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Inspirational Technologies announces ” 1st Cannabis Network USA ” an A.I. First for Innovation Technology in the Cannabis World.

Inspirational Technologies announces ” 1st Cannabis Network USA ” an A.I. First for Innovation Technology in the Cannabis World. Jacksonville, Florida based Inspirational Technologies announced Thursday, December 21st, 2023, that their platform series ” 1st Hemp USA” has reached a newer level of maturity and has evolved into 2024. ” 1st Cannabis Network USA ” will become the company’s new concerted effort to keep the public, at large in the US, informed of their needs being addressed by their respective oversight issues. Said, Steven Smith, founder and owner of Inspirational Technologies

1st Cannabis Network USA 2024

The legal history of cannabis in the United States is a fascinating journey that spans over a century. Let’s explore some key milestones:

  1. Early Introduction:
  2. State-Level Prohibition:
  3. Federal Restrictions:
  4. Medical Cannabis Movement:
  5. Recent Legislation:

So, from its colonial roots in Virginia to the modern-day legalization efforts, cannabis has woven a complex tapestry in the United States. 🌿🇺🇸

Learn more.

1vice.com2en.wikipedia.org3en.wikipedia.org4thecannabisindustry.org
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Map of cannabis laws in the US
Legality of cannabis in the United States

  Legal for recreational use
  Legal for medical use
  Illegal

D  Decriminalized

Notes:
· Reflects law of states and territories, including laws which have not yet gone into effect. Does not reflect federal, tribal, or local laws.
· Hemp and hemp-derived products have been legal since the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill.

The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

Twitter Just Became The First Cannabis-Friendly Large Social Media Platform In The United States

Emily Earlenbaugh

Contributor

Hashtag made of marijuana leaves

Twitter announced Wednesday that they will be allowing legal cannabis companies in the United States to promote cannabis products with paid advertising on their platform. The announcement marks an important shift, as most social media platforms specifically ban content related to the federally illegal substance. A few smaller social media platforms have allowed for cannabis advertising in the past, such as Social Club, a platform designed specifically for the cannabis community. Still, Twitter is the first large and already established social media platform to buck this trend, laying out specific rules for how the legal cannabis industry can participate in advertising.

While cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States, the majority of states have approved some type of legal cannabis sales within their borders. 37 states have medical cannabis programs and 21 allow for recreational cannabis use. This leaves cannabis companies operating within their state’s laws mostly shut out of paid social media marketing – despite the fact that they are compliant with state laws.

Historically, many in the cannabis industry have ignored these rules, or tried to find ways to avoid detection. But even with these attempts, cannabis brands frequently have their posts, or even profiles, taken down. Twitter seems to have an especially active cannabis community. Some estimates suggest Twitter saw over 20 million tweets about cannabis in the last year alone. The new policy could draw even more cannabis brands and consumers to the platform, given the lack of competition for cannabis advertisements on other major social media platforms. Popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok all still ban content related to the medicinal plant.

Twitter’s announcement was lauded by many in the cannabis industry, who have hoped to see changes in social media policies reflect the fact that cannabis is legal for more than half the states in the country. “This is a welcome and overdue moment for the industry” commented Ashley Fields, SVP of Marketing and Communications for Cann, a cannabis beverage brand. “Advertising plays a significant role in our culture and Twitter’s announcement shows behaviors and conversations are trending in favor of normalization, legalization and frankly, “substance equality” reflecting where cannabis vs alcohol can advertise.”

  • 1937: The Marihuana Tax Act is enacted, effectively prohibiting cannabis at the federal level. Although medical use is still permitted, new fees and regulatory requirements significantly curtail its use.[1]
  • 1969: The Marihuana Tax Act is struck down in the case Leary v. United States. The Supreme Court rules that the act violates the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination.[2]
  • 1970: The Controlled Substances Act is enacted. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, thereby prohibiting its use for any purpose.[3]
  • 1990: The Solomon–Lautenberg amendment is enacted.[4] As a result, many states pass “Smoke a joint, lose your license” laws under which any drug offense is punished with a mandatory six month driver’s license suspension.[5][6]
  • 2014: The Rohrabacher–Farr amendment passes the U.S. House and is signed into law. Requiring annual renewal, it prohibits the Justice Department from interfering with the implementation of state medical cannabis laws.[7][8] The Cole Memorandum had in 2013 assigned similar policies from within the Justice Department.[9][10]
  • 2018: The 2018 farm bill legalizes low-THC (less than 0.3% THC) hemp and hemp-derived products such as cannabidiol (CBD) at the federal level. The bill also fully removed or “descheduled” low-THC cannabis products from the Controlled Substances Act, where they had been listed as Schedule I drugs since the CSA’s inception in 1970.[3][11]
  • 2022: The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act is signed into law to allow cannabis to be more easily researched for medical purposes. It is the first standalone cannabis reform bill enacted at the federal level.[12][13]

State

Prohibition begins – 1911

  • 1911: Massachusetts requires a prescription for sales of Indian hemp.[14]
  • 1913: California, Maine, Wyoming, and Indiana ban marijuana.[14]
  • 1915: Utah and Vermont ban marijuana.[14]
  • 1917: Colorado legislators make the use and cultivation of cannabis a misdemeanor.
  • 1923: Iowa, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont ban marijuana.[14]
  • 1927: New York,[14] Idaho, Kansas, Montana, and Nebraska ban marijuana.[15]
  • 1931: Illinois bans marijuana.[16]
  • 1931: Texas declares cannabis a narcotic, allowing up to life sentences for possession.[17]
  • 1933: North Dakota and Oklahoma ban marijuana.[15] By this year, 29 states have criminalized cannabis.[18]

