While most people think of and show love to their mothers on Mother’s Day, we all know someone deserving of the term that may not have children in the traditional sense. Whether it’s someone who chose to adopt, foster, or forgo the endeavor all together to instead be a pet or plant mom – we want to honor them all!  

Devoting time, love, and resources to something outside of yourself is one of the more selfless acts that anyone can do, which is why it’s important to recognize these amazing efforts enacted by so many people. From mother cannabis plants to cannabis moms (moms that use cannabis) to rescuing animals, we are wanting to highlight moms of all kinds across America.  

Cultivators – Compassionate Plant Moms  

Did you know cultivators can be responsible for hundreds, even thousands of cannabis plants at once? Could you imagine having thousands of kids? Not me!  

There is a fine line that must be walked to ensure that cultivators are growing healthy plants while also producing cannabis that is going to supply dispensaries statewide and used to treat medical ailments ranging from adults with insomnia to kids with cancer, which is why mother plants can be such an important aspect of growing lots of plants all at once. If you are wondering what a mother plant is – we have you covered.  

What is a Mother Plant?   

Mother plants are cannabis plants that have been carefully selected by cultivators for various traits such as trichome production, weight of buds per plant, the plants’ ability to fend off disease, and many other aspects. After being selected the mother plant is kept in its vegetative state, not allowing it to flower. Doing this allows cultivators to take cuts, also known as clones, off the mother plant. Using the clones, cultivators can produce more cannabis plants that are identical to the mother plant, ensuring a consistent way to replicate the therapeutic plant.  

Why Use Mother Plants?  

There are two primary ways to grow – from seed or from clone.  

From seed is a great way to explore genetics, as each seed from a cannabis plant will express slightly different characteristics. Modified Grapes #5 may be more green in color, while Modified Grapes #6 – from the same plant – may be more purple. These various seeds are known as phenotypes of the cultivar when grown, and often indicated numerically. 

If you’re seeking consistency in a cultivar, from clone is the way to go.  

Medicinal markets in particular favor cloning as the cannabis plant grown is nearly identical to that of the mother plant. This allows patients or consumers to purchase the strain and expect roughly the same effects each time they consume it.  

Mother plants are key to growing consistent cannabis, just as fur moms are the key to their fur babies’ happiness. 

The Moms of Fur Babies

From cute little puppies and kittens to slithering amphibians to exotic animals, pet moms abound, eager to share images of their fur babies to any who wish to see. Some of these pet moms chose their loved one at a local pet shop and others have rescued them from a shelter or even have helped them in a dire situation like being injured on the side of a highway. Pet moms often step up for these creatures and give them the love and care they deserve; be it daily snuggles or daily doses of CBD. 

Is CBD Good for Pets?

It may surprise you to learn that animals across the planet have endocannabinoid systems. Birds, reptiles, mammals, and even invertebrates like sea urchins and mussels all contain this balancing signaling system. While it’s not best for them to consume THC, many animals benefit from the use of CBD.  

In fact, pet parents across the country have touted CBD’s benefits for their fur babies, ranging from increased mobility, fewer seizures, and calmer demeanors. 

“CBD was life-changing for my dog Scooter,” said Danyal Swan, pet owner and Verano Digital Content Manager. “My husband and I adopted Scooter and his brother Pooter in Arizona where, thankfully, cannabis is legal. A week after bringing them home, Scooter had three seizures. The seizure itself was scary, but the only option the vet suggested was terrifying – anti-seizure medications that came with a slew of horrible side effects.  

“Instead, because we were both well-versed in the benefits of medical cannabis and the story of Charlotte Figi, my husband and I decided to try a CBD tincture mixed with Scooter’s food. In the three years we were lucky enough to have with him, Scooter never had a seizure again. His demeanor was calmer – we lived in an apartment and noticed slamming doors were having less of an effect, and so, too, did the torrential summer downpours. Scooter has since passed due to an aggressive tumor; I’m incredibly thankful to have had access to CBD, as I truly feel it helped to ease his pain and symptoms.” 

Research is beginning to support Scooter’s experience with CBD. A small-scale study conducted by Colorado State University and researcher Stephanie McGrath focused on dogs with epilepsy that did not respond to traditional medication. Researchers found that the addition of CBD led to a reduction in seizures for 89% of dogs in the study and noticed a correlation between the higher doses of CBD and a higher reduction in seizures. 

Is There a Difference Between CBD and Pet CBD?  

Yes, and no. One of the biggest differences between CBD and Pet CBD is the dose of CBD. Dosages for humans are meant to be much higher than what an animal may consume – unless you are dosing an elephant, of course! 

Another important aspect to consider is how much THC may be present in the product. THC can be harmful to several species of animals and, even when not harmful, can be too intensely disorienting for pets. It’s best to make sure you are purchasing products that have been highly tested, contain high quality CBD crafted with coconut oil instead of alcohol (be sure to avoid grape seed oil, too!), and contain less than 0.3% THC. Thankfully, large pet food stores are becoming wiser to the benefits, making them a great place to start your search for pet-friendly CBD. 

Moms Across America are Helping Break the Stigma of Cannabis 

One of the largest injustices inflicted on the American people is the criminalization and stigmatization of cannabis and its many uses – but if there is anyone that can influence and help change the minds of people, its moms.  

As a recreational consumer of cannabis, I initially had no idea all the medical benefits I could gain from cannabis use. It wasn’t until I started consuming cannabis more regularly that I noticed I got less migraines, it helped me sleep and elevated my mood. Which I truly believe led me to being a more patient, compassionate, and open parent by reducing my stress and anxiety.

Experiencing what cannabis can do for a person first-hand made me a believer in the medical properties of cannabis, so much so that I was willing to uproot my family and move to a state that allows medical cannabis. My passion grew to the point that I joined the cannabis industry hoping I could help families like mine.

Outside of cannabis moms, there are the caregiver moms. The mothers of children with debilitating illnesses who need the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. There are countless stores of these canna-moms who, in search of relief for their children, uprooted their family to move to a legal cannabis state – often to great success. While this is amazing to see and a testament to the love that moms have, there are reasons to make sure your kids and pets aren’t getting into their stash and yours without your knowledge.  

How Do You Use Cannabis in a Home with Kids?   

For most states with legal cannabis, it is best to know your specific state laws and what is legal. A good standard across the board is to make sure to never medicate in front of your children, especially smoking cannabis in close quarters. Being a controlled substance still, cannabis is highly regulated and still needs to be kept away from kids unless you are giving them their prescribed cannabis medications.  

Safely Storing Cannabis Away from Kids and Pets 

While using cannabis at home there are a few steps you can take to ensure the safety of your kids and pets well-being. Storing your and their supply out of reach and making sure everything is clearly labeled reduces the risk of medicating anyone with the wrong product or allowing them to medicate themselves. Keeping details of all the precautions you have implemented handy is super helpful at times when sitters may be watching them instead of you. The more precautions the better, especially in a time of misuse of the cannabis product so that you are better able to protect yourself and them in instances of legal or medical emergencies.  

To get a more in-depth idea of what to do with cannabis in a home with kids and pets’ we have some useful tips in our recent blog, Tips for Using Medical Marijuana Responsibly in a Family Home.  

Happy Mother’s Day to All the Moms 

From all we have discussed you could say that mom is a synonym for love and care, and anyone who is nurturing in those ways embodies being a mom. No matter how you have come to embody the term, we want to recognize the love and care you have given so fully today and every day. 

The post Honoring All Moms This Mother’s Day appeared first on Zen Leaf.

Recreational cannabis is a big deal. It affirms the benefits of the plants and rejects the decades of cannabis disinformation and fear mongering. With the addition of New Jersey, 19 states – just shy of 40% of the country – have legalized the plant for adults 21+. As you can imagine, the first day and week of recreational cannabis in any state feels like a huge celebration. 

The state of New Jersey held one of the biggest adult use kickoffs yet, thanks largely in part to the gubernatorial welcome at Zen Leaf Elizabeth. 

Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Scutari, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin Tour Zen Leaf Dispensary Elizabeth 

The first people in line for adult use cannabis sales at Zen Leaf Elizabeth weren’t quite who you would expect – Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, and Governor Phil Murphy. They didn’t buy anything, of course, but instead took an exclusive tour of the dispensary.  

The New Jersey Statesmen were shown the array of cannabis options available to adult use cannabis users, from vapes to flower to edibles and more, and how operations within a legal New Jersey recreational dispensary work.  

Governor Murphy gave a moving speech to attendees of the first day of adult use sales in New Jersey. Instead of speaking to the monetary benefits state-funded programs will reap, he spoke to the ways medical cannabis patients will be prioritized in New Jersey and put a spotlight on the wrongs made during the War on Drugs and the significance of recreational cannabis: 

“The first sale of legal, adult-use cannabis today marks a historic moment for New Jersey, as we leave behind the indefensible practices that led to the incarceration of countless people of color and embrace the opportunities of a fair, regulated adult-use market. It is a moment that required long hours of work to make sure we got it right the first time, and I am proud of our efforts to get to this point. With today’s launch, my administration will continue working to grow a cannabis industry that reflects the diversity of our state, protects access for medical marijuana patients, prioritizes justice, and promotes equal opportunities for communities of color.” – Governor Phil Murphy 

New Jersey’s dedication to correcting past wrongs incurred during the War on Drugs makes us incredibly proud to be a member of the state’s medical and adult use cannabis programs. 

Recreational Cannabis at Zen Leaf New Jersey

Zen Leaf and our Verano Cultivation have been preparing for the historic addition of adult use cannabis to the state’s plant program. With two of three Zen Leaf locations in the state offering adult use cannabis shopping, you are sure to find a dispensary near you – but what can you expect? 

Allow those who shopped with Zen Leaf the first days of recreational sales to tell you about their zen experience at Lawrence and Elizabeth. From the personal care given by our Cannabis Advisors to the variety of cannabis product options, Zen Leaf should be the top-choice dispensary for all New Jerseyans.  

Lawrence Cannabis Dispensary Reviews 

“Came for adult use recreational cannabis and was not disappointed! Short line (about five minutes), and excellent selection of products including flower, edibles, vape cartridges, and extract. They even had some basic paraphernalia, if you need it. Staff was friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!” 

