How Hemp And The Farm Bill May Change Life As You Know It

How to Find the Best CBD Cannabis Product for You
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A non-intoxicating, highly therapeutic compound in cannabis known as CBD, or cannabidiol, has sparked a revolution in cannabis. Studies have demonstrated CBD’s benefits in treating a variety of ailments, including epilepsy, cancer, pain, arthritis, and anxiety disorders, although it can also be used to alleviate everyday stress and more mild symptoms.

CBD can be extracted and processed into a variety of forms, each appropriate for different needs and lifestyles. Below, find out which one is right for you, and then head to Leafly’s dispensary locator to find a cannabis provider nearby.



Hemp Oil & Cannabis-Derived CBD Oil


The popularity of high-CBD cannabis oil has lit up in recent years, especially since the CNN documentary “Weed” captured the miraculous story of 5-year-old Charlotte Figi, whose seizures decreased significantly with the orally-administered concentrate. Using hemp or high-CBD cannabis strains, CBD can be extracted and rendered into a non-intoxicating oil. This oil can be ingested, added to a capsule, or mixed into food or a smoothie.





Cannabis Tinctures


Tinctures are liquid cannabis extractions that are applied under the tongue. Soaked in either alcohol or vegetable glycerin, cannabis tinctures were among the earliest forms of cannabis medicines prior to its prohibition in the United States. They tend to be less concentrated than other oil extracts, but their effects kick in faster than ingestible oils and edibles.





CBD-Infused Cannabis Topicals


Cannabis-infused topicals have become a popular item among patients treating a variety of aches and pains. Applied directly to the skin, topicals deliver localized relief and often contain a variety of therapeutic compounds, not just CBD. Because balms and salves are non-intoxicating, topicals are a great choice for patients needing relief with a clear head.






CBD-Infused Cannabis Edibles
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Cannabis-infused edibles aren’t always loaded with THC. Many cannabis producers now offer CBD-infused edibles and drinkables that relieve stress, anxiety, and other medical symptoms while sating your appetite.

High-CBD Cannabis Strains
High-CBD strains can be smoked or vaporized for immediate effects with little to no high, depending on the strain’s THC content. A strain may contain only trace amounts of THC for clear-headed relief, or it may have balanced levels of THC and CBD, delivering a mild high but potent relief. Explore the menu of your nearby dispensary for a full list of the offerings near you, or browse high-CBD strains on Leafly for an idea of popular varieties to look out for.
 
8 Must-Have CBD Products for Athletes

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From tinctures to face masks, pet treats and beyond, we’re glad to say that CBD is more accessible than ever nowadays.

Its powerful anti-inflammatory effects also happen to make it a great ally for everyday tasks that go beyond the medical side of things. For instance, using CBD to supplement your workout can alleviate some of the most difficult parts of exercise, allowing you to push harder, cope with pain, and recover more quickly.

If you’re CBD curious, keep an eye out on exactly what kind of CBD you’re buying. The most potent and healthy CBD is “full spectrum” meaning that the CBD is extracted in such a way so that it still contains all of the different phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. These phytocannabinoids allow for the “entourage effect” to take place, making full spectrum extracts far more adept at treating various ailments than their CBD isolate counterparts.

See Dispensaries Near You
We’ve rounded up 8 of our favorite must-have CBD products for athletes and exercise junkies below. Carry on, and keep crushing it!

Populum Cold Therapy Hemp Rub
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(Courtesy of Populum)
You may not realize how sore your muscles are while you’re still at the gym, but your body definitely will when you wake up the next morning. Fight painful and sore muscles with Populum’s Cold Therapy Hemp Rub. Made with US grown non-GMO hemp oil and added phytocannabinoids, it contains a variety of soothing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Arnica and Chamomile to relieve inflamed muscles. Just massage a thin layer over the affected area and feel the delicious arctic chill wash over you. It’s a tingly sensation that relaxes painful muscles, making post-workout recovery easier than ever.

Cordial Organics “Balance” CBD Tincture
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(Courtesy of Cordial Organics)
In a world saturated by CBD tinctures it can be hard to discern the amazing from the less reputable. Luckily for you we happen to know that Cordial Organics’ “Balance” CBD tincture blend is pretty excellent. It’s made with full spectrum, USA-grown hemp that’s been extracted through a supercritical CO2 process, aka the best kind of hemp you could hope for. While other phytocannabinoids and terpenes are also added in to give you the full range of health benefits, we can’t help but love Balance for its great lemon/mint flavor. Take a dropper after a long workout to wind down in a jiffy.

