Will Weed Be Banned In Idaho?

If you have been following the legalization process of marijuana in the United States, you will be well aware that it is a very slow process. There are no over 30 states that have legalized medical marijuana, with a few more well on there way to joining them. However, it is also true that some statements are proving much more resilient in their efforts to keep weed an illegal drug. So what about the state of Idaho? Recent;y, Idaho has been in the news related to the topic of cannabis and medical marijuana. This is because Idaho seems to be missing the point completely when it comes to why medical marijuana is important for patients who rely on it for the numerous health benefits it provides.

Legislature seems to hold that every form of medical marijuana will be completely banned from the state. Some states do ban certain forms of medical marijuana, specifically if there is a high or potent amount of THC in it.

However, CBD oil is usually allowed since it is regulated by the federal government to have 0.3% or less THC. Does Idaho even allow CBD? Unfortunately, the answer is no, and it looks like it is not going to change anytime soon. The stance on marijuana used for medical purposes seems to be a permanent prohibition. Unsurprisingly, residents in Idaho have been pretty vocal about the idea of allowing medical marijuana; after all, there is more than enough research to suggest that the use of cannabis can be really beneficial as a treatment option for people who are struggling with chronic diseases or other physical ailments. These types of cannabis do not even contain enough THC to even feel any sort of high. However, the year 2021 brought on a new move against the legalization of marijuana, and it seems that the state of Idaho will not be joining on the fun like a lot of its neighbors.

One of the most disappointing parts of this whole thing is that most medical marijuana patients are not even wanting to use cannabis to get high. For some reason, lawmakers and legislatures seem to think that medical grade cannabis will be used in ways that harm society. Instead, I can say with full confidence that some people turn to medical grade cannabis when they run out of other treatment options. For a lot of people, medical marijuana actually provides relief that they have not been able to see from other medications or treatments. And for those policy makers who are worried about people getting high, most medical marijuana does not even contain much THC. So what is the point of holding out on this medical marijuana policy? Who is it really benefiting?

Another crazy part of this story is that the Idaho legislature has made moves to constitutionally ban cannabis legalization in the future. If you are not exactly sure what this means, don’t worry because I am about to explain it to you. With the creation of the Idaho Medical Marijuana ACT in 2021, we are seeing that the state has filed articles to make marijunana completely illegal in the state. Basically, this means that there will be no form of medical marijuana and no exceptions. It also means that there is no hope in the future for any form of recreational cannabis either. And to make things worse, there is basically nothing that voters can do to change it once it becomes constitutional. Idaho, what is your deal with cannabis? I hope that Idaho will change its stance on cannabis, but I don’t see it happening anytime in the near future.

The Seniors Guide to Cannabis - What You Need to Know

As the medical marijuana market continues to grow for people struggling with chronic disease and other conditions, more and more senior citizens are starting to use medical cannabis as an alternative treatment option. In fact, a good portion of the medical marijuana buyers are people over the age of 65.

In our old age, often we run into problems just getting through the day and doing simple tasks in our day to day lives. Part of this can be attributed to diseases, chronic pain, and other health conditions that can impair the movement and function of our bodies. In other cases, our bodies simply don’t work as well as they used to and consequently need a little bit of extra care when it comes to medical treatment. That is why many senior citizens living with various conditions are starting to come around to the idea of medical cannabis.

However, most older people have either never smoked marijuana before or used it very sparingly in their early days. This is because there was much more of a stigma around marijuana decades ago - and not to mention, cannabis was completely illegal for the majority of older people’s lives. Consequently, lots of senior citizens in the United States do not know much about cannabis, medical programs revolving around marijuana, and how to actually consume the plant. So I wanted to come on here and write this article specifically for people over the age of 65.

If that is you, then I suggest that you can keep reading. We are now in a new era of America, one that does not put people behind bars for smoking medical marijuana with a card. Many older citizens are discovering that cannabis can be a really effective treatment option for dealing with inflammation, pain, and other health conditions. So what do you need to know about smoking cannabis?

