Analysis/Opinion

Analysis/Opinion, Culture, GuidesJune 4, 2017 by Adam Rhodes

Getting to Know: Bongs and Baungs

Bongs have been around for a while.

The common name for water pipes is bongs. The term actually comes from the Thai word “Baung”. The baung is a traditional cylindrical smoking tube made of wood or bamboo. During the Vietnam War era; American soldiers discovered the “Baung”.
Upon returning from the war, the water pipe concept migrated back to the US with the soldiers. Because the sounds were difficult for Americans to form (Baung is pronounced bah-owng), the word was simplified to “bong”. One of the earliest known uses of the word bong dates to the January 1971 issue of the Marijuana Review.
Once in the states, bongs became very popular. Users realized that the bong offered a few key advantages over the methods they had employed to this point. Bongs provided a smoother and less harsh hit than joints or hand pipes. Using water to filter the smoke also made bongs much more efficient at filtering particulate as well.

Bongs basically allow smoke to cool before entering the lungs.

There are a few reasons to want cooler smoke when using cannabis. First, it allows for denser smoke. Since weed smoke becomes denser the colder it gets, you can get more THC into your lungs (which have a set volume) with cool smoke than with hot.
Hot hits of smoke can cause unnecessary discomfort, coughing, and even damage to the lungs at the most extreme temperatures. Bongs offer a much more reliable way to cool smoke to a tolerable level than other methods which is a big part of their allure.

Water pipes with percolators offer a smoother, cooler smoke session.

Bongs and their percolators work based around the concept of diffusion or spreading out. First, they pre-mix the smoke with a large volume of air before it hits the lungs. A butane lighter can burn at close to 3500 degrees so cooling the smoke is a must. The more air that gets mixed in, the cooler the smoke gets until it reaches equilibrium so bigger bongs cool smoke more.
Second, bongs use water to filter the smoke. Water is able to absorb a lot more heat than air of the same volume. This reduces the overall size a bong needs to be in order to provide a good smoking experience. Water is also great at catching large particulates like ash, kief and burning plant matter.

The shape matters as much as the size.

The size and shape of a bong directly affects the overall experience. The shape affects the drag or total resistance level while inhaling. Bongs with narrow sections or tall columns of water simply take more energy to hit. The overall pressure needed to hit a piece is dictated by the narrowest part and the depth of the water used.
Large chambers increase the overall volume of smoke that must be drawn through the device. While large chambers reduce the pressure needed to move that smoke, they add to the overall volume of air. Strong lungs may still find it difficult to clear a bong that is larger than the volume of air they can hold.
Be careful not to get a piece with a wide bottom and narrow top though. Cones naturally keep the smoke at the bottom (wide end) of the chamber. Clearing the smoke from these pieces can be almost impossible. The result is stale smoke being trapped inside the bong and tainting every other hit.

Bongs fall into three basic types.

The Straight Pipe:

This is classic style of bong. Straight-tube bongs are so popular among smokers that they have been used to represent the culture as a whole. The function and “feel” of the classic bong is a nostalgic experience for many. the straight pipe allows for one or more chambers for percolation and a multitude of percolation styles. You can most likely find one (or more) of these classic upright bongs in the stash of every connoisseur.

The Angled Pipe:

Angled water pipes are a more modern bong design that is rising in popularity as artists get more creative. Instead of putting your mouth to the bong, this style is normally drawn to the user. This gives the angled bong experience more of a “casual” feeling than using an upright bong.
Some find that angled glass bubblers offer a more comfortable smoking experience. This style is more likely to have decorative elements or flashy percolators in addition to being smaller than straight tubes. The overall size tends to be smaller than straight pipes as well as they take up a significant more space in kilns.

The Custom Pipe:

As innovation and the limitless creativity of glass artists emerge, they take the form of elegant, complex and beautiful glass pipes. Heady glass dominates this side of glass water pipes. These are the intricate $200-$20,000 pieces in the glass cases at head shops across the country. They can take the form of anything the artist can think up and is a catch-all for pieces that don’t fit into the above categories. If you’re after a truly one-of-a-kind piece, then finding a non-traditional bong is definitely the place to start. This is where glass artists can unleash their creativity.