CBD+ CAPSULES from Wildflower
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(Courtesy of Wildflower)
Just like mom told you to eat your veggies we’re telling you that CBD can make for one hell of a supplement. These CBD+ capsules from Wildflowernot only contain 30mg of full spectrum CBD in each capsule, but also have additional organic hemp seed oil rich in amino acids and Omega 3 and 6 added in, too. They’re also vegan friendly, if that floats your boat. Pop a capsule at the end of a healthy breakfast to get a great start on your day.

Livity Foods EverBars
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(Courtesy of Livity Foods)
Hemp oil is very, very good for you. It contains an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio that varies between 2:1 and 3:1, making it an ideal fat for promoting good health.

Livity Foods EverBars capitalize on that sweet, sweet hemp oil ratio by taking full spectrum CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp and infusing it into a 12g protein bar. The oil is chock full of CBD, cannabinoids, and terpenes like beta-caryophyllene and alpha-pinene while the bars themselves are non-GMO, gluten free and non-dairy all in one. You get a few flavors to choose from like Almond Cranberry, Blueberry Cashew, Cinnamon Ginger, and Green Power. Grab one 30 minutes before your workout for a quick burst of energy.

ReGen PCR Protein Powder
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(Courtesy of Willpower)
It’s officially a great time to be alive when you can harness the power of CBD into protein powder. This blend by Willpower comes in two flavors (Cinnamon Chocolate and Vanilla) and includes grass fed whey protein mixed with phytocannabinoid rich hemp oil. The end result is a blend that contains 100mg of phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil, 20 mg of cannabinoids/terpenes and 20g of protein per serving. Blend a scoop into your daily smoothie 30 minutes after your workout to help speed up your body’s ability to build muscle tissue.

CBD Select Vape Pens (Relax Lavender Blend)
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(Courtesy of Select)
Sometimes you can inadvertently push yourself too hard and leave the gym nauseous. For those occasions a few puffs of Select’s CBD Relax Blend can put you at ease. Each vape pen is filled with CBD oil blended with organic lavender essential oils to soothe overworked muscles and iffy bellies. Expect the calming properties of the lavender mixed in with the CBD to relax your body almost immediately. You can also puff on it after your workout for a speedy trip to la-la land.

Shea Brand CBD Pain Reliever Salve
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(Courtesy of Shea)
This CBD salve by Shea Brand is designed to combat pain. It’s made with CBD isolate from industrial hemp blended together with skincare goodies like organic Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Arnica oil and a blend of essential oils. The salve itself smells wonderful and helps manage all sorts of pains including chronic conditions, nerve and joint pain, and inflamed/sore muscles. It can even be used on bruises and blisters, though I personally find it most useful on dry, irritated skin. Rub it into the affected area and let the CBD do its thing.

Red Barn CBD Bath Salts
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(Courtesy of Red Barn)
Based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Red Barn sources all of its hemp from its very own backyard, aka the family farm it’s been running for three generations. They also happen to make CBD bath salts that are—you guessed it—full spectrum products. Available in a lavender and rose blend, taking a bath in these salts after a workout tremendously reduces pain and inflammation in the body. We’ll also award some brownie points on account of the amazing smell you’ll have after your bath.
 
Why Is CBD Illegal If It’s Non-Intoxicating?
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Cannabidiol (CBD) has been getting a lot of press lately for being safe, non-intoxicating and helpful for treating a variety of medical issues. So why is it illegal and classified as a “Schedule 1” drug? Experts say the answer is simple: marijuana prohibition continues to create huge barriers to researching and producing this valuable cannabinoid.

What is CBD and How Did It Become Illegal?
CBD is one of the most plentiful cannabinoids in marijuana, second only to THC — the main, active ingredient in cannabis. Like THC, CBD has a wide range of medical benefits, helping with issues like epilepsy, depression, anxiety, pain, inflammation and addiction. Unlike THC, CBD has no intoxicating effects. CBD doesn’t get users ‘high’.

As CBD’s popularity has grown, so has the CBD market. Everyone from cannabis producers to hemp farmers are creating products to meet the demand. From tinctures like Charlotte’s Web, to high-end products like Dirty Lemon’s infused drinks, many hemp-based CBD products can be found online and in stores throughout the US.



But technically, many of these hemp-based CBD products are illegal, and bringing any of them across state lines still raises complicated legal questions. The government is cracking down on those bypassing these laws, in some cases, raiding stores and seizing products. Recent raids include Green Gorilla vape shop in Texas, and Peace of Mind stores in Missouri. Scott Micke, Peace of Mind co-owner, says the hemp-based CBD products seized from his store are carried by Wal-Mart and Target and he thought they were legal. “The laws are so worded and presented in ways that business owners like myself and even the lawmakers don’t know what is legal and not legal,” explains Micke.

Indeed, some lawyers say hemp-CBD’s legality is open to interpretation, and future court cases — or a DEA scheduling change — will add clarity.

The California Department of Public Health is certainly trying to make things clear. They recently put out a statement clarifying that industrial hemp is not allowed in California food products. Period.

