If you are reading this, chances are you are starting up with a small artisanal product. You have luck on your side because you are in a upwardly trending niche, CBD extracts. The global CBD cosmetics market is estimated to be valued at over $580 million and is set to surge upward. Therefore, a demand for your products already exists, and you won’t have to second guess the market.
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Many products can be made from hemp ranging from foods to clothing to paper to car bodies! Read on to find out more about this miraculous plant.
Hemp is commonly confused with marijuana. Hemp and marijuana both belong to the cannabis genus of plants. Marijuana contains high amounts of THC, the chemical that is responsible for its psychoactive properties.
There are different types of cannabis:
Industrial hemp is a variety of Sativa with trace amounts of THC. Unlike marijuana, hemp is easy to grow and does not require fertilizers or chemicals. Hemp has been used for centuries to make rope, sails, fabrics and industrial materials.
Some blame the textile and paper processing lobbies and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who waged a campaign against hemp since it threatened his paper processing plants. In 2018 hemp was legalized. From the FDA:
‘In December of 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. It removed hemp, defined as cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) and derivatives of cannabis with extremely low concentrations of the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis), from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).’
Hemp is incredibly versatile, durable and sustainable. So what can be made from this amazing plant?
The primary difference between hemp oil and CBD oil is where the oil itself is derived from the hemp plant. Hemp Oil is derived from the seeds of the hemp plant only. CBD Oil is derived from the stalk, stems, leaves or flowers of industrial hemp plants.
Full spectrum oils contain more active bio-ingredients that may be more beneficial to the user depending on their ailment or problem.
You cannot get high from CBD oil.
What can it do?
Hemp seeds can be consumed or used to produce a variety of food products including:
Hemp is a plant based source of Omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a great plant based source of protein containing all ten amino acids. It’s also a good source of vitamins and minerals, particularly magnesium.
Hemp fabrics are stronger, more absorbent, more durable, and better insulating than cotton. Although hemp can be rough on the skin, it gets softer with consecutive washings. Hemp fibers can also be blended with cotton for softness and spandex for ease of movement. It can also be made into shoes!
Its durability, strength and ability to hold color make it a perfect choice for upholstery materials
The main obstacle seems to be that processing plants are set up for wood production. However, hemp has a fast growth cycle and is much more durable and sustainable. Additionally, fewer chemicals are needed to process hemp than wood. Right now, it is expensive, since it was illegal for most of the 20th century and there is not enough of it being grown in the United States.
Deforestation is one of the most serious problems we face on Earth today. It’s driving climate change and the extinction of species globally. The Ministry of Hemp writes:
Hemp vs Trees – and how hemp can help solve the deforestation crisis.
Houses can be made from hempcrete, which is comprised of hemp hurds, water, and powdered limestone. The mixture will harden into a rock hard stone like material, that is both breathable and long lasting.
Hemp has the advantage of being extremely fast growing ( it can be harvested in three months) and environmentally friendly. It is also:
Please read our previous post for more details and videos pertaining to hempcrete and houses made from hemp.
In 1941, after twelve years of research, Henry Ford debuted an incredible car that might have revolutionized the way we impact the environment. That car was made from hemp ( aside from the steel frame) and could run on hemp fuel or vegetable oil. The body was said to be 10 times stronger than steel. Unfortunately the oil/ gasoline industry lobbied hard against it and at the same time the prohibition against hemp was instituted.
Hemp can be used to create two types of fuel:
Hemp is certainly more friendly in terms of being a clean source of fuel which would potentially minimize global warming and pollution. However, the deforestation necessary to planting enough hemp crops to create this fuel could create even more of a problem. Hemp farmers claim that they would plant on “marginal” land. However, that land is home to both flora and fauna.
In the meantime, hemp has already made a comeback in the European automotive industry and is used in fiberglass panels, doors, trim and interiors. Additionally, hemp is biodegradable.
Take a look at the all new hemp car below.
Hemp is a miracle plant that requires little effort to grow. It’s sustainable and eco-friendly . It can be used in the production of the following:
Cannabis tourism in Chicago was set to boom prior to the outbreak of Covid -19. What can we look forward to into the future, once things open up again?
As we are now in the midst of the Coronavirus epidemic, we are hopefully fortunate enough to be working from home, while socially distancing and trying to stay healthy and well. Hopefully unemployment insurance, small business loans and our savings will get us through the worst part of the the crisis.
To mitigate our stress levels, it is wise to practice mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, yoga and the like.
