CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TALK ABOUT USING CANNABIS TO RELIEVE PANDEMIC STRESS DISORDER & SUICIDE?

The most stunning moments in my years of involvement in the marijuana legalization movement were when someone told me, “I haven’t tried to kill myself since I started using marijuana.”

I am not a doctor, a psychologist, or even a counselor, so I was really unprepared for that. I have had cancer patients tell me that if they had not had a few tokes of marijuana to help them with the extreme nausea from chemotherapy, they would have chosen to die from the cancer rather than endure the hellish side effects from the chemo. The pharmaceutical antiemetics had stopped working. Even in 1991, “More than 44% of the respondents report recommending the (illegal) use of marijuana for the control of emesis to at least one cancer chemotherapy patient. Almost one-half (48%) would prescribe marijuana to some of their patients if it were legal. As a group, respondents considered smoked marijuana to be somewhat more effective than the legally available oral synthetic dronabinol ([THC] Marinol).”

See: Marijuana as antiemetic medicine: A survey of oncologists’ experiences and attitudes

And I have known patients who did kill themselves rather than go to prison and be tortured to death by a regime that would watch them die in pain rather than allow them to use that plant.

But now … it’s a bigger picture.

See: If Studies Show Cannabis Is Effective In Treating Depression, & Improving Mental Health Then We Really, Really Need It

Read more here:

Is Colorado Botanicals CBD Legit? – A Real Tested CBD Brand Spotlight

Over the last few years CBD has become a major player in the health and wellness fields and beyond. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a compound naturally derived in cannabis sativa and hemp plants. It has been found to contain vital antioxidants and strong anti-inflammatory properties that show beneficial for things from anxiety and stress relief to pain management and aid. 

There are countless products available when it comes to CBD on the market these days, especially when looking to buy CBD online. When it comes to finding quality CBD products, fact checking with third-party lab test results is the best way to ensure a legitimate CBD purchase. Real Tested CBD is a leading name in the world of CBD product reviews and independent lab testing. We give you with everything you need to know before buying CBD online, from pesticide and solvent test results to potency and label claim fact-checking. Turn to Real Tested CBD and our expert score card rating system to get the best CBD product for individual needs, in just about any form you can think of. Today we bring you Colorado Botanicals; and we think you will like what you see from our expert product review.

Read full here:

Why Isn’t Cannabis Being Prescribed For COVID Survivors?

There’s an old “medical” joke — although I doubt if many doctors ever told it — “The operation was a success, but the patient died.” However, I would like to suggest a new version that the medical profession should try: “The medicine worked, but the patients suffered and/or died because the medical profession wouldn’t consider it.”  

The good news is that, as scientists learn more about the COVID-19 and how to treat it, the mortality rate seems to be falling. The bad news is that many patients continue to suffer for weeks or months after they have tested negative and have supposedly ”recovered”. 

Forbes reports, Many COVID-19 Survivors Suffer Months Of Post-Viral Symptoms: Tough New Realities — And A Personal Journey

The Forbes article also cites a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at 143 patients from Italy who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and survived. The study found that four in five of them were still reporting symptoms; at that time, two months later. 

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LOUISVILLE SETTLES WITH BREONNA TAYLOR’S FAMILY ENDING NO-KNOCK WARRANTS BUT ONLY IN LOUISVILLE

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, has agreed to pay $12 million to the family of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American nurse, who was fatally shot eight times by Louisville Kentucky Metro Police Department officers who entered her apartment, while serving a “no-knock warrant” on March 13. She was in her bed sleeping and no “drugs” were found.

And Louisville has agreed to “institute sweeping police reforms.”

CNN reports that “as part of the settlement, the city agreed to establish a housing credit program as an incentive for officers to live in the areas they serve; use social workers to provide support on certain police runs; and require commanders to review and approve search warrants before seeking judicial approval, among other changes.”

Unfortunately, these reforms are limited to the city of Louisville, and will do nothing to stop similar tragedies in the rest of the country, resulting from similar raids that have become “Standard Operating Procedure” in the Drug War.

In fact, even in Louisville, that is still a problem because it makes it difficult to prosecute the police officers involved in the shooting. The Louisville raid was probably illegal, but which of the officers involved were responsible?

I have not been able to find an accurate count of the number of raids but it would appear that there were at least 20,000 “No Knock” raids last year, and perhaps far more.

Full here:

WHAT I WISH MY FATHER HAD KNOWN ABOUT CANNABIS AND PROSTATE CANCER

I turned 80 in June, and my father died of prostate cancer at the age of 81, so I have more than a casual interest in the subject. Of course, when he died 29 years ago, we did not know what we know now, because the federal government has done everything possible to block research on marijuana.

