Credit: CC0 Public Domain Marijuana and other products containing THC, the plant’s main psychoactive ingredient, …
Read More »Credit: CC0 Public Domain California has allocated more than $1 billion in recent years to combat its opioid crisis. Much of the money has been used to distribute fentanyl test strips and the overdose reversal drug naloxone, as well as …
Read More »The scene is set: your weed is rolled or packed, cushions are fluffed, your plateful of snacks is piled high and ready to be indulged — all you need now is something to watch. Do you spend a half hour …
Read More »Bud rot or Botrytis (Botrytis spp.) is a fungus that cannabis growers worldwide face. This fungus is commonly found during the flowering stage and attacks the flower (or buds) of the cannabis plant. Let’s discuss what Botrytis is, how to …
Read More »Flavonoids are phytochemical compounds found throughout flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They’re not exclusive to cannabis and are responsible for colour pigmentations, odour, and flavour within nature’s flora. Many are only familiar with the popular phytocannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and …
Read More »Credit: CC0 Public Domain An estimated 4 to 7 percent of women use cannabis during pregnancy, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among pregnant women is on the rise in the United States. Growing evidence suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy …
Read More »Are you apprehensive for the moment when it’s your turn to roll a joint with friends? Or are you constantly being mocked for buying pre-rolls? Well, it’s time to step up to the challenge of rolling the perfect joint, every time. Don’t worry; we have the ultimate guide that will make you head of the rolling table.
Joints have come a long way from the iconic toothpick joint in Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke to Rick lighting up in the animated series Rick & Morty. It can be said that rolling a perfect joint can be crucial for the overall enjoyment of your cannabis flowers, and many people are interested in learning to roll one up. There are many ways to roll a joint, and throughout this article, we will guide you through our favourite rolling method.
First, let’s get the most important question out of the way: should a joint contain tobacco? Mixing cannabis with tobacco is commonplace in Europe but almost blasphemous in the USA. With a dramatic increase in cannabis legalisation and education, it is hoped that our European friends will soon stop consuming tobacco with their cannabis and catch on to the greener way!
Nevertheless, before learning to roll the best joint, let…
Human reproduction is completely dependent on the healthy function of an underestimated but vital organ: the endometrium. This is the spongy tissue that lines the inner surface of the womb.
In the first half of the menstrual cycle, a healthy endometrium expands in response to the estrogen produced by a growing egg. The endometrium is then shed each month during menstruation.
Or, in the case of pregnancy, the endometrium accepts and nurtures the embryo.
When ovulation is triggered, the ovary starts to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone causes the endometrial cells to prepare to accept an embryo, in a unique transition called “decidualization.”
During decidualisation, endometrial cells display proteins that indicate it’s receptive for embryo attachment. After attachment, the junctions between endometrial cells loosen so an…
This past weekend, farmers, family, and friends came together to celebrate the birthday of one of NorCal’s most important cannabis visionaries.
“I still remember that first day we met at Area 101,” Swami says to me as I give him a big birthday hug. I’ve just arrived at Sonoma Hills Farm outside of Petaluma, California for his 80th birthday party and the mood is buzzing on many levels.
For those unacquainted with Swami Chaitanya, he was born William Winans in New Jersey in the early 1940s. He initially pursued academic life on the east coast but was called to San Francisco during the Summer of Love in 1967. From early experiences growing weed on Telegraph Hill to later spiritual awakenings that inspired him to live in South America, Europe, and India, his intellectual background and varied life experiences come together in a perspective on life and an approach to cannabis cultivation that is unlike any you will ever encounter.
Swami’s recollection of our meeting years ago at Area 101 immediately puts me in nostalgia mode. I, too, remember the first time we met… It was a…
California has allocated more than $1 billion in recent years to combat its opioid crisis. Much of the money has been used to distribute fentanyl test strips and the overdose reversal drug naloxone, as well as deliver medical care to people who are homeless. The state has an opioid awareness campaign tailored to youths and recently called on the National Guard to help detect drug traffickers.
Yet the problem keeps getting worse.
Driven largely by the prevalence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine, drug overdoses in California now kill more than twice as many people as car accidents, more than four times as many as homicides, and more than either diabetes or lung cancer, according to California Health Policy Strategies, a Sacramento consulting group. And the state’s overdose surveillance dashboard indicates most opioid overdose deaths involve fentanyl.
