Hallo, ik ben Inke Gootjes, ik ben een toegewijde en gemotiveerde professional met een sterke achtergrond in strategische verkoop, nieuwe bedrijfsontwikkeling, klantacquisitie en organisatorisch leiderschap. Beschikken over meer dan 6 jaar succesvolle ervaring met het adviseren over veelzijdige projecten, het plannen en implementeren van effectieve promotiecampagnes en het faciliteren van winstgevende relaties met een breed scala aan klanten en belangrijke zakenpartners.
Happy 420 cannabis family, Beautiful Existence (B3) here celebrating April’s special month with the Cannabis Tarot Apprentices, providing the Cannabis Plant Spirit wisdom in a new way… through our Cannabis Tarot Oraculum!
We also have some really important updates to the month’s offerings:
*DISCLAIMER* These readings are my/our interpretations of the deck, not specifically meant for one person, situation, or outcome. I do not proclaim any answers, actions, directions, or authority over anyone at any time. All readings are the interpretation of the viewer/listener/other. Thank you.
A lot can be said about what CBD has done for hemp farmers. The catch is, not all of it is good depending on who you ask. Successful hemp farmers will tell you it’s been everything they hoped for. It’s a high-value crop that can provide an extra stream of income for farmers looking to diversify.
At the same time, some farmers haven’t had success with growing hemp for CBD. This can be for many reasons, from lack of hemp cultivation experience to not having a buyer lined up in advance of planting. These are two of the most common reasons new farmers fail when attempting to farm hemp for the first time.
National CBD Sales
Market experts reported a decline in CBD sales in 2021 for several different companies. This includes Charlotte’s Web — one of the most prominent CBD companies in the industry — which reported a six percent revenue decline compared to the previous year. [1]
Despite there being a broad spectrum of answers about what CBD has done for hemp farmers, market studies are still suggesting CBD sales may reach as high as $20 billion by 2024. The studies also show a trend of CBD sales being transitioned away from dispensaries. CBD is starting to be sold more in places like pharmacies and grocery stores. This trend is expected to continue as more retail establishments decide to stock CBD products on their shelves. [2]
Opinions of a Hemp Farmer
I can’t speak for all hemp farmers, but as a registered hemp farmer in the state of Missouri, I can speak firsthand about what CBD has done for our farm. We cultivated two varieties of hemp in 2021 for CBD flower. We were one of the first Missouri hemp farms to produce a crop in Cole County.
For our farm, cultivating hemp for CBD flower is helping us research and collect data about farming hemp in Missouri. We’ve selectively shared our research data at state and federal levels to be used in multiple hemp research programs. One of our goals is to use the data we collect to help farmers cultivate hemp successfully in Missouri and other states in the U.S. with similar growing climates.
Given the future forecasts of CBD market sales, it’s clear to see that CBD has the potential to do a lot for hemp farmers. With that being said, there are still a lot of risks new hemp farmers should be aware of before deciding if growing hemp for CBD is right for their farm.
Compost teas are a very popular yet controversial technique used in organic and natural farming. Many people use them consistently and have adopted them as a crucial part of their operating procedures. Outside of the cannabis world, many people abhor compost teas. People call them scams, gimmicks, dangerous, pointless, and lack any real science behind them. I’m going to go over some of these points and counterpoints and give my perspective on the aerobic fermentation process of organic inoculants called “compost teas.”
Online and within social media, so many voices are given a platform on scientific processes. You can see citizen scientists performing many experiments to validate or discredit a vast diversity of practices and concepts. Compost teas are not exempt from this. Many gardeners you can find on YouTube have performed side-by-side comparisons of compost teas, many with contradictory conclusions. First, let me explain the concept of compost tea and the intentions behind its use.
Photo Credit: Luna Whitcomb
An actively aerated compost tea uses water, a biological inoculant, a food source, and aeration to multiply biology and introduce it to the soil. This is to introduce beneficial biology to the soil and root zone of a plant. A compost source is full of microbes that are a crucial part of the soil food web. These microbes play an essential role in the functions a plant needs to be healthy and uptake nutrients within the soil. A compost source has a given count of microbial density. Brewing a compost tea is said to multiply that microbe count in water to stretch that compost further than its limited benefit compared to when it is introduced by topdressing or mixed into the soil.