Another way is to focus on pleasant thoughts. Since we can’t do any travelling now, we can fantasize about the trips we are going to take in the future and do some armchair travelling today.
This post will focus on cannabis tourism and ask the question – will this be a viable industry in Chicago once the threat of Covid19 is over?
We actually do have it already-at least we did prior to the outbreak of Covid19.
As you probably know Chicago receives fifty million visitors per year. Many of those visitors attend conventions, trade shows and other business related events.
Do we expect to see a rise in cannabis related tourism? We won’t really know until the ban on travel is lifted once the Coronavirus danger passes.
Lets take a look at some of the rules for recreational use.
Chicago was geared up to go with cannabis tours. prior to the outbreak of Covid19.
The legalization of marijuana as a means to increase tax revenues, generate new jobs and income and decriminalize and expunge arrest records is a significant move forward. Marijuana has never been a gateway drug and is probably safer than tobacco and alcohol.
Niche tourism can capitalize on the cannabis industry.
What have we seen the USA so far?
CALIFORNIA
Weed tourism is becoming the new wine tourism as enthusiasts tour facilities and dispensaries. Though still in the early stages California has an association dedicated to cannabis tourism. From the CCTA website:
‘The CCTA is registered Non-Profit advancing safe and responsible Cannabis Tourism in the state of California. Committed to cultivating open communication, social equity and environmental sustainability, the CCTA was established to represent and support the diverse voices and perspectives of the emerging Cannabis Tourism industry.
CCTA members and partners include major cannabis brands, tour operators, retailers, transportation companies, hotels, tourism boards, industry associations, media companies, and other organizations for whom cannabis tourism advocacy is important.’
COLORADO
Colorado offers:
Read more from Forbes
Cannabis tourism has been so successful in Amsterdam that the city is currently overwhelmed with tourists, who impede the quality of life for residents.
Amsterdam is currently thinking of banning tourists from its cannabis friendly cafes. Canex reports that Mayor Femke Halsema is trying to roll out a plan to reduce the number of coffee shops in the city, in order to target mass tourism.
The Dutch mayor cites a report which estimates that tourism would see a significant decrease if the number of coffee shops was reduced. A newer report estimates that around a third of tourists would return less frequently to the city, should they be unable to enter coffee shops.
Would large American cities encounter the same problems while generating significant revenue? It is highly unlikely.
The stigma around cannabis consumption must be removed with proper education that extends to our law makers.
There a a few impediments to creating cannabis tourism in Chicago, greater Chicagoland and Illinois.
We could create a thriving cannabis tourism industry in Illinois beyond dispensary tours.
Education of the population and our lawmakers would be a critical step in re-branding and destigmatizing cannabis consumption.
We love the thought of cannabis floral design, cannabis fueled painting classes, cannabis infused drinks, cannabis paired menus in restaurants, cannabis and meditation classes, cannabis yoga classes and so on. Thinking outside the box can create much needed economic opportunities for cannapreneurs, particularly in the wake of the Coronavirus.
Right now you are probably staying at home, practicing social distancing and washing your hands often. If you are like many cannabis users, you are ordering online and picking up curbside.
But what is actually going on at your dispensary? What sorts of precautions are being taken there?
Many dispensaries report that they insist their bud tenders wash their hands between every transaction and that surfaces are being wiped down regularly.
After visiting the websites of many dispensaries in Chicago, I was surprised to discover that none of them had added content pertaining to the measures they were taking during the outbreak to keep facilities sanitary.
We know that COVID19 lives on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to 72 hours.
It’s unclear how long the virus can live on food. The general advice is to wash produce and cook every thing thoroughly.
Can it live on your pot? Well, the good news is that viruses degrade over time, so if you are immune compromised or terrified, wait 72 hours before imbibing.
CBD was thought to be an immuno-suppressant until recently, hence its efficacy in modulating auto-immune disorders. Currently, it is thought to be an immuno-regulator. That is, it delivers what you need to your immune system. Please see our previous article for detailed information. However, please don’t undertake any regime before consulting a physician who is familiar with medical cannabis.
Cannabis sold in the state must be grown in the state. Marijuana growing facilities are scattered throughout Illinois.
The Chicago Tribune reports that sanitation standards are high:
“Grow facility workers are often required to wear scrubs or other protective gear. They must cover their shoes, hair and beards. Some facilities require everyone to walk through an anti-bacterial solution before entering the facility.
The goal is to make sure outside contaminants or pests don’t make it to the plants, and to avoid pesticides.’
