With over a year of Covid under our belt and enjoying a not-quite-back to normal summer, getting in the groove for the beginning of the school year can be challenging.

For some, the adjustment to the school schedule is exhausting. The change in sleep schedule can cause restless nights and feeling tired and unmotivated in the morning. For others, it’s more difficult to muster the creativity to plan educational and engaging lessons which may need to be flexible enough to be taught virtually, should the need arise. The ever-changing rates of Covid and the protections and restrictions that go along with it are enough to cause anybody stress. Choosing the right strain can help alleviate all of these obstacles to having a great start to the school year. 

Chill with soothing indica strains

Are you having a hard time winding down in the evening? Do you wake up through the night, causing you to feel tired in the morning or throughout the day? Choosing a good indica strain will help you get that much needed sleep.  

High-THC strains like Gelato are a good option for quick relief of pain or insomnia. Granddaddy Purp and Sunset Sherbet both have a calming effect that make them great choices for winding down after a hard day at work. 

For a more sedating effect, Girl Scout Cookies, 9lb Hammer and many of the Kush strains have the ability to relax the body and lull even the most stubborn insomniacs into slumber. Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to overall health. The well-rested individual is mentally sharper and ready to face the day. But what about when we need a little boost to get the creative juices flowing? Sativas to the rescue!

Get energized with uplifting sativa strains

Strains pungent with terpenes like limonene, pinene, myrcene and caryophyllene such as Chemdawg, Chocolope, Sour Diesel, Tangie and nearly any of the Haze strains will provide a more cerebral effect that’s both uplifting and energizing. These strains fuel creativity and imagination. They’re a smart choice when planning and completing projects
.

“Good for the creative types who love to have a toke with their brush strokes or good for the student looking to cram for the exam.” – Schmo (referring to Purple Haze)

Combine beneficial effects with hybrids

Hybrid strains contain both indica and sativa genetics and can have the benefit of effects from both categories based on the breeding of the specific strains.

Stardawg is a sativa dominant hybrid with a strong earthy aroma that hints of pine, diesel and lemon. It’s effects are highly energizing which makes it a great choice for the weary and overworked. 

Sunset Sherbet is also a great choice for an uplifting mental state combined with a relaxing effect on the body. It will help with physical fatigue while still providing motivation to finish the day. 

Other options for your consideration

Inexperienced users may prefer using a THC/CBD combination which can provide relief from anxiety with the ability to focus and a less intense sedating effect than high THC strains. When choosing a strain specifically for anxiety, it might be useful to select a low-THC, CBD dominant strain like ACDC, Lifter or Charlotte’s Web.

Whatever your choices are, it’s always wise to remember to take the time to get basic details about the strains you buy. Ask your local budtenders questions. Download informative apps and search websites like https://www.leafly.com/ for information about the strains that are available. 

Make educated decisions based on not only the percentage of cannabinoids present but also the terpene profile best suited to your specific desired result. 

Choose your strains wisely and get ready for a great start to the school year! Healthy parents and teachers create healthy learning environments for their children and students. Let’s get rested and get ready, it’s time for school!

The Importance of Bees

Most people are aware that bees are pollinators and that they produce highly desirable honey. Few are aware of the huge role they play in the biodiversity of nature and how their symbiotic relationship with plants affects life as we know it. 

Bees pollinate one-third of the world’s edible food crops, as well as the crops used to feed livestock and fibers used for manufacturing of clothes we wear. There are hundreds of plants grown for human consumption and bees are the primary pollinators of nearly 90% of those plants. 

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” 

~ Albert Einstein

Clearly, we depend on bees as pollinators to provide items we use and consume every day. 

The plants of the world benefit from the pollination bees provide and, in return, the bees benefit through the collection of nectar for energy and pollen to feed their young.

Through this relationship, bees can collect the resources necessary for their survival and produce honey and many other, less known but nevertheless important, products. A 2020 study even shows that a component of honey bee venom could kill cancer cells. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-020-00129-0

Do Bees Need To Be Saved? 