According to a study published by the U.S. National Institutes for Health:

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (aside from non-melanoma skin cancer) and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Even with widespread screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), still 5% of cases present with metastatic lesions at the time of diagnosis. Because of all this, there is a fundamental necessity to search for and find new and novel treatments to this common pathology. Cannabis and cannabinoids have often been an issue of much polemics in the realm of science, but since the discovery of cannabinoid receptors in rat brain in the late 1980s, there has been a growing interest in the research of these compounds and our knowledge continues to expand. There has been experimental evidence that cannabinoids possess anti-androgenic proprieties.”

Read full here:

LUXEMBOURG, ONE OF EUROPE’S SMALLEST AND RICHEST COUNTRIES, LEADS ON CANNABIS

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the smallest (998.6 sq miles, pop. 626,108) and richest ($112,045 per capita) countries in Europe. (It is actually the third richest in the world.)

Its location on the border of Belgium, France and Germany has given it an outsized importance in the European Union, so its moves to legalize cannabis will have a significant impact on other EU countries. It was also a part of the Benelux free trade group that ultimately became the European Union.

From August of 2019, see Luxembourg to be first European country to legalise cannabis.

SEE: Health minister confirms plans and calls on neighbouring countries to relax their laws.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has delayed legalization, but it also seems to have increased demand for medical cannabis.

Full here:

Can CBD Help with Aging Skin, Acne and Other Skin Issues?

CBD has become popular in nearly every aspect of the health field, and skincare is no stranger to the elixir gaining momentum. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis and hemp plants. Best known for its ability to decrease pain and inflammation, CBD has also been recently discovered to have neuroprotective properties due to its high antioxidant content. CBD has many qualities that can contribute to a vibrant life, including adding it to your skin care routine. Here are some of the best uses for CBD to improve or aid your skin health:

CBD for Anti-Aging and Wrinkles

Coming from a plant, CBD is packed with antioxidant properties and is truly an organic compound. When used as a topical, applied directly to the skin, CBD oil products can sometimes visibly improve the look of dull skin.

Read full here:

PROFILES IN PROHIBITIONIST: WILLIAM BENNETT THE FIRST “DRUG CZAR”

By Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and author of the Effects Of CBD On Mental Health with Dr. Igor Bussel.

When former President George H. W. Bush died almost 2 years ago, he was praised for his decency, undoubtedly benefiting from the contrast with his successors. However, there was also a very dark side to his Administration, personified by William Bennett, whom he anointed the first “Drug Czar” in March of 1989.

Read more here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/profiles-prohibitionist-william-bennett-first-%E2%80%9Cdrug-czar%E2%80%9D

American Progressives Have Ignored Successful Alternatives To The Drug War — Is That About To Change? 

Progressives have sometimes delayed legalization efforts to dole out lucrative licenses to select members of minorities as a form of “reparations.”  

The cannabis communities (note the plural) were disappointed (again) last week when the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives delayed a vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act until after the elections. Although it is obviously frustrating, the short delay may actually ensure greater success in November. 

As an excellent report on MarijuanaMoment.com pointed out, the bill actually has the support of a majority of the House Republicans, but some moderate House Democrats (an endangered species) were afraid of being mocked by prohibitionists in November.

Read full article here:

https://thefreshtoast.com/opinion/american-progressives-have-ignored-successful-alternatives-to-the-drug-war-is-that-about-to-change%E2%80%AF/

Can CBD Help with Aging Skin, Acne and Other Skin Issues?

This article was originally published on Blue Ribbon Hemp. To view the original article, click here.

By Richard Cowan

CBD has become popular in nearly every aspect of the health field, and skincare is no stranger to the elixir gaining momentum. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive component of cannabis and hemp plants. Best known for its ability to decrease pain and inflammation, CBD has also been recently discovered to have neuroprotective properties due to its high antioxidant content. CBD has many qualities that can contribute to a vibrant life, including adding it to your skin care routine. Here are some of the best uses for CBD to improve or aid your skin health:

CBD for Anti-Aging and Wrinkles

Coming from a plant, CBD is packed with antioxidant properties and is truly an organic compound. When used as a topical, applied directly to the skin, CBD oil products can sometimes visibly improve the look of dull skin.

Aged skin typically becomes thinner, drier and can develop fine lines and wrinkles over time. By counteracting free-radicals (unstable molecules in the body), and reducing inflammation, CBD creams, balms or salves can help to diminish redness, wrinkles, dryness and dullness. CBD may be able to help protect your skin from damage and reduce the signs of aging by working directly with your body’s systems to stabilize those free-radicals and replenish the epidermal surface.

Law Enforcement Opposition To Marijuana Legalization Shows Criminal Justice Reform Isn’t Just For Minorities Anymore

Article written by Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and founder of CBD vs FDA.

Back in the bad old days when any marijuana reform, much less legalization, seemed like an impossible dream, the standard  “law enforcement” response was simply, “We don’t make the laws. We just enforce it, so if you don’t like it, change the laws.” Then guess who would show up at any hearing to oppose any change and to present “the latest scientific research “ that “proved” that it would be a disaster. Think of the children!!!