Well first, you need to talk to your primary care physician or doctor to get started. Cannabis, like any other drug, needs to be carefully supervised and approved by your doctor before you can start using it. Sometimes there are health conditions or medications that can cause complications for people who are also regularly using cannabis. When you make an appointment with your doctor, they will be able to determine if cannabis is a right fit for you and can be used as a treatment option.

Of course, they will go through your past and current medical history and conditions, and make sure that you do not have any cardiovascular or respiratory conditions that may be a concern later down the road. Once your doctor has determined that you are able to apply for a medical marijuana card, they will write you a referral for your medical marijauna card health evaluation. If you have a qualifying condition, it should be no problem being accepted into your state’s cannabis program.

It is important to note, however, that each state has a different list of conditions that “qualify” for the use of medical marijuana. While some states are very liberal in the amount of conditions that they will accept, other states are extremely stringent on what they consider to be a qualifying condition. Texas, for example, only allows patients with life ending health conditions or completely debilitating disease to be accepted into the medical marijuana program.

Medical marijuana is really effective for patients who have been trying other pain medications that are simply not doing the trick. Sometimes other pain medications, like opioids, can have some brutal side effects. Medical cannabis is a great alternative for people who have been maxed out on their dosage of pain medications and cannot safely raise their dose anymore.

The History of Cannabis Benefits

Cannabis has a very interesting history. Not only that, but it also has become a very polarizing topic. While some people believe that the cannabis plant has amazing healing properties and a multitude of health benefits, other people believe that it has no medicinal purposes and cannot treat medical patients. But what is the history of cannabis? Has it always been such a polarizing issue? Well, cannabis has a fascinating history as a healing plant.

For almost 5,000 years, marijuana was seen as a healing herb by many different civilizations. Many medical researchers and healers throughout history have supported the healing properties of marijuana. Nowadays there seems to be quite a controversy about cannabis in our country. While it is slowly becoming more accepted through the United States, especially as a form of medication and treatment, there is still a bad stigma associated with marijuana that it cannot seem to completely outrun.

So when did the pro-medicinal cannabis movement start? Just in the early 2000s when it became more popular? You may be surprised to know that marijuana was being researched and used heavily as far back as the first century. Pedanius Dioscorides, a botanist and physician from Greece, studied the cannabis plant very intensively and used cannabis seeds to reduce sexual desire. Apparently, Rome must have had a huge issue with that sort of thing.

Later on in the history timeline, we see that the Egyptians also used cannabis. The first mention of marijuana by the Egyptians was in 2350 BC and it was called “shemshemet”. In ancient Egypt, cannabis was frequently used for medicinal purposes and was administered to patients in a variety of forms. It was also sold for a variety of purposes like pain relief, antiseptics, eye medications, and even used during surgeries.

Marijuana was also culturally viewed as a means of curing women who suffer from mood disorders. It is also important to point out that being “high” was very prestigious, as cannabis was an expensive herb that could only be afforded by the upper class.

However, marijuana was not always viewed in such a positive light by other cultures in history. During the 14th through 17th centuries, some women who preferred to use natural herbs and plants as a form of medical care were seen as witches in Europe. Consequently, many were executed by priests and citizens who feared witchcraft.

Cannabis was a component that was often used in various medicinal mixtures to treat patients. Interestingly, a priest and scientist during the 18th century named Jose Antonio Alzate y Ramirez became very vocal and public about the medical use of cannabis. This guy even grew a strain of marijuana himself and marketed it for the treatment of jaundice, tinnitus, tumors, depression, and abdominal pain. Does any of that sound familiar? The fact that so many of us throughout history have realized cannabis’ healing properties is a sure sign that it is truly a natural medicine.

Hopefully, the modern day United States can come to view it as such as well. We are already making cannabis much more accessible throughout our country, so we are taking the right steps to get to where we need to be. After all, history has shown that marijuana is truly a miracle plant. The reason that marijuana attained such an awful stigma is due to some point in the 1950s. There were significant culture shifts, and parents began to worry about the independence of their children letting them get into the wrong thing. The federal government actually regulated marijuana in 1937 after passing the Marijuana Tax Act. 

