Which CBD Product Is Right For You?

Like cannabis, CBD can be consumed in different ways, each with their own set of pros and cons. Here are the 5 most common ones.

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Craving Hugs Right Now? It’s Not The Pandemic That’s Responsible

‘Skin hunger’ is real and there’s a genetic basis to it.

The post Craving Hugs Right Now? It’s Not The Pandemic That’s Responsible appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The study opens questions about sex, gender, and cannabis use.

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US Attorney General William Barr’s recent investigations of wrongdoing in the cannabis industry were driven by his personal hatred of marijuana, according to a whistleblower in the Department of Justice.

On Wednesday, DOJ employee John Elias testified before Congress that Barr allowed his personal feelings to influence his decision to investigate improper business mergers made by state-legal cannabis businesses. Elias testified that investigations into the cannabis industry occupied 29 percent of the Antitrust Division’s merger investigations for all of 2019.

To make matters worse, Elias alleges that Barr did not base his decision to investigate the weed industry “on an antitrust analysis,” but instead launched the probes “because he did not like the nature of their underlying business,” Forbes reports. 

“At the direction of Attorney General Barr, the Antitrust Division launched ten full-scale reviews of merger activity taking place in the marijuana, or cannabis, industry,” said Elias in his opening statement. “These mergers involve companies with low market shares in a fragmented industry; they do not meet established criteria for antitrust investigations.”

When asked whether he’d ever seen such an extreme investigation during his DOJ career, Elias responded: “In my experience, which includes 14 years at the Justice Department at many different levels of the Antitrust Division, no, I have never seen anything like that,” according to Marijuana Moment. 

The witness also testified that this is “concerning because the investigations and the work of the Antitrust Division need to be done in good faith — they need to be done evenhandedly — both for the sake of everybody involved and for the sake of the public’s perception of the rule of law in that the Justice Department is being aboveboard with everything.”

At the hearing, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) asked Elias if the investigations amounted to “harassment by Bill Barr of an industry he didn’t like.” Elias agreed, saying that he thought “that’s a fair way to characterize it, yes.” 

“Barr doesn’t like marijuana,” Rep. Cohen summarized. “Marijuana is seven times more likely to be enforced against young African Americans, breeding discontent with police and breeding interactions with police, and Barr doesn’t care about that type of stuff because he doesn’t like marijuana. That’s one of the breeding grounds of distrust of African Americans and police and police and African American contact and problems. Very unfortunate.”

“The Attorney General’s blatant abuse of his authority to improperly investigate cannabis businesses shows just how important it is to end the federal prohibition of cannabis,” said Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) to Marijuana Moment. “Regardless of Mr. Barr’s own personal feelings, Americans wildly support descheduling cannabis, and it is time our federal laws represented the people’s will.”

The testimony comes as part of a larger investigation into Barr’s failure to remain impartial in his role as the country’s top prosecutor. Congress also heard testimony alleging that former Trump adviser Roger Stone received preferential treatment due to his close ties to the president. In a separate allegation, Elias also said that Barr launched an investigation into the auto industry immediately after Trump tweeted that he was angry about a recent deal struck between automakers and the state of California.

The allegations come as no surprise given Barr’s previous record. During a Congressional hearing last year, the AG testified that he would favor one uniform law prohibiting all forms of cannabis, but would grudgingly accept a law that allowed individual states to legalize weed without federal interference. Barr also just authorized the DEA to target and surveil peaceful protestors following the recent Black Lives Matter protests.

But, even as bad as Barr’s personal vendetta against cannabis is, it still doesn’t come close to the all-out war on weed launched by his predecessor. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s first pick for AG, revoked the Obama Administration’s cannabis industry protections, blocked the DEA from approving additional research cannabis growers, constantly repeated anti-pot myths, and tried to convince politicians to allow him to attack state-legal medical marijuana companies. 

Trump ousted Sessions late in 2018, and after these investigations, Barr may well be following him out the door (we can only hope…). 

COVID-19 May Trigger Diabetes — Can Marijuana Help?

There are some new, unanswered questions about the busy intersection of COVID-19, the risks of diabetes, and the potential efficacy of medical marijuana in treatment. 