You can find several videos online of people making compost teas, adding them to the soil, then comparing growth rates to plants given straight water. Their results show no increased growth rate or harvest yields. I personally believe this can be explained by the lack of understanding of when and why compost tea is used. First of all, compost teas are not nutrient sources. They are not a turbo button, and they are not always needed by soil. Especially in a soil full of beneficial biology already. Compost teas are meant to fill gaps in the soil food web. It doesn’t surprise me when experienced hobby horticulturalists growing veggies in their gardens see no benefit from compost teas. These people typically make their compost out of a diversity of plant matter and reintroduce it into a small plot of fertile land year after year. I expect their soil food web to be very well intact, and all roles from bacteria, protozoa, microarthropods, and grazers are filled. Introducing compost teas in that situation won’t accomplish anything. Many no-till farmers use water only cycle after cycle and grow the most incredible plants you’ve ever seen. Compost teas aren’t necessary, and they definitely shouldn’t be used on a schedule.
To properly use and integrate compost teas into your garden, you must familiarize yourself with microscopy and the soil food web. This means taking a soil sample, agitating it in water, and viewing the sample under a microscope at 400x. I cannot properly educate anyone on microscopy in this article, and I’m not going to try. I will say, though, that when looking at a soil sample and an essential microbial population is missing, it can be introduced with a compost tea tailored to multiply that specific population. If that population is already present in its appropriate numbers adding more of it will only disrupt the balance of your soil biology. This is where people get their harsh words about compost teas. Why would someone bother with any of this if they don’t have to? If the soil can be topdressed with composts or mixed in for proper biology, why bother?
There are several instances that benefit from the use of compost teas. As mentioned above, compost teas can introduce specific biology. If the soil is lacking protozoa for whatever reason, adding a compost tea rich in protozoa will help balance the soil. When soil is brand new, freshly mixed, or hasn’t had plants growing in it for a long time, it can lack bacteria. If you have a lot of soil and don’t have the budget or infrastructure to topdress or introduce compost, compost teas are an easy solution. Compost tea is a good solution if your soil has too much organic matter, and adding more for biology isn’t an option. Maybe a soil is rich in bacteria and a balanced protozoa population but lacks fungi. A fungal inoculant is needed. Large quantities of fungal inoculants are hard to come by. Agitated and aerated mushroom spawn is a fantastic way to introduce those fungal bodies to the soil. Although most fungi will not multiply in tea, this is an effective way of spreading a fungal inoculant over a large area. If growing acreage and topdressing compost by hand or machine isn’t an option, compost tea is a perfect way to build biology in your soil over time.
In organic farming, using plant-based inputs is very popular. Things like fermented plant juices, blended up aloe vera, liquid kelp, and polysaccharide sources. Unless formulated otherwise, these all require biology to break down organic compounds to make all their compounds and nutrients readily available to plants. Introducing these inputs to a compost tea speeds up their availability by giving biology a head start in breaking them down in the tea. This diversity of food sources also provides the foundation for a larger diversity of biology in your compost teas. I have personally verified this under a microscope. Molasses is a common food source in compost tea, but I recommend replacing it with a polysaccharide. Molasses is rich in glucose, a monosaccharide, and will only feed a narrow spectrum of biology compared to polysaccharide sources.
Photo Credit: Luna Whitcomb
There are dangers and risks to be aware of when making compost teas. Compost teas have the potential to multiply bad bacteria and fungi that will harm your plants and even make you very sick. When feeding biology in a compost tea, it’s important not to overfeed. Overfeeding a compost tea with food sources will lead to large bacterial and protozoan blooms. Most bacteria and protozoa are aerobic microbes and, in high numbers, will consume too much of the available oxygen in a tea. These anaerobic conditions give anaerobic bacterial and fungal pathogens an environment to multiply, which is why using a microscope is important. If a compost tea has multiplied a fungal or bacterial pathogen, it needs to be sterilized and discarded. An invaluable tool in making compost tea is a dissolved oxygen meter. It’s important to take note of your dissolved oxygen levels when making compost tea. Potential anaerobic indicators can be found under a microscope, but a dissolved oxygen meter is a sure way to determine the dissolved oxygen levels in a tea. Monitoring your water temperature is important. Coldwater will hold more oxygen than warm water. If your tea gets too warm, it can mean bad news for your tea.