Decriminalization begins – 1973

  • 1973: Texas law is amended to declare possession of four ounces or less a misdemeanor.[17][19]
  • 1973: Oregon becomes the first state to decriminalize cannabis – reducing the penalty for up to one ounce to a $100 fine.[20]
  • 1975: Alaska, Maine, Colorado, California, and Ohio decriminalize cannabis.[20]
  • 1975: Alaska’s Supreme Court establishes that the right to privacy includes possession of small amounts of marijuana.[21]
  • 1976: Minnesota decriminalizes cannabis.[20]
  • 1977: Mississippi, New York, and North Carolina decriminalize cannabis.[20] South Dakota also decriminalizes cannabis, but the law is repealed almost immediately afterwards.[22]
  • 1978: Nebraska decriminalizes cannabis.[20] No other state would decriminalize until 2001.
  • 1978: New Mexico passes the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act, becoming the first state to enact legislation recognizing the medical value of marijuana.[23]
  • 1979: Virginia passes legislation allowing doctors to recommend cannabis for glaucoma or the side effects of chemotherapy.[24][25]
  • 1982: Alaska passes legislation to further decrease penalties for cannabis.[26]
  • 1990: Alaska recriminalizes cannabis by voter initiative, restoring criminal penalties for possession of any amount of cannabis.[27]

Medical cannabis begins – 1996

  • 1996: California becomes the first state to legalize medical cannabis with the approval of Proposition 215.[28] Arizona also passes a medical cannabis ballot measure, but it is rendered ineffective on a technicality.[29]
  • 1998: Oregon, Alaska, and Washington all legalize medical cannabis through ballot measure.[30] Nevada also passes a medical cannabis initiative, but it requires second approval in 2000 to become law, as per the state constitution.[31]
  • 1999: Maine legalizes medical cannabis through ballot measure.[30]
  • 2000: Hawaii becomes the first state to legalize medical cannabis through state legislature.[32]
  • 2000: Nevada and Colorado legalize medical cannabis through ballot measure.[30]
  • 2001: Nevada decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[33]
  • 2003: Maryland passes legislation establishing reduced penalties for persons using cannabis due to a medical necessity (as established at trial).[34]
  • 2004: Vermont legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[35]
  • 2004: Montana legalizes medical cannabis through ballot measure.
  • 2006: Rhode Island legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[36]
  • 2007: New Mexico legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[37]
  • 2008: Michigan approves a ballot to legalize medical cannabis. Massachusetts approves a ballot measure to decriminalize cannabis.[38]
  • 2010: New Jersey legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[39]
  • 2010: Arizona legalizes medical cannabis through ballot measure.
  • 2010: California legislators reduce penalties for cannabis to a civil infraction.[40]
  • 2011: Delaware legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[41]
  • 2011: Connecticut decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[42]
  • 2012: Connecticut legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[43]
  • 2012: Rhode Island decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[44]

 

Recreational legalization begins – 2012

  • 2012: Colorado and Washington become the first two states to legalize the recreational use of cannabis following the passage of Amendment 64 and Initiative 502.[45] Massachusetts approves a ballot measure to legalize medical cannabis.
  • 2013: Vermont decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[46]
  • 2013: New Hampshire legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[47]
  • 2013: Illinois legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[48]
  • 2014: Utah becomes the first state to pass a low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis law.[49] These laws allow low-THC cannabis oil to be used for treatment of certain medical conditions (mostly seizure disorders) with a doctor’s recommendation.
  • 2014: Maryland legislators decriminalize cannabis and approve a comprehensive medical cannabis law, expanding the very limited measure that was passed in 2003.[50]
  • 2014: Missouri decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[51]
  • 2014: Minnesota legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[52]
  • 2014: New York legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[53]
  • 2014: Alaska and Oregon legalize recreational cannabis through ballot measure.
  • 2014: By the end of the year, 10 more states pass low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis laws: Alabama, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Tennessee, Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, and Missouri.[54]
  • 2015: Delaware decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[55]
  • 2015: Louisiana legislators pass a limited medical cannabis law.[56][57]
  • 2015: During the year, five more states pass low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis laws: Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.[54]
  • 2016: Pennsylvania legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[58]
  • 2016: Ohio legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[59]
  • 2016: Illinois decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[60]
  • 2016: California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts approve ballot measures to legalize recreational cannabis. Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota approve ballot measures to legalize medical cannabis.
  • 2017: West Virginia legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[61]
  • 2017: Indiana passes a low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis law.[62]
  • 2017: New Hampshire decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[63]
  • 2018: Vermont becomes the first state to legalize recreational cannabis through state legislature. Unlike all other states that had legalized recreational cannabis, however, no provision was made for commercial sale.[64]
  • 2018: Indiana legalizes CBD for any use.[65]
  • 2018: Kansas legalizes CBD for any use.[66]
  • 2018: Oklahoma legalizes medical cannabis through ballot measure.[67]
  • 2018: Michigan approves a ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis.[68] Missouri and Utah approve ballot measures to legalize medical cannabis.
  • 2019: New Mexico decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[69]
  • 2019: North Dakota decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[70]
  • 2019: Illinois legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature, including its commercial sale. It became the first state to legalize the commercial sale of recreational cannabis through an act of state legislature.[71]
  • 2019: Hawaii decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[72]
  • 2020: Virginia decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[73]
  • 2020: Vermont legalizes commercial recreational cannabis sales through state legislature.[74]
  • 2020: Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota approve ballot measures to legalize recreational cannabis, with South Dakota becoming the first state to legalize recreational use without first legalizing medical use.[75] Mississippi and South Dakota approve ballot measures to legalize medical cannabis.[76]
  • 2021: South Dakota initiative to legalize recreational use is ruled state-unconstitutional by a circuit court judge.[77]
  • 2021: New York legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[78]
  • 2021: Virginia legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[79]
  • 2021: New Mexico legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[80]
  • 2021: Mississippi initiative to legalize medical cannabis is overturned by the Supreme Court of Mississippi due to issue with state’s ballot initiative process.[81]
  • 2021: Alabama legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[82]
  • 2021: Louisiana decriminalizes cannabis through state legislature.[83]
  • 2021: Connecticut legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[84]
  • 2022: Mississippi legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[85]
  • 2022: Rhode Island legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[86]
  • 2022: Maryland and Missouri voters approve ballot measures to legalize recreational cannabis.[87]
  • 2023: Kentucky legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.[88]
  • 2023: Delaware legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[89]
  • 2023: Minnesota legalizes recreational cannabis through state legislature.[90]
  • 2023: Ohio legalizes recreational cannabis through Issue 2.[91]

