According to the Lab director, Stephen Goldman, PhytaTech has completed our facelift project and would like to thank everyone  for their patience and understanding.

He says: “The sample turnaround time will be back to our normal quick times this week (chemical tests in 2-3 days and microbiological tests in 3-4 days). Please, if you have extra time, stop in the lab to see the improvements we’ve made.”

He reminded people that: “Remember we are the only cannabis laboratory in the state that can test
plant tissue for macro and micro nutrients. These testing programs are cheap and invaluable for your nutrient programs! Call us today to find out more. We now take credit card payments and have aggressive discount programs in place. No hassle, just get your discounts applied moving forward. Let us know if you have any questions.”

Read more: https://phytatech.com/BLOG/resources/

The post PhytaTech Laboratory in Colorado appeared first on Pot My.

Kentucky’s general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, and the candidates for governor and attorney general have all been talking about cannabis policy. Here’s a brief overview of what they’ve been saying:

In the race for governor, incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin (R) has indicated support for medical cannabis, but he has been harshly critical of Colorado and other states that have legalized for adult use. During a recent debate, he asked, “How’s that working out for Illinois?” [https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2019/10/03/watch-matt-bevin-andy-beshear-kentucky-governor-debate/3839776002/] (Illinois’ legalization law does not take effect until January 1, 2020.) The Democratic candidate, Attorney General Andy Beshear, has indicated strong support for medical cannabis, and Libertarian candidate John Hicks supports legalization for both medical and adult use.

When the two candidates for attorney general appeared on KET’s “Kentucky Tonight” on October 14 [https://wfpl.org/election-2019-your-guide-to-the-kentucky-attorney-general-candidates/], Daniel Cameron (R) said, “I think we need a discussion about medical marijuana,” but he seemed to defer to law enforcement on the issue, saying, “I think they’re a little bit leery.” Former Attorney General Greg Stumbo (D) said he strongly supports medical cannabis, and he will “push for and advocate” decriminalizing possession of small amounts. Notably, Stumbo sponsored a medical cannabis bill during his time in the General Assembly.

Finally, in the race for treasurer, challenger Michael Bowman (D) supports medical cannabis and has called for “a conversation” about legalization [https://wfpl.org/election-2019-your-guide-to-the-kentucky-treasurer-candidates/]. A web search did not reveal any public comments on the issue from incumbent Allison Ball (R).

State legislators do not face re-election this year, but now would be a great time to remind them that you want to see Kentucky pass a medical cannabis law in 2020! Write your legislators today.

The post Kentucky general election will take place November 5 appeared first on Pot My.

As more products are developed, new technologies are now used to accomplish
different product purities. One of these techniques is called distillation.
In distillation, components in a complex mixture are separated by heating
to their specific boiling points and then cooled to condense in a
collection vessel.

Highly controlled distillation methods result in high purity distillates,
free of contaminants. PhytaTech can provide knowledgeable assistance in the
development of distillation methods and apparatus to produce purified
cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

We have compiled useful information for our clients to use during product
development. One example of this is a boiling point infographic, located
below. In the boiling point diagram, the complexity of the cannabinoids
that are evaporated increases as temperature is increased. The same is true
for terpenes. Some cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, have a temperature range
at which they boil, which overlap those of some terpenes. Interestingly,
CBD has an average boiling point of 170°C/338°F which is considered the
“sweet spot” for vaporizing cannabinoids.

What does all this mean? The purity of your distillates will depend on
close monitoring of your temperatures. Are you achieving 95% or greater
purity in your distillates? Are you closely monitoring your temperatures?
Are you concerned about heat degradation of your distillates? What is the
pressure of your system? These types of questions can help standardize your
batch to batch control.

Though cannabinoids and terpenes have similar boiling points, terpenes are
usually lost in the first evaporative fraction (the heads) and last
fractions (the tails) of the distillation waste. Flavonoids have
significantly higher boiling points than either cannabinoids or terpenes,
and are also lost in the heads and tails.

read more on the Phyta Tech Website

The post Product development in the cannabis industry appeared first on Pot My.

Leading up to the election, recreational marijuana was legal in only four states, namely: Alaska, Georgia, Oregon and Washington, including Washington D.C.

