Maybe that's why everyone is losing their mind lately over HEMP!
Learn more about the potential possibilities of this powerful and potent plant cousin of pot in the article ALL HEMP EVERYTHING, only on Hoodie Goodies!
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Written By: Zach Champ
Cover Photography By Rick Proctor, Courtesy via Unsplash.com
You may have heard about hemp and may be wondering just what exactly it is. Hemp is a special strain of the Cannabis sativa plant.
Hemp is a close cousin to marijuana. They essentially look, smell, and taste the same. However, what makes hemp so unique and special is that it doesn't produce high concentrations of THC, the primary psychoactive chemical compound in Marijuana. Instead, it produces high concentrations of CBD, the highly medicinal but non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
Hemp is grown and used primarily for industrial purposes. Hemp is prized for its plant fibers and for the valuable CBD oil, which can be extracted from the flowers and buds of the plant.
Hemp has nearly infinite possible industrial and manufacturing applications. These range from textiles to building materials to bio-plastics and biofuels.
One of the biggest environmental issues we face today is plastic pollution. It is estimated that nearly 3/4ths of all land-based pollution is due to plastic, including micro-beads and other harmful industrial products that don’t degrade or break-down (Plastic Pollution.org). This plastic often builds up into harmful amounts that disrupt the ecosystem, cause problems with normal biological processes, and which ultimately affect the food chain of local wildlife.
With hemp, we may have a solution to this crisis in the form of natural bio-plastics! Hemp-based bio-plastics are renewable and more easily recyclable than their fuel-based counterparts. They can break-down more easily when exposed to the environment, and are easy to make using existing technology and machinery commonly found in the plastics industry 1. This is just one way that hemp can drastically change the current paradigm.
Another way hemp is making a big buzz is with CBD. Each day and more and more people are becoming aware of the medicinal benefits of Hemp, Marijuana, and CBD. Many companies are starting to add and promote CBD in their products. It is estimated that by 2024 the CBD business will be worth nearly $24 billion (Green Entrepeneur)!
Photo By Kimzy Nanney, Courtesy via Unsplash.com
Hemp is good for the body beyond just being an effective medicine. It also is a delicious and highly nutritious food! The seeds of hemp can be used in various ways from pressing oil out of the seeds, to grinding them into a flour, to making them into a plant-based milk. Hemp seed is high in fiber and protein and contains omega fatty acids as well as Vitamin B. Hemp seed is a rich source of amino acids making them a great choice for athletes and body-builders looking for a vegetarian protein source.
Hemp as a natural product, with so many important and vital uses, can help us reconnect with nature and help fuel the restructuring of our global economy towards a more sustainable and conservation-oriented society.
The extreme versatility of hemp is what makes it such a wonderful and curious crop for agriculture, especially here in the United States of America. Some folks are even going so far as to say that hemp can save American farms and restore confidence for our nation's farmers.
American farmers have faced significant challenges over the past few years, which has affected their livelihoods ranging from the changing climate to rising tariffs. The state of American agriculture is somewhat in question. Traditional crops and growing methods are no longer yielding the consistent and reliable results they once did, leaving many confused, hungry, and broke. Hemp may be the next big step in the evolution of American agriculture and already has a well-established historical precedence and legacy.
Hemp used to be a widely appreciated and essential crop for farmers in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. Even one of America's great founding fathers, George Washington, grew hemp on their plantation and farm in Mount Vernon (2). During WWII the U.S Government also encouraged farmers back home to grow hemp as part of an effort to supply a reliable fiber for needed rope and cloth. Close to 1 million acres of hemp were grown in the American mid-west during this program (3).
So what happened to hemp that it fell out of popularity? The truth is that in the 1920s and 1930’s government policies, largely supported for by corporate interests, began to crack down on the production of hemp and marijuana. The government began to distribute propaganda calling marijuana a harmful drug. Strict laws were passed the incriminated anyone growing or possessing hemp and marijuana. Hemp essentially faded from American agriculture, even though it was still a widely demanded industrial material. It is only recently with the emerging trend of legalization and decriminalization of marijuana and hemp that we have seen a resurgence in this potent agricultural commodity.
