 Marijuana is fully legal, both recreationally and medically, in 11 states and the capital region of Washington, DC. In most other states, it is either decriminalized or medically legal, with only 8 states having classified it as “fully illegal” — neither decriminalized nor recreationally/medically legal. It doesn’t stop here, though, as legislation and regulations are always rapidly changing. Why is the public attitude toward cannabis changing so quickly, and what are the big-picture benefits that are pushing most states in favor of legality?
1. Medicinal benefits Cannabis has been used for its anti-inflammatory, appetite-stimulating, anxiety-calming, and anti-seizure properties. Mary Jane Rathbun, the famous “Brownie Mary” from the 1970s-1990s, gave dying patients her special pot brownies to help ease their pain and suffering. Cannabis has been a component of medicinal remedies for centuries across the world, well before it started gaining a negative public opinion. 2. Shift police priorities In 2018, four in ten drug-related arrests in the United States were for marijuana-related transgressions, and at that, the crimes were usually just possession. The decriminalization of marijuana would help shift police time, money, and resources away from non-violent possession offenders and toward violent crimes and hard drugs instead. In addition, everyone has the right to their own personal freedoms, as long as they aren’t causing disruption or harm to others. Weed is certainly one of those personal freedoms for adult citizens in the United States. 3. Create jobs and raise tax revenue With legalization comes a brand new market, which leads to more jobs and greater tax revenue. For example, weed tax in California is sufficiently high enough that it often brings the greatest tax revenue to certain cities over all other businesses. Criminalization of weed drains money, which is a huge waste for offenses that are primarily nonviolent. 4. Safer consumption Another beneficial factor of cannabis legalization is increased safety. When cannabis is legal, it comes with regulations. This means that manufacturers would produce products with precise dosages, which helps decrease the risk of overdosing or poisoning from fabricated weed. In addition, there are more options for cannabis usage — for example, edibles in unique and creative forms, skin topicals (most of which are non-intoxicating), and CBD products (which won’t get you high, like THC products will). 5. Less detrimental than alcohol consumption Another benefit of legally consuming marijuana (at moderate levels) is that it is less detrimental to the body than alcohol consumption (which is legal in all parts of the United States). While alcohol-related deaths add up to over 30,000 per year, the marijuana-related death toll is annually 0. Alcohol overdoses can be lethal, but the most damage a weed overdose will cause is heavy sleep. Furthermore, weed overdoses do not cause violent or impulsive behavior, unlike alcohol overdoses. The legalization of marijuana would not just be a mark on a ballot — it represents new medicinal avenues, new tax revenue, safer options, and redirection of police resources. With the rapid shifts in policy and legislation across the nation, cannabis is becoming more accessible to everyone, one step at a time.
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 With Halloween around the corner and social distancing keeping the trick-or-treaters indoors, there’s more than one way to celebrate the spooky season besides eating all the Kit Kats you tell yourself you would have given to the children. Drop the caloric candy bars and grab a bong, roll a joint, or bake some extra special Halloween brownies with these spooky weed strains! Whether you’re planning to be antisocial on the couch or dive into high-energy adventures, there’s something here for everyone.