See: Abolish the Police? No, We Need for the “Drug Warriors” to Go Back to Being “Peace Officers”

Read full here:

Criminal Justice Reform Must Become The Business Of America’s Business

Fifty years ago this month, the late, great economist Milton Friedman, published an essay,  “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits”.  

The title really says it all, but it is important to understand that Friedman always emphasized that his political views (he was a Libertarian) were separate from his economics (Monetarism). He also insisted that he was not exempting business from ethical norms. 

Although Friedman and John Maynard Keynes had very different views on economics, he would have agreed with Keynes famous quote: 

“When the facts change, I change my mind – what do you do, sir?” 

I like to think that Friedman would have a very different view today because America and the world have changed enormously in the last half-century. It is important to recognize that the immediate impetus to social change really had nothing to do with “business”, but was triggered by questionable police violence against African Americans. Not exactly a new problem. 

SEE: Don’t Mention The Drug War. We Must Decriminalize Being Black. Black Freedom Matters 

Read full here:

CANNABIS COULD SAVE THE SPANISH ECONOMY, BUT WILL THE PROHIBITIONISTS LET IT?

I love Spain, but I feel sorry for anyone who tries to govern it. In addition to the usual Left/Right political divisions, several of Spain’s “autonomous” regions, most notably Catalonia (Barcelona), have strong independence movements that resent the Madrid government.

However, Spain has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is more dependent on tourism than any other major European country. Consequently, it is going to need a major bailout from the European Central Bank, but that will not solve its terrible unemployment problem, especially for its younger citizens.

While Spain needs to diversify its economy, that will take time, and the problems in its devastated tourism sector have to be addressed now, because it is a major source of employment, especially for the young, and the pandemic is still keeping it closed.

Read more hre:

Is Blue Ribbon Hemp’s CBD Legit? – A Real Tested CBD Brand Spotlight

CBD has taken the health and wellness worlds by storm, and rightly so. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a compound naturally derived in cannabis and hemp plants. It has been found to contain antioxidants and boasts strong anti-inflammatory properties that shown beneficial for things from anxiety and stress relief to pain management and mitigation. 

There are countless options available when it comes to CBD products on the market today. When it comes to finding quality CBD products, fact checking with third-party lab test results is the best way to ensure a legitimate CBD purchase. Real Tested CBD is a leading name in the world of CBD product reviews and independent lab testing. We provide you with everything you need to know before buying CBD online. Turn to Real Tested CBD and our expert score card rating scale to get the best product for individual needs, in just about any form you can think of. Today we bring you Blue Ribbon Hemp; and we think you will like what you see from our expert product review. 

Read more here:

Don’t Mention The Drug War. We Must Decriminalize Being Black Because Black Freedom Matters

Chaos Theory” is the idea that very small events can have major consequences. It is often illustrated by what is called the “Butterfly Effect,” where the fluttering of tiny wings could set off a series of events leading to a major storm halfway around  the world. Of course, even though there are millions of butterflies, they don’t have cameras, so there is no way to monitor these events, but there are plenty of real world examples.

For instance, try to imagine that the cruel and incredibly stupid action of a policeman in a very liberal city would kill a suspect by keeping his knee on on the suspect’s throat until well after he was dead. And all of it was caught on a camera and immediately broadcast around the world. What could possibly go right?

But what if there had not been a camera? The victim’s family would still grieve. There might even have been some disciplinary action taken against the police. But if there is an injustice and it isn’t photographed, does it have any real world consequences?

In fact, even this death caught on camera would not have provoked a global reaction if there had not been literally countless examples of injustices burning in the collective consciousness of the African American community. This was not an “isolated event”, but rather all too familiar to all too many people w

Full here:

https://www.ibtimes.com/dont-mention-drug-war-we-must-decriminalize-being-black-because-black-freedom-matters-3006348

We Know Too Much About Marijuana for It To Be Illegal

I won’t try to be subtle about this. When I say that we know too much about marijuana for it to be illegal, I am trying to make two points.

First and foremost, I am astonished that people in democratic countries that proclaim their commitment to individual rights at every possible occasion, have — for decades — accepted the legal argument that citizens should be arrested for using a plant because it might not be “harmless.” 

Prohibitionist propaganda is often introduced with the statement that “marijuana isn’t harmless… like we all thought back in the Sixties.¨ Of course, if we all thought it was harmless then, why was it illegal?

Well, very simply, nothing is harmless for everyone, under all circumstances and at all doses, and, for many reasons, harmlessness is not a criterion for legalizing anything. Obviously, many things that everyone recognizes as potentially deadly… alcohol, tobacco, motorcycles, rock climbing, etc., are legal. Some people even say that guns are not harmless.  

