To understand what Delta 11 THC is, you will first need to understand more about the compound 11-hydroxy-THC. So, 11-hydroxy-THC is one of our naturally occurring endocannabinoids; meaning it’s made in the body. When you eat plant-based THCs, such as delta-8 or delta-9 THC, and even synthetic ones like Delta 10, the body breaks it down and metabolizes it via the liver. 11-hydroxy-THC is a metabolite of the other tetrahydrocannabinols, and it’s much more potent. This new Delta 11 THC essentially takes 11-hydroxy, and turns it in an extract that can be vaped, so you don’t have to eat an edible and wait an hour for it to kick in. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! More on 11-hydroxy-THCAgain, 11-hydroxy-THC is a highly-potent metabolite of the other tetrahydrocannabinols. This is why delta-8 THC edibles are just as strong as delta-9 edibles, but the same can’t be said for flowers or vape products. The process by which it’s created is known as first pass metabolism, and it’s the reason why ingesting cannabis products orally has much more intense and long-lasting effects compared to smoking. So, if you’ve been wondering why edibles get you stoned beyond reason, this why. If you’re anything like me and many other cannabis users I’ve spoken to, edibles hit different (and more intensely) than smoking. Even though it takes a while to feel anything, once they kick in, I get a serious couch-lock effect – baked and tired. This seems to be commonplace when it comes to edibles; but why exactly do they differ so much from smoking, from a scientific standpoint? It can be attributed to a couple of factors: the drug-metabolizing enzymes in your GI tract, and blood flow to the liver. When you first eat a cannabis edible, various enzymes in the GI tract begin digesting the food. From that point, blood flow from the GI tract goes through the liver where all these enzymes are metabolized, then the blood continues to general circulation throughout the rest of the body. When the metabolites are formed, that’s when you get the effects of 11-hydroxy-THC. When you smoke cannabis, on the other hand, THC is absorbed through the lungs and distributed directly into the bloodstream. The active compounds make their way to the brain where they interact with the CB receptors that are part of the endocannabinoid system. In this scenario, you are feeling the effects of the phytocannabinoids (plant-cannabinoids) themselves, rather than the compound formed during metabolism. Is 11-hydroxy-THC stronger than Delta 9 THC?Although limited, the research we do have indicates that 11-hydroxy-THC is considerably stronger than delta-9 THC, which is the most popular of the existing THCs (delta 8, 9, 10). Some studies even claim that 11-hydroxy-THC is up to 7 times more potent than delta 9 THC, although that cannot be completely substantiated, and it can vary based on body chemistry and other factors. Back in the 1970s is when this cannabinoid was initially noted, in radiolabled THC was utilized in labs to allow researchers to better study these compounds. Radiolabled THC (which yes, is radioactive) behaves just like regular THC but it allows scientists to see where all the metabolites go once it’s broken down within the body. This is how 11-hydroxy-THC was discovered. ![]() At the time, very little 11-OH-THC was available, for obvious reasons, so for a very long time only small animal studies could be conducted. Once they had the ability create this compound on a larger scale, in a lab, seminal studies were launched to characterize the effects of 11-OH-THC in humans. Numerous studies of delta 11 taken intravenously showed it was not only more potent, but onset of effects was much quicker than other forms of THC also administered the same way. Delta 11 THC? What is it, and is it legal?Remember, Delta 11 THC and 11-hydroxy-THC are kind of the same thing, but not exactly. In chemistry, “delta” refers to the location of the double bond on a molecule’s carbon chain. In the case of THC, we have many different variations. With delta-9 THC, the double bond is on the 9th carbon chain. Move that bond over one spot to the 8th chain, and now we have delta-8 THC. Keep moving that double bond and you get a variety of different delta THCs. Another way that we get variation in THCs is through differing types of side chains. Most delta THCs have alkyl side chains, but change them to hexyl or butyl and you get completely different compounds again, such as THC-P, THCV, THC-H, THC-O, THC-B, and so forth. This chain variation can be applied to other psychoactive cannabinoids like hexahydrocannabinol (HHC, also known as ‘HXC’). And we have been seeing more of this with the emergence of HHC-O/HXC-O and HHC-P/HXC-P. THC and all of its isomers and analogues were considered illegal for a long time in the U.S., but when the US Farm Bill was revised in 2018, it allowed for the cultivation of hemp and production of hemp-derived products.The main provision there was that products sold could not have more than 0.3% delta 9 THC, but analogues were not explicitly mentioned. This led to the assumption that products containing trace cannabinoids can be sold legally under this loophole, but things remained convoluted for quite some time. Then in 2020, the DEA released its Interim Final Rule to clarify some points of confusion in the farm bill. One of the main topics in this document, was synthetics. The Final Rule maintained that “All synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain schedule I controlled substances.” What it did not clear up, nor did the USDA Final Rule which came out the following year in 2021, is whether human processing of a trace compound constitutes “synthetic”, or if the fact that they do appear in nature allows them to still belong to the category of “naturally occuring”. And since Delta 11 THC is basically a synthetic copy of 11-hydroxy-THC, which is metabolite that occurs naturally within our own bodies, it falls into a sort of legal grey area. So technically, by default, it is legal to buy and sell, until a law that expressly bans it is passed. Want to try Delta 11 THC for yourself? Then check out our product deal below, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter (sign up box at the top of the page), for more sales as they come up. Save Big on Delta 11 Vape Carts and Disposables!(Using “Delta25” coupon code) Looking for a high-potency product? Try the new Delta-11 vape carts and disposables! This is the first set of Delta 11 products to hit the market, This new line of products offer Delta 11 THC / HXY11 carts (2 grams) and disposables (3 grams) in a variety of flavors: Girl Scout Cookies (cart), Mimosa (cart), Fire OG (disposable), Pie Hole (disposable), Lemonade Kush (disposable), and 24k Gold Punch (cart). Get the carts for only $19.49/cart and the disposables for $33.74/vape when you use our coupon code. TIP: Use the “Delta25” coupon code to save big on Delta 11 vape carts and disposables Click HERE to stock up on Delta 11 vape carts and disposables(Using “Delta25” coupon code)Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post What is Delta 11 THC, and How Strong Is It? appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/25/what-is-delta-11-thc-and-how-strong-is-it/
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The Netherlands is known to be far more liberal and accepting than the majority of nations in the world. Bicycles own the roads, cannabis and magic truffles can be legally bought at every street corner and they tax the wealthy. Not only that, they have a legal sex working industry – the red light district – which aims to bring safety and reduce crime. Of course, these decisions bring their own problems, such as thousands of ignorant tourists arriving every summer in search of their first joint and their first sexual experience. Tourists can seriously ruin the atmosphere of a place like Holland – much like many hotspots around the world.Nonetheless, for those who have lived there or been down the not-so-visited streets will know that this country is one of the most beautiful and just in the world. But it seems Holland wants to take the next step towards drug legalization. In Utrecht, a small quaint city just a few miles from Amsterdam, a new shop has opened up. The first of its kind. A “ecstasy shop” or in other words, a shop that supposedly sells ecstasy… or does it? To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! The NetherlandsHolland or the Netherlands – or whatever you want to call it – sits in the North Western section of Europe, bordering Belgium, Germany and the North sea. Across the water, if you fancied swimming 21 miles, is the United Kingdom. Holland as a nation is incredibly flat, and is therefore known as the cycling country of the world. The entirety of the Netherlands is made up of a complex and useful set of cycling paths and cycling highways that can get you around the entire country. It wasn’t always like this, however. In the 50s and 60s, there was a chance that cyclists – like with many other nations – were about to be overtaken by cars. However, due to a large amount of activism and car-related deaths, it was decided that Holland would be designed to prioritise cyclists. About The Netherlands writes: Cycling is very common in the Netherlands. On average, Dutch people cycle about 900km (about 559 miles) a year. Accumulated, this means that the whole Dutch population cycles over 15 billion kilometres a year!…in the Netherlands there are approximately 1,3 bikes per inhabitant. This means there are more bikes than people in the country… Protesters started to demand more space for cycling in order to make it safe. They got heard, which led to over 35.000km (21.748 miles) of bike lanes throughout the whole country. Bikes aren’t the only part of the Netherlands that makes it special. In fact, the place as a whole is just unbelievably beautiful. The flat surface, the canals, the bridges, the cobbled streets, the tall buildings – every city in Holland seems like a fairytale location. Even when you walk down a some-what ‘residential’ street, the entire aesthetic of the country still makes it look like something out of a Brothers Grimm story. Due to the fact that so much water passes through Holland and they need to control and drain it, they have been forced to design a series of complex canal routes. Whilst efficient and essential, these also bring a charm and beauty to the country unlike any other. Holland writes: ![]() For as long as they have been pumping water out of the lands in Holland, they have been building canals for travel, irrigation, and water removal… to keep our Dutch friends’ heads above water, and easily serve as additional streets for transportation… These days, not only are there canal buses that navigate the waterways, but restaurant boats, houseboats, and all manner of other boat types frequent these often semi-circular canals. You could write forever about the spectacular aesthetic and atmosphere of the Netherlands, but ultimately one of the most interesting assets to the country is its liberal attitude towards drugs. Drugs in HollandIt is often a misconception, invented by tourists, that Holland is like a sort of Drug version of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Whilst it may seem that way – especially to Brits who come from a very backwards and conservative nation – actually there’s far more method to the madness than you may think. In the Netherlands, basically all drugs are illegal to possess, sell or produce. In fact, cannabis is also illegal, which might come as a shock to you. But don’t worry, no need to hide your stash if you’re walking the streets of Amsterdam, the drug is simply decriminalised for personal use. In Holland, substances are split into two categories, hard drugs and soft drugs. Hard drugs are the ones believed to be harmful and potentially fatal, and they include the likes of cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and GHB. Soft drugs are the ones believed to be less harmful, and these include some tranquillisers and cannabis. Sensi Seeds writes: “All drug laws are based on the 1928 Opium Act, which says that possession of any drugs (list 1 or 2) is illegal. However, the Opium Act Directive also states that certain outlets where cannabis use occurs (known as coffeeshops), will be tolerated by the local authorities. This is called ‘gedoogbeleid’ – an official tolerance policy.” This means that the