Funfetti While monster movies and a plate of cookies are the ultimate couch potato activity for Halloween evening, smoking some Funfetti is the icing on top. This indica-dominant hybrid is a cross between Cherry Pie and Animal Cookies and has an intensely relaxing effect on the body that will keep the couch warm as you settle in for hours. Its flavor profiles are sweet and creamy, almost like a slice of birthday cake… or a Halloween cupcake. Candyland Candyland looks like Candyland with just a glance at the multi-colored, vibrant buds. This sativa-dominant strain boasts a gold medal from the 2012 KushCon and leaves the user with uplifting, energizing sensations that blend well with social events and boosting creativity. Its flavor profile is earthy with subtle sweet notes. Grab some Candyland concentrate to go along with an evening of socially distant Halloween festivities and games! Ghost Train Haze Taking a hit of Ghost Train Haze is just like jumping aboard a fast-paced ghost train, as its name suggests. This sativa-dominant strain is known to create a manic, intense energy that is great for social events but should be taken in moderation. It leaves the user with a sense of boosted creativity and radiant euphoria, along with flavor profiles of tropical fruit and herbal notes. Dream Walker With only 10% indica and 90% sativa in its genetics, Dream Walker creates a powerful, uplifting rush that is typical of sativa-dominant strains. With especially sweet berry flavors and hints of citrus, this strain drives the user on a fast-paced ascent into a powerful body high perfect for physical and creative activities. If you’re looking for a high experience that will rocket you to galaxies far, far away, this strain is the answer. Ghost OG Let the record state that Ghost OG is not suitable for beginners. With flavor profiles of citrus and pine, this indica-dominant strain is overwhelmingly tingly, numbing, and mood-lifting for anyone who needs a positive boost to celebrate all night on Halloween. It takes hours for the sensations of sedative, yet contagious joy to settle down, so plan your evening accordingly! Happy Halloween! Remember to take your trick-or-treating to Bento Delivery this Saturday, where everything on the menu is a treat.  In North America, most outdoor marijuana cultivation begins in the middle of spring. Mathematically, this means that October would be the month when most cannabis is ready to be harvested, processed, and then sold. In other words, October becomes Croptober for weed farmers. In its own right, Croptober is almost as impactful as 4/20 and 7/10, specifically for marijuana growers.
How does Croptober affect outdoor growers? Croptober is a period of both celebration and stress for anyone with an outdoor cannabis harvest. On one hand, half a year’s worth of hard labor is finally yielding results, and if successful, the harvest is abundant. Around this time, the air will be heavy with the scent of rich terpenes and ripe aromas. On the other hand, there are a few factors that could throw all of that hard work into jeopardy. October is a month when the weather becomes unpredictable — storms, droughts, heat, and cold are all wild cards as soon as the summer ends. A short bout of extreme weather could easily destroy your entire crop, so October is a crucial time to set up any necessary defense systems against the elements. In addition, plentiful harvests equate to increased competition — more weed means that growers will face competitive pricing and greater supply. According to Kevin Jodrey, the founder of Wonderland Nursery in Humboldt County, market prices for a pound of weed could drop by as much as $400 or $500. Croptober marks a time when financial planning is key. Croptober used to have a more significant impact on the cannabis market in past years, but that impact has slowly started to diminish with the rise of indoor growing operations. How does Croptober affect indoor growers? Indoor farmers face both negative and positive impacts of the Croptober rush. On the negative side, they’ll have to drop their prices heavily to keep up with lower market prices offered by outdoor growers in the fall. On the positive side, they have the advantages of consistent, controlled harvesting schedules and reduced risk of losing a harvest to unforeseen environmental factors. How does Croptober affect consumers? Although this particular month is most impactful for growers, Croptober is like Christmas for cannabis enthusiasts. After the bountiful October harvest, November and December will be prime months when all the dispensaries are stocking their shelves with new weed bursting with fresh, intense flavors. Happy Croptober, and may the season of bountiful harvest bring you a season of equally bountiful highs.  You may have found yourself in a wide range of situations that called for the instant removal of weed smell from your house. Maybe you secretly threw a party when your housemates were out of town. Or are expecting guests over and want to make a good impression. Maybe your family has no idea that you are anything remotely close to a cannabis enthusiast, and you’d like it to remain that way. Fear not — it will remain that way with these useful tricks.