Yes! There are 20,000 species of bees worldwide. Most of these are in the wild. Expansion and urbanization are increasing problems threatening wild bee habitats. In recent years, millions of honeybees have been lost due to Colony Collapse Disorder. Although the cause has not been confirmed, preliminary evidence suggests that pesticides may have contributed to their demise. Dangerous man-made pesticides such as DDT, when banned, are often just replaced with other dangerous pesticides. Practices like this need to be re-evaluated to look for safer alternatives to chemical components that have consistently been found to be harmful.

If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive.

~Abraham Lincoln

Cannabis for Bees

Years ago, it was believed that bees were not attracted to cannabis due the lack of brightly colored flowers and there being no nectar to collect. Cannabis doesn’t require bees for pollination since it is primarily wind-pollinated. So it was believed that the mutually beneficial relationship bees shared with other plants may not apply to cannabis. Recent research by both Cornell University https://academic.oup.com/ee/article-abstract/49/1/197/5634339?redirectedFrom=fulltext and by Colorado University shows that bees are actually specifically attracted to tall, male cannabis plants. In fact, the studies found that the taller the plants and the more area the plants covered, the more bees were attracted to the plants. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0961953419300248

Industrial hemp that grows tall and is not prized for the medicinal uses of the female plant could be very beneficial to a struggling bee population. The late flowering season and low water requirements of cannabis make it an ideal food source for bees in areas where other food sources are scarce. Cannabis naturally grows without the need for chemical pesticides and grows well as a companion plant with other crops.

The relationship between bees and crops affects plant growth as well, by significantly increasing both the quantity and quality of plants produced. As restrictions on cannabis ease around the world, this has huge implications on the problem of food scarcity and world hunger.

The relationship between bees and cannabis is clearly beneficial to both the insect and the plant. Humans may be those who benefit the most. We can do our part to contribute to a healthy ecosystem by providing resources like cannabis to support the dwindling bee population and by choosing safe alternatives to dangerous chemical pesticides in agriculture. 

The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.

~Pope John Paul II

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), most often associated with veterans, is a disorder that can affect anybody that has experienced traumatic events. Daily life can be full of triggers that can cause a physical and emotional response to the individual experiencing its symptoms. The human body reacts to stressors in many ways. The hippocampal area of the brain is directly affected and shows neuroplastic changes and imbalances between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. The body’s nervous system is activated, and the balance between the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system is disrupted. 

When traumatic events trigger an emotional response, our body responds by releasing cortisol, and preparing for “fight or flight.” In addition, immobilization may also occur when other responses fail to mitigate the distress caused by those triggers. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for preparing the body for a physical reaction to danger. The parasympathetic nervous system regulates relaxation, digestion, and regeneration. The imbalance between these systems contributes to a state of hypervigilance and hyperarousal in PTSD. 

How can cannabis treat PTSD?

There are many traditional treatments and medications available to treat those suffering, but, in addition to those, it’s been widely reported by those experiencing PTSD symptoms that they have found relief with cannabis use. 

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays such a huge part in the body’s response to these triggers inside our brains. The response to fear is diminished in the amygdala, reducing anxiety and contributing to “extinction learning” in which the heightened anxiety related to these triggers is reduced over time. Research has shown that the administration of cannabinoids following a recent traumatic event decreased the likelihood of a PTSD diagnosis and that patients with PTSD often show an ECS deficiency. It’s no wonder that some patients choose to include cannabis as a safe addition to a regular safety plan for coping with difficult situations.

How a safety plan can help you

A safety plan should be designed to find effective means of coping with the responses to overwhelming stimuli. Each individual’s safety plan should be tailored to their own experience and response. It’s important to first identify the root cause and the triggers that are known to cause the body to react. Avoiding situations that bring a heightened response may be possible but preparing plans in advance to prepare for unavoidable circumstances is an effective tool for dealing with an emotional crisis.

Preparing a card with emergency numbers of a reliable support system, including family, friends, therapists, or organizations is helpful. Awareness of early warning signs such as avoidance, changes in mood, thinking or behavior is important for both the individual affected and those close to them. Have an emergency plan with clear steps to follow in a crisis. 

