Biden-Sanders Task Force Gets Heated About Marijuana Legalization

The task force is split on whether to include cannabis reform among its recommendations to Joe Biden for the upcoming election.

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Get ready, Illinois—Cannabis Cup: People’s Choice Edition is coming your way.

Growing cannabis can be difficult given all the options that are available. Read about how to choose the best pot for your cannabis growing needs in our simple guide.

The post How to choose the right container for your cannabis plant appeared first on Leafly.

Transplanting cannabis is important if you’re using a pot or container to grow. Learn how and when to transplant, as well as how to avoid transplant shock in your cannabis plant.

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It’s 21 in the United States, and mostly 19 in Canada. Researchers say Canada may have it right.

The post What’s the best minimum legal age for cannabis? appeared first on Leafly.

4 Coronavirus Topics To Broach Before Post-Pandemic Dating

“Have you been self-quarantining?” is the new, “When was the last time you had unprotected sex?” 

The post 4 Coronavirus Topics To Broach Before Post-Pandemic Dating appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

More than 90% of New York college students support the legalization of recreational cannabis, according to a survey conducted by the Siena College Research Institute.

The survey also indicates that the vast majority of college students are consuming an array of cannabis products on campuses, including CBD. Additionally, students said they are far more concerned about the potential damage caused by alcohol and tobacco than any theoretical downsides of weed.

Numerous participants reportedly also told pollsters they would be interested in taking classes on cannabis and its blooming industry.

While the survey is technically “unscientific,” the sample of participants was broad and incorporated answers from 11 of New York’s 13 state universities. Both undergraduate and graduate students responded to questions. Fifteen of the 250 participants were international students who hailed from 12 different non-U.S. nations.

Siena College conducted the study in the wake of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s January 2020 State of the State address, wherein he called for legalizing marijuana. The survey found that the majority of New Yorkers overall supported the governor on legalization, with the numbers soaring much higher among college students.

The Siena College survey is in keeping with Oregon State University research released earlier this year that found college students were choosing marijuana over alcohol in states where cannabis is legal. One result, according to the study, is that students who had pot as a legal option were less likely to engage in binge-drinking.

While full legalization in New York has not yet happened, the state decriminalized cannabis earlier this year, just before COVID-19 hit and several key lawmakers fell ill. At present, the legalization debate is on hold until 2021.

As recently as this past May, Governor Cuomo reasserted his pro-pot stance, stating: “I support legalization of marijuana passage. I’ve worked very hard to pass it. I believe we will, but we didn’t get it done this last session because it’s a complicated issue and it has to be done in a comprehensive way.”

New York’s college students are apparently more than ready for statewide legalization. 

Can You Smoke Marijuana While Taking Antibiotics?

If you’re taking medications, like an antibiotic, for another health condition, will marijuana help or hinder its effectiveness?

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A majority of New Zealand voters say they intend to show their support for legal weed at a national referendum this fall, according to a new poll.

This May, New Zealand lawmakers released the final draft of a new bill that would create a taxed and regulated cannabis retail market partially modeled on Canada’s legal weed framework. But instead of voting on the bill immediately, lawmakers have chosen to solicit the public’s opinion on adult-use legalization first. 

New Zealand’s next national election, which will be held on September 19, will include a referendum question asking voters whether or not they support the legalization bill. The referendum is non-binding, so voters will not be able to directly legalize weed with their vote, but lawmakers have promised to pass the bill if it receives majority support in the referendum.

So far, the country has remained strongly divided over the prospect of legalization. Last August, polls found that only 39 percent of Kiwis were in favor of legal weed. This past February, however, a poll conducted by the independent Horizon Research company found that support for legalization increased to 54 percent. And a new Horizon poll conducted this month suggests that support may be growing even stronger.

The new poll, which was commissioned by NZ medical cannabis company Helius Therapeutics, asked 1593 Kiwis whether or not they would vote yes for the adult-use bill in this coming September’s referendum. This time, 56 percent of respondents said they would vote yes in the referendum. A demographic analysis of the results found that 59 percent of women were in favor of legalization, compared to only 52 percent of men.

Younger and more liberal voters were more likely to say they would support the bill, much like similar polls conducted in the US. Around 72 percent of respondents between the ages of 25-34 said they would vote yes in the referendum, compared to only 27 percent of those over 75-years-old. Predictably, the majority of liberal voters support the bill and the majority of conservative voters are opposed. The new poll found that support among more centrist voters has grown significantly since February, which may indicate a greater chance of success.

“This result will energise both the yes and no camps,” said Helius Therapeutics chief executive Paul Manning to the New Zealand Herald. “It shows just how close the vote will be.” Other advocates are positive the poll indicates that the referendum will succeed, though.

“New Zealanders realise that their yes vote means better community wellbeing, sensible regulation and reduced harm for a substance that is abundantly available under prohibition,” said Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick, an advocate for drug reform, to the Herald. “It’s become evident that those campaigning for maintaining criminal prohibition are more focused on moralising than actually solving any problems.

Not every poll is quite so favorable, however. Another poll conducted by local media outlet 1 News found only 40 percent support for legalization, with 49 percent opposed and 11 percent on the fence. Notorious anti-weed lobbyist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) has launched a campaign to convince Kiwis to say no to weed, but the campaign has received some backlash from activists arguing that a US-based lobbying group should keep its nose out of New Zealand’s politics.

Even if a majority of voters say yes to the referendum, there is still no guarantee that the bill will become law. The current administration has agreed to uphold the public’s decision, but new lawmakers who are voted in during this election are under no obligation to stand by this promise.

What The FDA Is Doing For Better COVID-19 Data Dashboards

Real-time information has never been more critical than in response to the ongoing public health emergency, wrought by the spread of COVID-19.

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