Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at Gov. Tim Walz’s track record on cannabis issues, tips on growing cannabis in an apartment, a new study on the potential benefits of the cannabinoid CBG and more. Enjoy.
Political News and Notes
Should the Harris /Walz ticket prevail in November, the U.S. will have a Vice President with a track record of supporting what might be described as pro cannabis positions.
According to Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, Walz supported numerous cannabis reform measures while in Congress, called for an end to prohibition when he was running for governor and then signed a comprehensive legalization bill into law in 2023.
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Jaeger notes that Walz also prioritized medical cannabis access for the veteran community, and to that end, he sponsored the first piece of standalone marijuana reform legislation to move through a congressional committee, which was a measure meant to promote medical cannabis research for veterans.
When running for Governor in 2017, Walz pushed for the legalization of adult-use marijuana in Minnesota, saying it’s “time to create a system of regulation and taxation” for recreational cannabis.
Jaeger also makes the point that one of the most impactful cannabis-related policy actions Walz took as governor was signing a bill in 2023 to legalize marijuana, making Minnesota the 23rd state to enact the reform. In addition, he strongly advocated for the reform as lawmakers worked to deliver the legislation to his desk.
Said Walz at the bill signing ceremony, “This has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved. What we know right now is prohibition does not work. We’ve criminalized a lot of folks who are going to start the expungement process on those records.”
Kyle Jaeger does an excellent job of detailing Walz’s support for cannabis reform as an elected official. To learn more, we urge you to read his reporting in the August 6, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/where-vice-presidential-candidate-tim-walz-stands-on-marijuana/?
Notable Numbers
This week’s notable number is 20 million, as in 20 million dollars. That’s how much billionaire investor and CEO of Florida-based Citadel Hedge Fund Ken Griffin says he has spent to oppose the state’s proposed adult-use cannabis constitutional amendment.
That’s the word from TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjapreneur. According to Branfalt, Griffin, in an op-ed, published by the Miami Herald, called the proposal “a terrible plan to create the nation’s most expansive and destructive marijuana laws.”
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Griffin is not alone in his opposition to the amendment. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has launched the Florida Freedom Fund to combat both the adult-use cannabis campaign and the ballot initiative on abortion access. Plus, there is some opposition to the amendment from the hemp business sector and the medical cannabis industry. There are members of both who contend that legalizing adult-use cannabis would impact their business interests.
Branfalt makes the point that the opposition message appears to be falling on deaf ears. A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) poll released last month found 64 percent of likely voters planned to vote in favor of the proposal. A poll published earlier in July found the same level of support. In Florida, constitutional amendments require 60 percent support to pass.
More news as more news develops.
To learn more, we suggest reading TG Branfalt’s article in the August 5, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
Tips on Growing Cannabis
If you think growing your own cannabis requires access to a sizable plot of land or a backyard garden, think again.
Surprising as it may sound, it’s actually possible to grow cannabis in an apartment—assuming it’s legal to do so where you live and you’re so inclined. So says Chala June in an article for Curbed.com, a real estate and urban design website published by New York magazine.
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Taking on a project such as this requires a willing landlord, cannabis-friendly laws and is labor intensive—but it can be done. Here are some of the tips June shares in the article.
• Invest in a grow tent to “control the environment fully.” That’s the suggestion of legacy home grower Ricky DeBushea. Tents such as these are said to mimic optimal outdoor growing conditions when you add full-spectrum grow lights and small fans to ventilate the space. Fully equipped kits start at about $350.
• Plant quality seeds from a licensed dispensary or reputable online seed bank such as Authentic Genetics Seed Co. or Humboldt Seed Company. Different varietals range from $3 to $50 per seed. Solonje Burnett, founder of Weed Auntie, suggests using auto-flowering seeds. She says they are easier to grow, harvest quickly, and stay on one light schedule.
• Consult an electrician. The electricity and equipment needed to grow indoors can overload your apartment’s circuits, causing electrical damage. Experts suggest dedicating a UL-rated surge protector exclusively to their grow operation.
• Watch your water. Too much unabsorbed water can cause root rot and mold, which can destroy your plants. The average plant needs about a quart of water a day during the seedling stage and upwards of three gallons when flowering.
• Invest in a carbon filter air purifier. June notes that while the smell of fresh flowering plants is much milder than dried and burned cannabis, you can trap any unwanted smells in the tent if you use a carbon filter.
June does a first-rate job of sharing the suggestions of experts. To learn more, including how to best hang and cure your harvest, we urge you to read Chala June’s article in the July 31, 2024 issue of Curbed.com.
https://www.curbed.com/article/how-to-grow-weed-plants-seeds-indoors-at-home-nyc.html
Cannabis Corner
Researchers say the results of a clinical trial of a lesser-known cannabinoid—CBG—indicate that it appears to improve memory, while also “significantly” reducing anxiety and stress—and it’s not intoxicating.
According to Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment, researchers from Washington State University (WSU) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) found that cannabigerol, or CBG, caused a “significant overall reductions in anxiety as well as reductions in stress” among study participants compared to the placebo. “CBG also enhanced verbal memory relative to placebo,” with “no evidence of subjective drug effects or impairment.”
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The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. The article describes how researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial in which 34 healthy adults were given either 20mg of hemp-derived CBG (cannabigerol) or a placebo tincture over two sessions.
Said the study authors, “CBG may represent a novel option to reduce stress and anxiety in healthy adults. Results indicate that CBG reduces global feelings of anxiety and stress and that it may enhance memory in the absence of intoxication, impairment, or subjective drug effects.”
You can learn much more by reading Kyle Jaeger’s revealing article in the August 1, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment. As always, his reporting is clear, concise and on point.
The Shape of Things to Come
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) has signed into law a significant expansion of the state’s medical marijuana law.
According to Franca Quarneti, reporting for Benzinga, under the new law, doctors can now recommend cannabis for “any debilitating or terminal medical condition or symptom for which the potential benefits of using therapeutic cannabis would, in the provider’s clinical opinion, likely outweigh the potential health risks for the patient.”
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Previously, in order to qualify for access to medical cannabis a patient would have to demonstrate that they suffered from a medical condition that met the specific criteria set forth in the existing law.
Quarneti makes the point that the broader eligibility as defined in the new law could make it possible to prescribe medical cannabis to address a range of conditions previously overlooked, such as severe menstrual cramps, symptoms of long COVID and anxiety related to dental procedures or post-surgical pain control.
She also noted that the enactment of the new law, HB 1278, follows two other recent legislative changes signed by Sununu that also expand the medical marijuana program. One bill added generalized anxiety disorder as a qualifying condition, while another broadened the pool of healthcare providers who can certify patients for the program.
To learn more, we suggest reading Franca Quarneti’s article in the August 5, 2024 issue of Benzinga.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.
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