It’s not just that hemp is a cash crop, capable of creating large profits. The plant itself is beneficial to the environment. Hemp helps with nitrogen-fixation in soil. When farmers grow plants in the same piece of land year after year, they end up depleting the soil of its essential nutrients including nitrogen. Without nitrogen in the soil, many plants won’t grow. Hemp can help correct and fix damaged soils from over-farming. This makes it a great choice for crop-rotation practices, where farmers will grow a nitrogen-dependent plant one year, then grow a nitrogen-fixating plant the next, and keep alternating this procedure each year.
Farmer’s are constantly looking for plants that they can maximize the potential use and value of. Hemp is perhaps the best candidate for farmers looking to get more ‘bang for their buck’.
While Washington D.C is known for its medicinal and recreational marijuana, there is no end to the availability of Hemp and CBD products in stores across the District of Colombia. Shops like New Leaf and Up & Down Smoke Shop contain a literal treasure trove of hemp-based and CBD products ranging from medicinal tinctures, candies, drops, and bracelets to smoking papers and more! Perhaps the most influential of them all is Capitol Hemp which is a head-shop located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Capitol Hemp not only sells CBD and Hemp products, but they were also essential to helping create the momentum necessary for the enacting of Initiative 71, the voter-led referendum which legalized marijuana in D.C. Capitol Hemp utilized a grassroots approach to reach out to the public and create awareness about pathways to legalization in the city. Their efforts were not only successful but crucial to helping define the culture and landscape of legal weed in D.C today.
In addition to the many head-shops, boutiques, pop-ups, and other various commercial enterprises, non-profit groups like The National Hemp Association are also headquartered and located in Washington D.C. The National Hemp Association are huge advocates for industrial hemp and work closely with farmers and communities across the nation to help facilitate the growth of the hemp industry and educate individuals about the benefits of industrial hemp.
It’s beneficial that groups like this are nearby to provide their insight, guidance, and wisdom; especially for farmers and entrepreneurs in Virginia who are starting their own hemp farming experiments. Recent legislative changes in Richmond have legalized hemp for commercial growing and manufacturing in the commonwealth of Virginia. Interested applicants have to register with the state as growers, dealers, or processors, and follow specific state guidelines on the amount of THC that is allowed in individual plants, or how much hemp can be grown, and other regulatory aspects of this emerging lucrative industry. Virginia is poised to become a major producer of Hemp within the DMV, and now is a great time to get involved for anyone who is interested...
It’s not just here in the DMV that hemp is becoming more and more popular. Neighboring states like North Carolina are also starting to grow hemp with the goal of making it a vital cash crop alongside other traditional crops like tobacco and corn. Across the country, people are hopping on the Hemp train and trying to cash in. The fact that one plant has such incredible potential should surely be a sign of it’s intended preeminence for our culture and society. Hemp has the power to revolutionize almost all aspects of modern-day society.
The world needs a powerful plant to bring us together and remind us of our duties and obligations to be good stewards of mother nature. I believe that plant is Cannabis in the form of Hemp and Marijuana.
1. https://www.greenentrepreneur.com/article/323992
2. https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/facts/george-washington-grew-hemp/
3. https://www.thehia.org/history
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In this article, we explain the current legal status of weed in the District of Colombia, Maryland, and Virginia and explore what the future may hold in store for recreational and medical cannabis!
Learn more by reading the article below!
Do you support marijuana legalization in the DMV? Let us know in the comments!
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Marijuana should be legal. It is a comparatively safe drug for adult consumption and has been scientifically proven time and again to be medicinal in a variety of ways. As a recreational drug, it is no more inebriating than alcohol. The states in the United States which have legalized cannabis have been able to capitalize and bring in revenues of millions of dollars. It’s time to legalize recreational and medical marijuana in the DMV.
The political grandstanding behind legalizing cannabis in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a poorly orchestrated effort by private interests that goes against the popular mainstream opinion and demand. It also ignores the real market potential that could stimulate regional economies. Recreational and medicinal marijuana can also potentially help with the growing issue of opiate and methamphetamine addiction and abuse which has been a growing issue in the DMV.
Photo By Get Budding, Photo Courtesy via Unsplash.com
Legalization of Cannabis in the DMV can help create thousands of jobs, inspire local citizens to become small business owners, and can provide much-needed tax revenues for the local school systems, public transportation, and social services through funding counseling and substance abuse programs. Anyone arguing against legalized, taxed, and regulated cannabis in the DMV are ignorant and don’t want to see their community thrive and grow. The potential here is enormous, the region could benefit from millions of dollars of additional tax revenue to the State Budget just like other states in the Union that have legalized medical marijuana and recreational cannabis.
