First and foremost, its not just anyone who did it, but former film director Steve Barron; however, the title remains true. Steve Barron, in an effort to do something good for the environment, actually proved you can build a house of hemp. How did he do it, what did it require, and the positive benefits? Read on to find out more. We appreciate you stopping by. Check out our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter for frequent updates, and for access to tons of cool swag like cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, a range of smoking paraphernalia, and cannabinoid compounds. Check the options, and pick the products you’re happiest to use! First off, who is Steve Barron?Who Steve Barron is, isn’t actually important to the story, but it is good to know who undertakes such projects. There is a reality that often those with more money, have a greater ability to accomplish these feats. There are probably plenty of people who would love to do the same thing, but don’t see it as a financially viable option. So, who is this guy who saw fit to build a house of hemp, and had the ability to do so? Steve Barron certainly isn’t an average guy, even if his name isn’t the most recognizable in the world of film. Barron was a big director in the 1980’s for the seminal 80’s music videos that came out at that time. He’s responsible for creating the videos for hits like Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’, Toto’s ‘Africa’, Dire Straits’ ‘Money for Nothing’, and Bryan Adams’ ‘Summer of 69’, just to name a few. He also got into film directing, and was the director for the 1990 classic ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, 1993’s ‘Coneheads’, ‘While You Were Sleeping’ in ’95, ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ in ’96, and satirical comedy ‘Mike Bassett: England Manager’ in 2001. He also directed and produced multiple TV shows between 1987-2017. He is certainly a director with some interesting and popular credits under his name, so it suffices to say he probably had a bit more capital to invest in this project than the average person would. ![]() Steve Barron is Irish-British, born in Dublin, Ireland in 1956. He was raised in London, however, where he attended school. And its in England that he decided to move away from film, and get into hemp farming and house-building. He built the home in Cambridgeshire, on his Margent farm (previously a wheat farm that Barron converted to a hemp farm). And he started this project at the age of 60. It took him five years of research into hemp to start the project, and he began growing the first crops to use for the house, in 2017. The house is named Flat House. What kind of licensing did he need?It’s not that strange to think that any new building requires a certain number of permits for different things. Barron’s project, however, went a little further than the norm, because he wasn’t looking to build using standard building materials, but with the hemp plant. And, of course, hemp is part of the cannabis plant, which means as an illegal plant in most places, there are extra roadblocks to using it, apparently even when not for ingestion. According to Barron, “You’d think it’d be DEFRA (the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) or the NFU (National Farmers’ Union) or some farming body [who regulate the growing of hemp], but it’s actually the Home Office.” Why is that? Continued Barron, “They need to check you out and make sure you haven’t had a drug past or drugs bust of some sort, which I hadn’t. And so I got a license from them.” Just to be clear, when looking to build an environmentally sustainable house out of hemp, at his own cost, Barron – who wasn’t looking to use high-THC marijuana for the project, still had to have himself checked out for drug issues, just to get clearance for construction. That’s how not supportive governments are of using hemp for clean processes. Yet, such a big part of the reason for doing all this, is how hemp helps the environment. Beyond being a great building material in terms of strength and durability, it is “fast-growing and better than commercial forestry at sequestering carbon – and its long tap roots help to regenerate the soil,” says Paloma Gormley, the head of Practice Architecture, in an interview for Architects’ Journal (reported in The Modern House.) She continued, “Beyond the relatively light processing and transportation emissions, the materials can be understood to be carbon-neutral (or carbon-negative if you count the sequestration), which is a vast improvement on steel, concrete, or petrol-based insulations.” ![]() What was the plan?So what does this hemp house actually look like? The house was designed using the skeleton of a barn already on the property. The house includes several different rooms with different purposes. One room is a glass, self-heating room with an open plan, other rooms include bedrooms (there are three) and living rooms. The interior design uses the exposed hempcrete made from the hemp crop’s core fibers. Barron actually worked along with Cambridge University’s Darshil Shah, a biomaterials senior researcher at the Centre for Natural Material Innovation, who advised on how to create a new corrugated cladding material out of the exterior fiber of the plant. Barron explained of the house that smaller was more ideal, as smaller requires less heating needs, especially for a small group of people living in it. His entire methodology is being copycatted by the company Material Cultures, the research part of Practice Architecture, which is looking to use a building material that can sequester carbon naturally, which is biodegradable, and which can be used with solar, wind, and biofuel energy sources. Says Shah of the project, hemp is more efficient at sequestering carbon than trees are, with the capacity to absorb 8-15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare yearly, whereas forests tend to absorb 2-6 tonnes. Shah explained how hemp can “replace fibreglass composites, aluminium and other materials in a range of applications.” Hempcrete as a new building materialHempcrete is a natural building material made from mixing the inner woody core of the hemp plant and lime. Lime is also a major component of cement, and it’s the heating of the lime for cement production that comprises the majority of cement CO2 emissions. The woody inner core of hemp is called the ‘shiv’ and is naturally high in silica, which allows it to more easily bind to the limestone, without heat. They are simply mixed together with water to create a chemical reaction, which in turn makes a glue sort of substance which binds the hemp particles together to form something called ‘bonded cellulose insulation’. This dries into hempcrete. Hempcrete differs from concrete and plaster in that instead of filling space between particles to create firmness and strength, the hemp particles are coated by the lime glue to stick together, but without filling up the gaps in between. Hempcrete has a massive advantage over cement in that the lime is not heated, and therefore, no CO2 is emitted. In fact, hempcrete can trap CO2, actually taking it out of the air, instead of putting it in there. According to research, hempcrete can sequester as much as 19lbs of CO2 per cubic foot, which is just about what three refrigerators release in a year’s time. How much CO2 emissions does cement production create? ![]() Cement is an ingredient in concrete, and makes up about 7-10% of it. The rest is sand, gravel, and water. The cement industry, because of carbon dioxide release, is responsible for as much as 25% of total CO2 emissions for the industry, and about 8% of all global emissions. Per each dollar of revenue, cement production produces the highest amount of CO2 emissions. As cement is an integral building material, without alternatives, this is hard to get around. Hempcrete has the positives of sequestering CO2, high levels of insulation, is antimicrobial, has a high thermal capacity that makes it great for structuring and covering walls, and is 1/7th the weight of concrete. It should be remembered though, that hempcrete cannot be used as a load-bearing material, though it can add weight support, particularly for framing. As of right now, it can only hold about 1/20th of what concrete can, meaning a stronger form must be formulated, or concrete can’t be ruled out completely. ConclusionWe might not all have the ability to build a hemp house just yet since its still an expensive and difficult industry to navigate. But things are changing, and hopefully it will be a norm soon enough. If you’re interested in learning more about how to build a house of hemp, check out this video about Steve and his hemp house project. And if you’re looking for more ways hemp can replace standard production methods, check out these articles on hemp plastic, hemp paint and wood finishing materials, hemp fuel in place of gasoline, hempcrete, hemp batteries, and hemp paper products. Welcome all! Thanks for joining us at Cannadelics.com; a news site complete with comprehensive independent coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Check us out regularly to stay current on important happenings, and make sure to subscribe to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re always up on all important headlines. The post You Can Build a House of Hemp – This Guy Did It appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/21/you-can-build-a-house-of-hemp-this-guy-did-it/
0 Comments
Yeah, things are changing, and good riddance to the old rules. Cannabis legalization hasn’t created the nicest or most functional of industries, but it has made it so that less people are penalized for possession and use. Those penalties have cost a lot of people a lot of time and money, and continue to today in many places. Here’s the lowdown on the cost of getting caught with weed. Thanks for stopping by. Keep up with all the news on cannabis and psychedelics via the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, and check out offers for marijuana flowers, vapes, edibles, smoking paraphernalia, and cannabinoid compounds. Pick carefully and enjoy responsibly! State vs federalThe fact that anyone has to pay out for possessing or using a plant that makes them hungry and happy, is a crime in and of itself to many of us. But that’s the current situation, and even loosening restrictions don’t change a lot of realities about the plant. Legal state or not, I guarantee you you’ll have problems if you try to sell what you grew at home, or if you’re caught moving kilos of said plant across borders. Regardless of how much or little sense it makes, there are some stark realities to the world of weed, and the biggest one is that for all its lack of danger, and for all the positive benefits it offers, it’s still the #1 reason for drug arrests, and has been for awhile. It’s not meth, or opioids, or cocaine. No, the drug that causes the most arrests, is the one that causes the least harm. So not only do people pay out, and sometimes have their lives ruined by convictions, its all done for something that was never a threat. This logic has now led to a pardoning by President Biden for all federal simple possession cases, but funny enough…he didn’t offer to repay all those fees