Legalization is gaining momentum. Here’s the debate-winning facts.

The post Top 9 arguments in support of marijuana legalization and regulation appeared first on Leafly.

Two measures, working together, were crafted to ensure politicians don’t repeal the will of the voters.

The post In South Dakota, voters have to shout twice to legalize marijuana appeared first on Leafly.

A group of Democratic lawmakers are trying to get cannabis businesses disaster relief equity.

Here Are The Halloween Activities You Should Avoid Due To COVID

The CDC has released a statement encouraging people to get creative with their Halloween celebrations and to avoid exposing themselves and others to COVID.

The post Here Are The Halloween Activities You Should Avoid Due To COVID appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The Hemp Industry Responds To The DEA Rule With A Lawsuit

Petitioners claim that a recent DEA rule is unlawful because it exceeds the DEA’s authority and violates the 2018 Farm Bill.

The post The Hemp Industry Responds To The DEA Rule With A Lawsuit appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

With cones and 100% organic hemp papers, Zig-Zag has everyone’s joint needs in mind.

The post The classic rolling paper has some friends to add to your stash appeared first on Leafly.

A growing number of women are turning to cannabis to treat hot flashes, insomnia, and other symptoms associated with menopause, a new survey-based study has found.

The study, which will be presented at this week’s Virtual Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), reports that women are more likely to use cannabis to treat menopause symptoms than traditional treatments. The researchers took a sample of 232 women veterans who participated in the Midlife Women Veterans Health Survey. Over half of these survey respondents, who were 56 years old on average, reported suffering symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and genitourinary problems.

Around 27 percent of all women surveyed said that they either had used or were currently using cannabis to manage their symptoms. Another 10 percent of respondents said that they were interested in using medical pot for these issues, but had not yet tried it. Most of the cannabis users in the survey said that they primarily used weed to treat hot flashes and night sweats. 

To the researchers’ surprise, women were actually more interested in using cannabis than traditional therapies. Only 19 percent of respondents said they were using hormone therapy or other forms of standard menopause symptom management. The researchers also found that the likelihood of women to use cannabis did not vary by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or mental health conditions.

“These findings suggest that cannabis use to manage menopause symptoms may be relatively common,” said Carolyn Gibson, PhD, MPH, lead author of the study, psychologist, and health services researcher at San Francisco VA Health Care System, according to MedicalXpress. 

“However, we do not know whether cannabis use is safe or effective for menopause symptom management or whether women are discussing these decisions with their healthcare providers–particularly in the VA [US Department of Veterans Affairs], where cannabis is considered an illegal substance under federal guidelines,” Gibson added. “This information is important for healthcare providers, and more research in this area is needed.”

Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of NAMS, called the study’s findings “a somewhat alarming trend” that highlights “the need for more research relative to the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use for the management of bothersome menopause symptoms.” 

While it is certainly true that there is little academic research exploring the efficacy of medical pot as a specific treatment for menopause symptoms, there is a wealth of literature confirming that cannabis can treat pain-related issues with little risk of adverse side effects. A recent study has found that adults over 50 who use medical cannabis regularly show no decline in cognitive performance compared to non-users. Studies on pot and insomnia have shown mixed results, but some studies have found that medical marijuana can help pain patients get better sleep.

Study Finds No Long-Term Negative Brain Effects For Older Marijuana Patients

Older adults have begun consuming cannabis more than ever, often using the plant to deal with chronic pain.

The post Study Finds No Long-Term Negative Brain Effects For Older Marijuana Patients appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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Guitar-strumming weed god Willie Nelson has done it again. Yes, Willie has gotten stoned again, but with the November election in mind, the country music legend and marijuana advocate has just released a new song and animated music video with an especially pointed title: “Vote ’Em Out.”

The breezy new anthem is perfect for toe-tapping and toking. On it, Willie sings: “If you don’t like who’s in there, vote ’em out/That’s what Election Day is all about/The biggest gun we’ve got/Is called the ballot box/So if you don’t like who’s in there, vote ’em out. 

Later in this song, Willie reiterates: “If it’s a bunch of clowns you voted in/Election day is comin’ ’round again/If you don’t like it now/If it’s more than you’ll allow/If you don’t like who’s in there/Vote ’em out!”

Willie actually debuted an early incarnation of “Vote ’Em Out” in his hometown of Austin, Texas, during a 2018 rally Democratic senate candidate and fellow cannabis reform campaigner, Beto O’Rourke. Now, naturally, is the most crucial possible time for “Vote ’Em Out” to get a proper release and promotion.

In a stage video of the 2018 event, Nelson offers a suggestion regarding democracy that’s akin to what he’s always preached about regarding the positive powers of weed. “Take it home with you,” Willie says, “spread it around!”

The lyrics to “Vote ’Em Out” remain strictly non-partisan, simply encouraging unsatisfied citizens to exercise their rights and take action for change on Election Day. The music video, however, cheekily illustrates what we all already know—that Willie Nelson is a lifelong Democrat and he has endorsed Joe Biden for President (Willie also famously smoked weed on the roof of the White House with President Jimmy Carter’s son).

Of course, Willie is also a rational human being and, as such, he is disgusted by Donald Trump. Back in 2017, Willie even released an explicitly anti-Trump song titled, “Delete and Fast-Forward.”

The “Vote ’Em Out” video begins with the arms of two suit-clad candidates shaking hands. One of them — and it’s no stretch to guess who it’s supposed to be — backs away and crosses his fingers. Amidst cleverly placed on-screen lyrics, then, we see cartoon images of citizens of every color and multiple genders pulling levers at polling places, filling out voter cards, dropping their selections into ballot boxes, and sending their votes in by mail.

The song’s chorus offers a surging blast of encouragement as Willie croons, “Vote ’em out (vote ’em out)/Vote ’em out (vote ’em out)/And when they’re gone we’ll sing and dance and shout!”

So just remember to register to vote. Then vote Donald Trump out on November 3. Once we get that done, we can begin campaigning in earnest for the next go-round: Willie Nelson for President! Duh.

American Progressives Have Ignored Successful Alternatives To The Drug War — Is That About To Change? 

Although it is obviously frustrating, the short delay on the House voting on the MORE Act may actually ensure greater success in November. 

The post American Progressives Have Ignored Successful Alternatives To The Drug War — Is That About To Change?  appeared first on The Fresh Toast.