Percs offer diversity within a type.

Not all water pipes have a percolator beyond the stem that sits in the water. Water pipes that do have percolators offer a smoother, cooler smoke session than their perc-less counterparts. Percolators are based around the concept of diffusion or spreading something out more widely.
Percolators (shortened to Percs) use water to spread out smoke. There are a ton of ways to do this with some being more visual (like creating visible vortexes inside the chamber) while others are less so (diffusion beads in the water) but they all work off of increasing the surface area of the smoke.

The best bong is one that fits your needs.

At the end of the day, there is no objectively “best bong”. While larger sizes allow for more cooling, they also require significantly more lung power to use. Similarly, multiple percs can improve the overall flavor of a hit but increase the amount of pressure needed to pull that air through the bong.
Finding the right balance between form and function can be difficult and requires a bit of trial and error. Buying bongs can get downright expensive so trying out a friends piece before buying one yourself is always recommended.
Did you learn anything new or maybe find something that needs corrected? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. We would love to hear what you have to say. As always, thanks for reading.

Analysis/Opinion, Culture, Marijuana NewsJune 4, 2017 by Adam Rhodes

420 Celebrations Hit the Mainstream

What are 420 celebrations to you?

The number 420 itself has come to represent a lot to the cannabis community. Twice every day, stoners remark “Happy 4:20” to each other. or otherwise having 420 celebrations. But why do they do that? Ask a smoker and the response can range from a simple “I dunno” to a lengthy explanation of college hippies, police codes and secret meetings in the 60’s.
The number has become so embedded in popular stoner culture that every April, cannabis users from all walks of life view April 20th as an actual holiday. They request time off, book events, invite friends, and otherwise celebrate like any other holiday. Except this one the main goal is to get high, like really, really high.

420 is bigger than the cannabis community.

Even people who don’t consume marijuana associate 420 with cannabis culture. Many bosses know why their employees suddenly ‘get sick’ and call in to work in the mid April. Word of mouth and social media has made 420 celebrations truly global. It can be almost impossible for someone to get out of work for the holiday without getting called out as a pot head.

420 has become a celebration of consumption.

Friends gather together and smoke as many bowls as seems fitting. Just like Superbowl parties, Halloween jamborees and 4th of July celebrations, 420 has a social focus. Even people who don’t hang out make the effort to see each other for the holiday. The popularity of 420 celebrations with consumers has been embraced by retailers.
Even Snoop Dogg performs special concerts for the holiday. Rappers aren’t the only ones getting in on the sales. The best business day for any dispensary is April 20th and almost all have specials. The deals can range from a single strain on discount to a full line of pre-rolls for $4.20 with music, food and all sorts of games.

What is 420 really about?

Unlike most religious holidays, the meaning behind the numbers are multiple. 420 is a police code, a secret meeting time and a code word all wrapped up in one. As stoners repeat these stories, they work to add a sense of mystery and intrigue to the holiday. The multiple origin legends boost off of each other, creating a mystery behind the ‘true origin’ that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
Instead of sharing a single origin story (like with Christmas or Easter), people engage in flowing conversations about the origins that shift and evolve as they go. This is partly due to the short attention span stoners are known for. But it’s also because there is always someone new entering the conversation who has heard different parts of the story.

Prohibition has been big for the 420 community.

America has a pretty bad track record when it comes to respecting stoners. In states like California (where recreational sales were recently legalized), getting caught with some weed could get you behind bars. The controversial ‘three strikes’ policy made life sentencing a real threat. Yet the threat of prison didn’t stop people from smoking, it just made them hide it.
When people have to fear incarceration for celebrating, it tends to make them less inclined to make a big deal about smoking weed. Yet even in the early 200’s when Operation Pipe Dreams was big news, people still held 420 celebrations, concerts and all sorts of gatherings.