There are multiple compost tea brewer designs to increase dissolved oxygen levels and prevent anaerobic conditions. I recommend a conical brewer. Do not use airstones in your compost tea brewer. While an airstone may seem like an obvious choice for aeration, we want an air source that will better agitate your compost or inoculant. You want your tea to physically agitate the bacteria off of your compost while providing oxygen to all areas of the brewer. A conical brewer with free-floating inputs is ideal for this because your inputs fall to a center point and are then agitated and oxygenated by the air source when it falls to the lowest point of the tea brewer. Don’t be alarmed if you see foaming occur when making compost tea. Foam is the result of degrading proteins. Protein is made of amino acids, and when agitated, the bonds holding them together break and oxidize, resulting in bubbles and foam. This is not a sign of microbial activity.
There is one last concept surrounding teas I want to cover—using nutrient-dense amendments in a compost tea. Many people like to do this, but it’s important to understand how nutrients are made available and the conditions required to make them available. Typically compost teas are not nutrient sources, but they can be made to be if really desired. Nutrients become available when degraded by bacteria, which are then consumed by protozoa. This is why protozoa are so important in the soil. If you want to add an amendment source to your tea, that tea needs to be very high in protozoa. Protozoa are like the predators of the microscopic world. Their name means first animals. Its believed that all animals evolved from protozoa. Tea will become protozoa dominant with time. Typically you start to see protozoa take over a tea around 48 hours of aerating. Letting protozoa overtake a tea with amendments is key to making those amendments available. However, many amendments take much more time to break down than is practical for tea brewing. Some people will let a tea go for 72 hours or more for readily available nutrients. Keep in mind that it’s possible to brew pathogens, and one must be very careful when doing this. I recommend topdressing your amendments and using compost teas strictly as an inoculant.
Compost teas are a tool. Like any tool, they can be dangerous. Tools are also needed to build anything significant. Compost teas can promote life and bring fertile conditions to your soil. They can also kill all your plants. Be smart. Learn how to identify microbes with a microscope. Without educating yourself first, making compost teas is like shooting a gun in the dark. You might get lucky; you might not. There are other alternatives to making tea. Is it completely necessary? No, it’s not. I see compost tea brewing as an art. The biology and advantages teas provide can result in massive growth rates and plant health. Just be careful and respect nature. She can bite back.
Growth stages in cannabis are so crucial. As passionate growers, we do our best to develop systems that maximize the potential of our plants. Another tool to put into your toolbox that will help your plants reach their fullest potential is the understanding and implementation of plant growth hormones. First off, what is a hormone? Hormones signal cells to develop in certain ways. The same cell can take several forms depending on the hormone that it is exposed to. This is universal for all cells, plants, and animals alike.
An example is when our cannabis enters flowering. Multiple factors trigger a hormonal reaction that helps the cells of our plants shift from multiplication that will increase the size of our plants to developing cells that start the formation of sex organs; in cannabis, this is the bud. As the caretakers of this magical plant, we have the opportunity to help plants thrive and transition into and out of these new changes by introducing sources of these growth hormones naturally from plant matter inputs. A short warning, you can overdo it with hormones. Too much of a hormone can cause stunting, blisters, mutations, and can kill your plant. Always remember to start with small doses. Increase rates after observing that a safe dose was administered. An example of this is auxin and its influence on ethylene. Ethylene in high doses will act as an herbicide. Too much will kill your plant. In proper doses, it will create large growth spurts.