It’s also helpful for many to include reminders to utilize somatic therapy techniques such as body awareness, deep breathing, and grounding exercises. In complex or severe cases, when immobilization is present, physical activity is preferable as a means of engaging the body to heal. Cannabis use has shown to be effective for coping with many of the symptoms of PTSD but choosing the right strain and method of delivery can be challenging.  As a general rule, indicas are a good choice for relaxation and sativa strains are preferred for promoting energy and activity. The benefit is measurable regardless of the method of delivery as even topical application of CBD has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms. 

Restoring healthy brain function via CBD and THC

Contrary to the old propaganda about brain damage, we now see that cannabinoids like THC and CBD may actually help the brain form new neural pathways and restore healthy brain function. As legalization becomes more widespread, more research and information will be available regarding its uses and benefits. Many patients are still suffering today without legal access to safer alternatives to traditional treatments alone. 

If you, or a loved one, are suffering from PTSD, you are not alone. Please reach out to organizations that can help:

National Center for PTSD

If you need help right away:

Call 1-800-273-8255

Press “1” if you are a Veteran.

PTSD Foundation of America

1-877-717-7873

Combat Trauma Help Line

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

Cannabis cultivation is expanding across the nation after the legalization of hemp and as states continue to legalize for medical or adult use. We are seeing this trend worldwide. The global cannabis market is expected to grow at a compound rate of 26.7% over the next 7 years. Any industry growing at that rate will have not only economic but environmental impact, as well. Fortunately, responsibly cultivated cannabis, especially hemp, positively impacts the environment in many ways.

Cannabis or hemp, sometimes referred to as “weed”, actually does grow like one. It crowds out other plants and it’s taproot holds the soil, channeling moisture into it. It can be widely grown in poor soil without pesticides or fertilizer and requires one-third the amount of water as cotton. Hemp can grow 13 feet in 100 days and produce as much in 90 days as a tree can produce in 20-30 years.

Hemp’s Potential Impact

Preservation of our forests has been a longtime concern. At this time, 90% of the world’s paper is made from trees and 60% of the world’s forests are cut for timber. Hemp can be manufactured into many products replacing wood and petroleum based products such as plastics and construction materials and even into clean burning bio-fuel that is 97% more efficient than gasoline.  Hemp plastic bottles degrade 10 days after being discarded. Manufacturing products made of hemp instead of trees can eliminate the need to clear-cut forests.  Paper mills are one of the largest contributors of the deadly chlorine compound, Dioxin, to the Great Lakes. One acre of hemp provides more than 4 times the amount of paper pulp than one acre of trees and can be harvested 2-3 times annually. In addition, a study by the USDA Forest Service found that all fine paper products currently made from wood could be made from hemp with minimal environmental impact and at a profit. 

Hemp absorbs carbon through photosynthesis, stores it and returns it to the Earth while releasing high levels of oxygen. Industrial hemp has been proven to absorb more carbon dioxide per hectare than any forest or agricultural crop. The growth rate of cannabis makes it one of the fastest biomass conversation tools available today. 

Regenerating Soil

The direct impact of the plant on the environment doesn’t stop with air quality. It’s root system is strong enough to break compacted soil, it increases soil quality and stabilizes the ground, controlling erosion. Cannabis cultivation actually regenerates soil through the process of phytoremediation, replenishes it and makes it possible to grow products in areas where crops were previously unfit for consumption. Hemp is one of the best phytoremediation plants known to man. Studies have shown industrial hemp’s effectiveness and ability to withstand high levels of heavy metals without affecting growth, harvest or quality. It’s well known to reduce levels of nitrogen, cadmium, strontium and cesium in soil. It has been used in Italy on land poisoned by one of Europe’s largest steel mills and in the Ukraine and near Chernobyl to counteract radioactive soil. 

The Value of Hemp in Agriculture

Hemo’s value in agricultural soil remediation has an even more widespread application. Farmland that has been depleted by overuse or chemicals can be replenished by regularly rotating hemp with other crops while increasing the amount harvested. Hemp grown in rotation with wheat showed a 20% increase in wheat yield and rotated with soybeans reduced the chances of nematode infestation by 50-70%. Until the late 1800’s, it was one of the world’s largest agricultural crops. 