Light some incense One of the most traditional ways to mask the scent of weed is by burning Nag Champa incense. Nag Champa is a sacred incense that originated in India and is said to purify an environment by dispelling any negative energy. It gets most of its scent from Champa flowers and sandalwood. The incense first made its mark at the end of the hippie generation, and since then has been a popular staple in meditation, yoga practice, and cannabis usage. Opt for scented candles If you’re not much of an incense person, scented candles will do the same job with a more western method. An additional perk of using them is that you have a wider variety of scents to choose from and no ashy residue. Try patchouli oil Another staple of the hippie generation, patchouli oil has been around for decades. It is made from patchouli flowers and possesses antidepressant and aphrodisiac properties. The patchouli scent is incredibly strong and can be described as sweet with notes of musky earthiness. The scent is also an effective combatant to lingering weed odor. Use Febreze or an air freshener plug-in If you’re looking for a standard convenience store method of eliminating odors, use an air freshener plug-in or Febreze. A plug-in eliminates odors and leaves the space smelling nice without having to burn anything (like incense or candles). Febreze is also a quick and convenient odor eliminator, though it may not mask the entire smell. Ozium air freshener is also an effective solution designed specifically for smoking-related odors. Install an air purifier Investing in an air purifier might be a worthwhile move if you’re a frequent smoker. Air purifiers are designed to eliminate neutralize odors from any space — not only will it purify the weed smells from your room, but also any other scents and odors you may have in that space. It leaves your air cleaner than any of the other methods listed above. The next time you smoke indoors and want to cover up the smell, try one of these methods! If you’ve tried everything and need additional last resort ideas, try masking the odors with burnt popcorn, or by stationing some fans next to open windows. Whether you’re a traditional incense person or a practical air freshener person, there’s probably something on this list that will work for you.  In a nutshell: Moneybagg Runtz is a unique Runtz strain specially developed by passionate rappers to produce the ultimate hybrid.
If you know your cannabis strains pretty well, you’ve probably heard of Runtz. Genetically, it’s a cross between the two popular strains Zkittlez and Gelato. A defining marker of Runtz is its fruity flavor profiles, similar to smelling a bag of candy when you first tear open the packaging. In general, it’s an even balance between indica and sativa, but a few variations may have more skewed ratios. The strain was created by an independent rapper named Yung LB. Born and raised in the east side of Long Beach, Yung LB moved to the Bay Area in the early 2000s. During this time, he had many influences, ideas, and guidance that led him to eventually create Runtz. The Moneybagg Runtz strain is a collaboration between Yung LB, the original creator of Runtz, and another rapper named Moneybagg Yo. Moneybagg Yo, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, is a successful artist whose best works have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200. He has been signed by the CMG record label (Collective Music Group, formerly Cocaine Muzik Group) and Interscope Records. Moneybagg Runtz is cultivated and managed extremely well. The form of the nugs is very inspiring, as it has a phenomenal texture — rich and soft to the touch, like a product made from the highest quality cotton. This flower has an intense flavor, as well as an extraordinary burn that leaves the user in a cloud of white smoke. Overall, this strain will leave you relaxed and ready to go, as if you're boarding a plane and taking off into a whirlwind of flavors. It paints a zenful sensation that leaves the entire body floating on Cloud Nine. If you’re a fan of Runtz or any of its variations, you’ll love Moneybagg Runtz. It’s both a rare and high-quality product. Currently, Bento Delivery is the only weed company in the Bay Area that carries this strain, so make sure to try it before it runs out! To check out Moneybagg Runtz, visit this link: www.bento.delivery/order.html  The cannabis market is not limited to just smokers and medical users. Lately, the healing properties of marijuana have begun expanding their way into new forms, including topical creams and dermal patches. Marijuana is reaching an entirely new audience of people who are looking for pain relief without the intoxicating effects.
