The former NBA player and SXSW Online speaker bolsters cannabis entrepreneurs…
Opportunity amid the Green Rush has not been shared equally. According to a Marijuana Business Dailysurvey, 4.3% of marijuana business owners and founders are Black, compared with the 81% that are white.
Enter Al Harrington’s Viola Brands.
Since founding Viola Brands in 2011, Harrington, a former NBA player, has been at the forefront of the conversation around racial equity in the cannabis industry. The company’s approach has been wide-ranging, from trying to support minority owners in need of capital for a startup (particularly important since banks won’t give loans for federally illegal products) to speaking with politicians in Washington, D.C., about restorative justice legislation.
That issue will steer the conversation of SXSW panel “Celebrities Redefining Cannabis Entrepreneurship,” which will feature Harrington and his close friend Berner, a Mexican American rapper and owner of Cookies & Vibes. “I’m looking forward to chatting with him and sharing a lot of the conversations we talk about in private with a larger audience,” Harrington told the Chronicle in an email.
Viola Brands took an unusual path to becoming a leading cannabis brand. Harrington grew up scared of cannabis, watching high school classmates get arrested for possession of small amounts of weed. As he progressed in his basketball career, he saw teammates using the drug and couldn’t help but think that “they didn’t take the job seriously.”
However, Harrington began to reconsider his stance when he researched the drug’s healing effects following a knee surgery gone wrong. And then Viola, his grandmother and namesake of the company, began to lose her eyesight after being diagnosed with diabetes and glaucoma. Harrington had an idea. “I convinced her to try smoking and two hours later, I found her crying in her room because she was finally able to read her bible for the first time in two years,” Harrington said. In that moment, his career path after basketball crystallized.
As the company grew, Harrington began to tap into his network to try to provide opportunities for other entrepreneurs of color looking to enter the cannabis business. It’s an issue that has gained notice among lawmakers nationwide. New Jersey, a state that voted to legalize recreational marijuana in the 2020 election, has mandated that 15% of cannabis startups be minority-owned and another 15% be owned by women or disabled veterans.
For his part, Harrington recently met with Sens. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, about a piece of legislation that will seek to tackle restorative justice in the cannabis industry. Viola Brands has also spent $500,000 for social equity initiatives and has had 50 entrepreneurs graduate from its social equity incubator program.
“Let’s face it, restorative justice isn’t going to be handed to us,” Harrington said. “It’s up to myself and others to go out there and not only demand it, but provide guidance to those in charge to ensure it’s done properly.”
There’s no shortage ofcannabis dispensaries in Southern California, that’s for sure. Checking sites like Yelp shows a wide variety of options, with unlicensed and illegal stores often showing up in the results.
Why Buy Legal?
When you’re going cannabis shopping, you should be provided with good customer service and be able to trust that you’re getting a safe product. You don’t have to buy your weed on the black market anymore. You definitely don’t have to visit an industrial warehouse staffed by extremely tense people who make you turn off your phone and offer a “donation”. If you’re going to the right places, buying weed is as easy, pleasant, and satisfying as visiting a Starbucks.
Legal cannabis stores offer a much better shopping experience, and they’re also better for your health. Legal weed shops have to adhere to Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) regulations, which exist to make sure that marijuana is safe for consumers. Cannabis products have to be lab-tested for heavy metals and other toxins before they can be sold on the legal market.
But what if they have unsafe levels of pesticides or other chemicals? Well, that marijuana product can’t be sold on the legal market. To comply with current regulations, it should be thrown out–unfortunately, it can often end up being sold in unlicensed marijuana dispensaries instead. If you’re buyingvape carts orcannabis flower from places that aren’t actually properly licensed, you’re putting your own health at risk.
How to Order Legal Marijuana Delivery in Orange County
Currently, the only city in Orange County that allows legal weed stores to operate is Santa Ana. You can find a Santa Ana dispensary online, but check to make sure that it’s licensed. Once you find a good option, visit their website and see if they can deliver your weed to your doorstep. Several high-end cannabis stores, such as People’s OC, even offer free delivery to Irvine and other neighboring cities.
Be careful: If you live in Irvine, googling “marijuana delivery near me” or similar phrases could turn up some not-so-legal results. While licensed cannabis stores can deliver to Irvine, they are not allowed to have a physical location within city borders.
California Bureau of Cannabis Control
How to Find a Legal Marijuana Dispensary in Orange County
Here’s are some tips to find a legal cannabis retail location:
Find the store’s BCC license number. This should be displayed on their profile or at the bottom of their official website. If you can’t find the license number anywhere, then it’s probably not a legal store. All California dispensaries are required to post that information publicly.
Cross-check the license number on the BCC website. TheBureau of Cannabis Control has a search form on their website that allows you to make sure the license number is real, corresponds to the right location, and that the store is still in good standing with California regulations.
Check the store’s status. The BCC website will show the store’s license number, license type, and other information, including their status and expiration date. Make sure the status column says “active”, and that the expiration date is still in the future.
Double-checking by address. If you weren’t able to find the store by its license number or if you just want to double-check, try searching by address instead to see what comes up.
Once you find a legal weed dispensary, you’re good to go. We recommend visitingPeople’s OC, located right off the 55 freeway near Irvine. Their promo code sales make holiday shopping easy, and the wide range of products they sell means that you can always find something for everyone.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the decriminalization of marijuana.
On September 1, 2020 Orange County Commissioner Penny Rich submitted a petition proposing that the board pass a resolution to decriminalize marijuana. On Tuesday, the board voted 6 to 1 to approve the resolution, with the one dissenting vote coming from Commissioner Earl McKee.
According to Rich, the goal of this resolution is to foster a community that rejects oppression and inequity. The resolution states that the current prohibition of marijuana has caused the needless arrest and incarceration of thousands of individuals, predominately people of color, for nonviolent crimes.
“My hope is – that after the election we hopefully turn the General Assembly blue – that we can shed some light on this,” Rich said.
The board of commissioners request that the North Carolina General Assembly advocate for legislation to end the prohibition of marijuana at the federal level, with its removal from the Controlled Substance Act.
While a similar bill regarding the decriminalization of marijuana – written by North Carolina Senator Valerie Foushee – already exists, Rich said that bill has yet to see the light of day after being filed in February of 2019.
“This is a racial justice issue,” Rich said. “It just ruins young, mostly African American and people of color’s lives. It’s got to change. That’s part of that systematic racism that we’re consistently talking about. This is a good step forward.”
According to an American Civil Liberties Union study, as a result of racial bias, Black North Carolinians are over three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. The resolution states that these arrests can have a significant impact on housing, student loans, future employment and child custody determinations.
With the passing of this resolution, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is publicly announcing its desire for new legislation that expunges records of individuals previously convicted for crimes of marijuana distribution, possession or use.
To read the full resolution, or to learn more of what was discussed at the latest board of commissioners meeting, click here.
Extensive research has produced evidence regarding CBD oil health benefits. The use of CBD is now legal in most states throughout the US. And if you live in one of these states, you may want to consider CBD oil for stress to help in the Covid-19 situation.
But what exactly is coronavirus stress, and how do CBD and hemp oils help?
How Does Coronavirus Affect Mental Health?
We all have different ways of coping with stressful situations. A walk in the park, beachside strolls or shopping at the mall used to work for most of us. But with the current lockdown statutes, we have to look for alternatives.