THE CURRENT STATE OF CANNABIS LEGISLATION IN THE DMV
The Nation’s Capital has long been associated with the joys of cannabis! Washington D.C was surprisingly one of the first regions in the United States to legalize medical marijuana back in 1998 with Initiative 59 which was a voter led ballot referendum. Even though a majority of D.C voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana in this local expression of political power, the Federal Government intervened with the passage of the Barr Amendment. The Barr Amendment forbids D.C from spending public funds, ultimately appropriated and controlled by Congress, on the medical marijuana program. This response limited the ability of Initiative 59 to be a worthwhile, successful project. This type of policy back-and-forth between City Council and Congress was to foreshadow the District’s future struggles with legalization.
The Barr Amendment put a halt on D.C’s medical marijuana program for many years, but ultimately legislative loopholes and finagling allowed the City Council to finally implement the program in 2011. Medical programs and dispensaries started to open and service patients. The next step in the District’s public policy on marijuana was decriminalization in 2014. Once again Congress had to put its nose where it didn’t belong and make a stinking fuss, but their efforts were constrained.
The next bold move by D.C residents to legalize their favorite plant came again in 2014 when a petition started to begin a voter-led referendum towards legalizing recreational marijuana in the District of Colombia. This petition was the start of what would later become Initiative 71. Nearly 65% of voters approved of the ballot, and on November 4th, 2014 legalized recreational marijuana was voted into law in D.C.
In other states, this would be the start of the wonderful, community benefiting recreational laws where tax revenues from marijuana sales go back towards local education, public health, and other community resources. However this is the District of Colombia, and anytime anything half-way decent tries to get advocated for, D.C’s greatest enemy, Congress, shows up with the intent to ruin everything for everyone.
There is a Representative named Andy Harris, who comes from Maryland’s 1st Congressional District. Representative Harris is responsible for passing an “add-on” piece of legislation known as a rider, to an annual house spending bill that attempted to block the D.C City Council from spending federal appropriated tax-payer dollars on enacting Initiative 71. Representative Harris argued that the Initiative was an illegal referendum and that the Federal policy on Cannabis being a Schedule 1 drug needed to be upheld.
Representative Harris is quick to punish and critique, but he offers no solutions to help address the critical needs of the District’s residents.
Is his opinion even worth regarding any longer?
In fact, it is ironic that Representative Harris is so critical of legalized and decriminalized marijuana in D.C. when his home state, Maryland has recently legalized medical marijuana through state-regulated dispensaries and programs. Recreational use is still illegal in Maryland. In the future, it is likely we will see Maryland either decriminalize recreational cannabis use or legalize it. Surprisingly there has been some expressed backlash from companies in the medical marijuana industry towards legalizing recreational cannabis in Maryland. Their argument is that an adult recreational market would reduce and diminish the effectiveness and profit-making ability of the medical marijuana industry. I think this is flawed thinking, as medical marijuana patients require unique products and services that recreational users do not, and believe that statements like these just represent a selfish bottom line to stifle competition and maintain economic control of a market. We will see what the future brings for Marijuana in Maryland.
Photo Courtesy via Shutterstock
Virginia is a commonwealth, and if you are from Virginia then you surely have heard the bemoaned phrase “It’s a commonwealth” which is often used as an excuse for Virginia’s shitty hyper-conservative and sometimes extremely outdated laws and statutes. Marijuana is illegal in Virginia. Possession of a small amount is considered a misdemeanor offense, with possession of larger amounts and the distribution of any amounts being a felony. Only within the past few years has Virginia created legislation which allows CBD oil with a small percentage of THC in it to be prescribed to patients with severe epilepsy and similar diseases. It is unlikely Virginia will legalize recreational marijuana anytime soon unless there is a dramatic shift in attitudes of current state political leadership, or even better, changes in who the actual leadership is itself.
Vote, speak up, be active, and maybe run for office yourself if you want to see cannabis legalized in Virginia!
THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS IN THE DMV AND BEYOND…
Write to your local representative or delegate and express your support for legalized recreational and medical marijuana in the DMV. The only way we are going to get the legislation passed is by working together and in coordination to voice public support of this issue. We need to demand that our lawmakers hear our case, and rightfully remove the penalties and restrictions on the use of this cherished, sacred, medicinal plant.