– Andrew Shaw, via Google Reviews

“For the first day, and 17th order (8028986) of recreational sales… It was a pretty good experience. I love that dank smell that smacks you in the face when you walk in. The layout was nice, clean and smelled heavenly…The budtender (43140) was friendly, knowledgeable, and very patient. The system had a hiccup and management handled it right away. Expected when running a brand-new system for the first time…Overall the nostalgia was worth the trip, and the wait… I can’t wait to watch the quality grow.” 

– Curtis Dubbeld, via Google Reviews

Elizabeth Cannabis Dispensary Reviews 

“It’s a very big dispensary. Neat on the inside. It has a big parking lot, enough parking for everyone…Zen Leaf has enough staff for any questions…they gladly answer your questions. The dispensary has vapes, rolled blunts, eights up to one once per person. I’m glad it has become recreational and they sell by this dispensary legally and breaking a barrier. Good job keep it up ZEN LEAF ” 

– The Big O, via Google Reviews

While recreational cannabis was at the forefront of the festivities on April 21, 2022, Mr. Batis, a medical cannabis patient of Zen Leaf Elizabeth, spoke on behalf of the patients of New Jersey: 

“I suffer from PTSD, anxiety, as well as personality dissociative disorder, my daily medication including cannabis help me function through the day. Even though today is about the sale of recreational cannabis the state of New Jersey has assured medical patients like me that we would not be left behind.” 

– Mr. Batis, Veteran

Zen Leaf Employees 

The zen experience would be nothing without our Cannabis Advisors. Cannabis product educators and plant enthusiasts, they are the guides to plant wellness, providing thoughtful suggestions and genuine connection.  

Too, providing these positions is a key goal at Zen Leaf – creating jobs with opportunity for growth to bolster the local community. Our Cannabis Advisors are some of the most passionate in the industry, even when facing the inevitable rush of adult use – 

“This is what we worked for. Like, we’re about to play the Super Bowl and it’s showtime,” Joe LoRusso, General Manager of Zen Leaf in Lawrence told New Jersey News 12.

What’s truly special about the cannabis space is how the passion for the space comes about. Destiny is a Supervisor at the Zen Leaf Elizabeth location, and at the launch of Elizabeth adult use sales, graciously shared her story about how cannabis legalization has impacted her life: 

“When my brother passed and I fell into my own depression, I realized the benefits of responsible cannabis use. I went from barely eating and never leaving my room to living life for him [my brother]. I hope he’s up there lighting one up for us right now.”  

Frequently Asked Questions About Zen Leaf New Jersey Adult Use

With new access to cannabis comes questions! From products to why Zen Leaf was chosen as one of the first cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey to offer adult use, find the answers below.

What Cannabis Brands are Offered at Zen Leaf Dispensaries? 

Several forms of Verano cannabis products are available at Zen Leaf Dispensaries, including: 

• Smokable flower, premium cannabis bud grown at our state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation 
• Verano Reserve Swift Lifts, (5) strain-specific pre-rolls measuring 0.5g each for 2.5g total 
• Verano Lozenges, premium, fruit-forward cannabis edible candies that provide 10mg per piece, 350mg per package  
• Verano Reserve Cartridges, 0.5g cartridges crafted with premium distillate and cannabis-derived terpenes extracted from Verano Reserve strains 
• Verano Essence Cartridges, 0.5g cartridges produced with premium distillate and all-natural terpenes 

Keep in mind that strains rotate as we harvest from the Verano New Jersey Cultivation! 

How Do I Become a Zen Leaf Employee? 

Zen Leaf aspires to be a leading job provider in every community we call home. Whether cultivation or dispensary, from New Jersey to Florida to Nevada and everywhere between, we are always seeking passionate individuals looking to be a part of an ever-changing market. If you have the buzz, view Zen Leaf open positions. 

Why was Zen Leaf chosen as one of the first adult-use dispensaries? 

The Verano New Jersey Cultivation and Zen Leaf Dispensary teams have worked tirelessly since adult use cannabis was proposed in 2021 – finding reliable, passionate cultivators and advisors, and growing the best cannabis in the state.  

This scaling of cultivation and dispensaries was no small feat, but was needed for a great reason – to show our commitment to providing adequate and consistent access to adult use and New Jersey medical cannabis markets. The Commission agreed, thereby granting Zen Leaf one of the first chosen facilities able to cultivate, produce, and sell cannabis products for the adult-use community. 

Shop Zen Leaf Elizabeth and Lawrence for New Jersey Recreational Cannabis

Zen Leaf Dispensaries had a memorable first day and week of sales thanks to the warm welcome from state officials and New Jerseyans alike – some of whom visited the dispensary without purchasing solely to witness the historic day!  

We are poised and ready to support all adults 21+ in addition to our dedicated patients with the best cannabis products in New Jersey.  

The post Buzzing Highlights from Zen Leaf New Jersey’s First Week of Adult-Use Sales! appeared first on Zen Leaf.

In an attempt to mitigate the influx of recreational consumers that New Jersey is sure to see, we have established guidelines for assisting medical patients while ensuring a pleasant and rewarding experience for recreational visitors alike. Transcending shoppers into a Zen-like state when they step into the dispensary is our intention at Zen Leaf and, with the addition of recreational cannabis, we hope to further serve and unify the New Jersey cannabis community.

Shopping Experience: Medical vs. Recreational

We at Zen Leaf firmly believe that cannabis is, first and foremost, a medical product. We want to assure patients that we, with the help of the state of New Jersey, have put special accommodations in place to guard medical patients and their access to life-enhancing medical cannabis. With that said, let’s explore what a shopping experience looks like for a medical patient versus a recreational consumer.

The Medical Cannabis Shopping Experience at Zen Leaf

It’s hard to believe that New Jersey patients have been shopping medical cannabis since 2020. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to us at Zen Leaf that the patient experience is not sullied by the addition of recreation. In fact, we have worked hard to ensure your confidentiality and a hassle-free shopping experience, including:

• Reserved parking for medical cannabis patients only, designated with signage
• A check-in line solely for medical cannabis patients
• Express pick-up check-in for patients only
• Dedicated registers for medical cannabis patients only
• The option of cannabis home delivery, offered only to patients Monday through Friday
• Curbside pick-up (coming soon!), designated with signage in our dispensary parking lots, and available only to patients

To further provide medical patients priority access to cannabis-based therapies, recreational consumers will order from a separate menu online.

The Recreational Shopping Experience at Zen Leaf

It’s a whole new world for recreational consumers in New Jersey, you could even say a new fantastic point of view. Recreational use is legal and soon enough consumers will be able to step into the wondrous world of cannabis dispensaries beginning April 21, 2022. Let’s take a magic carpet ride into what it’s like shopping at Zen Leaf.

Currently, Elizabeth and Lawrence offer recreational cannabis sales.

When you arrive at the dispensary, you will notice parking spots reserved for medical patients or medical curbside pickup. These spots are reserved to ensure our medical patients have easy navigation into the dispensary; every other parking spot is yours for the taking!

After stepping inside the dispensary lobby, you will notice two lines for check-in, one labeled medical and the other recreational. Medical patients will be prioritized, but don’t fret! Our Cannabis Advisors are incredibly knowledgeable and efficient to ensure a manageable wait time for your visit.

Your name will be called when it’s your turn to visit with the next available Cannabis Advisor. The dispensary space is open and airy with warm wood accents, adding to the Zen experience. You will be able to consult with a Cannabis Advisor about the extensive menu we have and the many trusted brands we carry, like premiere Verano cannabis. There are separate menus for recreational and medical cannabis online and in-store, once again with medical taking priority.

Recreational consumers will have separate allotments compared to patients. Recreational cannabis consumers may purchase:

• Up to one ounce of flower, OR
• 5 grams of concentrates, OR
• A combination of cannabis products to not exceed the daily limit of one ounce

Dispensary staff will ensure you are below your daily limit by checking transactions for prior purchases. Congratulations! You made your first recreational cannabis purchase in New Jersey.

Wave bye to some of your new best friends, the Zen Leaf staff, on your way out! When you get to your car DO NOT open your cannabis products. While driving, cannabis should remain sealed shut until you have made it home.

Zen Leaf Locations in New Jersey 

New Jersey has been part of the Zen Leaf family for almost two years – Elizabeth opened its doors in 2020, with Neptune and Lawrence Township following a year later. We are proud to be a purveyor of cannabis for the medical patients, and we are incredibly eager to welcome New Jersey recreational consumers to the cannabis community.

Elizabeth

Located at 117 Spring St, Zen Leaf Elizabeth is a spacious location with 120 parking spaces, with the 21 spaces closest to the dispensary designated for medical patients or patients with disabilities. There will be registers dedicated to medical patients only, and hours have been expanded to allow time solely for medical shopping. The hours of operation are as follows:

• Medical-only hours:
  Monday – Saturday, 8AM – 9AM and 9PM – 10 PM
  Sunday, 10AM – 11AM and 8PM – 9PM
• Store hours for both medical and recreational visitors:
  Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM
  Sunday, 11AM – 8PM

Lawrence Township 

The front 16 parking spaces of Zen Leaf Lawrence, located at 3256 Brunswick Pike, will be designated for medical patients and patients with disabilities. There is ample parking behind the dispensary for our recreational visitors. Like Elizabeth, the Lawrence Township location will have dedicated hours for medical patients only:

• Medical-only hours:
  Monday – Thursday, 8 AM – 10 AM and 9 PM – 10 PM
  Sunday, 10 AM – 11 AM, 8 PM – 9 PM
• Store hours for medical and recreational visitors:
  Monday – Thursday, 10 AM – 9 PM
  Saturday, 8 AM – 10 PM
  Sunday, 11 AM – 8 PM

Neptune

Located at 2100 Route 66, Zen Leaf Neptune will service only the medical cannabis community. There may be changes to this location in the future allowing recreational sales, but for the time being, it is a medical cannabis haven. The hours for the Zen Leaf Neptune location will stay the same – Monday through Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM, and Sunday, 10 AM – 6 PM.

Zen Leaf Neptune has a special feature – statewide medical cannabis home delivery!