At the moment, self-isolation is the most efficient way to curb the spread of coronavirus. Well, that’s until they find a cure. Since March, we have adapted to lock ourselves in our houses for hours on end.
You may not notice at first when the social impact of coronavirus hits you. If you are anxious and stressed, your mental state is in disarray. Some common physical coronavirus stress symptoms to watch out for include:
Headaches and neck tension
Gastrointestinal problems
Lack of appetite
Insomnia
Increased fatigue
Symptoms may also have psychological and behavioral manifestations, such as:
Concentration issues
Drastic mood changes
Withdrawal
Feelings of insecurity due to СOVID-related worries
Increased use of alcohol, tobacco products, drugs, or medication
Askew vision of reality
If you have noticed any of the above signs, it might be time to consider a healthier option. Indisputable scientific evidence proves that CBD oil for stress relief is a highly effective remedy for tension.
To better understand how CBD and hemp oil alleviates corona-related stress, let’s look at how these oils work.
How CBD Oil for Stress Helps You Relax
So, how does CBD oil work? And how does this age-old product help you relax? You can utilize numerous resources on the Internet to familiarize yourself with the basics, such as the best CBD oil for COPD.
CBD is one of the significant aggregates of cannabis. The other is THC. CBD oil is extracted from certain strains of cannabis, such as Sativa and Hemp. Unlike THC, it is non-psychotropic, meaning you get the benefits without the high.
CBD encourages regeneration, which keeps us active and reduces sluggishness. It also induces a calming effect on the brain, promoting relaxation. CBD oil is best consumed orally. Just place a couple of drops on your tongue, wait a few minutes, then swallow. Or infuse the oil in your favorite drink or food.
And how long does it take for CBD oil to work, you may ask? Well, once ingested, it will take about 90 minutes to see effects. Generally, the oil has to undergo the digestion process and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Imagine someone infected with coronavirus held in quarantine for more than six months. Not being able to perform simple everyday tasks or interact with people will have a detrimental psychological impact. They may experience stress indicators like:
Depression
Panic attacks
Memory lapses
Fear and paranoia
Mental lethargy
Everybody must maintain his mind in a positive state. Introducing CBD oil for stress relief as a viable remedy to such a patient will improve their quality of life and promote overall wellness.
Final Thought
CBD oil is available as tinctures and edibles. You can easily find a credible seller online. However, ensure they are adequately licensed to avoid breaking any laws. And seek expert advice on how to take CBD oil. Did you or your relatives face coronavirus stress? What was their solution?
Author’s Bio: Rae is a freelance writer. Her family owns a medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado, USA. She aims to educate the public on the raw benefits of CBD oil for stress, anxiety, and depression during the coronavirus pandemic. Rae also runs a private alternative medicine therapeutic clinic.
CBD is all over the place these days, with hundreds of CBD products from which to choose. From gummies and oil tinctures to topicals to vapes, there’s something for everyone. But where do you start?
The CBD landscape is like the wild wild west in that the FDA does not fully regulate the industry; as such, quality is all over the map. If you’re dipping your toes into the CBD waters, it can be overwhelming if not downright confusing.
We’re here to help! We’ve listed the top ten best CBD products and answered the most frequently asked questions about CBD. Whether you’re just starting or just looking to try something new, we’ve got you covered.
The best CBD product is Balance CBD’s oil tincture natural flavor. Oil tinctures are one of the most popular ways of taking CBD. Choose from 500mg, 1000mg, 1500mg, 2500mg, or a whopping 5000mg. Balance CBD also gives you the option of choosing your extract type: isolate, broad spectrum, or full spectrum. We love Balance CBD because these oil tinctures are the highest quality and most accessible. They are on a mission to make premium products affordable for everyone during the coronavirus crisis. Balance CBD also offers 15% off your first order with the coupon code FIRST15. This is the best CBD product on the market.
Rating: ★★★★★
2. Dani Pepper – Sleepytime Gummies
Dani Pepper is a fun, vibrant brand. CBD Gummies are right up there with oil tinctures for the most popular way to consume CBD, but gummies are far more fun and tasty. Dani Pepper’s Sleepytime Gummies bring a bonus with a dash of melatonin to help with sleep. These yummy, bite-sized sleep aids are perfect for when counting sheep just won’t cut it.
Rating: ★★★★★
3. Dani Pepper – “O” CBD lube
Yes, Dani Pepper makes it back-to-back on our list for their signature product “O” By Dani Pepper — a CBD lube. You read that right, CBD lube is a thing. This water-based CBD lube Orgasm enhancer can be used with latex and silicone condoms and toys, unlike other CBD lubes. The best part is that it’s natural, vegan, and brings a sexy boost to the boudoir.
Rating: ★★★★★
4. Budderweeds – CBD Tincture
Another fantastic CBD product is the Budderweeds’ CBD Tincture. Budderweeds are a well known brand in Canada, since the legalization of Cannabis they have taken the Canadian market by storm. Recently they made their way into the USA – you can find them 1000s of shelves across the country using this store locator, so no need to type in the words dispensary near me on Google. Budderweeds of the best CBD products that can be bought in the country. Budderweeds has a wide selection of products, so it was tough to narrow it down to just one.
We love Budderweeds’ CBD tincture because it’s potent without an overpowering taste or overly oily texture. What makes Budderweeds stand out is its informative site and thorough customer service.
Rating: ★★★★★
5. Discreetly Baked – CBD Oil
Coming in at number 5 is Discreetly Baked’s CBD Oil. We love the juicy flavors. No artificial ingredients are used. Choose from Strawberry, Orange, or Mango. You can taste the real fruit flavor, but it’s not excessively sweet or tart. The packaging is sleek and gorgeous. You feel like you’re getting a premium product without breaking the bank. A great option if you don’t like the taste of natural tincture.
Rating: ★★★★★
6. CBDistillery – Gummies
We know, we know, more gummies. But we had to include CBDistillery on our list for their potent gummies. These gummies pack a punch with 30mg of CBD isolate per gummy. CBDistillery is dedicated to bringing high-quality, healthy products to consumers. These gummies are sugar-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, and non-GMO. If you’re looking for a little extra CBD in your gummies, these are just the ticket.
7. Healthworx CBD – Disposable Vape Pen
If vaping is more your thing, Healthworx CBD has got your covered. Healthworx creates flavors based on popular strains: Strawnana, Gorilla Glue #4, Pineapple Express, Green Crack, OG Kush, Indica, and Natural. Each CBD vape pen has 300mg of CBD and is VG-free, PG-free, THC-free, and free of MCT Oil. The best part is that their independent lab results are straightforward to find.
Rating: ★★★★
8. Buddha Teas CBD Tea
Tea lovers rejoice! CBD teas are here, and we think Buddha Teas CBD tea is an excellent place to start. These CBD products have a high bioavailability meaning that more CBD gets absorbed into your system. Better yet, Buddha Teas CBD tea line has classics like Chamomile and Peppermint but also has teas with additional health supplements like CBD Mushroom Defense and CBD Tulsi Ashwagandha.
Rating: ★★★
9. Kiskanu – Suppositories
You read that right! CBD suppositories may seem a bit…icky… but people report having great success. If you can get over the initial awkwardness, Kiskanu makes small-batch, organic, sustainable CBD suppositories that can be used in the vagina or rectally. Each suppository contains 50mg of CBD. We love their commitment to the environment as they avoid plastic packaging, and their packaging can be recycled or reused.