Photo By Helloquence, Photo Courtesy via Unsplash.com
Some lawmakers are already beginning to debate the legality of cannabis. The time is perfect for the public to reach out and influence those representatives who are on the fence about cannabis legislation. Public officials and lawmakers need to be explained the medicinal benefits of marijuana. They also need to see the bigger picture in terms of economic impact. States that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana have been able to generate significant amounts of tax revenues. Not only that, but with a new industry comes new businesses. This can include large corporate groups to small, locally owned or family-owned enterprises. All this translates into local economic growth regardless.
Already there has been a large increase in the number of Cannabis small businesses in Washington D.C. These businesses vary from head shops and consultation boutiques to actual cannabis or CBD products and services, to actual growing and distribution operations. Cannabis is a large industry no different than any other agricultural or pharmaceutical commodity. It requires complex networks to grow, ship, distribute, market, and advertise any of these products. With legalization comes the creation of enterprises and jobs capable of filling all these roles within the industry.
This all sounds exciting, but the reality is there is an unresolved legal status of marijuana sales in the District of Colombia. Because Initiative 71 doesn’t specifically outline guidelines and regulations for commercial sales, it remains technically illegal in Washington D.C to sell Marijuana in any amounts. Initiative 71 only allows for the possession of Marijuana and personal cultivation. Individuals may ‘gift’ marijuana but nowhere in Initiative 71 does it say that Cannabis can be sold and how so. The end result is that a gray market has developed where people purchase marijuana through straw-man like sales. The common scenario is an interested consumer will purchase a sticker, t-shirt, consultation, or any other product/service and receive a gifted amount of cannabis in return. Surprisingly recent statistics show that Marijuana arrests are higher than before Initiative 71 due to higher demand for weed in D.C and an increased number of individuals selling marijuana illegally.
This reflects a concerning trend in the legalization of marijuana, where the only people benefitting from the new industry are rich, affluent, upper-class whites... essentially the only people with the capital, resources, and networks to start large scale legal marijuana operations and businesses. Many people find this hard to accept as reasonable, especially considering that the war on drugs primarily targeted, pursued, and incarcerated minorities for the consumption and sale of marijuana. As a result, some public officials have expressed a need to establish regulatory oversight committees for marijuana-based businesses that can help foster and incubate more locally owned small-business versus having larger corporations, sometimes from out of state, come in and dominate the cannabis markets.
The true key to success with legalized recreational and medicinal marijuana in the DMV lies in fostering small business and allowing young entrepreneurs and former victims of the war on drugs an opportunity to use legalization as a means towards economic opportunity. We need to cultivate microloan programs for cannabis businesses and encourage young people to start local companies that can provide local careers and jobs. We need to tax the sales of marijuana so that money can be spent on our public schools, social services, local parks, and more!
It is obvious legalization is the key to many potential treasures.
However, the real question is who will ultimately benefit from these treasures…
In the meantime... cultivate love, harmony, and light one up!
Further Reading:
https://dcist.com/story/19/06/12/d-c-is-one-step-closer-to-recreational-marijuana-dispensaries/
In this week's vlog, Frankey Barrz interviews local D.C Cannabis Legalization lobbyist Tanya and Shara. He also provides his own insight into what legal weed means for him as a native resident of Washington D.C!
You can watch the video by clicking the article link here!
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FRANKEY BARRZ is the District of Columbia's premier Hip-Hop Artist and Political Activist advocating for D.C Statehood and Legal Cannabis! Frankey represents his community and fights for it, which is why you should check out his videos on his Youtube Channel as well as his television show on DCTV!
In this week's vlog, Frankey Barrz interviews local D.C Cannabis Legalization lobbyist Tanya and Shara. He also provides his own insight into what legal weed means for him as a native resident of Washington D.C!
You can watch the video directly below:
You can catch episodes of the debut television show "The Frankey Barrz Show" out now and airing every 7th of the month on Public Access Television DCTV (RCN 10, Comcast 95, Verizon 11).
Check DCTV.org for a schedule http://dctv.org/schedule/week
"The Frankey Barrz Show" streams the 7th of every month on their YouTube channel located here.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/IamFrankeyBarrz/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/iamfrankeybarrz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/frankeybarrz
Just google ‘cannabis research’ and get ready to go down the rabbit-hole. It seems there are innumerable ways weed is being studied to treat everything from obesity to Alzheimer’s disease. At the time of this writing (April 2019), a PubMed search for scientific journal articles published in the last year containing the word "cannabis" revealed 1,901 results.
