If the bill is signed, thousands of Michigan residents could see immense benefits.

How To Relax When You Don’t Know How

Trying to relax when you’re stressed isn’t easy to do, but here are some tips that can help.

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Top 5 Fresh Toast Stories Of The Week: Sept. 25, 2020

ICYMI: Here are the headlines making news this week on The Fresh Toast.

The post Top 5 Fresh Toast Stories Of The Week: Sept. 25, 2020 appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Federally legalized cannabis may finally happen in our lifetimes. In fact, it may come sooner than many of us expect: The US House of Representatives was supposed to vote on the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, on Monday, September 21, 2020. But less than a week prior, House Democrats delayed the vote until after the election. Regardless, the fact that US Congress is voting on cannabis legalization is historic. Even if it doesn’t push through the Senate, the MORE Act is a general sign that federal weed legalization is at our fingertips.

We don’t have a crystal ball, so it’s unclear what will transpire following federal legalization. But, we can make some educated guesses. A new white paper titled “The Coming Cannabis Recovery,” written and researched by Gram by Gram, a full-service creative agency specializing in cannabis and emerging markets, offers tangible insights about the impact federal cannabis legalization will have on the United States.

What Is the MORE Act, Exactly?
The MORE Act is designed to legalize cannabis across the US. Hemp, the type of marijuana that doesn’t get anyone high, was federally legalized by the Farm Bill in 2018. The MORE Act, however, would legalize all cannabis with more than 0.3 percent THC — you know, the heady cannabinoid we all know and love.

Best of all, the MORE Act removes cannabis from federal drug scheduling altogether. That means many of the red-tape and hurdles small businesses face, like crushing federal tax rates, would disappear overnight. Medical doctors would have the freedom to recommend medical cannabis without fear of losing their professional licenses. And scientific researchers could finally delve into the plant’s secrets without unnecessary federal interference.

Currently, the US government classifies cannabis (or “marihuana”) as a Schedule I drug, the most restrictive drug category. This means that federal law considers cannabis more dangerous than cocaine or methamphetamine — the latter two drugs are classed as Schedule II.

With cannabis removed from the Schedule I substances list, states would be free to implement their own medical or adult-use cannabis programs without fear of federal crackdowns. State governments could even choose to keep cannabis outlawed, or they could remove some restrictions while maintaining others.

How Will the MORE Act Benefit the Economy? 

One of the most intriguing parts of the MORE Act is its immediate potential to spike the US economy. If cannabis were federally legalized, investments into the industry, as well as ancillary industries (soils, lighting, fertilizers, etc.) would skyrocket. Increased demand for cannabis products will surely trigger massive job growth, too.

According to Gram by Gram, legalizing cannabis nationwide could create 1.63 million new jobs by 2025. The legal cannabis industry currently employs around 250,000 Americans.

(Courtesy of Gram by Gram)

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 13 million Americans are jobless. An additional 1.63 million quality, good-paying jobs would reduce the current unemployment figure by nearly 13 percent—which isn’t half-bad in an economy where automation and outsourcing destroy American jobs faster than it creates them.

Right now, the US is desperately in need of new jobs and financial stimulation. The COVID-19 pandemic destroyed over five years worth of US economic growth in less than five months. According to the Brookings Institute, bankruptcies are on the rise, unemployment remains incredibly high, and small businesses have, on average, lost 20 percent of their revenue.

COVID-19’s economic impact gravely affects state budgets, too. With unemployment high, Americans have less money to spend. In general, Americans are spending less due to financial uncertainties, which means state budgets are suffering due to lack of sales tax revenue. In other words, when Americans aren’t spending money, local governments suffer alongside small businesses.

Drastic cuts in public education, road maintenance, health care, and other social programs are already happening across the country. According to statistics outlined in the White Paper, states like New York and California face nearly 40-percent budget shortfalls due to COVID-19, or over a third less of the budgets they worked with in 2019.

(Courtesy of Gram by Gram)

How Will the MORE Act Contribute to Social Justice? 