Photo Credit: Luna Whitcomb
There are several ways to harness hormones from plant inputs. You can ferment, steep in water, blend and strain or extract with alcohol. When fermenting, I suggest using the natural farming technique FPJ, or fermented plant juice. This is done by mixing equal weight brown sugar with organic plant matter, crushing the plant matter, then letting it ferment and separate over five days. This mixture can then be used at a ratio of 1:500 FPJ:Water. If you want to do an alcohol extraction, you can make a tincture or follow the Natural farming method to make OHN. This is typically only used on dehydrated inputs or for compounds that are not water-soluble. Check out Cho’s global natural farming literature if you need some help with these natural farming concepts. When making extractions from tree barks and woody inputs, you can steep them in water. When steeping in water, simply collect the input, place it in a sealed container, submerge in water and let brew for 3-4 days in full sun. Use an equal volume of plant matter to water and use the finished solution at 1oz per gallon. If you’re worried about any potential anaerobic pathogens, you can add some Lactobacillus serum at a ratio of 1:100. The Lactobacillus will help competitively exclude unwanted biology. When working with soft plants like aloe or sprouted seeds, you can blend them up in a blender. Add an equal volume of plant matter to clean water, blend them and strain them. Use this solution at a ratio of 1:100 solution:water. Like anything else, you can take a low-tech method or make it more complex if desired. Keep in mind that results may vary when experimenting with new techniques and ideas. It’s best to stick to tried and true methods. Remember to research what conditions the hormone you are trying to extract can handle. As some will oxidize and degrade while others can’t handle high temperatures.
Selecting the right plant inputs to make your hormone extractions is an art. Some plants have much higher levels of hormones than others. Those hormone levels change during different growth stages of the plant also. So not only do you need to choose what to collect, but when to collect it. A solid choice is to use an invasive plant in your local environment. That invasive plant and different parts of that plant can serve multiple functions for your garden. Local plant inputs will always perform better than anything store-bought for sanitation reasons and to harness locally adapted microbial life and enzyme profiles specific to your environment. Microbes secrete enzymes. Enzymes attract microbes. Local plant life will have local microbes that have already adapted and acclimated to your environment, giving them a better chance of survival and multiplication.
Photo Credit: Luna Whitcomb
If you want to play with hormones on your plants, start here. Make a list of all the plants growing native to your environment. Separate them into four categories: root crops, fast-growing vegetative stage, flower producing, and fruit-producing. Depending on which stage of growth you harvest each plant from each of these categories will determine which hormones you’ll be collecting. The next part is pretty intuitive but can have exceptions—root crops for root growth, fast-growing vegetative plants for increased vegetation growth, flowering plants for transitioning into flower, and fruiting plants for fruiting. Premature fruits are a potent source of hormones like jasmonic acid and auxin. Young shoots and sprouts are also potent sources of hormones. Young, freshly forming cells will always be the most hormonal dense portions of the plant. Diversity is helpful in these situations. It’s best to make multiple ferments from multiple plants but use them together. Never exceed a total of 1:500 FPJ:Water. Trust me; you can cause irreparable damage to your plant. These methods may seem rudimentary, but don’t underestimate the potency of nature. A lesson that is typically learned the hard way. Again, find what plants are growing locally and research their compounds. Then use those compounds in the appropriate growth stages. A few of my favorite plants to extract hormones from to get you started: aloe, white willow, fresh bamboo shoots, dandelion, horsetail, purslane, queen Anne’s lace, nettle, yucca, blackberries, and mulberries.
Here is a list of the different plant hormones and their functions.
Auxin- Auxin controls many plant processes such as root branching, adventitious root formation, wound healing, fruit development, and ethylene production. In layman’s terms, auxin is responsible for stretching limbs to chase the sun, helps maximize root surface area, repairs damages to the plant, and plays a minor role in initial sexual organ formation. Farms will spray auxin on a crop so the entire field will start flowering at the same time. This is a good hormone to induce “stretch” and promote vigor. A good source of auxins is fresh new growth tips, aloe vera gel, and willow bark that is fresh and green.
Cytokinin- Synthesized within the root system. High levels are present in root crops. Cytokinins promote cell division in plant roots and shoots. Acting together with auxins, cytokinins will help retard early senescence in plants. Help prevent yellowing by stabilizing protein and chlorophyll content in plant tissue. High auxin and low Cytokinin conditions give rise to root development, whereas low auxin and high Cytokinin conditions encourage shoot development. Mature leaves of sugar beets and sprouted corn are rich in cytokinins.
