Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at using cannabis as a sleep aid, pairing different strains with different activities, two cannabis-related holidays you may have missed and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis, Cancer Treatment and Sleep
There may be hopeful news for cancer patients who struggle when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. A new study suggests taking cannabis may help.
The study, conducted by an interdisciplinary team of researchers affiliated with Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland, investigated the use and perceived effects of cannabis as a sleep aid by Canadian cancer survivors.
The team recruited 1,464 adult Canadian cancer survivors via the Angus Reid Institute, a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research organization. The participants completed an online, cross-sectional survey that included the Insomnia Severity Index and questions about cannabis use for sleep.
Nearly a quarter of the respondents (344, 23.5 percent) said they currently use cannabis as a sleep aid. The benefits they reported included relaxation, reduced time to fall asleep, fewer nocturnal awakenings and improved sleep quality.
Of that group, about two thirds (235) said they only began using cannabis for sleep after their cancer diagnosis. Over a third of participants who said they used cannabis (125) reported that they use it as a sleep aid every day. Among the 344 participants who said they use cannabis, the most common reasons for using cannabis—other than solely as a sleep aid—were pain management (108), recreational use (84), and anxiety (43).
Based on their findings, the research team concluded, as is often the case, that additional research is needed on the efficacy of cannabis as a sleep aid. They also agreed that it’s important for cancer survivors to have information on methods to help their sleep in order to enhance their quality of life and health.
To read an abstract of the study, which appeared in the October 14, 2023 issue of the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, simply click on the link below.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11764-023-01474-2
Spotlight on Strains
When the great Sly Stone celebrated the idea of “different strokes for different folks,” he might have just as easily sung about different tokes for different folks and different situations.
Consumers are becoming increasingly appreciative of the notion that not all cannabis is alike, not just in terms of potency and taste but also in terms of the state of mind different strains can facilitate and how using specific strains might enhance certain experiences and address particular medical issues as well.
Recently, Nohtal Partansky penned an article for the online publication GreenState in which he wrote about how “different strains can enhance specific activities, stimulate creativity, or elevate relaxation.”
An engineer by trade and the CEO of Sorting Robotics, Partansky also shared the observation that, “Much like engineering, the art of pairing cannabis strains with activities involves precision, experimentation, and a dash of inspiration.”
For example, he suggests that when you need to “unlock your inner innovator”, sativa-dominant strains—such as Jack Herer, Durban Poison, or Green Crack are recommended because they are thought by many to “boost creative thinking.”
On the other hand, he suggests that when someone wants to “unwind and disconnect from the stress of the day,” Indica strains such as Granddaddy Purple, Blueberry Kush, or Northern Lights can offer “a soothing experience” that he believes make them an excellent choice for relaxation.
When it comes to exercise and physical activity, he contends that hybrid strains, such as Blue Dream or Trainwreck have a lot to offer because, in his experience, they can help to boost energy while maintaining a relaxed state of mind.
Said Partansky, “In all your explorations, remember that cannabis affects each person differently, and it’s crucial to start with a low dose, especially if you’re a newcomer to its world. Going low and slow is key. Keep in mind that while these may have been some of my favorite pairings, everybody has their own unique experiences with the plant, and different cannabinoids and terpenes can affect each of us differently.”
We believe what’s key in his article is not necessarily the specific strain recommendations but the acknowledgement that different strains can enhance different activities, or in the case of medical cannabis, do a better job of addressing specific medical conditions.
Different strokes—or tokes—for different folks, indeed.
To learn more, we urge you to read Nohtal Partansky’s article in the October 20, 2023 issue of GreenState.com.
www.greenstate.com/perspective/the-art-of-cannabis-pairing-how-to-match-strains-with-activities/
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“What We Know
Warnings related to fentanyl “contamination” in cannabis have increased as states continue to legalize cannabis.
At this time, there have been zero verified incidents of “fentanyl” contamination in cannabis.
There is no guarantee that any unregulated cannabis product is free from contaminants or harmful ingredients.”—The New York State Office of Cannabis Management.
The quote is taken from a fact sheet released by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) that acknowledges that while fentanyl has been found in drugs like MDMA and heroin, anecdotal claims about marijuana laced with the potent opioid are so far unfounded.
According to Kyle Jaeger, who covered the story for Marijuana Moment, the OCM published the two-page document—titled “Cannabis and Fentanyl: Facts and Unknowns”—to “address misconceptions about cannabis being mixed with fentanyl.”
The OCM added, “Misinformation related to the danger of accidental overdose due to cannabis ‘contaminated’ with fentanyl remains widespread. Anecdotal reports of fentanyl ‘contaminated’ cannabis continue to be found to be false, as of the date of this publication last week.”
Jaeger also noted in his article that the OCM is hoping to drive home the point that “buying marijuana from licensed shops significantly reduces the chances of contamination overall, so the safest option for consumers is to transition away from illicit sellers to the regulated marketplace.”
To learn more, we urge you to read the insightful and detailed reporting by Kyle Jaeger in the October 24, 2023 issue of Marijuana Moment.net. As always, his work is stellar.
www.marijuanamoment.net/new-york-officials-debunk-misinformation-about-fentanyl-laced-marijuana/
Holiday Happenings
If you’ve already been making plans for holidays filled with turkey, tinsel and pumpkin spice what-not, there’s a chance a pair of cannabis-related holidays that share the same date may have slipped under your radar.
National Budtenders Day
For starters, Leafly, a company that describes itself as “the world’s leading cannabis discovery marketplace and resource for cannabis consumers,” recently observed the third annual National Budtenders Day on October 20—a holiday it takes credit for creating.