Shockingly, Food Safety News reported in 2018 that there are no regulatory standards for edibles. The article goes on to say:
“Because there’s no oversight or regulations, some of the edibles being sold in the U.S. aren’t manufactured from food-grade ingredients. A document from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment recently noted that some cannabis products being sold in the U.S. are coming from unregulated, unsafe and unsanitary manufacturing facilities. Further, some of these edibles contain unapproved ingredients, have been produced in unsafe conditions, and had unsubstantiated health claims on their labels.‘
Other articles report that plants in Denver had no facilities for employees to wash their hands.
Please research your edibles, buy from reputable companies and sources, or consider making your own while you are confined at home.
A recent study found that the average public toilet seat is cleaner than the average bong. Compare this fact, the average gas station toilet seat was about 900 bacteria per square inch, whereas the average bong was 3,000 bacteria per square inch. The same study found that the average cannabis pipe has as much surface bacteria as 2 1/2 dirty gas station toilet seats or 25 dog food bowls. Regardless of Coronavirus, you might want to keep good hygiene practices going after the pandemic is over.
Below is the way to clean without alcohol.
Stay safe everyone!
If you, like many people in the world, are worried about Corona virus, you may want to optimize your health and wellness regime as much as possible. Chances are you are already socially isolating, working from home, not taking public transportation and so on.
There is much advice and misinformation on the Internet today, so you may want to do some research before succumbing to magical thinking. The truth is there is no one thing that can shield you from contracting the virus.
However, you can practice good habits to boost your immune system.
The short answer is that CBD oil has long been thought to be an immuno- suppressant. That is it works very well on inflammation and reducing the side effects of diseases of the immune system, or as they are commonly known, auto-immune disorders. Those are diseases where the immune system is overactive and attacks processes in the body.
So the question is, should you be taking it to boost your immune system? The truth is that not enough studies have been conducted on full spectrum CBD oil and how it affects the human body. Some studies on HIV patients indicate that CBD and THC can actually increase the production of white blood cells. So what’s going on?
Our bodies are constantly being invaded by bacteria and viruses. Our white blood cells or leukocytes, seek out and destroy these organisms. Leukocytes can be divided into two groups: 1) lymphocytes (B cells and T cells) that destroy antigens and help the body to remember previous attackers; and 2) phagocytes that absorb and neutralize these intruders. Optimal functioning of our immune system relies on communication between our white blood cells and our other tissues and organs.
The endocannaboid system is a part of that network and works to modulate those messages. Ingesting cannabis will have an effect on the endocannaboid system since cannabis can bind to those receptors, affecting feelings of well being, euphoria, relaxation and lessening pain and inflammation. It can also have negative effects in some people.
Early studies showed that cannabis worked as an immunosuppressant. More recent studies show that cannabis may be an immuno-modulator. That is when suppression of an out of control immune system is called for, cannabis suppresses the immune system. When bolstering is called for, cannabis works to enhance immune system function.
Before embarking on any regime, you should consult a physician. In this case, someone who has a thorough knowledge of how cannabis affects the human body.
You might also ask yourself what you can do additionally to boost your immune system.
Stress hormones can potentiate a wide array of diseases, such as:
Food matters. The kind of food you choose to fuel your body with will affect its optimal functioning. Whole foods, such as fruits, meats, poultry, vegetables and even grains contribute vital nutrients that will help you remain in optimal condition. What should you be eating?
There haven’t been enough formal studies to indicate that cannabis will improve your sex life.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that it can do the following:
However, cannabis affects men and women differently. Additionally, various strains and methods of consumption will produce very different outcomes. Read on to find out more.
The human body has two endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are located in the brain and are responsible for mood, memory, and coordination. Cb2 receptors are attached to the body’s immune system and are thus responsible for pain and inflammation responses.
THC is psychoactive, meaning it gets you high. It binds to CB1 receptors in the body. CBD can help pain and inflammation. CBD can be full spectrum, meaning that an oil or product contains all the cannabinoids that are found in the cannabis plant in nature. Or it can be an isolate. Both bind to CB2 receptors in the body.
Various products will have different applications.
Unfortunately, most of the studies conducted to date have produced contradictory results. Some studies show that marijuana enhances libido while others indicate it lowers sperm production and contributes to erectile dysfunction.
Others claim that it increases sexual stamina and delays ejaculation. However, anecdotal reports seem to indicate that low dosage increases performance while regular, heavy use decreases potency.