With the addition of these three states, the percentage of Americans living in states where marijuana use is legal for adults rose abouve 20 percent, from a measely 5 percent.

The victories could spark similar efforts in other states and put pressure on federal authorities to remove marijuana from Schedule II which labels it as a “dangerously addictive drug with no medical benefits.”

Overall, the legalization in the US has drastically improved with Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas approving medical marijuana measures. Montana voted on whether to ease restrictions on its existing medical marijuana law.

In general, the proposals for recreational cannabis would treat it similar to alcohol. Consumption would be limited to people aged 21 or older and forbidden in most public spaces. Pot would be highly regulated and heavily taxed, with some states allowing people to grow their own.

Support is rising even though some public health experts warn that studies on the drug is insufficient and that law enforcement lack reliable tests and protocols to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana.

Overall, the results of the marijuana referendums were hailed as historic by legalization activists, given that California is the most populous state. Massachusetts became the first state east of the Rockies to join the movement.

Collectively, it was the closest the U.S. has ever come to a national referendum on marijuana, which remains prohibited under federal law.

The post Three States Legalized Marijuana on Tuesday after Election appeared first on Pot My.

Don’t Torch the Bowl, Pipe or Joint

Lighting too much of the bowl ends up being wasteful and can result in a massive hit you weren’t prepared for. As for a joint, well if you take a lot you’ll seem greedy. Be modest, there’s no rush.

Don’t complain

Words hurt. If you don’t like it when someone rolls a jay, just don’t smoke it. Rather offer to roll it yourself. Everyone likes the guy that rolls for them.

Pass to the Left

Left is law here and probably one of the most important points in weed etiquette. You don’t need a fancy figure or whatever. Keep it simple and make sure no one misses out. That is poor form and will get you shunned, faster than you can say “pass the jay.” Be sure to warn the next in line if you think the bowl or jay is done. If you want to impress everyone, refill it or light a new jay.

Keep the Mouthpiece Dry

There is nothing worse than waiting patiently to receive a soggy joint or slobbery end of a pipe. Keep it dry, or at the very least, wipe it off before you pass it on.

Don’t Be Clumsy

Be careful not to break anything, spill the bong water or make a mess with the weed. If you do, it’s a bit of a chore to clean it up. Take care while handling and be gentle. If you damage someone’s belongings, be quick to offer reimbursement or take them to buy a replacement. Smashing someone’s gear is like breaking their heart. Be kind to your fellow cannabis enthusiasts.

Know Your Limit

A common mistake that nearly everyone makes one way or another. Take some time between your hits. You’re not having a race, are you? Keep in mind that different strains and methods of consuming weed will yield different effects. Edibles and concentrates can be easy to overdo it. Be patient so that you reach that sweet spot without spoiling it. One more thing: never force others to over do it. Not everyone has the same tolerance as you. When you have someone who’ll try it out for the first time, try a strain that’s won’t hit your friend too hard. It’s easy to ruin the experience.

Pick a Safe, Calm Spot

Never get high in a place you don’t feel safe. This is never a good idea and is more than likely going to leave you or someone you’re with feeling paranoid and anxious. Make sure you are comfortable with the group you are smoking with – you always want to be in a safe, carefree environment when you are getting high. Alternatively, don’t be obvious about smoking cannabis or being high in public.

Bring Bud and Food

No one likes the person who always sponges on the others for getting high. Don’t be that person. If you don’t have bud, opt to bring some food or drink for everyone to enjoy. The best stoner buddies always has some new smoking papers to try, some new gadgets to show off or have some amazing munchies on hand. It’s not a real necessity of weed etiquette but it save you and your friends a trip to the store.

Never Blow Smoke in Someone’s Face

This is obvious but, NEVER blow smoke in someone’s face. As an accident or a joke. It’s a sure-fire way to kill the mood and it is plain rude.

Have an Activity or Two Planned

If you want to prevent the inevitable, have a suggestion in mind before you get high. his will save a lot of time and will be appreciated by everyone. It’s annoying if there’s a constant back and forth because people don’t know what to do. Think about local places within walking distance and do something fun. If you’re extremely lazy, that’s why you have the Internet and Google.

