Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a “cannabis paradox” related to heart health, new restrictions on cannabis use in Minnesota, the cities in the U.S that consume the most cannabis and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis and Heart Health
When it comes to health, the term side effects usually has a negative connotation. However, a new study suggests that may not be the case when it comes to cannabis use and heart health.
According to Ben Adlin, reporting for Marijuana Moment, findings of a newly published study show what the authors described as a “cannabis paradox.” They found that despite concerns that marijuana use may be associated with some heart problems, adults admitted to the hospital after suffering heart attacks actually seemed to fare better if they were cannabis consumers.
The research team, comprised of individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom and Mauritius, wrote, “Among patients aged 18–80 years admitted to hospital with [acute myocardial infarction] between 2001 and 2020 in the United States, cannabis use was associated with lower risks of complications, such as, cardiogenic shock, acute ischaemic stroke, cardiac arrest, and [percutaneous coronary intervention] use, as well as lower in-hospital mortality despite correcting for several confounding factors.”
Adlin noted that the report, which was published in the journal Archives of Medical Science – Atherosclerotic Diseases, examined data from the National Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a database of hospital discharge records across the United States that authors said “represents more than 97 percent of the US population.”
Adlin also makes the point that when asked to explain the “cannabis paradox,” researchers pointed to a few factors. First, they noted that cannabis users were typically younger than non-users in the study—averaging 51.0 years old rather than 62.7 years old. “This age difference could underlie the lower prevalence of known cardiovascular risk factors generally associated with advancing age,” the study says, “such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, prior CABG, and peripheral vascular disease.”
They also said that another possibility is that cannabinoids themselves provide some sort of benefit for heart health, or “cardioprotection modulated by activation of cannabinoid receptor type 2,” as researchers put it, pointing to some evidence of protective benefits in mouse model studies.
In addition, the researchers added that, “cannabis users were less likely to undergo PCI compared to non-users would suggest that they were less likely to have obstructing coronary artery disease as the underlying cause for their AMI (heart attack).”
PCI refers to a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary (heart) arteries, such as a coronary angioplasty with stenting.
Adlin does an excellent job of unpacking a complicated story. To learn more about the study, we suggest reading Ben Adlin’s article in the August 8, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Spotlight on Cannabis
We suspect that when the late Eleanor Roosevelt observed that, “with freedom comes responsibility,” she wasn’t talking about legalizing cannabis.
Still, we believe her comment applies to a number of issues connected to legalization, particularly when it comes to where and when individuals can light up.
Case in point: Minnesota, which became the 23rd state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023, has passed a law that bans cannabis smoking in multi family homes. These are homes with at least three units.
So says TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjaprneur. According to Branfalt, under the law, landlords are responsible for reporting violators of the law to the Office of Cannabis Management which can impose a $250 fine for each violation. However, there are more than 40,000 medical cannabis patients in Minnesota, so Branfalt noted that enforcing the smoke-free policy could be “tricky.” Under the new law, medical cannabis users who are registered with the program and have a medical card must be allowed to use smokable and vapable cannabis, even in multifamily housing.
Said Cecil Smith, CEO of Minnesota Multi Housing Association, “Obviously there’s going to be some tension that’s going to arise when people have an expectation of a smoke-free building, and they’re smelling weed.” Under the law, lawsuits can also be filed against landlords and homeowners’ associations that fail to enforce the policies.
Branfalt noted that Kayla Fearing, who describes herself as a cannabinoid education consultant, called the law “very discriminatory,” adding that, technically, she needs to drive 15 minutes from her home if she wants to smoke cannabis.
Still, Fearing made the point that, “I think we just got to be respectful of people. If your neighbors don’t want you smoking, don’t smoke.
It should be noted that Minnesota has some of the nation’s most permissive rules for smoking and vaping cannabis. For example, it is one of just a handful of states that allows public consumption of cannabis.
To learn more we urge you to read TG Branfalt’s insightful reporting in the August 12, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“Why are cannabis consumers turning from buying pot at a dispensary to home growing? There are a lot of reasons: safety, self-sufficiency, and the prevalence of inflated, fake THC lab results. It also provides the ability to rule out traces of potentially harmful chemicals that weave their way into commercial cannabis markets around the world. Others just want an intimate connection with the plant.”—Benjamin Adams
Mr. Adams is a journalist who covers cannabis, health and politics. His comment is taken from an article he penned for Forbes. In it he describes the work of Fast Buds, an international company with offices in Los Angeles, Barcelona, London, Prague, and Bangkok. The company provides seeds to around 50 countries around the world.
When asked why more people are experimenting with home growing, Fast Buds Head of Marketing Eugene Boukreev said,“Legalization and decriminalization trends are moving faster and people would like to try and see what growing cannabis is all about. The second reason is self-sufficiency and cost savings.”
He added that he believes Germany’s recent move to legalize limited adult-use cannabis and create cultivation social clubs is a turning point for the European cannabis marketplace. Said Bourkeev, “Growing cannabis is going to be more cost-effective than purchasing from [cannabis clubs or dispensaries], for example in Germany. We have a lot of German clients that buy products for home growing.”
He also told Adams that there are devices currently on the market that can help beginners learn how to grow their own cannabis, such as AI-powered grow boxes that help novices manage nutrients, lighting, and other elements of the growing process.
Adams also points out that Fast Buds genetic library attracts over 1 million visitors per month and the unique genetics of its seeds won Best Sativa and Best New Strain at the Autoflower World Cup in 2024.
In his article, Adams does an excellent job of describing how Fast Buds, or similar services, and new technology can help home growers. If there is a weak point to his article it’s that the evidence for his assertion that home growing is gaining in popularity is mostly anecdotal.
To learn more, we urge you to read the article by Benjamin Adams in the August 7, 2024 issue of Forbes.com.
Cannabis News and Notes
A list is a list…is a list. Lists can entertain, inform, spark debate, infuriate or offer a revealing snap shot of a social trend. However, it is important to remember that the facts underlying the list can change as soon as it has been compiled, and in some cases, even before it’s published.
That being said, Sultan Khalid, reporting for the investment website Insider Monkey, has put together a list of the twenty cities in the U.S. that consume the most cannabis. To collect data for its list, Khalid referred to CFAH’s 2023 Cannabis Price Index. CFAH is a website created to help consumers take control of their health through accurate, up-to-date, and science-backed information.
Here are the three cities that consume the most cannabis in the U.S.:
Number 3—Chicago: Folks in Chicago consume 24.9 metric tons of cannabis per year. Tax revenue from cannabis sales has led to more than $244 million in grants for economic development, violence prevention, and youth development. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recently announced that Illinois had hit a major milestone this year, with $1 billion in marijuana retail sales achieved already on July 1, 2024.
Number 2—Los Angeles: It’s estimated residents of Los Angeles consume 35 metric tons of cannabis per year. California is said to be the largest cannabis market in America by revenue, registering $5.1 billion in recreational marijuana sales in 2023.
Number 1—New York City: Consuming 62.3 metric tons of cannabis a year, residents of New York are number 1 in the U.S. when it comes to cannabis consumption. This is despite a legal recreational market that might be described as teetering between chaotic and dysfunctional, at best.
To learn more, we suggest reading the article by Sultan Khalid that appeared in the July 30, 2024 issue of Insider Monkey.com.
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/20-cities-with-the-highest-weed-consumption-in-the-us-1326337/5/
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.