What are cannabis topicals? Cannabis topicals can be lotions, balms, or oils that can be absorbed through the skin to provide relief for conditions such as pain and inflammation. Such topicals are designed to maximize the medicinal benefits of cannabis rather than the psychoactive ones. How do topicals work? Throughout the body, there is a vast network of cannabinoid receptors that respond to both naturally-produced endocannabinoids and cannabinoids from cannabis that make their way in from the outside. Cannabis-infused topicals are able to bind to these receptors in order to bring pain relief to the applied area. The good news is that you won’t get high from using the topical — even if there is active THC in it, it will not cross through into your bloodstream. Instead, the cannabinoids will only provide surface-level relief. Furthermore, most cannabis-infused creams and salves contain THCA instead of active THC, which is the acid form of THC. A handful of studies have been performed exploring the extent of THCA’s medical benefits on patients with various conditions. In particular, some findings that stood out included anti-inflammatory properties (for arthritis and lupus, specifically), anti-seizure and anti-epileptic properties, protection from neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia), relief from appetite-related conditions like nausea or appetite loss, and properties that helped slow down the progression of different diseases and cancer. For topical forms of cannabis that penetrate the bloodstream with active THC, try using a transdermal patch. What can topicals treat? Topicals are best for symptoms like inflammation, muscle pain, joint pain, stiffness, or soreness. They’re the perfect remedy for post-workout aches and arthritic pain. A lot of products on the market contain menthol and peppermint, which provide a cool tingling to the painful area. In addition, topicals have been reported to help other symptoms like headaches, cramps, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Some topicals are created to mimic a specific strain of marijuana. The producer will try to create a terpene and cannabinoid profile that matches the desired strain, resulting in different ratios of THC, CBD, THCA, and other cannabinoids. CBD and THCA in particular are utilized for their anti-inflammatory properties. Depending on the ingredients and cannabinoid profiles of various topicals, products may have slightly different effects on the body. The best way to figure out which topical is best for you is to try a few different salves and creams and take note of their effects on your symptoms. There is a growing market for medicinal cannabis, and as more studies are conducted on the topic, consumers will likely see an increase in non-psychoactive uses for marijuana.  Not all marijuana is grown the same. Many different growing styles have developed to accommodate the climate, environment, and financial resources for every grower. Outdoor growing is the original and most natural method — it’s how weed first grew in the wild before humans cultivated it for consumption. After outdoor farming came the innovation of new methods, such as indoor farming, light-dep hoop houses, and greenhouses. Below is a guide to all of the different growing styles to help you decide which method is best for your garden. Whether you’re completely new or an advanced gardening veteran, there are plenty of options for you.
If you’re starting a marijuana garden, the first decision you’ll make is whether to use seeds or clones. Because regular seeds from the same strain of cannabis are genetically a little different from each other, the resulting flower will also vary between seeds. In some cases, buds from two different seeds of the same strain will have differences in flavor. Seeds are extremely useful for breeders because they provide many different variations of a strain that allow the grower to select a favorite and make clones of that seed. Unlike regular seeds, cloned seeds are all genetically identical, and will therefore produce plants that are consistently the same in all aspects, including flavor. Outdoor Growing marijuana outdoors is the oldest and easiest method of cultivating weed. Ideally, you should select this method if you live in a “Mediterranean climate,” which has warm to hot summers, mild fall seasons, and not a lot of rainfall. Places like California, Oregon, and some regions of Washington exhibit similar climates to the Mediterranean environment.
Indoor Indoor growing is the most controlled, yet most expensive option. With indoor growing, environmental and seasonal factors are no longer a concern, and the growing space can be anything from a small cabinet to a giant warehouse. However, it costs a lot more to mimic and maintain “ideal” growing conditions artificially.
Light-Dep Hoop Houses Light-dep (short for light-deprivation) hoop houses are a method of growing that involves covering the plants with large tarps in a large tent-like structure outdoors. They work well in ideal climate regions and allow growers to influence the amount of sunlight and rainfall the plants receive. The tarps also offer greater protection from unpredictable weather. This option offers a nice balance, as it is essentially outdoor growing with greater environmental control.
Greenhouse Greenhouses are another convenient option for your garden. They allow for a more controlled growing environment while exposing the plants to sunlight and limiting pest infestations. In addition, the walls of the greenhouse shelter your harvest from rough weather conditions.
