Know Your Herbs

Cannabis In Religion

Cannabis has played an important role in many religions for over thousands of years. It has long time been considered a sacred plant that helps bridge man and god. It’s therefore been used in many rituals and ceremonies to communicate with deities. Cannabis as a sacred or religious plant was seen not only in Asia but in the Middle East and Central America as well. In fact, some modern religions like the Rastafari still make use of cannabis as a part of their religion.

Religions and Cultures in History That Used Cannabis

Taoism

One of the earliest recorded histories of cannabis regarded as a sacred plant dates back to China during 4th century BC. Ancient Taoist texts described burning cannabis in incense burners. The hallucinogenic smoke created by burning cannabis is said to have rid the Taoists of selfish desires. They also used cannabis to improve their wellbeing, as well as communicate with spirits, both evil and good. They also believed using cannabis could help them to see into the future.

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A government authorized Bhang shop in India.

Hinduism

In India, people would consume a drink called bhang as part of their religious ceremonies. The drink was made with cannabis flowers and the young leaves of the plant. Bhang, according to ancient Hindu texts, is said to cleanse sins. The psychoactive effects of bhang also helped facilitate better communication with the deity Shiva, as well as rid oneself of miseries and doubts.

Islam

The use of cannabis in ancient Islam is a bit controversial. While the Quran doesn’t explicitly forbid the use of cannabis, some Shia Islam scholars believe that cannabis is halal and is, therefore, permissible. However, some Muslim scholars believe that cannabis is very much similar to an alcoholic drink called khamr, which is strictly forbidden. Some practicers of Sufism, a type of Islamic mysticism, use cannabis when worshipping.

Judaism

There is also a theory that early Judaism made use of cannabis in their religious rituals. According to Sula Benet, a Polish anthropologist who studied ancient Judaic traditions as well as customs, the plant called kaneh bosm mentioned in the Hebrew Bible is actually cannabis and that its oil was used as a holy anointing oil. However, the claim was later disproved though when the plant was identified as either Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian lemongrass) or Acorus calamus (calamus or sweet flag).

Ancient Greece

Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, wrote about the Scythian’s use of cannabis in their ceremonies and rituals. Scythians are an ancient group of nomadic tribes and warriors who roamed Central Asia, Russia, Siberia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. After the death and burial of their leader, they would sit around inside a closed tent or teepee and throw cannabis seeds into a pit filled with red-hot stones. The seeds would smolder, and the Scythians would inhale its vapors to cleanse themselves.

Various Indigenous Communities 

Some indigenous communities in North America also have a history of using cannabis in their rituals and ceremonies. They used cannabis to aid in their prayers, meditations, and communications with their gods.
Cannabis has a deep root in many ancient religious practices, rituals, and ceremonies. But its use as a sacred plant was diminished when society began seeing it as a dangerous drug.
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Modern Religions That Still Use Cannabis

Are there modern religions that still use cannabis in their practices and ceremonies? Absolutely.

Rastafarianism 

The most popular modern religion to use cannabis, and one that many people associate with ritual use of the plant is Rastafarianism. The Rastafarian movement was established by Leonard Howell, a Jamaican preacher, in the 1930s. They believe that Haile Selassie I, the emperor of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1928, was the African messiah and Jah’s divine manifestation. According to their beliefs, he would bring African descendants back together and take them home.
Rastafarians don’t use cannabis to get high however. In fact, they condemn the use of cannabis as a psychoactive drug. Instead, they use cannabis to gain a higher understanding during their reasoning sessions. This is a sort of group meditation where they consume cannabis to induce a trance-like state. This trance-like state opens their inner spiritual selves and brings them closer to Jah.
buy-weed-online-just-cannabis-bunny-wailer
Prominent cannabis advocate, reggae legend and Rastafarian Bunny Wailer.

ICEFLU

There are other religions that make use of cannabis as a sacred religious plant as well. ICEFLU, commonly CEFLURIS, used to be part of the Santo Daime Church. When their leader, Mestre Irineu, died in 1971, a small group headed by Padrinho Sebastião Mota de Melo left to form CEFLURIS. The new group, compared to the original church, believes that cannabis is a healing plant. Referring to cannabis as Santa Maria, they use cannabis in healing ceremonies.