Netherlands now has a booming decrimanlized cannabis market and was one of the first of its kind. There are over 160 coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and the country as a whole makes around 400 million euros a year on cannabis-related purchases. Magic truffles are also available to purchase in smartshops. These are the sclerotia of psilocybin mushrooms and are therefore not technically the same as them. In other words, truffles are basically embryonic, underground, versions of mushrooms. Plus, the high experience can be very much the same. EcstasyEcstasy is a tricky conversation topic in Holland. It is proven that the majority of the world’s ecstasy is produced in the Netherlands, which is quite the title considering how small and humble a nation it is. It was estimated that in 2017 around 1 billion E’s (ecstasy pills) were produced in Holland. This made those illegal producers around 18.9 billion euros. To put this in perspective, as a nation the Netherlands pay around 11 billion euros a year on defence. When it comes to price, an E can cost around 4-5 euros in the Netherlands, which is much cheaper than most places. Plus, with the booming market, it only costs around 40 cents for the producers to make a single one. But why has this been allowed to happen? Well, some have described the country as a narco-state, with members of the establishment working secretly with powerful drug lords in a mutually beneficial cohesion. But also, the country is an ideal location for drug smuggling. Not only because of its liberal drug laws, but also on its actual geographic position. Unheard writes: “The Netherlands has long been a trading country — not just the harbours but also our high-quality internet environment. We have huge numbers of bankers and our country is central in Europe in terms of all kinds of transport and transit… We have huge numbers of imports, which means a lot of drugs are mixed with legal trade, coming in containers of fruit or liquor. Organised crime takes advantage of the legal infrastructure.” With a booming illegal ecstacy market happening with or without their consent, the Netherlands are now considering creating XTC shops. In Utrecht, a student city a few miles away from Amsterdam, the first of its kind has opened up. The Ecstasy Shop in UtrechtThe shop is called ‘De XTC Winkel’ and, disclaimer, it does not actually sell Ecstasy. I know, it’s a bit of a disappointment. Actually, this new enterprise stands as a simulation and exhibition of what it would be like if the Netherlands began allowing shops like this to exist. The shop is open from the 15th July until the 29th September and is acting as an experiment. The exhibition asks the customer themselves what they believe to be the best way to go about with selling ecstacy. Everyone is fully aware of how much ecstasy is produced and sold in the Netherlands, and it doesn’t seem to be going away, so this would be an alternative and perhaps safer method of retail. Utrecht University News writes: ![]() “Imagine: the government regulates xtc. What would retail look like? Should you be able to buy pills everywhere, or only on prescription? In the xtc store, a public experiment of the Drug Museum Poppi in collaboration with Utrecht University researchers, visitors decide.” The museum takes you through three strands – a pharmacy, a speciality store and a party – asking you which you think would be best to purchase ecstasy from. It’s 10 euros for adults and 8 euros for students – which isn’t too far off the price of an E. In 2019, many locals, scientists and experts got together to discuss the future of ecstasy regulation. Poppi, the company in charge of the shop, writes: “In 2020, they concluded that the regulated production and sale of ecstasy would have the best outcomes on health, public safety and the environment…Both the city councils of Amsterdam and Utrecht argue in their 2022 coalition agreement for a better balance between repression and regulation of drugs. Amsterdam even wants a pilot with regulated ecstasy.” Final ThoughtsAs you can see, the Netherlands is yet again aiming to find a moral and efficient way of dealing with their own drug issues. Rather than ignore it and implement the desperately unhelpful ‘war on drug’ methods, they instead want to use it to their advantage. If you can’t stop people taking drugs, why not create a safe and public way of doing it. It wouldn’t be a surprise if, in a few years, ecstasy was available to be bought in special stores around Holland. Do you think this is a good idea or has the Netherlands gone too far this time? Drop us a line in the comment section below and let us know what you think! Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Has the First Legal Ecstasy Shop in the World Opened in Holland? appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/24/has-the-first-ecstasy-shop-opened-in-holland/ If you know where to look, psychedelic mushrooms are found abundantly throughout nature in both tropical and temperate regions. As long as you’re careful and knowledgeable of the different mushroom species in your area, you can have a lot fun foraging. There are over 200 different species of psychedelic mushrooms on this earth, and each species can contain hundreds, if not thousands, of unique strains and substrains. That said, there is soooo much variety when it comes to mushrooms, which is why I cannot stress the importance of being completely familiar with what you’re picking. Although differences in appearance can be negligible, effects can vary quite dramatically, so you want to make sure the mushrooms you end up with will get you high, and not put you in the hospital. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Psilocybin Mushrooms vs Fly AgaricJust like trees and flowering plants, different regions produce different species of magic mushrooms. The term ‘shrooms’ is mainly used in reference to psilocybin mushrooms, which are currently the most popular hallucinogenic fungi in modern psychonaut culture. But another type of magic mushroom, known as Amanita muscaria/Fly Agaric, is popular in areas where psilocybin mushrooms don’t grow well. Just to quickly point out, there are some major differences between fly agarics and psilocybin mushrooms – aside the areas in which they grow. First, is their appearance. Psilocybin mushrooms vary in color and size but are generally unassuming in how they look. Fly agarics have a very distinctive look to them and have become kind of the quintessential animated fantasy mushroom (think Mario Brothers with the large, red-capped mushrooms covered in white spots). The other way in which they differ is in the mechanisms by which they impact the brain and body – or how they produce a high – as well as the medical benefits they offer. Psilocybin mushrooms are serotoginic, so they have some stimulant properties that don’t work for everyone. This is the reason that some people experience higher levels of anxiety when tripping on shrooms. Fly agarics, on the other hand, contain ibotenic acid and muscimol and are technically classified as neurotoxic mushrooms, but the effects are comparable to any other mushroom high, just more slow-paced and relaxing. Now back to foraging. Psilocybin mushrooms grow well in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world, but are mainly found throughout North, Central, and South America. In the United States specifically, the Pacific Northwest, the Rustbelt, Central Florida, and East Texas are the regions with the highest rates of observations for natural psilocybin mushrooms. When growing them at home, they require pretty consistent temperatures of around 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the wild they can withstand slightly cooler weather, which is why can thrive in both the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions. Fly agaric mushrooms grow in forests, pastures, and fields throughout temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. So, in regions further away from the equator where it may be too cold for psilocybin mushrooms to grow, you’ll find more Fly agaric mushrooms. For reference, tropical regions are warm and humid basically year round, whereas temperate regions may also be humid, but have all four seasons with cooler summers from June to September. What Mushrooms Need to GrowExactly where mushrooms grow depends on what type of mushroom you’re looking for. Not referring to the aforementioned types, but instead, whether they are ectomycorrhizal or saprotrophic types of fungi. Ectomycorrhizal fungi have a symbiotic relationship with the root systems of various plants living around them, whereas saprotrophic fungi are decomposers of organic material. This differentiation will determine where in your region you look for mushrooms (in an open field under animal dropping vs along the side trunks of living trees). ![]() Regardless, mushrooms do not contain chlorophyll so they cannot produce their own food using the process of photosynthesis like other plants do. Mushrooms utilize the substratum that they grow on or have formed a symbiotic relationship with to harness the required nutrients needed for proper development. The most crucial component for the successful growth of all fungi, is moisture. Contrary to popular belief, too much moisture can actually be a bad thing that kills mushrooms, so proper humidity levels are key. Along with moisture, fertile soil is a must. Mushrooms require a variety of essential nutrients including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, proteins, and nitrogen – often found in soil that has come type of decaying elements like old tree bark, fallen leaves, dung, mulch, and compost. Dry air and harsh wind can easily kill most species of mushrooms, so you’ll typically find them in covered, well-protected spots. Too much light can also be an issue. While they don’t necessarily need pitch-black darkness to grow, the absence of light can help the air retain consistent temperature and humidity levels. When it comes to moisture, that’s relatively the same across the board – fungus needs moisture, it’s a simple rule of nature. But the temps needed to grow mushrooms will vary based on the species. Psilocybin mushrooms do well in warmer climates while fly agarics prefer slightly cooler weather. Forage for Psychedelic Mushrooms in the USIn the United States, the very best areas for amateur mycologists are the semi-urban regions of the Pacific Northwest, from northern California up to Washington state. The number one, top-rated spot for mushroom hunting is Alpine County, CA, situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Aside from having both an impressive abundance and diversity of wild mushrooms, the aforementioned areas have many different resources and social events for budding foragers such as mushroom meetup groups, forager festivals, and more. And despite the strong emphasis on humidity and natural coverage, there are some arid regions that produce mushrooms as well. In areas such as San Bernardino County, CA, and Bernalillo County, NM have very active mycophile communities with many experienced members who have a lot of knowledge about locating psychedelic desert mushrooms. A full list of the top counties in the US to forage for psychedelic mushrooms are as follows: Alpine California, Lane Oregon, Lake Minnesota, Lincoln Oregon, San Miguel Colorado, Curry Oregon, Sitka Alaska, Charlevoix Michigan, King Washington, Grant Wisconsin, Denver Colorado, Pacific Washington, Alameda California, Linn Iowa, Marion Oregon, Crawford Wisconsin, Chaffee Colorado, Washington Oregon, Wexford Michigan, Rockingham North Carolina, Los Angeles California, Bernalillo New Mexico, San Diego California, Santa Cruz California, and Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Alaska. ![]() If you need more information about where to look and how to connect with people, consider joining an online community. Aside from the many psychonaut communities you can become a part of these days, there are a good number of research and observation-based sites where you can see what type of fungi is being found in what area – often with markers and notes to highlight the exact location (down to the coordinates sometimes) where different plants have been found. One of the most well-known sites is iNaturalist.com, although this one is very broad and people can report observations about all plants, as well as different animal and insect species. A couple popular sites that are specific to mushroom hunting are Mycomap.com and MushroomObserver.org. Another helpful tool to have in your back pocket is a plant identification app. My personal favorite is PictureThis. I have the app on my phone, it has helped me avoid poison ivy and other itchy plants that I was unfamiliar with when I first moved to Indiana. Simply open the app, center the plant in question in the middle of the screen so the app can take a photo of it, then see what observations/species get pulled up. It’s not 100% accurate, so take those results with a grain of salt, but it can certainly be helpful with common species or to narrow down the possible options. Final ThoughtsWhether you’re in the woods or desert, a tropical or temperate region, you’re sure to find some psychedelic mushrooms in the wild… if you know where to look and how to forage. If you need help, it could be in your benefit to join a local group or sign up for a website dedicated to mycology. Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Best Places to Forage for Psychedelic Mushrooms appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/24/best-places-to-forage-for-psychedelic-mushrooms/ One of the big questions constantly asked in America, is how does the public view cannabis. A recent Gallup poll sheds light on this issue, highlighting that most people with negative opinions on weed, are the ones who never tried it. Who has the most negative opinions on weed? Those who never tried it! Cannadelics is an independent news source covering topics in the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today, for which we put out the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Check it out to stay updated, and to get yourself some sweet deals on a variety of products, from vapes and smoking devices, to edibles and cannabinoid compounds including Delta 8 & HHC. We’ve got it all in our ‘best of’ lists, so figure out your perfect products, and enjoy responsibly. What is Gallup?If you read the news enough, at some point or another (and probably many times), you’ve heard references to Gallup polls. The results of these polls are fodder for all kinds of articles, on tons of different subjects. But what are Gallup polls? What kind of information do they collect? And how useful are they? Gallup polls are conducted through Gallup, Inc., a US analytics company out of Washington, DC. This company isn’t new, going back to 1935, and became widely known early on for its array of opinion polls, which are now conducted all over the world. The company changed tack a bit in the 80’s, moving more into business, in order to provide consulting services in management and analytics. Now, the company has evolved even more, with educational consulting, assessment products, and a press unit called Gallup Press. All of these other ventures help fund the polling, for which the company actually loses money. Gallup Polls are meant to measure the public’s opinions on topics related to politics, social issues, and economics. The company is known for often conducting polls on sensitive topics. Like any polling agency, Gallup is not always precisely right on, but has shown a decent level of accuracy. Gallup conducts its opinion polls by creating random samples using national telephone numbers. This is done by calling phone numbers with a working exchange, as well as unlisted numbers; meaning even people with unlisted numbers are often a part of these polls. These polls come with the limitation that a person must be contacted by phone. ![]() A detraction of any polling measure is that it can’t reach everyone, making whatever random sample it chooses to be representative of a larger population, only as accurate as the people it can get to. Though its polls have shown to have a decent level of accuracy, even the company stipulates that “The chances that Gallup will contact any one person to participate in one of its national telephone polls are extremely small. Even though Gallup conducts countless surveys in the context of national public opinion polling — more than 350,000 each year — that’s a small fraction of the estimated more than 105 million U.S. households.” The current pollThe Gallup poll we’re talking about today concerns the American public’s opinions on weed; in terms of its effects on society and on individuals. This question has grown in popularity as the country moves in a more progressive direction toward cannabis legalization, with close to half of states already allowing recreational use. So what does this recent poll state in terms of opinions on weed? When it comes to the most direct view of whether cannabis is good or bad for society at large, it was nearly an even split with 49% saying its positive, and 50% saying its negative; showing that when it comes to overall acceptance, there is still a curb to climb with getting many Americans onboard. This isn’t shocking considering that cannabis has been illegal for decades, and the subject of numerous smear campaigns even today. On the other hand, when it comes to how the public views how cannabis effects individuals, the positive rating was higher, with 53% saying it has positive effects on users vs 45% that saw its effects on individuals negatively. The numbers are relatively close between the two questions, and could highlight how some who oppose it for society in general, do understand its ability for positive results in individual use. One of the interesting aspects of this breakdown, is simply who answered positively and who answered negatively. As part of the poll, Gallup defined whether respondents had ever used marijuana in their life, or if they hadn’t. And then looked at the opinions on the same questions, between the two groups. When looking at it this way, the results come off very different. Of those who have specifically used marijuana (at least once in their lives), 70% believe it’s beneficial for individuals, whereas 29% believe it’s not. As far as how this group sees its effects on society, 66% saw it positively, while 35% saw it negatively. On the other hand, of those who never tried it once in life, only 35% saw it as beneficial to individuals, with a much larger 62% who did not. On a societal level, 27% of never-users thought it could be cool for the population at large, while a huge 72% of this population thought not. ![]() This second part is incredibly interesting, because it shows how experience affects results. That so many who have tried it see it positively, whereas so many who haven’t tried it see it negatively, really says a lot about the subject in general; and how those with negative views are generally not tying their views to their own bad experience, but simply to a lack of experience at all. As the ‘have used’ group includes anyone who ever tried it, this group likely involves many people who for the most part never actually use it now, which could explain why the positive results are not higher in that group. If it had been posed to just those who used in the last month, the number for acceptance may have been closer to 100%. And on the other hand, for people who never used, (as in, not even one experience), it makes sense for that group to have a more uniformly negative opinion. I do want to point out one important thing. I’ve never once tried crack, and yet I don’t believe it’s good for people or society. While this might seem similar to the negative opinions of those who haven’t tried weed, I do think there’s a logic aspect that separates these opinions. After all, I have yet to hear of just one story of a person selling their body for a joint, forgoing paying rent to buy an ounce, or losing their jobs and family to hit a dispensary. Other recent Gallup pollsGallup conducts polls constantly, and because of this, results from different polls can be compared and contrasted. For example, in November 2021, Gallup performed a poll on opinions for recreational weed. According to this poll, 68% of Americans support legalization. Which makes it odd that the more recent poll indicates only about half of Americans see it as beneficial for society. Does this indicate an issue with Gallup polling measures? Or does it show the ability for Americans to approve of something for other people, that they don’t approve of for themselves? This second thought could be it. In the more recent poll, plenty of people hadn’t tried it, and still saw its potential benefits for both individuals and society. Another interesting Gallup poll, which has nothing to do with cannabis directly, does perhaps give some insight into how Americans perceive the danger of cannabis vs the danger of alcohol. In this recent Gallup poll from August of 2022, Americans were questioned on their thoughts toward the dangers of alcohol. They weren’t questioned about this in comparison to cannabis, but the data from this survey can be compared to the data from the recent cannabis opinion survey. For the alcohol poll, Gallup asked the same questions of whether respondents view it positively or negatively for individuals and society as a whole, as well as whether respondents were drinkers or non-drinkers. According to polling results, when it comes to effects on society, no one found it to have very positive results, though 21% of adults thought it had somewhat positive effects. This was in dire contrast to 75% who saw it as somewhat or very negative. In terms of effects on individual drinkers, 27% thought it to have very or somewhat positive effects, whereas 71% saw it as somewhat or very negative. ![]() What about for drinkers and non-drinkers specifically? According to results, 12% of non-drinkers thought it was somewhat positive for society, with 85% seeing it as negative. And 14% thought it was very or somewhat positive for individuals, while 83% saw it as negative. As far as the active drinkers, 26% saw somewhat positive results for society while 71% did not, and 30% saw it as beneficial to drinkers, whereas 65% did not. These results, when put against the cannabis results, show two things. 1) That both non-drinkers AND drinkers see the dangers of alcohol to both individuals and society. 2) That compared to opinions on cannabis, alcohol is uniformly seen as the more dangerous drug. In this case, it seems to matter less whether someone is an active drinker or not, and that sure says a lot. Plus, when it comes to actually seeing positive benefits, no one thought it was positive for society (though some saw it as somewhat positive), and a total of 3% of both adults in general, and non-drinkers, saw a positive effect on individuals. Weirdly, in the drinkers group, no one saw a very positive benefit to individuals, or society. ConclusionPerhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that the majority of those with negative opinions on weed, have never actually tried it. It certainly says a lot for the fear that exists among that population. What’s weirder is that even with the population understanding the dangers of alcohol, that alcohol continues to be federally legal, more available, and with much less strict regulation. Perhaps the US government should take heed of these polls, and act accordingly. In terms of US opinions on weed, the population has actually made itself clear in other polls, just not ones conducted by Gallup. Several US states have voted in recreational cannabis by polling measures – even in unexpected states; with up to six more states ready to do the same come November. Regardless of Gallup polls, these ballot measures show that in most states that have asked the question, the answer to whether cannabis is cool enough to be legalized, has been met with a resounding ‘yes’. Welcome to the site! We appreciate you making it to Cannadelics.com, your #1 news platform for comprehensive and independent reporting on the cannabis and psychedelics fields. Come visit us regularly to stay in-the-loop on everything going on, and subscribe to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Gallup Poll: Negative Opinions on Weed, Come from Those Who Never Tried It appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/23/gallup-poll-negative-opinions-on-weed-come-from-those-who-never-tried-it/ The lawsuit, started last year by Mars Inc over use of trademarked material by offending cannabis companies, came to a conclusion earlier this month in court. A federal ruling in favor of Mars Canada and Mars Wrigley, stated that the copy cat cannabis companies indeed