that got taken, or offer compensation for incarcerations. The cost of getting caught with weed varies depending on the specific crime, as well as who the arresting body is. Simple possession garners way less time and money than trafficking charges, but happens way more often. And being caught by the federal government, or a state with harsher restrictions, can net a much different fine and jail term than breaking the law in a place with a legalization or decriminalization measure (legalizations don’t mean no active laws). What’s the cost of getting caught with weed by the federal government?When it comes to the cost of getting caught with weed, its way more complicated when looking at states, since each one has its own policy. On the other hand, the federal government works off one policy, and so its easier to get into what the penalties are, and how much people have to pay out. The main breakdown is between possession charges, sale and supply charges, cultivation charges, distribution charges, and paraphernalia charges. Interestingly enough, the US is most definitely a death penalty country when it comes to drugs, even if it’s not often (or ever) used. According to Norml, ![]() “The sentence of death can be carried out on a defendant who has been found guilty of manufacturing, importing or distributing a controlled substance if the act was committed as part of a continuing criminal enterprise – but only if the defendant is (1) the principal administrator, organizer, or leader of the enterprise or is one of several such principal administrators, organizers, or leaders, and (2) the quantity of the controlled substance is 60,000 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana, or 60,000 or more marijuana plants, or the if the enterprise received more than $20 million in gross receipts during any 12-month period of its existence.” Luckily, we really don’t hear about this. The most basic collection is done for simple possession, as this is the most common arrest. How common? We don’t always get numbers for these things, but for 2019, we do. That year, there were a total of 545,602 cannabis arrests for everything from possession to manufacturing to sale; and the grand majority, 500,394 were for simple possession only. Incidentally, in terms of arrests that year, there were more simple possession cannabis arrests, than arrests for violent crimes, which totaled 495,871. Possession crimes: The first thing to understand is that they aren’t based on amount, but on number of times caught, meaning a joint, and ten grams, can both garner the same punishment. First time offenders face a misdemeanor charge, up to one year in prison, and $1000 in fines. Second time offenders are still charged with a misdemeanor; have a guaranteed 15 days in prison (as a minimum sentence), which can go up to two years; and $2,500 in fines. Third offense or anything after? Now its either a misdemeanor OR a felony; it comes with a minimum requirement of 90 days in prison, which can go up to three years; and $5,000 in fines. Sale and supply crimes are all felonies, but the penalties vary depending on the amount caught with. Under 50 grams nets a person five years prison time, and a fine of $250,000. 50-99 kilos nets 20 years and $1,000,000 in fines. 100-999 kilos will get you 5-40 years and $500,000 in fines. And 1,000 kilos or more will incur 10 years to life in prison, and set a person back $1,000,000. Let’s remember, this is for plants that grow out of the ground. So, what if you are just growing plants in the ground? Well, the US government sees cultivation of this plant as a felony at all levels. Under 50 plants lands a person in prison for five years with $250,000 to pay in fines. 50-99 plants garner 20 years and $1,000,000 in fines. 100-999 plants come with 5-40 years and $500,000. And 1,000 plants or more is worth 10 years to life in prison, with $1,000,000 in fines. Distribution follows the same guidelines, unless its in small amounts and not for profit, in which case its treated as possession only. What about paraphernalia? Stuff that isn’t actually drugs, but used with drugs? You can end up in hot water just for having stuff that doesn’t directly get you high. And, it’s a felony charge, that comes with three years in prison, and surprisingly, no fine. Just to be clear, all of this still stands, even though a pardon was given for previous simple possession cases, and even though the majority (74%) of the country live in places where cannabis is legal in some form or another. ![]() The cost of getting caught with weed in different statesThis is less clear cut, as every different state has its own laws. In a legal state, for example, simple possession isn’t a thing anymore. Unless a person is underage, or breaking a law of use, like smoking around a school, adults don’t have to worry about this. There are limits, but generally large enough to make whatever purchase you want at the dispensary, perfectly fine to bring home. Such states still outlaw illegal sales, manufacturing, and trafficking, for which penalties are very strict, and generally unchanged during legalization processes. As simple possession is where most arrests come from, looking at these penalties tells us the most about what the majority of arrestees, are faced with. The FBI has a new crime reporting system, which is causing a lot of mayhem for getting accurate numbers. Even so, for 2021, the 31 states without legalization policies made a total of approximately 170,856 arrests for simple possession. Texas led the way with 21.3 thousand, followed by Tennessee with 13.9 thousand, and North Carolina with 12.4 thousand. Georgia was fourth with 9.8 thousand, and Indiana rounded out the top ten states for these arrests, with 6.4 thousand. With the exception of Missouri, which had an increased amount of arrests from 2017 to 2021, going from 2.8 to 9.1 thousand, every other state had a pretty big decrease in these arrests, between those years. How accurate are these numbers? Well, the National Incident-Based Reporting System relies on law enforcement agencies to participate, and in 2020, only 85% did. These numbers are where the FBI gets it data through the FBI Crime Data Explorer. In 2021, even less reported at 63%. So no, these numbers are probably far lower than the actual numbers of arrest. However this is what we have to go on. The #1 state for simple possession arrests, is Texas, and in that state, like with the federal government, there is no personal use limit. In Texas, up to two ounces is a misdemeanor, with up to 180 days in prison, and $2,000 in fines. It’s still a misdemeanor at 2-4 ounces, but prison increases to one year, and the fine is doubled to $4,000. Four ounces to five pounds is now a felony, with a two year minimum prison sentence that goes up to 10 years, and $10,000 in fines. And while the fine amount stays the same, 50-2,000 pounds can net an extra ten years in prison. Over 2,000 pounds and you could be looking at up to 99 years (five-year minimum), and $50,000 in fines. ![]() What about #2 Tennessee? Well, it might rack up plenty of arrests, but this state is a bit less harsh than its predecessor on the list in some ways. For one thing, Tennessee cuts off minor and major penalties at ½ ounce. So long as you don’t go above this amount, its not considered for sale, qualifies as a misdemeanor, incurs up to one year only, and comes with a mandatory fine of $250 for the first incident, and $500 for all following incidences. Past a half ounce, and the crime is a felony, with 1-60 years in prison depending on amount, and up to $200,000 in fines if the maximum of more than 300 pounds is reached. #3 is North Carolina, and it’s the loosest of the three, at least at first. In fact, in North Carolina, half an ounce or less is a misdemeanor with no jail time, and up to $200 in fines. It’s still a misdemeanor up to 1.5 ounces, but now with 1-45 days in prison, and $1,000 in fines. In North Carolina, up to 10 pounds, though now a felony after 1.5 ounces, still only incurs 3-8 months in prison and $1,000 in fines. From 10 pounds to 10,000+, however, it’s a felony crime, starting with minimum sentences of 25 months, and going up to 222 months, with a top fine of $200,000. ConclusionStates’ rights are great in some ways, and do provide ways for state governments to get around some federal policy, and to provide local laws relevant to local populations. However, marijuana laws, and the varying cost of getting caught with weed, show a major failure of them. Not only is it silly that a person can get arrested by the federal government for something that’s not a crime in their state, but its just as bad that someone smoking a joint in California, will face nothing compared to a person in Texas, who could serve jail time for the very same act. Be careful where you get caught! Welcome to our site!! Thanks for joining us at Cannadelics.com; an independent news platform that works to bring you fully-rounded independent reporting of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Hang out with us frequently to stay up-to-date on everything important, and sign up for the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post The Cost of Getting Caught with Weed – Even Now appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/20/the-cost-of-getting-caught-with-weed-even-now/ When it comes to networking and opportunities to learn about all the latest changes going in on in the cannabis industry, the MJBizCon experience is unparalleled. Me personally, I’ve gone to the last four events and every single year is bigger and better than the years prior. A unique aspect about this year’s show, is that there seems to be a larger focus on networking and general socializing, with various efforts having been made to make it easier for attendees to do both. Continue reading to learn more about the changes, gain some insight on this year’s show, and get your tickets at a discounted price!All about MJBizCon 2022. And to stay current on everything important happening in the industry, as well as gain access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more (various cannabinoids to choose from), make sure to subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy responsibly! About the showNow in its 11th year running, MJBizCon holds the reputation of being the “number 1 global cannabis business conference and tradeshow”; and it’s easy to see why. With over 1,400 exhibitors, more than 140 speakers, and 320,000 square feet of exhibitor space, this is definitely the one industry trade show that you never want to miss. Starting off, there will be a number of beneficial and educational pre-show forums for attendees to choose from including the MJBiz Finance Forum, MJBiz CBD and Hemp Forum, MJBiz Marketing Forum, MJBiz Science Symposium, reMind Psychedelics Business Forum, and Associations Day (dedicated to non-profits in the industry, over 40 of which are already registered). What will be different about this year’s show, as far as organization goes, is that the entire floor will be categorized by four distinct segmented pavilions to help you pinpoint the exhibitors, network with ease, and not waste time wandering aimlessly through the entire space (we all know how easy it is to get disoriented and lose track of important booths when you’re there). ![]() The four pavilions will be:
There will also be a couple of on-floor lounges where you can relax, recharge, and possibly have some fun impromptu meetups – such as The Joint lounge and Elevation lounge. Also brand new this year will be The Patio, which is an outdoor hangout spot for chill and organic networking opportunities. It will be open daily and includes a DJ, fun outdoor games, food trucks, a 360-degree photo booth, private lounges for VIP meetings, shaded seating, and other amenities. Will Biden be there?When it comes to cannabis industry trade shows, and especially the larger ones like MJBizCon, we have seen that some years are bigger than others. While they do grow consecutively every year as the industry expands, some years they experience a much bigger jump in attendee numbers. Some of the most noticeable increases reported, have come during election years. Right now, we have recreational cannabis legalization on ballots in four different states (Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, and North Dakota), and a few others looking to legalize medical marijuana. And during this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs, and federal cannabis legalization depends largely on who is in congress. According to event organizers, President Joe Biden was formally invited to MJBizCon this year, following some recent pardons and statements he made, and in hopes that he will offer some clarity regarding what he plans on doing to help facilitate progressive cannabis reform; and when he plans to do it, since many promises have until now, gone unfulfilled. When and whereAs usual, MJBizCon will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center at 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109. The 2021 convention was a bit early in the year and a lot of our friends from the cultivation sectors were unable to make it, so this year’s event will be a month later than the previous one. ![]() The official dates are November 15th to 18th, with the 15th reserved for pre-show forums and the 16th, 17th, and 18th as official show days. You can save $200 if you get your tickets between now and October 27th. You can also get an additional 10% off using the coupon code “22TCS10”. And since it’s Vegas, there’s a number of hotels nearby that you can stay at, you can start by checking here for partnering locations. Also, there will be MJBizCon-affiliated afterparties, as well as endless options for local entertainment. Thanks for stopping by!! Welcome to Cannadelics.com; an independent news platform where we work hard religiously to bring you the best in cannabis and psychedelics reporting. Hang out with us frequently to stay aware of all updates, and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always first to get the news. The post Ready for MJBizCon 2022? Possibly the Largest One to Date! Learn More Here appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/18/ready-for-mjbizcon-2022-possibly-the-largest-one-to-date-learn-more-here/ Oh, I mean it. And it’s not much of an option at this point for the US government, not if it doesn’t want to be buried in lawsuits, or look incredibly weak. Between a sweeping pardon with no legal change, and five states with ballot measures, all of which could pass; weed will have to be legal incredibly soon in the US, and likely by year’s end. Read on to understand why. Thanks for stopping by. We provide the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter to stay updated, and to give access to deals on tons of swag, including marijuana flowers, vapes, edibles, smoking paraphernalia, and cannabinoid compounds. Please pick the products you’re most comfortable using! But…will weed really be legal by the end of the year?Okay, so I can’t actually see into the future, but when the pieces are put together, they tell a compelling story. One which has been playing out in front of us for years already. Between ballot measures, and legislative measures, 19 states have recreational legalizations, and nearly 40 have medical policies. Outside of that, nearly every state has some amount of a decriminalization policy. And why shouldn’t they? No one dies from weed. Yet for this sweeping understanding that there aren’t dangers, and there are benefits; the US government has essentially been sitting around with its thumb up its butt, trying to tell us time and time again why we should be wary of the wacky weed, and repeatedly arresting people for nothing more than a joint. Imagine that, a huge and powerful government that can’t seem to understand basic principals that everyone else seems to get. Are they really that dumb? No, of course not. Anyone who calls their government or elected officials dumb, is probably the dumb one; but that doesn’t mean that government actions always look smart to those watching. The government responds to corporate payments, and we know this. With all the information out there about payments from oil companies, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and so on, even expecting the government to respond to its citizens needs, is off base. Maybe that’s how it should be, but hundreds of millions+ coming into government representative pockets says otherwise, and we just have to know that. ![]() Corporate interest payments are quite compelling, as implied by how much policy revolves around these industries (opioids are legal but cannabis isn’t…hmm?) So it says quite a bit that these payments can no longer substantiate the illegal cannabis situation. In fact, its a massive indication of the power of the people, that the federal government is changing its stance, even with all that pharma and oil and gas money coming in to stop it. How much does the plastics industry want hemp? Not even a little! But the people want it so much, that it’s coming anyway. Weed is actually an indication of how strong we can be. The current situation is an interesting one, certainly not planned on by the government. Planned or not, though, the situation now requires a decent and speedy response, and that response should come by year’s end. And really, it has to, or really soon after. That part isn’t speculation, and there are two reasons why. #1 reason weed should be legal by year’s end: the pardonIf a pardon comes as an individual act for a crime, it doesn’t say anything for the crime in general, just for the person getting the pardon. Anyone else that committed the same crime previously, at the same time, or in the future, still faces all penalties. It doesn’t stop a crime from being a crime, it just helps out a single person, for whatever reason its offered. This was represented in the spring, when President Biden pardoned one cannabis conviction, and commuted the sentences of eight other cannabis offenders. What happens when everyone who ever did a crime in the past gets pardoned for it? Isn’t that like saying it was never supposed to be considered a crime? And what happens when this is done, but with no legal precedent to stop future arrests and convictions for the same actions? Mayhem, perhaps? Or maybe just a bunch of lawsuits, and immediate case-dropping. That’s the situation we’re in. Sounds sticky for a government that just indirectly admitted wrongdoing, but didn’t feel like updating laws immediately to correspond. On Thursday, October 6th, President Biden issued a sweeping pardon for ALL federal simple possession of cannabis cases ever tried in the US (for US citizens or permanent residents). All convictions for this particular crime, will be erased, with certifications given out. But the laws of prohibition still exist. And that means new people can get arrested and convicted for a crime everyone else got pardoned for. Want to guess on the lawsuit potential? Biden did state that something must be done soon, but that’s nonspecific. Soon could mean in three years. Of course he had to say something, but that statement still doesn’t stop law enforcement from arresting more people now. Plus, not only has the government indirectly admitted wrongdoing, but its not offering compensation to anyone, while still leaving the door open for new arrests. It’s an insanely precarious situation. And one that highlights the discomfort the US government faces in this situation, which it now must expedite an answer for, because if its own action. ![]() One last point, the pardon doesn’t release anyone from prison. According to the government, no one is in federal prison for simple possession. The government is only collecting fines. While in 2019 alone there were over 500,000 simple possession arrests, “The White House estimates that about 6,500 people nationwide have federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana on their records since 1992.” Over 500,000 arrests in just one year (close to 29 million since 1965), and 6,500 convictions in almost 30 years? That’s a painful discrepancy, and points to this as a money industry for the government. Sounds like law enforcement arrest literally anyone. And how many of those arrested are paying the fine, without a conviction? I can’t find any numbers for government revenue from cannabis fines, it seems that information is kept out of the press. Possibly because of how big that number is, and its mismatch with conviction numbers? This pardon doesn’t cover new arrests or convictions, and the numbers for those it helps sound uncomfortably small considering the number of arrests each year. However, convictions or not, the arrests roll in, and in huge numbers. Now, each new one is a new liability. #2 reason weed should be legal by year’s end: the electionYup, it’s that time of year again. The time when our overlords actually grant us the ability to have a say in things. And this time around, five states are putting it directly to voters to decide the fate of cannabis legality. While it should be six states, Oklahoma is being a bit of a jerk, and allowing technical system issues to outweigh allowing the measure, essentially putting it on the people, that its governance couldn’t get its stuff together appropriately. It is meant to be scheduled for 2023 or 2024, but shouldn’t be necessary by that point. Five states do have approved ballot measures, all came in with way more signatures than needed, and all are likely to pass. In fact, one already did, two years ago. South Dakota passed a ballot measure during the 2020 elections to legalize cannabis, and its governor Kristi Noem, took it away. That state is up again and looking to right a wrong, along with North Dakota, Arkansas (which had to have its Supreme Court intervene to allow the measure), Maryland, and Missouri, which already has the bill written and ready to go. The first thing to notice here is that these ballot measures are offered in states that just a couple years ago were not thought of as states that promoted cannabis legalization. That’s how much and how quickly things have changed. It’s not just states like California, New York, and Oregon, it’s now reaching into the south. Four out of five of these measures are for southern states, an area that was previously a stronghold for prohibition until very recently. The second thing of note is just how much some governments are trying to deny making the change, like South Dakota’s legalization taken away. And Arkansas needing its