Rating: ★★★
10. Joy Organics Pet Products
Bow wow WOW. We couldn’t leave out our furry friends. Rounding out our list of the best CBD products is Joy Organics Pet Products. Joy Organics is an admired and reputable brand co-founded by a grandmother/entrepreneur. These CBD pet treats are chewy, and the CBD tinctures use 2mg of broad spectrum CBD. That means that these CBD pet treats are entirely THC free. These CBD pet products get two paws up.
Rating: ★★★
Cost of CBD Products
Company
Product
Starting Price
Balance CBD
Oil Tincture – Natural
$25.00
Dani Pepper
Sleepytime Gummies
$34.95
Dani Pepper
“O” CBD Lube Orgasm Enhancer
$34.95
Budderweeds
CBD Tincture
$35.00
Discreetly Baked
CBD Oil
$23.95
CBDistillery
Gummies
$55.00
Healthworx CBD
Disposable Vape Ven
$31.49
Buddha Teas
CBD Teas
$19.99
Kiskanu
Suppositories
$24.00
Joy Organics
Pet Products
$34.95
What are the health benefits of CBD products?
The appeal of CBD lies primarily in the mountain of anecdotal evidence that continues to grow. Limited studies have shown promise, but these firsthand accounts are very compelling as even celebrities, government officials, and athletes have lauded CBD for its therapeutic benefits. People use CBD for an assortment of ailments:
Again, the FDA does not recognize CBD as a cure or treatment for any symptoms or conditions. The FDA does not allow any company to make explicit health claims, so if you see a company promoting CBD as a cure or treatment for anything, report them, and do not purchase their products.
How to buy the best CBD products?
Ask yourself these questions before you buy CBD products.
Where did the hemp come from?
In America, strict cultivation guidelines are in place at both the state and federal level. Hemp grown anywhere else, like Europe or Asia, does not need to follow the same regulations as the U.S. Be cautious if hemp originates from China or India because their standards are much less stringent than that of the U.S. Keep in mind that importing hemp or CBD products increases the opportunity for contaminants to taint them. Hemp is like a sponge and absorbs both nutrients and contaminates easily. Choose CBD products derived from hemp grown to organic standards because hemp can absorb harmful chemicals from pesticides or heavy metals and other things you don’t want in your body.
What type of CBD is being used?
There are three types of CBD products: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum and broad spectrum contain additional cannabinoids and terpenes. Full spectrum includes no more than 0.3% THC, the legal limit. Broad spectrum and isolate do not have any THC. CBD isolate uses CBD in its purest form.
If you don’t want THC in your system, stick with broad spectrum, or isolate products. If you’re drug tested, 0.3% THC may set off a false positive on a sensitive drug test. The additional terpenes and cannabinoids of full spectrum and broad spectrum may provide other benefits that CBD alone cannot.
Avoid companies that don’t tell you what kind of CBD they use.
What’s the potency of your CBD products?
With so many CBD products available, you’re bound to find a dosage that works. Keep in mind that the type of CBD product plays into the potency. You may feel that full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate may all feel like different potencies, everything else being equal.
What’s in your CBD products?
CBD products can be formulated with a variety of ingredients. Artificial or natural ingredients can be used. Like other health products, it’s best to find natural products. Companies like Balance CBD use not only natural ingredients, but also are free of allergens, GMOs, and animal byproducts like gelatin.
CBD products can also be formulated with healthful ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, and supplements, such as melatonin. Read the label of your CBD products, and if there’s something that you don’t know, look it up.
Is third-party testing used?
Independent lab testing is essential in keeping you safe. The FDA does not recognize CBD as a treatment or cure for any symptom or condition. As such, reputable companies must be transparent with their testing.
Independent testing verifies what’s in the CBD product. It tests the levels of cannabinoids. In other words, you’ll know if THC is at the legal limit, and if the amount of CBD is the same as the label. Tests all tell you how pure the CBD is and if there is anything that you don’t want in your body, including heavy metals or residual chemicals.
The results of third-party lab tests are known as the Certificate of Analysis (COA). These COAs should be easily accessible to you before purchase. Third-party tests are expensive, so companies may try to avoid them to cut corners. If a company doesn’t make their COAs available or doesn’t do third-party testing, avoid them altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CBD?
These three magic letters stand for cannabidiol. CBD is a chemical compound known as a cannabinoid that is found in cannabis. There are two species of the cannabis plant: hemp and marijuana. CBD can be derived from both species; however, only CBD derived from commercial hemp is legal in all 50 states.
Over 100 cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant, each being studied for its effects on humans. CBD, in particular, is being researched for its purported therapeutic benefits. Research has been limited, but human and animal studies have shown a lot of promise.
How does CBD work?
CBD potentially promotes homeostasis by working with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Homeostasis is the body’s inner harmony. In other words, the ECS keeps you feeling “normal.” In that sense, CBD may promote general wellbeing by interacting with the ECS to help maintain homeostasis. To support this harmony, the ECS must engage some of the body’s most vital functions, including sleep, pain management, and mood.
What are CBD products?
CBD products are anything infused or covered with CBD. Infused products are more effective. For example, a CBD infused gummy has an exact dosage, whereas a gummy covered or dusted with CBD may not.
What are the different types of CBD products?
There are more and more CBD products flooding the market. There are oil tinctures, edibles, topicals, beverages, lube, suppositories, vape pens, skincare, and even pet products. There are specialized products such as pillows, masks, hair products, toothpicks, potato chips, hand sanitizer, chews, toilet paper, toothpaste, workout gear, bed sheets, bath bombs, nail polish, and sex products.
Are CBD products safe?
Yes, legal CBD products are safe with some small caveats. Check the ingredients in case you’re allergic to anything found in the product. If you live in a state where recreational marijuana is legal, you may find CBD products with high THC levels. Inferior and Black Market CBD products are abundant. Use the above criteria to help you stay safe and healthy.
Can I use CBD products for anxiety?
It’s understandable to be anxious during a global pandemic. Even without these troublesome times, one in thirteen people worldwide suffers from anxiety, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Prescription medication can have severe side effects, so people turn to CBD as a natural alternative.
Can I use CBD products for sleep?
There are many reasons people have trouble sleeping: physical ailments, certain health conditions, or mental health issues. Those who can’t fall asleep or who have problems staying asleep turn to CBD because some have found that it shortens the time to fall asleep and generally improves sleep quality. Some studies have supported this.
Can I use CBD products for pain?
Many athletes have endorsed CBD for pain management and its purported anti-inflammatory benefits. There are also studies being done regarding CBD being a natural alternative to fatal opioids. CBD is non-toxic, non-addictive, and you cannot overdose from taking too much.
Can I use CBD products for depression?
Depression is an invisible affliction that affects more than 264 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). People are often prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression. These antidepressants can have harsh side effects, including sexual dysfunction, sedation, headaches, nausea, and more. CBD does not have the same side effects.
Do I need a prescription to get CBD products?
No, you don’t need a prescription to get CBD products. However, it’s essential to talk to your doctor before incorporating CBD into your health regimen. Don’t stop medications cold turkey. Additionally, CBD may affect how you metabolize other medications. Don’t take CBD if you’re on other medications, pregnant, or breastfeeding.
How do I use CBD gummies?