That’s an average of 5 articles being written on cannabis research a day!
What this research is focusing on is a class of compounds called cannabinoids, and specifically how they interact with a relatively newly discovered body system called the endocannabinoid system.
Did you know your body makes its own cannabinoids? The human body makes chemicals called endocannabinoids (endo = made inside your body). Have you ever heard of a runner’s high? That’s your body making endocannabinoids to tell you “Hey buddy, you just ran 10 miles - here are some feel-good chemicals”.
Photo Courtesy via Unsplash.com & Clique Images
Endocannabinoids promote health and homeostasis to keep your body’s various functions in balance. Endocannabinoids achieve this healthy balance by interacting with what some scientists are calling the most widespread and important system in your body- the Endocannabinoid System! The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a vast network of cellular receptor sites
throughout the body - named CB1 and CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 1, cannabinoid receptor 2).
Endocannabinoids can readily attach throughout the body at CB1 and CB2 sites. Imagine these receptor sites as tiny switches on cells that turn on and off certain important body functions. The amount of CB1 and CB2 sites throughout the body is staggering and thought to exceed the number of receptor sites for all other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine combined!
Infographic Courtesy via Research Gate & MedReleaf Corp
CB1 receptors are primarily located on the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, but they are also found elsewhere, in organs and tissues such as the spleen, white blood cells, endocrine gland and parts of the reproductive, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
CB2 receptors are mainly found on white blood cells and are thought to help regulate the immune system.
Ok, so your body makes endocannabinoids that help your body run smoothly - big deal.
What’s an even bigger deal, is that all those endocannabinoids that keep your body in check have similar chemical-cousins found in nature - and just take a wild guess where they’re found??
WEED! Yup, dank is a veritable pharmacopeia of beneficial chemicals called phytocannabinoids (plant cannabinoids).
Marijuana, hemp and other plants like Echinacea and Black Pepper produce a myriad variety of phytocannabinoids, but you are most likely familiar with two of the most common: THC and CBD. Additionally, there are 111 other known cannabinoids found in marijuana.
Cannabinoids (endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids) act on the ECS in amazing ways. They can act pre and post-synapse (nerve endings), meaning they can have an impact on the sending or receiving end of neurons. Cannabinoids are also poly-pharmaceutical meaning that there can be many therapeutic benefits in just one compound, unlike conventional drugs that can only address one issue at a time.
The ECS helps cells by promoting anti-inflammation – a major part of many neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Cannabinoids have also been shown to be 20 times more effective than aspirin and twice as effective as steroids in reducing inflammation, making them promising alternatives to patients that can’t tolerate the side-effects from conventional drugs.
There are so many ways that cannabis can treat diseases – here are two worth noting:
THC has been shown promise in treating Alzheimer’s disease by inhibiting the protein that gets tangled into plaques in the brain. These plaques cause inflammation and strangle neurons to death - one of the disease’s key features. Scientists think that by stopping the inflammation and the plaques that cause it - further brain death due to the disease can be stopped.
Infographic Courtesy via Alchimia Web
Cannabinoids have also been shown to have antiproliferative and anti-angiogenic properties in cancer cells. What that means is that everything that a cancer cell needs to grow (blood supply) and proliferate is inhibited by cannabinoids. A study from 2011 showed that CBD caused programmed cell death in breast cancer cells, without harming healthy cells.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you that cannabinoids were a big deal – a recent observational study of almost 3000 elderly patients in Israel showed that using marijuana reduced dependence on painkillers by half. That’s huge, especially considering the widespread epidemic of opioid and painkiller dependence and abuse.
If you haven’t been paying attention to cannabis research, it’s high time (pun intended) that you do. With new uses and therapies for weed being discovered seemingly every day – it’s set to be the next big treatment breakthrough.
For my non-nerdy friends you can check out NORML – they have a huge collection of up-to-date, plain-English research articles.
