The governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania are passionate about bringing the legal cannabis trade to their state.

New Study Reveals Over 90% Of Rolling Papers Contain Heavy Metals

8% of them contained at least one heavy metal in concentration levels above the allowable state limits for cannabis products.

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Members of Israel’s Green Drone group used a drone to drop packets of cannabis on Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. One of the masterminds said it was ‘his patriotic duty.’

The post Weed falling from the sky! 2020 is finally looking up appeared first on Leafly.

Survey: Single People Aren’t All That Interested In Relationships

New survey finds that singles are happy being single and that they have higher priorities than dating.

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New research shows that the neuroprotective properties of cannabis could help protect honey bees from toxic pesticides.

Honeybee populations are on the decline all across the globe, largely due to contamination from pesticides used on standard agricultural crops. The ramifications of this ecological threat extend far beyond bees and honey. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating over $15 billion worth of fruits, vegetables, and nuts per year in the US alone, and without them, the world could face a serious food shortage.

A team of researchers from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland are working to find a way to help bees survive. Under the leadership of Professor Aneta Ptaszyńska, the team has discovered several unique methods to extend bees’ longevity, including probiotics, adaptogenic plant extracts, and cannabis extracts. 

“Bees are dying because they are malnourished and weakened by the use of pesticides and then they start to suffer from various diseases,” said Professor Ptaszyńska to The First News. “One of them is nosemosis. It attacks the digestive system, causes weakness and cachexia (muscle loss). Bees cannot digest and absorb nutrients and then they simply die.”

Recent research has linked the increasingly fast decline in bee populations to neonicotinoids, pesticides derived from nicotine. These pesticides work well at protecting crops from pests, but also poison helpful insects, including honey bees. Despite these dangers, most government agencies still allow these pesticides to be used. In the US, the Trump administration has recently allowed farmers to expand their usage of several pesticides that are known to be toxic to bees.

Professor Ptaszyńska and her team studied 5,000 bees living in cages to determine whether hemp-derived cannabis extracts could help protect bees from the damaging effects of pesticides. “There are reports that hemp extract protects human nerve cells, we decided to check whether it would be the same in the case of a bee,” the professor explained to The First News.

The researchers discovered that specific cannabis extracts protected the bees from some of the negative effects of neonicotinoids. “For now, we know that the extract extends the life of bees that have been exposed to pesticides,” said Ptaszyńska. “The tested insects lived comparatively as long as those that had never had contact with harmful substances.”

The researchers are now planning additional studies to see if cannabis can also help save bees that are living in apiaries in other parts of Europe. If successful, the team hopes to patent their specific cannabis formula and make it available to beekeepers around the world.

Other researchers have also investigated the connection between bees and cannabis plants. Last year, a study found that bees are highly attracted to hemp, and suggested that hemp plantations could help bee populations thrive. One of Canada’s top beekeepers cast some shade on this proposal, though, arguing that hemp pollen alone does not provide enough nutrition for bees to survive on. And one French beekeeper even trained his bees to make honey from cannabis resin.

3 Things Older Adults Using Marijuana Should Be Cautious Of

Older adults are one of the fastest growing demographics in terms of marijuana use. But there are some precautions that need to be taken before imbibing. 

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GOP Attacks Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, Question Democrat Priorities Amid Pandemic

Republicans criticized Democratic leadership in the House, which will vote on a bill that would remove cannabis from the controlled substances list.

The post GOP Attacks Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, Question Democrat Priorities Amid Pandemic appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

According to a new survey, 3 ini 5 voting residents of Washington DC say they now support Initiative 81, a bill that would decriminalize a vast array of psychedelic substances in the nation’s capital, including ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms. The measure officially qualified last month to be on the DC ballot in November.

The number of voters in favor of Initiative 81 increased nine percentage points since this past April, the last time voters were surveyed on the topic. A key factor, respondents reported, is that they have learned more about the legislation in question.

While 60 percent of participants said they’ll vote “yes” for Initiative 81, 24 percent said they plan to vote “no,” and 16 percent remain undecided.

“Today’s polling shows unequivocal support for ensuring DC residents using plant and fungi medicines to overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions are not law enforcement targets… It is clear that DC residents are ready to reform outdated laws for entheogenic substances,” said Melissa Lavasani of Decriminalize Nature DC in a press release. “Police priorities should reflect the growing body of research on the therapeutic benefits of entheogens rather than the failed war on drugs.”

FM3 Research, which conducted the poll in August, said that overall awareness of the bill has tripled since April. The firm’s survey analysis also concurred with Lavasani’s take on the results.

“Overall, the data shows that the measure has gained impressive support in recent months, fueled by a broad grassroots organizing campaign and growing frustration with the increasingly unpopular War on Drugs that disproportionately targets Black DC residents,” the FM3 report states. “More than three in five continue to say that they would vote ‘yes’— underscoring the importance of broad communications with the electorate to firm up the broad initial support that voters offer.”

In July, longtime cannabis legalization opponent Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) filed a measure that, if passed, would essentially nullify Initiative 81. Feeling the heat, Harris withdrew his proposal relatively quickly and (let’s hope) he’s come to grasp the fact that the voting public wants — and is demanding — widespread reform of drug policies.

Of course, that’s likely not the case with Rep. Harris. So, his antagonistic behavior is a reminder of how crucial it is for all of us to vote anti-reform politicians out of office. And, with that in mind (among countless other infuriating reasons),  vote against Donald Trump in November.

4 Unexpected Ways CBD Can Benefit Your Health

New products featuring CBD keep popping from all directions, providing all sorts of benefits that range from body aches to anxiety and stress.

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Is Pure CBD The Most Medicinal Part Of Cannabis?

Could the U.S. government save the nation from strife and suffering by simply legalizing this part of the plant?

The post Is Pure CBD The Most Medicinal Part Of Cannabis? appeared first on The Fresh Toast.