Every growing style is a little bit different. They all have significant pros and cons and work for different budgets and climates. Outdoor growing is the easiest and least expensive method, while indoor growing is the most complex and most expensive method. Partial-outdoor methods like light-dep hoop houses and greenhouses fall somewhere in the middle in terms of sustainability, cost, and labor. Ultimately, choosing a growing style comes down to how much environmental control you want for your harvest, and how much effort you are willing to put into your crop.  A lot of unorthodox workout trends have risen to popularity in the recent past. For example, goat yoga — yoga in which participants mingle with cute goats who use them like climbing playgrounds as they flow through various poses. Or paddleboat yoga, in which people practice yoga atop paddle boards in the water. On the more controversial side are activities such as ganja yoga and going to weed gyms.
Ganja Yoga Ganja yoga is the practice of using cannabis before a yoga session to heighten one's experience. Marijuana and yoga go hand-in-hand for a lot of reasons. Yoga places heavy emphasis on mindfulness, mental connections, conscious breath, music, and being in the present moment. Smoking weed before yoga could help enhance all of these individual aspects. The relaxed state and clear-headedness that weed induces helps the user focus on mind-body connections and perform a mental inventory of their subtlest sensations and breathing rhythm. Furthermore, when time starts to slow down after taking cannabis, users can really immerse themselves in the music and savor each present moment. People who have participated in ganja yoga often reported feeling ultra-connected to their surroundings, as well as appreciative of everything their heightened senses picked up — including silence. Weed Gym When Power Plant Fitness opened, it was the first of its kind — a gym that blended cannabis with working out. Its motivation? To "integrate cannabis into one's daily routine of wellness," both before and after a workout, and dispel any negative stereotypes about the "evils" of marijuana. It even helps its members create weed-assisted fitness plans and offers a line of athletic edibles "for pre-workout focus and post-workout recovery." Given that a large percentage of cannabis users like to get high before working out for the sense of relaxation and focus that is induced, Power Plant Fitness targeted exactly that clientele with the intent of promoting more motivated, weed-friendly workouts. However, you don't have to do ganja yoga or go to a weed gym to have a great weed workout. If you're looking for a different vibe while you exercise — a mood booster, less mental tension, or greater mind-body connection — try adding some cannabis to your routine! As always, stay mindful of dosage and the effects that weed has on your body if trying this for the first time.  Many of the anti-inflammatory steroids and medications currently on the market come with a long list of side effects, some of which you probably won’t experience, but are enough to scare you just from reading the label. If you’re looking for another form of treatment for inflammation you may be experiencing, cannabis is a good alternative. It’s not a new form of treatment either, despite its increasing popularity for medicinal benefits in recent decades. Using marijuana as an anti-inflammatory has been around for thousands of years across multiple cultures.
Compared to the medications you can get at a pharmacy, cannabis has relatively fewer side effects. Other steroids may cause symptoms such as decreased immune strength and muscle weakness. Cannabis, on the other hand, has minor side effects such as dry mouth and an increase in appetite. For this reason, it is a popular recommendation for patients with cancer and other conditions in which inflammation is prevalent, especially because it contains cannabidiol (CBD). In multiple studies tested on both human and animal subjects, CBD was found to suppress cytokine production. Cytokines are signaling proteins released by the immune system that trigger inflammation in the body. CBD’s ability to decrease cytokine production is helpful for individuals suffering from conditions like dermatitis and arthritis. If you’re uncomfortable with smoking a joint, there are plenty of other methods of taking marijuana. Vaping has a smaller footprint since you are just inhaling vapors, and edibles won’t affect your lungs at all. In addition, cannabis topicals in the form of salves, lotions, and transdermal patches are growing in popularity for their anti-inflammatory properties that can be applied directly to the skin, often without the psychoactive high effect. Cannabis-infused topicals are able to bind to endocannabinoid receptors (which respond to cannabinoids such as THC and CBD) in the body in order to bring pain relief to the applied area. The benefits of cannabis as an anti-inflammatory are both significant and abundant. The side effects are minimal, and there are a wide range of methods to try if you’re not comfortable with smoking. The next time you’re on the way to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription of steroid cream, consider trying something else first, maybe at your local dispensary (or, if you live in a non-recreationally legal state, consider asking for a medical marijuana prescription). |
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