420 Reform has actually helped kids.

As more and more states pass marijuana reform, people have taken notice how much better the communities have been. 31 states provided less state funding per student in 2014 than in 2008, and in at least 15 states, the cuts to school funding exceeded 10 percent. Yet schools in states like Washington and Oregon (among others) have had millions of dollars added to their budgets from weed taxes.
Also, with less parents going to jail, there are less children going into state agencies like foster care. This frees up a lot of time and energy for social workers to focus on the ones that need them. And since the parents aren’t in jail, they can keep on working and paying their taxes instead of becoming a drain on the state.

Some cities are taking a better approach to 420 celebrations.

Some towns engage with their stoner populations better than others which can morph the conversation. In cities like Denver, Seattle or Portland, there are all sorts of events. These cities embrace the revenue that stoners provide and work to allow safe consumption. Stoners flock to these areas when on vacation or looking to relocate which provides a very real economic boost.
In Denver recently, the city partnered with law enforcement, Mothers Against Drink Driving, dispensaries and Uber to provide a safe way for people to get around during 420 celebrations. Instead of driving intoxicated, riders were offered a $4.20 discount on fares. The effort was a resounding success and steps are underway to make similar arrangements in the future.

420 isn’t going anywhere.

In small towns and cities where cannabis is less loved, consumers still host extravagant parties or simply get together and smoke out every day. 420 became a cultural phenomenon long before legalization so people have had a long time to think of ways to celebrate without drawing much attention. Even if the federal government (read Jeff Sessions) cracks down on states and starts a new crusade, the community will find a way.
It wasn’t too long ago that hikes, spring festivals and camping were the only places stoners could openly consume. If need be, we can always go back to that. But for now, we get Snoop Dogg concerts and great deals on legal weed.
Remember to consume responsibly and let us know how you enjoyed the 420 holiday. Thanks for reading and Happy 420!

Analysis/Opinion, Culture, List, MusicMay 29, 2017 by Adam Rhodes

Washington D.C.'s Sketchy Online Weed Market

Want some expensive online weed delivered to your door?

In Washington, DC., online weed delivery is now a possibility. But is it legal? Ever since weed became legalized in Washington, a new gray market of marijuana products has risen. However, consumers have no local access to weed.
Therefore, entrepreneurs started business’s that cater to the mass demand for available marijuana. Weed related products such as cookies, juices, clothing, art and trades done in pot instead of cash are becoming popular.
The new supply and demand dynamic is customers wanting weed to be delivered to their door. A website called Leafedin.org is like a Craigslist for weed. Leafedin connects pot buyers and sellers. Chefs serve weed edibles at ticketed events and consumers purchase expensive shirts and receive free pot samples.
Many customers are making online purchases for everyday products. Why should weed be any different? Initiative 71 provided the loophole for consumers to purchase online products with access to weed.

The Initiative 71 ballot loophole.

Because of the Initiative 71 ballot, many business owners are taking advantage of the demand for weed to start a business. “It’s just an explosion of entrepreneurship,” said Adam Eidinger. He supported the Initiative 71 ballot, but is worried about the potential loophole.
Eidinger believes that the gray market movement is technically illegal. Even through many businesses are claiming they are “I-71” compliant, they don’t follow the spirit of the law.
Sure, initiative 71 ballot makes recreational weed legal. Adults over 21 can also possess up to 2 oz. of weed. Growers can even give away up to an ounce to adults 21 and over.None of that causes an issue.
The loophole that entrepreneurs are taking advantage of is the ability to sell useless products equal to the price of an 1/8^thup to 2 oz. of weed. They then sell the items online and use it as a front for distribution.

Business’ are basically following the rules of I-71.

Business owners are gifting weed with the online purchase of a product instead of selling the weed directly. For example, a group of students from Gallaudet University were selling weed art online. They would then hand deliver the products with weed. Locktite Diesel is another online weed portal that sells artistic mountainscapes online with a warning not to operate heavy machinery. Then delivers the mountainscapes to the customer’s home with a “gift” of weed.