It may be wise to remember that different strains of pot have different functions. Indica is a relaxant, while Sativa is a stimulant. Regardless, every human body is different and while one person may experience ecstasy, another may become paranoid or fall asleep.
In any case, most studies to date have relied on self reported evidence since there is no way of accurately measuring what is really going on in terms of perceived sexual pleasure.
Male sexual performance and cannabis
Studies seem to indicate that cannabis has a beneficial effect on female arousal and the quality and intensity of orgasm.
Two reasons may be contributing to those outcomes:
Seniors, if you missed Woodstock, you now have a chance to make up for it legally. Here’s the good news:
From Leefly:
‘Research also shows that women’s bodies have an unusually high concentration of cannabinoid receptors in the uterus and reproductive center. Cannabinoids such as CBD can help to increase the number of CB1 receptors and anandamide*, thus spurring interest in the medical community to investigate its potential as a therapeutic modality.’
*Anandamide (N-arachidonylethanolamine) is a brain lipid that binds to cannabinoid receptors with high affinity and mimics the psychoactive effects of cannabis. It is sometimes called the ‘Bliss Molecule‘.
The important thing to remember is that cannabis can have a negative interaction with some prescription drugs, so please check before you imbibe.
You will definitely want to do some research beforehand. You should also be mindful of possible allergic reactions, particularly if you suffer from hay fever.
Unless you are an experienced user, you should probably practice alone and see how various products affect you. Keep a notebook and see how each acts on your body.
Read more about vaporizers vs joints:
Cannabis products may improve your sex life by making you more relaxed, easing pain, stimulating desire and increasing sensation and lubrication. If you are a newbie, try various products on your own to see how you will react to them. Most of all, be careful, particularly if you have allergies to ragweed, chamomile, stevia, and echinacea. Cannabis is in the same family and you may have a negative reaction, rather than an enhanced sexual experience.
Think your cannabiz website design needs to be clinical and boring?
Explore our exciting pages and get in touch with us. We would love to create your website and help you with branding and marketing.
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We give flowers to show love, express sympathy, decorate our homes, and our graves. We send them as get well gestures to ailing friends and loved ones. We decorate our weddings and our special parties with them. Sometimes we buy them for ourselves because they make us happy due to their beauty and scent.
Where did flower arranging begin and how did it evolve through the ages? Read on for a short history of flower arranging and to find out where we are today with cannabis inspired arrangements.
The history of floral arrangements begins in Egypt with highly stylized, simple, symmetrical styles that were applied in making garlands and decorating banquets. Flowers were also used in funeral processions and in burials.
Flowers were used profusely by Greeks and Romans to decorate hair, homes, banquets, and festivities. Lovers also exchanged gifts of flowers. Displays were lavish, particularly in Rome.
Simplicity, shape, and symbolism played a part in creating soothing, spiritually oriented designs that impart a mood of tranquility and peacefulness upon the viewer.
Flowers and herbs were revered for their medicinal and healing properties, while decorative flowers were placed in vases. All in all, there was a spiritual component to design along with an attitude of utility towards flowers.
We only need to look at the paintings of the two eras to see how the attitude from the Medieval period had shifted. Arrangements during these periods were lavish and lush and fruits and leaves were incorporated into arrangements.
Still imitated and incredibly beautiful, Dutch arrangements featured tulips, fruits, insects and strewn petals. Often flowers were arranged in blue and white tulipieres.
Lush, messy, naturalistic, overdone and overblown, Victorian excess paved the way for more formality and standardized rules in flower arranging.
Creativity is key, as is use of empty space. Asymmetry abounds, materials are not restricted and tension between elements creates a significant impact.
Do they look good? To my eye, they look amazing in profuse, naturalistic bouquets and asymmetrical arrangements that incorporate blowzy flowers and natural pods and berries. Do they smell good? Well, probably not unless you like weed, but the high point is that you can smoke the cannabis after the rest of the bouquet dies off.
Folks, believe it or not, cannabis floral arrangements have become all the rage in Colorado and California.
The leaf has an interesting shape which lends itself to the sort of free form, naturalistic arrangements that have become popular in recent years.
And of course, afterward, you can put the stems in a dry environment and smoke it after a couple of weeks.
Take a look at the Flower Daddy’s Portfolio for some truly inspired designs.
If you can imagine anything that is wedding related and decorated with cannabis from hair ornaments to bouquets, you will get a picture of what is on offer at these venues.