First Church of Cannabis

In 2015, a cannabis-based religion was established in Indianapolis by Bill Levin. Called First Church of Cannabis, this inclusive group was created after the passage of the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. They believe that cannabis is a healing plant and that we can gain both spiritual as well as physical nourishment from cannabis.

Church of Cognizance

Established in 1991 in Arizona, the Church of Cognizance was founded by Danuel Quaintance and his wife, Mary. Their followers also believe that cannabis is a divine plant. The feel that when used appropriately, cannabis can not only heal the body, but the mind and soul as well. They believe it also helps them gain more compassion, as well as wisdom. To them, using cannabis the right way can help them let go of their ego and attain heaven.

Obstacles Religions That Use Cannabis Have Faced

Establishing a religion with cannabis as one of its main focuses is not easy. Take the First Church of Cannabis, for example. They went to court to fight for their right in using cannabis as their sacrament and gain protection under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Unfortunately, they lost their final appeal in 2018. Cannabis remains illegal in the state, and the court argued that the members just wanted a venue to legally consume cannabis. However, this loss won’t stop the members of the First Church of Cannabis from “preaching” and educating people about the benefits of cannabis.
As for the Church of Cognizance, the couple was arrested for possessing 172 pounds of cannabis. Although they argued that cannabis was their sacred sacrament, the court ruled that they were just using their religion and beliefs to justify their choice of using cannabis and to fight for cannabis legalization.

Final Thoughts

History tells of cannabis’s deep relationship with various ancient religions and its uses in many of their rituals and ceremonies. Science also tells us of the various benefits of cannabis to our body and mind. Be that as it may, prohibition has done lasting damage to cannabis’ reputation. Even today, we’re still fighting hard to correct these damages.
However, there is hope. Society is becoming more accepting of cannabis as people learn more about the plant’s therapeutic and medicinal benefits. We just need to continue the fight of freeing cannabis from the stigma placed upon it by the prohibition.

The post Cannabis In Religion appeared first on Just Cannabis.

Source: JCS

The Rise and Evolution of Canada’s Grey Area Dispensaries

The Beginning of Grey Area Dispensaries

In the years leading up to legalization, there was a brief phenomenon that took place across the country. As Canadian society grew more accepting of cannabis and it seemed as though legalization was an inevitability; dispensaries started appearing. Growing up in a big city there had always been one or two around, but they always seemed so unattainable. However, one day, a new storefront appeared, with a giant weed leaf cut out on a sandwich board. I pulled over the car and went to check it out. Inside they had two Tupperware full of pre-rolls and a bunch of single grams of cannabis bagged up. They explained that they existed in a legal grey area.

I was handed a phone where I then spoke with a ‘doctor’ (who I am certain was making and eating a sandwich on the other line). He asked a few questions and in less than a minute I had permission to buy cannabis there.

The next month; another dispensary appeared. Then another. And another. After a while, there were multiple dispensaries in every neighborhood.

The Glory Days

For a moment in time; it was heaven. Stores kept competitive prices, there were always new strains hitting the market and concentrates and edibles were just starting to really take off. When people dreamt of what legalization could look like; this is what many saw. Sure there were a few stores that had bad intentions and sold to underage customers or provided sub-par quality flower. But overall it was an amazing illustration of how cannabis could be integrated into society.

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One of Vancouver’s grey area dispensaries pre-legalization.

There was no influx of mental health patients. The streets were not filled with weed-addicted youth. Cars weren’t crashing into each other like something out of a video game. It showed that cannabis can be a part of society just like anything else. If anything, making such a fanfare around the issue only increases tension and causes for divisiveness.

The dream, however, could not last forever. As it was, there was no chance for the government to tax cannabis for everything it was worth and unfortunately that was just not going to fly.