Zen Leaf Medical Cannabis Home Delivery and Curbside Pick-Up

We are excited to further our service to the medical cannabis community by offering delivery and curbside pick-up to our patients. Recreational Zen Leaf visitors, don’t fret! It’s absolutely our intention to add this option for recreational consumers in the future.

Here are the details our medical mates need to successfully get their orders delivered or picked up curbside, as well as regulations or rules the state wants to make sure the cannabis community knows before they get to take advantage of this effortless way to get their medicine.

Medical Cannabis Curbside Pick-Up (Coming Soon!)

• Patients can place orders online for curbside pick-up
• There will be specific parking spaces or lines for curbside pick-up only, with signage or staff directing the traffic
• We encourage you to bring exact change to make your pick-up as smooth as possible
• Stay tuned for order pick-up timelines!

Medical Cannabis Home Delivery

• Delivery is available statewide from Zen Leaf Neptune
• Delivery is available Monday – Friday to the home address listed on your New Jersey state and medical IDs
• Orders must total $75 to qualify for delivery
• Orders over $100 receive free delivery, purchases under $100 will be subject to a $5 delivery fee
• Before delivery, the patient will be contacted by the delivery person to verify the order and set up the window of delivery time
• Patients are required to show proper identification upon delivery, which includes your state-issued ID and patient registry ID card
• The address on your identification MUST match the delivery address
• No deliveries will be made to mailboxes or PO boxes. Cannabis cannot be left unattended on a porch or stoop, and no deliveries are allowed on federally owned government property
• Upon delivery of products, you must sign to indicate that you received your medical cannabis; you will receive your receipt after payment
• Deliveries must be paid in cash; we suggest having as close to exact change as possible
• No deliveries will be made to out-of-state consumers

Safe and Responsible Cannabis Consumption in New Jersey

The effect of cannabis varies widely from adult to adult and will vary even more if a child has ingested cannabis. One of the most important aspects of cannabis legalization for New Jersey is doing the best we all can to ensure children and those under the age of 21 do not have access to cannabis. The second most important aspect is warning adults to not drive under the influence of cannabis. To further guarantee consumers are handling cannabis in a responsible manner, we have compiled some easy-to-follow instructions:

• Do not operate large machinery, including vehicles
• Do not share your stash with anyone under the age of 21
• Do not smoke around others
• Cannabis must be stored in a container that is sealed shut
• Do not use cannabis products if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• Keep cannabis locked and away from minors and pets; when possible, keep cannabis products in their child-resistant containers
• Using cannabis in conjunction with alcohol, medications and other stimulants can impair the mind more than using cannabis alone
• Make sure you understand how to read cannabis product labels and understand the cannabinoid levels
• Buy cannabis from licensed dispensaries that carry products that are tested for containments

If you our child or pet has ingested cannabis and is experiencing adverse reactions, reach out to the New Jersey Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

FAQ’s For New Jersey Cannabis

Still have questions? Great, we could talk about cannabis all day! We already went over a Zen Leaf shopper’s experience, some of the expectations with delivery and curbside pick-up, and how to consume cannabis safely and responsibly. Let’s dive into some of the common questions that recreational consumers may have about the forms of cannabis they can purchase, how much of each form, where to find a dispensary, and more.

What Forms of Cannabis Will Be Available for Recreational Purchase?

Recreational cannabis will be offered to consumers in forms of:

• Topicals
• Oils for the use of vaporization
• Inhalers
• Concentrates; in solid forms such as resin, and liquids such as oils
• Tinctures and Sublingual forms
• Oral lozenges
• Ingestible; syrups, pills, tablets, capsules, or chewable forms
• Transdermal forms
• Flower

How Do I Find a Recreational Dispensary Near Me?

Zen Leaf has 2 locations offering recreational sales, Elizabeth and Lawrence Township. You can find addresses to these locations listed above or by using the Zen Leaf website and clicking “Store Locations” in the top right-hand corner and navigating to New Jersey locations.

If Elizabeth or Lawrence are out of driving range for you, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has created a painless way to find dispensaries straight from the state website.

When Will Recreational Sales Start?

Recreational cannabis sales began on April 21, 2022! The historic day was marked at Zen Leaf Elizabeth and Lawrence.

How Much Cannabis Can Recreational Consumers Buy?

Recreational consumers may purchase:

• up to 1-ounce of dried flower, or
• up to 5 grams of concentrates or
• any combination that is equivalent that does not exceed the 1-ounce limit per day

Dispensary staff will be checking each recreational consumer’s daily transactions to ensure that you have not gone over your daily limit.

Can I Use Home Delivery or Curbside Pick-Up if I Do Not Have a Medical Card?

It is the goal of Zen Leaf to offer delivery and curbside pick-up for all our cannabis shoppers, but for the time being, only medical patients may take advantage of curbside or home delivery.

What are the Taxes or Fees Associated with Buying Recreational Cannabis?

Taxes associated with recreational purchases will include a state sales tax of 6.625%, with local municipalities able to add another 2% tax.

The additional 25 will be determined by each city or county and may vary from one area to another. Medical cannabis remains tax exempt thanks to the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

Where Can I Consume Cannabis that I Purchased Recreationally?

Any cannabis in the state, whether purchased medically or recreationally, can only be consumed at a private residence with the property owner’s explicit approval.

Are Recreational Cannabis Consumers Eligible for New Jersey Cannabis Rewards?

Absolutely! All New Jersey cannabis consumers are welcome (an encouraged!) to enroll in New Jersey Cannabis Rewards.

Shop Zen Leaf New Jersey for All of Your Cannabis Needs

It’s an incredibly exciting time in New Jersey! Cannabis is legal in more ways than one and, once the recreational launch date is determined by the state, more accessible than ever. We have put tremendous thought and care into the experience for both medical and recreational visitors to ensure each visitor feels comfortable finding their zen.

Our Zen Leaf Cannabis Advisors and Customer Care Team are here to support each visitor, medical or recreational, answering all your questions and providing thoughtful recommendations. Don’t hesitate in contacting us today!

*This post was updated May 5, 2022 to reflect updated medical shopping hours.

The post New Jersey Recreational Cannabis is Here! What Does That Mean for Medical Patients? appeared first on Zen Leaf.

There are certainly several myths surrounding its origins, from police jargon for drugs to street addresses frequented by popular bands. So, what’s the truth about 420? Let’s debunk some myths, lay out the facts, and more in preparation for the biggest cannabis holiday.

420 and the Cannabis Community

With the spread of cannabis legalization across the United States, 420 has come to symbolize many pieces of cannabis culture,the most obvious being actual consumption of cannabis. What started out as a code word and morphed into a code phrase for a group of friends (more on that later), has become something that means so much more to the cannabis community as a whole.

420 stands tall as a symbol for cannabis use and support for its legalization. By extension, 420 is a symbol for the potential benefits cannabis has, as well as the idea that in our lifetimes, cannabis will become accepted throughout the land.

To be certain, cannabis and 420 aren’t secrets people murmur about anymore. From Cheech and Chong to celebrities and major brand icons, tweeting, posting, and talking about 420 is becoming a regular, ingrained part of popular culture. In fact, if you’ve viewed any recent television ads featuring Snoop Dogg, you know that major brands capitalize on the underlying joke about his affinity for cannabis consumption. While 10 years ago, cannabis references may have never made it to network television, Snoop Dogg is now selling Bic lighters.

It’s important to note that, aside from all these tongue-in-cheek references, 420’s meaning is more than just a punchline at the end of a movie for those who partake. In fact, 420 is as important to cannabis culture as Purple Haze, flags with an emblazoned marijuana leaf, and cannabis brownies. Now more than ever, for cannabis consumers, cannabis is to celebrations as champagne is to the New Years’ midnight toast—absolutely necessary.

Urban Legends

Do you remember the first time you heard the term 420? If you do, you likely also remember the way the term was explained to you in hushed tones. The most prevalent and long-lasting myth is that 420 was once a police code for drug activity, or marijuana smoking in progress.

Along the way, many thought 420 was surely in reference to the revered Bob Marley’s birthday, or even his death day. In fact, neither of these applies. Bob Marley was born February 6th, 1945, and tragically passed away May 11th, 1981, at just 36 years old.

Bob Dylan is another deep cut in the 420 origins urban legend. For a long time, people have thought Bob Dylan has something to do with the term’s origins, and the song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” is the subject. If you take 12 and multiply it by 35, you get 420. While the singer/songwriter frequently used cannabis, this connecting thread is very thin at best.

Another pervasive myth is that there are 420 chemicals in marijuana. While a clever idea, this is also inaccurate. While the true number of compounds in cannabis is in the 400s, it’s actually much closer to 460, with more than 60 unique cannabinoids.

While these are all somewhat plausible ideas, there are many more urban legends that are significantly more farfetched. For example, while Hitler’s birthday is on April 20th, it has nothing to do with 420. Similarly, the best time to plant marijuana is not on April 20th, considering growing seasons vary by region. That’s why, currently, the most plausible and accepted origin of 420 is the tale of the Waldos.

420 Origins: Why Do People Celebrate 420?

The roots of 420 originate in 1971 in the Bay Area with 5 high school friends. In the fall of that year, the friends heard of an epic treasure hunt involving a Coast Guard member and his supposed long-lost marijuana crop. These friends—Steve Capper, Mark Gravich, Jeffrey Noel, Dave Reddix, and Larry Schwartz—nicknamed themselves the Waldos, as their usual hang-out place was a wall outside of their San Rafael, California high school. Armed with a treasure map, purportedly from the crop’s owner himself, the Waldos set off on a quest to find the abandoned marijuana treasure trove.

Ahead of their first adventure, the Waldos set 4:20 pm as their meeting time. Each of the 5 was a student athlete, so this was a good after-practice meeting time for all involved. They also had a designated place to meet: Louis Pasteur statue on the school grounds. So, their treasure hunting code became 4:20 Louis, the time and location of their rendezvous.

Together, they’d hop into a car, “toke” up, and begin their search for the evasive, free herb. While the Waldos searched the Point Reyes Forest multiple times, they never did quite achieve their goal. However, they did find a way to reference their cannabis-related extracurricular activities while avoiding alerting parents or officials. 4:20 Louis quickly became 4:20 and then 420—and thus, the code most widely recognized today for cannabis usage was born.

