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The Endocannabinoid System & Cannabis

the Endocannabinoid System

It may be hard to believe, but scientists are still learning and understanding the human body. In fact, just 30 years ago, an entirely new bodily system was discovered. Called the endocannabinoid system, it naturally supports the body’s endocrine system. Turns out, all vertebrates have this bodily system. 

What does the endocannabinoid system have to do with cannabis? The clue is in the name. Cannabis contains phytocannabinoids, which are basically the plant version of the endocannabinoids a body produces naturally. As research continues, scientists are recognizing that certain cannabinoids have great promise for a variety of health concerns.

Let’s take a closer look at the endocannabinoid system and its connection with cannabis.

What Is the Endocannabinoid System Responsible For?

According to researchers with UCLA, the endocannabinoid system is primarily responsible for helping the body to maintain homeostasis. That is, when you are confronted with stress from the environment around you, this system offers extra support to your endocrine system.

The endocrine system, by the way, is a far-reaching, important system for proper bodily function. This system contains our glands that secrete hormones that help to regulate our body’s ability to keep a healthy weight, have a regular sleep pattern, stabilize our moods, keep our sexual organs healthy and functioning, and much more.

Your endocrine system can’t function properly without the backup from the endocannabinoid system. This system has receptors that play a role in pain management, appetite, stress levels, immune function, and more.

How Can We Have a Healthy Endocannabinoid System?

When stress gets overwhelming, the body needs extra help. This is the basic idea behind all supplements. If the weather is too cold, you may want to take extra vitamin C to boost your immune system. Cannabis supplements fall into a similar category.

Some foods, medications, and environmental situations cause the body to decrease the efficiency of the body’s endocannabinoid system. In the early 1990s, scientists determined that cannabinoids from cannabis could be used to make up the difference. 

However, with marijuana considered a Schedule 1 drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, finding funding for research has been difficult. Even as states like California have legalized cannabis use, its medicinal qualities are still being understood.  

What Cannabis Strain Is Best for Your Health?

There are eight major cannabinoids found in cannabis, and they all have different benefits and effects. Two of the most commonly known are CBD and THC. 

THC is the only cannabinoid associated with a feeling of euphoria. It offers other benefits as well. It can be used to address pain, insomnia, low appetite, and nausea. CBD, meanwhile, can be used to help with pain management, anxiety, migraines, seizures, and depression. 

Depending on the strain, marijuana contains both CBD and THC. But this plant also contains other chemicals that provide positive impacts on the body. For example, terpenes are the compounds responsible for the aromatic qualities of cannabis. Terpenes have been found to provide a calming effect and pain relief in humans. 

When deciding to try cannabis to support your bodily functions, remember to start with small amounts. Since the plant is not regulated by the FDA, proper dosage is the result of personal experimentation. Keep notes of your usage and consider modifying use every two weeks for the best support of your endocannabinoid system.

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Cannabis Vape Cartridges: Choosing a Great One

If you’re new to cannabis, or even if you’ve been using it for a while, you may be quickly overwhelmed at the sheer number of options you have. You can smoke cannabis, consume it in an edible, take a gummy, or use a tincture. Cannabis is even available as a topical. One method of using cannabis that’s gaining popularity is cannabis vape cartridges. 

A vape cartridge offers an alternative to smoking cannabis, enabling you to enjoy the benefits that cannabis provides without the side effects of combustion. Don’t just select the first cartridge you come across, though. Choosing the right cannabis vape cartridges makes all the difference.

Visit a Licensed Dispensary

One of the first things that you should do when choosing the best cannabis vape cartridges is to visit a licensed dispensary. While both medical and recreational cannabis is legal in numerous states, dispensaries have strict regulations that they must follow to sell their products. You’re much more likely to get quality cartridges (and quality cannabis) from a dispensary that holds a license.