Weed weddings have become a big business. Everything is on the menu, from gifting guests with CBD infused products to carrying pot bouquets to hiring a bud tender.
Brides today want something totally different and the marriage of weed and weddings is looking promising – to the tune of billions of dollars in revenue.
Check out this gorgeous styled shoot at OffBeat Bride for inspiration.
Florist Bec Koop, based in Denver, took her floral business to new highs by incorporating weed. Other than weddings, she creates arrangements for bridal showers, yoga parties, and wine and food tasting events.
Koop’s struggles with banking and transportation have led her to think outside the box like many ganjapreneurs.
Read more here
Well, does he or she like to smoke weed? Would you like them to try it? If so feel free to spend a few extra bucks and get something special.
Don’t be put off by the notion that cannabis is something trashy. You can get gorgeous, ‘classy’ floral arrangements with white or pale flowers and other exotic greens or grey green elements in them.
Pot is legal in a number of states now, it has tons of health benefits and it will become more and more mainstream as time goes by.
Women are the fastest growing segment of the market. While men buy for their significant others, women tend to buy flowers for their friends, mothers, and sisters. They also order flowers for private dinners and special events.
Cannabis can elevate a floral gift, particularly if the recipient is suffering from an illness and takes cannabis medicinally.
Can we expect to see cannabis get well arrangements soon? Well, why not? Cannabis can help with pain, nausea, seizures and a host of other conditions. Why not include it when giving flowers to our ailing loved ones?
There are florists in California and Colorado who specialize in cannabis floral design. But where will you get it in Illinois? You might need to ask your local florist if they will make it for you, although you will probably have to purchase the weed yourself and gift it to them to get around dispensary laws.
We will update this post as soon as we discover any information on the subject.
You should branch out and see if the canna flor business can add to your revenue stream. The great thing is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Precedents have been made in California and Colorado that you can follow.
Read more at Leafly:
Colorado Florists’ Opinions
We have a new obsession. We’ve fallen in love with the YouTube channel, Living Big in a Tiny House. The episodes are presented by Bryce Langston, a New Zealand native, who is passionate about sustainable, downsized, eco-friendly living.
Bryce and his partner, Rasa, who does all the gorgeous camera work, travel the world in search of tiny houses and present them, along with their owners, weekly.
The houses range from a $9 hut in the woods to compact houses in the low hundred thousands. Most fall into the mid-range of $40,000 – 60,000 since many people use shared land and do their own labor.
The unique and wonderful element of the entire channel is how the amazing people who live in tiny houses have simplified their lives, focusing on relationships, their passions, and freedom from the rat race.
Last night, I discovered this episode that focuses on a completely sustainable eco-friendly hemp house, built by an architect and his wife for their family.
Please watch for a brilliant introduction to hemp as a viable, healthy, sustainable building material.
And if you liked this video, please subscribe to Bryce and Rasa’s channel to see more amazing, tiny houses.
Hempcrete is a sustainable building material composed of hemp, water and lime. It has been used for millennia globally as a building material.
Hemp is an incredibly eco-friendly material at every stage of the growth, production and build cycle.
As a plant, it has the ability to pull CO2 from the air. Even when it is cut and used in buildings that property continues, making it super healthy for construction workers to be around and people to live in.
Moreover, as the lime and hemp calcify, the material becomes almost as hard as stone, making it last hundreds of years.
Hempcrete is breathable. From Return to Now:
‘It’s breathable not in the sense that air gets through — it’s airtight — but it’s breathable for water.
“In a typical wall you have a cavity that you seal tightly and fill with insulation. No matter how hard you try to keep it out, water will get inside that cavity, because that’s what water does.
“So we want to create a wall that welcomes water, but doesn’t rot when it lets the water in. And that’s exactly what hempcrete does.
When it becomes humid out, it absorbs the extra humidity and holds it until the humidity drops and then it will let it back out, regulating and balancing the humidity inside the home.
In the meantime, because the high pH lime is wrapped around the cellulose, it won’t rot.’
No, your house can be sleek and modern, traditional, or any style you can imagine, including a hippie hut!
It’s getting cheaper and cheaper as hemp becomes homegrown and not imported. Plus, you’ll save on energy costs in the long run.
No! Hemp isn’t psychoactive.
Yes, hemp is adaptable to any climate.
No, it will biodegrade if used as a foundation.
No, it is a non-structural material. You will have to use some other form of framing.
Structural questions pertaining to hemp
Yes, it is. It is also resistant to rot and insects.