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With all the tech-savvy portable vaporizers on the market, it’s easy to forget that a mere ten years ago, a lot of us were passing around Volcano bags, blowing vapor rings from V-Towers, and generally getting high af off desktop vaporizers. While this idea now seems nostalgic at best, and antiquated at worst, there’s a lot to be said for those pricey, high quality flower vaporizers, as well as the brands who make them. 

It seems that in the transition from big expensive vapes to small portable vaporizers and vape pens, we’ve lost a lot of product quality, which in turn has soured many weed-users on the concept of vaporizing weed altogether. Even as a cannabis journalist, deep down I was one of those soured, combustion only stoners just days prior to writing this article. 

The Air II, the first portable flower vaporizer from industry vets Arizer, re-opened my mind to the benefits of the intake method, as well as the perks of having a high-quality flower vaporizer in the mix. Clearly (a follow up to) the first portable device from a brand known for epic desktop setups, it’s a genre-bending product in that it’s both a portable and an at home vaporizer. Neither of which I knew how badly I needed. 

Whether you’re in the market for a new vape, or just curious as to what all the buzz is about, here’s our take on the Arizer Air II. 

What is the Arizer Air II?

The Arizer Air II is a portable convection vaporizer from the brand Arizer, well respected industry vets known for their no nonsense, high quality products. While Arizer initially rose to notoriety over 12 years ago for their desktop setups like the V-Tower and Extreme, they evolved with the times, and now have five portable vaporizers in their roster. The Air II is a follow up to the popular Air, which when it was released in 2011, was the brand’s first portable vaporizer. 

Blurring the line between a high end, at-home vaporizer and a portable vape for on-the-go use, the Air II uses convection heating technology (using a ceramic heating element) to produce unmatched flavor. But just because this is fully a portable vaporizer, doesn’t mean it’s the type of vape you would want to sneak into a music festival, for example. Due to it’s design, which is simple but definitely prone to breaking, it seems more portable in the way that you would bring it from your living room to your bedroom, or maybe keep in your car.

While there are only two moving parts (the vape itself and a glass tube you preload with ground flower), the design of the Air II lends itself more to a sedentary session because the glass tube sits on top of the vaporizer itself, which is thin and could easily topple over. Though the tube fits snugly, it doesn’t fully lock into place, making the device particularly prone to vibe-shattering accidents.  

What Can You Vape with the Air II?

The Air II  is only compatible with ground flower. 

How do you use the Air II?

Now that we’ve been over the basics, here’s how you use the Air II. 

Charge the Air II

The Air II comes with a swappable 18650 battery that can be charged while inside the Air II via USB, or outside of it with an 18650 compatible charger. This interchangeable batteries allows you to pre-charge batteries if you’re going camping, or doing something that doesn’t include electricity. A single charge can last for up to 90 minutes of continuous use, and the device takes about 3 hours to charge fully. 

To charge the battery within the Air II, simply plug in the USB cable and adapter. The Air II’s screen will display the battery percentage, letting you know when it is fully charged. It is not necessary to fully charge the Air II upon first use, and the device can also be used while charging. 

Control Panel

The control panel of the Air II consists of an OLED display and three buttons: Menu (M), Plus (+), and Minus (-). With these, you can control every aspect of the device, using M to toggle through the menu, and plus and minus to set things like temperature settings, brightness display, shut off timers and more. I turned the device on before reading the manual. The set up is so simple, it’s pretty much self explanatory.

Temperature Settings: The Air II has a large range of temperature settings, from 122 degrees fahrenheit to 428 degrees fahrenheit, in 1 or 10 degree increments using the plus and minus buttons. 

How to Vape

1. Load Glass Aroma Tube: Put coarsely ground flower in a small container, then twist the the glass tube into the container to fill the dish, being sure not to press too hard or pack it too tightly. It comes with a stainless steel stirring tool that helps with packing.
2. Insert Glass Aroma Tube: Pre-heat unit before inserting the tube, then insert the flower filled tube into the top of the Air II. 
3. Press and Hold the (-) and (M) Buttons to Turn On: A timer will count down on the OLED screen showing the power on delay and a greeting message is displayed when the unit is powered on. 
4. Set the Temperature and Let Unit Heat Up: Press one of the tree control panel buttons and the Air II will start to heat up automatically. Press the (+) and (-) buttons to adjust the temperature in 1-degree increments, or hold the button down to adjust the temperature in 10-degree increments.  
5. Inhale and Enjoy!: The Air II will remain heated and ready to use until you turn the device off. Because of the convection heating method, the flower is only heated when you inhale, meaning there’s virtually zero waste with this product. To turn off, hold the (M) and (+) buttons. 

