biggest cannabis fair in the world. As a bonus, it happens to be in one of the most beautiful and warm cities in Europe: Barcelona. Is It Happening?As It stands, spannabis is going ahead in March. The price of the whole festival is 50 euros, or 20 euros for a single day. However, the Spannabis website does also promise a refund if covid-19 causes cancellations. As someone that lives in Europe and has watched the coronavirus trajectory, my predictions are that this festival will go ahead. HanfparadeDates: 13 August ![]() AboutHanfparade is the largest cannabis march in Germany. In fact, around 8900 people attended the 2020 parade. It is a peaceful protest that stands for medical cannabis, hemp resources and the legalization of recreational cannabis. Their motto is: hemp is for everyone. “Both for cannabis as a raw material, cannabis as recreational drug, as well as cannabis as medicine, there is a clear deficit of information in the population. We want to effectively counteract this by focusing on education in various areas this year.” Hanfparade is known for its communal and grass-root atmosphere. It’s a beautiful experience. Is It Happening?Hanfparade happened in 2021 and looks to be happening again in 2022. As this is a political protest, it does not need the same level of support and licensing to go ahead. Therefore, you can be sure that this event will take place unless there is another lockdown in August in Germany. However, summer lockdowns have been increasingly unlikely in Europe. Summer seems to be the time where coronavirus goes away. CannafairDates: 26-28 August ![]() AboutCannafair takes place in Germany, which is a nation that has reported to be potentially 2 years away from legalizing recreational cannabis. In fact, Germany is the only super power in Europe that seems to be pushing for cannabis legalization. Cannafair is full of new products, interesting figures in the cannabis industry and incredible speakers. There’s even a BBQ. Is It Happening?Yes. Almost definitely. I’ll let the website calm your nerves: “The new date of 26 to 28 August 2022 should also be the best possible choice in terms of Corona. As the experience of the last two summer months has shown, summer fairs should not be a problem at all – on the contrary, this time the signs are damn good, so that nothing stands in the way of a top-class major event. Cannabis World CupDates: 1-3 July ![]() AboutThe cannabis world cup is one of the funnest cannabis events in the world. It’s known for its cup competition that uses 70 professionals to judge cannabis strains in the search for a winner each year. It’s a three day celebration of cannabis culture, music and strains. Big Narstie is even playing this year. Not only is the festival a load of fun, it’s also a great opportunity to speak to like-minded people about the wonders of cannabis. Plus, it’s in Amsterdam – the cannabis utopia. Is It Happening?The cannabis world cup is set to go ahead. However, the 2020 and 2021 events were restricted due to covid so it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if it happened again. Nonetheless, the promotion and music line up highlights a real intent by the cannabis world cup to make a big comeback this year. Have faith. Canapa MundiDates: 1-3 April ![]() AboutCanapa Mundi is relatively new, as it’s on it’s 6th edition this year. In fact, despite its youth as an event, Canapa Mundi has been receiving 30,000 visitors each year. This cannabis event is a celebration of the hemp sector in Italy and Europe as a whole. The faire is full of stalls from cannabis companies and producers. They put hemp producers and cannabis-lovers at the forefront of priority, which is highlighted by the fact that the tickets are extremely cheap. The leaders of the event encourage cannabis companies and hemp producers to come and hire a stand at their event too, in order to portray their work. Is It Happening?This event is only around the corner, and it looks to be going ahead. In fact, Canapa Mundi was one of the only cannabis events to go ahead in Europe in 2020, despite covid. Because of this, It calls itself the ‘luckiest international trade fair in Europe’. Let’s hope this luck continues in 2022. Cultiva HanfexpoDates: 7-9 October ![]() AboutCultiva Hanfexpo is an absolute cannabis experience. With over 220 exhibitions, 10,000km square metre space and exhibitors from all over the globe, this event boasts being the largest hemp fair in Europe. The event is in Vienna, which is a beautiful quaint city in the heart of Austria. The fair speaks on the history, cultivation and use of hemp, as well as the law surrounding the cannabis industry. CBD has taken Europe by storm and at this event you can finally understand truly why. In addition, Cultiva Hanfexpro also invites many speakers who speak on the positive future of cannabis. They truly love hemp over there: “Hemp is an ancient crop that has been cultivated around the world for thousands of years. The greatest all-rounder in the plant world can do even more than being processed into food, oil, medicines, clothing, paper and building materials. Hemp is also one of the most sustainable plants ever.” Is It Happening?Yet again, this event looks to be happening. With dates in October, there is a slight fear of a post-summer rise in coronavirus cases. However, most European cities are now becoming stricter on whether this leads to lockdowns or event cancellations. It looks as if the days of lockdowns and cancellations are over. Hopefully. ConclusionHere were some of the best cannabis events in Europe that will definitely, hopefully, be happening in 2022. We’ve had to deal with so many heartbreaking cancellations in the last few years, but now’s the time for redemption. Book your tickets, enjoy some cannabis events, and have faith. Hello and welcome! Thanks for stopping by CBDtesters.co, your #1 web source for cannabis and psychedelics-related news, offering the most interesting stories of today. Join us frequently to stay on-top of the quickly-moving world of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to check out The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting a story. The post European Cannabis Events of 2022: Are They Happening? appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/16/european-cannabis-events-2022/ As eating habits and sedentary lifestyles make us balloon out as a general population, for some, it’s about losing weight, and for some its about gaining it. New research into psychedelics show they can be an effective treatment for eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, where self-image and control can play a big role in a person’s eating habits, as well as overeating disorders like binge eating. Considering how many bad eating issues are out there, it’s nice to know that a better treatment method might be on the way. Psychedelics for eating disorders represent just one of the many uses this pretty awesome drug class offers. We’re dedicated to bringing you all the important stories in the growing industry of psychedelics, both on the medical and recreational front! For more articles like this one, sign up for the Psychedelics Weekly Newsletter, to keep a mainline to all the psychedelic news going on in the world today. Eating disordersFirst and foremost, eating disorders are not medical conditions, they are psychiatric issues. What this means is that there will never be a test to establish that a person has one of these disorders. Rather, the diagnoses are made by psychiatrists based on their opinions of behaviors. Therefore, it’s good to remember that diagnoses are not rules, and different doctors can offer different diagnoses, meaning that diagnoses are subjective in how a specific doctor interprets behaviors. An eating disorder is generally described as a disorder “in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become preoccupied with food and their body weight.” This definition applies to both sides of the spectrum. Those who eat too much, and those who eat too little. As per the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), about 20 million women and half as many men will develop an eating disorder sometime in life. This number is higher in other publications, like The National Institute of Mental Health, which says that approximately 1/4 of college students fall prey to eating disorders. Though different doctors are able to give different diagnoses, the following categories of behaviors are what are looked for when making eating disorder diagnoses Types of