Our consumption and lifestyles are ravaging nature, other species, and our planet. If we care at all about anything or anyone that comes after us, we will want to build a sustainable future. That means leaving a smaller footprint and living in harmony with nature.
A slow, meaningful life full of adventure, free time, human connections, and family sounds a lot more appealing than working for the man in order to pay a mortgage on a huge house that we have no time to enjoy.
Having time to grow our own healthy food, can, preserve, and savor it with loved ones is so much more enjoyable than eating in noisy, expensive restaurants.
Living in small communities where we know our neighbors, instead of crowded impersonal cities, replete with congestion and pollution is the way forward.
We need to know that less is more and that as housing in major cities gets more unaffordable, we can create alternative lifestyles.
Hemp, whether it is used in housing, the production of clothing or foodstuffs can add value to a slower more sustainable lifestyle.
Hemp was legal prior to 1937 and won a reprieve during WWII, since it was needed to create industrial materials necessary to the war effort. However, the problems began when it was lumped in with the psychoactive strains of cannabis due to the efforts of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Hearst found hemp was a competitor for his interests in lumber and paper mills. He was aided by Harry Anslinger, who following the failure of Prohibition, wanted to build up his new department, the DEA.
Together, they stirred up mass hysteria resulting in such nonsense as Reefer Madness and classifying marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, which lead to the criminalization of the substance.
To read more:
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There haven’t been enough formal studies to indicate that CBD oil in cosmetic products actually does anything for the skin.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD oil can act as a pain relieving analgesic and as an anti-inflammatory agent.
That’s good news for those who are suffering from acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.
The human body has two endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are located in the brain and are responsible for mood, memory, and coordination. Cb2 receptors are attached to the body’s immune system and are thus responsible for pain and inflammation responses.
While THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana creates the feeling of being high, the properties in CBD work differently.
CBD doesn’t attach to a CB2 receptor. Instead it stimulates the body to make more of its own natural cannabinoids. This is what reduces pain and inflammation.
CBD oil is federally legal unless it contains more than 0.3 % THC. If your CBD oil is derived from hemp, it is probably federally legal.
However, things can get a bit confusing sometimes due to the nature of the plant and state and federal laws. Now that the DEA is no longer in charge of anything but illegal drug operations, the FDA has been mandated with setting guidelines for safety. However, CBD products are already inundating US markets.
One major thing to remember is, though you can buy CBD products, it is illegal to sell your homemade products unless you have the correct state license.
Acne occurs when pores are blocked by oil, dead skin and bacteria.
Which foods can cause flare -ups:
From Medical News Today:
‘A 2014 study explored the effects of CBD on human sebocytes, which are the cells that create sebum. The researchers found that the CBD prevented these cells from creating too much of the oily sebum.
They also revealed that the CBD oil triggered an anti-inflammatory reaction in the cells and prevented inflammatory cytokines from activating. Cytokines may trigger acne, so reducing them may help prevent further breakouts.
A 2016 review of the cannabis plant highlighted its antibacterial and antifungal effects. These effects may help reduce infections from dirt and other pollutants on the skin.’
Full spectrum means that you will be getting all the cannabidoids, terpines and other natural oils found in the plant rather than just the CBD. That does not mean that full spectrum is psychoactive.
Terpines are what gives plants like cannabis, lavender and pine their distinctive scents. Those plants have properties that can be used in aromatherapy and to help with problems such as insomnia.
Though full spectrum CBD may help with pain and conditions such as arthritis, is it more effective as an anti-oxidant to prevent wrinkle formation or to help acne sufferers? The research isn’t in yet. Its proponents claim it has an entourage effect that makes it more effective than CBD isolate. You may want to test products yourself and find what works best for you.
CBD facials are the latest craze and are popping up in spas and medspas all over the country. Although they can leave your skin glowing and infused with anti-oxidants, there is one critical factor to be aware of:
There are such things as allergies to cannabis. If you have hay fever or a negative reaction to chamomile, echinacea, ragweed, or stevia, you might not fare so well with CBD oils, particularly full spectrum CBD oils.
From PremiumJane:
‘Skin irritations: Particularly when using topical CBD, some users may notice a rash or hives. This may well be a result of CBD. However, this could also be caused by one of the many other products in creams and balms, so be sure to look into it to find out what caused the reaction.
Dry, itchy, or red eyes: Weed is infamous for causing red eyes as a result of dryness. THC is the culprit here, not CBD. A minority of users may experience this after using CBD, though. If you experience excessive watering or bloodshot eyes, it might be an allergic reaction rather than a side effect.