Municipal

  • 1906: Washington, D.C. requires a prescription for cannabis drugs.[92]
  • 1915: El Paso, Texas restricts cannabis.[93]
  • 1972: Ann Arbor City Council decriminalized cannabis, reducing the penalty to a $5 fine.[94] The law was overturned by a Republican-led council a year later,[95] but reinstated through voter referendum in 1974.[96]
  • 1977: Madison, Wisconsin decriminalized cannabis through ballot initiative.[97]
  • 1978: San Francisco residents approved Proposition W, a non-binding measure directing city law enforcement to “cease the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the cultivation, transfer, or possession of marijuana”.[98] Mayor George Moscone was assassinated shortly afterwards, however,[99] and the initiative was disregarded by new mayor Dianne Feinstein.[100]
  • 1991: San Francisco residents approved the non-binding Proposition P in support of the medical use of cannabis.[101] The city Board of Supervisors followed with Resolution 141–92 in 1992, which allowed for the distribution of medical cannabis throughout the city.[102]
  • 1998: Washington, D.C. residents approved Initiative 59 to legalize medical cannabis, but the Barr amendment blocked implementation until 2009, with the first legal sales finally occurring in 2013.[103]
  • 2003: Seattle residents voted to make enforcement of cannabis laws the lowest priority.[104]
  • 2004: Oakland, California residents approved Measure Z, making private adult cannabis offenses the lowest possible priority for law enforcement, establishing a system to regulate, tax, and sell cannabis pending state legalization, and urging legalization on the state and national levels.[105]
  • 2005: Denver residents voted to legalize cannabis.[106]
  • 2006: San Francisco made enforcement of cannabis laws the lowest priority. The change was approved through a Board of Supervisors vote.[107]
  • 2009: Breckenridge, Colorado residents voted to legalize cannabis.[108]
  • 2012: Chicago decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[109]
  • 2012: Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint residents voted to decriminalize cannabis.[110]
  • 2013: Portland, Maine residents voted to legalize cannabis.[111]
  • 2014: Philadelphia decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[112]
  • 2014: After a city council vote decriminalized cannabis in March,[113] Washington D.C. residents voted to approve Initiative 71 in November to legalize recreational use of cannabis and personal cultivation.[114] A congressional rider passed afterwards prevented D.C. City Council from legalizing commercial sales.[115]
  • 2014: New York City decriminalized cannabis through a new policy announced by city officials.[116]
  • 2015: Wichita, Kansas decriminalized cannabis through voter referendum.[117]
  • 2015: Miami-Dade commissioners voted to decriminalize cannabis.[118]
  • 2015: Toledo, Ohio residents voted to decriminalize possession of cannabis less than 200 grams.[119]
  • 2015: Pittsburgh decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[120]
  • 2016: Tampa decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[121]
  • 2016: New Orleans decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[122]
  • 2016: Orlando decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[123]
  • 2016: Nashville decriminalized cannabis through a Metro Council vote.[124]
  • 2016: Memphis decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[125]
  • 2016: Residents in the Ohio cities of Bellaire, Logan, Newark, and Roseville voted to decriminalize possession of cannabis less than 200 grams.[119]
  • 2017: Houston decriminalized cannabis through a new policy announced by the city’s district attorney.[126]
  • 2017: Kansas City, Missouri residents voted to decriminalize cannabis, eliminating jail time for possession of 35 grams or less and reducing the penalty to a $25 fine.[127]
  • 2017: Atlanta decriminalized possession of one ounce or less of cannabis via unanimous city council vote.[128]
  • 2018: Albuquerque decriminalized cannabis through a city council vote.[129]

