Using Cannabis for Hangovers CBD has some pretty amazing attributes… especially when it comes to the symptoms of a hangover. It’s known to reduce inflammation, help with chronic pain, and has shown to reduce nausea in some individuals While there haven’t been too many studies that look into the effects of CBD on excess alcohol consumption, a 2013 cannabis study performed on lab rats did take a look to see if CBD could alleviate alcohol’s toxic effects. Continue below... The rats were given enough alcohol that caused life-threatening seizures as a result of extreme neuro-degeneration (think killing brain cells, something that happens when we drink to excess). CBD was applied to the rat’s skin. This transdermal skin application using cannabis decreased neuro-degeneration by close to 50%. The rats that took CBD basically lost half as many brain cells as the rats that didn’t. Mice are not men, but this study might show some promise when it comes to mitigating the effects of that hangover. But Hangovers? Black coffee, a greasy breakfast, and a LOT of sleep are traditional ways of “curing” a hangover, but can CBD help in this department? If so, what role can it play in helping with hangovers? Hangovers are certainly not very pleasant. The headaches, drowsiness, dehydration, extreme fatigue, nausea, and general malaise that typically accompanies hangovers make us swear to ourselves that we’ll never drink again. But in addition to popping some ibuprofen and chugging water all day, CBD might play a role in helping hangovers subside a lot faster. How Can CBD Oil Help With Hangovers? Nausea Nausea is often a highly unpleasant side effect of hangovers, and CBD oil has been shown to alleviate this symptom. The non-psychotropic cannabinoids interacts with serotonin receptors, and when consumed in specific doses, it has been shown to reduce both nausea and vomiting. It can be tough to eat or drink anything when experiencing nausea, which can cause a hangover to drag out even longer. Rehydrating the body after drinking too much alcohol is important to start feeling better, but it can be tough to keep anything down when you’re feeling nauseous. With CBD oil, however, nausea can subside faster, making it easier to drink more water. Liver Damage CBD may also play a role in minimizing any damage done to the liver from consuming large amounts of alcohol. More specifically, studies have shown that CBD may be able to reduce the degeneration of the liver as a result of alcohol consumption in half. CBD is a potent antioxidant and neuro-protectant which can help to repair cells that alcohol consumption may have damaged. Headaches Anyone who’s ever had a little too much to drink knows all too well how a headache can quickly ensue. Headaches are predominantly the result of the body’s inflammatory response that is triggered as a result of too much alcohol. CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can thereby help to reduce the effects of headaches by alleviating inflammation in the body. Continue below... Experience loving your skin. RELAX Impaired Motor and Cognitive Functioning Having too much alcohol in the system can cause a person to lose motor control and cognitive function. Brain fog, blurred vision, and lack of motor control are all common side effects of drinking too much alcohol. CBD may be able to have a positive effect on improving cognitive function after a hangover, given its association with restored cognition in several studies of impairment. That said, further studies are needed to solidify this link. CBD Oil: A Hangover Cure? The next time you’ve had a few too many alcoholic beverages and wake up with a hangover, you’ll certainly want to rehydrate and drink plenty of water, and maybe even take an ibuprofen or two (2). But there might be another remedy that you may want to add to your hangover cure: CBD oil. Thanks to its medicinal properties and its ability to ward off inflammation, CBD oil could be a viable way to treat your hangover and get over your uncomfortable symptoms much faster.
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Using Medical Marijuana for Athletic Injuries
Unfortunately many people treat sports injuries with pharmaceutical prescriptions that provide more harm than good. In many cases, a sports related injury leads to a lifelong battle with painkiller addiction or abuse of other substances. Fortunately cannabis can be used instead of other harmful substances with great results. Cannabis is a banned substance across all professional and amateur athletic leagues in countries around the globe. If an athlete’s drug test turns up positive, and they are caught with marijuana in their system, they face career-ending suspension. But cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug; it is a therapeutic/medicinal one. The potential of medicinal marijuana for pain management has sparked an athlete-driven movement toward acceptance. Many studies have shown that the human body contains a whole Endocannabinoid System (or ECS) with special receptors for cannabinoids like Cannabidiol (or CBD) .