Ironically, cannabis is one of the few substances which does not have a possible lethal dose. Too much aspirin can cause fatal internal bleeding and even too much water can be deadly by upsetting the body’s electrolyte balance.

Full article here: https://www.ibtimes.com/we-know-too-much-about-marijuana-it-be-illegal-3011078

Nebraska Governor Says “There Is No Such Thing As Medical Marijuana”

Article written by Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and author of We Know Too Much About Marijuana for It To Be Illegal.

Unless the elected officials of Nebraska can stop the people who elected them, the people will almost certainly vote for an initiative on the November ballot legalizing medical marijuana in the state. Nationally, almost 95% of Americans support medical marijuana.

Absurdly, Nebraska’s Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts has done everything he could to suppress the will of the people. Now he is saying, “There is no such thing as medical marijuana.”

Full article here:

MARIJUANA VS MARTINIS AT THE MOVIES

By Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and owner  of Buy CBD Gummies

Since I have been writing about marijuana in the movies, I thought about how Martinis became a symbol for sophistication in movies, and, and unlike marijuana, not always played for laughs. 

In the 1933  less than a year before alcohol prohibition was repealed, International House, a comedy set in the fictional Chinese city, Wuhu, not to be confused with Wuhan, had an amazing cast, including W. C. Fields, Bela Lugosi, George Burns and Gracie Allen

Fields, one of the greatest comic actors of all time, really was an alcoholic, and it became a part of his character on the screen. In International House, he spoofed opium smoking (with a cigar in an opium pipe), and Cab Calloway led his orchestra with Reefer Man.

Full article here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/marijuana-vs-martinis-movies

THE RESETTING TWENTIES: WHAT THE 1920S CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE 2020S

Last month, the New York Post published an essay, “New York City is dead forever” by James Altucher.

Altucher is a New Yorker who loves his city, so this was not the slightest bit of schadenfreude. Of course, many New Yorkers were outraged, but his points were based on real numbers that paint a very grim picture, especially for Manhattan, the heart of the metropolis.

Although the pandemic is the immediate cause of the city’s problems, the fundamental threat is simply “bandwidth.”

Is CBD For The People Legit? – A Real Tested CBD Brand Spotlight

Real Tested CBD has a loyal fan base that visits our website to get regular updates on the most popular as well as emerging CBD brands and products. We aim to keep our readers informed about CBD, which is one of the most dynamic industries in the United States. 

Most US based CBD manufacturing brands prefer to use all-natural hemp-plant extracts that are homegrown within the United States. At Real Tested CBD, we have reviewed 80 plus CBD brands and their products to provide an insight into what these products are for and what they entail. 

Today, the brand in the spotlight is “CBD for the People.”

Read full here:

Is Kat’s Naturals CBD Legit? – A Real Tested CBD Brand Spotlight

We at Real Tested CBD have been keeping our ears to the ground for decades to get the best updates from the CBD sector. The goal is to bring you the news on the on-going innovations and review the most exciting new and existing CBD-based products. 

We have reviewed over 80 best known CBD brands and their products in full details. We put these products through rigorous lab tests to bring you a report on what the labels claim and what the product actually is. 

Today, we will shed our brand spotlight on “Kat’s Naturals.” The brand claims to produce CBD products to help nourish the body and mind of CBD users. Kat Merrifield is the founder of the company who is an educated nutritionist and herbalist with decades of experience under her belt.

Read full here:

The Curious Case Of GW Pharmaceuticals

In 2005, GW hired a vociferous medical marijuana opponent to help them distinguish their version of THC from medical cannabis. Here’s why that’s a problem.

Let me make clear that I do not have any problems with the “pharmaceuticalization” of cannabis. If the pharmaceutical companies can manipulate the molecules and/or combine cannabinoids with other substances and thereby help sick and dying people, or just make healthy people feel better and make a profit doing it, everyone wins.  

However, when a company uses marijuana prohibition and the Drug War to lobby for state violence against sick and dying people to try to monopolize medical access to a plant that has been used medically for millennia, I have to object.  

After GW Pharmaceuticals developed “Sativex”, its version of THC, it met with “skepticism” in the U.S. drug war establishment, basically the entire U.S. government, because if it was approved for use in the U.S., that would suggest that “marijuana” might actually have medical use. Heresy!! 

Read full here:

THE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE “BIG MARIJUANA” BOGEYMAN

Guerrilla Marketing Makes Prohibition Counterproductive

Project Sam (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) may be the most successful side hustle in marijuana prohibition. They have evolved from opposing medical marijuana to supporting the medical use of cannabinoids as developed by the pharmaceutical industry and approved by the FDA. They have also evolved so that they are opposed to jailing marijuana users, so long as they comply with mandatory treatment.

Right now SAM has a new campaign aimed at the African American community called “Decriminalize Don’t Legalize,” which is done “In Partnership with the NAACP of Illinois.”

