Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at the latest Gallup Poll on cannabis and tobacco consumption, CBD use and the FBI, tips on handling cannabis plants during the flowering stage and more. Enjoy.
Cannabis Corner
Much has been made of the recent findings from the folks at the Gallup Poll that “in the past week,” more Americans smoked cannabis than tobacco.
According to Lukas Barfield, who covered the story for Ganjapreneur, 16 percent of Americans polled said they smoked cannabis in the past week, which was up from last year’s figure of 12 percent. At the same time, only 11 percent of those polled said they smoked tobacco, which was down from 16 percent a year ago and, as Barfield notes, far less than the 45 percent of Americans who reported smoking tobacco in the 1950s.
Barfield points out that according to an article in The Hill, this is the highest level of cannabis consumption Gallup has recorded since it began asking the question in 2013 and the lowest result for the tobacco question since 1944 when it began asking that question.
We can only wonder what the percentage of those who consumed cannabis would be if the poll had focused on consumption in general—even though the poll is referred to as the annual “Consumption Habits” survey—rather than smoking marijuana in particular.
As Ben Hartman pointed out back in 2020, in an article he penned for The Cannigma, smoking is only one of several ways folks can consume cannabis.
Here, according to Hartman, are seven alternative methods of consumption. While some are familiar to consumers, there are others you may find surprising:
Edibles: From baked goods, such as brownies, to THC-infused gummies and beverages, edibles are among the most familiar and potent ways to consume cannabis without smoking it. Just make sure to follow the standard advice—start low (in dosage) and go slow
Pills, capsules, and tablets: Some are surprised to learn that it’s common for many dispensaries to list cannabis pills, capsules, and tablets on the menu. Many find the precise dosage possible in this format useful and effective.
Powder: There are dispensaries that offer the option of purchasing cannabis in a powder form. It’s easily dissolved in water—much like a sports supplement—and usually has a much quicker onset than traditional edibles.
Transdermal Patches: Similar in design to nicotine patches, there are transdermal patches that allow cannabinoids to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. They offer the added benefit of being an extended release delivery system.
Tinctures: A cannabis tincture is a cannabis extract in liquid form that’s made by soaking the flower and/or leaves of the plant in a solvent, such as alcohol. Similar in effect to an edible when administered under the tongue, it has the advantage of precise dosing.
Vapes: This method of consumption heats cannabis to a temperature that releases cannabinoids and other compounds into the air, producing a vapor that is then inhaled. Since there is no smoke, some believe this method is more discreet and easier on the lungs. Vapes can be used to consume a wide range of cannabis products including oils, resin, and concentrates.
Cannabis Topicals: Most often used to treat pain and muscle aches, cannabis balms, gels, salves and lotions can be applied directly to the skin.
Perhaps the folks over at Gallup will eventually add these methods of consumption to their annual poll about cannabis and tobacco use. If they do, we suspect that more than 16 percent of respondents will acknowledge that they have consumed cannabis in the last week.
To learn more, we suggest you read Lukas Barfield’s article about the Gallup Poll in the August 30, 2022 issue of The Ganjapreneur.com.
www.ganjapreneur.com/more-americans-smoke-cannabis-than-tobacco/?
To read the Gallup Poll on consumption, just click on the link that follows.
news.gallup.com/poll/284135/percentage-americans-smoke-marijuana.aspx
To learn more about alternative ways to consume cannabis, other than smoking, we suggest reading Ben Hartman’s article that first appeared in the April 14, 2020 issue of The Cannigma.com. Just click on the link below.
cannigma.com/products/7-ways-to-consume-cannabis-without-smoking/?
Cannabis Quote of the Week
“Among the most common fallacies regarding drug policy is that prohibition somehow equals drug control and public safety, when the opposite is too often true. Prohibition regimes drive commerce underground, making it harder to regulate and manage. Legalization allows for standards and rules about where, how, and when cannabis can be accessed, and about those who can access it. A recent study about age compliance in California dispensaries found a 100% compliance rate in preventing underage people from entering the premises. The same motives and outcomes apply toward product safety. Products purchased in an illicit market are of unknown origin, potency, or safety. Regulations which require and confirm testing for both safety and potency serve to make consumers’ experiences safer. Knowing the potency, the cannabinoid content, or the presence of mold and pesticides represent three of consumers’ top five concerns when choosing a product. Price is the second-most important factor, which reveals a general vulnerability among consumers to choose untested products due to cheaper prices.”—Amanda Reiman, Ph.D., MSW, Vice President of Public Policy Research, New Frontier Data
Dr. Reiman’s comment is taken from her most recent article for New Frontier Data,“Clear-Eyed Objectives Determine Success for Legal Cannabis Policy.”
