Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at cannabis and health insurance, a Valentine’s Day survey, tips on stretching your cannabis budget and much more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Insurance
Legislative proposals come and go, often without action. Still, this one may bear watching. There’s a bill before the New York State legislature that would require some health insurers to cover medical cannabis for state-registered patients by deeming it a “prescription drug,” “covered drug,” or “health care service.” So says the online publication Staten Island Live.com.
According to TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjapreneur, a memo attached to the bill, states that “Access to medical marijuana should not be limited to those who can pay out of pocket.” The memo goes on to say that efforts by various organizations to offer discounts to individuals in need have helped, but “are inadequate for many low-income patients.”
Branfalt notes that if approved, the law would apply to public health insurers in the state. That would include Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC), and Essential Plan programs. In addition, the legislation would also authorize the health commissioner to certify medical cannabis dispensing sites as Medicaid providers solely for dispensing medical cannabis.
Branfalt also makes the point that under current New York state law, office visits related to patient evaluation and certification for medical cannabis by a practitioner are Medicaid-reimbursable services.
Said state Sen. Diane Savino (D), “Some state is going to have to force this issue. I believe that our state is the one that should lead the way on this.”
From her lips to the ears of whatever deity you worship.
To learn more, visit the article by TG Branfalt in the February 7, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/new-york-bill-would-require-some-health-insurance-to-cover-medical-cannabis/?
Stats of the Week—Valentine’s Day Edition
This week’s magic number is 61 percent. According to an online survey conducted by Wired Research, 3 in 5 (61 percent) of American adults ages 21 and over plan to incorporate cannabis into their Valentine’s Day plans in 2023, either by using it or giving it as a gift. That’s nearly 148 million individuals.
According to the folks at Globe News Wire, who reported on the survey findings, the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts of flowers and chocolates may see real competition in 2023 with close to 2 in 5 (37 percent, or close to 55 million) American adults stating they would be happy to receive cannabis as a gift this Valentine’s Day.
Other key findings included the following:
• More than 19 million American adults ages 21+ (13 percent) who plan to incorporate cannabis into their Valentine’s Day this year do not plan on drinking alcohol to celebrate.
• About 1 in 4 (24 percent, or more than 35 million) American adults surveyed believe cannabis use will put them in a more romantic mood, and about 1 in 4 (23 percent)—more than 32 million American adults who use cannabis—also report that it improves their sex life.
• Adult parents were significantly more likely than their peers without children (69 percent vs. 57 percent) to consider making cannabis a part of their Valentine’s Day celebration this year.
Said Dr. Shannon Chavez, a psychologist, described as a nationally recognized sex therapist based in Beverly Hills, “The data from the survey show that Americans use cannabis to relax or improve their mood, which can help people be present and more connected, which is crucial to a better love life.”
Dr. Chavez added “Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity for couples to try something new together and try a more dynamic and less formulaic approach to intimacy, which cannabis can help inspire.”
The survey was commissioned by Verano, a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S. The company describes itself as being devoted to the “ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products.”
To learn more about the survey results, simply click on the link that follows.
Tips for New Consumers
While there’s no indication that the “Show Me” state will soon be known as the “Smoke This” state, Missouri has decided to join the party. It is now legal for mature consumers and others to purchase cannabis for recreational purposes.
Realizing that many folks who are new to cannabis are curious about what to expect, Greta Cross, reporting for the Springfield News-Leader, has penned an article full of suggestions for new consumers, from what to know about the law to what to expect from the experience. Here are some of the tips she collected from pros in the industry.
• Start Low and Go Slow: As a new user it’s a good idea to start with a marijuana product with a lower THC percentage. According to the folks at Bloom, a dispensary based in Los Angeles, flower products are likely to contain between 10 percent and 20 percent THC. Finding the flower product that works best for a specific consumer can be a matter of trial and error since dosage is not exact.
Ashley Virden, an assistant store manager for the The Farmer’s Wife chain of dispensaries in southern Missouri, told Cross that when it comes to edibles (marijuana-infused products), new users start with 2.5 mg doses, waiting an hour before taking any more. Edible products have the advantage of coming with the dosage amount in milligrams on the label.
Virden also noted that since it’s common for a single marijuana-infused gummy to contain 10 mg of THC, one gummy could be split into four or five pieces for first-time users.
• Plan Ahead: Cross notes that first-time users should create a comfortable space for themselves and think about planning their day around the experience.
Cody Shackleton, marketing manager at The Farmer’s Wife told Cross, “If you are unfamiliar with marijuana or are trying a new product, make sure you have enough time to enjoy it comfortably. While planning out the day, consider where you want to be and who you want to be around, too, if you want to be around anyone.”