Never Joke about 5-0

Joking about the cops will kill the mood and get everyone worked up. Just avoid the subject at all costs.

Keep Up the Good Vibes

Be courteous and make sure everyone feels welcome and at ease. This goes a long way. If you make people feel uneasy or unwelcome, intentionally or not, chances are they won’t want to light up with you again.

Overall, getting high in a group should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Make sure you accommodate everyone and follow tips on weed etiquette above. It might just help you.

The post Weed Etiquette for Beginners | Cannabis Etiquette 101 appeared first on Pot My.

Dopamine

Kowal conducted experiments on 40 regular users of cannabis. The control group of 20 non-users were given a placebo. Kowal studied the direct and chronic effects of marijuana on dopamine-related functions, such as creative thinking and the ability to recognize one’s own mistakes. The brain chemical dopamine is important for the proper working of the brain and also plays a role in learning performance.

Less good at brainstorming

Kowal’s research showed that cannabis users were less able to brainstorm, a mental process that is crucial for creative performance:

There is a widespread belief among users that these drugs enhance creativity. This experiment disproves that belief.

Poor at recognizing mistakes

Kowal also demonstrated that for chronic users the brain processes involved in monitoring mistakes also work less effectively. A high dose of marijuana seems to influence both the unconscious processing of mistakes and also the later and more conscious stages of error processing.

It is important that we gather more knowledge about the effects of cannabis on a person’s ability to detect mistakes. This can help with putting together a treatment program for drug addiction.

Lower dopamine production

The research also indicated clear long-term effects: cannabis disrupts the activity of dopamine in the brain. With chronic users a significant reduction was seen in the frequency of spontaneous eye blinking, an indication of a reduction in dopamine production.

More Research Required

The conclusions from other scientific research is that regular marijuana use does not necessarily have extremely negative effects for the take-up of dopamine. It may well be that the age at which cannabis is first used is a crucial factor, Kowal suggests. The type of cannabis and the way neurobiological processes interact with one another can also result in individual difference.

More research is needed on the effects of cannabis and on the individual consequences it can have on mental functions.

The post Cannabis Reduces Creativity, users generally unaware appeared first on Pot My.

Law Enforcement

Police and prisons have been fighting legalization for some time. Many marijuana activists believe this is an attempt to keep the war on drugs alive. This is due the the fact that the war or drugs has been a great source of income for law enforcement.

Since cannabis legalization has spread, private prison companies in the U.S. have gone down $2 billion in value. Programs like the DEA’s Cannabis Eradication Program provide local and state police with large sums of cash for cracking down on drugs like marijuana.

Big Pharma

The pharmaceutical industry has been dropping big bucks to keep medical marijuana as inaccessible as possible.

What they fail to mention is how marijuana use is linked to a reduction in opioid abuse while individuals are dying from opioid overdoses across the U.S.

In states which have legalized marijuana, many people suffering from debilitating pain are choosing marijuana as a pain reliever instead of prescribed medicines. Is Big Pharma trying to protect people or are they going after the money?

Alcohol Industry

Drinking alcohol is 114 times more dangerous than smoking cannabis. With statistics like this surfacing, it’s really no surprise that the alcohol industry is trying to keep marijuana illegal.

According to a document published by Wikileaks, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America to get funding for combating marijuana’s legalization.

WSWA cited a report on increased drunk driving incidents involving marijuana in Colorado. The Study they cited didn’t conclude marijuana was the cause of any fatalities, just that more people involved in vehicular deaths had marijuana in their system.

The Beer Distributors PAC, representative of 16 beer distribution companies in Massachusetts, gave $25,000 to a campaign against marijuana legalization. Arizona Wine and Spirits Association also gave a group fighting legalization in Arizona $10,000.

Conclusion

It’s hard to believe these industries are fighting marijuana seriously if it’s the plant standing between them and their profits. One way you can fight back is by voting for one of the nine marijuana initiatives on the November ballot.

The post Top 3 Industries Lobbying Against Medical Marijuana appeared first on Pot My.

Vaporizing Cannabis

To vaporize cannabis, you will need to heat the flower or concentrate between 250ºF (121ºC) and 400ºF (204ºC). Heating cannabis too much will result in combustion. Once cannabis is ignited, it releases compounds like benzene that have been linked to cancer and tar deposits in the throat and lungs.