CBD gummies fall under the edibles umbrella. Like anything else edible, you simply have to pop a CBD gummy in your mouth, chew, and swallow. Edibles are unique because they must go through the digestion process, which means that it takes more time to work, but the effects last longer. If gummies are your thing, then here is a list of the best CBD gummies and best CBD edibles.
How do I use CBD tinctures?
CBD tinctures come with a dropper. First, shake the bottle to ensure the oil mixes evenly. Squeeze the rubber top of the dropper to draw in oil. Place the opening of the dropper about an inch high, aiming under your tongue. Squeeze the rubber top, so the CBD oil is released under your tongue. Hold the oil there for 30-60 seconds. Don’t let the dropper touch your mouth, or it might get contaminated. Here’s a list of the best CBD oils and best CBD oil companies.
How do I use CBD topicals?
Topicals provide localized relief, so you have to concentrate the application to a relatively small area. Before applying the CBD topical, clean the area and make sure there’s no broken skin. Be liberal and vigorous as you massage in the CBD topical deep past the layers of skin.
How do I use CBD capsules?
You can either place the capsule in your mouth first or after you take a sip of water. Swallow the liquid with the capsule. If you have trouble, you can place the capsule in a spoon of applesauce or pudding. You can also try it in a piece of banana or other soft food.
How do I use CBD Lube?
Rub CBD lube on your clitoris, outer labia, inner labia, and inside your vagina. You can also rub CBD lube around and in your anus if you’re having anal sex. Keep in mind that silicone and oil-based lubes cannot be used with latex condoms and certain toys.
How do I use CBD tea?
First, you need to boil some water. As the water comes to a boil, add loose leaf tea to an infuser or place your teabag in your mug or teapot. Once hot enough, pour the water over the infuser or tea bag to let the water soak through the tea leaves. Time your tea. Check the directions as each type of tea should be steeped for different times. Dunk the tea bag or infuser a few times to allow the water to circulate. Take out the infuser or tea bag and set it aside in case you want to have more tea.
How do I use CBD vape pens?
There are two different vape pens available: push-button vape pens or draw-activated vape pens. The former has to be turned on by pressing the button to activate the atomizer, which creates vapor. Vapes without a button start when you inhale. The vape turns off as soon as you stop drawing air from the pen.
How do I use CBD suppositories?
Suppositories can be a touchy subject and a bit awkward to use. You can either insert a suppository standing or lying on your side. If you’re standing, place one leg on a chair. If lying on your side, bend your top leg by bringing your knee toward your stomach. Relax your glutes and open your buttocks. Push the head of the suppository up your rectum about an inch deep. Close your legs and either sit or lie still for twenty minutes while the suppository dissolves.
What’s the difference between hemp oil products and CBD oil products?
While both are derived from hemp, they are taken from different parts of the plant. Hemp oil comes from the seeds, which have virtually no CBD. People take hemp oil for the nutrients that include proteins, vitamins, minerals, or beneficial fatty acids.
CBD oil comes from the stocks and leaves of hemp plants. As stated earlier, studies are being done regarding the many purported therapeutic benefits.
Can I trust CBD products from Amazon?
NO. Amazon does not permit the selling of CBD products. The products that you see for sale on Amazon are hemp products. Anything touting itself as CBD or having the purported benefits of CBD is lying.
How long does it take for CBD products to work?
The time it takes for CBD to work depends on the type of product. Like gummies, chocolates, or capsules, anything you ingest takes longer to work because they must get digested first. Vapes work almost instantly. Tinctures may take 15 minutes or longer.
How long do CBD products last?
Generally, CBD products can last anywhere from two to six hours. The time depends on several things, including the type of CBD product, your weight, and your body chemistry.
Are CBD products legal?
In the U.S., CBD must be derived from commercial hemp with no more than 0.3% THC to be federally legal. As mentioned earlier, CBD can be extracted from both marijuana and hemp. Some CBD products have THC levels higher than 0.3%. These are legal in states where recreational marijuana is legal. You must know your state laws as well as how much THC is in your product.
Do CBD products get you high?
No, pure CBD does not get you high. Full spectrum CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC. This amount is not enough to get you high. Again, some states may allow CBD products with higher levels of THC.
What are full spectrum CBD products?
Full spectrum is one of the three types of CBD products. These products contain all the cannabinoids and terpenes of the entire hemp plant. The full spectrum of cannabinoids includes less than 0.3% THC. All these cannabinoids are said to work together synergistically to create the “entourage effect.”
What are broad spectrum CBD products?
Broad spectrum CBD products also contain all the cannabinoids and terpenes, except THC. Even without THC, broad spectrum CBD products may also create the entourage effect.
What are isolate CBD products?
Isolate CBD products use pure CBD. This cannabinoid is processed and separated out of the hemp plant, so you’re left with the isolated CBD. There is absolutely no THC in isolate CBD products.
How do I find my dosage?
The majority of CBD companies base dosages on weight. There are actually more factors that go into finding the perfect dosage: health condition, body chemistry, and experience with CBD.
The FDA does not have standardized dosing suggestions. It’s best to start with a low dosage. Wait a week and monitor how your body reacts before increasing your dosage. Go slow and gradually increase your dosage until you get the results that you want.
Where do I buy CBD products?
We advise you to buy CBD products online. It’s convenient, and virtually CBD products are just a Google search away. (Beware of buying CBD Oil from a Google advertisement, Google ad policies do not allow for the sale of CBD). You can do price comparisons, brand comparisons, and any additional research you need. More importantly, you can check out the lab results to ensure what you’re buying is safe.
Shop in your PJs at midnight or at your lunch break at the office. Get your CBD products delivered right to you. You can also get exclusive promotions. The best value definitely comes when you buy CBD products online.
Quick to help in any way possible during a crisis, CannaCraft has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of products to fire and flood victims in California since 2016. CannaCraft also opened the office to employees and their families during the 2019 Kincade Fire.
What three events or activities would you like to highlight as examples of ways your company or you have helped or continue to help make things better in the North Bay?
1. Partnerships with and sponsorships of leading nonprofits in Sonoma County to support sustainability, compassionate care, and social justice. Nonprofit partners include Ceres Community project, Food For Thought Food Bank, Daily Acts, Becoming Independent, Go Local and more.
2. Support for the Red Cross during Tubbs and other North Bay fires that year. In October 2017, CannaCraft opened its doors to the Red Cross. Donating unused (and used) office space, kitchen areas, showers, etc to the Red Cross for their regional headquarters. Red Cross volunteers and employees shared space with CannaCraft employees for nearly a month, with several Red Cross affiliates using the office for lodging. CannaCraft’s marketing department was home to several cots during this time. During this time CannaCraft also donated nearly $200k in cannabis products to people and business effected by the CA fires.
3. Beautification projects. CannaCraft employees have partnered with the Santa Rosa parks department to organize clean up days at local sites and parks. CannaCraft employees have cleared trees, bushes, weeds etc, painted gazebos and public restrooms, picked up litter, replanted plants, and more. As residents of Sonoma County, many of us born and raised in the area, we take pride in improving our community and making it easier for more people to enjoy the beautiful amenities and scenery that we have.”
What ways does your organization help support the idea of helping others, i.e. days for volunteering, ways to contribute money to causes?