Supreme Court to shoot down the State Board of Election Commissioner’s rejection of the ballot, even after all hoops were correctly jumped through. Yet, South Dakota is back at it, and Arkansas has its measure. And that says a huge amount too. ![]() If all five pass, that’s 24 states, plus DC, and half of the physical population. And that’s just recreational. Let’s remember, the US government holds cannabis as Schedule I, meaning all medical programs and decriminalization measures, also go against federal policy. There are now almost 40 medically-legal states, and very few states without some form of decriminalization. That’s a lot of going against the federal government. How much does a federal mandate mean, when all its states go against it? According to Bloomberg, 74% of the population already live where they can legally access cannabis. Truth is, even if just three pass (which will likely happen), it makes for bad optics for the federal government, and all five could go through. Should the federal government not immediately pass a new legal measure or drop prohibition laws, it then only represents 50% of the country (in terms of recreational), and is quickly headed toward the minority, with the majority of its states and territories already opposing legal measures (including all legalizations). No government wants such a weak position. Making it the second reason we can realistically expect weed to be legal by year’s end. ConclusionNo, I can’t say it for sure. It could take longer, but the reality is that it can’t take that long, not with the standing situation. While I find it odd how little the legal disparity of allowing a pardon, but not changing laws to prevent more arrests for the same thing, is mentioned in the press; this is most certainly an issue, and a reason for extreme expedition of an actual legal change. Maybe Biden just wants to wait for elections, when the reality of being outnumbered, can no longer be denied. Between the two events, my money is on weed being legal by the end of this year. As an aside, it doesn’t technically have to be legalized. It can be decriminalized to balance out the pardons and the states in contrast, or a personal use amount set. While these things can be done instead, the overall climate of the country dictates that a legalization – and the ability for a taxable market, is probably the end result. Hello everyone!! We appreciate you stopping by Cannadelics.com; a news platform where we offer top-notch reporting on the cannabis and psychedelics fields of today. Read-thru the site frequently to stay up-to-date on everything happening, and sign up for our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always up on what’s going down. The post Pardon, Elections, And Why Weed Should Be Legal By Year’s End appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/19/pardon-elections-and-why-weed-should-be-legal-by-years-end/ It’s relatively common knowledge that magic mushrooms are illegal in the United States. What is not quite as well-known, is that the laws don’t apply to all magic mushrooms. Some species, like Amanita muscaria for example, have managed to skirt the attention of federal regulators and retain their legal status… and it’s under this premise that Chillum Hemp and Mushroom Dispensary operates. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, as well as gain access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more (various cannabinoids to choose from), make sure to subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy responsibly! What’s the news?A hemp dispensary located in Florida recently started selling legal psychedelic mushroom products. The Tampa-based store was founded by Carlos Hermida in 2018, but the new products were just added to their inventory last month. These “magic” mushroom items include Amantia muscaria-based capsules, gummies, and powder – but no actual mushrooms yet. What has really captured the attention of many, is Hermida’s use of the term “magic mushrooms”. When most people hear the phrase, they automatically think of psilocybin shrooms, which are illegal and listed as Schedule I narcotics on the DEA’s list of controlled substances. However, the ‘loophole’ in this situation boils down to the specific type of mushrooms being sold. Amanita muscaria mushrooms, although psychoactive, do NOT contain any psilocybin, and thus, are legal by default. Or in other words, they’re federally legal because they have flown under the radar for so long that the government never bothered to prohibit them. Why ban something that people are barely using anyway? According to recent reports from other parts of North America, Hermida is not the only industry entrepreneur to catch on to this interesting legal ambiguity. A growing number of dispensaries in Canada have been openly selling all sorts of mushrooms and truffles, knowing that local law enforcement chooses not to target these businesses in lieu of going after opioid and amphetamine traffickers. The amanita trend is likely to catch on in other parts of the United States too, and we’ll probably see more dispensaries and smartshops that will offer these products. If it can be done in Florida – where even recreational cannabis is still prohibited despite years of medical legalization – it can probably happen in most of the country as well, especially around the West coast (and Colorado). Amantia muscaria explainedAmanita muscaria, frequently referred to as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a member of the Basidiomycota family of fungi, of the genus Amanita. This mushroom species gets the common name from its ability to attract and kill flies (and possibly mosquitos). Amanita muscaria mushrooms have round, often dome-shaped red caps with white spots and white gills. They are, without a doubt, one of the most recognizable of the toadstool mushroom species. You can spot Amanita muscaria mushrooms in the Mario franchise games, the Alice in Wonderland mushroom scene, and many other cartoons and animated games. Fly agarics are native to the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly around Europe, North America, and Siberia/Northern Asia. It’s a highly adaptable mushrooms species, evidenced by the fact that it now grows all over the world and there are many different strains and variations of Amanita muscaria. They form symbiotic connections with numerous trees and are typically found growing under pine, oak, spruce, fir, birch, and cedar. ![]() Although they have many features that make them easily discernible from other mushroom varieties, there are several known subspecies of Amanita muscaria, and some more potent/toxic than others. Additionally, new DNA fungi research has discovered that many of the mushroom types once believed to be muscarias are actually entirely different species, like the “peach-colored fly agaric”, which never lost its name even though it is not a fly agaric at all. As mentioned above, Amanita muscaria mushrooms are psychoactive and they do produce hallucinations and altered states of consciousness, but not via the same mechanisms as the more popular psilocybin varieties. Other psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca/DMT, and mescaline, are all serotonergic, meaning they interact with serotonin receptors in our brains which greatly influences the high. What a lot of people don’t understand about serotonin, is its profound effect on anxiety. The standard belief is that low levels of serotonin can produce anxious effects, but that’s not entirely accurate. Rather, a general imbalance of serotonin (either too little OR too much) can cause this. It can explain why some people get nervous and have bad trips when taking psychedelics – the effects on serotonin coupled with possible visual/auditory/sensory hallucinations can get a bit freaky. In A. muscaria, the psychoactive ingredients are muscimol and ibotenic acid. Muscimol activates the major inhibitory neurotransmitter system, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). As an inhibitory system, muscimol works by suppressing the activity of neurons in the brain. Ibotenic acid is a neurotoxin and agonist of glutamate receptors, specifically at both the N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA, and trans-ACPD receptor sites. Neurotoxins interrupt communication between neurons across a synapse, changing the way the nervous system functions. Ibotenic acid is a secondary metabolite that converts to muscimol via decarboxylation. As intense as “neurotoxin” sounds, people who use these mushrooms compare the feeling to being drunk, but with a trippier and more curious vibe to it. The muscimol in these mushrooms can produce feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, muscle jerks, drowsiness, sweating, pupil dilation, and increased body temperature. But because they are not serotonergic, it seems that anxiety and fear is less frequently associated with fly agarics (although this is not something that I can confirm myself). Current legality and future implicationsUnlike psilocybin mushrooms, fly agarics are federally legal. No loopholes, no equivocal legal texts, just plain legal; and this is simply because they haven’t received enough attention to warrant a need for amanita prohibition. Individual states could enact measures to restrict their usage, possession, and enterprise, or they can outright ban all of it – but the only state to do so at this point, is Louisiana. But that doesn’t mean that other states won’t follow their lead. On the contrary, now that they’re getting more attention, some of the more conservative states like those in the South and Midwest might soon get their own amanita laws on the books. ![]() However, it’s unlikely that the federal government will create any laws against amanita muscarias. They will eventually start implementing various regulations to ensure they are getting a cut from profits on these products (sales and excise taxes, expensive licensing for those who wish to sell them, zoning laws, etc.), but because the psychedelics industry is moving forward at such a rapid pace, it wouldn’t make much sense to start implementing new bans against old-world entheogens now. Granted, the government does many things that seem completely illogical. But in this context, what I mean is that it would make them look bad, incompetent, and disconnected; the last thing they want right now as so many states are already boldly defying federal drug laws by allowing the sale of recreational cannabis. Final thoughtsIt may not seem like that big of news, but it’s certainly exciting… particularly for those of us who have been wanting to experiment with Amanita muscaria mushrooms. Knowing that they are starting to make an appearance in US retail is progressive, if not anything else, and a positive sign of what’s to come. Thanks for stopping by!! Welcome to Cannadelics.com; an independent news platform where we work hard religiously to bring you the best in cannabis and psychedelics reporting. Hang out with us frequently to stay aware of all updates, and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always first to get the news. The post U.S. Dispensary Selling Legal “Magic” Mushrooms – What This Means for the Future appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/18/u-s-dispensary-selling-amanita-muscaria-mushrooms/ The world of psychedelics is constantly proving to have a wide range of physical and mental benefits. It seems that slowly and finally, the medical establishment is beginning to accept drugs like psilocybin and LSD as genuine medicinal treatment alternatives. In recent news, more research has been released that proves that the well-known substance within magic mushrooms can be used to treat those with alcohol addictions.We’re going to find out why this method has been working, what the study explicitly says, and other information surrounding the links between psychedelics and alcoholism. Can psilocybin tackle alcohol addiction? Let’s find out. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, as well as gain access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more (various cannabinoids to choose from), make sure to subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy responsibly! What is Alcoholism?Addictions come in many shapes and sizes, and it’s often hard to actually decipher the difference between them and habits. For example, is brushing your teeth an addiction? Well, usually habits are less harmful than addictions. The truth is that addictions are patterns of habit created, with the hope of getting a certain reward. This reward is usually the feeling that the specific substance can give you. In the case of heroin, it is that sense of euphoria. In the case of alcohol, it could be that feeling of dissociated pleasure and anti-anxiety. An addiction is something we usually don’t have much power over, and something that – over time – has a negative impact on ourselves and perhaps those around us. However, habits are usually less harmful. Alvernia writes: “Probably the most important distinction between habit vs. addiction is how choice, to an extent, is still possible with habit-forming behaviors. When it comes to addiction, people generally have a harder time making decisions because of their dependence on a substance or behavior.” Alcoholism is one of the most popular addictions – this is partially because alcohol is so easy to access and is such an integral part of most societies. In fact, In America, 1 in 12 men and 1 in 25 women have an alcohol addiction. That is around 15 million people in the US with alcohol problems. In consequence, around 95,000 people a year die from this cause – which is the third highest cause of death in the US. But the question is, what actually is alcoholism and how does it manifest itself? Well, an alcohol dependency usually means that a person puts drink above most other parts of their life, including work and family. This can sometimes cause detriment to these other parts of their life. Other signs of alcoholism include: withdrawal symptoms, not being able to stop drinking and increased tolerance. Sometimes it isn’t always easy to know when you are an alcoholic. Drinks Aware writes a helpful list of questions to ask yourself:
If the answers to these questions are ‘yes’, then perhaps it’s time to seek professional advice. How Alcoholism Is TreatedAn addiction to anything is considered a behavior, and many believe that behaviors can be changed once you’ve figured out the cause of that pattern in the brain. Usually this is based on the ‘pleasure principle’. All addictions – including sex, gambling, drugs and alcohol – cause a surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. This is like a reward to the body and to the mind when these addictions are satisfied. Once the brain realizes that a specific activity can cause that same dopamine kick, it will desire it again and again. Help Guide writes: ![]() “The brain registers all pleasures in the same way, whether they originate with a psychoactive drug, a monetary reward, a sexual encounter, or a satisfying meal… Addictive drugs provide a shortcut to the brain’s reward system by flooding the nucleus accumbens with dopamine. The hippocampus lays down memories of this rapid sense of satisfaction, and the amygdala creates a conditioned response to certain stimuli.” For years, alcoholism has been treated by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which can help to identify the negative thought patterns which usually lead to drinking. This can obviously take some time to work. Another method is a complete detoxification, taking away all access to alcohol – which usually requires help from family and friends. Another common treatment is mutual help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, which allows for addicts to not feel so alone in their struggles towards sobriety. However, in more recent times, people have begun turning their heads towards psilocybin as a possible game-changing method of stopping alcohol addiction. Psilocybin and AddictionPsilocybin is the substance within magic mushrooms that is responsible for the psychoactive effects. The substance can cause hallucinations and mind-altering perceptions. The drug acts on neural highways in the brain that include the neurotransmitter, which creates serotonin. It’s an influx of serotonin that is believed to cause many of these hallucinogenic effects. However, the research into these drugs is limited due to the fact that not a lot of medical professionals have respected the substance, until now. Science Alert writes: “Because they’re classified as Schedule 1 – meaning they have “no accepted medical use” and are illegal – it’s been pretty tough for scientists to tease out exactly what they can and can’t do.” However, a recent study – made by scientists at the New York University and published in the JAMA Psychiatry – gave a group of men and women suffering from alcohol addiction some psilocybin treatment. Those chosen were people who had around four or five drinks (or more) a day. They discovered that those given psilocybin-assisted therapy reduced their drinking by a large amount – 83% to be specific. Those given the antihistamine placebo only reduced their drinking by 51%. Stat News writes: “Eight months after the first psilocybin dose, close to half (48%) of those who had psilocybin stopped drinking altogether, twice as many as the 24% in the placebo group. The trial was double-blinded and relatively large for a psychedelics study, with 93 participants.” The study has been heralded as a massive leap towards finding a successful treatment for those suffering from alcoholism. Each participant was given 12 psychotherapy sessions over 12 weeks, with 2-day long sessions using the specific medication. It was quite obvious for the participants to tell whether they were given the placebo or not, as psilocybin has quite obvious and intense effects. Jon Kostas, a 32 guy from New York, was given the real treatment and he said: “It definitely affected my life and I’d say it saved my life… My greatest expectations were to be able to manage my cravings. This surpassed that. It eliminated my cravings.” ![]() Whilst the results were impressive, it wasn’t clear how the substance was actually affecting the brain of those involved. Plus, overall, the participants didn’t actually have as much of an alcohol dependency as is usual with these kinds of studies. Nonetheless, what this study does is it shines a light on the potential of psychedelic therapy on addiction. Hopefully there is much more to come. However, this isn’t the first time that these kinds of studies have been done. LSD and AlcoholismDuring the 50s and 60s, professionals began testing the effects that LSD had on alcoholism and the results were equally as promising. The issue back then was that none of the studies had enough participants to be considered useful. However, if you combine six of the trials done in that period, the statistics are actually quite useful. There were 536 participants over the studies, with 59% of those who received the LSD reporting lower levels of alcohol misuse. In comparison, only 38% of those who received the placebo reported the same. These benefits were said to last around 3-6 months. Nature writes: “Psychedelics were promoted by psychiatrists in the 1950s as having a range of medical uses… before political pressures in the United States and elsewhere largely ended the work… Alcoholism was considered one of the most promising clinical applications for LSD… Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson is said to have espoused the benefits of LSD in the book Pass It On: The Story of Bill Wilson and How the AA Message Reached the World.” It is believed that Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, used LSD to end his alcohol dependency. In response, he wanted others to do the same as he was amazed by the effect the substance had on him. However, Wilson had to eventually stop promoting the drug as it put the A.A reputation at risk, due to the government’s view on recreational drugs. ConclusionIt is evident that we are entering an important moment in medical research and psychedelic drugs. For the first time since the 50s, the medical establishment is again realizing how much use these sorts of substances can have on those suffering from addiction. The hope is that studies like this continue to happen and that, eventually, psilocybin and LSD-assisted therapy can be easily accessible for those who need it. Thanks for stopping by!! Welcome to Cannadelics.com; an independent news platform where we work hard religiously to bring you the best in cannabis and psychedelics reporting. Hang out with us frequently to stay aware of all updates, and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always first to get the news. The post New Study: Can Psilocybin Tackle Alcohol Addiction? appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/18/psilocybin-alcohol-addiction/ Nope, I’m not talking about celebrating Halloween, Veteran’s Day, or even Thanksgiving. You can refer to separate articles for those holidays. No, today, we’re talking about how to celebrate something we probably never thought about celebrating at all. That’s right, here are the top three ways for cannabis aficionados to enjoy the elections this fall. Thanks for joining us. Cannabis is the talk of elections this year, and you can keep up with the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, which also provides access to loads of deals on stuff like marijuana flowers, vapes, edibles, smoking devices, and cannabinoid compounds. Please enjoy responsibly! Yeah, I get it. I’m telling you to get all excited about election season, and its not like an election is the big party of the year for most of us. Hell, a lot of us won’t even vote, and that’s okay too, as voting is a personal decision. So why am I harping on election season this year? Because in the world of cannabis, these elections are very important, and could be the nail in the coffin for federal cannabis prohibition. This election isn’t to elect a president, but is instead geared toward congress, and other representatives. It’s an election that shouldn’t be terribly exciting, but comes at just the right time, that it is. Five states have ballot measures for recreational cannabis, and that could mean just about half the US’s states going weed legal, and all subsequent federal repercussions. It’s exciting! #3 Way – With a joint, spliff, vape, edible, bong, dab, oil, or tinctureIf you didn’t get the point of the heading, its to