Both Medical and Recreational

These dispensaries, although technically illegal, provided patients with access to medical cannabis. They were able to operate within a legal grey area, and as long as they followed the guidelines, they wouldn’t get shut down.

While Health Canada did its best to accommodate the demand for medical cannabis, they continuously fell short. Many people use cannabis to help with appetite or digestive issues. These grey area dispensaries catered to that market by creating an endless supply of medicated cannabis drinks, snacks and candies. These options gave patients the ability to consume cannabis without having to smoke anything.

Furthermore; they made access to cannabis much easier for both medical and recreational users alike. Some medical cannabis users were unsure of ordering cannabis online, especially pre-legalization. The idea of signing up with the government to receive cannabis was unsettling for some. There were also many patients who simply couldn’t wait for the government to receive and pack their order. Many medical cannabis patients have episodes that require a stronger dose or taking more than usual. The ability to go down the street to buy some CBD isolate or THC tincture to help with inflammation is so important and allowed countless patients to receive their medication, and therefore relief right away.

Many Storefront Dispensaries Operated in the Legal Grey Area

At one point there were hundreds of illegal dispensaries across the country that were operating in a legal grey area.

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TPS and the city forced the Toronto dispensary Cafe to close by literally blocking the door. 

Take Vancouver, for example. The city began licensing medical cannabis dispensaries in 2015, despite provincial, as well as federal laws deeming them illegal.

However, of the almost 180 cannabis dispensaries and compassion clubs that applied for licenses, almost none met the requirements needed to obtain a license. A few were forced to close, but many defied the city’s orders.

Since then, the city’s licenses have been nullified and replaced by Health Canada’s licensing system. This change still did not stop the dispensaries from operating, at least at first. Many tried to use their old Medical Marijuana-Related Use license issued by the city. A great many more were selling cannabis without licenses at all, just to meet the demand for medical as well as recreational cannabis.

Police Raids

The conditions put in place in many municipalities included keeping a specific distance away from schools or daycares and zoning laws.

However, this did not mean all were left alone by the police. Many faced raids and were forced to shut down.

In Toronto, for example, authorities barricaded the front doors of grey area dispensaries with concrete walls.

Many of the closed dispensaries were given hefty fines with the reasoning behind the amount often convoluted and vague. Even just last week, 6 months after being forced to close down Tree’s owner Alex Robb was fined $1.5 Million (CAD)  for operating an illegal dispensary. Robb says he had been saving money and anticipated a fair and reasonable fine however he could never have predicted it would be so much.

The End

Despite these early setbacks, many dispensaries carried on as usual. While some were forced to close, many stayed open. However, the harsh reality began to set in. As cities opened their first provincially licensed dispensaries it became clear that they could not compete with the grey-area stores. Quality, price and accessibility all worked in the favour of the pre-existing dispensaries. This only increased the number of raids. After a year into legalization, only a few storefronts existed in each city.

And it was not for lack of trying, by the way. The slow process of issuing licenses and approval for expansion created a bottleneck that impeded legal market transition. When finally considered; almost none were actually accepted due to strict rules put in place.

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Why go after gun violence in the city when there are people peacefully smoking weed?

Adapting to the New Cannabis Landscape

Many illegal dispensaries had been in business for decades. Existing as compassion clubs, long before the government cared about offering medical cannabis. Sadly, because of strict licensing requirements and the bottleneck caused by the slow process, a great deal of them were left in limbo. They had become a huge part of the country’s rapid cannabis market growth. Now, they were locked out of an industry that they have been a part of from the start. Forced into the shadows.

While the government might have hoped this would be the end of unlicensed cannabis, they failed to consider how knowledgeable Canadians already were on quality and affordability. Instead of eliminating grey area dispensaries altogether, they have just forced them online. Without a storefront, sure, but the service is still there.

MoM

I think everyone can agree that moms are amazing. They literally gave us the gift of life. Now, Cannabis MoMs can’t give life, but they can give weed and edibles which makes them pretty high up there as well. Many Canadians were now unsure of where to get their cannabis. Some people had spoken of MoM’s in the past, but for many like me, the idea of ordering weed through the mail seemed… strange. However, with time, more and more cannabis users began to accept MoMs as their new source for cannabis and, in turn, began to trust them more.