The Truth About Pre-Rolls

I have been seeing a lot of new medical cannabis patients asking about pre-rolls lately. More specifically, people had been asking me why pre-rolls were less expensive than buying the whole flower. Does this mean that buying a pre-roll is lower quality? Would they be able to provide the same effects as buying a whole flower? Some people, especially seniors and older individuals, are not super experienced or knowledgeable about cannabis. That is totally okay! The important thing is that we can ask questions and give each other feedback in a respectful manner.

Some patients enjoy smoking cannabis but have difficulties packing pipes or rolling blunts due to their medical conditions. For these types of patients, pre-rolls definitely make more sense! It is interesting that, of all the different types of cannabis that are available on our market today, whole flower cannabis remains the most popular and lucrative form. In fact, it is so popular that states who have marijuana medical programs that do not allow smokable marijuana are constantly getting requests to change their policies.

Other inhalation methods that are also popular are vaping and using oil cartridges. These forms of consumption are much more discreet and sometimes more portable than standard cannabis smoking forms. There is much less odor than smoking regular cannabis as well, so for people who want to smoke in secrecy this is a great option. So how do pre-rolled cannabis products stack up against other forms of cannabis inhalation methods? Well, we did the research so you don’t have to. So if you want to read more about it, keep reading this article!

Pre-rolls are usually made in medical dispensaries by the various employees that work there. As employees are moving products around the store and that backroom from day to day, there accumulates a certain amount of marijuana crumbles and debris that fall from the various plants and flowers. After enough of it accumulates around the different boxes and shelves, a store employee will collect all of the leftover cannabis and store it in an airtight container (though they do not mix strains). When they gather enough of a specific strain, they will go ahead and create various marijuana products, including pre-rolls, to then turn around and sell in their dispensary.

That way, none of the marijuana plants go to waste and the dispensary can make back some of the money that they lose from moving products around. Other products that they might make include edibles or topical creams for pain relief. So how do they make the pre-rolls? Does some dude just sit back there and roll joints all day? Well, no - because that would not be efficient for the store. Rather, dispensaries use special machines that automatically fill the wrap with an exact amount of dried and ground cannabis, and will automatically twist and close each joint when the process is complete. This makes the whole process much more efficient and timely. 

So why do pre-rolls cost less than other regular weed products? Is it because they are lower quality? In short, no. However, it is important to note that dried weed is normally less expensive than fresh weed, and not everyone loves dried weed. Ground up dried weed is not inherently any less quality than other forms of weed, but some people prefer fresh weed because of the terpenes (they say it impacts the flavor). Overall, you really can’t go wrong with buying pre-rolled marijuana, as long as you’re happy with it. I hope that you learned something by reading this and that you enjoy your pre-rolls the next time you light up!

Why It Can be Hard to Chose a Cannabis Strain That is Right for You

We know a lot more about marijuana than we did 20 or 30 years ago, at least, in a scientific sense. Thankfully, as our society and country continue to develop and adapt, medical marijuana has found its way into our healthcare system in a new and unique way. Even 20 years ago or so, the thought of nearly 40 states in the United States having legalized some sort of medical marijuana program would have sounded impossible. But, here we are! Over the years, the idea of dosing and using medical marijuana has gotten more clinically focused. 

Doctors are now able to analyze medical patients’ condition to determine what type of marijuana product, strain, and dosage can be right for them. We have made a lot of progress, but there is evidence to support the argument that we may not be doing things completely right. See, one of the biggest problems surrounding cannabis is that we still do not know as much about it as we would other medications and drugs. 

Since it has been an illegal substance for so long, we simply do not have the same amount of research around it as we do other medications and wellness products. Generally, we have put marijuana strains into two groups that most weed smokers are very familiar with - indica and sativa. But what if I told you that this particular way of categorizing marijuana may not be best for finding out which strain is right for you? It can be quite surprising for people who have used marijuana for a long time to come to this conclusion, but it really could be the reality that we are facing. Read more of this article to find out about this topic and more!