Read more here:

Is The War On Cannabis A Cult? What Can We Learn About American Politics

The only thing that could make marijuana prohibition a greater tragedy would be if we failed to learn from it, because, as George Santayana, the Spanish-American philosopher, said: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Or something like that.

Consequently, below is a slightly updated article I published on MarijuanaNews.com (now offline being edited) in 2003.

I hope readers will see a relevance to the broader political context today.

In April of 2003, the entire Drug War establishment seemed to be in a major panic over the prospect of Maryland lowering the penalty for possession of one ounce of cannabis to a $100 fine for people who can prove medical necessity.

Frankly, the bill was such a farce that it would have done little to help most patients, but one would think that it was making cannabis mandatory for toddlers. Why such a reaction to such an inconsequential bill?

Also See: Two Word Explanation for Marijuana Prohibition: Bad Journalism – CBD Seniors

Full article here:

https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/war-cannabis-cult-what-can-we-learn-about-american-politics

TRUMP WAR ON POSTAL SERVICE HARMS HIS BASE, SENIORS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, VETERANS AND SMALL BUSINESSES

Article written by Richard Cowan is a former NORML National Director and author of the Marijuana Weekly News syndicated column

“Collateral Damage” is a military term for the unintended consequences of an action, and, as I like to say, “the law of unintended consequences is the only law that always  works.”

President Trump’s astonishing war on the US Postal Service is an excellent example in that it hurts major parts of what is considered his “base”, Seniors, rural communities, small businesses and veterans, and they are especially vulnerable during the pandemic.

Full text here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/trump-war-postal-service-harms-his-base-seniors-rural-communities-veterans-and-small

IS TRUMP WILLING TO LOSE THE ELECTION FOR MARIJUANA PROHIBITION? EVEN REPUBLICANS SUPPORT LEGALIZATION

Recently, the excellent website, MarijuanaMoment.com, carried two articles by Kyle Jaeger, their Los Angeles-based associate editor, Trump Voices Concern That Putting Marijuana On The Ballot Makes Republicans Lose and Biden’s Marijuana Decriminalization Plan Is ‘Meaningless,’ Democratic Congressman Says that really make me wonder if Trump is willing to lose the election to maintain marijuana prohibition. (Or is Biden?)

Jaeger reported that on a campaign visit to Wisconsin, Trump “urged Republicans not to place marijuana legalization initiatives on state ballots out of concern that it will increase Democratic turnout in elections … and that he blames marijuana legalization efforts on former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) defeat in the 2018 election.”

“The next time you run please don’t put marijuana on the ballot at the same time you’re running,” Trump said, directing his advice to Walker, who was in the crowd. “You brought out like a million people that nobody ever knew were coming out.”

Read final here:

If Studies Show Cannabis Is Effective In Treating Depression, & Improving Mental Health Then We Really, Really Need It

The Covid pandemic is getting worse by the day, threatening our already overburdened healthcare system. The economic consequences are being compounded by renewed retail shutdowns, uncertainty about schools opening, racial tensions, and the crazier than normal political campaigns, and, frankly, President Trump acts weirder by the day.

“Shelter in place” orders have many people asking, “What shelter? What place?” And there is a record-breaking heatwave.

At the individual level, people are wrecking their lives by having public meltdowns caught on camera.

Full text here:

https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/if-studies-show-cannabis-effective-treating-depression-improving-mental-health-then-we-really

Does The Alzheimer’s Association Hope We Will Just Forget About CBD?

A few months ago, I wrote a column, Seniors Have Even More Reason to Deman End to Cannabis Prohibition, lamenting the fact that the Alzheimer’s Association seems to be ignoring the possible benefits of cannabis for Alzheimer’s patients.

At the most basic level, Alzheimer’s symptoms are very stressful for patients and that creates even more stress for their families and caregivers, which magnifies the stress for the patient. Ironically, the prohibitionist stereotype for marijuana users is “mellow, dude”. And yet… Nada.

Read full article here: https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/does-alzheimers-association-hope-we-will-just-forget-about-cbd

Is Tribe CBD Legit? – A Real Tested CBD Brand Spotlight on Tribe CBD

The CBD industry is one of the most dynamic sectors coming up with innovations for health and wellness these days. At Real Tested CBD, our motto is to bring our readers the most exciting and groundbreaking, yet reliable and legitimate CBD products available in the market. Is Tribe CBD legit? Find out by checking out the Tribe CBD product reviews below!

The demand for CBD-based brands and products is ever-growing amongst consumers. The reason is the newfound awareness of the potential health benefits associated with CBD. Our team picks up the best and most trusted brands in the CBD arena and put them under a microscope for meticulous testing.

CBD on Amazon: Not Such a Great Deal

If you’re looking into an online purchase, nine out of ten times you go to Amazon, right? For many of us, Amazon has almost become part of daily life. It’s undeniably convenient; you can get anything from the latest in technology, to toilet paper delivered, to a pre-manufactured house in a shipping container. Just about whatever you want to buy, Amazon has you covered. But have you ever tried searching for CBD on Amazon? The results might not be what you expected. 