Territory

  • 2014: Guam legalized medical cannabis through ballot measure.[130]
  • 2014: The United States Virgin Islands decriminalized cannabis.[131]
  • 2015: Puerto Rico legalized medical cannabis by executive order.[132]
  • 2018: The Northern Mariana Islands legalized recreational cannabis through an act of legislature.[133]
  • 2019: The United States Virgin Islands legalized medical cannabis through an act of legislature.[134]
  • 2019: Guam legalized recreational cannabis through an act of legislature.[135]
  • 2023: The United States Virgin Islands legalized recreational cannabis through territorial legislature.[136]

Native American reservations

Opinions

Presidential

  • 1972: President Richard Nixon opposes the policy of cannabis decriminalization. He states: “I do not believe that you can have effective criminal justice based on a philosophy that something is half legal and half illegal … despite what the [Shafer Commission] has recommended.”[146]
  • 1977: President Jimmy Carter endorses legislation to federally decriminalize cannabis, declaring that “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself.”[147][148]
  • 1980: Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan warns that “Leading medical researchers are coming to the conclusion that marijuana … is probably the most dangerous drug in the United States.”[149]
  • 1996: Former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush urge the defeat of medical cannabis initiatives in California and Arizona, asserting in an open letter that the measures pose “enormous threats” to the public health of all Americans.[150]
  • 2000: President Bill Clinton, in an interview with Rolling Stone shortly before leaving office, states his support for decriminalizing cannabis.[151][152]
  • 2015: President Barack Obama declares his support for cannabis decriminalization but opposition to legalization.[153][154]
  • 2022: President Joe Biden, in ordering a review of the scheduling status of cannabis, states: “We classify marijuana at the same level as heroin – and more serious than fentanyl. It makes no sense.”[155]

Public

  • 1969: Gallup conducted its first poll on legalizing cannabis, finding 12% in favor.[156]
  • 1973: General Social Survey‘s first poll on legalizing cannabis showed 19% in favor.[157]
  • 1977: Gallup reported 28% support for the legalization of cannabis, a number that would not be surpassed until 2000.[156]
  • 2011: Gallup reported 50% support for legalizing cannabis.[158]
  • 2013: Pew Research reported 52% [159] and Gallup 58%[160] in support of legalizing cannabis. In both polls, a majority of respondents supported legalization for the first time.
  • 2017: Gallup’s annual poll showed 64% support for the legalization of cannabis, including a majority of Republicans for the first time.[161]
  • 2018: Reflecting the increased growth of support for marijuana legalization, Gallup’s annual poll showed that 66% of Americans supported legalization, including 75% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, 59% of people over 55, and at least 65% support in the East, South, Midwest, and West.[162]

#IntheWeedswithSteve Be patient Florida, this too, shall pass! Steven M Smith InspirationalTech.org CEO since 2013.

Thank you for consideration.

Inspirational Technologies
InspirationalTech.org for your Health Wellness Beauty and Inspirational Goals

For More Information on Cannabis and CBD and YOU.

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1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2024)
Continue reading Inspirational Technologies announces ” 1st Cannabis Network USA ” an A.I. First for Innovation Technology in the Cannabis World.
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The cannabis industry’s employee enablement and training platform Seed Talent has launched Role-Based Assessments, with support from NAMCE.

The cannabis industry’s employee enablement and training platform Seed Talent has launched Role-Based Assessments, with support from NAMCE.

What’s It All About?

“After gathering feedback from industry professionals and companies alike over the last few years, the challenges we heard were consistent, and it was clear the solution required an outside-the-box approach,” Kurt Kaufmann, CEO of Seed Talent, explained.

Kurt Kaufmann, CEO of Seed Talent
 

Assessments aim to level the playing field for cannabis employees while providing focused growth pathways for professionals, focusing initially on roles such as budtender, cultivation agent and extractor.

These evaluations delve into the distinct skill sets required to excel in such roles, consolidating them into a comprehensive three-part assessment to determine an individual’s competency level.

Upon completion, individuals are recognized as entry, skilled or advanced, highlighting both their strengths and areas ripe for development.

“Assessments will serve as a solid step forward in bridging the gap between cannabis professionals and their employers, particularly for high-volume cannabis-specific roles,” Kaufmann continued. “We are excited to build upon these initial Assessments through industry feedback to ensure that this solution makes our industry more approachable, equitable, and scalable.”

Air Marketing Announces Launch of SaaS Recruitment Agency, Seed Talent ...

 

How Does It Work?

Start with the entry-level Assessment for a desired industry role. Each assessment is a prerequisite to advance to the next level.

Participants will be certified for the highest-level assessment that they achieve. Upon completion, Seed Talent will provide a digital certificate for each participant’s determined competency level. After completing the assessment, there is a brief survey for participants to help fine-tune the process to better serve the entire cannabis community.

What’s Next

Upon full commercial launch of the offering in early 2024, professionals and employers will be able to better communicate role readiness through the sharing of the assessment results, as well as create more targeted learning pathways based on skill or knowledge gaps identified through the reporting.

 

Those interested can participate in Seed Talent’s pilot program, where they are offering these Assessments free through the balance of 2023.

 

#IntheWeedswithSteve   Be patient Florida, this too, shall pass! Steven M Smith InspirationalTech.org CEO since 2013.
Thank you for consideration.
Inspirational Technologies
InspirationalTech.org for your Health Wellness Beauty and Inspirational Goals

For More Information on Cannabis and CBD and YOU.