It’s clear that the cultivation of cannabis has many advantages for our environment. But is that always the case? Recent research shows that although outdoor cultivation provides excellent solutions to many of today’s environmental issues, indoor cultivation may come with a hefty environmental consequence. Indoor growers must be vigilant to control the conditions of their grow. Depending on climate and other conditions, energy use will vary to control the temperature, humidity, air circulation and feeding.

Cannabis’s Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint can be significant. In places such as Hawaii, it can take the equivalent to a 16-gallon tank of gas to produce 1oz of indoor grown cannabis. In Colorado, the cannabis industry’s carbon footprint exceeded those of the state’s coal mining industry. Estimates show that switching to outdoor cultivation would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 96% and switching to greenhouses would reduce emissions by 42%. Federal, state and local laws are contributing to the problem by prohibiting transport of cannabis across state lines and placing unreasonable restrictions on outdoor cultivation. As these laws change, the carbon footprint from indoor cultivation will decrease as people regain the right to grow in areas that are conducive to year-round cultivation and transport their harvest much like other crops. 

It’s through these legislative changes that real environmental progress will be made. The 2018 Farm Bill was a tremendous start to healing our environment and as the manufacturing industry of industrial hemp grows, the positive impact on the environment will grow as well. Legislative changes are still needed, to allow for outdoor cultivation and legal transportation between states. It’s rare for a burgeoning industry to have such a positive effect overall but cannabis has once again defied the odds and debunked the negative stigma that was pushed upon it years ago.

Want to learn more about cannabis and climate change? The Cleveland School of Cannabis now offers course in both Cannabis Horticulture and Industrial Hemp and CBD. 

Cannabis laws are changing at an unprecedented rate in the U.S. and worldwide. In our country, more than half of the states have legalized cannabis for medical use and nearly one-third of the U.S. has legalized adult use. The economic impact of this rapidly growing industry is staggering. In fact, it’s entirely possible that legalization may be the best solution to remedy the crippled post-Covid economy.

Last year, Covid-19 brought many changes to our daily lives. Many people lost their jobs due to stay-at-home orders and business closures. Unemployment was at a record high. Despite cannabis remaining illegal on the federal level, all but one legalized state considered cannabis to be essential business during the shut-down. A cursory look at any available statistic makes it clear why legalization is such a reasonable solution to an economy in decline.

Employment Outlook for the Cannabis Industry
The U.S. cannabis industry currently employs more than a quarter million full-time jobs and it’s estimated that legalization nationwide could bring as many as 1.6 million new jobs. There are more people employed in legal cannabis than EMT’s, dentists or computer programmers and the field is constantly growing. It’s also notable that the jobs created are good jobs in which the employee’s wages are 11% higher than the U.S. median salary. In addition to the creation of available jobs in the industry, federal legalization would allow for investment opportunities in our country, similar to large Canadian companies like Aurora Cannabis and Canopy Growth. Canada’s cannabis industry brings $8.16 billion to their country’s economy.

It’s been reported that legalization in the United States could bring $128.8 billion in tax revenue. Changing our cannabis laws on a national level would provide revenue and job opportunities on a scale that’s been unprecedented in the history of our country. We saw the effect that the repeal of prohibition had on the Great Depression in providing much-needed funding for FDR’s New Deal.

The Economic and Social Harms of Cannabis Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, like cannabis, had been a failure from the beginning. Those that chose to partake did so regardless of the laws and penalties associated with their use and the only substantial outcome came from the need to drive the alcohol industry out of legitimacy and underground, leading to organized crime, gang activity and smuggling. At one point, courts were so inundated with minor alcohol-related cases that it led to the development of the plea-bargain. Now once again, we see how prohibition has led to an overwhelmed criminal justice system that unfairly and unequally targets minority groups and spends an extraordinary amount of money and resources on enforcing these unjust laws.