Why are customers buying weed online?

Washington, D.C. made the possession and consumption of weed legal. Consumers can also grow their own weed. Unfortunately, not everyone in D.C. has the facilities or enough space to grow their own cannabis. Also, setting up dispensaries is not an option. They are still banned, leaving consumers wondering where they’re going to get their product.
Not having access to a local dispensary gives consumers limited choices. Consumers who can’t go too far away from home have no choice but to buy weed online. Lt. Andrew Struhar of the narcotics division of D.C sums up the issue well. He said, “The lack of being able to regulate the sale has a lot of people looking for a gray area.”

Analysis/Opinion, MedicalMay 20, 2017 by Alley Rhodes

Marijuana Helps Treat Drug Addiction

Marijuana aims to reduce drug addiction.

For those who can’t simply stop taking dangerous drugs, harm reduction is the next step. Harm reduction is the process of treating drug addiction problems by helping patients slowly limit their drug intake. Scientists are researching the use of marijuana as a possible harm reduction treatment.

Joe Shrank uses marijuana in harm reduction.

Joe Schrank is an American program director and the founder of High Sobriety. He uses marijuana as a detox method for his patients who are struggling with severe drug addiction. Schrank says that some patients want to wean themselves off drugs. And cannabis provides the less invasive means of maintaining sobriety.

Not everyone believes marijuana is useful as a detox tool.

Joe says he’s been criticized for using weed as a detox cure. “Some say it’s hypocritical because, you know, you’re supposed to go to rehab to get off drugs.” Joe reply’s to criticisms with his own personal experiences. He’s been free from drug abuse for over 25 years by using weed to help him become abstinent.
CEO, Todd Stumbo, of Blue Ridge Mountain Recovery Center in Georgia disagrees with Shrank’s methods. Stumbo argues that there is currently abstinence based methods that are proven to help patients with their drug addiction problems. That there is simply not enough evidence to support Shrank’s methods using cannabis.

Some researchers are on the fence about cannabis usage in harm reduction.

Dr. Nora Volkow is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Nora agrees that there is currently not enough evidence to support marijuana as an effective tool in harm reduction. She also states that there is no evidence-based medication that has been effective in the treatment of cocaine addiction.
Dr. Nora is saying, “In principle, what we have aimed for many years is to find interventions that would lead to complete abstinence.” And, “we currently have no medicine to intervene, and it [cocaine] can be a very severe addiction and actually quite dangerous.”

How marijuana helps reduce drug abuse for patients.

Yasmin Hurd is the director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Yasmin found that cannabinoids like THC and CBD reverse some of the brain changes that occur with heroin use. She also discovered that CBD positively influences the body’s biological systems. Systems that are linked to negative components of addiction such as anxiety and inhibitory control.
M-J Milloy is the infectious disease epidemiologist and research scientist at the BC Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. His studies also found that crack addicts benefited from marijuana. They started weaning themselves from crack which showed significant positive results.
Another study found that cannabinoids effectively reduces cravings and anxiety among heroin addicts. “[Weed] can really help people with pain management and other health issues, or it can help them be safer,” Schrank said. While not concrete, this supports the effectiveness of harm reduction methods and goals.

Is abstinence possible with weed?

Abstinence is a difficult thing to accomplish for many drug addicts. In addition to chemical changes and long term damage, which is the case of many pharmaceuticals, recovering addicts face intense social stigma.
Schrank says that people need space to grow and develop themselves. The process of recovery is a lifelong one and cannabis can help with the transition. And we must also remember that most people coming off crack or heroin need to feel that comforting feeling of change. Cannabis may not solve every problem, but it can help other issues seem smaller.

Analysis/Opinion, Marijuana NewsMay 18, 2017 by Alley Rhodes

NASCAR Driver Removed Cannabis Logo Day of Race

NASCAR discriminates against cannabis, but not alcohol or energy drinks.