• Hydration is Important: Cross points out that the online cannabis publication Leafly suggests that new consumers should “hydrate like an athlete.” That’s because when THC binds to the salivary gland receptors, the parasympathetic nervous system, which prompts the creation of saliva, is obstructed. This doesn’t stop the production of saliva altogether but it does restrict it. Making sure you are well hydrated can prevent “cottonmouth” from ruining the experience.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article by Greta Cross that appeared in the January 29, 2023 issue of the Springfield News-Leader.com. While some of her copy is specific to residents of Missouri, much of it applies to new consumers in general. Excellent work.
Cannabis and Guns
In a decision that’s likely to please some folks and infuriate others, a federal judge has ruled that the federal ban that prevents individuals who use cannabis from owning or possessing firearms is unconstitutional.
According to the Associated Press, lawyers for Jared Michael Harrison argued that their client’s Second Amendment right to bear arms was being violated by a federal law that makes it illegal for “unlawful users or addicts of controlled substances” to possess firearms.
TG Branfalt, who covered the story for Ganjapreneur, writes that U.S. District Judge Patrick Wyrick in Oklahoma City ruled that federal prosecutors’ arguments that Harrison’s cannabis use “justifies stripping him of his fundamental right to possess a firearm … is not a constitutionally permissible means of disarming Harrison.”
In his opinion, Wyrick held that “the mere use of marijuana carries none of the characteristics that the Nation’s history and tradition of firearms regulation supports.” He added that using cannabis was “not in and of itself a violent, forceful, or threatening act.”
Bradford Betz of Fox News.com reported that Federal prosecutors had argued that the portion of the law focused on drug users is “consistent with a longstanding historical tradition in America of disarming presumptively risky persons, namely, felons, the mentally ill, and the intoxicated.”
Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, wrote that Wyrick’s ruling also addressed the government’s position that people who unlawfully use marijuana are “both unvirtuous and dangerous.” Wyrick wrote that “because the mere use of marijuana does not involve violent, forceful, or threatening conduct, a user of marijuana does not automatically fall within that group.”
We suspect this is just the opening salvo (See what we did there?) in what is likely to be a long and winding legal journey before a final decision is rendered by a higher court.
Stay tuned.
If you care to learn more, we urge you to read TG Branfalt’s article in the February 6, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/federal-judge-ban-on-cannabis-users-owning-firearms-is-unconstitutional/?
We also urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s reporting in the February 6, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
You can also read Bradford Betz’s article in the February 5, 2023 issue of Foxnews.com.
www.foxnews.com/us/marijuana-users-constitutional-right-own-firearms-judge-rules
Tips on Saving Money on Cannabis
If you are a mature consumer of cannabis who also likes to save money, there’s good news. Bruce Barcott, writing for Leafly, has come up with 21 budget-friendly tips on how to save money on cannabis.
Not all the tips will apply to the needs of all consumers, but whether you’re looking to save a penny or a pound, you’re likely to find something on his list that can help you stretch your cannabis dollar.
Here are three of his suggestions:
Save every roach
File this one under the “hard times don’t last but thrifty people do” category. We’re talking about basic cannabis culture for a rainy day. Barcott suggests that after you’ve smoked enough of a particular joint, set it aside, let that “roach” cool overnight and save it for later. He also advises storing your roaches in a metal or silicone container. Said Barcott, “You ain’t saving money if your place burns to the ground.”
Buy cannabis in bulk and store it like a pro
According to Barcott, there’s a rule of thumb when it comes to buying cannabis flower: The smaller the package the higher the price. If you pay $12 for a gram, you may pay $24 for 3.5 grams (an eighth). You’ll pay even less, gram-for-gram, if you can buy a half-ounce or a full ounce. He points out that in most states where recreational cannabis is legal, adults are allowed to purchase up to a full ounce of flower per day.
Barcott also advises consumers who intend to purchase a larger amount to get a quality air-tight glass container and store your cannabis in a cool, dry, dark location. It’ll last longer than you think.
Sign up for customer loyalty programs
Don’t laugh. Many medical dispensaries and adult-use stores have customer loyalty programs that reward consumers for their return business. Sign up and start collecting points—and, says Barcott, “don’t use them until you really need ’em.”
Consider it the triumph of thrift over anonymity.
Barcott’s tips are funny and practical. From making your own edibles to growing your own cannabis (where legal) to switching to smoking a pipe instead of a joint, the tips might sound obvious, but the good thing about obvious is that the benefits often add up over time.
To learn more, we urge you to read the article by Bruce Barcott in the January 27, 2023 issue of Leafly.com.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