The U.S. has, by far, the largest incarceration rate in the world. The largest contributor to this rate is the War on Drugs. Many of those arrested are convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses. Public opinion regarding marijuana has shifted dramatically and there is widespread support for sensible decriminalization. Despite that, the U.S. Dept. of Justice reports that over $1 billion a year of taxpayer money is spent on incarceration costs and 660,000 people a year are still arrested for breaking marijuana laws. It’s estimated that stopping marijuana arrests would save up to $10 billion dollars a year. The extravagant costs of enforcement simply doesn’t add up when we consider that, at this point, millions of dollars are still spent on illegal cultivation detection by plane, with no charges filed, and even in federal cases, only 3% are taken to trial.

In addition to the money saved by enforcing laws against the very plant that is now considered Maine’s most valuable crop, the money brought in through additional tax revenue is astounding. Federal legalization could bring $160 billion in additional tax revenue over the next few years which would be a huge boost to severely depleted budgets. As of May 2021, states reported collecting a combined total of $7.9 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use sales, and that’s not counting the revenue accrued by local communities. Even real estate is affected with home values rising an average of $6,000 immediately following legalization and increasing by 7.7% when located within half a mile of a dispensary.

Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
The benefits of cannabis legalization are clearly documented and widely understood in the business world and by finance savvy individuals but are our legislators seeing the light? It appears that they are. This week, bills have been announced both in Ohio and federally, to legalize use for adults.

As the public gains more knowledge about the discriminatory nature of cannabis prohibition and its impact on society, we see the additional repercussions that have occurred through enforcement and how these practices have negatively impacted lives and whole communities. There is an opportunity to right these historic wrongs and, in the process, also provide the very best solution to replenish drained budgets and allow for funding for social service programs to revitalize the very communities that have been impacted the most. Rarely, if ever, has there been such a viable economic solution that makes so many dollars and so much sense.

Want to learn more about how cannabis affects our economy? Check out the latest course offerings from Cleveland School of Cannabis.

Cannabis cultivation is expanding across the nation after the legalization of hemp and as states continue to legalize for medical or adult use. We are seeing this trend worldwide. The global cannabis market is expected to grow at a compound rate of 26.7% over the next 7 years. Any industry growing at that rate will have not only economic but environmental impact, as well. Fortunately, responsibly cultivated cannabis, especially hemp, positively impacts the environment in many ways.

Cannabis or hemp, sometimes referred to as “weed”, actually does grow like one. It crowds out other plants and it’s taproot holds the soil, channeling moisture into it. It can be widely grown in poor soil without pesticides or fertilizer and requires one-third the amount of water as cotton. Hemp can grow 13 feet in 100 days and produce as much in 90 days as a tree can produce in 20-30 years.

Hemp’s Potential Impact

Preservation of our forests has been a longtime concern. At this time, 90% of the world’s paper is made from trees and 60% of the world’s forests are cut for timber. Hemp can be manufactured into many products replacing wood and petroleum based products such as plastics and construction materials and even into clean burning bio-fuel that is 97% more efficient than gasoline.  Hemp plastic bottles degrade 10 days after being discarded. Manufacturing products made of hemp instead of trees can eliminate the need to clear-cut forests.  Paper mills are one of the largest contributors of the deadly chlorine compound, Dioxin, to the Great Lakes. One acre of hemp provides more than 4 times the amount of paper pulp than one acre of trees and can be harvested 2-3 times annually. In addition, a study by the USDA Forest Service found that all fine paper products currently made from wood could be made from hemp with minimal environmental impact and at a profit. 

Hemp absorbs carbon through photosynthesis, stores it and returns it to the Earth while releasing high levels of oxygen. Industrial hemp has been proven to absorb more carbon dioxide per hectare than any forest or agricultural crop. The growth rate of cannabis makes it one of the fastest biomass conversation tools available today. 

Regenerating Soil

The direct impact of the plant on the environment doesn’t stop with air quality. It’s root system is strong enough to break compacted soil, it increases soil quality and stabilizes the ground, controlling erosion. Cannabis cultivation actually regenerates soil through the process of phytoremediation, replenishes it and makes it possible to grow products in areas where crops were previously unfit for consumption. Hemp is one of the best phytoremediation plants known to man. Studies have shown industrial hemp’s effectiveness and ability to withstand high levels of heavy metals without affecting growth, harvest or quality. It’s well known to reduce levels of nitrogen, cadmium, strontium and cesium in soil. It has been used in Italy on land poisoned by one of Europe’s largest steel mills and in the Ukraine and near Chernobyl to counteract radioactive soil. 