 

AllRightsReserved2023

1st Hemp USA News is a resource of Inspirational Technologies (2023)
Continue reading The cannabis industry’s employee enablement and training platform Seed Talent has launched Role-Based Assessments, with support from NAMCE.
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Kratom – What is it? Is it legal?

Kratom tea is one of many forms of kratom, which comes from crushing and drying the leaves of the kratom tree, native to Southeast Asia. The tea has been traditionally used for hundreds of years to combat fatigue and improve productivity.

 

Kratom Correlation | Aegis Sciences Corporation

Kratom tea has gained popularity in recent years for uses including pain relief, management of depression and anxiety, and coping with substance use withdrawal symptoms.

The benefits and side effects of kratom are under debate. Its potential adverse effects have led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn people against using it. However, government organizations such as the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) support research efforts into the potential therapeutic benefits of kratom.

Given limited research and understanding of kratom’s medical uses, it’s best to seek the counsel of a healthcare provider if you’re considering using kratom tea to help with any health or mental health issues.

This article talks about why people drink kratom tea, the safety and legality of kratom, and how to approach preparing kratom tea at home.

 

Reasons People Drink Kratom Tea

People drink kratom tea for a variety of reasons. Traditional uses of kratom in Southeast Asia include chewing fresh or dried kratom tree leaves or making them into tea to combat fatigue and improve work productivity. Kratom has also been traditionally used to treat morphine dependence and act as a substitute for opium.

 

Kratom has gained popularity in Western societies. People cite the following reasons for its use:

  • For pain relief
  • To manage symptoms of anxiety and depression
  • To stop or reduce the use of opioids or other substances
  • To manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioids or other drugs

Kratom’s opioid- and stimulant-like effects have made it an attractive substance, especially as it can be easily ingested in tea form. Stimulant-like effects include increased energy and alertness, while opioid-like effects include pain relief and relaxation.

Kratom can be taken in a variety of ways, including as a capsule, as a powder mixed into food or drink, or by directly chewing on kratom tree leaves. People may choose to drink kratom tea as opposed to using other forms as it may feel more natural and less like taking a substance.

Although kratom tea can be casually sipped like any other type of tea, there are still a lot of unknowns about the chemical compounds related to kratom. It’s important to keep in mind that the FDA approves no medical uses of kratom, and several safety concerns have been identified.

 

Controversy Over Kratom Safety

Debate is ongoing about kratom’s benefits and risks. Users or potential users may underestimate the risks associated with it.

The FDA has stated that there is no evidence showing the safety and efficacy of kratom for medical use and warns against using kratom in any form to self-medicate and treat pain or manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.

However, the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and NIDA support and conduct research on the potential medicinal uses of kratom and its related chemical compounds as well as potential adverse effects.

Weighing the Benefits vs. Side Effects

Kratom has been used in traditional medicine, and many people have used kratom to self-medicate for anxiety, depression, pain, and substance use disorders.

According to NIDA, animal studies have suggested that kratom has antidepressant and pain-relieving properties, warranting more research. The agency notes research findings that it should be studied as an experimental treatment for substance use disorders, specifically opioid use disorder.

 

In short, though there may be medical applications for kratom, more research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of kratom in treating certain medical conditions.

While people have used kratom for centuries, including kratom tea, risks are associated with kratom use. Adverse effects of kratom intoxication include:

  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations, sedation, confusion, agitation, tremors, seizures, and coma
  • Cardiovascular symptoms, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and tachycardia (fast heart rate)
  • Digestive symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting
  • Respiratory symptoms, such as hypoventilation (slow, shallow breathing)
  • Liver problems

There is also the risk of becoming dependent on kratom. As with any unregulated substance, the FDA does not regulate kratom processing and sales, and there is a risk of buying kratom that’s been contaminated with harmful substances.

 

If you purchase kratom tea, be sure to get as much information as possible regarding how it was processed and where it came from. Note that it’s impossible to guarantee the safety of kratom tea leaves, and the short- and long-term safety effects of kratom are not well understood.

In its 2018 statement noting kratom’s potential for abuse, the FDA reported deaths that involved kratom use. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that of the deaths where mitragynine (a compound in kratom) was confirmed, almost all the deaths involved the use of other substances, making kratom’s contribution to these deaths unclear.

If you’re considering using kratom tea for its potential benefits, discuss it with a healthcare provider. It is important to avoid any potentially dangerous drug interactions.

Kratom Plant Facts

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. Kratom tree leaves contain two chemical compounds that are known to have psychoactive effects: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Kratom Plant Information: Learn About Growing A Kratom Plant

The leaves contain several other chemical compounds, but mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the most studied due to their effects on the body and brain.

Kratom leaves are crushed and dried to make kratom tea leaves. The leaves can also be smoked or made into a powder, extract, or capsule.

How to Steep Kratom Tea

You can find countless recipes for kratom tea online. Preparation methods vary depending on whether you’re using kratom tea leaves (loose or in a tea bag), kratom powder, or kratom extract.

Steeping loose-leaf kratom tea will require hot water, the tea leaves, and either a reusable tea bag or something to strain the tea (such as cheesecloth) if you’re using loose-leaf kratom tea.

Many recipes recommend steeping the tea for 15 to 20 minutes. Flavor enhancers like lemon and honey may also be added to the tea to help mask the bitter taste.