So how did this beneficial and non-intoxicating medicine become illegal? “It’s kind of simple,” says Martin Lee of Project CBD “It’s marijuana prohibition — that’s why it’s illegal…and it’s built on a mountain of lies.”

Marijuana prohibition, started in the 1930’s and ramped up during the Nixon presidency, was pushed through by politicians to make it easier to arrest people of color and anti-war activists. These politicians told all kinds of lies about cannabis to make their case. John Ehrlichman, a top advisor to Nixon even admitted that criminalizing marijuana was a way of disrupting these communities, saying “Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”

Misinformation from these anti-marijuana smear campaigns have lead to deep-seated fears and misunderstandings that continue to confuse the issue — both for cannabis in general and for CBD.
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Mounting Evidence CBD Should Be Legal
CBD is Schedule 1, a classification for drugs with no medical use and high risk for abuse. Still, the evidence that CBD should be descheduled has been piling up. The World Health Organization’s recent report on CBD found it to be safe and without potential for abuse. And recently Epidiolex, GW pharmaceuticals’ CBD-based medicine for epilepsy, became FDA-approved.

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb praised Epidiolex’s success in a press statement , saying that the FDA’s drug approval process was “the most appropriate way to bring these treatments to patients” and that “it’s a path that’s available to other product developers who want to bring forth marijuana-derived products.”



Passing these rigorous trials gives evidence that CBD has medical potential, and since the CBD medicine will soon be available to patients throughout the country, there is pressure on the DEA to reschedule CBD within the next 90 days. “We don’t have a choice on that,” commented DEA public affairs officer Barbara Carreno. “It absolutely has to become Schedule 2 or 3.”

Even NIDA has taken a pro-CBD stance, with Director Dr. Nora Volkowpledging that “NIDA will do what we can to … expedite the study of this potentially valuable compound, as well as other components of the marijuana plant.”

Reason Why People Think CBD Has Stayed Illegal
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(OlegMalyshev/iStock)
With all this evidence and support behind CBD, why has it stayed illegal for so long?

“Ultimately it’s a matter of misconceptions still held by a lot of decision makers at the federal level,” explains Mason Tvert of the Marijuana Policy Project. “There’s a question of its source and whether it’s coming from plants that could be also producing other cannabinoids.”

Being sourced from cannabis is not an easy problem to overcome. The Controlled Substances Act has tight regulations on anything coming from cannabis, and while Epidiolex has made it through FDA testing, that isn’t an easy road. “It’s very, very expensive,” Martin Lee explains “and GW has been a pioneer in this regard…To get those two things to fit together — an herbal medicine and FDA approved clinical trials — it’s not an easy thing to do.”



In addition to the cost, regulatory barriers make it difficult for researchers to study the plant. Shawn Hauser, an attorney specializing in hemp and cannabis laws, says one big obstacle is regulations that only allow cannabis from one facility to be used in cannabis research. “The Obama administration attempted to address this issue by expanding the number of federally authorized cultivation facilities,” explains Hauser. “But Attorney General Sessions has continued to block the program and has not acted on any of the 26 applications received in the last few years.”

Still there is reason to hope. Hauser says there are substantial constitutional grounds for challenging theControlled Substances Act based on medical necessity. Between the pressure being put on the DEA to reschedule, and the cases being heard at the supreme court, we may see CBD descheduled in the near future.


Emily Earlenbaugh

Dr. Emily Earlenbaugh is a cannabis writer and educator. She is the Director of Education for Mindful Cannabis Consulting, where she teaches patients how to find the cannabis options that work best for them. She regularly writes about cannabis science and culture for publications like Cannabis Now Magazine, SF Chronicle’s GreenState, HelloMD, and Big Buds Magazine. Emily has a doctorate in philosophy of science from UC Davis.
 
I just need to know where I invest!

I think in that cannabis 101 thread, I put an article about investing in the cannabis/hemp economy.. Now is the time to jump in, with the whole west coast legal and states going legal every year.. Once nyc and fla come on line, its just a matter of time and the whole nation will turn green..
 
I think in that cannabis 101 thread, I put an article about investing in the cannabis/hemp economy.. Now is the time to jump in, with the whole west coast legal and states going legal every year.. Once nyc and fla come on line, its just a matter of time and the whole nation will turn green..

Link?

I searched and didn't find
 
Link?

I searched and didn't find

www.leafy.com is a pretty good sight and they have alot of information.. Im sure they have a money or business section.. Let me do sum thinking, I know I ran across a page that was about investing in the cannabis industry.. And with the federal government still treating it like its 1933, they may not be able to put cannabis on the market, but Im sure they have something for Hemp on the market.. Anyway, when I find it, Ill either pm or post it here for ya..
 
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