The Value of Hemp in Agriculture

Hemo’s value in agricultural soil remediation has an even more widespread application. Farmland that has been depleted by overuse or chemicals can be replenished by regularly rotating hemp with other crops while increasing the amount harvested. Hemp grown in rotation with wheat showed a 20% increase in wheat yield and rotated with soybeans reduced the chances of nematode infestation by 50-70%. Until the late 1800’s, it was one of the world’s largest agricultural crops. 

It’s clear that the cultivation of cannabis has many advantages for our environment. But is that always the case? Recent research shows that although outdoor cultivation provides excellent solutions to many of today’s environmental issues, indoor cultivation may come with a hefty environmental consequence. Indoor growers must be vigilant to control the conditions of their grow. Depending on climate and other conditions, energy use will vary to control the temperature, humidity, air circulation and feeding.

Cannabis’s Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint can be significant. In places such as Hawaii, it can take the equivalent to a 16-gallon tank of gas to produce 1oz of indoor grown cannabis. In Colorado, the cannabis industry’s carbon footprint exceeded those of the state’s coal mining industry. Estimates show that switching to outdoor cultivation would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 96% and switching to greenhouses would reduce emissions by 42%. Federal, state and local laws are contributing to the problem by prohibiting transport of cannabis across state lines and placing unreasonable restrictions on outdoor cultivation. As these laws change, the carbon footprint from indoor cultivation will decrease as people regain the right to grow in areas that are conducive to year-round cultivation and transport their harvest much like other crops. 

It’s through these legislative changes that real environmental progress will be made. The 2018 Farm Bill was a tremendous start to healing our environment and as the manufacturing industry of industrial hemp grows, the positive impact on the environment will grow as well. Legislative changes are still needed, to allow for outdoor cultivation and legal transportation between states. It’s rare for a burgeoning industry to have such a positive effect overall but cannabis has once again defied the odds and debunked the negative stigma that was pushed upon it years ago.
Want to learn more about cannabis and climate change? The Cleveland School of Cannabis now offers course in both Cannabis Horticulture and Industrial Hemp and CBD.

In recent months, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration approved new growers of research marijuana for the first time in more than 50 years. It’s welcome news to both scientists and cannabis advocates who’ve waited decades for this decision. A single farm at the University of Mississippi has been the only legal source of cannabis for federal research since 1968.

Despite the slow federal research, scientific research into cannabis has been showing lots of new discoveries, with numerous important study findings being reported. A few newly published ones:

Cannabis Smoke Vs. Tobacco Smoke

A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota  assessed differences in toxicant exposure among cannabis-only smokers, tobacco-only smokers, and subjects who routinely smoked both substances.

The participants who only smoked cannabis “demonstrated lower levels of toxicant exposure for most biomarkers” as compared to those subjects who smoked tobacco-only and/or cannabis and tobacco. Co-users of cannabis and tobacco did not possess greater exposure to harmful constituents as compared to those who only smoked tobacco.

The study’s findings are consistent with prior research. Cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke are likely not equally carcinogenic and marijuana smoke exposure is typically not associated with the same effects to health as is tobacco smoke. The use of vaporizers has been associated with reduced exposure to toxic gasses and has been identified as a “safe and effective” cannabis delivery device in clinical trial settings.

Cannabis Study Involving Gynecological Cancer Patients 

A small cohort study of 45 patients was published last week in Gynecologic Oncology Reports. Researchers at New York University’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, and the New York University Grossman School of Medicine conducted the study, which found 71% of gynecologic cancer patient enrollees reported self-improvement while using medical cannabis with at least one symptom with 15% of patients discontinuing its use due to the side effects.