There are hundreds of items that come up when you search for CBD on Amazon, but the labels and descriptions can be fairly confusing. You might see a lot of “hemp oil” or “hemp oil extract” instead of flat out “CBD oil.” So where do we go from here? Do these products really contain CBD and offer any relief to people looking to manage pain or anxiety? Can you be sure of the CBD product you are purchasing on Amazon? 

Trump’s War on Postal Service Harms His Base, Seniors, Rural Communities, Veterans and Small Businesses

“Collateral Damage” is a military term for the unintended consequences of an action, and, as I like to say, “the law of unintended consequences is the only law that always works.”

President Trump’s astonishing war on the U.S. Postal Service is an excellent example in that it hurts major parts of what is considered his “base”, Seniors, rural communities, small businesses, and veterans, and they are especially vulnerable during the pandemic.

Seniors are the most vulnerable because so many of us depend on the USPS to deliver prescription medications. According to the National Council on Aging, “Approximately 72 percent of low- and moderate-income seniors report having a chronic condition…” which means that they are exceptionally vulnerable to the loss of dependable postal service.

More here:

https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/trumps-war-postal-service-harms-his-base-seniors-rural-communities-veterans-small-businesses

Should We Legalize Something That Causes 300K ER Visits Every Year?

While marijuana may be a factor in some accident deaths, there is no evidence that it is a significant factor when compared with other substances, such as alcohol … or dog bites.

We often overlook things we don’t want to see, so when we debate public policies, we can be misled by not knowing the context. Consequently, when we hear about the harms associated with something we may want to outlaw it.

For example, there is something that caused 6,323 hospital admissions in 2017 with a mean age of 6.63 years. Almost one third underwent a surgical procedure. Open wounds of the head, neck and trunk were the most common injury and decreased in prevalence with increasing age. Open wounds of the extremities were the second most common and the prevalence increased with increasing age. Children aged 1–4 and 5–10 years were both more than three times more likely to be admitted than those more than age 11. Think of the children!

Read full story here:

We Must End Cannabis Prohibition For Economic Recovery In A Post Pandemic World

In the midst of the pandemic, there is much uncertainty about almost everything, but one thing does seem certain: America is going to be much poorer. Or, to put in a global perspective, America and a few other countries will be much less rich and the rest of the world will be much, much poorer, and no wall or welfare program will protect us.

In Los Angeles, the global center of the entertainment industry, the unemployment rate is already around 50%, and many jobs and businesses are gone forever. The sheer scale of the problems will almost certainly lead to social unrest which will be visible to the world. But so will the solutions, because the world really does look to “Hollywood” for imagination. 

Read more here:

https://www.greenentrepreneur.com/article/355030

Can CBD Cure THC Addiction? What is THC Addiction Again?

Article written by Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and author of CBD Balm Salves.

Victor Borge, the Danish American concert pianist and comic, joked that he had a doctor cousin who discovered a cure for which there was no disease.

A new study, Cannabidiol for the treatment of cannabis use disorder: a phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, adaptive Bayesian trial, published in Lancet Psychiatry, the British medical journal may have duplicated Borge’s cousin’s success.

Read full article here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/can-cbd-cure-thc-addiction-what-thc-addiction-again

Marijuana in the Movies: Nine to Five- The Fondas Are Probably the Only Siblings to Smoke Weed in Two Hit Movies

Reagan Was Annoyed. 

In Nine to Five, the 1980 comedy, the wonderful Dolly Partin and the brilliant Lily Tomlin joined Jane Fonda in a comedy that was also a feminist satire on the life of secretaries who work for a sexist boss, played by Dabney Coleman, a great comic villain.

In my favorite scene, surprise, surprise, Tomlin’s character suggests the three smoke a joint. Fonda thus joined her brother, Peter, who smoked weed in Easy Rider, the 1969 film with Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper. A family affair.

Read whole story here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/marijuana-movies-nine-five-fondas-are-probably-only-siblings-smoke-weed-two-hit-movies

Marijuana and the Movies: A Tale of Two Woodstocks

Article written by Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and founder of We Vape CBD Oil.

Woodstock”, the documentary based on the 1969 music festival, won an Academy Award for the Best Documentary Feature in 1970. It also grossed over $50 million dollars on a budget of only $600,000, and it bailed out the promoters and Warner Bros. 

It also preserved an important historical and cultural event. The music was amazing and the movie was great fun. It almost didn’t happen, but became the ultimate “happening.’ 

Read full story here:

https://www.globemagazine.com/content/marijuana-and-movies-tale-two-woodstocks

We Must End Marijuana Prohibition For Economic Recovery In A Post Pandemic World

Very simply, marijuana legalization is not some wild experiment that has never been done before. And now, of course, we are beginning to see the same experience in some places in the United States.