Carol Long is a NASCAR driver. VeedVerks is a Colorado hemp based vape company that agreed to become one of Carol Long’s sponsors in the Kansas Speedway. Carol Long has no problem with what type of sponsor he was getting. To him, any sponsor is appreciated.
The VeedVerks logo on Carol’s car had a green background with the VeedVerks company logo and website domain. There were no images of marijuana leaves, nudity, offensive language or gestures.
However, on the day of the race, a spokesperson from NASCAR demanded that Carol Long take off the logo from VeedVerks. Apparently, all cannabis related products are banned at NASCAR events. The reason for the ban? Cannabis companies do not comply with NASCAR standards. But the question remains, what are NASCAR’s standards exactly?

NASCAR supports other substances that cause more harm to individuals.

Many people are outraged by the request made to Carol to remove the VeedVerks logo. People are upset because the standards of NASCAR are supposed to uphold the rights of the people and not corporations. According to Miggy420, “People smoking cannabis is just as American as the illegal moonshiners that inspired the origins of NASCAR. As American as their sponsors Budweiser and Coors Light.”
Miggy420 argues that the monster drink companies along with alcohol companies cause more damage to Americans than marijuana does. Currently, there are no reported deaths as a direct result from the use marijuana. But the same cannot be said about energy drinks and alcohol.

Alcohol and energy drink statistics are shocking.

In a 2004 survey, 34 deaths have been linked to energy drinks. But in 2012, the FDA announced 40 illnesses and 5 deaths caused by Monster Energy drink. 13 illnesses and two permanent disabilities were caused by drinking Rockstar Energy. But they aren’t the only ones with issues.
The FDA’s latest report quantifies the consequences of consuming 5-Hour Energy, Monster and Rockstar. The consequences for drinking 5-Hour Energy are: deaths from heart attacks, miscarriage, convulsions, life-threatening fear, deafness and hemorrhages. For drinking Monsters the side effects are: hospitalizations from irregular heartbeats, severe diarrhea, psychotic disorders and heart attacks to name a few. The consequences for drinking Rockstar are basically the same: irregular heartbeats, psychotic disorders and unconsciousness.
Alcohol fairs no better for public health. There are approximately 88,000 deaths in America associated with alcohol. In 2015, it was reported that 15.1 million adults ages 18 years and older suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD). And over half a million minors suffer from AUD. Also, more than 10 percent of U.S. children live with parents who struggle with alcohol abuse. According to Miggy420, the continuous war on weed is an unnecessary battle that is only encouraging an ignorant opinion about cannabis and furthering the use of other dangerous substances.

Carol Long takes blame and makes a public Facebook apology.

Carol Long made a public statement on Facebook by saying that it was his fault for not giving NASCAR enough information to properly research VeedVerks. Miggy420 does not buy into Carol’s statement. He says that Carol should have never been asked to remove the logo because NASCAR needs to stop hiding behind corporate America and stand up for what is right for the American people.

Analysis/OpinionMay 17, 2017 by Adam Rhodes

Healthcare Bill Increases Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction is ravaging the nation.

Over reliance on drugs like Vicodin and opioids by physicians has contributed to the groundswell of people struggling to overcome chemical dependence and opioid addiction. One of the emerging treatments uses cannabis in place of harsh or dangerous pharmaceuticals with unknown side effects.
1 in 3 Americans directly affected by the addiction epidemic. The low risk and cost of cannabis compares well to the wildly fluctuating pharmaceutical prices. Mandates around pre-existing conditions and mental health services in the Affordable Care Act helped expand Medicaid and insure millions for the first time in their lives.

Lawmakers decide killing up to 24 million is better than doing nothing.

Access to many of the essential addiction and mental health services people have come to depend on are getting removed. The 24 million Americans who can afford it the least will be expelled from treatment. Republicans voted to pass the American Health Care Act before they even knew how much it would cost.
After years of chanting ‘repeal and replace’, the Republicans had their chance to present an alternative. Yet they had literally nothing ready. Even when they were voting on the bill, they didn’t even know how much it would cost. But lawmakers were so zealous to pass ANYTHING that they willingly signed a blank check and hoped someone else would clean up the bodies.
According to an NPR interview with President Obama’s director of National Drug Control Policy (NDCP)Michael Botticelli, “I think it’s not hyperbolic to forecast that we’re going to see dramatic increases in mortality associated with drug overdose deaths [if the proposed bill goes into effect],”

Many organizations predict catastrophe for 24 million people.