The median age of women in the study was 60 years old. Overall, 56% of the patients used medical cannabis for pain, 47% for nausea and vomiting, 33% for anorexia, and 2% for insomnia. More than 70% of the patients reported improvement in nausea and vomiting, with 36% finding medical cannabis relieved their pain.

Testing Cannabinoids on Parkinson’s 

Brazilian scientists last year conducted a double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of CBD with Parkinson’s disease patients to test whether it might help with their tremors. The researchers found that a single dose of 300mg CBD reduced both anxiety and tremor compared to the placebo in the study participants. These results suggest that CBD may be helpful in controlling tremor in Parkinson’s disease patients during stressful situations.

Want to learn more? 

If you have an interest in learning more about the science of cannabis, Cleveland School of Cannabis can help! Our program in Medical Applications of Cannabis was designed to equip students with the scientific facts about cannabis medicine. The program goes into detail about how cannabis medicines affect the human body and how cannabis medicines are being introduced to the medical community. Sign up today! 

Did you know that as a result of accidents, natural disasters, or many other circumstances, 70 percent of people will encounter traumatic stress in their lifetime? Of this 70 percent, approximately 10 percent will develop PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

While current research shows a general understanding of the differences in the brains of people living with PTSD and those without, we do not fully understand the precursors that would disposition someone to develop PTSD upon exposure to traumatic stress.

Research is currently being done into the early warning signs and potential intervention or prevention of PTSD in those exposed to traumatic events.

INSIDE THE MIND OF SOMEONE WITH PTSD:

The brain activity of someone with PTSD is markedly different from someone without PTSD. In healthy brains, the amygdala reports stimuli to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the PFC reports back to the amygdala on whether or not that stimuli is potentially life-threatening. If the PFC determines stressful stimuli to be dangerous enough, the amygdala will help trigger an adrenal response, and the body’s fight or flight systems will be activated. If the threat is not dangerous, the communication simply continues until an adrenal response is warranted.

In the brain of someone with PTSD, the communication between the amygdala and PFC is stunted. Typically, the amygdala is in overdrive, sending constant new messages to an underactive and unresponsive PFC. Essentially, the PFC is leaving the amygdala on. The amygdala has lost the ability to determine whether or not stimuli is threatening, and in an effort to survive, the body can enter a nearly constant, highly stressed state. Known as hyperarousal, this state can be marked by increased heart rate, racing or intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression, nightmares, panic attacks, hormonal changes, and more.

Cannabis and PTSD

Miraculously for PTSD sufferers, cannabis seems to have the exact opposite neural signature when compared to PTSD. If PTSD is the lock, cannabis, specifically THC, seems to be the key.

When THC is administered to those suffering from PTSD, the hyperactivity of the amygdala is relaxed. THC dulls the response to potentially threatening stimuli by slowing down the reaction time of the amygdala releasing excitatory neurotransmitters. The body requires more call to action to enter an adrenal state when using cannabis. This discourages potential adrenal overreaction to non threatening stimuli.

The PFC is responsible for determining threat levels of stimuli due to its unique ability to learn, unlearn, and predict danger responses by comparing stimuli reported by the amygdala to memories. THC promotes PFC activity in the brains of those with PTSD, which can promote the mind’s ability to learn and unlearn new things. This can make therapeutic efforts such as fear extinction or safety learning much more viable treatment options.

Studies have found that versus placebo, THC reduces nightmares and increases general wellbeing in those with treatment-resistant or complex PTSD. It is also shown to alleviate sleep and appetite disturbances related to anxiety and depression, which are common symptoms of PTSD.

Ongoing research efforts hope to determine whether or not boosting the natural levels of endocannabinoids in the brain and body will be enough to alleviate chronic miscommunication between the amygdala and PFC. Supplementing the body’s natural endocannabinoid system (ECS) with cannabis as part of a robust and holistic stress management plan could help treat and prevent PTSD.

Want to learn more about how cannabis is used to treat PTSD? Check out our online course offerings in the medical applications of cannabis. 

Source: https://youtu.be/tiqFDVhbX-U

Cannabis is making a comeback as a medically recommended treatment for many diagnoses across America. As Ohioans begin their medical cannabis journey, here are a few simple tips on how to maximize the experience for optimal results.