The company actively promotes and encourages employees to take part in volunteer days. Park clean up days are held during regular working hours and employees are paid for their time as if they were completing their regular job. CannaCraft also brings philanthropic opportunities to the workplace. There is almost always a notice of ways to support local non-profits at the reception desk. There was also a food drive collection during the holidays and there is almost always a signup sheet at reception for employees to sign up to support our partners.
How is the idea of helping others or working to solve community issues incorporated your personal life or in the company’s culture?
CannaCraft’s spirit of philanthropy is in very large part to our founders. Dennis Hunter, drives most compassionate care and giveback programs. Dennis was the one to offer up office space to Red Cross, he worked to erect temporary housing near CannaCraft’s headquarters, he implemented all of the give back programs and is always the busiest worker during volunteer days.
Ned’s passion is sustainability. Ned is Core Member at OSC2, a community of sustainable leaders who work together to have a positive effect on the natural products industry and on our environment and he utilizes natural and sustainable cultivation techniques at his numerous cultivation sites throughout California
What inspires your employees about the North Bay spirit of helping others?
We chose our local partners because of our belief that the combination of our efforts would magnify and amplify common goals of helping others. For example Food For Thought Food Bank grew from the desire to help those battling HIV/AIDS in Sonoma County in the 1980’s – the same mission that inspired the medical cannabis community to coalesce and begin the fight for a legitimate and legal way to help provide relief. As recreational cannabis continues to move forward we believe it is also important to keep working on the missions we originated from.
How does your company’s philanthropy work spill over into its culture?
As representatives of an emerging market we acknowledge that we have been given a gift in being able to help set a foundational standard for what legalized cannabis will look like in the years to come. By showing up and participating and representing our values in our larger community we often tap into our personal stories to illustrate why cannabis is needed and how cannabis companies can be a valued core member of their local communities.
The conversations around participation and the stigmatization of cannabis often take place around a dinner table, at local communities, open to talking about what we do fosters understanding and builds bridges that can only be done one on one outside of an office building.
Describe why you do what you do in the community in six words.
Cannabis and community go hand in hand.
Why are you inspired by helping others?
Jennifer Glickman, CannaCraft’s corporate social responsibility manager: We have all needed the help of our community at one time or another. The 2017 and 2019 wildfires reinforced that 10 fold. Working for a company that opened its doors to the Red Cross and members of our community at large forever changed the DNA of CannaCraft.
During those occasions we were lucky enough to be in an unaffected area and seeing our ownership team not hesitate to welcome those in less fortunate circumstances into the fold and offices set a tone for us as employees to keep our priorities and our commitment to our larger community at the forefront. Always.
How this company helped a cause?
We have chosen to support numerous nonprofits in their infancy — Project CBD, HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project, and the Last Prisoner Project — in an effort to allow them some breathing room to find their footing, flesh out their programmatic endeavors and grow roots. Our financial support at an early stage not only accomplished the above but also signaled to others that our belief in these organizations and the people doing the heavy lifting deserved and needed larger community support.
ProjectCBD helps people learn about CBD from renowned and respected sources. HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project provides a platform for individuals – many who have been disenfranchised from the process — to gain non-partisan insight into who are lawmakers are and to engage and participate in our democracy.
Last Prisoner Project is a social justice organization fighting for clemency for those convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related offenses; we strongly believe that while a regulated market grows we can’t forget those still paying the price for a failed war on drugs.
The ripple effect of these combined efforts and the number of people these organizations help to find their voices — in very different ways — contributes to opening hearts and minds to a community that has been stigmatized and often silenced.
Steve DeAngelo and the Last Prisoner Project have an ambitious goal: to free the estimated 40,000 people jailed in the U.S. for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Every single one of them.
“This is something the cannabis industry can absolutely get done,” said DeAngelo, the co-founder of the project and chair emeritus of Harborside, which has a store in San Jose. “If we do it, we’ll be in a position where we can really walk tall and be unique among all industries that are really paying attention to social justice. A lot of companies are putting out art, ads, memes and statements on social media, and all these things are not bad developments. But they’re not enough if we really want to make real systemic change in this country. Cannabis justice is racial justice and vice versa.”
The marijuana industry is booming across the country, but amid this growth, there are serious concerns that those most affected by decades of marijuana criminalization are being left out. People are still sitting in jail cells—some for life—convicted of an activity that is no longer a crime. Meanwhile, thousands of others are getting wealthy today doing exactly the same thing that landed their predecessors behind bars.
The Last Prisoner Project, known as LPP, is a non-profit coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists dedicated to bringing justice to the cannabis industry.
Harborside has been a partner with the project since it was launched in March 2019, and recently made a $10,000 charitable contribution to the Oakland-based Peralta College foundation for students enrolled in the Cannabis Certification program at Merritt College—aiming to provide prospective professionals in the legal industry with a comprehensive portfolio of skills and business expertise.
The LPP addresses the core social justice platform of releasing incarcerated cannabis prisoners by taking a three-pronged approach of clemency, reentry and legislative advocacy. Through the clemency program, LPP provides attorneys with the infrastructure and training to provide legal assistance to every eligible individual incarcerated on cannabis-related offenses.
Whereas many organizations talk a good game, the LPP has made an actual difference.
LPP had paired Craig Cesal with a pro bono attorney to file his compassionate release motion, but he was subsequently granted home confinement in response to the request for release he submitted himself to the warden. LPP will continue to fight for a full commutation of Cesal’s sentence via compassionate release and/or executive clemency.
“We also became the largest single contributor to his GoFundMe campaign [as of last week] so he can have some expense money when he completes the transition,” DeAngelo said.
That’s where the reentry program comes in. When individuals are released from prison, data shows most fail without the proper resources in place.
“They hit the streets with nothing,” DeAngelo said. “They usually have ankle monitors they’re wearing as they apply for and interview for jobs, which is difficult.”
The LPP’s Prison to Prosperity program is a pipeline mentorship program that pairs up individuals with a high level cannabis executive who can help shepherd the released prisoner into a potential job in the cannabis industry. LPP is partnering with Vangst, the cannabis industry’s top recruiting platform, to lead those efforts.
LPP also works to advocate for social justice measures for cannabis offenders and has locked down a list of major cannabis donors while partnering with notable figures and organizations within and outside the industry.
In the wake of the nationwide anti-racist protests, the cannabis industry has been confronted with the reality that it, too, has diversity, inclusion and racial issues.
According to a 2017 Marijuana Business Daily study, nearly 400 pot businesses found that more than 80 percent were owned by white men. The numbers also show that Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately arrested for cannabis-related offenses.
“What we saw in California in the first 10 years after medical cannabis [was legalized for patients with serious diseases] was that people of color were a lot more likely to be targeted, arrested and prosecuted than white people were,” DeAngelgo said. “There’s an excellent reason Black and Brown people were slow to getting in the industry. Once they attempted to enter the industry, there was a whole range of structural barriers set up, one of the largest being a lack of access to capital. What can be done about it? I think the real answers need to come from the industry itself.”
Steve DeAngelo and the Last Prisoner Project have an ambitious goal: to free the estimated 40,000 people jailed in the U.S. for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Every single one of them.
“This is something the cannabis industry can absolutely get done,” said DeAngelo, the co-founder of the project and chair emeritus of Harborside, which has a store in San Jose. “If we do it, we’ll be in a position where we can really walk tall and be unique among all industries that are really paying attention to social justice. A lot of companies are putting out art, ads, memes and statements on social media, and all these things are not bad developments. But they’re not enough if we really want to make real systemic change in this country. Cannabis justice is racial justice and vice versa.”
