Pink Cocaine: Colombia’s New Drug Rage

Heroin, cocaine, LSD, weed…we know these drugs. Even the lesser used drugs we know, like mescaline, 2C-B, and salvia. But then, there’s always something new popping up. From captagon taking over the Middle East to gas station heroin – a tricyclic anti-depressant sold in corner stores in America; people sure want to get high on something. What’s one of the latest to surface? Pink cocaine, the new rage of South America, and beyond.

Pink cocaine, what’s that?

The answer to that depends on who you ask. Though the main point of differentiation in answers, is concerning what specific ingredients are in it. The first thing to know, though, is that no, pink cocaine is not real cocaine; and in fact has nothing to do with that euphoria-bringing, stimulant drug.

Pink cocaine started as nothing more than a pink version of one of the drugs mentioned above, 2C-B. 2C-B was created in 1974 by Alexander Shulgin, the same guy who brought us MDMA, with a new method to synthesize it in 1976. He wrote about both in his book PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. PiHKAL stands for ‘Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved.’ 2C-B is a phenethylamines drug, which means its a central nervous system stimulant.

2C-B is similar to mescaline, and was used in the mid-late 1900’s when psychedelics were legal for therapeutic use. It comes as a white powder, or as tablets, and is generally taken by mouth. It can also be vaped, and snorted (insufflation). It’s a Schedule I drug in the US.


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In the 1970’s the drug was manufactured by German pharma company Drittewelle, and sold under the brand name “Erox”. It was also found at that time under the names “Nexus” and “B-Dub”. When MDMA was illegalized in 1985, 2C-B became a short-lived replacement; and its now often sold as ecstasy, though its not the same thing. When it was first marketed, it was done so as an aphrodisiac, as it does have stimulating and entactogen properties, like ecstasy. Much like MDMA and ecstasy, its recreational use has related largely to the rave scene.

So what’s pink cocaine? According to many sources it’s merely a dyed pink version of 2C-B. Why? Well, perhaps switching up the aesthetic makes people think they’re trying something new and different. Both the worlds of drugs and marketing tell us that people like to try new things, and that the thing that looks ‘cool’ is often the one desired. It goes by different slang names that come from ‘2C-B’, like ‘tucibi’, or ‘tuci’, or ‘tussi’.

Is there another definition for pink cocaine?

So, that’s what it is? Just a pink form of a drug we already knew about? Not exactly. Much like MDMA and ecstasy, things can start going off the mark. The names ‘MDMA’ and ‘ecstasy’ are often used interchangeably; and truth be told, they can technically refer to the same thing: the pure version of MDMA.

More often than not however, while ‘MDMA’ does refer to a pure form, ‘ecstasy’ often refers to a cut version. As in, a lesser quality version that has other compounds in it so the dealer’s batch goes farther, or to make it more powerful to impress clients and keep them coming back.

Think about cocaine. Sure, you can get really pure stuff. But a lot of it isn’t. It’s known to be cut with baby laxatives, boric acid, detergent, aspirin, creatine, and meat tenderizers. It can also have caffeine or amphetamine to increase the intensity. Or drugs like Benzocaine and Lidocaine, which are for pain. The same idea goes for pink cocaine.

While it was originally 2C-B, these days sources say the drug is made from ingredients like ketamine, MDMA, and caffeine, among other compounds. Some versions may include opioids like fentanyl, meth, or amphetamine, as well. The names ‘tucibi’, ‘tuci’, and ‘tussi’ tend to refer more to this drug, and not straight 2C-B, as 2C-B is so infrequently in the concoction anymore. But it used to be.

Illicit drug lab

The origin of pink cocaine

So where did the stuff come from, and when did it make its way to the public eye? It first became big – like it’s namesake – in Colombia, around 2010. Back then it generally did contain 2C-B. It made its way to Colombia not from the States, but from Europe, where it was already a niche but staple drug in the nightclub scene. The rich of Medellin were some of the first to get the drug back to Colombia, where its use proliferated.

It was seen at that time as a more elite drug than the ever-visible cocaine, probably because it was first big among the upper class. It came with a higher price tag than cocaine, which was used more by middle and lower classes. At a certain point early on, it was mixed with pink dye that smelled of strawberries. This helped make it more appealing in general, as it was thought of as harsh and bad-tasting.

2C-B wasn’t in great supply though. It was only a niche drug in Europe, and only small amounts made it to Colombia. This encouraged local vendors to make their own versions; and hence, the birth of the pink cocaine that’s sold today, (which often has little-to-no 2C-B in it at all), was born. In fact, actual 2C-B is still not common in Latin America.

Pink cocaine going international

In the next couple years, pink cocaine made its way around Colombia. In mid-2015, it was found through an arrest of multiple traffickers, that the drug was being exported to countries like the US, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Around this time it was established by manufacturers that they could use all sorts of ingredients as long as they maintained the look and smell of it, since that’s what the public associated with the 2C-B version. This made it quicker and cheaper to make, lowered prices, and increased exports.

By 2016 it had gotten back to Europe, which is kind of funny in that it was from Europe that the original drug came; and just a few years later, the same area was importing back the weakened, fake version. That year Spain captured nine operators who ran refining labs in Madrid. The labs were creating the drug with ketamine, cocaine, and meth. There is no standard recipe, and individual producers are known for creating their own individual concoctions.

Spain is pretty into it, with reports surfacing late last year that seven were arrested for selling both cocaine and pink cocaine in Madrid and Malaga. When their homes were searched, eight kilos of the pink drug were found. Prior to this, in late August, a bust of Brits in Ibiza, Spain turned up 13 kilos of pink cocaine, thought to have a street value of €2.3 million.

