Top 10 Benefits Of Vaping Over Smoking

In almost every country, people are vaping rather than smoking. However, some still do not believe in its benefits.

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5 Things To Know Before Going On A Road Trip

Road trips are becoming more popular due to COVID-19. Here are 5 things you should account for before signing on.

The post 5 Things To Know Before Going On A Road Trip appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Actor, comedian, and well-known stoner Seth Rogen has said, “I smoke weed all day and every day and have for 20 years. For me, it’s like glasses or shoes.” If the work of Seth Rogen — most famous for the films Knocked Up and Pineapple Express and TV show Freaks & Geeks — isn’t ringing a bell, then you’ve probably heard the Dr. Dre song, “Smoke Weed Every Day.” You’ve definitely heard of  cannabis entrepreneur and pot culture icon Snoop Dogg, who reportedly smokes a whopping 81 blunts per day. 

There’s no question that there are plenty of celebrities and consumers who smoke weed every day. But it begs a separate question: is smoking weed every day a good idea? If so, what actually happens? 

THC and your body and brain

To learn more, we spoke with Dr. Adie Rae, an assistant scientist at the Portland, Oregon-based Legacy Research Institute. She is also the resident subject matter expert in cannabis science and pharmacology here at Weedmaps.

Undoubtedly, cannabis consumption has many benefits, including, but not limited to: managing chronic pain, ameliorating PTSD, helping people gain weight, managing epilepsy and anxiety, and so much more. And let’s not forget, cannabis consumption can spark creativity and productivity, and just be fun without any justifications thanks to THC, the cannabinoid that gets you high.  

Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Nonetheless, according to Dr. Rae, there are more reasons not to smoke weed every than to consume with such regularity. While the definition of what constitutes heavy consumption is up for debate, Rae says that heavy cannabis use may increase the risk for the following conditions: 

• Hyperemesis: a rare condition that leads to repeated and severe vomiting, it is associated with daily use of cannabis.
• Cannabis use disorder: a diagnosis given for problematic marijuana consumption.
• Schizophrenia/psychosis: schizophrenia is a rare, chronic brain disorder that includes delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and thoughts. Psychosis is but one symptom of schizophrenia that affects how the brain processes information. Early and excessive cannabis use can express symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Abuse of other substances (which Rae emphasizes is correlation and not the gateway theory that cannabis causes other drug abuse).

You may have  heard the quote, “Physician, heal thyself,” and some hold that all cannabis use is ultimately medicinal, whether intentional or not. However, in some instances, heavy cannabis consumption could make some aspects of our health worse. “There is the possibility that daily consumption could worsen depression and interfere with both male and female reproduction,” Rae added. “But the data is fuzzy and more research is needed.” 

Building THC tolerance and the endocannabinoid system  

A fact that needs no explanation to consumers is that regular cannabis consumption inevitably leads to tolerance. During weed consumption, THC attaches to CB1 receptors, located throughout the body as part of the endocannabinoid system, a physiological process that helps the body create and maintain bodily harmony. When THC locks into the CB1 receptor, we not only get the feeling of being “high,” but other systems are modulated, including sleep, pain, and appetite. 

But when THC is regularly consumed or for prolonged periods of time, the sensitivity of the CB1 receptor becomes reduced, which leads to reduced effects. How long it takes for tolerance to set in depends on a few factors, including how often you consume, the level of THC you’re consuming, and your own personal biology. 

“Tolerance means that you need more and more to achieve the desired effect,” Rae explained. “This can get pretty ugly, where folks can no longer get high from flower, and they can only feel something if they use high-dose edibles or dabs. Increased frequency and high doses of THC are also associated with all the potential risks mentioned earlier.”

Developing cannabis tolerance can also be expensive. Once you’ve developed the tolerance, in order to meet the same desired effect, you’ll have to do one of two things: 1) spend more money to consume more frequently, or 2) consume higher potency THC products, which can reach $75 or more for an eighth.

To avoid tolerance, Rae said consumers should take a “T-break,” a deliberate break from cannabis consumption to reset the body’s tolerance to THC. “By taking regular tolerance breaks — at least 48 hours every 30 days — a person can keep their endocannabinoid system sensitive to THC,” she added. “Increasing doses aren’t required to feel the effects of cannabis, avoiding dose escalation, and thereby avoiding risks and costs.”  