The marijuana industry is booming across the country, but amid this growth, there are serious concerns that those most affected by decades of marijuana criminalization are being left out. People are still sitting in jail cells—some for life—convicted of an activity that is no longer a crime. Meanwhile, thousands of others are getting wealthy today doing exactly the same thing that landed their predecessors behind bars.
The Last Prisoner Project, known as LPP, is a non-profit coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists dedicated to bringing justice to the cannabis industry.
Harborside has been a partner with the project since it was launched in March 2019, and recently made a $10,000 charitable contribution to the Oakland-based Peralta College foundation for students enrolled in the Cannabis Certification program at Merritt College—aiming to provide prospective professionals in the legal industry with a comprehensive portfolio of skills and business expertise.
The LPP addresses the core social justice platform of releasing incarcerated cannabis prisoners by taking a three-pronged approach of clemency, reentry and legislative advocacy. Through the clemency program, LPP provides attorneys with the infrastructure and training to provide legal assistance to every eligible individual incarcerated on cannabis-related offenses.
Whereas many organizations talk a good game, the LPP has made an actual difference.
LPP had paired Craig Cesal with a pro bono attorney to file his compassionate release motion, but he was subsequently granted home confinement in response to the request for release he submitted himself to the warden. LPP will continue to fight for a full commutation of Cesal’s sentence via compassionate release and/or executive clemency.
“We also became the largest single contributor to his GoFundMe campaign [as of last week] so he can have some expense money when he completes the transition,” DeAngelo said.
That’s where the reentry program comes in. When individuals are released from prison, data shows most fail without the proper resources in place.
“They hit the streets with nothing,” DeAngelo said. “They usually have ankle monitors they’re wearing as they apply for and interview for jobs, which is difficult.”
The LPP’s Prison to Prosperity program is a pipeline mentorship program that pairs up individuals with a high level cannabis executive who can help shepherd the released prisoner into a potential job in the cannabis industry. LPP is partnering with Vangst, the cannabis industry’s top recruiting platform, to lead those efforts.
LPP also works to advocate for social justice measures for cannabis offenders and has locked down a list of major cannabis donors while partnering with notable figures and organizations within and outside the industry.
In the wake of the nationwide anti-racist protests, the cannabis industry has been confronted with the reality that it, too, has diversity, inclusion and racial issues.
According to a 2017 Marijuana Business Daily study, nearly 400 pot businesses found that more than 80 percent were owned by white men. The numbers also show that Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately arrested for cannabis-related offenses.
“What we saw in California in the first 10 years after medical cannabis [was legalized for patients with serious diseases] was that people of color were a lot more likely to be targeted, arrested and prosecuted than white people were,” DeAngelgo said. “There’s an excellent reason Black and Brown people were slow to getting in the industry. Once they attempted to enter the industry, there was a whole range of structural barriers set up, one of the largest being a lack of access to capital. What can be done about it? I think the real answers need to come from the industry itself.”
Does marijuana ruin an exercise routine? You might be surprised. A new study of older Americans found that cannabis consumers tended to do more formal exercise and engage in more physical activities than non-consumers during the course of a four-month trial.
While authors cautioned the findings are preliminary, they contribute to a growing body of evidence challenging the lazy-stoner stereotype.
“Compared to older adult nonusers,” says the study, out of the University of Colorado at Boulder, “older adult cannabis users had lower [body mass index] at the beginning of an exercise intervention study, engaged in more weekly exercise days during the intervention, and were engaging in more exercise-related activities at the conclusion of the intervention.”
In other words, not only were adults over 60 who used marijuana generally in better shape than their peers who abstained from cannabis, they were also more responsive to an assigned four-month “exercise intervention trial”—essentially a regimen of physical activity prescribed by a clinician.
“These findings suggest that it may be easier for older adults who endorse using cannabis to increase and maintain their exercise behavior, potentially because cannabis users have lower body weight than their non-using peers,” wrote the study’s authors, a team at CU’s Department of Neuroscience and Psychology. “At minimum, the evidence suggests that cannabis use does not hinder older adults’ ability to engage in physical activity, to participate in a supervised exercise program, or to increase their fitness as a result of physical activity.”
“In this study, current cannabis use was associated with lower BMI and more exercise behavior in healthy older adults wishing to increase their physical activity.”
Researchers said the analysis, published this month, is especially important because more and more older Americans are consuming marijuana for medical or personal use. “Adults over the age of 50,” the study notes, “are the fastest-growing population of cannabis consumers in the US, with national prevalence rates estimated at up to 9.1% in 2013.” Of that group, people 65 and older showed even greater increases in use.
“We haven’t seen a big spike in consumption” across most age groups, then-Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) told Rolling Stone in 2018. “The only increase in consumption is among senior citizens, which we think is either Baby Boomers coming home to roost or arthritis and the aches and pains of growing older—people finding that marijuana is better pain solution than opioids or other things.”
Yet with so many older Americans failing to meet recommended daily activity levels, the researchers in the new study wanted to better understand how cannabis might affect exercise routines.
“Given the plethora of negative health consequences associated with inactivity and the protective factors associated with exercise,” they wrote, “efforts must be made to understand factors, like cannabis use, that may affect older adults’ engagement in exercise.”
The study looked at American adults age 60 and older who researchers classified as sedentary, defined as completing less than 80 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Some were assigned to a training program of moderate physical activity, while others were put in a program with low-intensity exercises. A total of 164 participants completed the study through the eight-week checkpoint, with 153 making it through the 16-week timepoint.
Researchers measured participants’ body mass index (BMI) and other health parameters at the beginning, midpoint and end of the study period. Participants also self-reported their exercise behavior in journals. All participants’ exercise programs included supervised training at the research facility three days per week, the paper notes. “Thus, we would expect both groups to be exercising a minimum of 3 days per week.”
“These preliminary data suggest that current cannabis use status is not associated with a negative impact on fitness and efforts to increase exercise in sedentary older adults.”
Researchers admit they’re not entirely sure why cannabis use is associated with lower BMI scores or why people who consumed marijuana were better at sticking to their workout schedules. “Future work,” the paper says, “should employ methods that allow for a target exploration of the mechanisms by which cannabis might be associated with exercise, be it via lower body weight, increased enjoyment, decreased pain, or faster recovery.” All of those potential factors, the team noted, have been hinted at by existing research.
The new study highlights an association between cannabis use and exercise, but it leaves many questions unanswered. Researchers didn’t ask participants, for example, about whether they used marijuana before, during or after their exercise. And the study’s measure of cannabis use, the authors wrote, “was coarse and lacked detail,” such as how often and how much marijuana each participant consumed.
“We did not query what form of administration (ie, smoked, vaporized, edible, topical) or cannabinoid content (ie, THC and/or CBD potency) was used,” the study says. “We also did not query whether users’ perceptions of any relationship between cannabis use and exercise, such as increased enjoyment of and/or recovery from exercise, or decreased perceptions of pain, might be driving the association between cannabis group membership and exercise.”
Nor did the researchers ask participants about any negative side-effects of their marijuana use.
Limitations aside, the researchers argue that their findings should encourage further research into how marijuana and exercise might coexist. “It may be that different types of exercise, such as those that that require minimal fine motor coordination or present low injury risk, might be most positively associated with cannabis use,” they write.