Because much is still unknown about the use of kratom tea, especially regarding routine use, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider or medical professional from the CAM community to make sure that you follow any recommendations on how much and how often kratom tea should be sipped to avoid any potential adverse effects or dependency.

Where to Find Quality Kratom

The FDA does not regulate kratom. You always risk buying poor-quality kratom. However, there are reasonable things to keep in mind when buying kratom tea.

For example, buying kratom tea from reputable health stores may be a safer option than, say, a gas station. When looking online, stick to reputable websites with clear indications of their reputation and qualifications to sell kratom tea.

10 Tips for Making Your Own Kratom Tea - Imagup

 

Where Is Kratom Tea Legal?

Whereas the use and sale of kratom is banned in many countries, kratom products are legal at the federal level in the United States.

However, as of August 2023, it was banned, regulated, or age-restricted in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Since laws are in flux, consumers should research whether kratom is legal where they live.

The FDA asserts that kratom cannot be lawfully marketed as a drug product, dietary supplement, or food additive in the United States.

Despite the legality of kratom tea and the fact that kratom is not a controlled substance in the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has labeled kratom a drug and chemical of concern. Kratom remains on the list of substances under surveillance by the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence.

Summary

Kratom tea comes from the leaves of the kratom tree, native to Southeast Asia. Kratom tea traditionally was used to combat fatigue and improve productivity, and in recent years, it has gained popularity for a variety of uses, including the management of pain, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.

The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use and warns against its potential adverse effects. It’s important to talk with a healthcare provider or medical professional who specializes in complementary alternative medicine to ensure that, if you use kratom tea, you use it safely.

Read the original article on Very well Health.

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Illinois’ adult-use cannabis retailers reached a historic high in November.

 
Record Sales: Illinois' Cannabis Industry Historic November
 

Illinois’ adult-use cannabis retailers reached a historic high in November, setting a record for the most legal cannabis sold primarily to in-state residents in a single month. Overall sales, including purchases made by out-of-state customers, ranked fifth-highest monthly total since weed shops opened in January 2020.

 

Breakdown of November’s Cannabis Sales

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported total recreational cannabis sales amounting to $139.1 million for the month. According to Marijuana Moment, this figure includes $105.5 million in sales to Illinois residents and $33.6 million by visitors, exclusive of taxes.

State of Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial & Professional ...

Moreover, state-licensed retailers sold more individual adult-use cannabis products in November than ever before, with a total of 3.77 million items.

Medical Cannabis Sales and Market Trends

While the latest figures for medical cannabis sales in November are still pending, October’s sales reached $26.2 million, including $12.4 million in dry flower and $13.8 million in concentrates and infused products. This data comes from the Medical Cannabis Patient Program.

 

Despite these impressive numbers, Illinois consumers are facing higher cannabis prices compared to many other states with legal markets. Governor J.B. Pritzker acknowledged the high prices but emphasized the industry’s consistent expansion and the substantial sales to out-of-state customers.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker not on board with Sen. Mitch McConnell’s support of ...

2023: A Year Of Record-Breaking Growth

State officials also highlighted the “unprecedented” surge of state-legal cannabis sales in fiscal year 2023. This growth is partly attributed to the opening of 28 new retailers and total retail sales surpassing $1.5 billion.

The fiscal year 2023 brought approximately $451.9 million in revenue from legal cannabis to Illinois, outperforming alcohol revenue, which was around $316.3 million.

Advancing Social Equity in Cannabis Licensing

To address the impact of the War on Drugs, Illinois issued 200 conditional licenses and established a Social Equity Criteria Lottery. This initiative aims to prioritize individuals disproportionately affected by drug laws, with over 2,600 applicants for 55 new social equity dispensary licenses. Most of these new licenses were allocated in Cook County, the state’s most populous region.

Chart: Illinois lottery for retail marijuana licenses raises social ...

 

A Boost to Diversity and Challenges for Small Growers

The industry has also seen a notable increase in minority and women-owned businesses since 2020. Black-owned companies now account for 27% of the market, Latino/a or Hispanic-owned companies for 5%, Asian-owned companies for 3%, and women-owned businesses make up 16%.

However, small cannabis growers are facing challenges, struggling to thrive even with state aid.

 

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Ohio GOP Lawmakers Running Out the Clock Before Dec. 7 Cannabis Deadline

Despite the incessant nitpicking on the part of Ohio’s Republican leadership, which is seeking changes to the Nov. 7 voter-approved initiative that legalized adult-use cannabis, one Cleveland representative has stepped up to question what many are calling anti-democratic procedures.

GOP Attempts To Amend New Cannabis Law In Ohio Meet Resistance From Democratic House Member

 

Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Senate president Matt Huffman are seeking, among other changes, to redirect the usage of the hundreds of millions likely to be raised by excise taxes. One example that is raising the most dissent is the Republicans ‘ insistence on utilizing cannabis revenue for law enforcement rather than the agreed-upon social equity program and community reinvestment that earmarked tax dollars to support individuals who have been “disproportionately affected by past marijuana-related law enforcement.”

Enter Juanita Brent

Ohio Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleve) underscored the importance of having people who were directly impacted by cannabis prohibition participate in the legal marketplace and have seats at the table, as the Republican leadership moves ahead with its changes.