Professional Athletes Use Marijuana It’s no longer a secret that professional athletes use medicinal cannabis. National Football League (or NFL) and National Basketball Association (or NBA) players have publicly estimated that 80% of their fellow players use marijuana to manage pain, anxiety, and other issues. NFL running back Mike Jones is one example; he uses medicinal cannabis to circumvent opioid dependence prescribed for physical pain. NFL players misuse opioids at a much higher rate than the general population, and two (2) key predictors for opioid misuse are pain and concussions. The need for non-addictive pain treatment has even spawned the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition, a collective of NFL players pushing for cannabis legalization and research. In response, the NFL agreed in 2017 to study the potential of marijuana for pain management. Medicinal Marijuana for Athletes For example, the main non-psychoactive compound, Cannabidiol (or CBD), enhances bone fracture healing by catalyzing collagen crosslinking. For its analgesic properties, it is suggested that cannabis could be an effective therapy for athlete pain management. It has been shown to alleviate neuropathic pain, such as that resulting from concussion injuries. Cannabinoids also have significant anti-inflammatory actions that are relevant to recovery and injury management . Cannabis remains on World Anti-Doping Prohibited List for controversial reasons (ex. some athletes in some sports find it reduces anxiety prior to performance). However, many professional athletes are now utilizing cannabis for its natural medicinal potential. Athletes with chronic and debilitating injuries – those who no longer fear drug tests and suspension – are the most outspoken about using cannabis as medicine. Summary Additionally, using Cannabis for pain relief does not have the side effects that all these opiate narcotics, analgesics, muscle relaxants. Opiates and pain killers are a big health problem for the modern society, they can get people addicted and they can cause damages to the liver.
Set the Stage for Dispensary Investigations
Here’s how to set the stage for a successful dispensary workplace investigation for anything from unlawful use of cannabis and diversion to inappropriate verbal communication. Where and When An HR professional investigating a cannabis dispensary complaint should schedule interviews for each witness at a convenient time and place and in a private location. You are more likely to get more information from the employee if they are comfortable. In some cannabis businesses, meeting in HR’s office might offer the most privacy and confidentiality. But meeting in a neutral location like an out-of-the-way dispensary room or the employee’s office, if the dispensary worker has a private one, might make the dispensary interview less stressful for the witness. Loving Your Skin Try to avoid having a large desk or table between the interviewer and the employee. Eliminating physical division and barriers can make the interview seem more relaxed and collaborative and less of an adversarial meeting. Notice About Interviews
This prevents witnesses or alleged wrongdoers from calibrating their version of events. In addition, there is value to getting an interviewee’s initial, raw reaction to questions as opposed to letting them prepare answers in advance. The HR cannabis dispensary staff member should notify the witness’s dispensary manager in advance that they will need to talk to the witness and that the employee will be away from work for a period of time. How an interviewee is notified about the interview can vary. HR could send a short e-mail or stop by the employee’s office asking for a few minutes of the employee’s timewithout saying anything about the reason. HR may indicate a desire to get the employee’s perspective on an issue. What the Employee Should Be Told If there is no suspicion about a dispensary employee and he or she is there only as a witness, the HR professional should tell the employee right away that they are not in any trouble. This should put the employee more at ease immediately. If the issue being investigated is a serious one, HR should convey the gravity of the situation by the tone of voice, facial expression, and choice of words. A witness often does not need to know all the details of what is being investigated. Perhaps the employee is only relevant to a small part of the complaint. Moreover, you would not want to prejudice the interview by telling the employee what others have said, as that could affect his or her testimony. So it is recommended sharing only that there is an investigation into an HR matter. Staying vague about the specific allegations being investigated can elicit more raw, honest responses from interview subjects and may make it less obvious who made the complaint. It is recommended asking open-ended questions about a broad topic at the outset of the interview and then narrowing down question by question “until you get to the core issue.”
OK?” But reassure employees that retaliate against those who participate in an investigation is prohibited.