Perhaps most optimistically, the authors suggest cannabis could even be used to encourage older adults to stay active. “Whereas the results are preliminary,” the study says, “with both more extensive and rigorous additional research needed, the discovery of a role for cannabis as a potential facilitator of physical activity among older adults may hold promise.”
The paper begins on page 420 of the July edition of the American Journal on Health Behavior.
OAKLAND, Calif. and TORONTO, July 2, 2020 /CNW/ – Harborside Inc. (“Harborside” or the “Company”) (CSE: HBOR), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced a $10,000 charitable contribution to Oakland-based Peralta Colleges Foundation for students enrolled in the Cannabis Certification program at Merritt College. The scholarship aims to provide prospective professionals in the legal industry with a comprehensive portfolio of skills and business expertise.
Peralta Colleges Foundation was established in 1971 to support academic excellence and success throughout Alameda County and serves a diverse population of over 21,000 students largely consisting of African American, Hispanic American and Asian American students. This program will play a significant role in creating gainful opportunities for underserved communities to participate in the thriving cannabis industry within the greater area of Alameda County.
Harborside is committed to rectifying the social and racial injustices specific to the cannabis industry in its surrounding community. The Company has pledged to continuously work with Peralta Colleges Foundation to develop this scholarship program and contribute the company’s own retail, cultivation and business expertise to build the core curriculum. Future students that enter the program will gain extensive knowledge of the cannabis supply chain and understand the financial side of consumer market demands.
“We at Harborside are elated to be a part of such an important initiative for those young adults in our community deserving of access, encouragement and opportunities to soar,” said Peter Bilodeau, Chairman and interim CEO of Harborside, Inc. “We look forward to supporting Peralta Colleges Foundation in achieving this first milestone and are eager to continue providing more industry resources as this program matures.”
“I look forward to working with Harborside in designing our Cannabis Certification program at Merritt College,” said Dr. David M. Johnson, President of Merritt College. “We believe through certification and skills preparation our students will be well prepared for jobs in the industry,”
This article was originally published on CBD Seniors. To view the original article, click here.
Does it seem like it is harder and harder to sleep as you get older? Your insomnia is not in your mind. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep patterns naturally change as we age. While it may be harder to fall asleep and stay asleep as you get older, your sleep requirements remain constant. Unfortunately, chronic insomnia can lead to major health issues because your body and mind require sleep to be healthy.
Many older adults are not satisfied with their sleep quality. Because of poor sleep at night, they feel fatigued during the day. Previous studies on sleep habits show that older Americans often require more time to fall asleep and wake up more often during the night. In addition, they have a general decline in active dreaming or REM sleep. All of these reasons mean that you are more likely to develop a sleep disorder as you become older.
The National Sleep Foundation took a poll that found that 44 percent of older adults experienced one or more instances of insomnia on two or more nights a week. Obviously, it is important to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing insomnia because your sleep problems could be linked to a physical condition, medication or mental disorder. If you have already checked for other conditions and reduced your caffeine intake, there are still options that can help. Cannabidiol (CBD) could help with your insomnia.
Every kind of cannabis makes cannabinoids, which means that hemp still creates cannabinoids like CBD. Unlike other strains of cannabis, hemp does not contain THC and psychoactive compounds. These cannabinoids are made to work exclusively with the cannabinoid system found in the human body. Your brain has CB1 and CB2 receptors that are made for working with cannabinoids. This is why cannabis causes immune and psychoactive responses in the body.
Thanks to new developments in cannabis production and consumption in the last decade, it is now possible to use ingestion methods like vaporization and edibles. This has also made it easier for patients to get consistent doses of CBD instead of trying to guess how much CBD is in a joint. Researchers are still working to figure out exactly what CBD does for different conditions, but the previous prohibition on cannabis means that many of these trials are still underway. Anecdotally, many people have reported using CBD to treat conditions like arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, anxiety and chronic pain.
There is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of CBD, so new trials are underway to figure out how CBD can benefit the human body and treat various conditions. In total, there are around 150 trials going on around the world that involve CBD. Currently, researchers are looking at the way CBD can treat alcoholism, schizophrenia, skin conditions, autism and other conditions.
The current research shows that CBD may cause an antipsychotic effect in people who have schizophrenia, as well as regulate aggression and anxiety. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a drug called Epidiolex for treating a rare type of epilepsy.
Does CBD Treat Insomnia?
In order to figure out if CBD will help you sleep, you also need to figure out the cause of your insomnia. Sleep problems can happen because of drinking excessive caffeine or physical conditions like chronic pain. Environmental factors like an uncomfortable bed, bright lights or loud noises can make falling asleep difficult. Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also lead to insomnia. Unfortunately, the medications you take to treat these conditions can also cause a case of severe insomnia.
CBD can help treat insomnia caused by some of these conditions. It is primarily useful for treating insomnia that is caused by external factors. Since CBD can alleviate ailments like chronic pain and anxiety, it may also be helpful for treating insomnia caused by these conditions.
If your insomnia is caused by external factors or medical conditions, CBD may help by treating the underlying cause of your sleeplessness. In 2019, researchers found that CBD could effectively reduce anxiety levels and improve sleep quality. The study looked at 72 different patients. Out of this number, 47 patients had anxiety. The other 25 patients suffered from poor sleep. Each subject took 25 milligrams of CBD each day. During just the first month of using CBD, 79.2 percent of patients enjoyed having lower levels of anxiety. Another 66.7 percent of patients had a better quality of sleep.
CBD is also useful if chronic pain keeps you awake at night. Previous studies of CBD show that this drug can help to soothe pain. By reducing the amount of pain you experience, CBD can improve the overall quality of your sleep. In 2015, a small trial of patients with Parkinson’s disease also found that CBD alleviated REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). This disorder is when someone acts out their dreams, and it often leads to a poor quality of sleep.
How Can You Use CBD for Insomnia?
Currently, researchers generally think that CBD helps insomnia because it treats the underlying cause. By alleviating conditions like RBD, anxiety or chronic pain, CBD can remove the obstacles that prevent you from sleeping at night. Since more research needs to be done on CBD, researchers still do not know the exact dosage or consumption method people need to take.
People have used cannabis for its health benefits for thousands of years. In fact, cannabis was mentioned in an ancient Hindu text known as the Atharvaveda more than 3,000 years ago. In a Chinese medical text from 800 years ago, Chinese doctors talked about how cannabis could be used for inducing sleep.
Today, nearly 80 percent of Americans have problems sleeping at least once a week. Current treatments like over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs carry side effects and are often ineffective. Because of this, around 10 percent of people who take CBD say that they use it to help them sleep. Among people who have tried CBD for insomnia, the majority of people said that it worked for them.
You can use CBD in a few different forms.
Capsules and pills.
Tinctures.
Vape concentrates.
Edibles like baked goods and gummy bears.
Oils.
Your consumption method will determine how fast CBD gets into your system and how long it lasts. Edibles take longer for your body to absorb, but they are also effective for a longer period of time. Vaping CBD will help you experience the effects faster, but the effects do not generally last as long. In addition, there are some respiratory risks associated with vaping.
The amount of CBD you take depends on the conditions you have, your body chemistry, your weight and other factors. In clinical trials, researchers have given participants 25 to 1,500 milligrams of CBD per day. As a general rule, you should start out with the lowest dose possible before gradually increasing it until you find the lowest dose that is still effective for your insomnia.
