Here’s what to expect the first time you use a legal marijuana delivery service—from prices to delivery times to tipping.

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California cops made fewer cannabis-related felony arrests last year than at any time since the 1950s, according to new statistics released by the California Department of Justice. But, despite this good news, the data also reveals that racial disparities in marijuana enforcement continue to this day. 

According to the report, there were 1,181 felony pot arrests in the Golden State last year, down from 1,617 arrests in 2018, a decrease of 27 percent. The 2019 figure is also the lowest number of pot arrests that’s been recorded in California since 1954, when 1,101 people were arrested. Felony pot arrests began skyrocketing after this date, with nearly 65,000 arrests recorded in 1960 and over 100,000 people arrested in 1974.

Felony pot busts declined significantly in 1975, when a NORML-sponsored bill de-felonized minor cannabis offenses. By 1976, felony weed arrests dropped to 19,824. The numbers kept declining into the 21st century, sinking to around 13,000 arrests in 2014. And once voters approved adult-use legalization in 2016, the numbers finally began to shrink back to 1950s levels.

Unfortunately, even though the total number of arrests has declined, the inherent racial bias in cannabis enforcement has not. Out of all felony pot arrests, Hispanics accounted for 41.7 percent (493 people), and Blacks accounted for 22.3 percent (263 people). Only 21.3 percent (252 people) of those arrested were white. The statistics also show that 87.9 percent of those arrested were male, and around 9 percent were juveniles.

Misdemeanor pot arrests also declined in 2019, but only slightly. There were 3,769 arrests last year, down from 3,835 in 2018. Again, Hispanics were far more likely to be busted for these crimes, accounting for nearly 50 percent of all arrests. But unlike felonies, Black people were actually less likely to be arrested for weed misdemeanors than whites, accounting for 13.5 percent of arrests, versus 22.2 percent for whites. Males were, again, more likely to be arrested for misdemeanors (78.1 percent), and another 32 percent of those arrested were juveniles.

The California chapter of NORML compared the arrest data to the demographic data found in the state’s 2018 census, and found that Blacks were 4.47 times more likely than whites to be arrested for pot crimes in 2019. That same year, Hispanics were 2.02 times more likely to be arrested for weed than whites. These racial disparities have been growing constantly since the adult-use law was passed in 2016. In 2018, Blacks were only 4.05 times more likely to be arrested than whites, and Hispanics were 1.66 times more likely.

Since adult-use cannabis is legal in California, most of these arrests are related to illicit weed production and sales. State regulators believe that around 80 percent of all weed bought in California has been grown and sold outside of the legal, regulated market. The state has turned to law enforcement to solve its black market problems, and lawmakers are constantly pushing to expand these enforcement options by hiring more cops and adding more fines. 

These solutions have proven ineffective so far, though, and are unlikely to address the underlying racial disparities inherent in cannabis law enforcement. 

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The post 5 Products That Are Perfect For CBD Newbies appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

On Monday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that approves the use of CBD and other hemp-derived products by members of the United States military. The measure, sponsored by Iraq War veteran Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), passed by a vote of 336-71.  

“Secretary of Defense may not prohibit, on the basis of a product containing hemp or any ingredient derived from hemp, the possession, use, or consumption of such product by a member of the Armed Forces” under the condition that “such possession, use, or consumption is in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local law,” the amendment states.

Gabbard enacted the amendment in response to an early 2020 announcement by the Department of Defense (DOD) forbidding CBD use by service members, even though CBD is federally legal. Since the DOD’s announcement, different branches of the military have issued their own conflicting CBD policies.

Outlined in 2019 guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the issue is over the possibility that some CBD products might theoretically contain traces of the intoxicating cannabis compound, THC. Which products, exactly, isn’t clear. So, a blanket ban of CBD use was enacted.

As a result, both the Air Force and the Navy have maintained strict rules against CBD use. NASA — which isn’t an official military branch, though it operates like one — warned its workers that some CBD products may potentially pack unauthorized THC concentrations. The issue being that using these alleged CBD products could possibly lead to a failed drug test and, thus, getting fired.

Since getting elected in 2013, Tulsi Gabbard has stood at the forefront of cannabis reform in Congress. Last year, the former 2020 Democrat presidential candidate filed the “Hemp for Victory Act,” a bill aimed at mandating studies for a vast array of hemp-derived applications, including treatment for veterans with PTSD and products that could help eradicate contaminants from nuclear sites.

So, from here, Gabbard’s NDAA amendment is officially part of the House version of the bill. The Senate, however, is still working on its own take. In June, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers — Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) — introduced their own amendment to the Senate version of the NDAA to promote studies into cannabis and its related products.

The issue of CBD (and cannabis) use among members of the armed forces has been a hot topic for years — decades, even — and much headway remains to be made. But, the package of bills that went through the House of Reps earlier this week features another relatively progressive measure allowing heads of military branches to issue reenlistment waivers to those who admit to using marijuana, or were convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana offense, once. 

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The non-intoxicating cannabis derivative has essentially become a household name across the United States as a potential miracle cure for all sorts of ailments.

The post How To Find Quality CBD Amid The Craze appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Whenever someone starts to say that they don’t like sativas, I want to interrupt them, “Shut up. Yes, you do.” 

Too many people love to say they hate sativas and that it makes them anxious. Take a look:

But it’s time we add some true context to that conversation — or else people will continue writing off an entire third of the weed types out there. Probably more when you really get into genetics. 

So gather round the fire, kiddos; it’s time to talk about sativas and why you probably do like them.