Gibberellins- Occurs in young plant tissues like seeds, young leaves, and roots, named after a fungus that produces the hormone at high levels. This infectious fungus is considered a pathogen that promotes fast growth and low yields in rice crops. It’s safe to say that you can overdo it with gibberellins. This hormone is to only be used in the early growth stages. It also plays a role in causing the “bolting” of some plants. Small applications can break a plant out of stunting. Gibberellins can be used to stimulate a stubborn old seed to germinate. Barley seed is a potent source of gibberellic acid.
Abscisic Acid– Related to cytokinins, abscisic acid is considered a growth inhibitor and promotes abscission (leaf fall). It is required to synthesize the enzymes at an abscission zone that catalyzes actions that break down cell walls. This is typically not a hormone you would search out and give to plants.
Ethylene- A hydrocarbon naturally occurring in plants. Ethylene is released as a gas. It inhibits and promotes growth when different levels are present in the plant tissue—typically used as a ripening hormone—a regulator of plant senescence. Plants sensitive to ethylene will show early yellowing, abscission, or desiccation when exposed to too much ethylene. Ethylene can be found in any overripe fruit.
Jasmonic Acid- A stress response hormone released during abiotic stress to recover from otherwise plant-killing damage. Causes large growth spurts. Works In conjunction with Abscisic acid, ethylene, Salicylic acid, and other hormones to resist environmental stress. Can cause overgrowth in vegetative plants. My favorite sources of Jasmonic acid are young bamboo shoots, premature berries, premature apples, and jasmine flowers. Jasmonic acid is extremely potent. As a volatilizing plant hormone, it can affect the growth rate of plants close to a strong source. For example, jasmine flowers can increase the growth rate of plants around them during their blooming stage.
Triacontonol- Growth stimulant. When not overused can increase the density of chlorophyll in plant tissue, increasing photosynthesis rates, water uptake, cell division, and elongation. Increased efficacy when applied to foliage during warm temperatures. Triacontonal can be found in all parts of the alfalfa plants and beeswax. I recommend alfalfa sprouted seed tea for triacontanol.
Salicylic acid– Triggers a plant’s defenses and contributes to the process of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). SAR is like the plant’s immune system, helping it fight off a pathogen. It also volatilizes and signals nearby plants, triggering a stress response that will boost resistance to pathogens. Salicylic acid will help fight off infections. My favorite source of Salicylic acid is Aloe Vera.
Indol 3 butyric acid- An auxin precursor and contributes to auxin homeostasis. It is also the most common rooting hormone. If you went to a garden store and grabbed a rooting product, most likely its active ingredient is I3BA. I3BA can be found in the fresh green bark of any willow tree. I recommend steeping this bark in water and letting it sun-brew for 24 hours.
Nature provides us with everything we need. From nutrients to biology and even growth hormones, we can look to nature and natural sources for all the components required to grow large healthful plants. Harness the power of fermentation, osmotic extraction, seed sprouts, and teas. Observe what is growing around you. Read the land, and use what is in your local environment to best nurture the soil and plants in your garden. Don’t underestimate the potency of compounds in the surrounding flora; approach nature with respect, and you’ll find that it has more than a few things to teach you. Maintain a curious, open mind and watch your skills as a cultivator grow.
Lil Twist is a Dallas, TX-born Rapper signed to Lil Wayne’s record label- Young Money Entertainment. If you have listened to Bedrock, Steady Mobbin, and Little Secret (to name a few), you’ve heard him bless songs with 16 bars or more.
Recently, Lil Twist celebrated the launch of Lil Twistys in the Los Angeles market by visiting three dispensaries in the city. I was in attendance to celebrate GKUA Ultra Premium’s fresh drop of Lil Twistys and meet the face and name behind the live resin-infused pre-rolls.
About Lil Twistys
“Eyes low like a flat tire, I smoke big like a wildfire”- Wild for the Night lyrics.