Should you smoke weed every day? Probably not. Make sure you carve out time for a t-break to gain the most benefits both financially and for your good health. 

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

The post What happens if you smoke weed everyday? appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Here’s What Can Happen If You Give Marijuana To Minors

It might sound like sharing weed with your teen is a hip move, but it can actually get a person in deep trouble with the law.

The post Here’s What Can Happen If You Give Marijuana To Minors appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Weed is pretty high on the list of things to be thankful for, and since Thanksgiving is all about gratitude — as well as all manner of delicious food — having just the right strains on hand is a recipe for an extra gratified day. And bringing the right pre-roll, tincture, or concentrate to the Holiday table can level up your Thanksgiving and keep you gratefully interested in leftovers all weekend. 

If your Thanksgiving is spent solo or with a small, socially-distanced get-together, the perfect cultivar will make gorging yourself on green bean casserole feel like picnicking on a cloud. 

Though these strains each feature their own singular virtues, they all share one common effect: fantastic munchies. What better way to wet your appetites for an incredible Thanksgiving meal? 

Purple Bubba

Purple Bubba is the result of a Purple Kush/Bubba OG crossbreed, and having inherited its parents’ sedative effects, can be counted on for a deeply relaxing intoxication. The big time munchie feature, however, is unique to the Purple Bubba cultivar, and should definitely be capitalized on for Thanksgiving

Historically, this cultivar’s most reported effects are a deep, cashmere body buzz that massages away stress, a cushiony head high that gently blurs cognition, and the sudden arrival of a very excited appetite. 

If this year’s festivities call for both maximum stoney relaxation and ultimate munchy indulgence, Purple Bubba has the potential to deliver. Expect a skunky sweetness in the nose and a cottony, musky exhale.

White Yoda

This balanced hybrid can manifest a relaxing high or something more effervescent, depending on the user, but across the board, whether drowsy and perky, users report feeling particularly indulgent after consuming White Yoda. And while that alone makes it a pretty  Thanksgiving-friendly strain, this year’s festivities can be accentuated further still by smoking White Yoda while catching up on the adventures of Baby Yoda, then eating a lump of mashed potatoes smooshed into the shape of Original Yoda. 

White Yoda was bred from two balanced hybrid parents, Lowryder and a White Russian clone seven generations deep. The terpene profile is led by linalool, myrcene, and beta-pinene. Expect a sharp perfume that lingers in the nose and a dank exhale that lingers in the air. 

Josh D OG

Josh D OG is a popular therapeutic strain, reportedly delivering a deeply relaxing body high while activating a healthy appetite. This strain’s soothing reputation, however, belies a sweet euphoric streak that can gently uplift the mood. For a few, this high tilts toward an energetic euphoria. Either way, it tends to leave its users with substantial cravings.

Most of this strain’s relaxing effects can be attributed to its parents, SFV OG, Triangle Kush, and Hell’s Angels OG, each known for their sedative qualities. The terpene profile is led by myrcene, and beta-Caryophyllene, with a suggestion of limonene. Expect a savory stink that’s faintly citrusy, and a sharp, woodsy exhale. 

Grape Cookies

Grape Cookies, a cultivar bred from GSC and Grape Krush not only smells of grapes and cookies, it will reportedly activate an overwhelming sweet tooth. And since the best holiday munchies reside at the dessert table, this strain is spot-on for adventures in Thanksgiving eating.

With an onset that builds slowly to a mellow, snacky plateau, this cultivar’s profile skews slightly sedative, but the hybrid aspects of its lineage provide a nice balance. . In addition to its fruity sweetness, the strain’s profile is rounded out by an earthy funk and potent diesel overtones. Expect a grassy inhale that blooms into a sweet, hearty exhale.

Silver Bubble

If your holiday celebrations require silver service, don’t stop at the soup spoons. Go all the way and stock up on Silver Bubble, a stoney hybrid with a luxurious munchie streak. Lovers of Silver Bubble report a high that’s mentally stimulating with a stoney munchie streak. Before settling into a Thanksgiving feast, a little of this may balance out your mood and open up your appetite. 