Besides giving our economy a much-needed boost, the MORE Act will also correct many of the wrongs caused by the failed War on Drugs. Convicts serving hard time for nonviolent cannabis crimes will qualify for early release. In addition, the US government will expunge criminal records for nonviolent cannabis offenses, so, former felons will have an easier time finding jobs, housing, and affordable loans.

Former Drug War convicts, as well as those who live in neighborhoods most devastated by racist drug policies, will also get first dibs on special business loans offered by the US government. These low-interest loans will help Drug War survivors start new businesses in the nascent cannabis industry, effectively giving these folks a large slice of the proverbial pot pie.

In other words, the MORE Act will help correct the nation’s course. Although the bill will not return the countless lives lost to the Drug War, nor will it make up for convicts’ lost time, it will, at the very least, get our nation back on track so that our politicians and law enforcement can focus on much bigger problems—like corruption or climate change.

Which Politicians Currently Support the MORE Act?

The MORE Act is the brainchild of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Kamala Harris (D-CA). Harris, as you know, is currently the Democratic vice presidential candidate.

The MORE Act currently has 113 co-sponsors, which overwhelmingly includes prominent Democrats such as Reps. Barbara Lee (CA), Maxine Waters (CA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Tulsi Gabbard (HI), Ilhan Omar (MN), and Earl Blumenauer (OR). But one Republican sponsor stands out: the diehard Trump loyalist, Matt Gaetz (FL).

His support of the bill suggests that Republican legislators who have traditionally opposed cannabis legalization may be warming up to it. In addition to Gaetz, at least two members of the GOP—Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Don Young (R-AK)—said they’d vote for it, too. Hopefully their support inspires more GOP legislators to vote in favor of legalization, considering 53 percent of Republicans want federal legalization, according to a survey conducted by Data for Progress and Justice Collaborative Institute.

Even the most powerful Republican, President Donald Trump, said he’d sign the MORE Act into law if it’s passed by the House and the Senate. We’ll see how this election goes—and how far the MORE Act gets through Congress.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The MORE Act must pass a majority vote from the US House of Representatives, which will likely happen. Afterward, the US Senate must vote on its version of the MORE Act. If the Republican-dominated Senate approves the act, it goes to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

Given that the House floor vote has been postponed to an undisclosed date after the election, it’s not too late to write to your representatives and demand that they pass the MORE Act. Just be sure to also write to your senators and demand the same thing. Oh, and be sure to let them know that the MORE Act will not only help fix an economy wrecked by COVID-19, but it will also remedy a century of injustice against BIPOC.

Federal cannabis reform is long overdue, and it’s high time that our representatives finally execute the will of the people. Two-thirds — or 67 percent — of all Americans support cannabis legalization. The time for debate is over. Free this plant, and free our country right along with it.

**To access “The Coming Cannabis Recovery” click here.

Ugly lighters aren’t just for collecting. They’re also for doing deep analyses on all the stoners you’ve ever met.

The post 6 terrible stoner personas as represented by ugly lighters appeared first on Leafly.

How To Develop Routines That Reduce Anxiety

Experts believe daily routines can reduce anxiety and improve your mental health. Here’s how to get started.

The post How To Develop Routines That Reduce Anxiety appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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Regular medical cannabis use has no impact on cognitive performance, according to a new study published in the Drug & Alcohol Review journal.

A team of Israeli researchers set out to discover whether regular medical marijuana use could interfere with the cognitive functioning of older adults. To conduct the study, researchers recruited 63 chronic pain patients who were using legal medical marijuana to treat their symptoms. As a control group, researchers recruited 62 chronic patients who were not using cannabis. All patients were 50 years or older, with an average age of 61.

“Cannabis exposure is becoming more common in older age but little is known about how it is associated with brain health in this population,” the study authors explain. A recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal estimates that cannabis use among adults over age 65 has grown by as much as 75 percent between 2015 and 2018, and a 2019 study found that use of pot among seniors increased tenfold between 2007 and 2017. A third study found that cannabis use among 50- to 64-year-olds doubled between 2006 and 2015.

For the present study, researchers used a standard battery of tests to assess each subject’s psychomotor reaction times, attention, working memory, learning abilities, and other cognitive performance factors. The results from the medical cannabis users’ tests were then compared to the results of the non-users. Additional tests were conducted among the cannabis users to assess whether dosage, cannabinoid concentrations, or frequency of use had any impact on their cognitive performance.