By vaporizing cannabis, you are reducing the harms associated with smoke while still receiving many of the medical benefits. Despite this, only 8% out of 30,000+ who were surveyed reported using vaporizers. Vaporizing is currently the best way to prevent harms from cannabis use.

The study made several observations that may shed light on how vaporizing cannabis is leading to a decrease in nicotine dependency.

The Spliff

When you roll a marijuana join but add tobacco to the mix. Regular cannabis smokers are more susceptible to nicotine dependency because of how common it is to mix cannabis with tobacco. In Europe, for example, the spliff is the most common way cannabis is consumed.

Daily Pot Use Linked to Nicotine Dependence

According to a different study, published in the same journal in 2005, regular cannabis use increased the likeliness of people 24 or older to become dependent on tobacco more than threefold.

The study concluded that: “Weekly or more cannabis use during the teens and young adulthood is associated with an increased risk of late initiation of tobacco use and progression to nicotine dependence.”

It’s worth nothing that vaporization was not an option for cannabis user when this study was conducted.

Vaporize Tobacco?

The 2015 study found that out of 96 people only two reported ever having combined tobacco and cannabis in their vaporizers. The researchers believe that the use of vaporizers may lead to a disconnection between marijuana and tobacco use.

Conclusion

Once tobacco dependence sets it, it’s a whole mission to overcome it. The best way to battle that addiction is by never allowing it to arise. If cannabis vaporization leads to a decrease in tobacco dependency, it would be a better choice. Cigarette smoking is currently the second largest killer in the United States.

Many doctors don’t recommend marijuana to their patients. This may be due to the fact that they know it could lead to a higher risk of nicotine or tobacco dependency. Medical marijuana use is spreading across the United States. Additionally, vaping could reduce the possibility of nicotine and tobacco dependence. Some of the dangers of combustion smoking would also be mitigated.

Nations that had the highest rate of vaporizer usage were found to be least likely to combine tobacco and marijuana. This combination seems to make individuals more likely to develop a dependency to tobacco. Therefore, anything that will lead to a disconnect between pot and cigarettes is worth looking into. The researchers from the study are calling for more research on vaping.

The post Vaporizing Cannabis Could Lead to Decrease in Nicotine and Tobacco Dependence appeared first on Pot My.

In fact, there could be companies out there that allow employees to consume marijuana if it improves productivity. Medical studies have illustrated cannabis’ ability to increase mental focus. As a result, the case reports that marijuana also relieves symptoms of ADHD.

ADD/ADHD and Cannabis

Those who have ADD/ADHD have difficulty focusing. Additionally, paying attention to detail and holding interest can be difficult for these patients. Current ADD/ADHD patients are prescribed drugs like Adderall and Ritalin. Both of which come with common side effects like nervousness, restlessness, dizziness, anxiety and more.

In comparison, cannabis comes with less harmful effects and the potential to treat ADD. Studies have found weed to be more effective and safer method of treatment. Prescription pills can be highly addictive and insomnia-inducing. Furthermore, users can even report lack of appetite and suicidal thoughts after using prescription pills.

How Marijuana Can Hep

While there’s no guarantee cannabis will work for everyone suffering from ADHD, many have already had their symptoms relieve.

Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of ADHD. Studies show medical marijuana can reduce anxiety. In fact, one study found cannabis to have specific anxiety-relieving effects.

When an individual ingests marijuana, receptors in the emotional portion of the brain are link to our “fight or flight” reflex slows down. However, you will nee the right strain with the right THC level to treat your ADHD. If anxiety is the symptom you’d like to combat, you should use weed low in THC. High THC levels may result in increased pain rather than decreased.

When anxiety strikes, get a cannabis strain high in CBD. CBD has the opposite of THC, meaning it alleviates anxiety rather than inducing it. CBD is the compound responsible for slowing down “fight or flight” reactions.

Marijuana directly affects the brain’s dopamine levels. Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter that is involved in mental awareness, focus, and memory.