Be Aware of Any Cutting Agents

Many brands of cannabis vape cartridges are made from quality cannabis and don’t contain cutting agents or non-cannabis additives. There are several others, however, that add extra ingredients to their cartridges that are potentially harmful to your health. Common cutting agents and other additives to avoid include:

  • Propylene glycol
  • Polyethylene glycol
  • Medium-chain triglycerides 
  • Vegetable glycerin

Even if you’re visiting a trusted, licensed dispensary, be sure to read the ingredients of a cannabis vape cartridge before you buy it. 

The viscosity of the oil in a vape cartridge matters. This is vital for the cartridge to function correctly. If the oil is too thick or too thin, it won’t be able to vaporize properly. It should have the consistency of honey. There are a few ways manufacturers create the ideal consistency, with two of the most common being CO2 and distillates. 

  • CO2 oils: properly made CO2 oils don’t require any additives as they retain some of their natural terpenes, which act as thinning agents
  • Distillates: a distillate cartridge is a very refined oil that can be made from a variety of starting materials. The biggest disadvantage is the process also removes the terpenes, so some sort of thinning agent is required to get the right viscosity

Pay Attention to Terpene Additives

Terpenes cannabis vape cartridges help to lower the viscosity of the oil. They increase the flavors and aromas of cannabis as well as impact your overall experience.

CO2 oils retain natural terpenes, so no additional terpenes are added. Oils that have had their terpenes removed can have them re-added in small percentages. This creates a natural spectrum of flavors while giving the oil the right viscosity for vaporizing. Watch out for food-grade terpenes. While they’re common, they’re also the lowest quality. 

Select a Cartridge Made from Quality Materials

It’s not just what’s in the cartridge that matters. The actual cartridge itself is also important. Avoid cartridges that are made from plastic, have low-grade wire, or misaligned components. Poor construction can indicate a low-quality product and poor experience. Instead, choose a product that looks well-made and is made from high-quality materials.

Don’t settle for the first cannabis vape cartridge that you find. Take your time and do your research to ensure that you find the best cartridges for you. If you have any questions, the experts in your dispensary should be able to provide you with helpful answers and point you in the right direction. 

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Cannabis Testing Labs & Safety

cannabis testing

Cannabis Testing Labs: Legitimizing Legal Marijuana

The chance to buy and sell marijuana legally has been both a huge boon and a significant challenge to the cannabis industry. Many people imagine the legal supply chain to be just as relaxed and homegrown as the illicit market ever was. But there are hurdles to overcome when selling legal marijuana, including submitting cannabis product to cannabis testing labs and following safety regulations.

Since buying and selling marijuana has not yet been legalized at the federal level, states which have legalized it have to each come up with their own regulations. California rolled out testing regulations throughout 2018, gradually increasing the requirements. It was an intense time for cannabis testing labs, as they suddenly had thousands of new customers seeking to clear their product. Since then, 27 labs in California have developed the necessary equipment and procedures to meet this demand.

Testing is required for cannabis at every point along the production process. Growers need to be sure the pesticides and fungicides they’re using are safe for consumption. Those who process cannabis need to be sure to get their potency levels right. And those selling to users both medical and recreational need to ensure the quality of their product both for the reputation of their business as well as their customers’ safety.

Potency Testing

CBD and THC are the two main compounds tested for potency. CBD provides medical benefits such as reducing inflammation but lacks psychoactive properties. In other words, it doesn’t make you high. THC provides such medicinal benefits as reducing pain and anxiety but also has psychoactive components.

Testing for these substances is difficult because their chemical structures are very similar, and can even be mistaken for other cannabinoid compounds that lack the benefits offered by CBD and THC. Labs need finely tuned equipment and skilled technicians to accurately assess potency levels.

Customers need to know what to expect when they purchase a product. A doctor prescribing medicinal marijuana may want a different balance of the compounds than someone who is purchasing marijuana for recreational use. Testing for CBD and THC levels ensures the right amounts for the right people.