Mainstream Usage

If 5 teenagers from California started the 420 concept, how did it go from a code used by friends to a worldwide icon? It happened as these things tend to do, via connections to the right people and being in the right place at the right time. In this case, 420’s rise to popularity is largely because of the Grateful Dead.

The Waldos were seemingly well-connected to the Grateful Dead. Right around the time that the Waldos were using 420 to mean “let’s go find that secret stash,” the Grateful Dead had relocated to the San Rafael area. Subsequently, one of the Waldos’ fathers bought real estate for the Grateful Dead. Another had a brother who was a manager for a side project of the bassist, Phil Lesh. Because the Waldos were welcomed into the world around the Grateful Dead, a well-known cannabis culture band, the band also picked up the term and popularized it.

On December 28th, 1990, a flyer passed around by Deadheads featured the code word emblazoned at its top. One of these flyers would be given to Steve Bloom, a former reporter for High Times magazine. Via that publication, the term 420 would take off further to a far-reaching audience. 420 grew to be referenced eagerly across cannabis culture from then on.

About Cannabis Culture

In the 1800s and early 1900s in the United States, marijuana was used as a patent medicine. The first federal restrictions occurred in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act, annihilating any federally approved research regarding its therapeutic benefits by the 70s.Instead, as evidenced by the hippies of the time, cannabis quickly became associated with the counterculture.

Mainstream culture in the U.S., on the other hand, was based in conservatism.,  Anything outside popular culture was inherently bad, which led to politicians decrying the assumed negative personal and social effects of cannabis.

Because of cannabis’ illegality and negative publicity from the powers at be, negative assumptions about cannabis began to spread. We’ve all heard the trope of the “lazy stoner” (you know the one—a cannabis enthusiast with hair a little too long, who sleeps in late, doesn’t get a job, and so on). In response, the cannabis community—and cannabis culture—took on a life of its own.

April 20th: “Weed Day”

While consuming cannabis is the focus of the unofficial 420 “Weed Day” holiday, it’s also a day rooted in advocacy. On 420, many proponents tout evidence of cannabis’ efficacy for a number of physical and mental health conditions, stage protests, and participate in casual and official discussions about legalizing marijuana. Steve DeAngelo, “the father of the legal cannabis industry,” recognizes that 420 activism is important and that it is also “a celebration of acceptance, a celebration of victory, a celebration of our amazing connection with this plant.”

As of today, 420 or Weed Day, recognized on April 20th, is celebrated worldwide. In the United States, 18 states have legalized cannabis for recreational use so far, and 36 have legalized medical marijuana. Canada has celebrated legal, recreational use since 2018, while recreational use in Uruguay has been legal since 2013.

It’s important to note that 420 symbolizes different things for each person. Whether someone is simply looking to get high and enjoy cannabis, or wants to join the push for legalization, 420 is symbolic of much more than modern counterculture events. 420 stands for what can get done when a community of people works together.

Cannabis Celebrations Worldwide

As cannabis becomes more widely legalized and decriminalized, 420 festivals garner an air of celebration and community. In this way, cannabis brings people together for a common goal.

April 23rd, 2022 will herald the return of the National Cannabis Festival. Recognized since 2016, it’s a day that focuses not only on celebration, but advocacy and education. The very first event occurred on August 23rd, 2016, when founder Caroline Phillips ran a successful IndieGoGo campaign. The event celebrates the camaraderie across lines of gender, race, class, age, and creed. NCF is a brazen celebration of the plant that takes place minutes from our nation’s Capital.

Considered one of the largest weed celebrations worldwide, London’s Hyde Park will host the 2022 event, complete with celebration. The focus of this event will be a push for legislation to legalize cannabis. The plant is still illegal in the UK, and growing marijuana can warrant a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.

The Cannabis World Cup will be held in Amsterdam from July 1st through July 3rd. This event will feature celebration of cannabis, while maintaining a focus on all the potential positives cannabis has to offer.

The True Meaning of 420

From its meager, stigmatized origins in the 1970s, to its huge festivals and dispensaries on every corner, 420 and cannabis have found a foothold in popular culture. While 420 is so frequently associated with smoking marijuana and enjoying the psychoactive effects, there are many other uses for cannabis. That is, for many, the true opportunity provided by 420 discussions.

As the prevalence and popularity of 420 continues to rise, so do the hopes of the cannabis community. Someday, we all will have streamlined access to cannabis and its many benefits. It is our responsibility to see that effort to fruition.

The post 420 In the Cannabis Community appeared first on Zen Leaf.

The importance of the female influence should come as no surprise considering it is the female, not male, marijuana plants that produce the consumable buds we love so much. Female cannabis plants are also higher in THC than their male counterparts. It’s only fair that women get their flowers for their contributions to cannabis.

Why Is the History of Women in Cannabis So Important?

Currently, the cannabis space exhibits some gender disparities like most other industries in the U.S. For example, many of the top-grossing cannabis companies are still owned and operated by men. Until recently, research on the effects of cannabis excluded women, despite the fact that women have been on the front lines of much of the industry’s progressive movement. It’s  important to learn and acknowledge the history of women in cannabis for this reason.

Since ancient Egypt, Persia, and China, women have used cannabis to relieve pain, alleviate psychological discomfort, and even just relax. From the herbalist women in 7th century Mesopotamia to the female cannabis farmers and entrepreneurs today, women and cannabis have a long history. Queen Victoria was prescribed marijuana to reduce the discomfort of her menstrual cramps in the 19th century, and Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, wrote about cannabis in her 1869 short story “Perilous Play.” And these storied moments in cannabis history are just the start.

To learn about the relationship between women and cannabis today, we need to discover the women in history that got us here.

Female Cannabis Pioneers of the Twentieth Century

You may already know some of these cannabis pioneers—if not, you will likely recognize their work. To achieve legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in many states across the U.S., individuals and groups had to fight for it. Many of these were women who were willing to stake their reputations and risk jail time for their early and unapologetic advocacy of marijuana. Some advocated for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, and others conducted the research that helped legitimize the efforts to legalize. Their hard work and devotion bound them together and made them cannabis pioneers worth celebrating.

Margaret Mead

Image Credit: Wikipedia

In 1969, Margaret Mead advocated for the legalization of marijuana before Congress. At 68 years old, the renowned anthropologist testified her belief that “marijuana is not harmful unless it is taken in enormous and excessive amounts.” Mead noted its usage in other parts of the world in her arguments. She believed the prohibition of marijuana in the United States caused more damage to the country, law enforcement, and the trust between the youth and the elderly than marijuana itself could cause to the user.

Allyn Howlett

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Allyn Howlett is a biochemical neuropharmacologist who in 1988 contributed to the revolutionary discovery of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the endocannabinoid system. Her research revealed the connection between the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and the brains’ receptors that respond to it. This discovery expanded the cultural understanding of how and why cannabis works. In addition, it offered critical scientific research which led to the reemergence of medicinal marijuana in California. This set the stage for passing two significant pieces of legislation permitting doctors to approve the usage of medical marijuana for patients with severe health conditions.

Mary Jane Rathbun

Image Credit: Bon Appétit

Appropriately named Mary Jane Rathbun was a medical cannabis rights advocate in the 1960s. Advocating for the right to legalize marijuana in California, she became known as the “Florence Nightingale of the medical marijuana movement.” During the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Mary Jane volunteered at San Francisco General Hospital, where she became known as Brownie Mary. She illegally offered cannabis brownies to patients, which helped ease the pain of those fighting AIDS. The fame that came from her three arrests drew national media attention. She became known for her devotion to relieving pain for those in need and shone a light on the medical uses of cannabis.

Eventually, Mary Jane Rathbun went on to help pass California Proposition 215 in 1996 and San Francisco Proposition P in 1991. These were the two pieces of legislation which benefited from Allyn Howlett’s research. Brownie Mary also contributed to the opening of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, the first dispensary in the United States.

Female Cannabis Farmers

The pioneers of the past paved the way for the pioneers of the present. Because of all the women who came first, today there is a growing industry of female cannabis farmers.

The beauty of the cannabis industry is that entire crops can be grown indoors. Farming can take on a whole new meaning when it comes to cannabis, and more and more women are taking on this traditionally male profession. In fact, hemp farming is the fastest-growing farming demographic for women.

Here are some of the female-run and operated cannabis farms in the United States.

Royal Key Organics, California

Royal Key Organics is a farm run by Erin Hamilton, a Texas native, and her husband. Erin has a visual arts background and designs all the packaging, while her husband helps run the business side. Together, they’ve created a successful organic operation.

California Artisanal Medicine, California

Owner Anna Willey is a California transplant from Colorado. She was the first woman to open a dispensary in Colorado. Though Willey notes the cannabis industry is still a “boys’ club,” she grew to be a premier cultivator in both the Colorado and California markets in just two years.

Fig Farms, California

Chloe Healy is the co-founder of Fig Farms. Californians are likely to mention the Fig Farms name when discussing the best cannabis in the region. Chloe and her husband opened Fig Farms during the medical marijuana era and continue to grow today. She says the male-dominated, ego-centric cannabis industry can be challenging to navigate but ultimately believes “the plants like girls better.” She must be right because Fig Farms cannabis is an award-winning company and a California favorite.

Small, women-owned cannabis businesses are sprouting nationwide.  The de-stigmatization of female cannabis growers helps businesses like these grow and opens greater opportunities for the future of women in the cannabis industry.

Female Cannabis Entrepreneurs

From cannabis-positive marketing campaigns and public relations to CBD-infused lube, savvy, creative women are pioneering the movement of female cannabis entrepreneurs. At the forefront of innovation, marketing, and distribution, these women are meeting the needs of women with the medicinal magic of cannabis.

Wanda James

Wanda James is a pioneer and modern-day cannabis legend. An entrepreneur, Wanda James was the first Black female owner of a dispensary in Colorado. In fact, not only was she the first, but she was the only one for a very long time. In addition to owning her dispensary, James advocates for cannabis equity and reform, as people of color are often disproportionately targeted for the usage and possession of marijuana in both the United States and Canada. In Colorado, James advocated for passing amendment 64, which legalized cannabis in the state.