eating disordersThere are six main categories of eating disorders. ![]() #1 Anorexia-Nervosa is the most well-known, or at least the one most associated with the idea of having an eating disorder. Sufferers of anorexia generally limit their food intake, often to the point of noticeable starvation. Anorexia tends to come with BDD – Body Dysmorphic Disorder, in which the sufferer sees their own body in a distorted way, with a general negative connotation. People who have anorexia are very focused on their weight and image, and though it typically affects women, it can be seen in men as well. #2 Bulimia-Nervosa is another commonly known eating disorder which is similar in some ways to anorexia. In the case of bulimia, however, the sufferer does eat, but follows a binge-purge cycle in which large amounts are eaten in a short time, and then purged back out. Binge periods are characterized by their lack of control, and purging can be done through vomiting, as well as excessive exercise, enemas, laxatives, and diuretics. This is also more commonly experienced in women. #3 Binge eating might not be thought of as a disorder by some, but it is considered an eating disorder. Binge eating is characterized by the person consuming excessive amounts of food, but with no attempt made to purge it afterwards. Binge eating might be the most common eating disorder, though many people will simply call it ‘overeating’. This behavior is seen commonly in the overweight and obese population. In both this case and bulimia, the binge eating shows a massive lack of control, and the eating in both cases is often accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment. This has to be a consistent behavior in order to receive the diagnosis. #4 Pica, #5 Rumination disorder, and #6 Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder, are all lesser known eating disorders. Pica is defined by an individual feeling hunger for things that are not food. This can involve nearly anything from dirt to rocks to soap, which can obviously cause problems if a dangerous substance is eaten. This disorder is usually experienced by children, pregnant women, and those with mental disorders. Rumination disorder is characterized by a person regurgitating their food, before chewing again and re-swallowing it. The reflux happens within a half hour of eating and is voluntary. This is a newly recognized disorder which affects both sexes, and which usually sorts itself out in infants. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder is about a disturbance in eating habits, which is related to lack of interest, smell, texture, temperature, or something like that. This disorder has nothing to do with food being available or not, and is way more extreme than simply being picky. Psychedelics as a treatment for eating disordersPsychedelics are mind-altering compounds in the category of hallucinogens, which are psychoactive drugs. Beyond creating hallucinations, wherein a user has a sensory experience that doesn’t exist, psychedelics are also known for promoting feelings of euphoria, well-being, connectedness, spirituality, and of causing life-changing experiences. There is even a theory that psychedelics are what allowed our brains to evolve. Though this is obviously just theory, it does come with the reasonable idea that psychedelics can change the way we think. Since eating disorders are about the way people think, and therefore behave, the idea of altering these thought patterns could mean the ability to change how a person behaves with food. As such, according to the authors of the 2021 article Psychedelics and Eating Disorders, the two ways psychedelics stand to help with symptoms of these disorders are: “1) the potential to alleviate symptoms that relate to serotonergic signaling and cognitive inflexibility, and 2) the induction of desirable brain states that might accelerate therapeutic processes.” 1 – Serotonergic signaling and cognitive inflexibility Psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT are known to disrupt the default mode network – DMN, which is often thought of as where the ego resides in the brain. Explain writers Adele Lafrance, PhD and Reid Robison, MD, “The DMN is a collection of pathways that govern our self-image, our autobiographical memories, and our deeply ingrained beliefs and thought patterns.” ![]() They go on to explain, “While results from brain imaging studies in eating disorders are diverse, findings seem to converge on a common theme of overactivity in the DMN, showing up in our clients as rumination over caloric intake and food rules, compulsive exercise or eating behavior patterns, body checking, etc.” Why does this matter? Well, “like a ski slope, the mind develops and strengthens pathways as we repeat patterns. Every time the thoughts and actions are engaged, the grooves get deeper and deeper, and before long, no matter where we start, we’re likely to slip into the same ruts and end up following the same path down the mountain. When a psychedelic medicine is ingested, the DMN is downregulated, and it’s like the mind benefits from a fresh coat of powder.” This creates a new slate, which means a break from known patterns, which in turn allows for new connections to be made in the brain, which can lead to new patterns being formed. 2 – Induction of desirable brain states The second way in which psychedelics might offer help for eating disorder patients, is by the psychedelic drug helping to promote desirable brain states that might be able to quicken therapeutic recovery. “Specifically, the increased neuroplasticity observed with classic psychedelics and ketamine can also be leveraged in the context of psychotherapy.” For example, “Brain imaging after being administered MDMA shows decreased amygdala activation, and the reduced fear response that follows allows the client to emotionally engage in therapy without becoming overwhelmed by anxiety or negative affective states.” The authors point to the oft mentioned (by me) MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) study into MDMA for PTSD, which is in Phase 3 of its trials. They pointed to the Phase 2 trials, and how after 12 months, 67% of these treatment resistant cases, no longer qualified for PTSD. That says quite a bit about the ability of a drug to help change brain structure. As one of the participants in the MAPS study stated: “I’m tempted to say MDMA gave me ‘hope,’ but that word isn’t right—the insight was more substantive than hope. I’d held the sensation in my body; I understood, at a visceral level, what might someday be mine: the sense of peace and joy within my body. For me, the therapeutic process could unfurl from there.” Data was also analyzed from ayahuasca ceremonies in which people with eating disorders participated. According to one participant: “I still experience periods of feeling anxiety, but I feel like they don’t last as long, whereas before, I would spiral downward and get depressed and then start to restrict and start to purge and binge and all of that. I feel like I can notice when my energy is changing, and then I am more able to be with it and sort of resist it, and then it moves after.” ![]() Research into psychedelics for eating disordersThough there is not yet a large array of published research on the topic, more is being done of late. This isn’t to say that nothing exists from the past, however. This study was published in 1998, Treatment of compulsive behaviour in eating disorders with intermittent ketamine infusions, which assessed the use of ketamine for compulsive thoughts related to eating disorders. The idea being that “memory is a neocortical neuronal network, excitation of which involves the hippocampus, with recall occurring by re-excitement of the same specific network. Excitement of the hippocampus by glutamate-NMDA receptors, leading to long-term potentiation (LTP), can be blocked by ketamine.” Basically, its saying that memory is like a network. That exciting this network creates specific pathways in the brain, that recall can then re-excite. And that ketamine can possibly block this process. The study involved 15 treatment resistant eating disorder participants, who were given 20mg infusions of ketamine an hour for 10 hours, along with 20mg twice a day of nalmefene, an opioid antagonist. (Opioid antagonists keep participants from losing consciousness from the ketamine.) Treatments were given at intervals of between five days and three weeks. Nine participants showed significant and prolonged decreases in Compulsion