Cannabis products with CBD and THC levels that are too low won’t be effective at a normal rate of consumption. On the other hand, if your product has levels that are significantly higher than reported, they may not be safe to consume at a normal rate.

While potency testing focuses on what should be in the product, contaminant testing focuses on what should not be. Growing marijuana cannabinoids is a very sensitive process. Growers have to control humidity, light, and many other factors to yield a profitable and high-quality crop. Pesticides and fungicides are necessary to provide a healthy environment for the plants. But some of these substances, depending on their concentration, are not safe for consumption.

As new methods are introduced, new testing is needed. For instance, a grower may try a new pesticide which yields a 20% better crop. But they will need to prove that their product is still safe. Another factor to be considered is the difference between ingesting and smoking the final product. The level at which contaminants are safe may differ depending on the context.

A2LA is an accreditation program for all kinds of labs, including cannabis labs. They list the following as examples of tests that the cannabis industry requires:
Cannabinoid testing and content
Terpene profile
Pesticides/fungicides/plant growth regulators
Residual solvents
Heavy metals
Microbiological contaminants (mold, insects, bacteria, etc.)

Cannabis Testing Labs & Safety: A Growing Industry

Once a product has passed the regulatory testing, accredited testing labs can provide distributors and retailers with a certificate of analysis. This is intended only to be provided for the actual product that was tested, not for an entire store, brand, or even a batch or crop that was merely sampled. Consumers who are concerned about the safety and potency of their product can discuss the testing process with their retailer. Asking questions and expecting transparency will contribute to the legitimacy and safety of the fledgling legal cannabis industry.

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CBD vs THC: What’s the Difference?

CBD THC

With so much product variety in the cannabis marketplace, you hear a lot about CBD vs THC. Do you want a product that has one, the other, or both? Furthermore, which chemical will have what effect?

To answer those questions, you need to understand the chemistry involved.

CBD vs THC 101

Despite their different effects, CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) have almost the same chemical makeup. To start, they’re both cannabinoids, a type of chemical that interacts with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. This system consists of a network of receptors that support vital physical and cognitive functions.

There are two kinds of endocannabinoid receptors. CB1 receptors are located in the brain and are responsible for cognitive processes. CB2 receptors are located in the central nervous and immune systems.

CBD and THC have almost identical chemical structures. The only difference is the makeup of a single atom—it’s truly a microscopic distinction.

As small as it is, though, this difference explains how differently the two behave in the endocannabinoid system.

The Effects of THC

THC is the component of cannabis that gets you high. It activates the CB1 receptor, changing the signals that the brain receives from the endocannabinoid system.

Research shows that THC can increase blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for focus, decision-making, and other elements of higher-order thinking. Taking THC affects these functions to different degrees depending on the person.

THC also activates the brain’s reward circuitry, the systems that make people feel good and seek out pleasurable activities. Activation of the reward center is part of why people feel euphoric when they use cannabis.

The Effects of CBD

CBD inhibits the CB1 receptors, even as THC activates them. In fact, if CBD is present in high enough concentrations, it can balance the effects of THC. Strains with high CBD levels are often associated with a mellower, less intense high. The more CBD, the mellower the effect usually is.

Some researchers have found that CBD reduces the potential for cognitive side effects in people who consume THC. Higher CBD concentrations are often associated with better memory recall, for example, and lower risk of THC-induced paranoia.

CBD can also enhance some of the positive effects of THC. For example, THC offers powerful pain relief because it activates CB1 receptors in the brain’s pain control area. CBD, meanwhile, has the power to bind to certain pain processing receptors in the spine, creating a more powerful pain control response.

CBD also has positive mental effects unrelated to THC. It may not bind to CB1 receptors, but it does have at least 12 action sites in the brain. These receptor sites explain CBD’s capacity to reduce anxiety, prevent seizures, and even reduce the effects of psychosis.

CBD, THC, and Friends

CBD and THC aren’t the only chemicals in cannabis that affect the brain. There are hundreds of terpenes in cannabis, and these naturally occurring chemicals change the CBD vs THC debate.