Quantity and Quality Cannabis Lighting
Light is, in itself, just another type of “food” for plants. Keeping this in mind will allow you to better decide what is right for you. Just like an athlete has a specific dietary regime for his sport, so must you consider what is the ideal type of light for your growing conditions. Quantity The quantity of light is synonymous with light intensity. The measure of light intensity is Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (or PPFD), or the number of photons at wavelengths of 400 – 700 nanometers (or nm) striking a square meter per second. This wavelength range is known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (or PAR) because it can be used to drive photosynthesis and a PPFD of 2,000 is comparable to the summer sun’s noonday light. Cannabis can handle intense lighting, but it is suggested that cannabis yields increase in a linear fashion up to 1,500 PPFD, or about double the intensity more commonly used. It is estimated that an even higher beneficial PPFD of 2,000 can increase the yields of your cannabis plants. Since more light requires more electricity, yields more efficiency (grams per watt) may impose a barrier that limits the amount of light. UV Radiation (100 – 400 nm) Ultraviolent light (or radiation) can be harmful to humans and plants (ex. sunburns) and UV-B (280 – 315 nm) light has the potential to damage plant tissue, but in limited supplemental doses, may lead to increased Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) content in cannabis. PAR (400 – 700 nm) PAR drives plant growth and development. It consists of blue light (400 – 500 nm), green light (500 – 600 nm), and red light (600 – 700 nm). Sunlight emits roughly equal amounts of each one. Using artificial cannabis lighting, however, differ in the amounts emitted. High-Pressure Sodium (or HPS) lamps emit mostly red and green frequencies. Metal Halide (or MH) lights and fluorescents favor green light with equal amounts of blue and red. LED lighting can be keyed for different frequencies but often emphasizes red. Red light is generally most energy-efficient in terms of eliciting photosynthesis. However, blue and green lights have critical effects on plant metabolism and growth. Too much or too little of one type can be detrimental; excessive blue light may stunt plant elongation. Light quality is especially important in situations of low light intensity (or quantity) found that supplemental red-blue and red-green-blue sub-canopy lights enhanced both yield and terpene profiles of indoor cannabis. Far-Red Radiation Far-Red radiation affects extension growth by enlarging/elongating leaves to capture more usable light. It mimics shade and may induce flowering in photoperiodic plants (like cannabis) that bloom in response to light variation. Incandescent lamps have high far-red frequency and can induce premature flowering. Optimization Quantity and quality are key factors when designing a cannabis lighting scheme. But the grower must also consider variables such as chemotype, space limitations, and light schedule. Sustainability dictates the threshold of energy/resources and yield. In short, the grower must analyze their circumstances and experiment with the quantity and quality of light for optimum results. Your Body’s CB1 & CB2 Receptors Cannabis topicals are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Tens of millions of people are afflicted with chronic pain, and many are seeking safe, non-addictive solutions to ease their suffering. Topicals represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the cannabis marketplace. But all these balms, creams and lotions can get confusing. Are cannabis topicals safe? Do they get you high? How does putting cannabis on your epidermis work? Cannabis and the Body The world’s most trusted scientific bodies confirm that cannabis has pain-relieving properties. But to fully understand how topicals can relieve pain and other ailments, we need to take a quick tour of the human Endocannabinoid System (or ECS). The ECS is a vast network of receptors throughout the body. It’s responsible for modulating many physiological systems involving the brain, endocrine, immune and nervous systems. Researchers have found that the ECS is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance, in these various systems. There are two main types of receptors or “message receivers” in the ECS, classified as CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are predominantly located in the brain and central nervous system; CB2 receptors are primarily in the peripheral nervous system. If your skin is extremely sensitive or reacts to just about everything, treat it to this nourishing, moisturizing, calming blend of oat milk, cruelty-free silk and lavender. This dream cream earns its name with olive oil and shea butter, which both are great for rejuvenating dry and chapped skin. Show your skin some love and pamper it with Cali Dream Cream. The “messages” these receptors receive are chemicals that bind to the receptor and either activate it or shut it down, producing a corresponding effect within your body. The chemical compounds in cannabis that interact with the ECS are called cannabinoids – the most well-known being psychotropic Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), which activates CB1 receptors in the brain to create the “high” feeling. More than 100+ cannabinoids have been identified in the cannabis plant, including non-intoxicating Cannabidiol (or CBD), and others like Cannabinol (or CBN), Cannabigerol (or CBG) and Tetrahydrocannabivarin (or THCV), whose various medicinal properties are under escalating scrutiny. When you apply a cannabis topical to your skin, the cannabinoids interact with CB2 receptors in your epidermis and muscles. Researchers found that when such CB2 receptors were targeted, the result was reduced inflammation, an immune response that plays a role in many ailments including skin conditions and chronic pain. Unlike anti-inflammatory medications, cannabis topicals can be used without risking unpleasant potential side effects or overdose. Topicals and the Endocannabinoid System Some cannabis topicals do contain THC, but when applied to the skin, the cannabinoids don’t enter your bloodstream. Instead, THC interacts with the ECS receptors outside the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, research has concluded that “activation of CB2 receptors does not appear to produce…psychotropic effects”. Topicals allow consumers to localize and directly target an afflicted area to reduce inflammation. People can and do ingest cannabis via smoking, vaping or edibles for generalized pain relief, but many prefer to single out that aching knee or sore neck by applying a topical directly. Some research even indicates that cannabinoids may accelerate our bodies’ natural healing process. A study that focused on CB1 and CB2 receptors in the gastrointestinal system found that cannabinoids can promote the healing of epithelial wounds. Our skin is composed of epithelial cells, which also line the surfaces of our organs and blood vessels. So, while further study is needed, cannabis topicals may also promote a quicker healing response for skin conditions and injuries. Perhaps best of all, cannabis topicals offer consumers a simple, safe and low-stakes entryway into exploring the skin care benefits of cannabis. Many people still harbor fears about cannabis, but topicals are approachable, and are, in many ways, the best ambassador for the cannabis plant’s pain-relieving and healing capabilities. The emerging research is clear in showing the tangible ways cannabis topicals work with our bodies. Just let that knowledge soak in.