Dr. Chanda Macias

Dr. Macias is the chair of Women Grow and the first Black female cannabis entrepreneur to own a multi-state operation. Her company not only grows cannabis but has many storefronts across the country. Too, Dr. Macias is partnering with Southern University to launch the first national CBD line created by a historically Black university. Dr. Macias’ perseverance is an achievement to honor.

Cynthia Salarizadeh

As the founder of Salar Marketing Firm, Cynthia Salarizadeh’s mission is to educate people on cannabis and de-stigmatize the plant. Her marketing firm specializes in marketing and public relations on behalf of the cannabis industry. She also created a luxury “weed wine” available in California called House of Saka.

Mary Jane Gibson

Mary Jane Gibson is a comedian, actor, journalist, Weed+Grub podcast co-host, and medical marijuana advocate. Since 2017, Gibson has traveled the world with brands and public figures researching and spreading awareness about legalizing medical marijuana, CBD, and adult use of cannabis. She is an active writer for Rolling Stone and Green Entrepreneur.

Cyo Nystrom

As a CEO and founder of a cannabis product line, Cyo Nystrom has broken barriers. She’s also one of the first to truly bridge the gap between cannabis and sex positivity. Her sex-positive line of female health cannabis products openly connects the dots to ways cannabis can help offer healing and comfort to the body.

Female Cannabis Culture Creators

Culture creators are the pioneers of the future. They are the Margaret Meads and Mary Jane Rathbuns of today and will lead the cannabis industry forward into the years ahead. The influence of culture creators sets the tone for who will partake in the cannabis industry.

Is the industry accessible? Does it have integrity? How can we innovate? What needs to change? These women paved the way for addressing some of these questions.

Jane West

Founder of Women Grow Jane West is one of the cannabis industry’s biggest influences. West’s legacy is to support women within the cannabis industry community. Women Grow hosts numerous events every year that have attracted over 100,000 guests. Women Grow’s aim is to make legal cannabis the first female-led billion-dollar industry and is a shining example of a female-focused cannabis community. Currently, over 80 percent of Women Grow is organized by women and women of color. This is an impressive and encouraging indication of the cannabis culture women have created.

Dr. Rachel M. Knox

Dr. Knox is a physician who is using her platform to promote a more holistic approach to Western medicine. In her practice, she focuses on the role of the endocannabinoid system and works to dismantle misinformation about cannabis with her patients. With the de-stigmatization of marijuana’s usage medicinally, practitioners like Dr. Knox may be influential culture creators in merging standard health care practice and medicinal cannabis.

Madeline Martinez

Madeline Martinez began as a California correctional officer but changed course after witnessing the harm caused by the war on drugs. In 1998, Martinez began advocating for the legalization of medical cannabis in the state of Oregon. Her passion led her to open the world-famous Cannabis Cafe in Portland, which was a safe place for people to consume medical cannabis—and the first consumption lounge in Portland. A longstanding advocate for cannabis, Madeline Martinez has now aimed her focus at federal reform. She is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and the NORML Women’s Alliance.

The Future for Women in Cannabis

With a diverse group of women pioneering the cannabis industry, the future looks bright. If these farmers and culture creators are any indication, the cannabis industry will continue to grow in diversity, economic accessibility, female representation, women of color in leadership, and integrative primary health care. The history of women and cannabis is still being written. One hundred years from now, these will be the women who pioneered for the next generation or two.

Organizations like Women Grow and others have allowed significant progress and opened the door to a diverse team of women to become entrepreneurs. However, there is still work to be done. People like Madeline Martinez have devoted most of their lives to making cannabis accessible, and that history is still in the making. Work must still be done to de-stigmatize, decriminalize, and legalize cannabis.

Taking the same principles of natural medicine relief from reproductive pain and discomfort, women continue to not only use cannabis themselves but create empires that make it accessible for others. These farmers, entrepreneurs, and culture creators are continuing the long legacy between women and cannabis. Some have said the future is female, and it seems so is the future of cannabis.

Find a location near you, where our knowledgeable, friendly staff will be ready to serve you with integrity and compassion.

Sources:

1. Russo, E.B. (2014). The pharmacological history of cannabis. Handbook of Cannabis, 23-43.
2. Russo, E. (2002). Cannabis treatments in obstetrics and gynecology: A historical review. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, 2(3-4), 2-6.
3. Howlett, A. C., Champion-Dorow, T. M., McMahon, L. L., & Westlake, T. M. (1991). The cannabinoid receptor: Biochemical and cellular properties in neuroblastoma cells. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 40(3), 565-569.

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Use Cannabis to Enhance Your Exercise Routine (Or Recover From It)

Ancient yoga enthusiasts had the right idea; the anti-inflammatory and euphoric properties of cannabis make it a natural pairing with yoga and other types of mindful, low-impact workouts. Cannabis taken before your workout can help you retain a focused and positive mindset as you push through your exercises.

In addition, cannabis may help to keep your body loose. Note that using cannabis with THC before a workout is not recommended if you’re lifting extremely heavy weights, using other dangerous equipment, or participating in full-contact sports. THC is a safe substance, but it’s still a powerful psychoactive drug; you must be careful never to use it in a way that puts your own safety or the safety of others at risk.

When you’re doing a more extreme workout, consider CBD instead, or simply save the cannabis for afterward. Using cannabis after strenuous physical activity can be just as rewarding as using it for pre-workout. It may gently calm your endorphin-stimulated mind and allows your body to recover from your workout without feeling its effects so sharply.

Use Cannabis Before Bed for Better Sleep

“Self-care” doesn’t have to mean attending daily workout classes or powering through all the latest self-help books. Sometimes, self-care just means taking a nap or getting to bed at a decent time. Cannabis’ ability to help users fall into a deep and restful slumber is likely a product of several of its most desired effects: stress relief, muscle relaxation, and gentle sedation. Good sleep patterns are key to your overall health and ability to function. Cannabis can help you get locked into a more restful and effective sleep schedule.

Use Cannabis as a Meditation Aid

The psychoactive effects of cannabis use can make it an extremely powerful aid for attuning your mental state to a peaceful, meditative wavelength. Meanwhile, its physical relaxation properties can help you to feel fully present in your physical form without being so sharply aware of bodily discomforts, aches and pains, or chronic ailments.

This clear-but-present mindset can be a crucial component of a successful yoga workout, mindfulness class, or a less structured, self-guided meditation session. Some people find that even the most basic meditation exercises, such as repeating a positive affirmation in the mirror each day, can feel deeper and more meaningful after they have used a therapeutic dose of cannabis to lessen their inhibitions and self-doubts.

Treat Yourself to Cannabis Topicals

The pain relieving, muscle relaxing, and anti-inflammatory properties of THC and CBD can give a major boost to just about anyone’s self-care routine – especially for those who work physically demanding jobs. From a tweaked back due to warehouse work to a repetitive stress injury from typing all day, you can easily benefit from cannabis-infused ointments, salves, lotions, and even convenient stick-on patches.3

These options offer pain relief that is long-lasting, fast-acting, and uniquely comforting. Because you are not absorbing the cannabis in a way that will give you a psychoactive high, you can safely experiment with both CBD and THC topicals. You could benefit from both if you have a medical card or live in a state where THC has been legalized for general adult use.

Bring Cannabis into the Bedroom

If you’re confused because we already covered cannabis and sleep, prepare for the unexpected—this use is all about how cannabis can spice up your love life. There are even some products emerging on the market today that are specifically designed and marketed as such. Some users report a heightened sensory experience when using topicals in this manner. Others paradoxically use it as a numbing agent to reduce sexual discomfort.

As always, experiment slowly with various products and doses to find the effects that are right for you. Cannabis can make for a more enjoyable experience overall.

Add Cannabis to Your Self-Care Routine for Relaxation

You don’t have to overthink cannabis. In fact, you don’t even need to have a specific self-care goal in mind. While cannabis has become increasingly used as a serious medicine, its use can (and should) still be a fun and joyful experience, as well. The two do not need to be mutually exclusive. While pursuing better self-care, we can celebrate the therapeutic benefits of cannabis while also embracing its euphoric effects, vibrant culture, and signature chill vibes.

One of the simplest and most effective ways you can employ cannabis for self-care is the same way people have been using it for thousands of years: by simply consuming cannabis to help you relax. Many people have turned to cannabis for a little relief during times of serious stress or pain. Others have used it to enhance religious or meditative practices. But countless more have lit up a bowl or popped in an edible simply to unwind after a long day, or maybe to enhance a hike in the woods or a day on the beach. These uses are valid, too, and undoubtedly fall under the realm of self-care.

You don’t have to be sick or suffering to seek the positive benefits of cannabis. The deep-rooted stigmas and prohibitionist-era media narratives that persisted throughout the twentieth century still vex us well into this one. Unfortunately, some people still believe that using cannabis “just” to feel good is somehow unacceptable, but, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a safe, natural substance that helps you feel better. This is true regardless of whether you’re going through a difficult situation or merely looking to turn a good time into a better one.

Caring for Yourself with Cannabis: Where to Start

To get the desired meditative, physical, or relaxation effects from your cannabis use, you will need to experiment with different doses, different strains, and different routes of administration (e.g., smoking vs. edibles). It’s important to be mindful and pace yourself when trying to find the right dose and cannabis products to best fit your individual self-care needs. Start small, especially if you’re new to cannabis use. Then, experiment with increasing your dose slowly.

How Often Can You Use Cannabis for Self-Care?

There are few, if any, long-term negative side effects of cannabis use for the average adult, although research is ongoing. Most of the potential negative effects from using marijuana regularly over time seem to be related to exacerbating underlying mood disorders or emotional conditions. If you’re turning to cannabis as a self-care aid mostly for mental health reasons, just start small and be patient as you work on dialing in your preferred dose and dosing schedule.