Now there are over 500 MoM’s online providing affordable access to cannabis.

This is not without risk of course. There have been bad actors who have taken advantage of the MoM world and scammed clients out of their money with no product to show for it. That is why I recommend a trusted source with many reviews, like Just Cannabis.

Delivery

It’s not just about mail order anymore either. In many cities, there are same-day delivery services. These come with their own pros and cons, so be safe and again, use a trusted source if you’re going to invite a stranger into your home to give them cash. Many people prefer to pay online, rather than meeting someone face to face.

The Future of Brick-and-Mortar Dispensaries

The federal and provincial cannabis laws are far from perfect. And there are a lot of factors that are still influencing the ever-changing cannabis landscape.

As it stands, the majority of brick and mortar dispensaries are fully licensed by the government. This means they can only sell government approved cannabis. I’m not going to go into all of the issues with the majority of government-licensed cannabis, but let me summarize by saying; it’s…not great.

If the process of granting licenses and permits is still slow, biased and unjust, and if the consumers still feel that the variety and quality of weed provided by government-owned dispensaries is mediocre despite its higher prices…then we can assume that these nonlicensed dispensaries, whether online or in-person, will always be around.

The post The Rise and Evolution of Canada’s Grey Area Dispensaries appeared first on Just Cannabis.

Source: JCS

WTF is Nano CBD? We asked some experts.

CBD, more formally known as cannabidiol, is everywhere. Given the incredible enthusiasm, you would never guess that CBD is not exactly legal, leaving CBD purveyors in a legal grey area. This lack of federal oversight has created a lot of wiggle room for companies seeking an edge or niche in an increasingly crowded and competitive space. One such niche is the very sci-fi sounding name nano (or water-soluble) CBD, touted as being more effective and bioavailable (the degree to which a nutrient is available for the body to use) than other formulations.

CBD is non-intoxicating and reported to ease a wide range of conditions, and consumers are flocking to the cannabinoid to help relieve chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and even skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Even restaurants and cafes are jumping in on this wellness trend, adding it to smoothies or mocktails for a few extra bucks, while chefs are adding CBD to their menus (though officials in cities like New York are cracking down on the practice). Even mainstream stores like Walgreens and CVS are jumping on the bandwagon, stocking their shelves with CBD products.

But nano CBD exists in a world with such a confounding range of CBD products available that can be found in the oddest of places — like the neighborhood bodega, alongside the condoms and Five Hour Energy packets — it begs the question: Is nano CBD a genuine innovation, or a gimmick to help companies differentiate themselves from the pack?

The technology used in Nano CBD isn’t new. 

Dr. Itzhak Kurek, Ph.D., is the co-founder and CEO of Cannformatics, a Northern California biotech company using saliva metabolomics technology to personalize medical cannabis treatment. Weedmaps spoke with Kurek to learn more about nanoparticles and the science behind them. 

Kurek begins by noting that nano-sized delivery technologies are not unique to CBD and are widely used by pharmaceutical companies to ensure bioavailability. “Nano CBD is a CBD molecule coated with very small particles, such as liposomes or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), that stabilize the CBD and can move in our blood faster than ‘naked’ CBD, to effectively reach the target,” he explained. 

Kurek adds, “Nano CBD is a CBD molecule packaged in nano-carriers that are the size of about 100 nanometers — or one-billionth of a meter — which allows the “package” to stay in the body for a longer time and to slowly release the intact CBD in the targeted tissue.” To illustrate his point, he mentions a 2017 study that reported a 600% increase in bioavailability of oral Nano CBD compared to CBD in a rat model.

What this means is that, theoretically, a person who consumes nano CBD as opposed to regular CBD may feel the effects more quickly. Dr. Mary Clifton, an NYC-based MD specializing in internal medicine, is also a CBD and cannabis expert and has worked with medical marijuana patients for more than 20 years in Michigan and New York State respectively.