Science is still discovering how all of this works together, but one thing is certain—if you want to get high, you need THC. What your high feels like, and what else you experience mentally and physically, depends largely on the CBD concentration in your cannabis.

As for the “should” questions, one isn’t better than the other. It’s all about what you want from your cannabis experience.

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Cannabis Cream for Pain

cannabis cream for pain

Dealing with pain is anything but fun. Whether it’s arthritis, muscle pain, or pain from a burn, the discomfort can interfere with your daily life. You may find it difficult to get up, move around, or do your job. Conventional medications can have some unwanted side effects. If you’re looking for an alternative to the typical pain treatments, cannabis cream may be able to help.

What is Cannabis Cream?

Cannabis cream is a cream or ointment infused with cannabis. Cannabinoids are extracted from high-quality cannabis flowers and mixed with other therapeutic ingredients to create a topical that’s applied to the skin and is used to treat pain. You may also use cannabis cream to treat skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea.

Can it Get You High?

Smoking and vaping cannabis can get you high, as can using a tincture or consuming an edible. Unlike these products, cannabis cream cannot get you high. You still get the pain-relieving benefits of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids without experiencing any psychoactive effects. Not only that, but cannabis creams are a much more discreet option than smoking or using a vape pen.

How Cannabis Cream Can Help with Pain

Cannabis cream works a bit differently than other forms of cannabis. Instead of inhaling the cannabinoids or eating them, you apply them directly to the surface of your skin and rub them in. Your skin absorbs the cannabinoids, where they connect to cannabinoid receptors there. By binding with these receptors, the cannabinoids provide localized pain relief.

How to Use it

Choose Where to Apply the Cream

Before applying your cannabis cream, determine the location of your pain. You may have a headache, but the source of your discomfort may be from tension in your neck. Locating the exact source of your pain will help to ensure that the cream is effective.

Clean the Area Thoroughly

For the cannabinoids to absorb into your skin effectively, apply your cream to clean skin. Use a washcloth and warm water to remove dirt, dead skin cells, and other debris. Don’t forget to wash your hands, too.

Massage the Cream into Your Skin

Once your skin is clean, you can apply your cannabis cream. Use a generous amount and massage gently but firmly. This helps to more effectively spread the cannabinoids deeper into the skin and muscle tissue. Make sure that you pay attention to your body. Using too much pressure can exacerbate pain.

You may find that one application isn’t enough. Don’t be afraid to apply a second or even third layer to ensure that you get the right dose of cannabinoids into your skin.

Wash Your Hands

Some cannabis creams may have other ingredients such as mint, menthol, or citrus. While these ingredients can help with your discomfort, they can irritate more sensitive tissues on your face. Wash your hands thoroughly before you move on to your next task.

Don’t Expect Miracles

Cannabis cream can help with your pain, but it’s not a miracle cure. Don’t expect it to make your discomfort suddenly disappear. Instead, you can expect more subtle, soothing relief. It may not be able to cure your pain, but it certainly can help to make it more bearable.

If you’re looking for an alternative to conventional pain treatments, cannabis cream may be able to help. Speak with a budtender at your local dispensary for more information and to find a product that will help you get the relief you need.

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How is Cannabis Extract Made?

cannabis extract

Tucked inside the cellular structure of the cannabis plant are some quite powerful chemical compounds—but how can you access it all without lighting up? From runners to those with sensitive lungs, there are plenty of people who would prefer another method. The answer is a cannabis extract.

Cannabis extracts are the result of a scientific process, normally done in a laboratory, using specific equipment and methods to remove the chemical components that reside within the flowers, leaves, and stems of the cannabis plant. Extractions can also isolate and concentrate specific compounds that can be used both recreationally and medicinally.

While it is possible to perform extraction at home, you must take care as safety equipment is required. Understanding the process and results can help you make a more informed decision when you see these products at your local dispensary.

