Mature cannabis consumers who are in the Navy, Coast Guard or Marines—or are civilian employees of one of the sea services—may have to rethink using cannabis, particularly if they are approaching retirement age.
That’s because the Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued a directive that continues to ban all products derived from hemp or marijuana, including CBD, even if they’re considered legal in states where military bases are located. The Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz, went even farther, threatening to prosecute personnel who intentionally support or even enter an establishment that primarily makes or sells marijuana products.
Said Schultz, “Coast Guard military personnel are prohibited from knowingly visiting, entering, remaining in, or patronizing or otherwise conducting any kind of business with any establishment whose primary and prominent purpose is the growth, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana or Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products in any form for either medical or recreational purposes that violate federal law.”
Secretary Spencer contends that without FDA regulation of the CBD industry his sailors and Marines can’t “rely on the packaging and labeling of hemp products in determining whether the product contains THC concentrations that could cause a positive urinalysis result.” At this point the sole exception appears to be FDA-approved cannabis-based drugs that are prescribed by a physician, such as Epidiolex.
The consequences of ignoring the ban can be severe. According to Carl Prine, reporting for Navy Times, any Marine or sailor who tests positive for THC, regardless of the legality of the product that contained it, faces zero tolerance administrative processing that could trigger an Other Than Honorable discharge, loss of veteran’s benefits and federal and state gun rights.
While the loss of veterans benefits can have a dire impact on retirees, the fact that the directive can cause civilian employees to lose a security clearance can be bad news for a retiree thinking of a second career as a consultant.
As far as investing in cannabis companies, a Navy spokesperson told Prine the Pentagon has not established “definitive guidance on investing in marijuana dispensaries” but workers “should err on the side of caution before investing in dispensaries or any other entity dealing with marijuana.”
To learn more you can read Carl Prine’s detailed article in the August 16, 2019 issue of Navy Times.
CBD News
While we don’t suggest you reach for a donut just yet, there is some evidence that CBD taken with high-fat food can be more effective. A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Minnesota has revealed that CBD absorption is significantly increased when it is consumed alongside high-fat foods.
According to Richard Haridy, reporting for New Atlas, the research compared CBD concentrations between fasting states and when consumed within half an hour of eating a breakfast meal composed of over 800 calories, with almost 600 of those calories coming directly from fat. The study showed CBD blood levels appearing to be 14 times higher when the medicine was consumed with high-fat food. The increased levels of absorption were not connected to any differences in psychoactive or cognitive effects but the study does hypothesize an improved effect of a CBD drug, such as Epidiolex on seizure control if consumed with a high-fat meal.
As is often the case, the researchers conceded that because of several factors, such as a small sample size, the results pointed toward the need for more research on whether the increased absorption was primarily due to the calories or the fat content of the meal. However, they did state they thought the most important takeaway from the study was that CBD is most effective when it is consumed with some kind of food at the same time every day.
Haridy’s article appears in the August 19, 2019 issue of New Atlas, an online publication that covers science and technology news. The study originally appeared in the journal Epilepsia.
https://newatlas.com/cbd-levels-increase-doasge-high-fat-food/61117/
Health Matters
Those who use a vaporizer to consume cannabis products will want to keep an eye on the current investigations into the link between vaping and lung disease.
According to Michael Nedelman, reporting for CNN, at least 15 states have identified more than 120 cases of lung disease or injury that could be linked to vaping. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday it’s investigating severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes in some states.
While officials are still trying to determine which products patients used, some states—including Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York—said the use of both nicotine and marijuana products had been reported.
According Nedelman, Andrea Palm, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services secretary-designee, said in a statement last week, “The products used could include a number of substances, including nicotine, THC, synthetic cannabinoids, or a combination of these.”
In a separate article, Emma Betuel, writing for Inverse.com, raised the alarm about black market vape cartridges marketed under the label of Dank Vapes which have been linked to illness and serious health concerns in users. According to Betuel, Dank Vapes isn’t a single production company but a packaging company with no quality control or oversight of the products it markets.
To learn more read Michael Nedelman’s article in the August 19, 2019 issue of CNN.com and Emma Betuel’s article in the August 19, 2019 issue of Inverse.com.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/17/health/vaping-lung-disease-states/index.html
https://www.inverse.com/article/58581-dank-vapes
Tips On Edibles
Many mature consumers, particularly those who are new to cannabis, often turn to edibles as a convenient way to consume it. However, the ease of taking an edible, such as a brownie or cookie, can cause consumers to overlook a complex set of factors that can determine whether their experience will be enjoyable or not.
Kirsten Akens and Claire Lower, writing for Lifehacker.com, note that edibles are often a top choice for those taking cannabis for medical reasons because of this longer-lasting effect. They can offer better daily coverage, for instance, for someone treating or preventing chronic pain. To help, they interviewed several industry professionals who offered these tips.