violated trademark law. This is a big win, with interesting connotations. Mars won against offending cannabis companies in court, making them unable to continue selling look-alike products. We are a cannabis and psychedelics news site which specializes in covering the big stories of today. We put out the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter for our readers to stay updated; as well as gain access to a range of deals on products from vapes, edibles, and flowers, to cannabinoid compounds like Delta 8 & HHC. Check out our ‘best of’ lists for promo details, and make sure to buy the products you are most comfortable using. The suitLast year in May of 2021, the candy industry staple Mars Wrigley, and it’s Canadian counterpart Mars Canada, Inc., took five small-time cannabis companies to court over what they said were violations in trademark law. The candy giant said that the cannabis companies: King Tuts Cannabis, West Coast Supply, Shrooms Online, Flash Buds, and Sure Buds, were using Mars’s branding images to market their own cannabis products. “Trademark law governs the use of a device (including a word, phrase, symbol, product shape, or logo) by a manufacturer or merchant to identify its goods and to distinguish those goods from those made or sold by another.” In this case, Mars claimed these cannabis companies were using brands like SKITTLES to sell THC products. According to a company press release in 2021 when the charges were filed, “Mars Wrigley strongly condemns the use of popular candy brands in the marketing and sale of THC products, which is grossly deceptive and irresponsible… The use of Mars Wrigley’s brands in this manner is unauthorized, inappropriate, and must cease, especially to protect children from mistakenly ingesting these unlawful THC products.” ![]() It was reported by the National Post that Mars hired private investigators to buy the copy-cat products online. Some of the offending merchandise included products with names like “Medicated Skittles” and “Life Savers Medicated Gummies”, which had packaging that essentially matched the original brands. The rulingOn August 12th, 2022, a federal court ruled in favor of the Mars brands, saying three of the copy-cat cannabis companies in question, must “deliver up and destroy all infringing products and packaging,” and pay associated fees to Mars for stealing its trademarked property. The charges against King Tuts Cannabis and Sure Buds were dismissed, while the other three companies were found guilty. The presiding judge, The Honourable Mr. Justice Gleeson, went on to say, “I also find that advertising and offering for sale of a potentially dangerous product using appropriated trademarks that are evidently and obviously attractive to children represents a marked departure from ordinary standards of decent behaviour that deserves to be denounced and deterred.” He continued, “I have placed significant weight on the issue of harm not only to the Plaintiff but also to members of the public who might accidentally consume the Defendants’ Infringing Product believing it to be a genuine SKITTLES product. The fact that SKITTLES are a confectionary product that are attractive to children reinforces the need to denounce the Defendants’ conduct.” As a quick side note, this past July, a case was waged against SKITTLES for containing too much of the chemical titanium dioxide, a known toxin. Mars said it would entirely phase out titanium dioxide from its products in 2016. Apparently, it didn’t finish the job, and its only comment on the lawsuit, was to say its use of titanium dioxide is within FDA regulation. The titanium dioxide is used for the SKITTLES coloring, for which the candy itself is basically pure sugar. While trademark law was certainly broken in the trademark case, and Mars deserved to win against cannabis companies stealing its material in court, there’s A LOT wrong with defending products like SKITTLES. Though the health risks of the products were irrelevant to the trademark case, they are certainly worth considering, what with the massive amount of diabetes and obesity in the US, and beyond. ![]() Similar lawsuitsMars isn’t the only big brand to take offending cannabis companies to court. This idea of smaller entities using recognized product packaging from well-established companies, is quite commonplace, especially in the black market. I’ve seen store after store where look alike candy products containing THC are sold. I was even at a convention where one of these companies was mistakenly let in. So it’s not surprising that other candy manufacturers – and other product manufacturers – are having problems as well. Hershey’s Chocolate made similar moves in both 2014 and 2018. In 2014 the Company took TinctureBelle LLC of Colorado, and Conscious Care Cooperative of Seattle, to federal court on charges that the two companies were selling edibles in very similar packaging to Hershey’s. In both cases, out of court settlements were reached, which in both bases meant the cannabis companies getting rid of all look-alike products, with no further offending products sold. In 2018, Hershey was at it again, sending cease-and-desist letters to the companies Harborside from Oakland California, and Good Girl Cannabis Co. from California’s northeast. Good Girl Cannabis settled quickly and easily, but Harborside, a dispensary with a good reputation behind it, fought for several months. In fact, when Harborside refused to pay $20,000 for “liquidated damages” due to their continued selling of Jolly Rancher look-alike Jolly Meds, and when they refused to honor the confidentiality clause that came with the demand, it was Hershey that backed down. Hershey voluntarily dismissed the case in 2018. A couple non-candy, food-related cases happened in 2019 with the company Tapatio Foods LLC, the maker of Tapatio hot sauce. Tapatio sued two companies for putting out cannabis infused hot sauces that mirrored Tapatio’s. The first was against Sulaiman Waleed Rodriguez for trademark infringement and trademark dilution by tarnishment, for its product Tiowaxy. Tapatio won the suit when the defendant failed to file opposition papers. The second case was for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and dilution by tarnishment, against Mario Mendizabal and TCG Industries, which put out a product called “Trapatio” hot sauce. This was the second time Tapatio dealt with TCG. The first time was in 2017, when TCG agreed to stop using the trademarked material by way of a settled agreement. Apparently TCG revised its product to “Trapsauce” in 2018, and began selling this, despite asking Tapatio for permission, which was denied. That time around, the charges included willful infringement, and Tapacio won the second lawsuit in July 2020. Some cases don’t involve food products at all. In 2017, the adhesives company Gorilla Glue, sued the company GG Strains for using its namesake for several cannabis products. In the settlement reached between the companies, GG Strains was forced to stop using the trademarked name. In another non-food related suing, UPS took a group of medical cannabis delivery businesses to court in 2019 citing the use of brand identifiers too close to UPS’s. The weed delivery companies went by the names: United Pot Smokers, UPS420, and THCPlant. ![]() In a case that highlights the fruitlessness of some companies trying to fight, the company Mondelez, the maker of Sour Patch Kids, has been trying to go after the makers of Stoney Patch Kids infused cannabis gummies for copyright infringement. The problem? It was never established who puts out Stoney Patch. After months of investigation, the most Mondelez could do was point to four somewhat related entities. In terms of packaging, its filed lawsuit cites Green King LA, Inc., Dr. Vape Group, LLC, and Vape Hub. The suit also names a dispensary defendant, 4TwentyHub. However none of these are responsible for making the candy. That information was never found, which says quite a bit for how easy it is to manufacture and sell fake products. Even with the eyes of the law looking for you. Why this mattersCompanies build up reputations, and those reputations help the companies to continue to sell products. Having an unrelated company steal marketing material not only gives unfair competition, but it can often tarnish a company’s reputation if the competitor sells something not in line with the original company’s morals or regulation. Plus, these companies have put – sometimes – decades of work into building their image and product lines, and they didn’t do it to have some lowlife company steal their hard work. Any non-cannabis food company, probably doesn’t want to be associated with a THC-laden product. This can turn off consumers, or confuse them moving forward, pushing them toward alternate non-offending products. Maybe SKITTLES isn’t the picture of health, but at no point has the candy produced a THC high, and it makes sense that Mars didn’t want that association. Mars doesn’t sell weed, and understandably found it necessary to stop cannabis companies from using its logo to do so, in court. Then there’s the idea of what it means when in the wrong hands. SKITTLES might not be good for any kid to eat (let’s be honest), but its way worse to have a kid accidentally eat a package of high-THC candies masquerading as regular SKITTLES. Weed and THC are great for all kinds of things, but not when eaten in massive amounts by children. This isn’t just about trademark law, but a safety issue to ensure people (not just children) aren’t consuming something they don’t mean to consume. Plus, illegal companies are way less likely to invest in child-proof packaging which costs more money, making it that much easier for kids to get at the goods. Truth is, the companies mainly gone after in these suits, are legally operating cannabis companies. These tactics run even more rampant when looking at black market operations, for which getting a company in court is that much harder (like with Stoney Patch). I’ve seen weed knock-off products all over the place, from SKITTLES to Cheetos to Nerd Ropes, and so on. Though a few companies have certainly had examples made of them, as long as the black market persists, so will cannabis companies using the trademarked material of already-known companies, to sell their products. Truths are truths. ConclusionLife requires being careful. As buyers, we’re constantly at the mercy of vendors trying to make a buck, and sometimes it’s hard to know when we’re being scammed, or not. Mars is a good example of a big company protecting its trademarked information, by taking copy-cat cannabis companies to court…and winning. I’m all about rooting for the little guy most of the time, but in this circumstance, I give a nice, hefty, ‘congratulations’ to Mars. ![]() Having said that, just because products are a little similar, doesn’t mean a bigger company should get all say on anything closely related. Hershey’s loss perhaps indicates the overstepping of bigger companies to protect their brands, when in reality, no big trademark violation is made to warrant concern. Welcome to the site! We appreciate you stopping by Cannadelics.com, a comprehensive news offering for the cannabis and psychedelics fields. Join us daily to access important updates for ongoing stories, and check out the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting the news. The post Mars Inc Takes Out Copy-Cat Cannabis Companies in Court appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/23/mars-inc-takes-out-copy-cat-cannabis-companies-in-court/ The psychedelic movement is spreading to Europe with the first clinic to open in London this summer, and aiming to begin trial treatments in August. The clinic is run by Clerkenwell Health, an ambitious British start-up with the goal of establishing the U.K. as a leading psychedelic research and innovation centre. “Psychedelic assisted therapy (PAT) could be ground-breaking for mental health treatment,” said Tom McDonald, CEO at Clerkenwell Health, adding that he believes the U.K. is well placed to pioneer the next generation of innovative treatments due to the country’s favourable regulatory framework. In 2021, the government introduced a new pathway, called the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway, as a way to reduce the time it takes to bring innovative therapies to market. This pathway makes the U.K. an attractive option for companies looking to research cutting-edge treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The first trial at Clerkenwell is scheduled to begin in August 2022, and will focus on the use of psilocybin to help people cope with a terminal illness diagnosis, and support them through palliative care. So far, recent research in the U.S. in this field has shown positive results, with PAT being called the “new frontier in end-of-life care.” According to a 2019 review in the journal Current Oncology, researchers have identified a number of clinical benefits including reduced anxiety, depression, and fear of mortality. The research also showed that psychedelics are not toxic, don’t cause liver damage, and don’t interfere with other medications. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! How Do Psychedelics Work?The history of psychedelics dates back to prehistoric times, when plants and fungi were used for the hallucinogenic properties. In some cultures, these plants and fungi were used as part of religious ceremonies, or to perform healing rituals. Stoned Ape Theory argues that psychedelics are the reason the human brain tripled in size over the last 2 million years. Psychedelics (also known as hallucinogens, entheogens, and psychotomimetics) are psychoactive drugs that have been shown to alter consciousness and cognitive processes. Though psychedelics and fungi have been used for thousands of years, it was only in the 1950s that the pharmacology of psychedelics was researched. Psychedelics are typically grouped into three categories based on their pharmacological profiles and chemical structures: classic psychedelics, empathogens, and other psychedelics including anaesthetic agents and atypical hallucinogens. Classic psychedelics include mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, NN-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and ayahuasca. Psychedelics stimulate the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2a) receptor, leading to a boost in glutamate release in the prefrontal cortex. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and plays an important role in shaping learning and memory. Recent research also shows increased blood flow to the visual cortex, which explains the hallucinatory quality of LSD. Empathogens (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA) are different in this regard, as they affect the central nervous system, releasing calcium-independent 5-HT, leading to the expansion of 5-HT neurotransmission, which causes euphoria and feelings of connectedness. In experiments, participants report experiences that are very different from other psychopharmacological agents. Reported effects include altered states of consciousness, changes in perception, visuals, and diminished sense of self or ego. It’s now believed these effects can be harnessed to produced clinical outcomes. In one study by Griffiths et al. reported that “psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having persistent positive effects on attitudes, mood, and behaviour among some participants.” Watts et al. found that psilocybin alleviated depression in some participants by helping them move from “disconnection to connection,” and “avoidance to acceptance.” Research from the 1960s also shows that in order to maximise the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, both the “set and setting” are crucial, and have a profound influence on the overall experience. “Set” refers to the mind-set of the individual entering into a psychedelic experience, while “setting” is the environment in which the experience takes place. The potential of psychedelics to help people suffering existential distress, PTSD, anxiety or depression has been known since the 1950s, when the research first took off. However, all research stopped in the 1970s when Nixon launched his War on Drugs, which criminalized psychedelics including LSD, MDMA, psilocybin and ketamine. The Next Generation of PsychedelicsDespite setbacks to research, a resurgence in interest began in the 1990s, thanks mostly to the work of Rick Doblin Ph.D. who established the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) as non-profit research centre in 1986. Doblin has dedicated his life to “changing the way people think of, talk about, and consume psychedelics.” ![]() In 2019, John Hopkins Medicine established a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research backed by $17 million in grants. Today, drug developers all over the world are interested in exploring psychedelic compounds as potential treatment for a range of mental health conditions. However, the legal status of psychedelics has made the research process an expensive bureaucratic nightmare. As a result, drug developers look to run trials in locations with a track record in vanguard research, which includes countries such as the U.K. But the trial process is not without its challenges, and that’s what makes services such as Clerkenwell Health so valuable. Their knowledge of the local regulatory process can help companies avoid unnecessary delays. A number of drug developers have already signed on to utilize the facilities at Clerkenwell, which will be based near Harley Street and will initially employ a staff of 13. One of those companies is Toronto-based biotechnology company, Psyence, who is running a trial to examine the use of psilocybin for the treatment of adjustment disorder, an emotional or behavioural reaction to a stressful life event, in this case, a terminal diagnosis. Clerkenwell Health is also working with the Canada and U.S.-based companies Mindset Pharma and Mydecine, to explore treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as PAT for depression and nicotine addiction. Professor David Nutt, director of neuropsychopharmacology unit at Imperial College London welcomed the addition of the new facility, pointing out the importance of the necessary “skill and expertise” required to carry out this cutting-edge and much-needed research. In June 2022, the World Health Organisation released a detailed report on mental health status worldwide, showing a 25% rise in anxiety and depression in 2020, and calling for the urgent need to transform mental health care. Some experts predict that mental health will be the biggest challenge of the 21st century. Final ThoughtsThere’s no question that life after the 2020 pandemic seems to have become more intense, and there’s a notable increase in people admitting to mental health challenges. While this openness is a good thing, the response to it is equally important. Though psychedelics may offer a viable way to help people, much work needs to be done to make these therapies more widely available and affordable. Right now, private psychedelics therapy can cost thousands. An example is one clinic in Norway that offers 42 hours of treatment with MDMA, and charges US$15,000. However, a recent study demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of PAT on PTSD, estimating millions in savings in annual healthcare costs as well as dramatically improving quality of life for patients. This is another reason why the work at Clerkenwell is so important. The potential to provide life-changing treatments to millions of people, and save healthcare systems millions in costs, could literally change the future of medicine, and certainly change the landscape of mental health care. No more years of lying on a therapist’s couch discussing childhood events. Psychedelics can potentially do the same work in just a few sessions. In other words, psychedelics could be the future of mental health. Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Europe’s First Psychedelic Trial Clinic to Open in London appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/23/europes-first-psychedelic-trial-clinic-to-open-in-london/ The term “hippie” on its own certainly conjures up a lot of different visuals and ideas, but what exactly constitutes a “hippie town”, or a “hippie community”? The meaning can be a bit different for everyone, but for the sake of this article, I wanted to stick with intentional, self-governing communities. True, eclectic enclaves, with a bit of grit to them; as opposed to tourist-filled, party havens. From the desolate California desert to the lush river valleys of Southern Spain, you’re sure to find a city on this list that will pique your interest. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Constitutional, Federal, State, and Home Rule LawsYes, based on the headline, we have a lot to unpack in this section. When discussing the legality of anything (in the United States anyway), you need to consider constitutional, federal and state laws (we’ll get into home rule laws later on). First and foremost, the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and no federal or state law supersedes it. Constitutional laws are upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States and are the foundation on which federal laws are based; whereas state laws are based more on the regional preferences of local constituents. Federal laws are enacted by the United States Congress, and must be followed by every state in the nation, as well as US territories like Puerto Rico. Federal regulations can be a bit broad at times and they don’t always cover all areas of the law, so this is where state regulations come into play. Every state has its own set of laws in addition to federal mandates, as well as a state constitution, which serves as the highest form of legal authority within a state. A state constitution can only add rights, not take way and federal constitutional ones. For example, a handful of states have included the “right to privacy” in their state constitutions, which is not a federal given right. ![]() Home rule law goes a step further and gives local governments the power to establish their own regulations and ordinances without obtaining permission from the state. In some cases, home rule laws can work in the benefit of cannabis consumers – like some cities that allow extra leniency for medical patients or people who choose to cultivate at home, for instance. However, most of the time, home rule laws add more regulations and red tape. This usually plays out in some sort of local ban on cannabis dispensaries. My hometown of Temecula, CA, is one… recreational cannabis is legal in CA, but Temecula has bans on storefront dispensaries within city limits, so only delivery services are allowed. It’s ridiculous, but they are one of many municipalities with these type of ordinances in place. So normally, it’s relatively cut and dry when it comes to the order of importance: Constitutional law is above federal law, federal laws trumps state law, and home rule laws fill in the blanks where state law lapses. But when it comes to certain issues (like cannabis legalization), we know that those lines become a bit blurred. Despite the fact the cannabis is still listed as a schedule 1 narcotic, 18 states and Washington D.C. have passed laws allowing for its recreational use, and a total of 37 (including those aforementioned 18) have some type of medical cannabis regulations on the books. Within these states, cannabis businesses seemingly operate like any other industry, but behind the scenes, business owners face unique challenges because of the plant’s federally illegal status. Everything from banking to real estate, to security and insurance can be a problem (often an expensive one) for anyone working in the weed industry. Slab City, California, United StatesSlab City, also called The Slabs and sometimes referred to as “The Last Free Place in America”, is situated in a remote area of the Sonoran Desert in Imperial County, California. It was created when U.S. Marine Corps abandoned Fort Dunlap in 1956, dismantling all the buildings and leaving nothing behind be the concrete slabs underneath. Shortly after, people began moving in. Although California has complete legal control over the area again (no longer federally owned), it’s remote, unpopulated, and inhospitable, so little regulatory enforcement exists out there. Employees from a chemical company in nearby Niland were the first to inhabit the area post-military. They brought in some small trailers and created a temporary settlement so they wouldn’t have to commute far to work. ![]() Over the next few decades, a growing number of outsiders began migrating to the slabs. Current residents include artists and creatives, travelers, people looking to live off