“If you’ve been criminalized by cannabis, the best thing you can do is come back into the field,” Brent told The Statehouse News Bureau.

Brent also pointed out that it is equally important that those involved in amending the initiative, known as Issue 2, are not outright anti-cannabis crusaders, which alas seems to be the case in Ohio.

Why Are Prohibitionists Making These Decisions?

“Ohioans have to remember that the people who are trying to be the loudest at the [statehouse] are people who were anti-cannabis,” Brent said. “We cannot have anti-cannabis people leading on what’s going to happen with cannabis. We need people who are involved. We need people who have been doing the work. We need people who have been advocating.”

Social equity provisions, by the way, are built into every legal marijuana program across the U.S. as a way to deal with well-documented racial disparities in marijuana arrests.

 

“We need to build more cultivators because there is going to be a lot of demand. We can have dispensaries that we want in the state, but if we don’t have cultivators there will be an increase in price,” she said.

GOP Lawmakers Running Out the Clock Before Dec. 7 Deadline 

Republican lawmakers have said they are planning to publicize their policy changes to Issue 2, Huffman said last week, although he did not give details on the exact proposals or a timeline.

Huffman famously implied last week that Ohioans had not understood that the social equity elements in the new legalization law were prioritizing people affected by past cannabis-related enforcement.

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What if marijuana is reclassified as a Schedule III substance?

 

Federal authorities are weighing whether to stop classifying marijuana among the riskiest drugs, a move that cannabis advocates have long hoped would result in more research on its health effects, businesses having an easier time selling it and fewer people going to jail.

Surgeon general suggests reconsidering marijuana's status as Schedule 1 ...

 

But experts warn the August recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services to strip marijuana’s designation as a Schedule I drug may not fulfill those hopes.

The proposal before the Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance — in the same category as prescription drugs such as anabolic steroids, ketamine and testosterone — would free marijuana from some of the restrictions that apply to Schedule 1 drugs such as heroin and LSD. A decision is expected in coming months.

While marijuana advocates have cast the proposal as a step forward, some contend it doesn’t go far enough and would like to see the drug removed from the schedule system entirely, treated like tobacco and alcohol, and eventually legalized at the federal level.

Rescheduling marijuana would amount to a symbolic win in the quest to normalize the drug.

 

“A recognition from the federal government after all these years that marijuana is safe and effective as a therapeutic agent for patients is significant because obviously that would be a reversal of a very long-standing and very public position,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), an advocacy group. “When it comes to the practical elements, I don’t think anyone knows because we have never gone down this road before.”

Marijuana legalization faces tough odds in holdout red states despite Ohio win.

The implications are mired in legal complications, especially because cannabis is caught in a convoluted system for regulating the drug across different levels of government as both medicinal and intoxicating. Here’s a rundown of what we know about rescheduling and the concerns swirling around different aspects of marijuana reform.

What does drug scheduling mean?

The Controlled Substances Act regulates drugs and categorizes them into one of five “schedules” depending on their medical benefits and potential for abuse.

The schedules aren’t a ranking of how bad the drugs are for you or society, but instead are a guide for how limited access to the drug should be for doctors, pharmacists and patients. (For example, LSD, which rarely kills users, is scheduled higher than opioid painkillers, which causes tens of thousands of fatal overdoses, because painkillers are routinely used in treating patients.)

 

Marijuana’s designation as a Schedule I substance means the federal government thinks there is no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Federal law prohibits the cultivation and possession of Schedule I drugs, except for approved research studies.

Possible easing of marijuana restrictions could have major implications.

A Schedule III designation under consideration for marijuana means the drug has moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Federal health officials have declined to answer questions about how they have assessed marijuana’s potential for abuse and dependence.

Here’s where things get really tricky: Federal officials have previously said they are obligated to classify marijuana as a Schedule I or II substance under an international treaty to fight drug trafficking by tightly controlling narcotics. That’s one of the issues the DEA would have to sort out before deciding whether to reschedule the drug.

 

Effects on health research

All controlled substances come with restrictions on research, but marijuana and other Schedule I substances have the toughest requirements. Experts say it’s imperative to conduct more research on marijuana to understand its benefits and risks as legal markets flourish and consumer use soars.

 

To gain access to pot, researchers need to register with the DEA under rules that would not apply if they studied Schedule II substances like cocaine and fentanyl. They must submit research protocols to the DEA that need to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. And they must meet stringent requirements for drug storage in electronic safes or vaults that some researchers say are too expensive and burdensome to follow.

“It’s incredibly excessive and totally unnecessary,” said Ryan Vandrey, a cannabis researcher at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “I can run an entire study with an amount of cannabis that’s less than $100 in street value and bought by an adult in the state of Maryland at any of the different dispensaries.”

Researchers have to obtain marijuana from growers that follow federal restrictions. But they say such restrictions on growing marijuana for studies make it harder to examine the effects of high potency products and other forms of cannabis now popular among consumers.

Image result for Researchers have to obtain marijuana from growers that follow federal restrictions. But they say such restrictions on growing marijuana for studies make it harder to examine the effects of high potency products and other forms of cannabis now popular among consumers.

 

Marijuana addiction is real. Those struggling often face skepticism.

Some researchers have found ways to get around these rules, but their studies have limitations.