For my nerdy friends, you know where to look. 🧐
Chad Parks is a full-time nomad from Kansas City, Missouri. Chad is our new writer for Hoodie Goodies and will be writing blogs each month. When Chad isn’t busy writing, he is seeking out clothing-optional beaches and enjoying all the weirdness America has to offer.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/chad.j.parks
Blog: https://wanderingstarblog.com/
Portfolio: https://www.clippings.me/users/chadparks
Cannabis is quickly growing in popularity across the United States and more and more states are legalizing or decriminalizing possession and use of this once controversial, but now commonly accepted plant medicine. And rightfully so! Cannabis is one of the world’s most popular drugs and Americans have long loved Marijuana even during its prohibition. Marijuana has entranced the American psyche and is now becoming a popular topic in the forefront of domestic politics.
As it stands there are currently 33 states which allow for the use of medicinal marijuana, with 10 states allowing legal recreational use. 13 States have decriminalized possession from a misdemeanor charge to simple fines and fees. We are certain to see more states legalize recreational and medicinal marijuana over the next few years.
Photo Courtesy Google Images
It is important to note that at the federal level, cannabis is still a regulated and scheduled substance, and is illegal to possess and consume except under specific circumstances. The divide between federal and state laws on cannabis has created a modern political dilemma resulting in the sometimes ambiguous and unclear interpretation of the law. Many people may remember the early days of marijuana legalization in California where federal agents from the DEA raided the first medical dispensaries. While this is uncommon these days, the federal ban on marijuana still affects the legal weed industry, mainly in preventing the cannabis businesses from depositing their funds in banks and utilizing the banking system.
Medical Marijuana has been legalized in the District of Columbia since 1998 when local voters approved the passing of Initiative 59. Even though this law was passed in 1998, Congress delayed efforts to enact medical marijuana within the capital by passing the Barr Amendment which forbids city government from using federally appropriated funds in the budget for implementing a medical marijuana policy. This amendment, which represented a significant hurdle in bringing medical marijuana to the city’s residents wasn’t overruled until 2009, and the first medical marijuana sales didn’t occur subsequently until 2013.
The law stipulated that in order to become a medical marijuana patient in DC, applicants must fill out a form with their physicians. They also are required to provide two forms of identification, as well as a written recommendation from their healthcare provider. There is a $100 fee with the application which generally takes a month or two to process by the Department of Health. There are an estimated 6000 individuals in the District of Columbia who are card-carrying medical marijuana patients, and only 5 dispensaries available within the city to service their needs.
An example of a DC Medical Marijuana Patient Card
On March 4th, 2014 the City Council decriminalized possession of cannabis. Once again Congress officials from neighboring states sought to undermine the locally supported and approved policy. Congressional Representative for Maryland Andy Harris passed an amendment similar to the Barr Amendment which prohibited the utilization of federal funds for decriminalization purposes, much to the anger and protest of city residents who immediately boycotted Harris and his district. To this day many residents in the District of Columbia find that the federal government and neighboring states are constantly at odds with the desires and needs of residents in the capital. This is just another example of how outside interests are once again interjecting their unwanted and unasked for opinions into local politics here in the Capital.
On November 2014 voters in the District of Columbia passed Initiative 71 formally known as the Legalization of Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana for Personal Use Initiative. This law became effective on February 26th, 2015 and essentially states that it is legal for a 21-year-old to possess at least 2 ounces of marijuana, and to be able to transfer at least 1 ounce to another person of at least 21 years of age as a gift only. Residents in the District of Columbia may grow up to 6 marijuana plants, with no more than 3 mature plants at any given time. Initiative 71 also allows D.C residents to possess paraphernalia associated with cannabis such as smoking bowls and glass pipes, bongs, scales, etc. Initiative 71 allows D.C residents to consume marijuana on private property.
It is important to note that Initiative 71 doesn’t give residents in the District of Columbia a blank check to consume marijuana whenever and wherever they want. There are several activities which can still get you in legal trouble with the law if you are caught. Some of these activities include:
It is illegal to purchase and sell Cannabis according to Initiative 71. The policy specifically states that cannabis can only be ‘gifted’. This has resulted in an interesting grey market that has developed here in the District of Columbia. There are many vendors in the DC area who will supply you with a ‘gift’ of marijuana if you purchase a token, sticker, shirt, or other items from them. The price of the sticker or shirt or item reflects the implied gift that is received with the purchase. This has created the marijuana grey market in DC, including the phenomenon known as the pop-up event.