How to Clean the Air II

Essentially maintenance free, the Air II is extremely easy to clean. Simply soak the glass parts in isopropyl alcohol for a couple of hours, then rise with hot water. Make sure they are fully dry before re-inserting them into the top of the device .

What’s the Appeal?

With it’s simple design and high quality vapor production, The Air II is a great vaporizer for novice and seasoned users alike. Whether it’s the people who want to get into using cannabis but don’t want to smoke for medical reasons, or heavy smokers who either want a break from combustion or to conserve (and truly taste!) their weed, the Air II fills a void in that its a desktop-quality vaporizer in the form of a casual, portable vape, even if it is a little fragile. 

Just because a hot new vaporizer has enough bells and whistles to link with a bluetooth speaker across the street doesn’t make it a good product when it comes time to get high. The Arizer Air has stood the test of time, and it’s successor, the Air II, will surely carry the flame for years to come. 

The post Everything you need to know about the Arizer Air II appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Majority Of Americans Believe Marijuana Use Just As Moral As Gambling

Most respondents viewed marijuana use as morally superior to abortion, porn, having kids out of wedlock and wearing fur.

The post Majority Of Americans Believe Marijuana Use Just As Moral As Gambling appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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It took full-scale legalization in 11 states and medical marijuana programs in over half of the country, but now the majority of Americans are finally ready to accept cannabis as a morally acceptable plant.

According to a new Gallup poll, 70 percent of Americans believe that smoking marijuana is a morally acceptable action, compared to only 28 percent who believe that getting stoned is unethical. 

The Gallup research surveyed more than 1,000 US adults across all 50 states and Washington D.C. In addition to the rising acceptability of pot-smoking, more than 70 percennt of respondents also agreed that premarital sex, gambling, and divorce all had the moral high ground. On the other side of the coin, a record low 54 percent of respondents said that they believed the death penalty was an ethical punishment. 

When it comes to cannabis, this week’s Gallup poll saw a 5 percent increase in acceptance compared to a near-identical survey from last year. Broken down by political affiliation, this year’s poll was the first time that more than 50% of Republican respondents considered smoking weed a principled action. 

“Public opinion continues to drastically evolve in favor of marijuana’s legal and cultural status, and it is time that the federal laws evolve as well,” Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, a marijuana law reform group, said in a statement first reported by NJ.com. “Politicians in Washington should take this opportunity ahead of the 2020 elections to move forward legislation… to both amend this failed policy and address the inequities and injustices it has brought for generations, particularly against communities of color.”

Of course, despite that overwhelming support from the American public, federal legislators have routinely rejected calls for nationwide cannabis decriminalization, re-scheduling, and total legalization.

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Can You Get A Yeast Infection On Your Face From Wearing A Mask?

Despite how nice it is to spend time outdoors, summer weather and face masks are one of the world’s most terrible combinations.

The post Can You Get A Yeast Infection On Your Face From Wearing A Mask? appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

For many people, coffee is a crucial part of their morning routine (read: I can’t function without large quantities of caffeine). While coffee can feel like magical get-stuff-done juice, too much of a good thing can leave you jittery, anxious, and seriously over-caffeinated. 

Cannabidoil (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, can help solve that problem according to some consumers. Currently, CBD can be found in all kinds of products, from pet treats to skincare to CBD lattes at your local coffee shop. And CBD-infused beverages have made an especially large impact — Zenith Global projects that the market for CBD and hemp infused drinks will grow to over $1.4 Billion by 2024. 

Of the drinkable CBD products currently sold, CBD coffee is one of the most popular. Over the last several years, the number of coffee shops and cafés offering different CBD-infused coffee and espresso drinks has noticeably increased. For the dedicated coffee-drinker, the appeal seems obvious: all the focus and productivity of a solid caffeine rush without the impending doom of potential overindulgence. 

What is CBD Coffee?