scores after the ketamine therapy. As in, they had fewer compulsive behaviors related to eating. In six cases there was no significant decrease in these behaviors when at least five treatments were administered. The investigators posit that this could be because the compulsive behaviors were re-established too quickly after the infusion, without allowing new connections to be made; or that the nalmefene might have been dosed too low. Even with these six cases, the idea that 60% of treatment-resistant cases were significantly helped, speaks volumes to the possibilities of what ketamine can do. Considering nothing was done to try different dosing, its even quite possible that the six participants who did not show significant results, might have with a little tweaking to the study. Why it is that this was done in 1998, and there seems to be no follow-up, is the bigger and scarier question. It seems something was found here, and then completely buried. ConclusionWhether its too much or too little, the idea of bad eating habits to the point of an eating disorder, is way more commonplace than many people think. Though with a quickly expanding (sideways) population, maybe it shouldn’t be. That psychedelics might be an answer to eating disorders and their associated behaviors, is just another benefit that these drugs are offering, along with tons of other benefits like help with PTSD, treatment resistant depression, addiction, and other psychological, and physical ailments. Hello and welcome to CBDtesters.co, your #1 web spot for the most ground-breaking and important independent coverage of cannabis and psychedelics-related news. Join us frequently to stay aware of what’s happening in the always-changing industries of cannabis and psychedelics, and remember to sign up for the Psychedelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re never late on getting the news. Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post How Psychedelics Can Positively Impact Eating Disorders and Self Image appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/16/how-psychedelics-can-positively-impact-eating-disorders-and-self-image/ The opioid crises isn’t just a standard drug crises. It’s a drug crises started by the US government and pharmaceutical companies. So it makes sense that these entities should have to pay out for their mistakes. This time around, according to a new offered settlement, Johnson & Johnson and other pharma companies, will pay Native American tribes $590 million over opioids. Big Pharma paying out to Native American tribes for damage caused by opioids is certainly a positive move, but will it actually help stop the problem? What must be done to minimize this death count in the future? And can cannabis, ketamine, or kratom help? We’re devoted to covering the growing cannabis and psychedelics industries. Make sure to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter to stay informed on everything important going on today, as well as to get access to exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got great offers on cannabinoids like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC , which you can find by going to our “Best-of” lists! What are opioids?Opioids are a class of drugs that can appear as synthetically made, or naturally occurring. The naturally occurring plant is the poppy, which produces opium that morphine and codeine can be extracted from, among other compounds. Opium is often, through processing, turned into drugs like heroin. Synthetic versions of the drug are at this point way more common, encompassing, codeine (synthetically made), hydrocodone, and fentanyl. Opioids effect opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the gastrointestinal tract. The three main opioid receptor classes are, μ, κ, δ (mu, kappa, and delta), however as many as 17 in total have been found. Opioids are known for being powerful pain relievers and anesthetics. They are also used medically for diarrhea and cough suppression. Effects of the drugs include the user feeling itchy, euphoria, sedation, nausea, constipation, and respiratory depression. These drugs produce tolerance in the user, meaning the user has to keep using more to achieve the same effect. Legal opioids are controlled substances, as it’s not terribly difficult to overdose on them. They are also often used in conjunction with other drugs like benzodiazepines and alcohol, which also cause respiratory depression. Benzodiazepines in particular are used to mitigate the sick feeling that opioids can give, and are often a comorbid reason for overdose. Opioids cause extreme physical addiction, and extreme withdrawal when a user tries to quit, which in the worst cases can be life threatening. ![]() Why Native American Tribes are receiving $590 million over opioidsThe settlement was filed in a U.S. District Court in Cleveland. According to the settlement, which was offered in early February, 2022, Big Pharma company Johnson & Johnson, and the three biggest distribution companies in the US: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson, would pay out a total of $590 million to members of all federally recognized tribes that take part in the settlement, including tribes that were not a party to suing these companies. Why is this happening? Native American tribes claim these companies helped knowingly fuel the use of opioids, creating an epidemic in their specific communities. And judging from the payout that the companies are offering, it seems this might be completely true. This is a settlement, after all, not a court ruling. If these companies didn’t think they were in the wrong, they probably wouldn’t be offering up $590 million. So the offer of the settlement itself speaks volumes to what these companies actually did. Technically, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson had made their own deal last September, agreeing to pay a total of $75 million to the Cherokee tribe. On the 1st of February, those same companies agreed to pay $440 million over a seven-year period to any Native American tribe member who wants to be a part of the settlement, so long as they come from a federally recognized tribe. What about Johnson & Johnson? That company agreed to pay $150 million over a two year period, with $18 million specifically earmarked for the Cherokee tribe. According to the plaintiffs’ Tribal Leadership Committee, Native American communities have been particularly affected by the use of opioids, with higher rates per capital for overdoses than other racial groups. The group went on to say “The burden of paying these increased costs has diverted scarce funds from other needs and has imposed severe financial burdens on the tribal plaintiffs.” Global settlementsThis is in no way the first settlement that Big Pharma has had to pay out. All of these companies have already agreed to pay out a whopping $26 billion globally. At the time of this new settlement with the Native American community, Johnson & Johnson said that the $150 million it offered to pay out for the current settlement, would be deducted from what it owes to the global settlement amount. Funny enough – and it really is – after agreeing to the $26 billion settlement, and this current one where the company will pay $150 million, Johnson & Johnson made this statement: “This settlement is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing and the company will continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve.” Companies don’t usually pay such exorbitantly high sums of money if they think they haven’t done anything wrong. And especially not if they think they can win in court. ![]() This is probably a good time to remind, that a settlement isn’t a court ruling. It’s a deal made between parties to evade the need for a court ruling. Settlements are generally made when the defendant isn’t in a good position, and is afraid of the much higher sum/punishment that could be doled out should the case actually be voted on by a jury, or ruled on by a judge. Very few innocent parties will therefore agree to settlements, and certainly not in the billion dollar range if they actually think they’re innocent. That Johnson & Johnson made such a mind-numbingly ridiculous statement, just goes to show how little responsibility these companies want to take for their actions, even in the midst of having to pay out massive sums for them. I kind of hope the plaintiffs in these cases don’t accept, and allow the cases to have a formal judgement. Of course, as Native American