grid, people with very little income, the occasional snowbirds, and of course, an assortment of drifters. Because Slab City is unincorporated and doesn’t belong to any official municipality, it’s rarely patrolled by law enforcement, but police from Niland will occasionally respond to emergency calls. Otherwise, people police themselves and although some petty crimes like theft do occur, the community will generally shun those who perpetrate such acts. Drug use is also common, but confined to a small area within the community. Essentially anyone can move to Slab City, but you won’t want to unless you have a bit of grit and self-reliance. The closest amenities – including clean drinking water – are about 5 miles away; which is definitely not walking distance in the blistering summer heat when temperatures can easily surpass 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). There is one communal shower in Slab City that utilizes water from a hot spring in the area. It’s not on the power grid, but many residents have their own solar panels and generators set up. It can be hardcore, even as far as alternative lifestyles go, but it works well for many both longtime and temporary residents of the Slabs. Manitou Springs, Colorado, United StatesManitou Springs is a city in Colorado that fall under Home Rule Municipality, meaning it’s recognized as a city by the state of Colorado, but they follow their own local ordinances. Overall, their laws closely mirror those of the rest of the state, but over the years the area as gained a reputation as a haven for artists and spiritual types. It is often referred to the “Hippie Mayberry”. This town of roughly 5,000 people is situated at the base of Pikes Peak, the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and is known for its many natural mineral springs. During the seasonal migration period, the Ute and Great Plains tribes would follow the herds to the springs, which they believed were a medicinal gift from the Great Spirit Manitou. In 1872 the town’s modern history began, when General William Jackson Palmer and Dr. William Abraham Bell arrived in Manitou Springs and attempted to designate it a sprawling, scenic health resort. Manitou Springs was officially incorporated in 1876. Bell’s home, known as Briarhurst Manor, is now a fine dining restaurant that is open to the public and listed on the city’s National Register of Historic places. According to the Colorado Tourism Office page, “Manitou Springs has been the quintessential tourist town since the 1870s, when visitors discovered the healing waters the Ute Indians had been drinking for years. Many of the town’s mineral springs still function today and the water is free.” Christiania, Copenhagen, DenmarkFreetown Christiania is a small intentional community about 84-acres large on the outskirts of Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen. It was established in 1971 when a group of artists and squatters took over an abandoned military base on the outskirts of town. Because of some type of legal zoning issue, the group was able to label Christiania a “free town”, unaffected by standard Danish law. ![]() Between 1972 and 1989 there was a lot of debate on whether Christiania had a right to exist this way, but in 1989, nearly two decades after its inception, the Danish government voted unanimously to allow Christiania to continue to function as a separate enclave. Fast forward to 2013, and another legislation was passed that revoked and special status related to Christiania, and thus, Denmark reclaimed ownership over the area. However, there was an amendment in the law that allowed for current residents of Christiania to take control over their own parcels – going from squatters to property owners. Despite some gentrification over the decades, Christiania maintains its uniqueness, as well as its independence. To this day, the area has an eccentric flare and residents have gone so far as to create their own flag, currency, and a sign at the entrance of town that reads “You Are Now Leaving the European Union”. Additionally, cars are outlawed in the streets, so residents and tourists can either walk or bicycle through the community. All this lack of government oversight has led to a thriving drug trade that permeates the downtown Pusher Street area. Police still turn a blind eye to cannabis deals and certain other substances, but the community does not support the use of harder drugs like methamphetamine and heroin. As a matter of fact, residents banned such drugs themselves back in the 1970s, have and done well self-policing in that regard. Beneficio, SpainBeneficio is an intentional, commune-style community founded over 30 years ago and located in a river valley outside of the Alpujarras village in Southern Spain. Over 400 people live there (about half of them permanently) in various types of light shelters like tents, tipis, benders, and yurts; and some people live in vehicles and trailers along the roadside leading into the community. Residents and vistors come from all over the world including the United States, China, Australia, South America, and numerous European countries. Inside Beneficio, there are numerous small businesses and permanent structures including a grocery store, bakeries, free range eggs and cheese making, an outdoor kitchen, composting toilets, a library with hundreds of books in dozens of languages, a sports pitch, a large communal tipi with some shared amenities and daily activities like yoga, drum circles, and workshops, and even a small school with donated books and supplies for the children who reside in Beneficio. The main source of drinking water is a mountain spring, with a stream that runs through the valley serving as a secondary source. Geographically, the area Beneficio covers is quite large. It’s a very laid-back place, but as you can tell just based on the number of resources, there is a level of structure and organization to the community. Either way, it’s known to be friendly and welcoming, and just about anyone can stop by, strike up a conversation with one of the locals, and get more intimately familiar with the ins and outs of Beneficio. ![]() Nimbin, AustraliaNimbin is a small town positioned in the middle of a valley of volcanic rock in northern New South Wales, Australia. The current population is around 2,200, and the vibe and size are both somewhat comparable to Glastonbury in the UK. There is a main “high street” that consists of a slew of touristy shops selling handmade products, artwork, smoking paraphernalia, and in some cases, other types of contraband – although this is at the owner’s discretion of course. Historically, Nimbin was a small, dairy farming village. But in the summer of 1972, that all changed after the area hosted the Aquarius counter-culture festival. A group of students from Sydney University concluded that Nimbin was the perfect place to host the festival, but after the event was over, people loved the area so much they decided to stay, indefinitely. After some time, new communities based on similar ideals of “freedom and solidarity” began to emerge within Nimbin and eventually the town earned a reputation as a haven for people wanting to live a more independent and alternative lifestyle. In addition to their overall shared vision of a free and self-sufficient way of life, Nimbin is known for environmental activism, and since the mid-seventies has been at the forefront of numerous protests to help protect the earth, both in Australia and globally. Final ThoughtsThe communities on this list range from the hot and unforgiving terrain of the Sonoran Desert, to temperate mountain regions fed by natural streams and springs, and everything in between. What’s really noteworthy to me, is how these communities stand the test of time, and act as a sort of social experiment if you will. It goes to show that people generally do a pretty good job of governing themselves, and communities tend to shun misbehavior and create safe environments with or without government overregulation. Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Lawless, Hippie Enclaves That Still Exist Today appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/21/lawless-hippie-enclaves-that-still-exist-today/ A new study about the perceptions of the dangers of smoking found that cannabis users tend to think of smoking as less dangerous than their non-smoking counterparts, at least as per study investigators. Is this study accurate? Or is it a case of bad research that simply shows the ongoing misunderstanding of how smoking does cause risks? There are tons of smoking risks, but such risks apply to anything being smoked, not just cigarettes; a point a recent study failed to account for when looking at opinions of smoking danger. If you prefer your news source be independent and honest, this is the place for you. We provide the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter so readers can access daily updates, a well as get themselves some great deals on all kinds of products including vapes, edibles, and cannabinoid compounds like the uber popular Delta 8 & HHC. Head to our ‘best of’ lists for more info, and remember to only purchase the products you’re happy to use. The studyFirst and foremost, this not an actual research study. This is an example of study investigators using compiled research from another investigation, that has nothing to do with what they’re looking for. According to the writers, the point of this research is to look at opinions on smoking risks for “prioritizing next steps for tobacco control”, in which they “discuss four new findings to illuminate the possible ways in which the material in this issue may show us a way forward if we can integrate data from different disciplines within the field of nicotine and tobacco research.” Then it gravitated toward the question “why is cancer associated with increased quitting success whereas daily cannabis use is associated with decreased quitting success?” From there the investigators decided to look at opinions of cigarette smoking dangers, by comparing the responses of one question between those who use cannabis, and those who do not. This paper was not able to control for any confounding factors, which often play a big role in study outcomes. Confounding factors are anything that can affect the result of an investigation, other then the variables being studied. Confounding factors of interest here include how cannabis is used (smoked or not) and whether respondents smoke cigarettes already. Neither of these was accounted for, making the study weak to begin with. However, weak or not, or on point or not, the researchers did show something interesting. That there is a massive misunderstanding in what causes smoking risks, even by those researching the field. ![]() The paper is called: Everything old is new again: Creating and maintaining a population-level ‘shared reality’ of health risks associated with cigarette use toward both reducing the prevalence and eliminating disparities in cigarette use among all Americans, and was conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York. Where did researchers get their data? Well, not from a pool of respondents picked for their particular study, because the researchers designed no such study. What they did, was pull unrelated information from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health for people 18 and above. The entire paper just published, was based on only one question that was asked in this other research project. The question was about if participants think smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, or more, is harmful to them. That answer was compared between two groups of people; one made up of people who had used cannabis daily, and one made up of people who did not use cannabis in the last year. And that’s it. Nothing else went into the results. What were the results of this incredibly faulty study? That “Sixty-two percent of adults who use cannabis daily perceived pack a day cigarette use to be of “great” risk to health, compared with 73% of those who did not use cannabis in the past year.” The best point made in this study, wasn’t even a part of the study. Research investigators themselves were looking at the wrong question…and did nothing to help the gross misunderstanding of what smoking risks are, and where they come from. In terms of simply getting good information, the biggest glaring omissions of this ‘study’ was to disregard how people were using cannabis (as in smoking it or not), and how many people from either group, were already cigarette smokers. Asking the same question to someone who only eats edibles or vapes might net an entirely different answer from asking someone who only (or primarily) smokes cannabis, but this wasn’t accounted for. Disregarding whether the participants actually smoke cigarettes is even more confusing, as this is an integral part in looking at attitudes toward smoking. Last, the entire issue of where the smoking risks come from, was completely ignored. The question that was answered was about whether respondents thought smoking cigarettes can be harmful, NOT if they thought smoking anything in general is harmful, and that’s the real question. The dangers of smoke inhalation affect all smokers, whether of just cannabis, just tobacco, both, or something else. Where do smoking risks come from?Of all the craziness I see out there in the press, and the smear campaigns, and misunderstood information, this is one of the things that gets me the most. The idea of where smoking risks come from. The US – and the world at large – has put so much effort into demonizing tobacco, that the majority seem to actually believe that it’s merely smoking tobacco that causes danger. Many times I’ve heard the ridiculous line from people that smoking marijuana is safe, while smoking cigarettes is not. This is wildly untrue. Dangerously, wildly, untrue. The danger of smoking is the danger of lighting anything on fire and breathing it in. Smoking of any kind is smoke inhalation, and it doesn’t matter what is smoked. Now, technically, everyone knows smoke inhalation is bad in the context of a house fire, or wildfires in the woods. But the population at large has been taught to separate this smoke inhalation from the smoke inhalation that comes from smoking something like tobacco or weed. The issue with cigarettes is partly the frequency. If you get a tiny bit of smoke in your lungs once a day, you’ll probably be okay. But consistently filling the lungs with smoke 100, 200, 300+ times a day, means constant smoke inhalation. ![]() Tobacco does come with some extra special detractions. As a huge global sales industry, tobacco is a mass-produced item for consumption, and that means most tobacco sold commercially is full of tons of other chemicals, and many of these chemicals compound the danger. But even if those chemicals weren’t there, it still wouldn’t matter. A person smoking organic tobacco, or some other tobacco-free herb mixture, is still as likely to develop issues related to smoking, because they’re still doing the most deadly part – lighting something on fire and breathing it in. A further detraction of cigarettes, however, is the sheer number of puffs taken, which is generally way more than a joint smoker will take in a single day. It’s shocking, and scary, how little health organizations feel like being honest about this, and how hard it is to find useful information to better explain this massive misunderstanding. In fact, one of the funniest parts about it all, is that tobacco holds no proven health risk beyond smoking it. Even statistics for oral cancers related to chewing tobacco are minuscule at best and unconfirmed. Tobacco has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and only became an issue when smoking it became the norm around the 1700s. And yet this plant, which contains tons of medicinal benefits, has been so badly demonized, that instead of looking at the topic as ‘the dangers of smoking’, its become, ‘the dangers of smoking tobacco’; and this is how most people understand the issue. What did these researchers just do? Reinforce that backwards notion, by making this about how respondents view cigarette smoking, and not how they see smoking in general; along with the fact they put this together to help with tobacco control steps, NOT smoking control steps. As their entire investigation is rooted around tobacco control policies, it says very little for how these high-level researchers actually understand the issue of smoking. And that it applies to anything smoked, not just tobacco. Back to the study resultsIn my opinion, this study is a useless way for a researcher to get a paper published and get their name in the press. It essentially serves no other purpose. The two major things that needed to be controlled for, in order for the study to have value, are how the cannabis users use cannabis, and what percentage of responders in both categories are cigarette smokers. Asking a group of smokers vs asking a group of non-smokers, will likely get a very different response; but that can’t be said for sure with this study, because those super important questions, weren’t a part of it. Plus, they asked the wrong question. It should have been asked if respondents think smoking cannabis everyday is as dangerous as smoking cigarettes every day. And to take it a step further, they shouldn’t be looking to inform policy on cigarette smoking, but to educate about smoking as a whole. Beyond that, this study was published off of one question, and even that one question shows results that the majority of cannabis smokers, actually do think smoking cigarettes can cause them harm. Yet the paper authors instead molded this to sound like the opposite, I imagine in order to garner attention when published. 62% who use cannabis daily did see a threat in smoking cigarettes as compared to 73% who didn’t use cannabis, and also perceived danger. It’s hardly much of a difference. But as most people who use cannabis still smoke it, and many in the study were likely cigarette smokers, it also means that the original investigation was actually asking smokers how scared they were that their current behavior might hurt them. And that brings a whole different complication into the research. ![]() I’d say overall, one of the only things that can be gleaned from this fake study (no actual study was done), is that the majority of both cannabis users and non-cannabis users, do see the dangers of smoking cigarettes. The better question though? How many people understand that smoking cannabis is just as bad as smoking cigarettes? ConclusionThis study is a great example of the lack of research integrity seen in the cannabis field, and the desire to sell a misplaced idea in headlines, without having an actual or useful study to back anything up. Not only does it not do a good job of answering the one question it did seek to answer, but it highlights the general misunderstanding around smoking – and even promotes this misunderstanding by proliferating the idea that there is a difference between cigarette smoking and cannabis smoking. This ‘study’ is fantastic at expounding why information on things like smoking and cannabis is always confused, when it shouldn’t be. And why it’s so hard to find good information on anything these days. Welcome all! Thank you for making it over to Cannadelics.com, a fully-rounded news site providing independent coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics landscapes. Check out the site daily for important updates, and sign up for the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you always know what’s going on. The post Bad Study Highlights Misunderstanding About Where Smoking Risks Come From appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/20/bad-study-highlights-misunderstanding-about-where-smoking-risks-come-from/ As we’ve seen over the last decade, there is always more to learn about the weed. Aside from emerging research on different potential therapeutic benefits, it seems like scientists are always uncovering new compounds within various parts of the cannabis plant, from the flowers, to the stems, to even the pollen. One of the most recent to be isolated is THC-B, or tetrahydrocannabutol, which was first noted by a group of Italian researchers in late 2019. There are over 120 known cannabinoids at the moment, 15 of which are different types of THCs (tetrahydrocannabinols). THC-B is a phytocannabinoid, found naturally in cannabis in very minimal levels. From a chemical standpoint, it’s very closely related to Delta 9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), with only some slight differences in structure. Research is extremely limited on this compound, but below is what we know so far. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Also, it’ll get you premium access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more! We’ve also got standout offers on cannabinoids, like HHC-O, Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC, which won’t kill your bank account. Head over to our “Best-of” lists to get these deals, and remember to enjoy responsibly! What makes THCs different from one another?By now we’re all relatively familiar with Delta-9 THC. When discussing the high caused by cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol in general, most people are referring to Delta 9 THC. Nearly all consumers are familiar with the existence of D9 THC, but what is less common knowledge is the fact that many, many more types of THC exist. The latest industry trend (in the world of alternative cannabinoids, anyway) is to synthesize and isolate as many new cannabinoids as possible, both those found naturally in the cannabis plant, as well as various synthetic analogues and isomers. The possibility of different types of THC, has opened the discussion in some circles regarding how to create these compounds via differing chain lengths and types. In chemistry, “delta” refers to the location of the double bond on a molecule’s carbon chain. In the case of THC, we have many different variations. With delta-9 THC, the double bond is on the 9th carbon chain. Move that bond over one spot to the 8th chain, and now we have delta-8 THC. Keep moving that double bond and you get a variety of different delta THCs. Another way that we get variation in THCs is through differing types of side chains. Most delta THCs have alkyl side chains, but change them to hexyl or butyl and you get completely different compounds again, such as THC-P, THCV, THC-H, THC-O, THC-B, and so forth. This chain variation can be applied to other psychoactive cannabinoids like hexahydrocannabinol (HHC, also known as ‘HXC’). And we have been seeing more of this with the emergence of HHC-O/HXC-O and HHC-P/HXC-P. Now, keep in mind that these are all synthetic cannabinoids – but the definition of ‘synthetic cannabinoids’ can mean one of two things. First, synthetic cannabinoids are compounds that do not exist in nature and must be created in a lab, like THC-O. Also, a synthetic can be a cannabinoid that does exist in nature, but in such minimal amounts that in order to manufacture enough for it to be used in consumer products, it must still be synthesized in a lab, like Delta 8 THC. So whether the cannabinoid in question is actually found in the plant or not, you’re likely getting a synthetic version of it in the products available today. THCB explainedTetrahydrocannabutol (THCB) is a homolog of delta-9 THC with the main difference being a butyl side chain replacing the alkyl chain. There is very little information available on this cannabinoid, other than the discovery that it has an affinity for both CB receptors. A formalin test in vivo was performed to determine whether THC-B had any analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory properties, which it does both: help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Additionally, the report stated that THC-B slowed reaction time and could be used to improve sleep and reduce symptoms of anxiety and related disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. ![]() The butyl homologues of Delta 9 THC and CBD (cannabidiol/cannabidibutol) were both isolated from the cannabis plant, inflorescence, in trace amounts. THC-B is metabolized like all other THCs, and it also has 7 double bond isomers and 30 stereoisomers. Effects of THC-BSince THC-B is new and somewhat niche, it hasn’t been tried and reviewed by a large group of consumers. That said, it’s believed that THC-B is not as potent as Delta 9 THC, and does not produce the same wide range of psychoactive effects. Those who have tried THC-B (myself not included) claim that it can produce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness, so it can be helpful for those with anxiety or insomnia. According to a handful of redditors, THC-B has somewhat of a “headband” effect. Headbang is a specific type of hybrid marijuana strain created by cross-breeding OG Kush and Sour Diesel. The effects of this strain are said to be relaxing but exceptionally clear-headed. Regardless, this was another area where information on THC-B was lacking. Because it’s so new and barely any products containing only THC-B even exist, it’s no surprise that the general public is wildly unfamiliar with how this cannabinoid feels and what exactly the effects are. Where to find THCBIf you want to be among the first to try THC-B for yourself, you’re in luck because we sourced the following deal on vape carts containing tetrahydrocannabutol. Check it out and remember to enjoy responsibly! THC-B One Gram Vape Carts for Only $28.49 Each!