“Pop-Up Events” are a legal grey area. You may have seen advertisements for such events on social media, on fliers in the city, or heard about these pop-up events from a friend. The popularity of pop-up cannabis events in DC can’t be denied, and they are definitely a prevalent trend in the region. These grey markets have even made the national spotlight with articles about DC Pop-Up Events appearing in the Rolling Stone and other mainstream media outlets. Yet, at the same time, there’s also been stories about police raiding these events and arresting attendees.
So, what exactly is the situation here? Are pop-up events legal and are they safe to attend? The answer depends on the specifics of the event. The best way to determine if the pop-up event you are attending is more legitimate then not is if it’s an event tied to the creative arts such as an art gallery opening, spoken poetry reading, or another similar hobby-based assembly of like-minded folks. The presence of vendors at an event is a good sign as well. Many Cannabis vendors in the District of Columbia are legitimate small businesses complete with websites, business cards, quality control standards for the cannabis products they offer as gifts, and more! If you are having a hard time discerning whether your cannabis vendor is legitimate or not look to see if they have a brand name and logo and what kind of products they are selling.
It is illegal to consume Cannabis on federal land and property in the District of Columbia, which means most of the tourist locations such as Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, White House, National Mall grounds, and other similar spots are off limits. This also means several parks in the District of Columbia as well, much to the dismay of the stoner who likes to go on strolls surrounded by nature while enjoying their herb. In fact, the only place you can legally and safely smoke marijuana is in the comfort and security of your private residence or home located within the District of Columbia.
SOURCES & CITATIONS:
https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/how-to-get-recreational-medical-marijuana-washington-dc
]]>Myrcene is a terpenoid, a type of compound certain plants will make to help defend themselves and reproduce successfully. Terpenoids can be found in the essential oil of plants along with other organic chemicals such as alkaloids. In Cannabis, these oils are produced in the resinous glands known as trichomes. Terpenoids, in combination with other alkaloids and phytocannabinoids, are responsible for the aroma, taste, and colorful appearance of plants. It is these compounds that provide the medicinal and healing effects that make plants like Cannabis so revered by herbal medicine. Myrcene is found in several plants including: Mangos (Mangifera indica), Hops (Humulus lupus), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Verbena (Verbena officinalus), and various other plant species.
Myrcene is quickly becoming a hot topic and product due to new research that reveals the medicinal nature of this compound as well as it’s other biological effects. It has been scientifically proven that myrcene has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, & anti-nociceptive properties. It is hypothesized that one of the means by which Myrcene works is through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways in the body, resulting in reduced pain over a period of time. This helps with different types of pain that may arise in the body, including acute and central nervous system mediated pain, as well as the pain caused by inflammation.
Myrcene is known to have sedative properties. Indica strains of Cannabis usually contain high myrcene content, and it is suggested that this is what helps attribute to the couch-lock heavy high of these strains. Myrcene is also suggested to be a potentiator for THC. Myrcene supposedly allows for easier transmission of THC across the blood-brain barrier, increasing the bioavailability of THC in the body from consumed cannabis. It is clear that Myrcene has several ways that it can enhance the effects of smoked or consumed cannabis.
The combination of the different terpenoids, alkaloids, and other biochemicals present in Cannabis are what contribute to the overall psychoactive ‘high’ of the plant. This is known as the “Entourage Effect”, and is quickly becoming a hot topic in the research and study of Cannabis (even though this has been common knowledge with herbalist for thousands of years!) Myrcene is proposed to be one of the essential compounds for the Entourage Effect in Marijuana, contributing to the relaxing high we are all familiar with. This is why people often report that THC only extracts and medicine like Marinol can often be unpleasant and dissimilar from the pleasant medicinal and psychoactive effects of smoked cannabis.
Hoodie Goodies currently carries the True Terpenes – Myrcene Isolate product. True Terpenes is the premier company for isolates in the cannabinoid market and has several quality extracts available. All of the True Terpenes products are quality tested and assured for premium customer satisfaction! Hoodie Goodies offers True Terpenes Myrcene Isolate in 1oz bottles for $
Myrcene Isolate has a lot of great uses, especially for medicinal and recreational consumers of Cannabis. Myrcene Isolate can be used in enhancing the flavor and potency of your favorite smoking blends, herbal oils and extracts, as well as vaping juices! Myrcene is an all-natural compound and is safe to consume. There is no known toxicity limit for Myrcene, but we would recommend starting with small amounts to determine your sensitivity and tolerance.