According to an article that appeared in the publication Business Wire, Leafly’s International Budtenders Day is the only holiday that acknowledges what it describes as the “often overlooked workforce in the cannabis industry.”
“Budtenders,” it said, “are the knowledgeable and approachable experts who guide consumers in finding the right cannabis products for their individual needs. Their expertise is instrumental in shaping positive experiences and ensuring the success of the cannabis industry.”
Said Josh deBerge, Vice President of Brand & Communications for Leafly, “Budtenders are the face of the cannabis industry. They are expected to understand cannabis at the deepest level, while also having the service and communication skills necessary to explain those complexities to customers as they seek cannabis for various reasons.”
Added deBerge, “Budtenders’ unwavering commitment to consumer education and fostering positive cannabis experiences is something we share at Leafly and we are excited every year to celebrate the work they do. We can’t wait to highlight their favorite strains and producers, and look forward to presenting the Leafly Budtenders’ Choice 2023 Awards later this year.”
Recently, Leafly conducted a nationwide survey of budtenders to provide them with a platform where they could highlight favorite strains and flower producers from their local markets. The survey responses will help inform Leafly’s first annual Budtenders’ Choice Awards and will be unveiled later this year, along with Leafly’s Strain of the Year. To add an extra layer of “excitement,” Leafly has already awarded $1,000 to three lucky budtenders chosen at random from the survey respondents
And to every guy or gal who gamely stood at their post and suggested a mature consumer might find some comfort in something called “Zombie Killer” “Sky Pilot” or “Blueberry Rumble,” we also raise a heartfelt huzzah.
DoggFather’s Day
The other holiday that was observed on October 20 was the birthday of the one and only Cordozar Broadus Jr., better known to many as Snoop Dogg—and late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel thinks the day should be observed as a new cannabis holiday called DoggFather’s day.
According to Kimmel, DoggFather’s Day would recognize Snoop Dogg’s “significant contributions to the popularization of marijuana,” making October 20 a new “high holiday.”
According to Ben Adlin, who covered the story for Marijuana Moment, Kimmel also noted that Mr. Dogg’s birthday falls on the exact midpoint to 4/20—a coincidence that he said was “totally tripping me out right now.”
With Snoop Dogg at his side, Kimmel read a proclamation that stated:
“Whereas, Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., known worldwide as Snoop Doggy Dogg, has made significant contributions to the popularization of marijuana—AKA weed, pot, ganja, herb, bud, trees, cheeba, kush, chronic, reefer, dank, sticky icky icky and jolly green giggle sticks.
“Whereas, Mr. Dogg’s birthday (miraculously) falls on the exact midway point to 4/20—a coincidence that is totally tripping me out right now.
“We encourage tokers around the world to lift their goblets of Gin N’ Juice, blaze their blunts, scooby their doobies, and share their Satan’s Spinach—to pay tribute—as I, Jizzimy Kizzimel, proclaim the 20th day of October to be DoggFather’s Day.”
According to Adlin, Kimmel then encouraged the audience to bow their heads and join him in concluding with the phrase “Bow-Wow-Wow Yippie-Yo-Yippie-Yay-men” as he presented Snoop with what he said was the new “Presidential Medal of Weedom.”
Whether or not you care for his music, it’s pretty clear that the rapper, actor, community activist, game show host, commercial spokesperson, Martha Stewart BFF and cannabis advocate has crafted a full and eventful life for himself and it does not appear that using cannabis has prevented him from being a “high” achiever.
To learn more about National Budtenders Day, we suggest reading the story that appeared in the October 20, 2023 issue of Business Wire.com.
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231020836692/en/
To learn more about DoggFather’s Day and begin planning for next year’s celebration, we encourage you to read Ben Adlin’s article in the October 20, 2023 issue (when else?) of MarijuanaMoment.net.
If you care to, you can also watch Mr. Kimmel reading his proclamation of DoggFather’s Day. Special thanks to M Ceallaigh MacBhloscaidh for making sure we didn’t miss this.
Cannabis and the Courts
It’s official. In a step that some might consider another example of “the normalization of cannabis,” a Michigan Court of Appeals has declared that size doesn’t matter—at least when it comes to illegal cannabis grows.
That’s the word from TG Branfalt, writing for Ganjapreneur. According to Branfalt, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled earlier this month that illegal cannabis grows of any size are misdemeanor crimes under the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis laws.
Mlive, an online publication that covers local news in Michigan, reports that under the ruling, defendants convicted since 2018 under the previous law may have the grounds to fight those convictions.
Branfalt notes that under the previous law—enacted in 1978— people convicted for growing cannabis illegally can face up to 15 years in prison for possessing more than 99 pounds of cannabis or 200 plants. Under the 2018 statute, those crimes are considered misdemeanors, punishable by up to 93 days in jail.
The Appeals Court ruling stems from an August 2020 raid in Tuscola County, during which officers uncovered 1,156 cannabis plants on the property of Shaaln Kejbou. Tuscola County prosecutors charged Kejbou with two felonies under the 1978 law and based on those felony charges, prosecutors also charged Kejbou with possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
A Tuscola County Circuit judge dismissed the cannabis and firearm crimes, ruling the old cannabis plant-count laws are obsolete, which the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office appealed and lost.
Robin Schneider, who helped write the legalization law and now leads the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, said, “the law is working exactly as intended.”
Schneider added, “I think all of our members share the belief that they don’t want to see anyone incarcerated for a cannabis crime.”
Apparently, in Michigan, having 1,156 cannabis plants on private property is no big thing.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article by TG Branfalt that appeared in the October 23, 2023 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or at 347-528-8753.