1. Keep a journal.

Track EVERYTHING. Track how the cannabis you use tastes, smells, and looks, as well as how it affects you. What was the onset time? Did you have any adverse or beneficial effects? Did you require more or less medication with this strain or delivery method? You can refer back through your cannabis journal to reflect on your journey and find patterns in what types of strains work best for you.

If you find and old school pen and paper does not work best for you, consider keeping a vlog, a digital journal, or using a habit tracking app to keep notes along the way.

2. Boost your natural endocannabinoid system.

Your body responds best to cannabis when it is set up for success to do so. Making healthy lifestyle choices, especially in regards to sleep, diet, and exercise, can help you reap the most benefit from plant medicine. Choose whole and plant based foods to supplement the terpenes in your diet or do fat burning exercises to release stored cannabinoids.

Meditation will also help you stay in touch with your mind and body to better observe your feelings and experiences over time.

3. Do your own research.

Cannabis industry technology is evolving every day as more and more research is conducted worldwide. Stay informed by following cannabis news and stay open minded with your personal experimentations. Always check with your healthcare professional before making major changes to your cannabis regimen, but remember to serve as your own best advocate. 

As a medical cannabis patient, you can see yourself as a student of the plant and remain ready to learn as much as you can about how your body interacts with medicinal cannabis.Want to learn more about cannabis from the perspective of a medical marijuana patient? Check out our course offerings on the medical applications of cannabis.

When you hear the term light recipe, the first thought that pops in your head is probably for cooking low-fat meals. But for cultivators, a light recipe is a program that controls the lighting for growing plants indoors. LED light recipes are critical not only for cultivating indoor medical marijauna in Ohio, but growing virtually any commercial vegetable crop in a building ranging from cut flowers, herbs, and tomatoes. 

Lighting technology has evolved rapidly in the last 20 years as modern horticultural LED lights have quickly replaced hot, environmentally unfriendly, and expensive high-pressure sodium, metal halide, and mercury-based light bulbs. Costs have dropped dramatically for LED lights, with lighting costing over $150 per kilolumen in 2008 to under 88 cents per kilolumen in 2021. Using LED Lights for indoor cultivation and vertical farming has quickly gone from science fiction dreams to reality. 

The four main variables for LED lighting recipes.

When modifying the light recipe for cannabis, cultivators consider four variables: timing, spectrum, light level, and uniformity. In order to run a profitable business, a cultivator needs to increase quality and yield of cannabis while decreasing costs. Smart cultivators experiment with changing only one variable at a time to understand what produces the best flowers for their chosen strains.

Timing

A light recipe specifies exactly when to turn the lighting on and off to get the best results based on your building and individual strains. Young cannabis plants may thrive when exposed to light for 24 hours. Maturing plants that have begun to bud may require under 12 hours of light. 

Spectrum

The spectrum is the range from ultraviolet to infra-red that influences marijuana plant growth. Full spectrum lights provide the widest range of light. Photosynthesis can be optimized by using  a mix of red and blue light. Every light recipe specifies the colors of the LED lighting which can be controlled by an app that adjusts the spectrum.

Light level

The amount of light shed on a plant can be measured in micromoles (µMol), or the number of photons per square meter per second. This is how horticultural lighting is typically measured. Hemp, sativa, indica, and hybrids each have a different optimum light level when grown indoors.

Uniformity

Uniformity is defined as how evenly light is distributed across all the cannabis plants, not just the ones in the middle. Uniform light contributes significantly to uniform plant growth and makes same-day harvesting possible. Moreover, supplementary lighting can be positioned on the side and perhaps even under the cannabis canopy, something that is impossible in outdoor growing.

Interested in learning more about the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in Ohio? Sign up for one of our cannabis horticulture courses today!

References:

https://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/products/horticulture/light-recipe

https://www.statista.com/statistics/216351/price-of-warm-white-led-lamps-in-the-us/

https://thinkprogress.org/5-charts-that-illustrate-the-remarkable-led-lighting-revolution-83ecb6c1f472/

https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/cea/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2016/12/Light-Quantity-and-Quality.pdf