So what do I really mean by saying indica and sativa may not be the best indicators for the strain you should be using? Well, it mainly comes down to how those terms have been used overtime to mean something that they are not. While these names are very scientific in the way that they describe specific compounds in the marijuana plant, they have not been described well by marijuana users that have misused these terms to describe their own experiences rather than the actual strain itself. 

Plus, there are like over 700 strains of cannabis that can be so complex, the terms indica or sativa used to describe a strain just doesn’t really make sense anymore. Maybe back when your parents were smoking weed these things could fly, but we are living in the modern age, people! So you may be wondering - how then can I find just the strain of cannabis that is right for me without also considering indica and sativa? Well, it basically comes down to the cannabinoid content and the terpene profile of a given cannabis product. 

You may have heard of these terms before, or you may not have. Either way, they are now the most important words in your vocabulary when it comes to talking about marijuana. These elements of cannabis are super important to consider when looking at the effects of marijuana on your body and mind, especially if you have a health condition. While it used to just involve picking a strain you like and sticking with it based on the sativa or indica content, now we have to consider the basically unlimited number of cannabinoid and terpene profiles that manufacturers have come up with. Things start to get a lot more complicated. The most important thing you need to do is research about marijuana and also talk to your doctor about it.

Can CBD Boost Focus and energy?

 Because more and more people are using this, some researchers have looked into this for treating certain ailments, focus and energy are two things that CBD supposedly boosts but is there support for this. There are some possible claims for this. Right now, we know that CBD is basically the cousin of marijuana, and it’s something that isn’t psychoactive, but it does work with other cannabinoids to help with this.  But let’s look at how you can use CBD for focus. 

The Terpenes in Cannabis 

Cannabis terpenes are similar to the terpenes that are in other plants. Terpenes of course, are natural chemicals that are given off by the plant to help benefit you. These are scents usually that are coming, but there are also other plants that offer chemical biases there.  Lavender and the like, contain linalool, a terpene for instance, that can make you feel even more relaxed. Pine and lemon as well, two other popular scents, also may make you feel a bit more invigorated. This of course can uplift or sedate you, and there are medical applications that are there too. But these are being researched, which is why it’s important to understand that every single strain has different effects, and it’s something that’s important, especially when looking to improve your energy with CBD. 

How to Utilize Cannabis so your Energy Improves 

You’re interested in using this to improve your energy, correct? Well, CBD usually is used initially to address the inflammation and other responses that are there. addressing this can help to relieve some of the symptoms that make a person feel really sluggish. But if you’re interested in the utilization of CBD to help with energy, the key thing that you want to look for is to get products that have the terpenes in them.

Don’t’ get isolated, because that’s just got the CBD in it, and nothing else. 

Broad spectrum does have some of the terpenes and the flavonoids, but it will not have THC, which may be good for some people.

There are others that can benefit from full-spectrum CBD, which also does contain THC, and other products too.  You need to make sure when you do buy this, you read every single label to understand where it is that you’re getting these different products from, and if they’re good.  After you’ve checked for the repute of the product, you want to look for those terpenes that’ll boost the energy. 

D-limonene is one of them that’s in there, and this does naturally occur within hemp to offer a unique, almost invigorating, sort of aroma.  There is also alpha-pinene, which is similar to the pine scent from the trees, offering a freshness that’s uplifting, and also smells a bit like some pine trees.  These are but two of them, and you may want to look for other terpenes that are in there. sativa types also may be good, but also check the terpenes. That’re sativa types that relax, and indica that uplifts, and you’ll want to make sure that you find ones with the right terpenes. You should also consider using flowers, especially in vapes and the like. You can vape the trichomes, and really get the benefits from this right away, heating this up. 

Whatever the case, it can provide energy and help you feel good and refreshed, but also keep in mind that it isn’t the CBD directly that creates this phenomenon, but instead the terpenes that are in this, allowing you to get the most that you can out of this, and really benefit from your CBD as well.