The researchers found “no significant differences in cognitive function” between the medical marijuana users and the control group, NORML reports. “In addition, no significant associations of various aspects of MC (medical cannabis) use patterns, including THC/CBD concentration, frequency and length of use, dosage and length of abstinence with cognitive performance were detected. Moreover, both MC licensed and non-licensed patients performed relatively similar to a standardized population with no chronic pain.”

The study’s researchers say the results suggest that using whole plant MC doesn’t have a widespread impact on cognition in older chronic pain patients. “Considering the increasing use of MC in older populations, this study could be a first step towards a better risk-benefit assessment of MC treatment in this population. Future studies are urgently needed to further clarify the implications of late-life cannabis use for brain health.”

“With greater percentages of seniors both turning to, and returning to, the use of cannabis, it is important that scientists begin to focus greater attention [on] this unique and frequently overlooked group of consumers,” said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano in a statement. “We already know that many seniors suffer from ailments that may be effectively treated with cannabis, and this emerging data suggests that they can do so in a manner that poses little if any risk to their cognitive well-being.”

Maine’s adult-use cannabis stores open Oct. 9. Leafly has them mapped on its app and listed here.

The post Where to find Maine’s recreational marijuana stores appeared first on Leafly.

Another Study Finds Marijuana An Effective Treatment Against Migraines

About a billion people worldwide suffer from migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

The post Another Study Finds Marijuana An Effective Treatment Against Migraines appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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Oregon, a pioneering state of cannabis legalization, stands once again at the forefront of a potential revolution in drug policy reform. 

Earlier this year, the state added two progressive drug initiatives on the November ballot. Now the Oregon Democratic Party is officially encouraging residents to vote “yes” on both measures.

The first initiative would legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic purposes in a medically supervised environment. It also lists no specific conditions that would make patients qualify for such treatment.

The second measure aims to decriminalize possession of all drugs that are presently outlawed in the state. It would also channel marijuana tax revenue into expanding treatment programs for substance misuse.

If these initiatives pass, Oregon would be the first state to enact changes on this level.

Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, one of the most passionate advocates for drug policy reform in Congress, has also been campaigning for psychedelic therapy. In August, Blumenauer fired off an email blast to raise cash in support of the mushroom initiative.

“Measure 109 will offer hope in the form of a breakthrough treatment option in Oregon: psilocybin therapy,” Blumanauer wrote. “It gives Oregonians who suffer from depression and anxiety the opportunity to overcome their mental health challenges through a program designed for safety and support. It’s healthcare policy done right, and it will help thousands.”

Also in August, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission reported that the decriminalization initiative would reduce felony and misdemeanor convictions for drug possession by 91 percent overall, and racially disproportionate drug busts by an astounding 95 percent.

The commission’s report specified that the decline would prove “substantial for all racial groups, ranging from 82.9 percent for Asian Oregonians to approximately 94 percent for Native American and Black Oregonians.”

Furthermore, the report stated that the reduced convictions “will result in fewer collateral consequences stemming from criminal justice system involvement, which include difficulties in finding employment, loss of access to student loans for education, difficulties in obtaining housing, restrictions on professional licensing, and others.”

A separate report issued by the Oregon Financial Estimate Committee (OFEC) breaks down the expenses and benefits of legalizing psilocybin therapy and decriminalizing drugs.

The mushroom measure proposes spending $57 million in marijuana tax revenue on drug treatment annually. That should not be a problem, the OFEC found, as Oregon’s legal weed sales are soaring, with cannabis tax cash expected to hit $182 million between 2021 and 2023.

On the decriminalization front, OFEC wrote that the state would save money by spending considerably less on law enforcement. “These savings are estimated at $0.3 million in 2019-21 and $24.5 million in 2021-23,” the report forecasts. “The savings are expected to increase beyond the 2021-23 biennium.”

With all this shockingly sensible but still bold and forward-thinking drug reform movement going on, perhaps it’s time for Oregon to change its nickname from The Beaver State to The Braver State.