get high. This election season, you should watch the news reports on votes coming in, and you should do it stoned. Why? Why should it be this way? Because this year’s elections might very well be the veritable straw that breaks the camel’s back. Yup, we’re at a turning point, and this election might be what forces a change in official federal direction. ![]() Right now, 19 states are legal for recreational use, and nearly 40 are legal for medical use. Apart from these, several other states have decriminalization policies, ranging in how broad they are, and what they cover. But according to the federal government, cannabis is a Schedule I Controlled Substance, with no medical potential, and with an overall dangerous nature. The thing is, its sometimes okay to have discrepancy between federal law and state law. But its now getting to the point where already half the population live in legal locations, with more on the way. And that means the federal government is losing to its states. It also means a growing issue with an act that’s perfectly allowable in one state, incurring penalties in another. An overall failure of the use of states rights. In order to keep its stance, the federal government has to put out danger smear campaigns, deny medical abilities, and make up statistics that show some kind of death or danger aspect. And its getting harder and harder to do this with a country (and world) of people who no longer agree. If the US doesn’t want to keep going in contrast to all its states, it eventually has to change policy. And if it doesn’t want to look weak, it has to do it soon. Why this election? About 50% of the population are in legal states now. And there are five more states with ballot measures for legalization. If all five make it, that means 24 states will be legal, plus DC, and that’s half of all locations, and well over half of the population. Even two or three states passing measures means an inarguable majority living in legal locations. In fact, according to a recent Bloomberg article, 74% of the population live where they can legally access cannabis in some way already, but this election can push recreational access over the 50% line. So even if just three, or just two, or just one more state falls, the numbers are simply too high. Plus, all of these ballot measures come from petitions that gathered well over the minimum requirements for signatures, and most are quite likely to go through. So why not celebrate these elections by taking out your favorite type of weed paraphernalia, and getting yourself baked? It’s kind of the order of the day. #2 Way – At the polls – duh!The reality is that no one has the right to tell anyone else what they should do when it comes to voting. Telling people to go to the polls is as bad as telling them what to vote for. We used to hold voting privacy as sacred, something ruined by social media, and our need to put our own opinions on other people. But the reality is the reality. Voting is meant to be a private matter, and that includes whether it happens or not. ![]() So, if you’d rather not take part, that’s all good. But if you are of the poll-minded variety, get your butt over to your local voting center, especially if you’re in a state with a ballot, and want to see weed legalized. Not only can you practice your given right to vote for your chosen candidates and, in the case of ballot measures, policy; but with everything going on in the world of weed, your vote might actually help force a federal changeover this time around. This doesn’t have to relate to a direct ballot measure, and is also attached to which representatives win. This election season, take part (if you feel like it). And if you’re in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Maryland, or Missouri, know that your vote can help determine legal policy concerning marijuana in your state, and that this can go on to affect the rest of the country. It’s not a duty or a responsibility, but if you can, and especially if you’re in a state with a ballot measure, make your way over to cast your vote. Even if you don’t believe in fair elections, this is partly an optics game, and every physical body to promote the cause, helps. #1 Way – With an election partyAs stated earlier in this article, elections aren’t generally thought of as the most exciting times, especially when there’s no presidential race. I mean, they can be, particularly when it is a heated presidential election, but a lot of the time they don’t make waves to the masses as much as other things going on. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Maybe this year, throw an election party, complete with all the weed, and weed edibles you can think of. You can gather together like-minded friends and party it out as the votes roll in. You can even make a smoking game out of it. Every time the word ‘legalization’ is said, take a hit. ![]() Or any time you hear the words ‘ballot measure’, pack a new bowl. You can come up with any number of ways to play the game, and no matter how exactly its done, it’ll be the best smoking game you played, and everyone is sure to end up completely blasted. The best part of throwing a cannabis party for the elections, is that regardless of whether the news is good or bad, you’ll be plenty high. A buzzy head is certainly great for enjoying good news, but its also a way to take the edge off of bad news. Maybe things won’t go as desired on the weed front, and maybe we’ll want to console ourselves in the process. And if they do turn out how we want, we’re perfectly baked, and ready to celebrate. ConclusionI say we make election season exciting this year. We’ve got our high-quality, indoor-grown, sticky, brightly-colored ganja, and an election that could spell change on a very big level. It’s definitely time to break out the premium cannabis, as these elections are all about the weed. Hello and welcome!! We appreciate you making your way to Cannadelics.com; an independent news platform where we work hard to offer you high-level reporting on the cannabis and psychedelics spaces of today. Join us regularly to stay current on what’s going on, and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you never miss a single thing. The post Top 3 Ways to Enjoy This Fall’s Cannabis Elections appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/16/top-3-ways-to-enjoy-this-falls-cannabis-elections/ Ongoing research shows cannabis plays a role in gastric motility. Gastric motility is the action by which food travels through the digestive tract. The process is controlled by a series of muscles that line the digestive tract, causing muscular contractions known as peristalsis. When peristalsis is functioning normally, food moves from the mouth to the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and exits through the anus. Stomach acids and bile aid this process. Peristalsis is a wave-like kind of muscle contraction that moves solids and liquids through the digestive tract. It’s not a voluntary muscle movement, meaning it’s not something a person can consciously control. The muscles operate when stimulated by food consumption. When peristalsis is not functioning – a condition called gastric dysmotility – it can cause a range of symptoms that vary in severity. The most common symptoms include diarrhea and constipation. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, as well as gain access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more (various cannabinoids to choose from), make sure to subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy responsibly! Causes of Motility DisordersPeristalsis works in a coordinated and orderly manner to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. In the stomach, food is converted to a substance called chyme, that is then moved through the intestines and finally, to the anus where it is excreted. A disorder or dysmotility results in either too slow and/or too fast movement of food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Any change in the speed of movement can cause symptoms. Motility disorders can occur as a result of dysfunction of the nerves and/or muscles in any region of the GI tract. If the muscles are not working correctly, it’s known as myopathy. When the nerves are affected, the conditions are related to neuropathy. The exact cause is often unknown. Dysmotility may present on its own or be linked to another underlying condition. In some cases, the condition is hereditary. Types of Motility DisordersTypes of motility disorders vary depending on which area of the GI tract is affected by the condition. The following are the most common conditions associated with motility disorders. Gastroparesis Another term for gastroparesis is “delayed gastric emptying,” a condition where the stomach is slow to empty chyme. Once food has been digested, a healthy stomach will move chyme into the small intestine. When the nerves that control the stomach are damaged, causing food to move too slowly, it will cause symptoms including nausea, burping, bloating, heartburn, indigestion, regurgitation and/or vomiting. Gastroparesis is linked to diabetes, which accounts for one-third of cases. The opposite also exists, where food empties too quickly, a condition called dumping syndrome or rapid gastric emptying. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the functionality of the digestive system, altering motility. In some cases, motility is too fast, leading to chronic diarrhea (IBS-D), or in others, too slow, causing chronic constipation (IBS-C.) It’s also possible to have a mix of both diarrhea and constipation, known as IBS-M. Other symptoms include pain, bloating and fatigue. Esophageal Spasms Esophageal Spasms are irregular contractions of the muscles in your esophagus, the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. The cause is unknown, but the symptoms include chest pain, which can sometimes be mistaken for a heart attack. Hirschsprung’s Disease Hirschpring’s disease is a congenital disorder, leading to poor motility that causes a blockage in the large intestine. It’s more common in males than females and is sometimes linked to inherited conditions such as Down syndrome. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) GERD is a condition where the contents of the stomach move back up the esophagus causing heartburn and reflux. It can also lead to difficulty in swallowing, chronic cough, bad breath, and if left untreated, can lead to further complications. ![]() Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) SIBO, as the name suggests, is the presence of too many bacteria in the small intestine, leading to motility issues, and other problems including pain, bloating, gas, fecal incontinence and nausea. Cannabinoids in the GI TractIn the 1980s, the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) led to a new understanding of human physiology. More recently, it’s led to a new understanding of gut health. The ECS is made up of CB receptors that are located throughout the body. CB1 receptors are found in the GI tract, predominantly in the myenteric (nervous system in the small intestine) and submucosal neurons (regulators of water and electrolyte secretion and blood flow in the gut), and in non-neuronal cells such epithelial cells (type of cell tissue found on surface of organs and blood vessels.) CB2 receptors are found in the immune system, and are present in the gut as part of an inflammatory response. Endocannabinoids or cannabinoid ligands (messengers) activate CB receptors. Two of the main endocannabinoids identified in mammalian tissue include anandamide and 2-arachydonylglycerol (2-AG.) Endocannabinoids are produced on demand, activating biological responses. Following activation, they are de-activated through an enzymatic process that provokes further biological responses. Each of these responses has implications for gut health. Current understanding of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids relies heavily on findings from animal studies. The following is a summary of the major functions of cannabinoids in the GI tract:
Therapeutic Uses of Cannabinoids on GI MotilityFurther research needs to be undertaken to define and refine the therapeutic uses of cannabis and cannabinoids in treating GI disorders. However, what’s known as a result of animal studies and human studies (with less than 20-30 participants) is that cannabinoids affect motility by direct action on the GI tract and indirect action via the nervous system. In fact, it’s been known for decades that cannabinoids reduce intestinal motility. However, more recently that it was discovered this action is due to the activation of CB1 receptors, an effect which is counteracted by the selective CB1 antagonists, rimonabant. An agonist is a chemical that activates a biological response, whereas an antagonist blocks a biological response. For example, due to their effects on motility and secretion, CB1 agonists might be useful to treat IBS-D, whereas CB1 antagonists could be useful to treat IBS-C. Also, activation of CB2 receptors, which are present during inflammation, may be useful to treat IBS-D. To treat GI sensitivities, a possible solution could be a type of enzyme-blocker that raises anandamide levels. ![]() As both CB1 and CB2 receptors are present on the gut-brain axis and are involved in triggering of the lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, it suggests a possible treatment for esophageal spasms. In a study on guinea pigs, activation of CB2 receptors reduced microvascular leakage. Therefore, an increased CB tone could inhibit gastro-esophageal reflux along with adjunct therapy. On top, it’s believed that changes in levels of endogenous cannabinoids during inflammation may contribute to motility issues. Depending on the site of inflammation, both CB1 and CB2 receptors may reduce the hyper-motility associated with gut inflammation. In some animal studies, hyper-motility was completely normalized by a CB2 receptor agonist. Final ThoughtsThe human body is complex, and the discovery of the ECS, which acts as a modulator between the digestive, immune and nervous systems adds to that complexity. However, it also opens the door to new fields of research that can offer solutions to a range of gastric conditions. For now, more work needs to be done to offer patients reliable treatments, but due to the high number of people with motility disorders, this issue is of huge interest to researchers. It’s not unreasonable to expect major breakthroughs in this field in the near future. 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 Can Cannabis Aid Gastric Motility Disorders? appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/15/can-cannabis-aid-gastric-motility-disorders/ Podcaster and Onnit co-founder, Aubrey Marcus, is a proponent of using psychedelics for both self-development and healing trauma. He regularly talks to guests who are experts in this field. On a recent show, he talked with Dr. Dan Engle, a psychiatrist, entrepreneur and author, who has a unique background in neurocognitive restoration and psychedelic research. Marcus refers to Dr. Engle as a “thought leader” in the psychedelic research space, and praises the doctor’s recent book, “A Dose of Hope,” about MDMA-assisted therapy. The book is a No.1 bestseller on Amazon. In this podcast, Dr. Engle dives into the current psychedelic renaissance, exploring the healing traits of individual psychedelics, explaining why and how they work differently. To stay current on everything important happening in the industry, as well as gain access to deals on cannabis flowers, vapes, edibles, and much more (various cannabinoids to choose from), make sure to subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy responsibly! Dr. Engle’s BackgroundIt’s worth mentioning that Dr. Engle’s is a hands-on researcher. He and Marcus met around 15 years ago in the desert town of Sedona. Even back then, Marcus thought of Engle as the “future of medicine” due to his experience as a medical doctor, holistic therapist and psychedelic researcher. He has spent years in the Amazon Jungle. Engle sees “all the medical interventions as having a place at the table.” He gives the example of the time he broke his neck, saying: “When that happened I didn’t go to see my homeopath.” He recognizes that emergency care services, pharmaceuticals and surgery are essential in some cases, but also that the body’s natural healing process can be enhanced with holistic and psychedelic modalities. Over the course of his career, Engle has explored different “dogmas,” but thanks psychedelics for opening his mind to the possibility of integration. For five years before going into the jungle, he went the “other extreme,” and was “against all allopathic medicine.” So much so that when he picked up a virus during his first ayahuasca experience and his body went into septic shock, he refused to take antibiotics. ![]() However, ayahuasca changed his thinking. “I learned more about myself in one weekend with ayahuasca than one decade of psychiatric training,” he says. Back then he was angry with the psychiatric field for “bastardizing sacred plant medicine technologies.” But ayahuasca gave him new hope because he could see the value in being a “bridge” between the allopathic and plant medicine. Meeting AyahuascaDr. Engle stresses the importance of having the right mindset, attitude and grace when interacting with any plant medicine. Ultimately, he sees plant medicine as a vector that teaches a person about themselves, and warns: “Those that come into our lives to be reflections of our power, integrity and value system, sometimes … come in really uncomfortable ways.” He believes there’s a valid reason why he got so sick during his first ayahuasca experience, and it had to do with his attitude. He explains how he had been on a “diet” for weeks at that point. “Dieting” is the term that’s used to describe the traditional way of working with plants to get to know them better and receive their energy or gifts. It involves food restrictions but only to allow deeper connections with nature. During his diet, Engle was receiving lots of information about integrative medicine, and got so excited about all he was learning, he approached the ceremonial shaman, and in bad Spanish, told him, “You’re my teacher,” and offered a gift. Shortly after, Engle got sick, and for years after that first experience, his ayahuasca journey was “blocked,” meaning the plant had mild to no effect on him. It took him years to piece the story together and fully understand what had happened. First, he realized his audacity to walk into a “sacred space that had been held for lineage of shamans,” and demand to be a student. But also, he had given the shaman a gift, which in the world of plant medicine enabled a part of Engle’s energetic field to be drained. Five years later, he went to a retreat, and on the first night, he dreamt of being visited by a different shaman who told him he was “carrying a blockage.” During the ceremony he attended that evening, the ceremonial shaman performed intense icaros over him, and Engle could feel the pressure inside his body. Until finally there was a release and “the visual landscape opened up,” and suddenly he felt, “whole, free, light and inspired.” Seeing Trauma as an AllyEngle admits that when he came back from the Amazon, he was dealing with suicidal depression due to the personal challenge of re-integrating back into day-to-day life. After experiencing the ceremony where his blocks were released, he realized everything that had happened over the previous five years of his plant medicine journey was exactly what he needed, it was all “for him.” ![]() During his meditations, he was focusing on principles that were of value to him: humility, integrity, reverence and gratitude – using them as guides for his interactions, for how to “walk in the world.” Though he wasn’t aware of it at the time, that mindset was causing him to live with a sort of “victim mentality.” In many ways, his first shaman, the one who blocked him, turned out to be his best teacher. He revealed, the “shamanic path is a power path, not a spiritual path.” This discovery prompted a “total reframe” for Engle. For the first time he could see that life was happening “for him not to him,” and he came to understand that whatever lessons come along the way, it was up to him to imbue his “power with spiritual virtues and values.” The experience taught Engle the hardest life lessons are typically the best teachers, and it’s possible to “turn trauma into an ally.” Marcus picks up on this point, describing his own run-ins with the “dark side” on psychedelics, saying that the experience can be “scary” but “what it’s showing you is a mirror,” and with it, the knowledge that “the darkness is within you.” Engle agrees, and says it takes “a lot of courage to come face-to-face” with that dark force. Both men recognize that this is often the most challenging aspect of using psychedelics. As challenging as it is, Engle believes it’s also vitally important, as the “darkness” is needed to “hone the light.” He explains that there’s a spectrum of consciousness along which everything exists, both good and bad, and we always have the choice to enter “the dark path, whatever that means,” but the adversarial force is necessary, as it prompts us to cement our values. New Perspectives with Psychedelics“The ego doesn’t know the difference between annihilation and transformation because the ego experiences them as the same,” explains Dr. Engle, “We go through this annihilating process so we can deprogram all of the ego constructs that we’re imbued with [through childhood, as well as] trans-generationally [and] collectively. We have to be deprogramed of all those things to come back to our inherent nature.” He calls this process both “disorientating,” “highly uncomfortable” and “highly inconvenient,” especially in today’s society, where “we don’t have the time or the space for that.” Current mental health models that reduce the mind to “chemical components” don’t hold up for him, as he’s an advocate of what he calls “soul-centered” medicine. In this model, he takes into consideration a person’s “karma” (past experience), “persona” (current state) and “darma” (sense of purpose.) Engle is a proponent of taking “radical responsibility” for our lives, and in that action, he believes it’s impossible not to feel the power that each individual possesses. He takes the idea one step further, saying that each individual is responsible for the ongoing “expansion” of the universe, and that’s what makes us to powerful on both an individual and collective level. ![]() However, he also notes that our psychology has yet to catch up with the speed of our technological evolution, which is why so many people feel overwhelmed. He doesn’t want people to overlook the travesties of modern life, he wants people to be able to see the catastrophes and understand that they are part of life. For him, this is where psychedelics play a key role, as they can help people get to the point of being able to hold and accept both the beauty and horror of existence. Final ThoughtsDr. Engle is a fascinating character, a doctor who takes his practice so seriously, it’s not enough for him to read the research of others, he has to experience it firsthand. That not only gives him an edge, but also means he’s full of hard-won wisdom. One of his heroes is Victor Frankl, the Austrian psychiatrist, and he quotes him, saying: “The last of the great human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.” For Engle, plant medicine and psychedelics have the unique ability to guide people towards that choice. Check out this podcast, it’s well worth the watch, and may just change your understanding of psychedelics. 