Silver Bubble is parented by heritage strains Haze, Northern Lights, and Skunk. The result is a frosty green flower with a fruity, sour perfume and buttery flavor. Expect tartness in the nose and a savory exhale.

Sumo Grande

Bred from the hybrid strain Hong Kong and rare sativa Nina Limone, Sumo Grande reportedly takes after its momma, with an energetic effect that is followed by ravenous munchies. 

But Sumo Grande is more complex than just energetic snack fuel, many users report creative effects, making this strain’s Thanksgiving value abundant in the kitchen as well as the dinner table. Expect a piney citrus perfume and a light, herbaceous exhale.

CBD Rich Blessing

A marginally stoney 2:1 THC:CBD hybrid strain like CBD Rich Blessing is a good introductory strain for newbies. It’s most frequently reported effects include pain relief, lifted mood, and a manageable wave of munchies. It appears often in tinctures, which makes it more approachable — if meemaw is down to vibe but not down to take a blunt to the face, a dropper of CBD Rich Blessing in her iced tea might be the perfect compromise.

Expect an earthy perfume and dank, herby mouthfeel. 

Royal Highness

Royal Highness is another 2:1 THC:CBD strain that features appetite stimulation among its many effects. This strain’s low THC percentage isn’t an indication that the high is any less nuanced or complex than more psychoactive strains. Most users find this hybrid to be a balanced daytime smoke, with a breezy relaxation that leads  to the munchies. 

Bred from high CBD strains, Respect and Dance Hall, Royal Highness carries on her parents’ therapeutic effects, but also delivers a singular cannabinoid and terpene expression all her own. 

Expect a sharp, but sweet and skunky perfume with a woody exhale.  

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

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Hemp: Marijuana Or Not Marijuana?

Since the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill in December, 2018, significant attention has been paid to the differences between hemp and marijuana.

The post Hemp: Marijuana Or Not Marijuana? appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Now that the election is over and the dust has settled, we can be sure of two things: (1) cannabis was the real election night winner, and (2) Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

After the widespread success of cannabis legalization ballot measures on election night, cannabis advocates now have a new focus: Biden’s Cabinet.

Serving as the President’s advisory board, the Cabinet consists of the Vice President and 15 executive department heads. Biden has already begun announcing his selections, making key diplomatic, national security and economic nominations, and those choices could have a profound and far-reaching influence in shaping the cannabis policy landscape.

One position of particular relevance to the cannabis industry is the Attorney General. NORML, a national legalization advocacy group, wrote an open letter to President-elect Joe Biden demanding he appoints an Attorney General that will respect state-level cannabis laws, acknowledge the failures of cannabis criminalization, and work to end prohibition.

So what exactly does the Attorney General do, and why do cannabis advocates care who occupies this powerful appointed position?

What does the Attorney General do?

The Attorney General serves as the head of the US Department of Justice and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States. The Attorney General represents the US in legal matters, provides legal advice to the President and executive department heads, enforces federal law, oversees civil rights, federal prisons and penal institutions, and supervises US attorneys and marshals.

Similar to all cabinet positions, the Attorney General is nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate. There are no term limits for the Attorney General, but since the President has the power to appoint or remove the Attorney General from office at any time, attorneys general often change with a new administration.

The second highest-ranking official in the Department of Justice is the Deputy Attorney General, who assists the Attorney General and supervises the operations of the Department of Justice. Through the issuance of memos, past Deputy Attorneys General have played an important role in defining how the Department of Justice interacts with the legal cannabis industry. For example, in 2009, Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden wrote a memo directing US Attorneys not to focus federal resources on those using medical cannabis legally under existing state law.

How can the next Attorney General shape the cannabis industry?

As a part of the executive branch, the Attorney General is not involved in the writing and passing of legislation, but instead is tasked with enforcing federal law. So while the future Attorney General will have little influence on the fate of key cannabis bills, such as the SAFE Banking Act or the MORE Act, they could play a major role in defining the federal government’s relationship with the existing cannabis industry and shaping how the Department of Justice enforces cannabis laws.