If it does not seem like the CBD is working at first, do not give up too quickly. In research trials, many patients did not see immediate effects. Instead, most participants began to notice a difference after about a month of using CBD.
Is CBD Legal?
The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal for farmers to grow and process hemp as long as it had a THC level that was lower than 0.3 percent. As long as your CBD products are derived from hemp, they are completely legal on a federal level. Almost three dozen states also allow CBD products as well, so the majority of the country lets you use hemp-derived CBD. You should still check with your state’s laws to be certain.
Are There Side Effects?
If something can have an effect on the human body by inducing sleep, it can also carry side effects. Many studies have looked at CBD and determined that it is a relatively safe treatment. Minor side effects like weight changes, diarrhea, changes in appetite and fatigue are possible. CBD may also interact with the drugs you currently take, so talk to your doctor about your current medications before taking CBD.
Before you try CBD, you should always talk to your doctor first. If your insomnia is due to an underlying cause like PTSD, your doctor may want to treat the cause instead of just the symptoms of your disorder. Your doctor may also want to conduct a physical exam or change your current medications before you try CBD.
Things to Remember
CBD may be able to help you sleep better at night. Since it carries minimal side effects, it is a relatively safe option for sleep problems. Before you take CBD, there are a few final things that you should keep in mind.
Focus on Short-Term Use
Many drugs are less effective if you take them for a long period of time. Because of this, you may want to stick to taking CBD for a short time period of just a month or two. You can also consider using CBD on only the days when you suffer from insomnia the most. In at least one clinical trial, CBD actually woke people up. It seems like CBD may actually cause wakefulness if you do not suffer from insomnia. If your insomnia has been successfully treated, CBD may stop working and can even keep you awake.
Consider Using It for Anxiety
Interestingly, it seems like CBD may be more effective for anxiety cases than it is for sleep problems. If anxiety is the reason why you stay awake at night, then taking CBD can certainly help. CBD is also useful if you have disruptive thoughts at night and cannot calm your mind enough to sleep.
Think About Higher Doses
Some research seems to indicate that a higher dose works better than a lower dose. Back in 2004, one study found that low doses of just 15 milligrams may have caused wakefulness instead of putting participants to sleep. Instead, a relatively large dose like 160 milligrams seemed to help patients fall asleep better. You can try starting with a dose of 30 milligrams a night and gradually increasing it until you find a level that is effective for you.
Find High-Quality Products
One of the major problems with using CBD right now is finding a reputable supplier. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements like CBD. Some consumer reports have found that many CBD products do not contain the amount of CBD that they say they do. In addition, some products were found to contain pesticides and harmful substances.
You can make sure you get a quality product by buying from a reputable supplier. If the supplier has a high-quality product, they will be willing to show you lab reports from a third-party laboratory. You will also be able to find positive reviews of the company online.
Discover the Form That Works for You
Your body chemistry is unique, so different medications and consumption methods may work differently for you. Many people like vaping CBD because this method allows the compound to enter the body’s cannabinoid system as quickly as possible. Other people prefer edible products, pills and oils because these methods release CBD slowly. This means that you can sleep longer with edibles, but the edibles and oils may take longer to take effect. No matter what method you end up choosing to use, remember to take it about an hour before you go to bed at night.
The cannabis community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest heroes, Harvard Medical School professor and longtime NORML board member Dr. Lester Grinspoon.
Grinspoon leaves shoes that will never be filled as he consistently supported cannabis reform efforts for decades right up until his passing this week at age 92. Nobody will again have the opportunity to do what Grinspoon did for cannabis because he helped move the chains this far.
The nation’s oldest cannabis reform organization, NORML, called Grinspoon’s 1971 book Marijuana Reconsidered the single most comprehensive and thoughtful and convincing explanation of the crucial need to end marijuana prohibition and establish a legal marijuana market.
NORML’s founder Keith Stroup and current executive director Erik Altieri both told L.A. Weekly of Grinspoon’s consistent and pioneering support, and what it meant to the movement over the years.
“While there have been other medical and public health experts who have taken an active role to advance full legalization of marijuana, it is Dr. Lester Grinspoon who first led the way to insist that our marijuana policies be based on legitimate science,” Stroup told us. “He has made it possible for us to have an informed public policy debate leading to the growing list of states legalizing the responsible use of marijuana.”
Altieri followed up Stroup with his own take on the legacy Grinspoon leaves behind in cannabis.
“It would be hard to overstate the importance of Lester’s work to the fight for marijuana legalization,” Altieri told the Weekly in an email. “When the movement was still in its early days he lent an air of respectability, legitimacy and gravitas that was needed at that time. He dedicated much of his life to pushing against anti-marijuana propaganda and the stigma against consumers. Lester will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Both NORML and the marijuana law reform movement as a whole owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
While Grinspoon’s accolades and leadership positions in medicine played a major role in how important his voice was to the cause, it was also the voice of a father who had deeply personal experiences with medical cannabis. As his son Danny battled terminal cancer, Grinspoon witnessed the benefits of medical cannabis to someone going through an aggressive chemotherapy regime.
Danny lost his life to leukemia, but the lessons his father learned in helping him live a better quality of life would go on to help millions. As cannabis rose to prominence in the last 20 years, it’s undeniable the tale of a Harvard Medical School professor and his son went a long way to calming nerves around was still a very illicit substance in the eyes of so many.
Ironically, despite being one of cannabis’s most famed medical minds Grinspoon originally wanted to take a look at it to better understand the health impacts it was having on the population as its use grew more popular. But thankfully one of the most famous astronomers in history set him straight. Longtime cannabis industry David Bienenstock profiled the relationship between Grinspoon and Carl Sagan years ago — who knows where the conversation around cannabis would be if Sagan hadn’t told Grinspoon to really take a look at the facts.
Just hours before a family memorial service, Lester’s son Peter Grinspoon took a moment to reflect on the outpouring of support his family has received in the recent days following his father’s passing.
“I knew about it all along. All the little details of his work. It’s just overwhelming to have everything in front of me at once,” Grinspoon told L.A. Weekly. “It’s so momentous when you read these articles that encapsulated his life.”
Grinspoon said he’s received thousands of messages from the people who had their lives impacted by his father’s efforts over the years. They ranged from the numerous other families he was able to help live a better quality of life, to former grad students he mentored as they began to dip their toes into the world of clinical psychiatry during his 40 years as senior psychiatrist at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston.
That deep background in psychiatry also made Grinspoom a key frontline defense for the movement when cannabis would come under attack by B.S. research with no real footing. Like in 2008, when a team of British researchers attempted to link cannabis and schizophrenia. Then 85 years old and as game as ever, Grinspoon said the “evidence” was produced by an exercise in statistics.
We asked the younger Grinspoon what it was like for his father to watch the cannabis debate mature in his twilight years. Lester was already nearly 70 by the time medical marijuana passed in California, and it must have been pretty wild at age 85 to see Sanjay Gupta go all-in on medical cannabis and CBD for CNN.
“It was so gratifying to him, it would have been more gratifying if hundreds of thousands weren’t still getting arrested for minor marijuana crimes, but look where he started. When he wrote Marijuana Reconsidered support was in the teens,” Grinspoon said
Now according to last year’s Pew Data, 91 percent say marijuana should be legal either for medical and recreational use in some shape or form. Dr. Lester Grinspoon played a huge role in making that happen.