In the article, she contends that policies that aim to regulate the use of these substances should focus on increasing public health and safety, both for consumers and non-consumers.
Reiman points to the fact that prohibition of cannabis does not stop an illicit market from thriving, while serving the needs of consumers. For example, in 2021, only 21 percent of the overall cannabis market was served by legal sources. In Texas alone, it’s estimated the illicit market is worth nearly $6 billion.
With all of the public debate over legalization of cannabis at the federal level, it can be easy to forget that much of the cannabis market remains underground, even in states where medical and/or recreational cannabis is legal.
That being said, we agree with Dr. Reiman’s position that legalization is a key step toward regulation and consumer safety.
To learn much more, we urge you to read Dr. Reiman’s article. It appears in the August 30, 2022 issue of New Frontier Data. We continue to be big fans of the work done by the folks at New Frontier Data.
Cannabis Use and the FBI
Mature consumers of CBD who were thinking of pursuing a second career working with the FBI—either directly or as a contract employee—may have to reconsider their plans. The FBI has announced that the recent use of cannabis—including CBD—automatically disqualifies people from working at the federal agency. Those interested in joining the FBI must have abstained from consuming cannabinoids— including the non-intoxicating kind—for at least a year before submitting an application.
That’s the word from Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Jaeger, this employment policy is in place in spite of the fact that hemp and its derivatives, such as CBD, were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill.
In response to a question posed on Twitter, the FBI’s Denver office said, “Although the use of marijuana & CBD may be legal at the state level, their use is an automatic disqualifier for FBI employees and contractors. You must wait for at least one year from your last use of CBD or marijuana before applying to the FBI.”
Jaeger notes that while the one year threshold actually reflects a loosening of the FBI’s employment policy, making it so people only have to wait one year after they last used marijuana instead of three in order to apply for a job at the agency, the agency’s rules around CBD have been less clear.
Jaeger also points out that the new guidance doesn’t mention another marijuana employment rule the FBI instituted last year which rendered applicants ineligible for a job at the agency if they’ve used marijuana more than 24 times after turning 18.
The FBI still holds to the position that the use of cannabis “before the candidate’s 18th birthday” is not a disqualifier for FBI employment.
To learn much more about the FBI’s policies and cannabis use and employment policies at other federal agencies, we urge you to read Kyle Jaeger’s article in the August 26, 2022 issue of Marijuana Moment.net. As always, his work is spot on.
Tips For Those Who Grow Their Own
The approach of fall is more than just an excuse to break out the pumpkin spice lattes, for those who indulge in such things. It is also the time of year when cannabis plants begin the all-important flowering stage. As some may say, “O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
If you grow your own cannabis, assuming you live in a state where that is legal, how cannabis plants are treated during the flowering stage can make all the difference in the plant’s yield. That’s because it is during this last phase that plants will begin to grow buds.
Cannabis buds, also referred to by some as nuggets or flower, are a cluster of trichome-covered flowers produced by the female cannabis plant. The buds—which vary in appearance, aroma, color, and density—are the primary part of the plant harvested for smoking or further processing to make cannabis-based products.
According to the experts at the website i49, cannabis plants enter the flowering stage when they begin to experience longer hours of uninterrupted darkness. If you’re growing outdoors, the cannabis flowering time begins around the end of summer. For those growing plants indoors, it means switching to about 10 to 12 hours of darkness each day.
Here are some tips to remember when plants enter the flowering stage, courtesy of the folks at i49:
• Temperatures between 64.4°F and 78.8°F are best for flowering cannabis. This can be difficult to manage and is usually beyond a gardener’s control when growing outdoors. Higher or lower temperatures could stunt the plant’s growth or kill it.
• Flowering cannabis plants respond best when the humidity in the environment is between 40 to 50 percent. High humidity can bring mold and fungi.
• Flowering cannabis plants require clean and safe water. It’s best to use chlorine-free or filtered water for your cannabis plants. To know when it’s time to water, stick a finger down in the soil—if it goes not more than an inch, it’s time.
• Good ventilation is necessary if flowering cannabis plants are to thrive. If you’re growing indoors or in a tent, it’s wise to invest in a good fan to help with this. The purpose of the fan is to circulate the air in the environment around the plants, so don’t point it directly at the buds.
• It’s important to keep the pH level in the soil between six and seven. Cannabis plants grown in a soilless or hydroponic environment require pH levels between 5.6 to 6.5. Failing to maintain these levels could result in the cannabis plant not being able to access essential nutrients.
You can learn more by reading the article that appeared in the May 21, 2022 issue of i49. It is one in a series of articles that have tips for home gardeners. In addition to a blog with consumer tips, the site also sells a wide variety of cannabis seeds. To visit it, simply click on the link below.
i49.net/blog/the-cannabis-flowering-stage/?
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-529-8753.