Clifton says that she remains undecided about nanotechnology, but she says that some of her patients are enthusiastic about the formulations. “A number of my patients swear by the use of nanotechnology to make their CBD more effective,” she said. However, she notes that the human data on CBD nanotechnology is pretty much nonexistent, though cellular data shows promise. 

Like any trend, nano CBD has its skeptics. 

Project CBD is a California-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical uses of CBD and other components of the cannabis plant. Their Chief Science Writer, Adrian Devit-Lee, is somewhat skeptical of nano CBD formulations. He agrees with Kurek that the nanoemulsion theoretically makes CBD easier for the body to absorb, but that it doesn’t mean it is “practically” easier to absorb.

Devit-Lee zeroes in on how people consume cannabis compounds generally as potentially altering its bioavailability regardless of formulation. “The way the problem [with nanoemulsion] is often framed is ironic because it’s framed around potency,” he said. “When you eat CBD, if you take it first thing in the morning before food, you might absorb 3-6 percent. If you take it with a fatty food, you might absorb more of it.”

Acknowledging that the onset of nanoparticles takes about half as long as regular CBD, he also notes that the molecule spends about half as much time in your system. “Practically speaking, is that much different than taking a stronger dose? I don’t know that consumers would find it [nano CBD] much different.”

And this is assuming that the CBD product in the bottle is exactly what’s reported on the label, something that some CBD companies are wont to do. In 2019, the FDA issued several warning letters to CBD firms for products that did not contain the amount of CBD they purported to contain, and for using language that suggested CBD could cure, treat, or prevent disease, a big FDA no-no. 

Another area of concern lies in the safety of nanoparticles — when particles are made smaller, there may be unintended consequences. The increased use of nanotechnology in biomedicine, agriculture, and consumer products has led to the rise of nanotoxicology, the study of how engineered nano devices and structures may affect people. In reporting an explainer on weed wine for Weedmaps News, Josh Lizotte, founder and CEO of Rebel Coast, cautioned against the process of using nanoemulsions in cannabis-infused wine because “we don’t know the health effects of nanotechnology, and how such small particles [interact with] the body.”

To nano or not? 

Corona, California-based CBD company CBD Living utilizes nanotechnology for their flagship product, CBD Living Water, as well as topicals, gummies, and others. Chief Operating Officer Sean McDonald said that the company decided to utilize nanoemulsions because of its reported ability to increase bioavailability and speed up the absorption rate. And the customers, he said, feel better, quicker. 

A challenge with cannabinoids generally — regardless of how they’re processed — is cannabinoid degradation. Once cannabis is harvested it begins the degradation process, meaning that the potency of the product, whether it is water or an edible, will decline. Many factors contribute to this process, but the top four are UV light, airflow, humidity, and temperature. 

Though most CBD products come in packages designed to keep out light, the simple act of opening and closing the container will reduce its efficacy. McDonald says that the nanoemulsion process itself insulates their products from degradation — though it should be noted the research backing this is scant — and all their packaging, with the exception of water, is opaque to keep out light. 

But clear CBD water bottles that could sit on store shelves for weeks or even months under the blazing lights of a grocery store aisle might be CBD-free by the time they’re purchased and consumed.

Devit-Lee also notes that every state has different testing requirements, and each lab has a different formulation for detecting drugs. In other words, just because it says something on the label doesn’t make it so. “If you have a good product that has some terpenes that help with absorption and with medicinal effects — if it’s a good quality product in general you don’t need to do this nanoformulation. But if you have bad quality hemp products, maybe [nano] can help them stand out,” he added. 

The bottom line is that there just isn’t much research for a persuasive argument either way. The only thing consumers can really do is to shop thoughtfully for CBD — nano or not — and buy from U.S. companies that can easily show you their third-party lab results and certificate of analysis. 


Featured image: a 3D rendering of nanoparticles on a white background (Photo: Shutterstock)

The post WTF is Nano CBD? We asked some experts. appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Dem Debate: Sanders doubles down on legal weed. Bloomberg worries about the lack of science.

The Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina on Tuesday revealed fissures in how the candidates view marijuana reform, with former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg doubling down on his opposition to legalization and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) facing questions about the logistics of his plan to legalize in all 50 days on the first day of his presidency.

The exchange began when a moderator asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) whether Sanders’s proposal to use executive action to legalize cannabis nationwide on the day he takes office and also expunge prior marijuana convictions was realistic.

“It is realistic to want to legalize marijuana. I want to do that too,” Klobuchar said. “I also think you need to look back at people’s records. You maybe can’t do that on day one, as he said. I think you want a process that you go through because there are too many people that have things on their records that stopped them from getting jobs.”

The senator went on to say that legalization should be coupled with investments in substance misuse treatment.

Klobuchar touched on a point that experts told Marijuana Moment in a recent analysis of Sanders’s plan. While advocates have celebrated the fact that Sanders has made cannabis reform a major part of his campaign, legal experts have questioned whether a president could unilaterally lift the prohibition of marijuana immediately, and they also pointed out that states would likely continue to enforce anti-cannabis laws regardless of a change in the plant’s status under federal law.

Bloomberg, who is one of just two candidates on the stage who opposes marijuana legalization, was then pressed on his record of characterizing cannabis as an addictive drug that has not been adequately researched. The former mayor has also recently faced criticism over a recording that recently surfaced showing him justifying racially disproportionate cannabis arrests during his time in office.

“The first thing you should do is we should not make this a criminal thing if you have a small amount. For dealers, yes. But for the average person, no,” Bloomberg said. “You should expunge the records of those that got caught up in this before. Number two, we’re not going to take it away from states that have already done it.”

But he went on to say that “you should listen to the scientists and the doctors. They say go very slowly, they haven’t done enough research and the evidence so far is worrisome. Before we get all our kids — particularly kids in their late teens, boys even more than girls — where this may be damaging their brains, until we know the science, it’s just nonsensical to push ahead,” he said.

“But the cat’s out of the bag,” he said. “Some states have it, you’re not going to take it away. Decriminalize the possession.”

Sanders then got a chance to argue that his plan is a realistic solution to ending the drug war.

“We have a criminal justice system today that is not only broken, it is racist. We’ve got more people in jail than in any other country on earth, including China. One of the reasons for that is a horrific war on drugs,” he said. “I do believe that on day one, we will change the federal Controlled Substances Act which, if you can believe it, now equates heroin with marijuana. That’s insane.”

“We’re going to take marijuana out of that and effectively legalize marijuana in every state in the country.”

“What we are also going to do is move to expunge the records of those people arrested for possession of marijuana,” the senator, who was the first major presidential candidate to call for legalization during his earlier 2016 bid, said. “And I’ll tell you what else we’re going to do. We’re going to provide help to the African American, Latino, Native American community to start businesses to sell legal marijuana rather than let a few corporations control the legalized marijuana market.”

Biden, who like Bloomberg opposes legalizing marijuana but backs more modest reforms such as decriminalizing possession and expunging records, sought to join the exchange as moderators were going to commercial. “I wrote the bill that set up drug courts,” he said, before getting cut off.

Earlier in the debate, Biden tore into businessman Tom Steyer, saying that as an investor he “bought a system that is a private prison system” that “hogtied young men in prison.”

Steyer shot back by calling out Biden’s role in shaping and passing crime policy legislation that includes harsh drug penalties.

“You wrote the crime bill,” he said, “that put hundreds of thousands of young black and Latino men in prison.”

Bloomberg also took heat over the use of stop-and-frisk policing tactics during his time as mayor.

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg said that the policy was racist “in effect it was because it was about profiling people based on their race.”

“The mayor even said they stopped white people too often and minorities too little,” he pointed out.

“I’ve apologized and asked for forgiveness,” Bloomberg said. “I’ve met with black leaders to try to get an understanding of how I can better position myself and what I should have done and what I should do next time.”

Featured image: New York, NY. 02.21.2020 (Shutterstock)


This article has been republished from Marijuana Moment under a content-sharing agreement. Read the original article here.

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Source: wm