What are sativas?

Sativa, indica, and hybrid refer to the morphology of a cannabis plant. Cannabis sativa plants grow tall and lanky with long, fluffy flowers, cannabis indica plants grow short and bulky with thick dense flowers, and hybrids fall somewhere in between. Though the cannabis industry uses these plant species as a one-to-one system between strains and effects, these are truly just classifications of plants based on the way they grow, where they grow, and the structure of their flowers.

Most modern sativas can be traced back to the original Haze and Skunk genetics, which can then be traced back to landrace strains from all over the world. Sativas grew in the Middle East, Mexico, Africa — sativas grew everywhere. 

Those genetics went on to be crossed with all kinds of Afghani, Northern Lights, and other indica genetics from all over the globe, and that’s exactly why most of the cannabis strains on shelves today are some form of hybrid. We started crossing strains in the search for perfection and never stopped.

You’re probably smoking sativas and don’t even know it

Chances are you’ve smoked plenty of sativas and enjoyed them. With most products being hybrids, it’s just impossible to avoid them. When you smoke with people at a social function, you don’t ask for strain names (much less a certificate of analysis), you just smoke the weed and go. I guarantee you’ve hit some strange sativa in the wild, and I bet, not once, have you ever regretted it. 

OG Kush is a sativa-dominant hybrid, as are many Kush strains. Have you written off Kush? GSC is sometimes a sativa-dominant hybrid. Have you written off Cookies? To say that you don’t like sativas ignores how broad the world of cannabis can be.

The cannabis shopping experience is why so many people only think of sativas as upper, hyper strains that may make you feel racy and anxious. And indicas are deemed super sleepy strains that will be stronger and better because they pack the hardest punch. The shopping experience is all about getting customers in and out of the door in the fastest time possible, which leaves very little room to educate consumers on the nuance of sativa cannabis strains. From there, customers unwittingly move on with misinformation, and end up writing off the entire realm of sativa strains forever.

Why it’s silly to write off sativa strains

It’s silly to write off cannabis strains because the effects of cannabis do not solely come down to plant type. Nothing about this plant is 1:1. We love cannabis strains because you can walk into a store and choose whichever feeling you want to feel. Those feelings are exclusive to only a third of the products you see. 

If you want to feel sleepy, there are sativa strains that can make you feel sleepy. If you want to feel relaxed, there are sativa strains that can make you feel relaxed. If you want to feel hungry, there are sativa strains that can make you feel hungry. 

Sure, there are plenty of sativas out there like Jack Herer that may make you feel super energized, and if you’re a naturally anxious person, then their cerebral effects may be too much for you. But in the end, those effects are not to be blamed solely on a plant growing tall and fluffy. Instead, that all comes down to a plant’s genetics and chemical makeup i.e. a strain’s parents, cannabinoids, and terpenes. Educate yourself on these, and you’ll learn to shop past classification, opening your options to the entire world of weed.

Sativa strains to start off 

Three common sativas that perfectly illustrate why you can’t shop for effects solely by plant type are: Tangie, Candyland, and Lemon G. They all provide various experiences, dependent mostly upon how much of them you smoke.

Tangie

Tangie comes from a mix of California Orange and Skunk genetics. Skunk genetics are known for producing funky plants with heavy-hitting effects, so it’s easy to see why Tangie sometimes defies the one-size-fits-all nature of sativa classification. 

Smoke it initially and you’ll feel euphoric and uplifted, ready for the world. Hit another sesh, and suddenly that energy will turn into a lazy, stoned feeling that makes you want to chill. Keep smoking it, and your eyelids are going to need a 1-2 hour break from work.

Candyland

Candyland is another strain that can produce a wide spectrum of effects dependent on phenotype, consumption method, and dosage. Candyland was created by crossing the heavily sedative Granddaddy Purple with a Platinum GSC varietal, and the result gives us a plant that will absolutely lay you down if you smoke too much of it. Otherwise, it may bring you the perfect balance of relaxed euphoria and creative focus. Most consumers report the effects as happy, energetic, and relaxed. Realize that they mean all at once.

Lemon G

Lemon G is a third example of sativa cannabis strains that can provide a variety of effects. The name alone might be enough to scare off the no-thanks-sativas crowd, because many lemon strains and also strains high in limonene produce uplifting and energetic effects. Lemon G, however, can be very potent and provide a long-lasting euphoric sensation that pairs great with social activities.

Overall, the point is that you should not write-off cannabis strains because they’re on one side of a dispensary. It’s important to educate yourself on the types of cannabis strain and the genetics they come from. From there, you’ll be able to guide yourself towards the cannabis strains you’re supposed to be smoking. If you don’t, you’ll keep writing off thousands of weed strains that could ultimately provide the effects and experience you truly seek.

Find hundreds of strains and where to buy them on Weedmaps Strains. 

Featured image by Dre Hudson/Weedmaps

The post Yes, you do like sativas appeared first on Weedmaps News.

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The post Marijuana Shows Promise In Sickle Cell Disease Treatment appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

FDA Issues Draft Guidance For Cannabis Research

The data obtained from these studies may later become part of a new drug application, which is then used to formally propose that FDA approve a new drug for sale in the United States. The FDA issued draft guidance for clinical research related to the development of drugs containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. The FDA is taking […]

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Congress Approves CBD Use For Military Members

A memo that was recently made public revealed the Pentagon had quietly moved to make CBD use a punishable offense for military troops.

The post Congress Approves CBD Use For Military Members appeared first on The Fresh Toast.