Myrcene can easily be used in edibles! Just add a few drops to your favorite recipe. Realize that myrcene has a strong fruity flavor and will impart this taste onto whatever you’re cooking. Keep in mind that myrcene will also potentiate the effects of any cannabis in this recipe and can make for quite a strong and inebriating edible! Tell us what you think about myrcene and some of your favorite uses for Myrcene Isolate in the comments below! If you tell us something that blows our minds, we will send you a free sample!
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When considering personal health and hygiene, nothing is more important than your skin! The largest organ in the human body is your body’s skin. The epidermis is responsible for keeping all your organs intact, providing an external barrier to germs and the outside world, and regulating bodily temperature. Keeping your skin healthy is essential, as several diseases and ailments related to skincare can be lethal! Skin cancer such as melanoma (which is largely preventable with proper skin care and sun protection) is estimated by the American Red Cross to kill 10,000 individuals this year alone (American Cancer Society, 2018). It is clear and obvious that taking care of your skin is important! But did you know that CBD can help with keeping your skin wholesome and in good health?
CBD is generally processed from Hemp plants by collecting the plant’s essential oils from its seeds and leaves. Scientific studies have proven hemp seed oils effectiveness at relieving dryness of the skin, as well as other dermatological issues (Callaway, Schwab, Harvima, Halonen, Mykkanen, Hyvonen, Jarvinen, 2005). Hemp seed oil is also rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which are a natural compound essential to the healthy function and performance of your skin. Hemp seed oil, which is a common beauty product, is one of the best natural sources of CBD. CBD naturally has properties that help protect the skin and has even been scientifically shown to be a potential treatment for the Herpes virus (Dezube, Groopman, Kuzontkoski, Maor, Yu, Zhang, 2012). Another reason CBD is great with skincare products is due to the nature of the compounds ability to be absorbed transdermally. Scientific studies have found that CBD absorbs through the skin at a rate almost 10x faster than THC. (Hammell, Ramsey, Stinchcomb, Valiveti, 2010). This makes CBD a great compound for topical application through creams, balms, and oils.
CBD is an effective treatment for several diseases and ailments including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Tourette’s Syndrome, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, and many more! The medicinal uses of CBD are almost endless… as are the ways to use it! One of the biggest benefits of CBD Skincare Products and other topical applications is that these products do not have to be smoked, consumed, or ingested like other traditional CBD products. This makes CBD skincare products desirable for use with elderly or disabled persons who may not be able to consume normal CBD products like candies or vaporizer juices and oils. This is especially helpful for when CBD is being used to treat arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. For people who suffer from epilepsy, CBD products can be easily utilized as a topical solution during convulsions and seizures to provide immediate nervous relief. CBD can also be used topically to help treat muscular pain and soreness associated with chronic pain and exercise.
Several CBD skincare products exist on the market. If you are looking to purchase CBD skincare products, Hoodie Goodies offers several through our partners and affiliates, right here on our online store! Just go to SHOP and check out all the amazing products from the following vendors!
· Tiger Balm and Other Salves from Hoodie Goodies™ and Extreme Terpz™
· Soap from Hoodie Goodies™ and CBD Living™
· Lotions from CBD Living™ and Act Naturally™
There is a lot of hype and buzz around CBD and CBD products these days. It seems everywhere in the United States more and more people are beginning to realize the potential ability of this natural compound to provide healing and relief for a variety of conditions. Recently we have been hearing about states passing laws that legalize the production and sales of CBD only products, and on financial television channel’s big market executives spend hours discussing the growth and potential profits available. As it stands, there are currently 9 states (including the District of Columbia) where Marijuana is legal and 30 states where medical marijuana is legal. With CBD there are only 17 states with laws that specifically regulate or restrict the possession and sale of CBD containing products. Within most of these regulated states, CBD is available by prescription from an individual’s healthcare physician for treatment of severe or debilitating chronic disease.
The endocannabinoid system has two main types of receptors that are distributed through the human central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. There are two main types of cannabinoid receptors found in the human body- CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found in the human reproductive organs, the more primitive parts of the brain that control respiratory and autonomic functions, as well as the human visual eyes and visual cortex. CB2 receptors are found throughout the immune system and are primarily responsible for providing anti-inflammation and pain relief. CBD is just one of several cannabinoid compounds that influences these receptors.