tribes must still approve this deal, there is still a chance of a last-minute change. Even so, as said by Robins Kaplan attorney Tara Sutton, who helped represent the Native American tribes, “This initial settlement for tribes in the national opioid litigation is a crucial first step in delivering some measure of justice to the tribes and reservation communities across the United States that have been ground zero for the opioid epidemic.” How bad is the opioid crises?In 2019, there were somewhere between 50,000-71,000 overdose deaths by opiates. hhs.gov, which gave the bigger number of the year, broke it down like this: overall opioid overdose deaths were 70,630, heroin overdoses totaled 14,480, the number of people in the US who misused painkillers was 10.1 million, and the number of deaths from synthetic opioids was 48,000. If you’ll notice, deaths from synthetic opioids – AKA pharmaceutical opioids, was well over three times the death total of heroin. Then in 2020, according to Marketwatch and data out of the CDC, opioid overdose deaths increased by 30% from the massive number they already were. In 2020, approximately 93,331 people died by way of opioid overdose. This was the sharpest increase in deaths in three decades. And what was fingered as the main culprit in all this? Well it sure wasn’t a street drug like heron. No, it was/is fentanyl. What about 2021? Well, official statistics don’t seem to be out yet, but some information is. When looking at the 12 months ending in April of 2021, the US racked up over 100,000 drug overdoses, with 75,000 attributed to opioids. Weirdly, a variation of this was also announced by U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, which claimed that this number was relevant to the year ending June 2021, with synthetic opioids making up nearly two out of three of those deaths. Either way, when the actual statistics for 2021 are released, they won’t be pretty. ![]() Some other fun facts highlighting how little this is being cared about, even by doctors. In 2017, over 191 million prescriptions for opioids were written, which equals a staggering 58.7 prescriptions written for every 100 people. 45% of these were given by primary care physicians, who are not supposed to be writing these prescriptions in the first place. How much does this cost the US in terms of health care, emergency care, treatment for addiction, lost productivity, and criminal justice issues? Well, the number given for 2017 was $78.5 billion a year. Which would be way higher by now. As all of these numbers would be, including prescriptions written by doctors. Why is this an issue?This problem exists, and is ongoing, for only one reason: the government allows it. And not only that, the government helped start it. What do I mean by this? I mean the governing body with the job of protecting its people by regulating the medical industry, allowed and promoted pharmaceutical companies to produce and distribute these medications, and for medical doctors to prescribe them at will. With the exception of the standard low number of heroin overdoses that were already occurring yearly, this issue exists because the government allowed it to. Period. While the CDC likes to talk about three waves in this opioid epidemic, this seems like a distraction technique meant to shift the blame, or try to put it on a standard non-governmental illicit drug market. Heroin has been used for centuries without ever going out of range in terms of overdoses. The idea of this being an ‘epidemic’ didn’t becomes a thing until Big Pharma intervened in the 90’s with Oxycontin. That was the first wave. The CDC likes to say the second wave started around 2010 with an increase in heroin, with a third wave beginning in 2013 with the advent of drugs like fentanyl. Funny that it would go from pharma drugs to heroin to pharma drugs. Seems a little wobbly in the logic department at best. Which means, if the standard heroin use is taken out of the mix, this is entirely a pharma-oriented epidemic. In fact, while other methods of pain relief exist that do not cause these problems, the government continuously ignores them in favor of promoting opioids and big pharma. Think cannabis, kratom, ketamine, and things like ginger, that most people will never be told about. I drink ginger tea every day and it can be the difference between being able to stand up straight and not. And that’s coming from someone who does ballet everyday. Which is actually a massive statement. Yet no doctor will tell a person to make ginger tea, over giving them a prescription for a drug they already know can kill them. And want a weirder piece of info? Johnson & Johnson, one of the pharma companies to pay out the most, is also the only company to have an approved ketamine medication beyond use as an anesthetic, which is the drug esketamine. But it probably didn’t want its new drug to hurt its opioid sales, so it didn’t ask to have it approved for pain relief. After all, ketamine doesn’t get people addicted, and non-addicted people don’t need to keep buying meds. ConclusionIt’s good that Big Pharma is starting to get hit hard for its awful decisions and treatment of Americans. And its nice to see Native American tribes get something back for the damage that was bestowed on them through opioids. But unless the government does its job, and stops the production of these drugs, there is no way this can stop. ![]() And on that note, it would be really nice to see the US government have to formally take responsibility for its awful decisions and treatment of its own people. That that hasn’t happened yet means all the stories coming out in rising death tolls will never mean anything. This problem only stops when the parties accountable – pharmaceutical companies that produce these medications, and governmental bodies which allow them, are stopped. Welcome to the site! Thanks for stopping by CBDtesters.co, the preeminent internet location for all cannabis and psychedelics-related news that’s important today. Read thru the site regularly to stay knowledgeable on the quickly-moving landscape of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, so you’re never behind on what’s going on. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post Big Pharma To Pay Native American Tribes $590 Million Over Opioids appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/15/big-pharma-to-pay-native-american-tribes-590-million-over-opioids/ It’s become a commonality for countries to have strange and sometimes contradictory laws when it comes to marijuana. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s interesting, and sometimes it’s just plain weird. Malaysia is a great example. While Malaysia has approved legal medical cannabis, it also still maintains a death penalty for traffickers, setting the limit as low as 200 grams.Malaysia has some super conflicting drug laws, now allowing legal medical cannabis, but also instituting the death penalty for not-that-big crimes. Perhaps future updates will smooth everything over. We’re on top of all of it, and dedicated to providing the best news possible. Subscribe to THC Weekly Newsletter for the latest stories, as well as exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and many more products! Plus, we’ve got great discounts for cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which you can find in our “Best-of” lists! Malaysia and cannabisMalaysia might now allow legal medical cannabis, but it still has some ongoing laws that make it one of the harshest countries on this planet for cannabis crimes. According to current laws, having less than five grams of cannabis can net a person up to five years in prison and a fine of up to RM 20,000 (~$4,777). Being caught with up to 20 grams can mean getting 3-9 lashes. If anyone remembers Michael Fay, and his Singapore escapades back in the 90’s, you know that lashing is nothing to sneer at, and does some pretty intense physical damage. Having 20-50 grams can incur a prison sentence of 2-5 years as well as 3-9 lashes. If the offender is caught with 50-200 grams, the punishment becomes a prison sentence of no less than five years and up to a life term, as well as at least ten lashes, if not more. Then it gets even stickier. If a person is caught with 200 grams of cannabis or more, it’s automatically considered trafficking, and trafficking comes with a death sentence. According to the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952, it’s a mandatory death penalty. How mandatory it actually is, is hard to