Why Consider a Cannabis Extract?

Before diving into the how, consider the why: Extracts allow the user to bypass the fibrous material of the plant and enjoy the benefits more efficiently. Cannabis contains more than 100 different cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, as well as other beneficial components like terpenes and flavonoids.

Whether you’re interested in an isolate or a whole-plant extract that contains all the benefits of cannabis, this process creates an effective method of delivery. If you purchase a tincture or cream, it’s easier to measure serving sizes. In addition, you can take it discreetly whenever you wish. If you wish to enjoy wax or shatter, you’ll find that you won’t need as much to feel the effects.

What Methods are Used?

There are a number of ways laboratories extract the chemical compounds from cannabis plants. They include:
Soaking in alcohol, then filtering the liquid and evaporating the alcohol for a final product.
Using carbon dioxide, heat, and pressure to separate the chemicals from the plant matrix.
Combining cannabis with liquid butane in a pressurized, heated system, then removing the butane, to create wax or shatter.
Soaking the plant structure in lipids like coconut oil or MCT oil.
Special grinding techniques to separate the crystalline formations on the flowers.
Freezing the cannabis and breaking up the buds using a screen to form hashish.

Are Some Extraction Methods Better than Others?

It depends on what benefits you’d like from cannabis. If you are interested in medicinal benefits, you may wish to look for products that are made from the alcohol or lipid extraction methods. If you want to simply have a more intense and euphoric experience, consider wax, shatter, or hash.

For enthusiasts considering extraction at home, be aware: some methods are dangerous. Fume hoods and other safety equipment are required for some methods, while others allow for the possibility of inhaling unwanted chemicals if done incorrectly.

The simplest method for home extraction is soaking cannabis in oil. This requires a rice cooker or a distilling device, as well as other specialized equipment. Take note of the color of the oils. The darker the color, the more beneficial compounds have been extracted into the substrate.

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What is Shatter?

shatter

If you follow trends in the cannabis market, you’ve probably heard the word “shatter” recently. So, what is shatter? And why is it so popular?

Shatter is a specific type of cannabis concentrate known for its brittle texture and translucent amber coloring. It makes for a powerful high, but it’s not the kind of cannabis product you can make at home.

How Is Shatter Made?

Making shatter is a complex process and requires a closed-loop extraction system, which costs up to $5,000 for a basic setup and can reach into the tens or hundreds of thousands for a commercial product.

To start making shatter, a manufacturer grinds some cannabis flower and pack the ground flower into a pressurized solvent tank. The next step is to pass a chilled solvent, usually butane, over the flower. This pulls out the cannabinoid chemicals and terpenes to produce a concentrated extract.

The system then depressurizes the tank to remove any remaining solvent material. Finally, the concentrate is heated at about 110 F for up to 10 hours. This evaporates any impurities and remaining particles of solvent.

The final product is extremely potent. Like other cannabis concentrates, shatter can contain up to 80%THC, as compared to the 10% to 25% THC found in raw flower. You won’t need to use much to feel the effects.

How Do You Use Shatter?

The process of using shatter—or any other kind of concentrated cannabis—is called dabbing. You take a “dab” of the concentrate, heat it, and inhale it.

There are many different ways to dab. Experienced users often prefer a sophisticated pipe system known as a dab rig, a multi-piece setup that features a glass pipe with a specially designed mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece includes a small hole. The hole fits a small piece of metal known as a nail, which gets heated to between 550 and 750 degrees. When you place a small amount of shatter on that nail, the oil ignites and you inhale the vapor.

If you have a traditional dab rig, you’ll heat the nail using a blow torch. You can also eschew the open flames in favor of an electric nail, which plugs into a power source. Electric nails tend to give you better temperature control and purer vapor.

dab nail

Dabbing Without a Rig

Dab rigs sound too complicated? Not to worry—you can always just mix your shatter in with dry herb or use a dab pen.