Three concrete actions Biden’s Attorney General could take involving the cannabis industry include: 

1. Clarifying whether or not the Department of Justice intends to enforce federal cannabis laws. 
2. Initiating the rescheduling or removal of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.
3. Directing the Department of Justice to commute the sentences of those currently in federal prison for cannabis, and to pardon individuals with cannabis-related criminal convictions on their record.

In 2013, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memorandum to all U.S. Attorneys stating that the Department of Justice would no longer enforce federal cannabis prohibition laws in states that legalized cannabis in some capacity. This document, famously known as the “Cole Memo,” marked a pivotal moment in the cannabis legalization movement. After decades of harsh, punitive enforcement of draconian anti-cannabis laws, the federal government was signaling that they would no longer interfere with state cannabis legalization policies.

In the years following the Cole Memo, cannabis legalization continued to expand across the country, and some stability was brought to the emerging industry — it was clear where the Obama Administration and the Department of Justice stood on cannabis enforcement. But in 2018, the Trump administration’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, who once said “good people don’t smoke marijuana,” rescinded the Cole Memo. This repeal initially stirred a great deal of panic and confusion, but many agree that this move had little effect on the industry and clearly didn’t deter the 11 states that have since passed legalization laws.

But there is no doubt that a cannabis-adverse Attorney General contributes to a sense of unease and turmoil within the industry. The next Attorney General could restore the Cole Memo, as Ron Carleton, former deputy commissioner of agriculture at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, argued in a 2018 op-ed.

Biden’s Attorney General could begin the process to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to a lower schedule — a move that Biden has expressed support for — or remove it from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) entirely. There are two ways that a substance on the CSA can be rescheduled or descheduled: through congress or through the executive branch. 

Cannabis and the Controlled Substances Act

The CSA grants authority to the Attorney General to make changes administratively, but the required process is lengthy and bureaucratic. The Attorney General cannot make changes outright to the CSA, but they can initiate the process themself and request the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a review of evidence and provide recommendations. The Attorney General then reviews the recommendations from the Secretary and decides whether to proceed with making the proposed changes to the CSA.

While the Attorney General can’t reschedule or deschedule cannabis with a simple memo, they play an important gatekeeping role in any changes made to the Controlled Substances Act. The rescheduling or descheduling of cannabis could pave the way for federal legalization, more research, and a pathway for financial institutions to work with the cannabis industry.

One of the most important steps the next Attorney General could take regarding cannabis policy is directing the Department of Justice to commute the sentences of those currently in federal prison for cannabis and to pardon individuals with cannabis-related criminal convictions on their record. 

Organizations such as the Last Prisoner Project and the Drug Policy Alliance, as well as Udi Ofer, the director of the ACLU’s Justice Division, have called on Biden to take meaningful action to bring sentencing relief to those impacted by cannabis criminalization. While the majority of cannabis-related arrests and convictions occur at the state level, pardoning the records of those with federal cannabis offenses would be an acknowledgment of the failure and harms of federal cannabis criminalization

The President has the authority to pardon federal offenses, but the Department of Justice, particularly the Office of the Pardon Attorney, is tasked with reviewing, recommending, and preparing the necessary documents for the President to sign. Joe Biden supports federal decriminalization, and the automatic expungement of all prior cannabis use convictions, and the Attorney General, could be instrumental in facilitating that process.

Whoever President-Elect Joe Biden selects to serve as the next Attorney General will have a big job ahead of them. While cannabis might not seem like a priority to some politicians compared to the incoming challenges the Biden administration faces, the next Attorney General could play an integral role in bringing stability to an industry notorious for its turbulence and uncertainty by putting an end to the severe, punitive approach to cannabis enforcement, providing sentencing relief for those impacted by the War on Drugs, and ushering in a new era of sensible cannabis policy. 

It’s no wonder why cannabis advocates are demanding Joe Biden appoint a pro-cannabis Attorney General.

Featured image by Mark Poprocki/Shutterstock

The post The case for a pro-cannabis Attorney General, explained appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Looks like Detroit is getting into the legal cannabis game!

Check out these promising studies and find out where to buy THCV.

The post Can THCV really curb the munchies? appeared first on Leafly.

Two years after Michigan legalized weed, Detroit approved a licensing plan that offers city locals a chance to enter the industry.

The post Detroit okays 75 retail marijuana shops; half will go to legacy residents appeared first on Leafly.