Once you’ve figured out a dose that works, it is fairly safe to use it on whatever schedule best meets your needs. Plenty of people successfully integrate cannabis into their daily routines and live productive lives. There are people across all walks of life who use cannabis on a daily basis, or even multiple times per day, and still achieve a high level of success. Others keep a little cannabis on hand just to use as needed before bed or even to get the most out of their weekends. All of these uses constitute self-care depending on your unique goals and perspectives.

Customize Your Self-Care Routine with Cannabis Products

The benefits of self-care are endless. It allows us to recharge and maintain a clear head so we can make better decisions throughout our day and at work. Compared to traditional medications and over the counter drugs, cannabis products are relatively inexpensive, accessible, and non-addictive. While it’s ultimately up to you how you want to approach self-care, incorporating cannabis into your “look after yourself” routine could be helpful for those who aren’t sure where to start.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about whether cannabis is right for you. Have a question for one of our pros? Find and connect with a Zen Leaf dispensary near you!

Sources

1. Worley S. L. (2018). The Extraordinary Importance of Sleep: The Detrimental Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Health and Public Safety Drive an Explosion of Sleep Research. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 43(12), 758–763.
2. Hill, K. P., Palastro, M. D., Johnson, B., & Ditre, J. W. (2017). Cannabis and Pain: A Clinical Review. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2(1), 96–104. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2017.0017
3. Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
4. Lucatch, A. M., Coles, A. S., Hill, K. P., & George, T. P. (2018). Cannabis and Mood Disorders. Current addiction reports, 5(3), 336–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-018-0214-y
5. Burr, J.F., Cheung, C.P., Kasper, A.M. et al. (2021). Cannabis and Athletic Performance. Sports Med 51, 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01505-x

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CHICAGO, March 18, 2022 – Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (“Verano” or the “Company”), a leading multi-state cannabis company, today announced the opening of its first West Virginia medical cannabis dispensary, Zen Leaf Morgantown, located at 205 Venture Drive. Zen Leaf Morgantown is scheduled to open March 18 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

“Opening our first West Virginia Zen Leaf dispensary is a significant milestone for Verano,” said George Archos, Verano Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re thrilled to provide patients with our array of premium medical cannabis products at Zen Leaf Morgantown, and look forward to serving the medical cannabis community at future locations we intend to open across the Mountain State in the years to come.”

Across West Virginia, Verano has permits issued by West Virginia’s Office of Medical Cannabis to operate a cultivation and processing facility, along with seven total medical cannabis dispensaries, that are currently projected to begin opening in late 2022, subject to customary approvals.

Zen Leaf Morgantown will offer Verano’s suite of cannabis therapeutics, including flower, topicals, edibles, and vapes. Business hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday, and express pickup ordering is also available for additional patient convenience.

About Verano

Verano is a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands, including Verano, Avexia, Encore, and MÜV. Verano’s portfolio encompasses 15 U.S. states, with active operations in 13, including 12 production facilities comprising over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation.

Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands including Zen Leaf and MÜV, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at www.verano.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “projects”, “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to the Company’s position in the marketplace, the timeline associated with the opening of retail establishments and cultivation and processing facilities, and the Company’s operations. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein, including, without limitation, the risk factors discussed in the Company’s annual and quarterly filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except as may be required in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice regarding forward-looking information and statements.

Contacts:

Media

Verano
Steve Mazeika
Director, Communications
steve.mazeika [at] verano.com
312-348-4430

Investors

Verano
Julianna Paterra
Director, Investor Relations Julianna@verano.com
Sard Verbinnen & Co. Gabriella Coffey / Ryan McDougald
Verano-SVC [at] sardverb.com

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As this shift in perception continues, researchers have begun exploring other cannabinoid compounds beyond THC and CBD. Currently, ongoing research is highlighting the qualities of another compound that may one day experience therapeutic use like that of CBD.

It’s name? 

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC.

However, it needs to be said that legally speaking, Delta-8 is still a widely gray topic; it’s not regulated, so no testing is required. So why can you find it everywhere?

What Is Delta-8 (and Why Is It Legal)?

Delta-8, like Delta-9, is a cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. They are very similar in structure, with Delta-9 providing the “high” sensations associated with marijuana, and Delta-8 providing the same to a lesser degree.

Delta-8’s slightly different structure still allows it to bind to the same cannabinoid receptors in your body Delta-9 THC accesses to give you that euphoric head rush. Yet, it does so in a way that results in a much less potent high while still retaining some of THC’s popular effects and therapeutic benefits.

Currently, Delta-8 THC remains legal on a federal level due to the same language in the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp farms and CBD. The 2018 law does not specifically authorize CBD production—rather, it legalized the production of hemp products with under 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC.

This created a so-called “THC loophole” where any products with high levels of compounds like CBD and Delta-8 THC are perfectly legal so long as the plants they’re derived from contain less than the threshold amount of Delta-9 THC.

So, Is Delta-8 THC Really Legal?

While many legal experts and cannabis industry insiders do consider Delta-8 THC products to be fully legal on the federal level, there are a few crucial factors to be aware of if you plan to purchase, use, or transport products containing Delta-8 THC:

• Delta-8 THC does not usually occur in substantial amounts in natural hemp plants. Many Delta-8 THC products are therefore made by converting CBD or Delta-9 THC into Delta-8 through a synthetic process.  This conversion is currently a legal gray area when it comes to federal law and may be entirely illegal under some state and local laws.
• Some states explicitly ban the sale of any products that contain both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC, which rules out almost any product derived from natural cannabis flower.
• At the time of this writing, the federal government’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed new regulations that would classify Delta-8 THC as a Schedule I controlled substance. This would not only make Delta-8 legally distinct from other hemp-derived products like CBD but also put it in the same category as ecstasy and heroin. This action seems to be a part of a larger, long-term crackdown on synthetic drugs—a somewhat inaccurate categorization for Delta-8 THC.

Delta-8 receives this distinction as it does not occur naturally in large enough amounts for viable commercial production. Instead, CBD must be extracted out of the hemp plant, and the Delta-8 crafted through synthetic processes if it is to be resold as a recreational or therapeutic drug at scale.

Is Delta-8 the Same as CBD?

Delta-8 THC (Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are not the same thing, but they share some key similarities:

• Both compounds can be broadly thought of as a main ingredient for “weaker” cannabis products that tend not to produce a strong, psychoactive high, though some of CBD’s therapeutic effects can be quite pronounced in some users, and some Delta-8 users have noted significant effects.
• Both substances are derived from the cannabis plant, where they occur naturally. To produce Delta-8 on a large scale, due to its scarcity in the plant, the compound must be synthetically produced from CBD.
• Both substances were made accessible to consumers in the US through the same 2018 Farm Bill, though both may still be subject to additional regulation from state to state.

Despite these striking similarities, Delta-8 THC and CBD are two completely different chemical compounds with distinct effects, uses, and markets.

CBD (Cannabidiol) creates no psychoactive high in the user whatsoever, although some people argue that its gentle stress relief effects do constitute a psychoactive influence. Delta-8, on the other hand, is an alternative type of THC. Thus, Delta-8 cannot be categorized as non-psychoactive—it’s merely less psychoactive than Delta-9 THC harvested at its peak potency.

Although this drop in potency can be significant, Delta-8 is still very much a psychoactive substance—especially when retailers pack enormous amounts of Delta-8 THC into their products to make up for the difference in potency.

There is much more to be said about the differences between CBD and THC in general. The range of therapeutic effects, potential side effects, and legal concerns vary greatly from substance to substance, user to user, and region to region. For more information on this topic, read the comprehensive THC vs.CBD guide.

Can Delta 8 Be a Flower?

While Delta-8 THC can be found in cannabis flower, it is in incredibly low amounts – so low that flower with high concentrates of Delta-8 is only achieved with the infusing of flower. Flower can be infused by spraying Delta-8 distillate on hemp bud – this ensures that the flower will be below the 0.3% THC to be deemed legal hemp, with the added boost of Delta-8.

The Physical Effects of Delta-8

While many cannabis users are curious about Delta-8’s potential for creating a euphoric high, a lot of other people who have tried CBD for pain relief want to know, what does Delta-8 do to the body?

As noted, Delta-8 can be considered a weaker form of THC. In terms of how the chemical works inside your body, this “weakness” refers to the fact that Delta-8 THC does not chemically bind to your cannabinoid receptors quite as well as Delta-9 THC does. Other than this difference in structure causing a drop in general potency, however, research has revealed little difference between the two compounds.

While Delta-8 is a weaker form of THC than Delta-9, it can still result in a similar psychoactive high when smoked, vaped, or ingested. This becomes especially true when Delta-8 is taken in large doses or by users with little or no THC tolerance. When experimenting with any form of cannabis, you should start small and increase your dose gradually.

In this vein, Delta-8’s effects are remarkably similar to CBD and Delta-9 THC, which is to say that pain relief and muscle relaxation are possible with appropriate use. These therapeutic effects may be lesser than those of Delta-9 THC, concurrent with its reduced ability to cause a psychoactive high. Research into Delta-8’s full medicinal potential is ongoing.

Some people seeking to use cannabis for pain relief have investigated Delta-8 as an alternative that could function as sort of a halfway point between CBD and THC.  This use may be beneficial for those seeking to experience therapeutic benefits with a very mild high. Reports from Delta-8 users suggest that Delta-8’s psychoactive effects are reduced but not nonexistent, while most of the therapeutic benefits usually associated with CBD seem to remain intact.

At this point, however, the status of ongoing research, the uncertain manufacturing standards surrounding Delta-8 products, and the limited availability of quality sources have many consumers turning to CBD or full-spectrum cannabis products. In the future, more people may find themselves able to access the full therapeutic benefits of Delta-8.

What Are the Side Effects of Delta-8?

Delta-8 THC’s potential side effects are non-life-threatening and essentially the same as those of “regular” Delta-9 THC.

Potentially unpleasant side effects you may encounter during Delta-8 use include:

• Memory issues
• Redness and dryness of the eyes
• Increased heart rate
• Impaired coordination or reaction times
• Dry mouth
• Increased anxiety or paranoid feelings (although both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC can also be effective anxiety reducers for some people)
• Coughing/lung issues

Because many Delta-8 products currently on the market are derived synthetically from hemp that is not naturally rich in Delta-8 THC, there is concern from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about unscrupulous producers and unregulated facilities.