CBD coffee, as you probably guessed, is a combination of coffee and cannabidoil. It can include different ingredients and be made into regular hot coffee, cold brew, and various other types of drinks. Coffee shops that offer CBD-infused options typically add CBD oil to coffee after it’s brewed, while coffee brands add CBD (often in isolate form) to the coffee beans themselves. 

The amount of CBD per cup of joe will vary, but it’s important to only buy from trusted retailers. Since CBD beverages are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, companies don’t always disclose how their CBD is extracted or exactly how many milligrams are in each serving. 

According to Adrian Devitt-Lee, chief science writer at Project CBD, “Packaging should clearly indicate total cannabinoid content and dosage, and products should always have a batch number. Avoid products with artificial colors or flavors … Don’t be afraid to contact a company directly to ask them about their products —  if they are not forthcoming, pick another one.”  

What is CBD coffee good for?

Consumers report using CBD for a variety of reasons, but a lot more research must be done in order to know exactly which ailments it can clinically relieve. 

So, are there health benefits to a cup of coffee with CBD oil in it? Not likely. But based on product testimonials and five-star reviews, many consumers believe that coffee with added CBD can reduce caffeine-induced anxiety and help improve focus, and the logic makes some sense  — CBD has calming properties that may take the edge off of caffeine. 

However, it’s important to understand that both CBD and caffeine affect everyone differently, which means there’s no way to tell if it will help you without trying it for yourself. 

Does CBD coffee work?

The simple answer to whether or not CBD coffee works is: it depends. “CBD may be able to take the edge off of caffeine on a neurological level, but it’s also possible that caffeine could undermine some beneficial effects of CBD, including its potency as an anti-epileptic,” said Devitt-Lee. 

“Do they balance each other out or interfere? It will depend on the dose and [you] will likely have to experiment based on their own caffeine and cannabinoid sensitivities,” he added. 

I brewed a pot of Green Roads Hemp Flower Coffee to get the creative juices flowing as I sat down to write this article. My first impression was that the coffee tasted surprisingly good, not overly herbal or unpleasant. Lee Sosin, Chief Marketing Officer at Green Roads, explained, “The true flavor is really coming from the gourmet coffee beans grown on that lush Colombian estate. You will be able to taste the influence of hemp, but it is gentle and it works well with the coffee.”

Photo courtesy of Green Roads

After my first cup of CBD coffee (with oat milk and a spoonful of sugar) I didn’t feel especially caffeinated or relaxed, so I decided to have a second cup. That may have been a bit much considering I drink coffee on an empty stomach every morning, and I started to feel a little sleepy. I compensated with a regular cup of cold brew and a glass of water, which left me feeling the right amount of caffeinated and focused. 

After two to three cups of coffee,  the daily norm for 44 percent of Americans, I didn’t feel jittery or anxious at all. I did learn that I personally need a greater ratio of caffeine to CBD in order to feel awake, so next time I plan to limit my intake to one cup. 

The best advice I can offer to my fellow caffeine-lovers who suffer from stress is to understand that CBD coffee may not be the best method of consumption if you’re using CBD for medicinal purposes, and to always do your research before choosing a brand. “Many CBD companies are starting to use similar language about things like testing, but consumers should understand that there’s a big difference between companies that test their own CBD isolates, and someone like Green Roads that has an accredited independent lab run a full-panel test on every batch of finished products,” offered Sosin.

What are our favorite CBD coffees?

There are plenty of great CBD brands out there, but check out a few well-known options for an infused caffeine fix:

Green Roads Founders’ Blend

Photo courtesy of Green Roads

Thanks to the company’s strict quality control, Green Roads is a great option for CBD coffee newbies. Their Founders’ Blend is crafted in small batches, the most recent batch containing  9.67 milligrams of cannabinoids per serving. They also sell CBD tea, gummies, oils, and tons of other products to fit any lifestyle. 

Available: Nationwide

Price: $14.99

Flower Power Coffee Co. 

Flower Power Coffee Co. is another popular option for hemp-infused coffee, with 60 milligram blends like the New York Signature Roast and Big Island Joe. If you brew it on its own  — you could mix it with other coffee too — you’ll get 5 milligrams per cup, which is a great starting point for those who don’t know how CBD will affect them. 

Available: Nationwide

Price: $14.99

Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

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