Is there a relationship between medical cannabis use and alcohol use?

It is estimated that as many as 107 million people worldwide have an alcohol use disorder. 

Alcohol use disorder is categorized as a person who cannot control their rate and frequency of alcohol consumption and who has a preoccupation with alcohol.

Any time that someone compares today’s marijuana with that of the 1960s, you can know with absolute certainty that they are lying.

One of the most successful themes in prohibitionist propaganda is the “New Potent Pot” line, which tells us that “marijuana stronger than it was back in the 60s, when everyone thought it was harmless.”   

This “new potent pot” line is intended to negate the knowledge gained by experience and thereby eliminate this type of objection. It is said that the THC levels of marijuana today are (pick a number) times higher than in the past. 

Despite the fact that both Michigan and Canada have legalized recreational marijuana, officials are reporting a sharp rise in illegally transported reefer this year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says they've seized more than 9,000 pounds of of the stuff this fiscal year, an increase of 1,726% from last year. And that doesn't even include 1 ton of chronic that was seized on Monday.

Seniors are turning to cannabis to treat common symptoms of aging, with nearly 80% of those who reported using cannabis saying they did so for medicinal reasons, according to a study from researchers at the University of California San Diego. Results of the study, “Cannabis: An emerging treatment for common symptoms in older adults,” were published this month in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

Canadian researchers have found medical cannabis seems to be having an impact on alcohol use among patients.

A large cross-sectional survey of patients in Canada indicates significant reductions in alcohol use following commencement of medical cannabis. The study drew on data from a survey of 2,102 patients enrolled in the country’s medical cannabis program and included 973 who reported using alcohol on at least 10 occasions over a 12 month period prior to starting use of cannabis.

The top line results:

Edibles can be intimidating if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some basics you should know before visiting a dispensary.

The world of edibles can be overwhelming for those who have no previous experience with them. There are all types and dosages available, not to mention their reputation for bad highs.  It’s natural to step into a dispensary and turn away from edibles, choosing something more approachable, something you have more experience with that doesn’t have the potential to keep you couch-locked.

You need genetic authentication to get specific information on cannabis strains. And getting that genetic information may not be available now—or for years to come.

You buy your favorite cannabis strain—let’s say it’s Blue Dream. It’s a common strain, very popular and available at many dispensaries no matter where in the 33 states you go to get it.

But a lab check will tell you that the Blue Dream you got in Denver is not the same Blue Dream you got in Chicago. There may be little changes in the chemical composition. There may be big changes. Or there may just be downright deceit: “Hey, Blue Dream is popular, let’s slap a label on this generic preroll of indistinguishable origin and call it Blue Dream and voila, sales increase!”

Infused cannabis beverage makers are still addressing and experimenting with taste and dosing issues, and progress has been steady. But there is still a sense that all is not ready to go… just yet.

Non-alcoholic beer infused with CBD or THC sounds like a good plan. A natural fit. A new sort of buzz that doesn’t put you under the table, drooling as you slip into a moment of blanking out. It’s a more user friendlier intoxicant.

It seems that cannabis has never attracted this much attention. After decades of being outlawed for no valid reason, many states have legalized it again. The positive campaign attracted many users and informed the public on the positive effects of marijuana.

What role can this plant play for athletes? Are marijuana and bodybuilding connected, and can you hope to achieve fitness goals faster with this herb? Here is an overview of the potential benefits and other things you should know about THC if you are an athlete.

How Does Marijuana Work on Bodybuilders?

As a naturopathic physician living in Washington, I was incredibly pleased when, in 2007, the initiative for medical cannabis was extended and better defined to allow access to more people. In my “previous life” as a graduate student doing cancer research, I was interested in potential uses for cannabinoids. In those early years, the endocannabinoid system was in the early stages of being described. I still am very interested. I have used CBD clinically for a variety of issues and conditions. I have also used combinations of CBD and THC for pain management and sleep disorders.