say, but it’s not an unused law, which means at least sometimes, Malaysia is killing people for simply having 200 grams of weed. While this isn’t a tiny amount, consider that in America, 50 kilograms won’t net more than five years, and as much as 1,000 kilograms will incur a person 10 years to life in prison. ![]() Cultivating is similarly illegal, and offenders can receive life imprisonment and at least six lashes if not more. Buying and selling are also illegal, with life sentences, or the death penalty if the person has the magic number of 200 grams. CBD is illegal, as well as importing cannabis seeds. Simply having seeds can get a person prison time and a hefty fine. Death penalty for cannabisLet’s be honest, the death penalty for drugs is a bit extreme. In fact, for many of us, a death penalty for anything is a bit extreme. In Malaysia, not only is it used, but its often used for crimes that are shockingly low key. Like having 200 grams of cannabis, which is just about seven ounces, and less than half a pound. But according to Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act, this automatically constitutes trafficking, and trafficking is automatically met with a death penalty (although its quite possible that in some cases a less extreme punishment might be given). While some sources say that this policy ended in 2018 upon global criticism of the practice, it seems this was just talk, and nothing was ever legally updated. It also doesn’t reflect recent cases that have involved doling out the death penalty for cannabis crimes. Like this case from 2018, when a death sentence was handed down to Muhammad Lukman who was selling cannabis oil to patients in need. On August 30th, 2018, Lukman received a death sentence for being found with “3.1 liters of cannabis oil, 279g of compressed cannabis and 1.4kg of substances containing tetrahydrocannabinol.” He got the sentence despite a clear case of providing medical cannabis, even giving it away for free to patients who could not afford it. In a fantastic turn of events, on February 17th, 2021, a federal court set aside his conviction on two drug trafficking charges. Instead of death, he was sentenced to five years in prison for each crime. These sentences were set to run concurrently from the time of arrest, meaning when this happened, his jail time was considered served. He did receive 10 lashes, but then went free. That didn’t do anything for later cases. Like this case, from early 2021 in which a 62-year old Malaysian grandfather was arrested for giving out edibles with hemp seed oil, for medical purposes. The man, Amiruddin Nadarajan Abdullah, dubbed ‘Dr. Ganja’, faces the death penalty for this crime. Amiruddin was “charged with 16 counts of trafficking ganja (cannabis) weighing about 77.48kg under Section 39B (1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same Act, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.” He was also “charged with 18 counts of planting cannabis under Section 6B (1) (a) which carries life imprisonment and at least six strokes of the rotan upon conviction.” ![]() Or this appeal case, in which Muhammad Hafizul Rashid Emmy received the death penalty on September 3rd 2021 for having 299.09 grams of cannabis. This appeal came three years after the initial ruling. Emmy was “charged under Section 38B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952″, which is “punishable under Section 39B (2) of the same law, which provides death by hanging or life imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.” In a strange turnaround, Malaysia now allows legal medical cannabisGiven that Malaysia sees fit to construct trafficking charges when they don’t even apply, and is cool with hanging offenders, it makes it almost unbelievable that in November, 2021, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin made an announcement to parliament that medical cannabis is now legal. This announcement essentially came out of nowhere in terms of having a general discussion. According to Khairy, this requires no legal update. In fact, the Health Minister says that Malaysia can have legal medical cannabis because the three governing laws: the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952, the Poisons Act of 1952, and the Sale of Drugs Act of 1952, do not ban use of cannabis for medical purposes. Which is almost funny considering there are people on death row for trafficking, who were using/providing cannabis for medical purposes. Companies can now introduce cannabis products if there is enough evidence that the product is safe and effective. Applications for such products can be submit to the Drug Control Authority to be evaluated and registered under the Controls of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations of 1984. Once these steps are taken, the product can be marketed in Malaysia for medical use. In terms of importing and sale, all products coming in must be evaluated and registered under the Drug Control Authority, and Malaysians who are seeking treatment must obtain a doctor’s prescription, or get one from a licensed pharmacist. Malaysia’s contradiction of legal medical cannabis and the death sentenceWill this new change in opinion help with these death sentences? Well, it’s possible that it could in the future, but the lack of any legal change, means all the pre-existing laws concerning cannabis, are still in effect. Death penalty and all. In fact, nothing was said by Khairy in regard to ending convictions, or any kind of update to current drug laws. The entirety of this new direction relies on what the laws already say, not on updating them. ![]() Since having over a certain amount is tantamount to trafficking in Malaysia, and since the laws that govern trafficking have not been updated, and since they still not only allow the death sentence, but technically require it, this change in opinion seems to have little to do with how cannabis crimes in general will be handled in the country. Perhaps a further update will be made, but as of right now, it hasn’t been. Nor has a directive been given to lessen punishments, like Seattle‘s psychedelics decriminalization, which really only functions as a request to law enforcement. Nor a reinterpretation of current laws to redefine the legality of current punishments. So while Malaysia seems like its taking a nice step forward (and in some ways it is), it’s like taking a step while still being chained to a pole. The role of ThailandAsia isn’t known for its super forward thinking cannabis laws, but that doesn’t mean change can’t happen at all. And Malaysia’s neighbor Thailand, might have been the impetus for Malaysia to make this *change. Thailand legalized cannabis for medical use in 2018, with a further update to allow patients, medical practitioners, and traditional medicine healers to cultivate the plant. Now, it’s right on the verge of decriminalizing cannabis, by removing it from the official drugs list. Although there is confusion over what exactly this means, or how it will be carried out, a new draft bill has been promised to help sort it out. As part of it, there is even an expectation for at least some measures of recreational use. One of the motivating factors for Thailand, is to use the cannabis industry to help improve the economy, with the country even considering medical cannabis tourism as an option. And it’s quite possible that this about-face that Malaysia just did, is the beginning move in creating bigger markets, much like Thailand is doing already. Of course, before much more can happen, Malaysia will really have to restructure its general cannabis laws. ConclusionThe whole situation is certainly a head-scratcher. Malaysia now sees fit to allow legal medical cannabis, but it doesn’t see fit to stop sentencing death for what amounts to minor cannabis crimes. So while I hope this is just the first step of many in this direction, it certainly creates quite the conundrum right now that the plant is seen as safe enough for medical use, but dangerous enough to incur death for having 200 grams or more. Welcome readers! You’ve made it to CBDtesters.co, your preeminent web spot for all the most recent and ground-breaking cannabis and psychedelics-related news out there. Stop by whenever possible to stay on-top of the quickly-changing universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter, so you’re aware of everything important going on. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post The Malaysia Contradiction: Legal Medical Cannabis, AND the Death Penalty appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/15/the-malaysia-contradiction-legal-medical-cannabis-and-the-death-penalty/ With all the new cannabinoids coming out, and the cannabis properties being studied, it’s easy to get lost in it all. We already know a lot about THC and CBD, but what about CBG? And what’s the new research pointing to CBG for skin health? Here’s a look at minor cannabinoid CBG, and the low down on how this compound can be used to keep your skin glowing. CBG is the new word in skin care, with new research pointing to tons of benefits like hydrated skin, less inflammation and redness, and a way to lessen blemishes. If you’re trying to keep your skin looking young, CBG might be the best way to do it. We cover everything in the cannabis industry, and work hard to bring you the best news out there. Make sure to subscribe to the THC Weekly Newsletter to keep up to date on everything going on, and to check out exclusive deals on flowers, vapes, edibles, and many other products! We’ve also got great offers on cannabinoid products, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC. Find them in our “Best-of” lists, and enjoy! What is CBG?CBG (cannabigerol) is a cannabinoid of the cannabis plant, much like THC and CBD. Whereas THC and CBD occur in much higher amounts, CBG is a minor cannabinoid, only showing up as about 1% of the plant. CBG exists because of the decarboxylation of cannabigerolic acid, the precursor molecule to CBG. Most CBG gets converted to THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids during growth. This does have one important implication. Though CBG is a naturally occurring cannabinoid, (unlike delta-10 THC or THC-O-A), it doesn’t occur in large enough amounts to be able to extract it from the plant and use for products. Manufacturing products requires a good bit of a raw material, and in this case, the plant itself cannot provide enough. So any CBG products out there can only exist by synthesizing the CBG. Only a little research has been done on CBG thus far, but as the cannabis plant gains more and more traction, each little piece of it is being examined. This past month, the first research on CBG for skin care benefits was published, which we’ll get to in a minute. It can surely be expected that more research will be out on this compound soon enough, as its thought to play a role in many things, like stimulating the appetite, as an anti-inflammatory agent, for antibacterial properties, as an antioxidant, and with neuroprotective attributes. It is not psychoactive, and it’s chemical formula is C21H32O2. ![]() In terms of legality, CBG isn’t specifically mentioned by a UN scheduling treaty. If it’s derived from marijuana (high-THC cannabis) it’s illegal, however, if derived from hemp (low-THC cannabis) it is legal. It should be remembered, that the need to synthesize it means that anything used for products will not be hemp-derived, but synthetically derived, and therefore not covered under the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalizes hemp products if they’re actually derived from hemp. CBG can be bought in many forms. It can be an oil, a distillate, an isolate, as a high CBG flower, in vape carts, and in edibles like gummies. It can also be found in creams and other skin care products. Research says CBG is great for the skinPublished January 13th, 2022, this study sheds a bit more light on CBG for the skin: In Vitro and Clinical Evaluation of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid with a Broad Range of Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Health-Boosting Properties. One of the findings of the study is that CBG has shown to regulate more genes than CBD, which include several related to skin health. When skin cells were triggered to produce a cytokine reaction and show oxidative stress, it was shown that “CBG and CBD reduce reactive oxygen species levels in HDFs better than vitamin C.” CBG went a step further, inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine releases from inflammatory inducers like ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), chemical, and C. acnes, much of the time more potently than CBD. Study investigators used 20 subjects, who were given a 0.1% CBG serum, or placebo, which was put on the skin for two weeks after the skin was irritated by sodium lauryl sulfate (found in nearly every hair washing product). The CBG serum caused a statistically significant improvement over the placebo for transepidermal water loss, and reduction in redness. The study went on to say, “While CBD and CBG modulate many targets at the gene level, the data presented here demonstrate that CBG has greater potency in modulating specific cutaneous targets.” They explained why this might be, saying, “CBG has previously been reported to act as a partial agonist for both CB1 and CB2, while CBD does not bind to CB2, but may affect CB1 receptor activity via an indirect method. Thus, we can speculate that CBG’s ability to modulate both cannabinoid receptors may lead to its improved activity and efficacy in skin.” ![]() The study authors concluded: “We demonstrate for the first time that minor cannabinoid CBG, when applied topically, clinically promotes skin health by reducing the appearance of redness and improving barrier function better than a placebo. Based on the data presented here, CBG is an attractive new candidate for dermatological use, outperforming its more well-known derivative, CBD, in several in vitro studies.” As a note, this study was not done using CBG directly extracted from the plant, but instead used synthetic CBG which was “prepared via biosynthesis using yeast strain CEN.PK2-1D.” How does all this make CBG good for your skin?Studies can get very technical, and sometimes we just want to know what it means for us as consumers. Since CBG has antioxidant properties, this implies it deals well with free radicles, which are a reason for premature aging. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help bring down puffiness and redness in the skin, as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help keep skin clear of infections. This means CBG can calm down inflamed skin, reduce blemishes, clear out pores, balance sebum in the skin, and help with cellular turnover. Since CBG can help cells retain moisture, it can keep your skin looking and feeling hydrated. This also helps maintain a youthful appearance as drying skin is a part of aging. This ability to retain moisture helps the skin to show aging signs at a much slower pace, as well as helping it retain its glow. Apart from these benefits for the skin, CBG is thought to enhance the function of the neurotransmitter anandamide, which effects feelings of pleasure, motivation, appetite regulation, sleep, and pain sensation. From previous research, CBG is also associated with bringing down inflammation from inflammatory bowel disease; reducing intraocular pressure in people who suffer from glaucoma; slowing down cancer cell growth, and possibly being a treatment for Huntington’s disease. What CBG products for the skin exist?Plenty of companies are getting in on the CBG game, offering products infused with just CBG, or a cannabinoid combination. In the future it can be expected that many more options will be available containing CBG. For now, here are a few possibilities for those interested in improving their skin’s health. ![]() Mask Skin Care offers a line of CBG infused products like Under Eye Patches ($8), Face Masks ($16), Anti-Aging Masks ($16), and Spotless Masks ($16) to help with blemishes and oily skin. The products are not tested on animals, have a USDA organic certification, and contain no toxic chemicals. Using natural extracts, this company produces products that help condition skin, and keep it at its finest. Interested buyers can check out the ‘Where to buy’ section to find retailers in their area. Kanabigerol also has a whole line of CBG products. The company offers products like a Cosmetic Universal Ointment (€ 26.90/$30.77), Revitalizing Face Cream (€ 49.90/$57.08), Silky Cleansing Gel (€ 38.90/$44.49), and Skin Oil (€ 29.90/$34.20). All of these products are infused with 4% CBG. I did not see anything on the website about being cruelty-free, or being chemical free, and some products do contain Vaseline, which is mineral oil, and a byproduct of the oil industry. The company Happy Dance also offers a CBG option with its Soul Revival CBD+CBG Hand Cream ($20), which is great for keeping your hands from getting too