Only buy cannabis products from a trusted expert, whether you’re shopping for CBD, Delta-8 products, or full-spectrum cannabis. In the modern marketplace, there is no need to risk your health or safety by purchasing cannabis products from unregulated or unknown sources.

Learn More About Delta-8

Learn More About Delta-8

Fortunately, while scientists and healthcare professionals continue looking into the potential benefits and side effects of Delta-8, you can continue to educate yourself on cannabis culture on our blog. And don’t forget – our Customer Care Representatives and Cannabis Advisors are your guides to wellness. Reach out anytime with questions, and don’t be afraid to visit the Cannabis Advisors at a local Zen Leaf store near you! Our staff is trained to help you understand your needs and help you find the right products, strains and compounds. Just ask!

Sources:

1. Gaoni Y, Mechoulam R. The isomerization of cannabidiol to tetrahydrocannabinols. Tetrahedron. 1966;22:1481–1488. Crossref, Google Scholar
2. 5 Things to Know About Delta 8. (2021). US Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc
3. Lafaye, G., Karila, L., Blecha, L., & Benyamina, A. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 19(3), 309–316. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.3/glafaye
4. Shanna Babalonis, Wesley M. Raup-Konsavage, Peter D. Akpunonu, Agnes Balla, and Kent E. Vrana.Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.Oct 2021.362-365.
5. Kruger, J.S., Kruger, D.J. Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling?. J Cannabis Res 4, 4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8
6. Separation of cannabinoid receptor affinity and efficacy in delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol side-chain analogues. British journal of pharmacology, 132(2), 525–535. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjp.0703827

The post Why Everyone’s Talking About Delta-8 THC appeared first on Zen Leaf.

Investors funneled nearly $13 billion into the industry throughout the year, more than three times the amount invested in 2020. Consumers purchased around $1 million worth of cannabis products on five specific days of the year – April 20 (the unofficial cannabis holiday), the Friday before Labor Day, the two days surrounding Thanksgiving, and the Thursday before Christmas. Experts estimate that the cannabis industry will be worth more than $90 billion by 2026.

Men have traditionally been known as the most frequent consumers of cannabis1. They are therefore targeted more strongly in product development and advertising than any other cannabis consumer demographic. However, surveys and clinical data that measure cannabis use often fail to accurately represent the number of women who consume cannabis. This is largely because women are more reluctant to disclose their cannabis use for fear of stigma (especially if they have children). Yet research from 2021 shows that men are quickly losing ground to women in terms of cannabis consumption.

Women now comprise one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in the industry and make up approximately one-third of buyers. Women are also directly involved in the cannabis industry as business owners, high-level executives, and leaders of online cannabis communities designed specifically for women.

Cannabis Trends Among Female Consumers

Women held 38.8% of the US cannabis industry market share in 2021, compared to 36.6% the previous year. Enterprise software company Akerna reports that 27.35% of female consumers are under 30 years old, and 29.4% are between 30 and 40 years old. Although all cannabis consumers greatly benefit from safe, legal access to cannabis, female customers particularly appreciate the ability to shop at retail stores that offer lab-tested and carefully regulated products. Women can now peruse large inventories of top-shelf products featuring detailed descriptions of their cannabinoid levels and terpene profiles. They also welcome assistance from trained Cannabis Advisors, also referred to as Budtenders or Medtenders, to help them choose the right strains and products to meet their unique needs.

Cannabis Product and Consumption Preferences

Numerous studies show that women have different cannabis consumption preferences than their male counterparts. More female consumers than male consumers use cannabis for medical purposes. These include alleviating the symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia, so they often select low-potency products with low THC and high CBD. Women also tend to be younger and heavier consumers than men, experiment with more product types, seek a wider variety of effects, and choose more specific occasions of use than male consumers. In a recent survey by Brightfield Group, eight of ten women report using cannabis before bed, and 45% report that their cannabis consumption has increased due to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Largely due to its reputation and accessibility, cannabis flower remains the most popular product choice for consumers of all genders, and women increased their cannabis flower purchases by 2.4% in 2021. After flower, women purchase cannabis cartridges and vape pens most often. Women over the age of 60 spend around 29% of their cannabis budget on flower, while younger women spend around 34% of their budget on this type of product. Pre-rolled joints are also favored due to their ease of use and portability, especially among novice smokers.

Cannabis Marketing for Female Consumers

Among women in Generation Z (born in 1997 or later), year-over-year sales grew more dramatically than any other cohort at 151%, followed by Gen Z men at 118%. Due to shifting public attitudes and preferences, many brands now tailor products specifically to canna-curious women with sophisticated brand design and marketing. Just as cannabis products have significantly increased in quality, cannabis product packaging has become more compact, discreet, and visually appealing – but this this does not indicate that female consumers simply purchase products with the prettiest packages.

Women are more likely than men to conduct research on brands, strains, and products to make strategic purchasing decisions. They also tend to choose socially conscious brands that align with their values and favor brands that emphasize patient education and dedicated customer support services.

Female Representation in the Cannabis Industry

When you hear “the future of cannabis is female,” this refers to not only growing consumption and market presence but also the availability of job positions for women in cannabis-related fields. Although men continue to make up a larger share of business owners, executives, and employees in the cannabis industry, many entrepreneurs recognize this gender gap and are attempting to close it by being more inclusive.

The research team at MJBizDaily produced the 3rd Edition of the Women & Minorities in the Cannabis Industry Report. This report includes data from multiple government agencies and their own surveys to evaluate gender and racial diversity in the industry. This data focuses on Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Ohio specifically but reflects current changes in the industry that can provide insight into the entire nation.

Business Owners

According to the research, 19.9% of national cannabis businesses are owned by women. Nevada is the only state with a higher ownership rate for women in cannabis companies than the ownership rate for all businesses in the broader economy. Lack of access to sufficient capital poses a serious obstacle for women looking to enter the industry.

Applications for medical cannabis dispensaries and licensing fees may easily surpass six figures, not counting operational costs, and few entrepreneurs can cover these expenses without investors. Older, white men traditionally dominate financial networks, and breaking into this group can be incredibly challenging for women. The investors that can afford to start a new company are often less likely to invest in a business proposal submitted by a woman than one from a man. If they do locate investors, cannabis businesses owned by women receive less funding than those owned by men, as well as fewer resources in the form of mentorship and guidance.

Business Executives

The percentage of women in executive positions within the cannabis industry spiked from 26.9% in 2017 to 36.8% in 2019 then fell to 22% in 2021. The national average for women executives is 29.8% in all US industries and 22.1% in the cannabis industry.10 Previously, the percentage of female executives in the cannabis industry was outpacing that of the wider economy. However, industry experts believe that this change results from competitive markets that favor businesses with men in ownership and leadership roles. The sectors of the cannabis industry with the largest portion of female executives are testing labs (59.3%), consumption lounges/events (48.1%), wholesale cultivators (40.1%), ancillary service providers (39%), and medical or recreational retail stores (33%). Women hold less than 5% of executive positions in cannabis-focused investment firms, half the number of such positions held by women in financial services.

Employees

Compared to the 46.8% national average of US businesses employing women, the cannabis industry contains 41.9% women in general employment positions. The most common sectors for women are retail stores (51.6%), ancillary service providers (49.5%), testing labs (48.4%), wholesale cultivators (46.9%), and vertically integrated businesses (41.3%).

It is important to note that this data was compiled during the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely caused these figures to fall below what was expected. In general, women of all industries left the workforce in massive numbers due to the closure of schools and child-care facilities, and some women in the cannabis industry likely left the workforce at higher rates than those in other industries.

Female-Focused Cannabis Communities

As women continue to increase their cannabis consumption, the demand for educational resources has skyrocketed. Many women with healthcare providers who discourage cannabis as a treatment option for different medical conditions value the opportunity to speak with other like-minded women experiencing the same issues.

Female-centered online cannabis communities like High There help to empower women with the information they need to make the right choices, whether they are brand new to the world of cannabis or experienced users. This platform features a wealth of resources, including articles on various cannabis-related topics, discussion boards for users who experience specific health issues, product reviews, and expert advice from medical professionals. Female members on High There often report using cannabis either as an alternative treatment or in combination with other therapeutic options to manage their health concerns. These can include pain from severe menstrual cramps, menopause, and endometriosis.

The Future of Women in the Cannabis Industry

As cannabis becomes more accepted and legalized throughout the nation, women are finding a place for themselves in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Although women still face obstacles to entering the cannabis industry, women in leadership roles are running some of the most successful and influential cannabis brands in the nation. Female business owners and their teams aim to redefine outdated business practices, introduce a new group of thoughtful leaders, and build an inclusive industry open to women and minorities. They demonstrate a commitment to their communities as well as their companies and have exceeded industry expectations nearly every step of the way.

This has not only encouraged more women to enter the industry but has also given skeptics solid proof that investing in women-run brands pays off. Today’s consumers want to support brands they believe in, and female cannabis consumers are more inclined to purchase products from companies that place women in decisive roles. Ultimately, the cannabis industry can only reach its fullest potential by ensuring their companies accurately represent their target client base, from entry-level employees up to high-level executives and owners. Growing legalization efforts can help level the playing field, as can investors who are willing to make space for innovative leaders.

Shop Zen Leaf to Support Women in the Cannabis Industry

Zen Leaf and Verano are immensely proud to have a strong female presence company wide.Our lab team scientists, who monitor every plant during its lifecycle to confirm cannabinoid and terpene content and ensure patients receive the highest quality products, are predominantly women. Women serve as cultivators, Customer Care  Representatives, managers, and receptionists across all 50+ Zen Leaf dispensary locations.

We are amplifying our female team members at Verano and Zen Leaf all month long on Instagram, make sure you follow us to join in our celebration of women in the cannabis space. And, if you’re ready to be a woman in the weeds with Zen Leaf, apply to any one of our open positions today.