Migraines: While some CBD users experience a slight headache for the first few uses, migraines are a sign of something more serious.
Respiratory problems: If you can’t breathe, seek medical attention immediately. With CBD products, breathing issues are likely to be the result of poor-quality products that contain contaminants from the hemp plant, such as pollen or mold.’
Please read more and test your skin before embarking on a facial.
You can find CBD beauty products online, upscale department stores, and at specialty beauty stores such as Ulta and Sephora.
You will definitely want to do some research beforehand. You should also be mindful of possible allergic reactions -see above. In the meantime, here are some recommendations from Forbes and Allure.
Yes, you can make CBD products at home. Just remember that in order to sell your products, you will need licenses, so don’t get into trouble.
Licensing requirements vary from state to state. This is an excellent and comprehensive how to article from ShipBob.
And one from TRUIC covering all the basics from incorporation to web presence.
Starting a cannabis beauty business
Below is an excellent video to get you started on your own venture.
Think your cannabiz website design needs to be clinical and boring?
Explore our exciting pages
The archaeological records indicate that cannabis was used as far back as 12,000 years ago in Asia. Many fascinating clues come from Kurgan burials in Siberia, circa 3,000 BCE. Peoples like the Scythians and Sarmations used hemp seeds for ritualistic purposes, to induce visions, and in purification ceremonies. They had many habits in common with Native Americans such as the use of the sweat lodge, scalp taking, and shamanism.
The Chinese began using cannabis for medicinal purposes around five thousand years ago.
Scythians, Vikings, Arab traders, and various human migrations were responsible for the spread of cannabis globally.
Swahili and Arab traders contributed to the spread of cannabis throughout the African continent.
Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors and planters founded hemp farms in the western hemisphere from which a number of necessary items, such as rope, were made.
However, African slaves were already familiar with the psychoactive properties of cannabis and the municipal council in Rio de Janeiro banned the use of cannabis in an attempt to assert control and dominance over slaves as early as 1830.
This year we’re going to talk a bit about cannabis and its influence on black musicians.
Hendrix was one of the idols of my generation, the Baby Boomers. A great innovator on the guitar, he is perhaps best remembered for his use of psychoactive drugs such as LSD. However, he wrote a tribute to one of the more popular strains of the day, Purple Haze. Later, Hendrix claimed the lyrics had nothing to do with weed. Click to read about Jimi Hendrix and his composition, Purple Haze, and decide for yourself whether the official story is true or not.
Cannabis was legal in the United States until the 1930’s, though it never really caught on with white populations until the Beatniks of the 1950’s.
The answer seems to lie in racism and greed. Before the 1950’s Mexicans and black people were primary users of marijuana. Two men lead the assault on banning cannabis, despite the fact that many scientists considered the drug harmless.
One was Harry Anslinger, head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. In an attempt to grow his department after Prohibition failed, he launched an all out war on cannabis. From the Encyclopedia Britannica:
‘Anslinger claimed that the majority of pot smokers were minorities, including African Americans, and that marijuana had a negative effect on these “degenerate races,” such as inducing violence or causing insanity. Furthermore, he noted, “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” Perhaps even more worrisome to Anslinger was pot’s supposed threat to white women’s virtue. He believed that smoking pot would result in their having sex with black men.’
Anslinger was aided by the yellow journalism tactics of William Randolph Hearst who published scare mongering stories about pot. Hearst’s primary motivation seemed to stem from the fact that his paper producing industries were being replaced by hemp. Additionally, Dupont’s nylon producing endeavours were also being threatened by hemp. Although hemp won a reprieve during WWII, it was soon lumped in with psychoactive marijuana strains and banned.
Marijuana then became, through various propaganda channels, the ‘destroyer of youth’ and a ‘gateway drug.’
In 1971, Nixon launched the war on drugs. What was the real reason for Nixon’s sudden concern? John Ehrlichman gave a interview in Harper’s magazine in 1994, in which he stated:
‘The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.’
Reagan’s terms in office saw an expansion in prosecuting offenders. Policy became harsh on cannabis possession, terms of incarceration were toughened up, and asset forfeiture became legal.
Did incarceration of minority men coincide with the rise of globalism and the offshoring manufacturing jobs? Did a generation of minority men need to be taken off the streets instead of being retrained for jobs? Who knows. Sometimes conspiracy theories stand as facts when you follow the money.