In the midst of the pandemic, there is much uncertainty about almost everything, but one thing does seem certain: America is going to be much poorer. Or, to put in a global perspective, America and a few other countries will be much less rich and the rest of the world will be much, much poorer, and no wall or welfare program will protect us.

In Los Angeles, the global center of the entertainment industry, the unemployment rate is already around 50%, and many jobs and businesses are gone forever. The sheer scale of the problems will almost certainly lead to social unrest which will be visible to the world. But so will the solutions, because the world really does look to “Hollywood” for imagination. 

Read more here:

BIDEN SORT OF DECIDES ON MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION: HE IS SORT OF STILL AGAINST IT

The great thing about voting machines is that you can vote with one hand and hold your nose with the other one. Believe me, I have had a lot of practice with that, and I will do it again this year.

After Biden cinched the Democratic nomination, his campaign focused on getting the support of Bernie Sanders’ young supporters. Biden was greatly relieved that Sanders was willing to help, so they launched what they called a “Unity Task Force,” and one of the major topics was Federal marijuana prohibition.

Politico reported the result as: “The left gets rolled on legalizing pot.”

Frankly, I absolutely reject that formulation. Marijuana legalization has been supported by the Libertarian right far longer than by the Left. The late Milton Friedman and William F. Buckley Jr. and many other conservatives have long opposed prohibition. Obama, Holder, Biden, Shalala, Clinton, Feinstein and Schumer all supported arresting millions of Americans. Until they opposed it…

However, in a meeting with Biden, Sanders is definitely on the Left. Given Biden’s long support for the Drug War, even coining the term “Drug Czar,” the real world results were not too terrible.

The key points:

Read more here:

Republicans Mock Pelosi’s Statement That Medical Cannabis Is Relevant to the Pandemic Economic Stimulus

As the House of Representatives battles the Senate over another round of economic support for the pandemic-ravaged economy, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D. CA) urged that the legislation include a provision that would allow cannabis-related businesses to have bank accounts. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader doesn’t like it.

As the MarijuanaMoment.com reports, “The majority leader, who has consistently railed against the inclusion of cannabis banking protections in the House COVID-19 bill, said on the Senate floor that Pelosi is “still agitating for strange, new special interest carve-outs for the marijuana industry and even claiming they are COVID-related.”

“She said that, with respect to this virus, marijuana is “a therapy that has proven successful.” You can’t make this up,” he said.

See more here: https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/republicans-mock-pelosis-statement-that-medical-cannabis-relevant-pandemic-economic-stimulus

Can CBD Cure THC Addiction? What is THC Addiction Again?

Victor Borge, the Danish American concert pianist and comic, joked that he had a doctor cousin who discovered a cure for which there was no disease.

A new study, Cannabidiol for the treatment of cannabis use disorder: a phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, adaptive Bayesian trial, published in Lancet Psychiatry, the British medical journal may have duplicated Borge’s cousin’s success.

Article written by Richard Cowan, former NORML National Director and author of CBD Balm Salves.

Read full article here:

The Drug War vs the US Military: CBD Might Help With Brain Damage but They Can’t Shampoo With It?

We couldn’t make this up. Unfortunately, we don’t have to. Using CBD products is now a crime in the military, as per Pentagon tightens restrictions.

Yep. Thanks for your service, but you are now a prisoner of the Drug War.

According to the pro-veteran website, Connectingvets.radio.com

A memo from Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Matthew Donovan dated Feb. 26 reads:

“Substance misuse by service members is a safety and readiness issue, and the Department must remain vigilant in addressing emerging threats, including those that come from new products and sources.”

See more here:

https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/drug-war-vs-us-military-cbd-might-help-brain-damage-they-cant-shampoo-it

Did Marijuana Prohibition Cause The Covid-19 Pandemic?

Have I “jumped the shark” polemically? It is true that 95% of the American people are in favor of medical marijuana, and we know that cannabis can help with a variety of medical problems.

  1. The extreme nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy
  2. Epilepsy in children
  3. Crohn’s Disease and other autoimmune problems
  4. Wasting syndrome for people with AIDS, and many more

See: COVID-19, AIDS and the Suppression of Medical Cannabis

Read full story below:

How Legalizing Cannabis Can Bring Back the Right Kind of Tourism

he early film star, Mae West, said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” Obviously, she wasn’t talking about tourism. Before the pandemic, many of Europe’s major cities were choking on crowds. Venice probably had the worst of it, with gigantic cruise ships sailing up the Grand Canal disgorging thousands of tourists all at once into the narrow already overcrowded sidewalks. And Barcelona’s La Rambla had become crushed that they had to ban tour groups from the Mercado.