It’s not just the NDCP that thinks the republican led healthcare bill will lead to more deadly opioid addiction. The American Society of Addiction Medicine sent a letter (PDF) warning Congress that the Republicans’ American Health Care Act will reduce coverage for vulnerable populations, including those who suffer from addictions.
Most states have medical marijuana laws in place that require a doctor’s recommendation. Many people are only able to obtain their medical marijuana cards because the Affordable Care Act forced insurance companies to include regular checkups. Millions of people on the low end of the economic spectrum could finally obtain the treatment they needed for years. Until the Republican led American Health Care Act was forced through the legislature at least.
The new AHCA doesn’t operate in a vacuum. The Trump budget plan cuts funding for mental health treatment in addition to the changes made in the healthcare bill. At the same time, it provides additional funding to drug enforcement. This will create more deadly clashes between police and the mentally ill. Clearly, the current lawmakers are Disturbed and Drowning Pool fans because they are Down with the Sickness to Let the Bodies hit the Floor. Although I’m pretty sure those bands have done more to promote mental health.

Analysis/Opinion, Culture, Marijuana NewsMay 16, 2017 by Adam Rhodes

Sessions Takes First Big Swing at Pot

After months in the making, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken the first swing at cannabis. His attack comes in the form of changing the policy set out by former Attorney General Eric Holder. Known as the Holder Memo, the 2013 directive asked federal prosecutors to avoid charging defendants with crimes that trigger mandatory minimums. It has also been the main legal protection states have relied upon when installing recreational marijuana laws.
Sessions has officially directed federal prosecutors to charge defendants with the most serious provable crimes possible. Specifically, crimes which carry minimum sentences and the harshest penalties. He even wants prosecutors to pursue punishments as far above minimum as is deemed physically possible.
He has directed federal prosecutors to use whatever means necessary to achieve his goals through his recent directive. With it, he has revealed the bloody legacy he intends to leave. He has decided to make his stand on the bloody and chained backs of mothers, fathers, the terminally ill and mentally unstable.
Sessions doesn’t want to reserve the harshest penalties for defendants with known gang, violence or large-scale trafficking histories. He wants to instill terror in the population. And the only tools at his disposal is the entire federal judicial system.

Is the water really that hot?

Sessions laid out his plan in a two-page memo and sent it to more than 5,000 assistant U.S. attorneys. In the document, Sessions orders prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense”. That is as clear a declaration of was as there ever was and marks the first significant criminal justice effort by the Trump regime.
In language that reflects a deluded and willfully malicious view of humanity, The attorney general’s memo claims that “By definition, the most serious offenses are those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences.”
This move is likely to repeat the mistakes of the War on Drugs which has had a catastrophic impact on poor and minority communities. But Sessions is determined to leverage every last vestige of power to achieve his goals, even if that means blood in the streets and putting federal inmates into private prisons.

One Sessions to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.

Although Sessions sees private prisons as another tool to increase incarceration rates. Sessions claimed earlier this year that decreasing the number of private prisons had “impaired the [Bureau of Prisons’] ability to meet the future needs of the federal correctional system”.
When confronted with a declining murder rate and decreased recidivism due to mental health treatments, Sessions claims that only more aggressive tactics can prevent a new violent epidemic. Instead of more mental health treatment and less punishment, Jeff Sessions feels that locking people in cages is the best way to treat his fellow Americans in 2017 and beyond.

Analysis/Opinion, Medical, ResearchMay 16, 2017 by Alley Rhodes

Accidentally Overdosing on Marijuana

How others have dealt with accidentally overdosing on marijuana.