Also known as G-Pens, dab pens tend to be the easiest and most convenient tools for using shatter. They’re highly portable, discreet and don’t require special tools. It’s also possible to smoke shatter using vape pens, which are designed for oil but work with concentrates as well.

Know Your Shatter

To get high-quality shatter, buy only from licensed dispensaries. Unlicensed sellers might be distributing products that haven’t undergone the kind of rigorous testing that the law requires. Their shatter could contain impurities like pesticides, heavy metals, and residual solvents.

Also, because it’s is so strong, the potency on the label needs to be accurate. Licensed dispensaries can only sell products that have gone through the required testing. When you buy from a reputable source, you can trust that the labels are accurate.

Know what you’re getting. When you have a satisfying shatter experience, you’ll be glad you made the effort.

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Cannabis Jobs that Pay Well

cannabis jobs

The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing in the United States. As of January 2020, there are over 240,000 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis, representing a 15% increase from the previous year. As more states legalize the plant for medical and recreational use, the number of jobs will continue to increase. If you’re looking for a new job, the industry has plenty to offer. Here are some of the best paying cannabis jobs available.

Dispensary COO or CFO

As a dispensary COO (chief operations officer) or CFO (chief financial officer), your duties may include such things as:

  • Overseeing harvesting and processing
  • Analyzing operations to improve efficiency
  • Developing the budget
  • Managing the accounting department

You don’t necessarily need prior cannabis experience to hold this position, so long as you have experience in a similar role for another company. COOs and CFOs can make upwards of $125,000 a year.

Dispensary Manager

Dispensary managers oversee the daily operations of their store. They’re responsible for communicating with vendors, managing store inventory, handling product returns, and hiring and training budtenders. What makes the job more challenging than managing other types of stores is that you also need to make sure that your dispensary is always abiding by state laws and regulations.

Salaries range for managers based on various factors, such as your education, your experience, and the size of the store. On average, you can make around $75,000 a year.

Consultant

Cannabis consultants combine their knowledge of laws and regulations with backgrounds such as accountants or lawyers to offer advice to aspiring growers and dispensary owners. Since they know the ins and outs of the industry, they can help others obtain the necessary licenses, offer legal advice, or help with bookkeeping and taxes. Consultants can earn as much as $100,000 or more a year.

Master Grower

As a master grower, you oversee the entire growing process. You are in charge of the daily running of the farm, keeping meticulous records, and making the final decisions regarding everything that happens on the farm. You can earn between $80,000 to $100,000 a year or more.

cannabis master grower

Extraction Technician

Extraction technicians are the experts who extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and other essential components of the cannabis plant to create high-potency extracts and concentrates. They use solvents such as butane and CO2 and work to create consistent, high-quality products. The job is riskier than others and requires scientific knowledge, but you can earn between $75,000 and $125,000 annually.

Edibles Chef

Edibles chefs do more than just cook or bake delicious edibles. While taste matters, so, too, do the effects of the products they’re creating. You need to have an understanding of how to properly infuse foods such as brownies, cookies, gummies, lollipops, and more so that they’re legal and enjoyable.

Chefs make more than just sweet treats. They also use cannabis-infused butter and oil to concoct all manner of creative dishes. While some make around $40,000 to $50,000 a year, others can make upwards of $100,000.

Cannabis Jobs for All Skillsets

The cannabis industry has numerous jobs available for people of all skill and experience levels. If you’re looking for a new job and enjoy cannabis, this industry may be for you.

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Harris Supports Cannabis Reform

harris cannabis

In August Joe Biden named Kamala Harris as his running mate. This, along with her former career as an attorney general, may leave some wondering about her stance on legalizing marijuana. It turns out her opinions changed quite a bit throughout the last decade, and we have all the details and latest information right here.

Early Career

Kamala Harris began her career in Alameda County District Attorney’s office and slowly worked her way up the ranks. She later served in San Francisco District Attorney’s office. In 2010 Harris was elected to be California’s attorney general and later became a senator.