Provisional data for last year from the…
The scene is set: your weed is rolled or packed, cushions are fluffed, your plateful of snacks is piled high and ready to be indulged — all you need now is something to watch.
Do you spend a half hour or more cruising down multiple streaming service rabbit holes or do you opt for broadcast television? Do you spiral into your YouTube suggestions or finish the video podcast you started last week? Either way, it sounds like a lot of work before you get to relax into your sesh.
We’ve been there too, which is why we rounded up not only our own favorite shows to watch while high, but those of our respective stoner squads as well.
From deep-cut sitcoms to unproblematic classics, to newer, buzzier watches, there’s almost certainly something on this list for all y’all. Plus, we went the extra mile and rounded up some of our favorite deep-stone cultivars we love specifically for spacing out and binge watching.
For anyone with food service experience, this is the holy grail of job site sitcoms. An ensemble cast with obvious histories in catering and odd-jobs, Party Down nails it to the most niche detail.
Watchers can drop in on any…
Bud rot or Botrytis (Botrytis spp.) is a fungus that cannabis growers worldwide face. This fungus is commonly found during the flowering stage and attacks the flower (or buds) of the cannabis plant. Let’s discuss what Botrytis is, how to identify bud rot, the causes, and how to prevent and treat bud rot.
Botrytis is part of a genus of pathogens responsible for plant diseases that cause billions of Euros yearly in crop losses. It’s a necrotrophic fungus which destroys the plant hosts by feeding on rotting tissue. When talking bud rot in cannabis plants it’s always the Botrytis cinerea fungus which affects the cannabis plant. This type of bud rot is a part of a phenotypically diverse genus of roughly 40 different Botrytis species discovered from the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic tundras.
Bud rot typically starts on the cannabis plant’s stem inside the flowering bud and spreads outward, appearing grey and mushy at the time of infection. As bud rot infection progresses, the signs of disease can be identified by the plant’s leaves appearing wilted, yellow and burnt.
It occurs quite slowly, and is most commonly…
Flavonoids are phytochemical compounds found throughout flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They’re not exclusive to cannabis and are responsible for colour pigmentations, odour, and flavour within nature’s flora.
Many are only familiar with the popular phytocannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). However, cannabis contains over 400 chemical entities, including flavonoids and terpenes.
Flavonoids are the least-researched but are way more influential than you could believe! Both terpenes and flavonoids are directly responsible for the flavour and aroma, but what separates them is the vibrant colours expressed by flavonoids.
The name flavonoid is derived from the Latin word for yellow, flavus, referring to their colour pigmentation. They are comprised of polyphenolic compounds. The general chemical structure is a carbon skeleton made from 15 water-soluble carbon atoms, with two benzene rings connected by a three-linking carbon chain. Researchers have found over 10,000 flavonoids which have been identified and isolated.
After identifying and isolating the individual flavonoids, they can be…
An estimated 4 to 7 percent of women use cannabis during pregnancy, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among pregnant women is on the rise in the United States. Growing evidence suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy can adversely impact the health of mothers and their children, including a higher chance of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant death. Despite the widespread legalization of cannabis, increasing rates of CUD, and associated adverse health effects, limited research exists on treatment for this population.
A new study by Professor Panagiota (Yiota) Kitsantas found that pregnant women are more likely to complete CUD treatment if referred by the justice system, community partners, or health care providers. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine treatment outcomes for CUD for pregnant women seeking treatment at facilities supported by public funds.
“A better understanding of the…
Findings from a study examining the relationship between marijuana use and peripheral artery disease (PAD) were presented today at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2023 Scientific Sessions. Results found marijuana users are at a significantly increased risk of developing PAD, compared to the general population.
Marijuana use has increased in recent years with nearly 50 million people reporting using it at least once (CDC). While many studies have looked at the impact of marijuana use on health, little research has been done to study the effect of marijuana use on the vascular system. PAD, a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs, impacts 6.5 million people in the U.S. and can lead to a loss of mobility, reduced quality of life, heart attack, stroke and death, if not treated early.
Researchers used de-identified patient data from the National…
Tinctures are a century-old technique that has survived the test of time. Cannabis tinctures capture the distilled essence of the plant in a concentrated solution and can be an ideal alternative to inhalation. So let us get down to basics and discuss everything you need to know about tinctures.