Photo Credit: GKUA Ultra Premium
Every product released under GKUA Ultra Premium is tested and approved by Lil Wayne (co-founder, co-owner, and face of the cannabis company), so this product on the market means that the cannasseur himself approves and beyond. Lil Twistys come in sets of 3, .8 gram joints that contain: cannabis flower, live resin, cannabis concentrate, and kief, testing at 35% THC. Lil Twistys keep the GKUA promise to provide “the best high of your life.”
Lil Twistys are produced from GKUA Ultra Premium flower, and Lil Twist, like Lil Wayne, tastes and approves before moving forward. Each GKUA strain selected for Lil Twistys is selected carefully, then smoked and tested by Lil Twist before we ever get the pleasure of seeing the product on shelves: for example, bigger joints. The original Lil Twisty was supposed to be .5 grams, but Twist wanted the joints to be bigger.
Lil Twist Visits Los Angeles Cannabis Dispensaries
“I’m living the life on a high note”- Contact lyrics
On February 26, 2022, Lil Twist made appearances at 4 Los Angeles cannabis dispensaries:
Dr. Green Thumbs
Wonderbrett
Marina Caregivers
Gorilla RX
I met Lil Twist at Dr. Green Thumbs, where anticipation and excitement filled the space as fans and cannabis lovers patiently waited for Lil Twist to arrive. The doors were open, allowing the sun to shine into an already vibrant dispensary. When the black Sprinter pulled up, the elevation of excitement was felt. As he walked in, it was like his aura provided a high because as he walked through, the faces inside began to smile, and stars could be seen in each person’s eyes.
A true lover of cannabis, Lil Twist held on to a Lil Twisty as he engaged the crowd, signed autographs, and stepped behind the counter to bud tend. The vibration of love for Lil Twist, Young Money, and GKUA was felt all over the dispensary. I had the opportunity to meet and have a moment with Lil Twist. I asked him about his love and relationship with cannabis; he responded:
“I haven’t put Cannabis down since I picked her up; she is in my every day.”
Remember that pre-roll I mentioned that Lil Twist was holding on to? That one was my 1st; my 1st experience with the Lil Twistys Live Resin Pre Roll.
Lil Twist continues to pop up at dispensaries to showcase Lil Twisty’s and connect with fans and cannabis lovers around the country. Just after Los Angeles, Lil Twist visited dispensaries in Oakland, CA, and word has it there are more coming.
Review of Lil Twistys Live Resin Infused Pre Roll
Photo Credit: Author
“No flex, zone (no), two grams, too sauced (woo), Twist still smoking that good (yea), Swisher Sweets or Blackwood (which ones?)”- No Flex Zone lyrics.
Photo by Author
Strain: Tropical Twist
Hybrid
35%+ THC
Lil Wayne tested and approved
Impact: Potent, heavy, very relaxing, euphoric
Flavor: nature, grassy with a hint of floral
Lil Twistys take me from ground to clouds within four inhales. It is a mix of head and body high for me, the head high being euphoric, happy, and in a deep state of thought delivered by the potency of the pre-roll. Because of the potency, I am in an ultimate state of relaxation, and this feeling provides calmer and slower thoughts, while the euphoric and happy feeling transfers into those thoughts. In the physical, my shoulders loosen up, my body melts into the seat, and my eyes are a little heavier than usual.
Consuming beyond four inhales elicits a total state of calm with a smiling mind (my face is too heavy to actually smile). What I mean is, I’m able to space out my thoughts, evaluate each one in a state of calm and happy, and arrive at solutions that really resonate with me; impulse is dissolved.
When I smoke the entire joint, it starts with all of the above and ends with magical sleep. For me, a full Lil Twisty means the perfect balance of a heavy body and eased mind, making the journey to sleep an easy and pleasant one. Lil Twistys also makes staying asleep easy; I sleep 7 hours minimum after a full joint, and that’s not normal for me. I appreciate that end result!
By the end of my experience with my 1st round of Lil Twistys, I felt like: “I think you’re bionic, and I don’t think you’re beautiful, I think you’re beyond it”- Every Girl lyrics.
Thank you to my sponsors, who supported my travel to Los Angeles to cover this launch:
The Gram Co., V9Grows420, Herbal Euphoria Skyn & Body, St. Louis Cannabis Club, and The Cola Lounge.
WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led House of Representatives voted to legalize cannabis on the federal level, and while the historic vote happened on April 1, this was no April Fool’s Day joke. The 220-204 vote came down mostly on party lines as all but two Democrats voted for the measure, with only three Republicans backing full legalization.
If the bill were to pass in the Senate, it would be up to the individual states to set cannabis policy. Unfortunately, the Republican-led Senate is expected to block federal reforms of cannabis law that have fueled the Drug War and resulted in more Americans being jailed for cannabis in 2019 than many violent crimes combined. Recent polling indicates that most Americans support the federal legalization of cannabis.
Majority leader Steny Hoyer spoke on the floor of the House during the session, pointing out the racial disparities that federal prohibition of cannabis has generated.
“I was a supporter of the War on Drugs — I’ve been here a long time,” said Hoyer. He referenced the sad statistic that Black Americans are as many as four times more likely to be arrested on minor cannabis offenses than white Americans. “This bill is a matter of justice and equal opportunity… so that Americans and America can become a better, stronger, fairer, and more just America,” he added.
During the 2020 election, voters approved cannabis legalization and retail sales in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota, another sign of broad support for total legalization.
The MORE Act, passed by the House, would compel federal courts to expunge prior cannabis convictions and hold resentencing hearings for those still completing sentences. The measure would also allow a 5% tax on cannabis and cannabis products, incrementally increasing to 8% over the years. That tax revenue would be allocated to job training programs, legal aid, and drug treatment. A portion of those funds would also be directed toward social equity, assisting disadvantaged businesses to enter the cannabis industry.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the passage of the MORE Act would result in thousands of current inmates receiving an early release, saving $800 million over ten years and reducing the federal deficit by as much as $3 billion over the coming decade.
Citing the disproportionate targeting of communities of color under our current cannabis laws, California’s Rep. Barbara Lee said, “Make no mistake, yes, it is a racial justice bill.”
“Those criminal records can haunt people of color and impact the trajectory of their lives indefinitely,” Hoyer added. “I regret that there are some members of our Congress who apparently think that’s not worthy of attention.”
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has recalled an Irish company’s entire range of CBD oils. This follows the FSAI issuing over a dozen alerts about the presence of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in different Irish CBD products since the beginning of 2021.
Ireland’s National CBD Survey
These nationwide recalls started as a result of a national survey conducted two years ago. “The survey found 37 percent of the products tested contained levels of THC that significantly exceed the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) safety limit”. [1] It was also noted that the “CBD content in over 40 percent of samples varied significantly from the declared CBD content”. [1] These survey results led the FSAI to issue a warning to consumers about the risks of THC levels in CBD products, as well as their misleading label percentages.
Irish CBD Brand Recalled
Ever since then, the FSAI has continued to crack down on CBD operators who they feel are putting the Irish public at risk. One of the most recent CBD brands to receive a recall notice is GreenHart CBD oils. Every batch of GreenHeart CBD oil was recalled after product testing showed unsafe levels of THC. Six of the batches tested revealed lower levels of CBD than what was described on the product labels. [2]
Between having higher than allowed THC levels and mislabeled CBD percentages on the products, it’s no wonder the products were recalled. Businesses working with CBD, or any other cannabinoid, are in a highly regulated industry. This makes following the rules and regulations one of the most critical factors determining the success or failure of a CBD company.
Tips For CBD Consumers
As for consumers, both in Ireland and around the world, there is a lesson to be learned. You can’t always trust what’s on the label. This is why it’s important to purchase CBD products from reputable companies with good reputations. Customers should always look for brands that provide full lab testing results for each batch of their products. This way you can review the results yourself instead of trusting only the product label.
References:
1- Consumers Being Put at Risk and Misled with Some CBD Food Supplements. Food Safety Authority of Ireland. 2021. Times Cited: N/A Journal Impact Factor: N/A
2- Recall of GreenHeart CBD Oils due to the Presence of Unsafe Levels of Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Food Safety Authority of Ireland. 2022. Times Cited: N/A Journal Impact Factor: N/A
Apprentices, providing the Cannabis Plant Spirit wisdom in a new way… through our Cannabis Tarot