Brewers Mixing Alcohol and Cannabinoids
CBD is sourced from cannabis plants, with the exception that you won’t get high. That’s one of the reasons why breweries are so interested in cannabis chemistry and their specific cannabinoid compound. Combining alcohol with a hallucinogen like Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) is fraught with legal challenges. The mixture is too intoxicating, and there’s no way to determine how your body will react. But because CBD is non-psychoactive, you don’t have to worry about the mental effects of mixing it with adult beverages. “On CBD, you’re very chill, very lighthearted, mellow. The alcohol will make it that more intense,” James Giordano, professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center, explained. “For some people, it makes them very, very sedated.” Consumers report that CBD has a relaxing effect and unlike THC, you don’t experience the euphoric head high, but you may feel slightly calmer or less anxious using CBD. Research indicates that CBD can blunt some of the negative effects of alcohol.
Researchers have also performed studies on rats. One study found that ingesting CBD before consuming alcohol had a protective effect on the rodents’ livers. Although there is no guarantee that humans experience the same benefits, the results are promising nonetheless. Alcohol and THC are a forbidden combination in every state, although the law looks at CBD more favorably. In states with explicit, legalized cannabis markets, thriving CBD breweries are popping up. Mixing CBD oil into cocktails is perhaps even more popular.
As consumer interest in CBD continues to soar, people shouldn’t be surprised to see the cannabinoid appear on a bar menu. Cannabis Point-of-Sale Tracking System How Cannabis Tracking Systems Work Growers must place tags with an embedded radio transmitter on each plant. The tags correspond to a unique ID number, basically giving each plant an identity. Every plant’s tag is scanned at every step of the supply chain, with employers updating the plant’s information like cultivar, weight, potency, other cannabis testing and analysis results, etc.
Pros: Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Tracking System
Cons: Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Tracking System
The track-and-trace system may not be perfect and might not be for the immediate future, like refining and adjusting to it both logistically and financially will take some time. However, to continue without it is basically reverting to the industry’s old ways.
Convincing Dispensaries to Make Harassment a Priority It has been a year since the #MeToo movement went viral. Since then, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) has experienced a 13.6% increase in the number of sexual harassment charges it has received. The EEOC’s counterpart state agencies have seen even greater increases. While some business leaders have seized this moment to make important changes in how they address harassment in their workplaces, others do not yet see the urgency in addressing the problem. In fact, some of the most urgent questions were:
In June 2016, the EEOC issued a first-of-its-kind report on harassment in the workplace. The suggestions and tips in that report still stand, but the past year has shown us just how difficult it is for HR directors, general counsel, compliance officers, and directors to make the business case for harassment prevention to their leadership. Many of the people in these roles know that stopping and preventing workplace harassment is not only a moral imperative, it is also sound corporate strategy. In the past fiscal year, the filing of sexual harassment cases by the EEOC more than doubled, and monetary damages paid by employers increased from $47 million to $70 million in EEOC cases.