dry, what with constant handwashing, and exposure to the elements. This hand cream is made without formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, sulfates, synthetic dyes, or synthetic fragrances. For those who want to use a pure oil on their skin, Pharma Hemp has CBG Drops (€44.90/$51.37). According to the company, these drops are produced using a raw extract made through an alcohol extraction, diluted with MCT oil. The oil contains a high amount of CBG along with other cannabinoids like CBD, and compounds like terpenes. It comes in three strengths: 5%, 10% (€84.90/$97.11), and 15% (€124.90/142.88). ConclusionCannabis oil has many benefits from its many cannabinoids and terpenes within. Whereas a whole plant extract can certainly do some good, so can cannabinoids on their own. With more coming out every day about the benefits of CBG for the skin, the beauty industry is certainly taking notes, and incorporating this naturally-occurring cannabinoid into products. Hello readers! Welcome to CBDtesters.co, your #1 internet location for the most relevant and important cannabis and psychedelics-related news of interest today. Check us out regularly to stay up-to-date on the constantly-moving universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and make sure to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter, so you’re never late on getting the news. Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional. The post Study Says… CBG For Glowing Skin appeared first on CBD Testers. Via https://cbdtesters.co/2022/02/14/study-says-cbg-for-glowing-skin/ With cannabis plants containing over 113 known cannabinoids, the list of these critical cannabis compounds continues to grow. Now, thanks to cannabis law reforms in many states (and countries), research can finally catch up with the medical claims that date back literally thousands of years. Of course, by now, we all know about THC and CBD. The two cannabinoids are effectively household names, even among non-cannabis users. But that still leaves at least 111 other related compounds. Ones like CBG, CBC, and CBN are slowly entering the hemp-derived supplement market. So, where does CBDA factor into this? What – if any – potential benefits does CBDA offer? Where does it fit among the other 100+ cannabinoids in mature and growing cannabis plants? We’ll cover these and more as we explore the question, “what is CBDA?” What are Cannabinoids?Cannabinoids like CBDA are compounds unique to the cannabis Sativa L. plant, which is the scientific term for what we call “hemp” (cannabis with less than 0.3% THC) and “marijuana” (exceeding 0.3% THC). But there are plenty of other substances inside the plant, such as terpenes and flavonoids. So what makes cannabinoids unique? According to the Australia-based Alchohol and Drug Foundation, “cannabinoid” refers to any substance [internal or external] that interacts with or impacts our body’s specialized endocannabinoid receptors. This includes those found in cannabis (phytocannabinoids) and our internal ones (endocannabinoids) produced by our bodies. We’ll cover these shortly. What is CBDA?In short, CBDA is the chemical precursor to CBD. The “A” stands for “acid,” which applies to all major cannabinoid precursor compounds. As a raw cannabis plant matures, cannabinoids appear in their acidic forms. So what’s the difference between CBDA and CBD? More importantly, why does it matter? This is where things start to heat up – literally and figuratively. What is Decarboxylation?Ever wonder why we smoke or vape cannabis or why we need to heat dry herb to a nice golden brown before extracting it into oil or edibles? To understand this, let’s revisit the “A.” All cannabinoids have chemical structures that include a “carboxyl group,” consisting of one carbon, one hydrogen, and two oxygen atoms (COOH). When we expose cannabis plant material to temperatures of at least 230 to 250oF (110 to 120oC), the heat removes these carboxyl groups from each cannabinoid’s molecular structure. In doing so, the cannabinoid goes from CBDA to CBD, providing the effects and benefits we’re familiar with. The same applies to CBD’s intoxicating counterpart. THCA is completely inert and will only cause psychotropic effects once decarboxylated into THC. Decarboxylation also happens slowly. Exposure to light and oxygen can passively activate a small number of the raw cannabis flower’s compounds. How is CBDA Made?Cannabidiolic acid is made the same way all other cannabinoids develop in a raw cannabis plant. However, “made” may not be the best word. Instead, CBDA develops gradually like most other cannabinoids and plant enzymes. All cannabinoids start as CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), also known as the “stem cell cannabinoid.” As the raw cannabis plant matures, CBGA loses its dominance and branches out into THCA, CBDA, and more. Once fully grown, CBGA is almost non-existent in a mature cannabis plant, leaving THCA and CBDA as the dominant cannabinoids. As for commercial CBDA products, the extraction process is identical to conventional CBD oil. However, CBDA extraction involves raw cannabis flowers. Once removed, CBDA can be infused into a carrier oil for consumption. How Does CBDA Work in the Body?Because cannabidiolic acid is the precursor to CBD, it’s no surprise that their mechanism of action is similar. Like CBD, CBDA doesn’t directly bind to either the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it acts through other receptor pathways, altering the CB1 and CB2 groups and changing the way we react to endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids. According to a 2020 publication in the journal Molecules, CBDA interacts with the 5-HT1A serotonin receptors. Despite being a single receptor type, 5-HT1A pathways control many different functions, including mood, aggression, appetite, memory, sleep, and nausea. It’s no surprise that CBD – despite having no direct connection with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors – still provides therapeutic effects comparable to other cannabinoids. What are the Benefits of CBDA?The potential health benefits of CBDA are largely unknown. Research suggests similar effects to CBD. Given the difference boils down to its decarboxylated and acidic forms, it’s no surprise that there’s substantial overlap. Without reliable clinical human trials or substantial scientific studies, CBDA received only a fraction of CBD’s spotlight. Still, according to some research, CBDA shows promise for various common issues and symptoms. InflammationCBDA benefits aren’t fully understood, but its decarboxylated cousin has a growing body of research supporting its anti-inflammatory effects. So do CBDA’s extra carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms help or hinder this potential therapeutic application? One piece of research from 2008 in Drug Metabolism and Disposition indicates potential anti-inflammatory benefits. When the research team applied CBDA to cell cultures, they discovered it “selectively inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity.” In plain English, COX-2 is an enzyme that helps develop pro-inflammatory compounds. Inhibiting this process appeared to reduce inflammatory responses in the tested cells, potentially giving CBDA the ability to curb inflammation. Another notable discovery was that CBDA showed better anti-inflammatory benefits than those observed with THCA – the precursor to THC. Breast CancerBreast cancer is a substantial health concern for all women. Although conventional treatments are often successful, cannabinoid medicine has a tendency to surprise us when we least expect it. Coincidentally, the researchers responsible for the 2008 study above kept investigating CBDA into 2017. The 2017 study published in the Journal of Natural Medicine focused on the potential benefits of CBDA against breast cancer cells. The paper addresses CBDA’s inhibition of COX-2, theorizing that cannabidiolic acid can work through these same pathways and mechanisms to inhibit the development of highly aggressive breast cancer cells. NauseaBoth CBD and THC have a reputation in the supplement community. These cannabinoids may offer potent anti-nausea effects. So far, research suggests that CBDA could follow the same pattern and perhaps even outdo its rivals. A 2013 study in the British Journal of Pharmacology examined CBDA’s effects on nausea and vomiting in rodent subjects. Specifically, they focused on toxin or motion-induced experiences in shrews (vomiting) and rats (nausea). The researchers used CBDA to enhance the activation of its pathway, the 5-HT1A receptor. As we mentioned earlier, this receptor modulates many functions, including nausea. It should come as no surprise that when CBDA bound to the 5-HT1A receptors in the animals, it reduced or prevented episodes of vomiting in the shrews. The rats also displayed less nausea-related behaviors. In their conclusion, the authors boldly mention that not only should CBDA be seriously explored as an anti-emetic, but that it may also be more effective than CBD or THC. Can CBDA Block COVID-19 Variants?In January of 2022, a sensationalized story made headlines for weeks, with titles implying that CBD can help prepare the immune system for a more robust defense against COVID-19. The stories came on the heels of a small lab study published in bioRxiv, which is yet to undergo peer review. A more detailed 2020 study in the Journal of Natural Products looked at several cannabinoids and noticed CBDA and CBGA worked best at blocking COVID-19 from entering healthy cells. The research team also mentions that CBDA is slightly more bioavailable than CBD, but it would still require a substantial dose to be effective (assuming it works in human clinical trials). If you want to learn more about the CBDA – COVID connection, check out our post here. Regardless, any potential CBDA benefits against COVID-19 are highly speculative and preliminary. Cannabinoid medicine is no substitute for modern preventative or therapeutic measures against the novel coronavirus. CBDA vs. CBD: What are their Differences and Similarities?CBDA and CBD are virtually identical in most respects. However, it’s impossible for two cannabinoids to be carbon copies of each other. Let’s look at some similarities and differences in our CBDA vs. CBD showdown. CBDA and CBD SimilaritiesOne major similarity between cannabidiolic acid and cannabidiol is its therapeutic profile. More research is definitely needed, but it so far appears that the two compounds could have similar reported medical benefits. Another crucial similarity is that – like almost all cannabinoids – CBDA has no intoxicating effects (nor does THCA, for that matter). A third similarity is that both interact with the same serotonin pathways in the 5-HT1A receptors. CBDA and CBD DifferencesPerhaps the most glaring difference between CBDA and CBD is its molecular structure. CBDA still has its carboxyl group, while CBD doesn’t. On a related note, another difference is that CBD can only exist after decarboxylation through high heat or exposure to the elements. A third way the two diverge relates to consumption methods. Because CBDA can’t be exposed to high heat without becoming CBD, individuals who smoke or vape are out of luck. Although CBDA will still work in a tincture or topical, inhalation has nearly instant effects. Removing inhalation from the picture is limiting for people who need quick relief. Is CBDA Better Than CBD?CBDA isn’t better or worse than CBD. Both potentially offer medical benefits. Ultimately, it’s about what best fits your needs. How to Use CBDAYou use CBDA in the same way you would CBD or any other cannabinoid – with one exception. Cannabinoids lose their acidic forms when heated, meaning you can’t smoke or vape CBDA. If you try, the CBDA will decarboxylate. However, there are other consumption methods. OralLike CBD, CBDA can be infused into other substances. This allows us to add it into tinctures, capsules, gummies, foods, and drinks (i.e., raw cannabis juice) Keep in mind, however, that bioavailability is the lowest with ingested cannabinoids. It’s also slow to take effect but outlasts any other methods. TopicalTopical creams are also an excellent option for CBDA consumers. They’re typically known to take effect quickly. However, the benefits are focal. If you need a more generalized effect, consider a tincture or other oral option. Can You Take CBDA and CBD Together?Yes, you can take CBDA and CBD together. Adding cannabidiolic acid to your daily dose of cannabinoids will be beneficial, adding to the synergistic “entourage effect.” Their therapeutic similarities with CBD will also support and enhance the activated cannabinoid’s benefits. What’s the Best Way to Take CBDA?The best way to take CBDA depends on your individual needs. Assuming its reported benefits are true, your ideal approach should be based on the relief you seek. For instance, if you hope to treat nausea or improve sleep, a tincture, capsule, or edible would be the appropriate option. On the other hand, fast, focal, targeted relief for aching joints or sore spots generally calls for a topical approach. Is CBDA Legal?Yes, CBDA is legal in all 50 states. Like CBD supplements, CBDA is sourced from the industrial hemp variety of cannabis, which legally must contain less than 0.3% THC. Where to Buy CBDA?CBDA products aren’t widely available. You might find some at obscure online vendors, but with such a short tenure, it’s hard to expect the same quality and potency as a broad or full-spectrum CBD tincture. However, innovation is critical for everyone’s health options. At Colorado Botanicals, we’re working hard to research, craft, and perfect a safe, effective CBDA extract option within the next three months. Final Thoughts on Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)It’s always exciting to hear about a potential cannabis breakthrough on the heels of popular CBD products. CBDA appears to show some promise to treat inflammation, fight breast cancer, and curb nausea. CBDA studies are still few and far between. But with further research, the implications to human health could be groundbreaking. Meanwhile, it’s important not to fall for online hype. Only reliable studies will give us a full picture about the health benefits of CBDA. SourcesBolognini, D., Rock, E., Cluny, N., Cascio, M., Limebeer, C., Duncan, M., Stott, C., Javid, F., Parker, L., & Pertwee, R. (2013). Cannabidiolic acid prevents vomiting inSuncus murinusand nausea-induced behaviour in rats by enhancing 5-HT1Areceptor activation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 168(6), 1456–1470. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.12043 Cannabinoids – Alcohol and Drug Foundation. (2021). Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabinoids/ Fernandes, M. F., Chan, J. Z., Hung, C. C. J., Tomczewski, M. V., & Duncan, R. E. (2022). Effect of cannabidiol on apoptosis and cellular interferon and interferon-stimulated gene responses to the SARS-CoV-2 genes ORF8, ORF10 and M protein. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.11.475901 Formato M, Crescente G, Scognamiglio M, Fiorentino A, Pecoraro MT, Piccolella S, Catauro M, Pacifico S. (‒)-Cannabidiolic Acid, a Still Overlooked Bioactive Compound: An Introductory Review and Preliminary Research. Molecules. 2020; 25(11):2638. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112638 Takeda, S., Himeno, T., Kakizoe, K., Okazaki, H., Okada, T., Watanabe, K., & Aramaki, H. (2016). Cannabidiolic acid-mediated selective down-regulation of c-fos in highly aggressive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells: possible involvement of its down-regulation in the abrogation of aggressiveness. Journal of Natural Medicines, 71(1), 286–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-016-1030-0 Takeda, S., Misawa, K., Yamamoto, I., & Watanabe, K. (2008). Cannabidiolic Acid as a Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitory Component in Cannabis. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 36(9), 1917–1921. https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.108.020909 van Breemen, R. B., Muchiri, R. N., Bates, T. A., Weinstein, J. B., Leier, H. C., Farley, S., & Tafesse, F. G. (2022). Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants. Journal of Natural Products, 85(1), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946 The post What is CBDA and What is its Benefits? Everything to Know appeared first on Colorado Botanicals. via Colorado Botanicals https://cobocbd.com/what-is-cbda/ |
ABOUT MEHallo, ik ben Rosalina Klerkx, ik ben een RHIA-gecertificeerde zorgbeheerder met meer dan 6 jaar ervaring in het creëren van een productieve omgeving voor zorgprofessionals. Leiding gegeven aan een team van 12 opname- en verkoopmedewerkers in een instelling voor langdurige zorg met meer dan 170 patiënten. Opstellen van complexe HIPAA-conforme rapporten aan patiëntendienstcoördinatoren in een zorgkliniek. Archives
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