When people consume cannabis, it stimulates the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for regulating the response to rewards, stress and emotions. THC affects the ECS by disrupting the ability to regulate the response to stress, which causes anxiety instead of relieving it in extreme cases. Weed is interesting because it can help people alleviate pain and cause relaxation, but at the same time it can cause paranoia and anxiety. However, there are thousands of cannabis strains that have different affects and cause feelings of well-being.
A 26-year-old graduate from University of North Carolina ate a pot brownie and had the worst experience of her life. She lost the sense of time and was shaky. She said it felt like she was trapped inside herself. Did this 26-year-old consume too much or eat the wrong type of pot brownie?

Chelsea consumed too much weed and caused her own anxiety.

Chelsea Wind, a 46-year-old is a normal cannabis consumer. One night she was suffering through an anxiety attack and her friends convinced her to consume more and more to help relax. Chelsea couldn’t calm down and eventually called 911.
Dr. Mohini Ranganathan, from Yale University is an assistant professor of psychiatry. Dr. Ranganathan specializes in cannabinoid research, and she says that people who consume low doses of weed are more likely to feel the effects of anti-anxiety effects. Chelsea consumed too much and in fact exacerbated her anxiety by taking too much cannabis. “As the dose increases, you become more and more likely to experience anxiety and panic,” Dr. Ranganathan says.

Is there such a thing as psychoactive safe weed?

Dr. Ranganathan also says that consuming a large quantity of weed causes people to feel the psychotic effects such as extreme anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations. “When people talk about marijuana, they’re not distinguishing between the different components of cannabis,” she says. One of the main components of marijuana is THC. The more cannabis with THC is consumed, the higher the amount of anxiety a person feels. Sativas are a type of weed strain that are usually high in THC and end up creating higher feelings of anxiety. Indica’s are nicer on people because they help create the feeling of relaxation and minimize the feeling of anxiety and other negative psychoactive issues.

Analysis/Opinion, MedicalMay 16, 2017 by Alley Rhodes

Is Mainstream Market Ready for GMO Weed?

Will GMO Weed take over the marketplace?

Genetically altered marijuana, GMO weed, has yet to find its way into the mainstream marketplace. According to Dr. Reggie Gaudino of the Steep Hill cannabis laboratory, everyone will soon see GMO cannabis for sale. Local farmers have two years to utilize their advantages before big corporate farmers like Monsanto take over the marketplace. But not all researchers and groups agree. Humbolt County has distanced itself from GMO marijuana and focused on organic and environmentally friendly farming practices.
Oregon researcher Mowgli Holmes from Phylos Bioscience disagrees with the idea of GMO’s taking over mainstream cannabis. Holmes says that the people will not be ready to accept genetically modified weed for a very long time. “I don’t think there is anything that GMOs could do for cannabis that we need that couldn’t be done by advanced plant breeding techniques,” Holmes said. “GMOs can make cannabis that glows in the dark, but we don’t need that.”

How is Phylos Bioscience and Steep Hill involved with cannabis?

Phylos Bioscience and Steep Hill are using DNA sequencers to unlock the secrets of marijuana. For example, labs are currently able to test different cannabis strains for terpenes and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids known as CBD’s. Other goals are to map marijuana genetic sequencing. This is an attempt to combine the best combination of cannabis strains to treat certain ailments without creating GMO strains.

Is the strength of weed today a result of GMO Cannabis?

Todays weed is more potent than cannabis from the 1960’s. Current day cannabis is strong because of traditional breeding techniques and cross-breading. Cloning doesn’t count as genetically modified weed because it does not manipulate the plants DNA. However, cloning comes with its own issues. “Some people in the industry believe that cloning has been responsible for perpetuating a lot of the disease issues that you see in the cannabis industry,” Humboldt and Trinity counties’ Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Dolf said.

Is there a future for GMO weed?

According to Gaudino, GMO weed modification is going to happen whether farmers and customers are ready or not. Holmes feels opposite, he says the community has no interest in genetically modified weed. That it is best to put our focus on understanding the cannabis genome to improve plant breeding techniques. Only time will tell.