A lack of concentration could just mean you have a dopamine shortage. Smoking or ingesting marijuana will increase dopamine levels but be careful not to get your dopamine levels too high. That’s when memory and focus become impaired.

Conclusion

Those looking to improve their focus without the adverse side effects should consider medical marijuana. It may take some time to find the proper strain and dosage, but the result will be an improvement in focus and productivity. The only problem is ADHD is not on the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in many states. Moreover, those who do not have a medical card will have a hard time finding strains that are high in CBD and low in THC.

The post Can Weed Increase Focus and Productivity? appeared first on Pot My.

The Details

Researchers looked at data from 1999-2013. They paid special attention to deadly car crashes where the drivers involved testing positive for opioid use. The study looked specifically at drivers between the ages of 21 and 40.

After analyzing all the data, the researchers found some important trends. The most important one was that states with legal medical marijuana had fewer deadly car crashed involving opioids.

Researchers reached two primary conclusions. First, medical marijuana may help to reduce the number of drivers who get in fatal crashes wile using opioids. And second, they said that medical cannabis may also reduce opioid use and abuse in general.”Operational [medical marijuana laws] are associated with reductions in opioid positivity among 21- to 40-year-old fatally injured drivers and may reduce opioid use and overdose,” researchers wrote

Cannabis vs. Opioids

This is the latest study to examine whether or not cannabis could be a safe alternative to prescription opioids. A study published earlier this year reported that opioids are some of the most heavily prescribed drugs in the U.S. Opioid sales in the country has quadrupled in 1999. The rise in opiid prescriptions is contrasted by opioid addiction.

That same study found that there are nearly 2 million Americans currently abusing prescription opioids. About 16,000 people die every year from opioid overdoses. To make matters worse, many people who become addicted to prescription opioids eventually switch to heroin.

The problem is becoming so bad that many people are calling it an “opioid epidemic.” In light of all these problems, there’s an increasing interest in marijuana’s ability to replace opioids. And so far, studies like the one just published by the Mailman School of Public Health suggest that cannabis might be a safer solution.

The post Medical Marijuana Reduces Deadly Car Crashes Involving Opioids appeared first on Pot My.

Why Do I Need to Know?

There’s one important reason why you need to know the sex of your plants. Male plants mostly produce pollen that makes your female plants produce seeds.Female plants are the ones that produce the big, fat buds you’re looking for.

When you’re growing, you need to be sure you’re only using feminized plants. If you have male plants mixed in with your females, they will not produce any buds and you might ruin your female plants.

That’s because if there are mature female and male plants in close proximity, the male plant will pollinate the female plant. When that happens, she starts producing tons of seeds. So, if you’d like to maximize your usable bud, and coax your plants into producing fat, seed-free flowers, then you’ve got to carefully identify what sex your plants are. Once that’s done, you need to remove all the male plants before they start pollinating the female ones.

How To Tell The Sex of Your Cannabis Plants

When your plants turn six weeks old, it’s time to figure out what sex they are. To do this, look at all the joints where branches and stems connect.This is where the tell-tale signs will first show up.

If a plant is male, little balls will start showing up at the joints between branches. As they grow larger they’ll start to resemble clusters of grapes. These are actually the pollen sacs. If the plant reaches the flowering stage, these sacs will open up and the pollen will spread all over the place. If it happens to land on a female plant, it will fertilize the flowers and they’ll start to produce a lot of seeds.

On the other hand, if your plant is female, it will not produce those little balls. Instead, look for a wispy, white, hair-looking thing to show up at the joints of branches. These are the plant’s pistils, and they’ll eventually pave the way for your plant to start producing buds.

Every one in a while, you’ll find a plant that grows both pollen sacs and feminized pistils. If this is the case, move the plant away from your other females because its pollen sacs will eventually open up. These plants will often pollinate themselves, but they’ll also pollinate any other female plants in the vicinity.

Isolate Female Plants

Once you know the sex of all your plants, you’ve got to isolate the female ones. If you want usable bud, these are the only plants you should be growing.

Simply remove all the male plants and any plants that produce both pistils and pollen sacs. At this point, your grown operation should be full of only healthy,strong female plants.

Now it’s just a matter of keeping them well fed and helping them grow into the flowering phase.Once they reach that stage, they’ll start producing beautiful, crystal-covered flowers.