As a prosecutor in 2010, Harris co-authored an official voter guide argument opposing California’s cannabis legalization. The Washington Free Beacon conducted an analysis in which it was revealed that 1,560 people were sent to California state prisons for marijuana-related offenses during Harris’s run as the attorney general. In her last year of being an attorney general, Harris was asked about her opponent’s pro-marijuana stance and her thoughts on marijuana. She laughed in response to that question. Harris’s position had changed drastically since then; when recently asked about marijuana, she said, “I did inhale, it was a long time ago.” That sounds promising!

California Senator

In 2015 Harris called for an “end the federal ban on medical marijuana” at the state democratic convention. In 2018 she added her name to a marijuana bill introduced by Sen. Cory Booker. This bill focused on removing marijuana from the list of federally banned substances and penalizing states that disproportionally enforced marijuana law on people of color.

Later in 2018, Harris and US Senator Orrin Hatch signed a letter to the Justice Department, demanding they stop blocking federal research into medical cannabis. She further continued her support by signing a different letter requesting protection for legal marijuana states in the new spending bill.

By 2019 Harris was an avid advocate of marijuana legalization and even sponsored the senate version of the marijuana rescheduling bill in July of 2019. The bill also included provisions for the expungement of federal cannabis convictions.

“Times have changed—marijuana should not be a crime,” Harris said while introducing Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. “We need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives.”

In addition to the MORE act, Harris co-sponsored a SAFE Banking act, which would protect banks that work with marijuana businesses from federal punishment. During her run as a senator, Harris sponsored other pro-marijuana pieces of legislature. One of those aimed at protecting people with drug convictions from losing public housing. Another one aimed to help rehabilitate land in California that was damaged by illicit cannabis growth.

Campaign Trail and Beyond

During her time as a presidential hopeful, Harris focused heavily on marijuana reform in her criminal justice platform. “It is past time to end the failed war on drugs, and it begins with legalizing marijuana,” Harris announced when she introduced her criminal justice reform in September of 2019.

Kamala Harris’ most notable involvement post her presidential race has been drafting a letter to Senate leadership in April. In the letter, Harris asked that they include language in the coronavirus relief legislation that would allow marijuana businesses to access federal relief aid. She also sent a letter in the same month requesting that there be provisions added to the bill that would allow cannabis businesses to access federal loan programs.

Harris has been less vocal about her stance after she withdrew her presidential bid. And in July, the senator indicated that she would not push the presumptive Democratic nominee on the issue. Joe Biden himself is not in favor of adults using marijuana recreationally, so he and his new running mate have different opinions. However, Harris’ previous strong track record may make it an interesting subject of conversation between the two.

The Future

Kamala Harris has a strong track record of supporting marijuana reform. Biden, on the other hand, has strong opposing views. So it remains to be seen whether Harris will influence the presidential hopeful to soften his stance. Here is to hoping!

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Remove cannabis from list of controlled substances

controlled

The House will decide on enactment one month from now to eliminate cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and eradicate some pot criminal records.

The bill would not legitimize the medication, which would be surrendered over to states, yet the vote will even now be a memorable advance in the push to decrease legitimate punishments identified with the medication. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said in an email to individuals that the vote will happen during the September work period.

Marijuana is as of now legal in 11 states.

The vote would be the main taken by either office of Congress to take Marijuana off the Controlled Substances Act.

Cannabis is right now recorded as a Schedule 1 medicate under the Controlled Substances Act, which means there’s a high possibility for misuse and no health advantages. Eliminating it under the demonstration would wipe out the government preclusion on the medication yet leave set up state laws making it illicit.

It would likewise cancel criminal records and give award subsidizing to individuals who have been contrarily affected by requirement of weed laws.

The bill was first presented by House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) the previous fall and passed the board by a 24-10 vote in November. It passed the advisory group with the votes of GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) and Tom McClintock (Calif.).