You may have heard it before but it’s worth repeating. If you are new to edibles it’s wise to “take it slow and low.” That means start with a small dose. Dr. Margaret Gedde, a physician who provides medical marijuana services through Vibrant Health Clinic in Colorado Springs, thinks 5mg is a reasonable first-time starting dose. Said Gedde, “Once that 5mg kicks in, it will not be overwhelming.”
Akens and Lower think it’s worth noting that states differ on their dosing recommendations. For instance, in Colorado, the state has recommended a 10mg dose as a recreational dose, so all edibles come in either 10, 10mg pieces, or one chunk with 10 scored bricks, while Oregon has set a 5mg THC per serving maximum. So when purchasing a commercially-made edible check the dosage before you consume it.
Gedde also suggests keeping track of your dosage and your experience, such as how long it took for the edible to take effect and whether it was pleasant or overwhelming. That will give you a better idea of what to do and what to avoid the next time you take an edible. She also cautions that edibles take time. “Timing, just as a general thing, is going to be longer than just about any other common medication you might take. If you take Ibuprofen, or Aspirin, it will kick in in like 20 minutes or so. Right off the bat, the cannabinoid metabolism is much slower. It usually takes roughly an hour to take effect. Some medications are slow like that but usually people expect to feel the effect quicker, so knowing that it’s just longer than most things in general is important.”
Here is another tip: Your edibles may be more effective if you take them on a somewhat full stomach. That’s because the body does a better job of absorbing cannabis when it has some food to go along with it. Cannabis oil by itself can be tough to digest.
Gedde also advises to be very cautious with homemade items particularly because of the lack of standardization and testing. Said Gedde, “You really have no idea what your friend used or how much, whereas when it comes to purchased items, within certain limits, you can pretty much rely on a label.”
To learn more, including how to cope with a bad experience, read Akens’ and Lower’s article, “The Beginners Guide to Edibles” in the August 15, 2019 issue of Lifehacker.com.
https://lifehacker.com/the-beginners-guide-to-edibles-1821047006
Cannabis Trends
Restaurant patrons in West Hollywood, California, may soon be able to select a different kind of leafy green from a menu. That’s because there’s a plan afoot to open a 220-seat space that will be the first of its kind in America: a place for consumers to have a high-quality meal and smoke a joint in public.
According to Maura Judkis, reporting for the Washington Post, there are public cannabis consumption areas elsewhere in California and in Colorado, but many are lounges attached to dispensaries or vape clubs reminiscent of a dingy basement. West Hollywood had something very different in mind when it opened up applications for 16 on-site consumption licenses (with 24 additional licenses for dispensaries and delivery) in May 2018. The application process drew more than 300 applicants who were scored on factors such as innovation and social equity. The top eight in each of five categories were allowed to proceed.
However, before they open, the applicants will have to navigate a complicated set of challenges and regulations. For instance, there’s a discrepancy between city and state licensing. Although the city allows licenses for consumption lounges that aren’t attached to dispensaries, there is no such thing as a cannabis cafe license from the state, which, according to Judkis, intends to license the restaurants as dispensaries.
But the fledgling restaurants are finding loopholes, which West Hollywood has encouraged. For example, one strategy is to put two separate businesses under the same roof: a lounge to smoke cannabis and a restaurant. Guests who order food and cannabis will receive separate bills. The plan was approved by the West Hollywood Business License Commission in July.
Another upscale restaurant plans to open a commissary kitchen to produce sauces and dressings infused with THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Restaurant patrons would then purchase a sauce separately which would be presented alongside the meal in a sealed container. They would then open it themselves and use it as they desire to complement the meal.
As always, there is a problem when it comes to handling the money. Because of the federal prohibition against marijuana, most banks are unwilling to serve cannabis businesses. As a result, the majority of businesses must rely on alternative banks and credit unions or cash transactions, although there is word the California Senate has approved legislation that creates a pathway for more banks to work with cannabis companies. When the city collected more than $1 million in license applications it was primarily in cash.
Experts say cannabis cafes face a host of expenses other restaurants don’t, such as extra staff and 24-hour security, expensive vents to eliminate the smoke, lobbying and preparing the license proposal, all of which could cost as much as $3 million before the first filet is served. However, it’s estimated that once most of the new businesses are up and running, annual cannabis tax revenue generated by the restaurants and other cannabis—themed attractions in the West Hollywood area will be between $5 million and $6 million a year.
Maura Judkis does an excellent job of untangling the complicated set of issues faced by the restaurants and local government in her detailed article in the August 19, 2019 issue of the Washington Post.
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can contact them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or by calling 347-528-8753.