For example, Washington State University researchers studying the cognitive effects of cannabis had to use Zoom to observe participants who just used marijuana they bought at dispensaries. The ideal study would involve researchers providing high-potency cannabis from dispensaries, including a placebo to a control group, and participants coming to a lab to provide blood samples and record physiological data points such as heart rate variability and cortisol levels that cannot be measured over Zoom.

The university risks losing federal funding if researchers administer cannabis themselves even though marijuana is legal in Washington, said Carrie Cuttler, an associate professor of psychology who directs The Health & Cognition (THC) Lab at Washington State.

“It’s absurd, absolutely absurd,” she said, “to treat cannabis as pretty much the most dangerous narcotic available in the world.”

Despite these restrictions, there is still plenty of research done on marijuana without ever handling the physical drug.

And experts caution there would still be hurdles in conducting the kind of research that’s now off-limits even if marijuana is reclassified as a Schedule III substance. That’s because the drug would still be treated as a therapeutic rather than an increasingly popular recreational product. It would still be difficult to study all the new marijuana products flooding the market, particularly edibles, vape cartridges and highly concentrated forms such as waxes and shatter.

Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes marijuana legalization, said his organization has proposed creating a new schedule category that would relax research restrictions on marijuana while maintaining other restrictions from its Schedule I status.

 

Unclear future for the cannabis industry

One of the toughest questions to answer about rescheduling is what it would do to the thousands of marijuana companies operating in a legal gray zone.

It is expected they would be able to deduct business expenses from their tax obligations for the first time, boosting their bottom lines. Beyond that, it gets complicated.

Industry advocates hope rescheduling might encourage more banks to work with marijuana companies, but a bill in Congress to shield fnancial institutions from punishment is the more direct path for achieving that goal.

There is no precedent for reclassifying a drug that is legal in states, and the booming marijuana industry, and its broad network of direct-to-consumer sales, is nothing like the markets for other Schedule III drugs such as ketamine and testosterone, which require a prescription.

In some ways, the status quo of treating marijuana as one of the riskiest drugs may actually be better for business.

Because marijuana is a Schedule I substance, the FDA has punted to the DEA to regulate it, and the DEA is not in the business of overseeing industries and markets.

A group of marijuana organizations raised concerns that treating marijuana as a Schedule III substance meant for medicinal purposes could upend the industry. They fear the FDA would prohibit recreational marijuana and hold therapeutic products to the high bar needed to sell medicine — requirements only large pharmaceutical companies may realistically be able to overcome — but leading experts dismiss that concern as unfounded.

Some experts argue that it is unlikely the FDA will suddenly crack down on marijuana after taking a largely hands-off approach for years, given the disruption it would cause and the resources it would take. Advocates counter that there’s no guarantee the winds won’t shift — for example, if Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, wins the presidency after railing against marijuana.

“There is no way anyone could know or predict in our current political climate what the risk of FDA enforcement is,” said Shaleen Title, a former Massachusetts marijuana regulator who runs a cannabis think tank. “What I worry about is by trying to relax marijuana laws, we would inadvertently end up in a situation where we would be criminalizing existing state operators in a new way.”

 

Limited impact on federal pot prosecutions

Marijuana is illegal at the federal level regardless of how it’s classified, and rescheduling alone would not change penalties for major federal marijuana cases.

Possession of Schedule I substances is a federal crime, but few people go to federal prison just for having marijuana. Federal marijuana trafficking charges have plunged 90 percent in a decade as authorities make fentanyl their top priority. Under federal law, rescheduling would not affect penalties for trafficking convictions, said Shane Pennington, a D.C. attorney who specializes in cannabis law.

“It’s going to be a lot less of a boon for criminal justice reform than people think,” Pennington said.

Marijuana prosecutions tend to happen in state courts, and there were at least 209,000 arrests for possession last year, according to FBI statistics.

Along the Interstate 40 corridor that cuts across the Texas Panhandle between New Mexico and Oklahoma, local police officers routinely arrest motorists transporting marijuana loads from illegal grow operations in California, said Texas defense attorney Adam Tisdale, who specializes in marijuana cases. The loads are typically headed to Florida, and the drivers are charged in state court with possession of marijuana, which becomes a felony depending on the weight of the marijuana. Tisdale predicts local officers won’t stop making those arrests, which usually result in hefty fines, not jail time.

President Biden grants mass pardons for those convicted of simple marijuana possession.

“It won’t make any difference in my neck of the woods,” Tisdale said of rescheduling.

Proponents of rescheduling, such as the U.S. Cannabis Council, say it would send a powerful signal to law enforcement agencies that marijuana cases should be a low priority.

Critics, including the former DEA and White House officials who signed a letter organized by the anti-marijuana organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana, argue that rescheduling removes a “key tool” that federal agents have in prosecuting cartels.

Experts are split on what impact rescheduling would have on the nation’s criminal justice systems, which for decades have punitively targeted people — particularly Black and Latino people — for possessing or trafficking in a drug that is now legal for recreational use in 23 states. The Minority Cannabis Business Association and other advocates for racial equity in marijuana policy contend rescheduling alone continues the war on drugs.

“I don’t know if it’s worth the trade-off to be stuck in this murky middle,” said Kaliko Castille, board president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. “You are still going to have business owners making millions of dollars and others in prison for a plant.”

Loosening restrictions on marijuana may not be boon for reform© Melina Mara/The Washington Post

Be patient Florida, this too, shall pass! Steven M Smith InspirationalTech.org CEO since 2013.

Thank you for consideration.

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