Buy Feminized Seeds

One final thing. If you want to avoid all of this, you can always buy feminized seeds from a reliable seed seller. These seeds should only produce female plants.

Even if you go this route, you should still double check your plants when they’re six weeks old. Nature is unpredictable, and it’s not uncommon for a male plant to sneak in.

The post How to recognize male and female plants appeared first on Pot My.

Secreted in the same glands that product cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are the pungent oils that give cannabis its variety of distinctive flavors like citrus, berry and mint. Medical research on cannabis has so avidly focused on cannabinoids that there hasn’t been a lot of research done on terpenes

Terpenes are synthesized in cannabis in secretory cells inside glandural trichomes, and production is increased with exposure to light. These terpenes are mostly found in high concentrations in unfertilized female cannabis flowers prior to senescence (deterioration with age). The essential oil is extracted from the plant material by steam distillation or vaporization. Many of these compounds vaporize around about the same temperature as THC, but some are more volatile than others. Terpenes also play an important role in providing the plant with natural protection against bacteria, fungus, insects and other environmental stresses.

There are many factors that influence a plant’s development of terpenes, including climate, weather, age and maturation, fertilizers, soil type, and even time of the day.

It is a well established fact that marijuana is capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behavior of its user. The main psychotropic cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been intensely studied. However, many of the other cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids found in cannabis that play a big role in boosting the therapeutic effect of cannabis remain understudied.

Terpenes are common components of flavorings and fragrances. Unlike cannabinoids, they are responsible for the aroma and taste of cannabis. The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized them as “safe.”

Terpenes act on receptors and neurotransmitters.

Characteristics of terpenes

• They are prone to combine with or dissolve in lipids or fats;
• Act as serotonin uptake inhibitors;
• Enhance norepinephrine activity;
• Increase dopamine activity;
• and they augment GABA.

Even with all the data, more specific research is needed for improved accuracy in describing and predicting how terpenes in cannabis can be used medicinally to help treat specific medical conditions.

Terpenes and Their Characteristics

The post Terpenes appeared first on Pot My.

Fortunately, there are ways to smoke a jay without getting caught. There are devices and smoking methods that will minimize the smell of marijuana smoke. No, we’re not referring to vaporization, but smoking and getting away with it. Here are a few ways:

Eliminate Weed Smoke Odor

We don’t recommend relying on sprays to eliminate the smell of weed. People will still know what you’re up to because weed has that certain smell about it. To eliminate the odors created during your smoke session, use smoke odor eliminating candles.

This is exactly why you’re better off using a smoke odor eliminating candle. They’re less intense smelling than a spray which may disturb people around you. Additionally, they have been found to be effective in eliminating the smell of cannabis.

Light a smoke odor exterminating candle before you start your smoke session. The longer the candle is active, the quicker it will eliminate smells.

Leave the candle lit for about 30 minutes after your smoke session. This ensures that the smell weed will be eliminated.

Use Pipes

When you use a bowl, bong or pipe, only pack enough weed for one hit. The goal is to smoke all the weed you packed without leaving a cherry. If there is no cherry, there will be no smoke leaving the bowl.

Steer Clear of Papers and Cigar Wraps

Unless you intend on smoking outside or hanging your head and joint completely outside the window during your entire smoke session, smoking a blunt or joint is not recommended. If you want to be stealthy, it’s best to stick with your bowl, bong, pipe, or one hitter.

Last Hit

If you’ve at least got access to a private room with a window, you should be able to get away with smoking weed. Just be sure to place a moist towel over and cracks under your door to absorb the smell of weed. Also make sure you give the room sufficient time to air out before leaving after a smoke session.

The post Hide The Smell of Weed appeared first on Pot My.

There is a whole lot evidence across the country that cannabis and ptsd go hand-in-hand. But while studies point out the prevalence of marijuana abuse among PTSD patients, a minority of emerging research is looking at the question in reverse: Can cannabis be an effective treatment for PTSD?

Living with PTSD

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety condition caused by disturbing episodes, like military combat or sexual assault. Three classes of symptoms characterize PTSD: re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyper arousal (e.g. insomnia, flashbacks). The persistence of PTSD over time is attributed to changes in brain chemistry that occur at the time of trauma, when adrenaline and stress hormones are hyper responsive.