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 Dr. Dan Engle on Using Psychedelics to Heal Trauma appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/14/dr-dan-engle-on-using-psychedelics-to-heal-trauma/ President Biden just fulfilled a campaign promise to help those who have been hurt by cannabis laws. He did this by way of a pardon for people with simple possession convictions. This sounds forward-thinking, but it comes with some harsh realities about the world of weed incarceration. Here are five of the saddest things to understand about marijuana arrests and convictions, that still exist in our current climate of growing weed acceptance. Thanks for joining us. Keep current with the news by subscribing to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, and get yourself prime access to tons of offers on merchandise like marijuana flowers, vapes, edibles, smoking devices, cannabinoid compounds, and more. Pick carefully and enjoy responsibly! 1 – They happen, like, all the timeIf you thought 19 states passing recreational legalizations, and around 40 with medical legalizations, means the topic of marijuana arrests is no longer a thing, you’re certainly incorrect. While its true that about half the country live in weed-legal locations, this hasn’t stopped the federal government from going after just about anyone it can. How many arrests does this actually account for? As per an FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2019, (released in October, 2020), there were 545,602 arrests related to marijuana that year (possession, sales, and manufacturing). In 2019, there were at least 11 legalized states, meaning at the time that over a half million people were getting arrested for cannabis, much of the country was already legal. These arrest numbers outnumber all other classes of drug arrests, outside of drunk driving. Meaning meth arrests, opioid arrests, and cocaine arrests, are all fewer than cannabis arrests. As far as 2020 statistics, the FBI released data that shows about 350,150 marijuana arrests, with less information on how many were for simple possession. This number is smaller, but hardly small enough considering how much of the country was weed-legal at the time. In terms of 2021 reporting, the FBI’s updated and incomprehensible crime statistics reporting, has made it impossible to know any hard numbers. This is odd, as it indicates the US can’t, or won’t, tally these arrests accurately. Which makes it look like the US government is trying not to keep track of who it arrests for weed, anymore. ![]() Maybe a pardon was made, but no policy was updated, meaning no laws changed. And that means arrests will still be made, creating a wild contradiction. And a reason for tons of lawsuits. With 19 legal states, its already insane people still get arrested for weed; and more insane that this will absolutely continue following a pardon. And for that matter, its insane that people in one state, are getting penalized for what others can openly do in another state, in the very same country. States rights sometimes fail. 2 – Sometimes more than violent crime arrestsNot only are marijuana arrests still happening, but they happen more than violent crime arrests, and that’s just sad no matter how you look at it. Even if this isn’t always the case, that any recent year shows this, is a horrible indication about how law enforcement resources are used, and the inanity that a plant with no death toll could rack up more police time, than violence. But for at least 2019, that’s exactly the case. Remember that number from above? The total marijuana arrests in 2019? It was 545,602. Let’s take a step back for a second, and break some numbers down. That year, there were 10,085,207 federal arrests made altogether. Of those 10,085,207, 495,871 arrests came from violent crimes. On the other hand, 1,558,862 of those arrests were for drugs in general, which accounts for all drug categories (outside of drunk driving). 35% of these drug-related arrests were for cannabis, which equals 545,602. So 545,602 people were arrested for some kind of cannabis activity, and 495,871 were arrested for violent crimes, including murder. That the numbers are so close in a country with a 2021 approximated murder and assault total of 1,313,200 incidences, is as scary as those perpetrating the violent crimes. Very little in life is as nonsensical as locking people up for smoking a plant that makes them calm and happy and which doesn’t kill anyone; while spending less resources going after those who actually and intentionally hurt other people. 3 – Most are for simple possession (personal use)Since we’re looking at numerical breakdowns of weed arrests, lets look at another aspect. There are several weed crimes, some that make more sense than others. For example, while many of us still don’t agree that hauling any plant material over a border should be considered trafficking a drug, it makes more sense for a person to get arrested when caught doing this, than it does to arrest a person for hitting a joint. The thing is, so many of these arrests are for nothing more than the latter. The kind of thing that’s often decriminalized, even in places without a legalization. Simple possession means possession for personal use, without intent to sell. Often a decriminalization comes with a personal use amount, which is the cutoff for other crimes like trafficking or intent to sell. Without a decriminalization or personal use allowance, even half a joint in your pocket, is enough for arrest. ![]() In the 2019 data, simple possession made up way too many of the arrests that went down. So let’s go back again to that year. 10,085,207 total federal arrests. Of those, 1,558,862 were drug arrests. Of those, 545,602 were cannabis arrests. Of those, 92% were for simple possession only, meaning 500,394 arrests. Still more than violent crime that year. 4 – You pay out!Getting arrested sure messes with a person’s life, and can come with possible jail time. Plus, it often means paying out in the form of fines and defense fees. Some might say these fines are the government’s biggest incentive for making cannabis arrests in the first place, since essentially no one is hurt by the drug, (even THC overdoses don’t result in death). The government makes money from fines imposed. That’s a given. But so is paying out to defend your position. Sure, you might get a court appointed lawyer, but chances are, the process will still cost money, and for those who prefer more specific representation, this ups the price. It’s also time away from work, time kids need to be watched, and paying for a host of legal fees not incorporated into initial costs. It’s expensive getting caught with drugs. Weed punishments on a federal level for possession crimes go like this, and include all amounts at all levels: 1st offense – considered a misdemeanor, with up to a year in prison, and $1,000 in fines. 2nd offense – considered a misdemeanor, with 15 days (mandatory minimum) – 2 years in prison, and $2,500 in fines. 3rd offense – considered a misdemeanor or a felony, with 90 days (mandatory minimum) – 3 years in prison, and $5,000 in fines. And this is nothing compared to legal fees, and other costs accrued in the defense process. All of which could’ve been initiated, from less than one gram of weed. 5 – Pardons don’t get money back or pay for wrongful imprisonmentThis last point, goes with the point above. Getting arrested for weed costs money, and even if you get exonerated, you don’t get that money back, or restitution for time-served. This is a point which is relevant now, since many people just had their convictions scrubbed clean as part of a widespread pardoning by the White House, for simple cannabis possession sentences. A widespread pardon of this level not only implies, but comes with the indirect statement, that such an activity by the government is wrong. Yet, even as the government essentially admits wrongdoing (indirectly, of course), it offers no repayment for damages. It might take off a conviction, but what if you lost thousands of dollars because of it? What if you lost your job? Your kids? Your reputation? Those who got screwed over, should be compensated, right? ![]() Fat chance of that. In his speech, Biden specifically said this: “No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana… It’s legal in many states, and criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And that’s before you address the racial disparities around who suffers the consequences. While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.” He’s making it sound like it isn’t his own government that perpetrated these crimes on the people; and maybe that’s the idea. He doesn’t take responsibility (on behalf of the government), or offer remission of fines. Which means all that money taken by the government, was taken for something now considered non-justifiable, but which isn’t being given back. The government is offering pardons, while keeping all the spoils. ConclusionWe all know a bunch of people sit in prison, halfway houses, lose jobs (or can’t get them), and deal with family stress, all related to possession of a plant that drives the appetite and brings on a feeling of chill. We all know it happens, but sometimes, we don’t know how much it happens. Well, now you have a better idea. Keep this in mind as the debate goes on, because as long as the federal government holds weed as illegal, these marijuana arrests will continue, pardon or not. Welcome readers!! Thanks for making your way to Cannadelics.com; a news site where we work hard to bring you top-notch independent reporting on the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Join us whenever possible to keep current with what’s going on, and subscribe to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you never miss a single thing. The post Five Saddest Realities of Marijuana Arrests appeared first on Cannadelics. Via https://cannadelics.com/2022/10/14/five-saddest-realities-of-marijuana-arrests/ |
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
April 2023
Categories |