Today’s focus is on the question, how did cannabis use contribute to the creation of the greatest musical style of the 20th century -Jazz.
Storyville, the red light district in New Orleans, was populated by black musicians who worked as entertainers. There under the relaxing influence of marijuana, they began to experiment with rhythm, syncopation, and improvisation. From Merry Jane:
‘Jazz music is known for its free-form improvisational style and loose comradery among the players who encourage one another to stretch and experiment. Marijuana contributed psychologically by its effect of shifting the perception of time and also by the warm, social, conviviality it encourages compared to the harshness so often brought out by alcohol.’
Louis Armstrong was born in Storyville at the turn of the century and was a lifelong pot smoker. Armstrong famously said: “It makes you feel good, man. It relaxes you, makes you forget all the bad things that happen to a Negro. It makes you feel wanted, and when you are with another tea smoker it makes you feel a special sense of kinship.’
Read more about Louis Armstrong
Of course, Harry Anslinger made it his mission to harass and destroy brilliant black artists. Read more about his persecution of Billie Holiday:
Ganja is a Sanskrit word for cannabis. Jamaican musicians like Bob Marley practiced the Rastafarian religion. True practitioners use ganja for its meditative and mystical properties.
After the abolition of slavery on the international market in 1807, British colonialists imported laborers from India who brought ganja to the West Indies with them. White authorities banned its use. However, the use of a prohibited substance became a symbol of resistance to white authority among Jamaicans.
Marley did not use cannabis recreationally. He saw it as fundamentally a part of his religious practice.
Jamaican artists have been at the forefront of the movement to legalize marijuana.
Jamaica has understood the economic potential of the weed industry and has legalized medical use while decriminalizing recreational use.
So how did marijuana become the drug of choice for white folks? The answer lies with the Beat poets and writers. Though Beat implied someone who was beaten down, Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsburg gave the word a spiritual dimension -beatitude.
Beatniks were all about bebop, pot, bongos, eastern spirituality, black turtle necks, and hitch hiking.
They were anti-materialistic and laid the groundwork for the hippies. In terms of fashion, they copied the look of Dizzy Gillespie and his unique brand of cool, beret included. They also appropriated black slang, such as: cool, cat, square and dig.
The Beats launched the counterculture which ushered in a social revolution in lifestyles that affected everything from education to gay and women’s rights, to clothing and music. Cannabis and free love became symbols of that counterculture on the West Coast and, having great appeal to young people, spread globally.
During the divisive Vietnam war, cannabis use became prevalent among American soldiers, since it grew wild incountry. Many soldiers said it helped them mellow out and detach from the horrors of war.
Fun fact: the term shotgun originated during the war as the herb was packed into a bowl the shotgun chamber and servicemen took turns toking on the barrel.
Cannabis use in Vietnam was only topped by the other drug of choice, alcohol.
During the summer of 1967, hippies descended on San Francisco.’s Haight – Ashbury neighborhood. It was then that Timothy Leary coined his famous mantra – tune in, turn on, and drop out.
Psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin (mushrooms) along with marijuana were the drugs of choice. The counterculture continued into the 1970’s and pot use, though illegal never went away.
White people have been smoking weed since the 1960’s, so why have black people been targeted disproportionately by law enforcement? The ACLU states:
‘Between 2001 and 2010, there were over 8 million pot arrests in the U.S. That’s one bust every 37 seconds and hundreds of thousands ensnared in the criminal justice system.
Enforcing marijuana laws costs us about $3.6 billion a year, yet the War on Marijuana has failed to diminish the use or availability of marijuana.
Marijuana use is roughly equal among Blacks and whites, yet Blacks are 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.’
We can only conclude that it is a form of racial control similar to Jim Crow laws. Black and Latino people have been unfairly targeted, discriminated against, incarcerated, and saddled with criminal records.
Illinois is working on the expungement of criminal records but it won’t be automatic unless you were arrested (but not convicted) of carrying less than 30 grams of cannabis. For others, the process is more involved.
Cannabis has been used to stimulate creativity, expand spirituality, promote relaxation and healing for thousands of years. Black and Latino communities have been unfairly targeted for cannabis use for a number of social and political reasons. However, how the new cannabis laws affect the black and Latino community remains to be seen. The industry is young and open to entrepreneurs, but only to those who can raise the capital for licensing and related business ventures. Reparations and financial assistance will be given to minority communities to fund cannabis ventures but will it be enough? To date, cannabizes are primarily in the hands of whites.
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