(Save using “Delta25” coupon code) This new THC-B vape uses premium THC-B distillate, paired with Delta 8 and amazing terpene strains. Four different flavors to choose from: Cloud Nine (hybrid), Mountain Temple (sativa), Juicy Fruit (hybrid), and Caribbean Breeze (indica). Use our coupon code to get these 1 gram carts for only $25.49 each. TIP: Use the coupon code “Delta25” to save big on these THC-B vape carts Click here to try the new THC-B vape carts(Using “Delta25” coupon code)Final thoughtsNew cannabinoids are fun. And they don’t have to be the most potent and intoxicating to be relevant to the conversation. THC-B fits the bill here: it’s psychoactive, but not more so than Delta 9 THC, but it has it’s interesting to learn more about as it comes with its own unique effects and potential benefits. Remember to subscribe to the newsletter to learn more and get access to product deals as they become available. Welcome all! Thanks for dropping by Cannadelics.com, a top offering for comprehensive news covering the burgeoning cannabis and psychedelics industries. Stop by daily for a dose of news on these dynamically changing fields, and sign up for The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re up on everything important going on. The post New Cannabinoid: What is THC-B (Tetrahydrocannabutol)? appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/20/what-is-thc-b-tetrahydrocannabutol/ The idea of a safe drug consumption site is horrible in the first place, there’s no getting around that. By the time we start talking about these things, it means there’s already a pretty big problem that has proliferated out to massive degrees. Right now, California is waiting for a safe drug consumption site bill to get signed by the governor, to combat the ongoing and growing opioid issue. But he’s been holding back… Will he do it? California looks to be the second state to institute legislation for safe drug consumption sites, so long as the governor doesn’t veto the bill. Welcome to this wholly independent publication focusing on the cannabis and psychedelics spaces of today. We offer the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter so readers can keep updated on important events, as well as get themselves some great deals on tons of products from vapes and smoking equipment, to cannabinoid compounds like the super-popular Delta 8 & HHC. Find deals in our ‘best of’ lists, and please only buy products you’re totally comfortable using. What’s a safe use site?A safe use site – also called a ‘safe drug consumption’ site in California’s SB 57 bill, a ‘harm reduction site’, or a ‘safe injection site’ is a place where drug users can use drugs without threat of legal intervention. This isn’t meant to encourage the use of hard drugs, but instead to offer a safe place for those battling addiction, who are required to take their drug because of their addictions. These sites make it legal to use drugs that are either uniformly illegal, or not meant to support an addiction. Safe use sites generally offer other services, as well. Like testing kits for fentanyl to ensure a person is using what they think they are; giving out clean needles, and a place to dispose of used ones; and resuscitative services in case of overdose. They are also sites where users can gain information for different programs related to drug addiction or other social services like housing. In general, the sites are meant to act as an oasis for those with drug problems, which allows them to go about their habit, while also possibly accessing help to stop it. California isn’t the first state to entertain the idea of these programs. In July of 2021, Rhode Island became the first US state to approve a safe use site measure when Governor Dan McKee signed a bill instituting these sites as a measure against that state’s growing opioid issue. Prior to Rhode Island, Philadelphia also attempted to institute safe use sites, but so far has been barred from doing so. ![]() Rhode Island was the first to pass official legislation, but not the first state to enact a program. That designation goes to New York City. The first safe use sites in New York opened in November of 2021, and are in East Harlem and Washington Heights. The sites are backed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who made the decision to open them, as no formal legislation currently exists. There is a bill circulating in New York’s legislature now, that would institute programs like this throughout New York if it passes. These sites don’t explicitly come with the expectation of reducing drug use, but they do give a safe place to use the drugs – and possibly more importantly, to keep them away from other populations. The American Medical Association published a study recently about those first two sites in New York, which concluded that the sites have decreased overdose risks, kept use out of the public, and have been useful in providing complimentary services to users in need. California’s safe drug consumption site legislationAt the end of July, the California Senate re-passed a bill to establish safe drug consumption sites in the state. The bill (SB 57) was amended by the General Assembly in June, requiring yet another Senate vote for passage after edits. This happened in a vote of 21-11, sending the piece of legislation to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. This initial pilot program is meant to go until January 1st, 2028, and only approves sites in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Los Angeles Country, and Oakland. According to Sen. Scott Wiener who introduced the legislation, “We’re seeing an escalation in overdose deaths. These sites are a proven strategy to save lives & get folks into treatment. It’s time.” Wiener introduced the legislation originally in 2020, and it did pass the Senate in spring of 2021. Prior to that attempt, a similar bill did go through in 2018, which was vetoed by then-governor Jerry Brown. This time around, though Newsom is against the war on drugs, and a proponent of legal cannabis, there seems to be a hold up in getting the bill signed into law. Newsom has not actually signed the bill. Though Newsom supports liberal measures, and is a beacon for liberal policy, as a main advocate in the fight for same-sex marriage and cannabis legalization, he still hasn’t signed the bill. If he doesn’t by August 22nd, it will automatically pass into law, though he has until then to sign it or veto it himself. What the holdup is, isn’t clear for sure, but some speculate it has to do with Newsom wanting to run for president in the upcoming 2024 election. ![]() Where else do safe use sites exist and why?California and other parts of the US might be starting to adopt safe drug consumption sites, but this isn’t new to other parts of the world. These sites already exist in Canada, Australia, and different parts of Europe, for which there are about 100 sites operating. The largest number in Europe is in the Netherlands, which has almost 40 sites. The country started operating these centers in 1996, and was able to subsequently lower the amount of overdose deaths in the country. Canada opened its first site as far back as 2003 in Vancouver. In Canada, between the years 2017-2019, there were two million visits to these safe use sites. As of last year the country had 39 operational safe use sites, which accounted for an expected daily rate of 3,000 people across sites. The busier sites operating in Canada often have up to 500 visits a day, according to Health-Infobase. These pilot programs were not put in place for drugs like cannabis, but rather to combat the increasing opioid epidemic which is claiming so many lives. However, it technically operates as a place where cannabis can be used freely as well. The real culprit is not illegal drugs like heroin (which started the whole safe-use thing in the first place), but prescription opioid medications like fentanyl, which are still being written in large quantities. Just how many deaths are we talking about? In May of this year, the CDC released preliminary data, which put the overdose rate for 2021 at 107,622. That’s total overdose deaths, but seeing how 68,000 of 2020’s 93,000 overdose deaths were opioid-related, it gives a pretty good idea of just how impactful opioids were in the 2021 number. Why is this considered a pharmaceutical issue? Of the close to 71,000 overdose deaths of 2019, heroin overdoses accounted for under 15,000, while synthetic opioid overdoses (the big pharma drugs like fentanyl and oxycodone) accounted for 48,000. Of course, its actually been noted by the CDC that heroin overdose deaths decreased by 7% from 2019-2020, indicating that a raised overdose rate, is related to the pharma-produced synthetic opioids only. Is this the best option?This is so much of a pharmaceutically-made problem, that it makes recent moves, like President Biden sending out a memorandum on why Colombia should still be attacked for its illicit drug trade, seem rather odd. If Biden is saying Colombia is that dangerous, when its not where the drugs causing the deadly issue are coming from…then why act like that’s the big problem, while simultaneously allowing pharmaceutical companies to continue selling opioids, and for doctors to continue prescribing them? ![]() If the drug problem is so bad and rising despite a failing war on drugs, then it seems the US should be blocking all pharmaceutical opioids in general, and leaving countries like Colombia out of it. Not only did Biden send that memorandum, but he did it the day new Colombian president Gustavo Petro started talking about ending the war on drugs, and finding better means that won’t result in a bunch of dead Colombians. Sounds like Biden would prefer dead Colombians to other, more useful, and more sense-making, options. Like ketamine. How ketamine has been so completely left out of the conversation, while memorandums are given to the defense secretary to continue bombing Colombians suspected of having a part in the illicit drug industry, is insane. Yet research is out on ketamine’s ability to help with both acute and chronic pain, comparably to opioids, and that it does so without the same ability for addiction. In fact, it’s been shown to help with the obsessive thoughts that go with addiction, making it an even more useful tool for getting people off of these synthetic opioids. Add onto this that short term infusions have shown to net pain-relief results for up to several weeks at a time, and it makes the idea of safe use sites, or large-scale drug decriminalization measures of hard drugs, the worse options that will keep people hooked, rather then help them end their addictions. ConclusionWhether Newsom signs the California bill for safe drug consumption sites, vetoes it, or simply lets it pass into law, the problem doesn’t go away. If America really wants an answer to this growing catastrophe, it will have to think way more logically than making something unwanted, more socially acceptable; and get to the reasonable alternative measures that can actually end this. Hello readers! We appreciate you joining us at Cannadelics.com, a top choice news platform for independent coverage of the growing cannabis and psychedelics landscapes of today. Come by the site whenever possible for updates on current and world-changing events, and head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post California Waiting on Governor to Sign Safe Drug Consumption Bill appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/08/19/california-waiting-on-governor-to-sign-safe-drug-consumption-bill/ |
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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