These statistics do not include the costs of sexual harassment cases brought by private plaintiff attorneys or other forms of harassment investigated or litigated by the EEOC or private attorneys, such as harassment as a result of race, national origin, religion, disability or age. Adding the costs of these cases further increases the financial liability for companies that fail to prevent harassment. Damage awards and litigation costs are not the only financial consequences of corporate failure to stop and prevent workplace harassment, though. Employees who are harassed, as well as those who work with harassed employees, suffer adverse physical and mental health consequences, resulting in absenteeism and higher medical costs. Harassment Reduces Business Productivity
Reputational harm can also be devastating to an employer’s business. Companies in which it is known (even without media coverage) that harassment occurs in their workplaces are less likely to attract talented employees and may lose customers and clients. If workplace harassment becomes public, the harm to the company’s reputation may be significant and long-lasting. For example, numerous companies have seen stock prices, advertising revenue, sales numbers, and consumer loyalty fall as a result of negative harassment-related publicity. Boards of directors have faced shareholder derivative suits for failing to investigate and correct allegations of harassment. Anti-Harassment Training & Taking Proactive Steps Some businesses have taken critical steps to correct and prevent harassment as soon as they have learned about it. Our hope is that other organizations and companies willbegin to take proactive steps before they find themselves in the press. Unfortunately, as we heard at the HR meeting, many employers have still failed to implement the best and most effective measures to prevent workplace harassment. Traditional anti-harassment training that is focused on legal definitions and prohibitions of unlawful conduct is necessary but insufficient to prevent large judgments against a company and to prevent future misconduct. Written policies are often overly legalistic, not disseminated effectively and poorly implemented. Typical corporate reporting and investigative policies and procedures lack crucial components that would make them most effective. Harassers, especially “superstars” within an organization, are often protected rather than punished, and individuals who report the misconduct of those employees may suffer unlawful retaliation. As a result, employees may be afraid to come forward and corporate leaders are unaware of the full extent of harassment in their workplaces. To stop harassment effectively and to prevent its recurrence, dispensary employers need to create a culture of respect and inclusivity, where people feel safe when reporting misconduct, and where there are clear and immediate consequences for having engaged in harassment. Managers need to be taught skills regarding how to respond to harassing behavior in its infancy, before it rises to the level of illegal conduct, and how to respond when a dispensary employee makes a complaint. Non-supervisory employees need to be told what behavior is unacceptable in the workplace, and they must be taught skills on how to intervene when they observe harassing behavior.
Leaders need to clearly and repeatedly set forth their values and expectations and hold people accountable when they contravene those expectations. In its report, the EEOC issued a roadmap for such a proactive harassment prevention program. Sixteen months – and thousands of sexual harassment claims later – it’s clear how desperately such a roadmap is needed. Walking down this road will not just keep employees safe. It will also help cannabis businesses avoid the financial and reputational damage that comes with ignoring harassment prevention.
Let us know what you think. Using Cannabis as a Sleep Aid
Approximately 65 percent of medical marijuana users reported that they use marijuana to help them sleep. Many others reported using it to help them deal with chronic pain. Cannabinoids naturally occur in your central nervous system and help you to regulate homeostasis. Some of those cannabinoids are Cannabidiol (or CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC). While there are conflicting studies as to whether CBD and THC actually help or harm sleep patterns, many users sing their praises. Here’s why. CBD: Cannabidiol CBD is extracted from cannabis, which is also known as hemp and works with the body to replenish your body’s naturally occurring and endocannabinoids. CBD has a non-psychotropic effect that can reduce anxiety and convulsionsand works as a mild sedative. You will usually find CBD in an oil form. CBD oils are the most common form of cannabis products on the fully-legal market since they usually have little to no THC in them. THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol The larger a dose of THC, the greater the effects. Because of these effects, it tends to create a wakeful effect on many people. However, in very low doses, it actually helps to calm anxiety for many others. Some strains have a similar sedative effect to CBD, but you have to search more carefully for the right strain if that’s what you’re looking for. Take a load off with a freshly scented man's bar of soap! Similar to clean laundry or fresh cotton, topped with fresh coffee and organic Himalayan pink salt "gravel on the side of the road" for scrubbing where you need to! High levels of THC in any product are still illegal in many jurisdictions, so make sure that before you buy something with a high THC percentage that you can legally use it. You will usually find THC combined with other elements, whether in a fate or in an oil like the CBD oils. You can also find them combined in a one-to-one ratio in products like Sativex. How Does Cannabis Help? Chronic pain and anxiety are the most commonly reported reasons that people struggle to sleep. Because of the sedative properties and anti-anxiety effects, cannabis products can help many people get to sleep and stay asleep longer. Those that wish to try cannabis products should make sure that the kind that they wish to take will not interact with other medications negatively, particularly anything that is broken down in the liver. Talk to your doctor before adding it to your medication regimen. If you wish to for THC oils to help them sleep, try taking it about two (2) hours before bedtime to ensure that the wakefulness effect that sometimes happens does not compromise your sleep schedule on accident.
Let us know what you think. [Editorial Note: Tuck is a community devoted to improving sleep hygiene, health and wellness through the creation and dissemination of comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources. Tuck has been featured on NBC News, NPR, Lifehacker, and Radiolab and is referenced by many colleges/universities and sleep organizations across the web.]
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