Decades ago, when I first went to Amsterdam, it was still somewhere between seedy and raunchy, two of my favorite things, but there were no lines in the coffeeshops or the museums. Last year, the sidewalks were jammed and locals were complaining about noisy crowds late in the evening, especially around the so-called “Red Light District”, which is actually the oldest part of the City. Of course, alcohol (AKA drunk Brits) was a major part of the problem.

Read more here:

https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/how-legalizing-cannabis-can-bring-back-right-kind-tourism

Prosecutorial Misconduct: The Invisible Problem Behind The Police

We must completely reform the criminal justice system from top to bottom, starting with the current U.S. Attorney General, Bill Barr.

While I understand the pain behind the calls to “Abolish the Police” etc., I think that they are simplistic and even counterproductive. Police misconduct is really just the visible part of the problem. We have overloaded the police with problems that would be better handled by trained social workers. We have given them impossible tasks, notably the Drug War, and especially marijuana prohibition, and we have hired people who clearly should not be trusted with the power of life and death.

Read more here:

CBD vs THC: The Ultimate Introductory Guide

CBD vs THC: The Ultimate Introductory Guide

When you walk into a shop that sells CBD, or cannabidiol, products, your first instinct might be to avert your eyes. Isn’t that made from marijuana? Is it even legal? It is, and many people are using it to improve their health and relieve symptoms of ailments.

What you really might be wondering is if cannabidiol will make you high. It won’t. Although it does come from the same plant family as pot, cannabidiol has no psychoactive properties and isn’t intoxicating. Plus, a great deal of research indicates that cannabidiol is promising for treating physical and psychological conditions, such as chronic pain, anxiety and inflammation. It may even protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.

Read more here:

Black Lives Matter Is Absolutely Necessary But Absolutely Not Sufficient

Race being inherent in the topic, I should begin by explaining that I am an 80-year-old white guy, which means that I am not in BLM’s target demographic. On the other hand, I am not the target demographic for trigger-happy police either.

Nonetheless, I can readily understand why black Americans would rightly expect “equal justice.” Do we whites think that Black Americans are deaf and don’t hear the words “Liberty and Justice for All” and all that good stuff? They bleed on our battlefields in our endless wars, so why should they bleed on our streets?

Enter Black Lives Matter.

It was actually founded seven years ago, but it did not seem to get much attention by whites until this year, after two particularly outrageous killings: George Floyd by suffocation in Minneapolis, and Breonna Taylor, shot in a “no-knock” drug raid as she slept, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Read more below:

Prohibition 2.0 Making a Mess of Marijuana Legalization. Just Get Out of the Way

The major purpose of legalizing the production and sale of recreational cannabis (beyond decriminalizing possession) must be removing it from the contraband markets.

Keeping marijuana as contraband is a subsidy for criminal organizations, and consequently a source of corruption in law enforcement in the U.S. and violence in Latin America.

Also, having marijuana in the same distribution channels as that of hard drugs creates the real “Gateway.” Of course, contraband markets have no quality control, so the products may be contaminated with dangerous substances.

And finally, contraband markets don’t pay taxes or otherwise benefit legal businesses the way alcohol subsidizes the restaurant business (which certainly needs all the help it can get.)

Read more here: https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/prohibition-20-making-mess-marijuana-legalization-just-get-out-way

Why Did We Create Blue Ribbon Hemp?

02Tuesday Image BRH Blue Ribbon Hemp

By Richard Cowan

Why did we create Blue Ribbon Hemp for seniors as a new product? Reason one, is that the senior market is not being adequately addressed. This is something, of course, that I have a personal interest in and always will, being that I am turning 80 years old this year, 2020. 

Secondly, the whole business of what is the appropriate concern for seniors, generally speaking out is always the number one concern. As so many people on limited budgets, fixed income, want the best possible price. 

Read more: https://www.cltampa.com/arts-entertainment/culture/article/21140856/why-did-we-create-blue-ribbon-hemp

Marijuana and the Movies: Getting Busted for Weed Even in the 1940s Just Made Robert Mitchum A Bigger Star

Robert Mitchum was on his way to being one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in 1948, when he was very rudely interrupted by getting busted for marijuana. Tinseltown’s postwar hypocrisy was at its peak, and so was the corruption of the Los Angeles police. Two detectives hid in the bushes for hours watching through the window of an actress’s home…

Read more: https://www.globemagazine.com/content/marijuana-and-movies-getting-busted-weed-even-1940s-just-made-robert-mitchum-bigger-star

Drug Overdoses Kill More People In West Virginia Than COVID-19

Although no one will catch a “drug overdose” by sitting next to someone on a bus or at a bar, the widespread prevalence of drug abuse in a society does resemble an infectious disease epidemic in other ways. 

The origins of the opioid epidemic is more complex, but a difference in policies produces a difference in results. First and foremost, the problem can be prevented by good public health policies and can be made much worse by bad social policies. Take for example the Netherlands, where the COVID-19 case rate soared in March, but had declined sharply by the end of June