Not all PTSD sufferers have access to legal medical cannabis due to the state they live it. Combat veterans have an especially high propensity for PTSD, and statistics show that about 1 in 5 military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan experience it. Since cannabis is a Schedule II drug, veterans are instead steered towards antidepressants and antipsychotics, medications that have had very little success in treating PTSD symptoms.

How Cannabis Can Help Treat PTSD

There are currently no specialized, effective medications available for PTSD patients. However, new discoveries in the endocannabinoid system is paving the way of understanding and treating PTSD.

One investigator of PTSD and cannabis is the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Martin Lee, a MAPS affiliate and director of Project CBD, has studied PTSD and cannabinoids in depth.

“Researchers found that people with PTSD had lower levels of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid compound, compared to those who did not show signs of PTSD,” Lee wrote, “Innate to all mammals, anandamide (our inner cannabis, so to speak) triggers the same receptors that are activated by THC and other components of the marijuana plant.”

In short, one pillar of PTSD is an endocannabinoid deficiency: the body stops producing enough endocannabinoids to fill receptor sites, and this is where the cannabinoids found in marijuana play a therapeutic role. By replenishing these missing endocannabinoids with those found in marijuana, researchers think marijuana pharmaceuticals might bring PTSD patients relief from their memories.

“Scientists have determined that normal CB-1 receptor signaling deactivates traumatic memories and endows it with the gift of forgetting,” Lee said, “But skewed CB-1 signaling, due to endocannabinoid deficits (low serum levels in anandamide), results in impaired fear extinction, aversive memory consolidation, and chronoc anxiety, the hallmarks of PTSD.”

Accessing Medical Marijuana for PTSD

PTSD patients are advised to firstly consult with a medical professional befor treating symptoms with cannabis. Consumers not used to marijuana may find that THC aggravates anxiety symptoms. Cannabidiol (CBD), is a cannabinoid that counteracts some of THC’s effects, including paranoia and anxiety. Further research examining the relationship between THC and CBD could lead to more tolerable variants of cannabis pharmaceuticals for individuals suffering from severe anxiety.

The damage caused by PTS cannot be fully recovered by any medication, but for some, cannabis provides relief when nothing else can. Despite a strong need to develop more effective medication without adverse side effects, the promising pharmaceutical possibilities in cannabis are continually dismissed by government-backed research organizations, due to the plant’s Schedule II rating. However, forward momentum builds as education about cannabis’ healing properties spreads.

The post Cannabis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) appeared first on Pot My.

The Study

The background of the study explains that isn’t the first time the correlation between marijuana use and weight was undertaken; however, most research in the past had critical flaws. Unlike those, the researchers here were careful to establish control on the following:

• physical activity,
• socioeconomic status, and
• alcohol use.

All of these factors are important considerations on body weight.

With that in mind, data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health was used to examine the relationship between marijuana use and body mass index (BMI) over time. Using a variety of tests, including waist circumference, the data was collected to compare the body mass index of marijuana users to those who do not use it.

Results of the examination showed that for both men and women, marijuana use was associated with a lower body mass index; that is, being thinner. For men, marijuana users’ BMI were 2.7 percent lower than non-users. For women, the difference was even greater at 3.1 percent less.

In their conclusion, the researchers note that the importance of the study should not go to waste. For one, the association between marijuana use and body mass has medical implications that are important for both the healthcare community as well as policy makers. Secondly, the fact that these results contradict the conclusions of other studies done in the past highlights the importance of controlling for other variables; these previous studies, the researcher’s note, left important factors unaddressed that may have invalidated their results.

Conclusion

The study end with a call for more research on this topic. Researchers should also examine the mechanisms by which marijuana may contribute to a lower BMI. These findings, however, are not entirely a surprise. In fact, the results are actually in line with some other data that has come out of the past. A 2011 study, for example, also found a correlation between cannabis use and lower body weight. Given the massive obesity problem in the United States, finding any and all methods to help alleviate the problem could not come sooner.

The post Marijuana Users Thinner than non-users – Study appeared first on Pot My.