A tincture refers to a concentrated herbal extract that has been dissolved in ethanol or glycerine-based solution. It is one of the most basic extraction forms designed for sublingual use, entering the system through mucous membranes.
A cannabis tincture is a concentrated extract which binds the compounds of the cannabis plant into a diluted solution. The plant compounds dissolve into a rich solution by soaking the flower in a base solution. The results will leave you with a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum tincture, but what is the difference?
Full-spectrum refers to products made with all the compounds found within the cannabis plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. It is a complete plant extract, whereas broad-spectrum removes the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol….
Force-flowering cannabis is a method that intentionally induces flowering of the plant before it would naturally occur. Whether to beat an early-autumn frost or squeeze another harvest in through the growing season, it’s a simple way to bring on the bloom when nature’s pace is a little too slow.
Force-flowering cannabis accelerates the transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage. To initiate force-flowering, growers cover the plants to reduce the amount of light they receive. When exposed to more darkness, cannabis plants increase levels of the flowering hormone florigen which brings the plant into the flowering stage sooner. The process generally involves placing a tarp or garbage bags over the plants. Although advanced grow operations may employ high-tech solutions like a closing roof running on a timer.
There are several reasons why you may want to consider force-flowering cannabis plants. The primary reason is that it allows you to control the timing of the flowering stage, allowing for harvest before a specific time. This is particularly useful for…
The world of cannabis is complex and diverse, with hundreds of different cannabinoids present. Two of the most intriguing and lesser-known cannabinoids are THCa and THCv. In this article, we will explore the differences between THCa and THCv, their potential benefits, and how they interact with the body. By understanding these unique cannabinoids, we can better appreciate the potential of the cannabis plant for both recreational and medicinal use.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a complex cell-signaling system that plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. It helps regulate various physiological processes such as mood, appetite, pain perception, and immune response.
There are three main types of cannabinoids:
The most well-known phytocannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). But there are many others, including THCa and THCv, which have unique…
Short science-backed messages about the health risks of using cannabis while pregnant could be an effective way to discourage the dangerous trend.
In a new study published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, researchers at Washington State University found that conveying simple, scientific facts about how THC can harm a fetus was associated with reduced intentions to use cannabis while pregnant. This held true for messaging that was written to a group of women, aged 18-40, in either a narrative, story-based format or a non-narrative, factual-based one.
Additionally, the researchers found that short and simple communications designed to increase media literacy, or the ability to discern factual sources of information from non-factual ones, also reduced intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.
As cannabis use continues to gain popularity across the country, the research could help provide effective guidelines on how…
As more people use cannabis for recreational purposes, attitudes towards the drug have changed. For example, research has shown that dispensaries often recommend cannabis—also referred to as marijuana—to pregnant women to ease pregnancy symptoms, especially morning sickness.
There is a growing body of literature attesting to poor child outcomes if cannabinoids are consumed during pregnancy. The exact effects on the developing fetus, however, remain unclear. Researchers in the US have now examined how timing of cannabis exposure during pregnancy impacts fetal development.
“We show that even when marijuana use occurred only in the first trimester of pregnancy, birth weight was significant reduced, by more than 150g on average,” said Dr. Beth Bailey, professor and director of population health research at Central Michigan University and senior author of the study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics. “If that use continued…
Smoking cigarettes has long been linked to peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition where the buildup of plaque narrows arteries and limits blood flow to the legs or arms.
Now, a new study suggests that marijuana may have a similar impact, after finding that users had three times the risk of developing PAD.
Although the study is preliminary and doesn’t determine whether the impact is all from smoking weed or other popular methods of using the drug, such as eating marijuana-infused gummies, it may be a red flag for users and could be something their doctors should ask about to gauge risk factors for their patients.
“Marijuana users should seek early evaluation by a health care professional if they have symptoms such as leg pain while walking, slower/no hair growth and coldness in the leg as there seems to be an increased risk for developing PAD in this patient population,” said study authors Dr. Hirva Vyas from Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and Dr. Harsh…
“My cannabis career journey and growing WFBW have allowed me to rid myself of any of the shame I had from wanting to consume cannabis loudly and proudly because I knew the benefits and the power of the plant,” Maiyegun …
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