Sources:

1. Donnan, J., Shogan, O., Bishop, L. et al. Characteristics that influence purchase choice for cannabis products: a systematic review. J Cannabis Res 4, 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-022-00117-0
2. Bottorff, J. L., Bissell, L. J., Balneaves, L. G., Oliffe, J. L., Capler, N. R., & Buxton, J. (2013). Perceptions of cannabis as a stigmatized medicine: a qualitative descriptive study. Harm reduction journal, 10, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-10-2
3. Mattio, R., & Mattio’s, R. (2022, January 13). Why 2022 Will Be a Defining Year for Female Leadership in Cannabis. Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/defining-year-female-leadership-in-cannabis-1282687/
4. Connely, Courtney. July 1, 2021. Cannabis Is Projected To Be a $70 Billion Market by 2028. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/01/in-billion-dollar-cannabis-market-racial-inequity-persists-despite-legalization.html
5. Aitcheson, Julie. February 14, 2022. Green Market Report. Brightfield Group. https://www.greenmarketreport.com/tag/brightfield-group/
6. Potter, N. (n.d.). Cannabis Flower Most Popular Form of Consumption in Colorado |. High Times Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://hightimes.com/news/cannabis-flower-most-popular-form-of-consumption-in-colorado/
7. Stelton-Holtmeir, Jenel. (2021). Women and Minorities in the Cannabis Industry. MJBizDaily. https://mjbizdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/formidable/47/MJBizDaily-Women-and-Minorities-in-Cannabis-Report.pdf
8. Stelton-Holtmeir, Jenel. October 4, 2021. Female, minority executives lose ground in marijuana industry. MJBizDaily. https://mjbizdaily.com/female-and-minority-executives-lose-ground-in-cannabis-industry/
9. Nunberg, H., Kilmer, B., Pacula, R. L., & Burgdorf, J. (2011). An Analysis of Applicants Presenting to a Medical Marijuana Specialty Practice in California. Journal of drug policy analysis, 4(1), 1.https://mjbizdaily.com/female-and-minority-executives-lose-ground-in-cannabis-industry/
10. Mahmood, A., & Bashir, J. (2020). How does corporate social responsibility transform brand reputation into brand equity? Economic and noneconomic perspectives of CSR. International Journal of Engineering Business Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/1847979020927547
11. Huber, J. T., Peek, K. E., Hughes, L. A., & Little, F. (2003). Woman to Woman: Community Health Information Project. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 91(4), 404–410.

The post The Future of Cannabis Is Female appeared first on Zen Leaf.

Marijuana Legalization in West Virginia: A Long Struggle

West Virginia cannabis laws have seen a particularly long and drawn-out course of affairs, even after medical marijuana was officially signed into law. It has not always been a smooth road for West Virginian medical marijuana advocates who continue to fight for every inch. The original version of the state’s medical marijuana law, for example, would not allow patients to obtain cannabis in its most popular form of natural flower.

Medical Cannabis Legalized in West Virginia in 2017

Some people are shocked to learn that the laws in West Virginia were actually changed to legalize medical marijuana all the way back in 2017, but it wasn’t until nearly a half-decade later, at the end of 2021, that the state saw its first fully legal medical marijuana dispensaries begin operations.

The result of these lengthy struggles is now being realized as a new and exciting era of treatment options for West Virginians struggling with pain, depression, anxiety, and the many other conditions cannabis has shown promise in treating. Qualified medical users of West Virginia cannabis are now able to obtain well-regulated, high-quality products at safe, friendly retail dispensaries.

A Brief History of West Virginia Cannabis Laws

Spring 2017

SB 386 passes the West Virginia House and Senate with overwhelming votes of 76-24 and 28-6, respectively. On April 19th, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill. This officially makes West Virginia the 29th U.S. state to legalize medical cannabis.

2017 through 2020

Some West Virginia patients and consumers begin to become frustrated as the state’s medical marijuana program sees an extremely slow roll-out. Delays are blamed on everything from a lack of banking services to threats of prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District. During this period, several other bills are passed, including one that sets the initial number of dispensary licenses at 100 but specifically allows for vertical integration of dispensary business models to maximize the use of those licenses.

March 2020

West Virginia SB 339 is signed into law, which amends and clarifies certain parts of the medical marijuana program, including allowing medical patients to purchase cannabis in its natural form.

January 2021

Permits are issued to 100 dispensary operators in anticipation of the Office of Medical Cannabis finally starting to register patients.

February 2021

The West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis is officially set up for business and finally starts accepting patient registrations.

March 2021

Gov. Jim Justice, who had previously expressed opposition to any recreational cannabis program in the state, goes on record saying he is “weakening on that position.”

November 2021

The first fully licensed medical marijuana dispensary in West Virginia opens for business.

Medical Cannabis: A Safer Alternative to Deadly Opioids?

West Virginia, like many other states in the region, has seen opioid use bloom into a full-blown crisis over the course of the past few decades. With its heritage of coal mining and other active, hardworking lifestyles, it makes sense that many people in West Virginia struggle with chronic pain. Advocates and health professionals are hopeful that medical marijuana legalization in West Virginia could help lead to a reduction in opioid abuse and contribute to a decline in overdose deaths.

Scientific Studies That Support The Legalization of Cannabis

In July of 2020, the scientific journal Systematic Reviews published a paper titled “Medical Cannabis for the Reduction of Opioid Dosage in the Treatment of Non-Cancer Chronic Pain,” which looked at the aggregate results of nine separate studies with over 7,000 combined participants. The report concluded that there is a “likelihood” of opioid dosage reduction when traditional opioid-based pain management is combined with medical cannabis use.

A brief rundown of the individual studies examined for the Systematic Reviews follows:

2003

A case study is conducted on three patients with varying ages, backgrounds, and medical situations, who use marijuana and opioids in combination. All three patients report a reduction in pain, and one is able to reduce their morphine dosage.

2015

A survey of participants who had previously been prescribed opioids for non-cancer-related chronic pain found that 16 percent used medical cannabis for pain relief in the month they were surveyed and that the average sense of pain relief they experienced from using cannabis was around 70 percent, with some users reporting that cannabis relieved their pain 100 percent. The average reported pain reduction from opioid use was only 50 percent.

2016

Medical marijuana patients in Michigan from 2013 to 2015 are surveyed with an online questionnaire relating to pain levels and opioid use. The change in self-reported opioid use is 64 percent. The most significant reductions in opioid use are linked to medical marijuana patients who report a sense of their pain being less “centralized.”

2017

Several hundred registered customers of a medical cannabis provider took this survey. Over half were using medical cannabis for chronic pain, and over half reported substituting medical cannabis for opioids at some point.

2017

Out of over 1,500 dispensary members in New England, 215 report regular use of opioids; 76.7 percent report reducing their opioid use either “slightly” or “a lot” since turning to medical cannabis.

2017

This is a study wherein 37 opioid users with chronic pain enrolled in a medical cannabis program are compared to 29 other habitual opioid users who also have chronic pain but are not enrolled in a medical cannabis program. The results suggest that medical cannabis improves a patient’s odds of reducing opioid prescriptions, improving pain reduction, and increasing the overall quality of life.

2018

There were 1,514 opioid-using participants at pharmacies across Australia. At a three-year follow-up, 22 percent of participants who used medical cannabis reported either an occasional or regular reduction in their opioid use. At the four-year follow-up, that percentage went up to 30 percent.

2019

The study was conducted on chronic pancreatitis patients at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center being actively treated with opioids. Thirty-five of the 53 patients were enrolled in a medicinal cannabis program. Patients in the cannabis program saw a reduction in daily opioid use, as well as a lower rate of emergency room visits throughout the following year.

2019

A survey of Canadian medical cannabis users specifically asks about cannabis being used as a substitute for other substances; 69.1 percent of respondents reported that they had used cannabis as a replacement for a prescription drug. Over a third of those prescription drugs were explicitly identified as opiates or opioids. Reasons cited for using cannabis instead of prescription drugs included fewer side effects, a perception that cannabis is safer, and changing social norms.

Could this be enough for the State to take action and legalize marijuana to help prevent opioid overdoses and reduce the amount of prescription drug use in our country?

The Future of West Virginia Cannabis

During the same town hall event where Gov. Justice spoke about marijuana’s potential to reduce opiate overdose deaths and other “drug-type problems,” he also touched on the revenue-generating aspect of legal cannabis. Justice even engaged with the audience on a question relating to the possibility of tax revenue from cannabis sales picking up the slack for other types of tax reform, leading some to believe that the governor’s once-solid anti-cannabis positions are doing more than merely “weakening” as he describes.

For licensed medical marijuana cardholders in West Virginia, that time is now. Would-be recreational users will have to keep waiting for full legalization of adult-use cannabis in West Virginia, as the unlicensed possession and recreational consumption of cannabis both remain entirely illegal on the state and federal levels.

Many advocates believe public acceptance of cannabis has reached critical levels already, and it will only be a matter of time before cannabis prohibition is finally ended throughout the entire United States. Whether this happens on a federal or state level in West Virginia first remains to be seen. For the time being, West Virginians can contact their state’s Office of Medical Cannabis to learn about getting their medical card.

Visit Zen Leaf in New Morgantown, WV for Your First Medical Cannabis Experience

Zen Leaf is excited to announce our new medical dispensary location in Morgantown, WV is opening soon. All of our locations are staffed by knowledgeable and empathetic staff who can assist you through every step of the process, whether you’re a first-time patient or an experienced cannabis user.

Zen Leaf’s team looks forward to meeting all of our new friends who enjoy cannabis in Morgantown and the surrounding West Virginia areas. Head on over to our WV Cannabis Resource page to learn more about becoming a Medical Marijuana cardholder and get answers to other FAQs regarding the cannabis laws in West Virginia.

Sources:

1. About the Medical Cannabis Act. Office of Medical Cannabis. https://dhhr.wv.gov/bph/Pages/Medical-Cannabis-Program.aspx
2. Okusanya, B. O., Asaolu, I. O., Ehiri, J. E., Kimaru, L. J., Okechukwu, A., & Rosales, C. (2020). Medical cannabis for the reduction of opioid dosage in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain: a systematic review. Systematic reviews, 9(1), 167. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01425-3
3. Boehnke, K. F., Litinas, E., & Clauw, D. J. (2016). Medical Cannabis Use Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Medication Use in a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients With Chronic Pain. The journal of pain, 17(6), 739–744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2016.03.002

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