Pink cocaine can be powder or pills
Pink cocaine can be powder or pills

A UN report from late 2022 speaks of some form of the drug being found by law enforcement in the following countries: Austria, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. This was confirmed by Trevor Shine, the director of TICTAC Communications Ltd, a UK organization which identifies and gives information on drugs. He said that the organization “had come across a small number of samples of pink powder or crystals over the last two years,” which “contained MDMA and ketamine, and another caffeine and ketamine.”

He did point out that these findings account for only a tiny fraction of the drugs found, in the neighborhood of 0.5% of tested samples. It’s still generally new there, but in Colombia, where its been around longer, these pink concoctions are significantly more popular.

Though the drug is in Europe, it biggest base is in Latin American countries like Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay. As the price plummeted along with the quality, it now attracts a much less rich crowd, with the former users moving on to other drugs.

While 2C-B, like other hallucinogens, isn’t known to cause death, Senior Research Officer of the UK’s Drugs Science (a policy charity) reminds that, like it or not, there are a lot of crazy things out there, and some kind of testing is becoming more and more necessary for recreational users:

“Mixing drugs can be dangerous. For example, mixing two depressant drugs like alcohol and benzos is particularly risky as this can drastically slow down breathing and heart rate. It is good practice for people who may mix drugs to use tools such as TripSit to get some insights into particularly risky interactions. There’s also the ongoing risk that people don’t know what’s in their drugs – this is why we need drug checking services such as the Loop so people can make informed choices.”

Conclusion

Perhaps the biggest takeaway of pink cocaine is that if you want a quality drug, you’ll probably have to pay more. The cutting, cheapening, and replacing of pure compounds leads to low-level drugs, and more danger. Maybe 2C-B is fine, but do you have the slightest clue what’s in your pink cocaine?

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New York Governor Unveils Plan To Address Illicit Pot Shops

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday unveiled new legislation to combat the state’s persistent illicit cannabis operators. The bill, which already has the support of dozens of lawmakers in the New York Senate and State Assembly, also provides increased authority for regulators including the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Taxation and Finance to enforce regulations and close stores engaged in illegal cannabis sales.

“Over the past several weeks I have been working with the legislature on new legislation to improve New York’s regulatory structure for cannabis products,” Hochul said in a statement from the governor’s office. “The continued existence of illegal dispensaries is unacceptable, and we need additional enforcement tools to protect New Yorkers from dangerous products and support our equity initiatives.”

New York Legalized Recreational Weed In 2021

New York legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021 and the first recreational marijuana dispensary opened its doors in Manhattan late last year. But so far, only four Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) retailers have opened statewide. Meanwhile, the number of unlicensed pot shops has skyrocketed, prompting operators in the nascent licensed cannabis industry and others to press state officials for action against illicit operators.

Under the proposed legislation announced by Hochul on Wednesday, New York’s tax and cannabis laws would be amended to enable the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and local law enforcement agencies to enforce restrictions on unlicensed storefront dispensaries. The legislation does not impose new penalties for cannabis possession for personal use by an individual and does not allow local law enforcement officers to perform marijuana enforcement actions against individuals.

“This legislation, for the first time, would allow OCM and DTF to crack down on unlicensed activity, protect New Yorkers, and ensure the success of new cannabis businesses in New York,” the governor’s office wrote. “The legislation would restructure current illicit cannabis penalties to give DTF peace officers enforcement authority, create a manageable, credible, fair enforcement system, and would impose new penalties for retailers that evade State cannabis taxes.”

The bill clarifies and expands the OCM’s authority to seize illicit cannabis products, establishes summary procedures for the OCM and other governmental entities to shut down unlicensed businesses, and creates a framework for more effective cooperative efforts among agencies. 

Violations of the law could lead to fines of $200,000 for illicit cannabis plants or products. The legislation also allows the OCM to fine businesses up to $10,000 per day for engaging in cannabis sales without a license from the state.

Elliot Choi, chief knowledge officer at the cannabis and psychedelics law firm Vicente LLP, hailed the use of financial penalties instead of jail time to help reign in New York’s illicit cannabis market. 

“Governor Hochul’s proposed legislation is very much welcomed as prior efforts to combat the illicit dispensaries haven’t appeared to have much of an impact,” Choi wrote in an email to High Times. “We support the use of fines as opposed to incarceration to avoid recriminalization and a return of anything that resembles the prior failed war on drugs.” 

In addition to fines for unlicensed cannabis operators, Choi said that penalizing property owners who rent to unlicensed businesses would also be an appropriate tool for the state’s cannabis regulators and called for an increase in funding for state agencies tasked with controlling underground operators.

“Landlords should not have any incentives to rent to illegal operators and should be financially punished for doing so,” said Choi. “Finally, both the OCM and the Department of Taxation and Finance need additional resources to enforce as the OCM already has enough on their plate getting the regulations finalized and corresponding licenses issued in a timely fashion.”

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Opioid Lawsuit Money: Where Does It All Go?

Johnson & Johnson and friends are paying out a lot of money for their misdeeds; even if they refuse to admit to doing anything wrong. In fact, every state in the US has at least one opioid lawsuit; with the question now of, where does all that settlement money actually go?

How much must be paid & by who?

There isn’t a finite answer to this question, as not every case against the major players like Johnson & Johnson has been settled. And we’re only talking about America right now anyway. So far, over 3,000 suits have been filed by different states and local governments over the pills which have caused a major death toll in America, Canada, and beyond.

The biggest payout comes in the form of a $26 billion settlement that was made between 46 US states and Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. It was brokered in 2021, and dubbed the ‘National Settlement.’ This settlement does not include the four states that didn’t sign on, or anything previously decided or still ongoing. The number also doesn’t include separate lawsuits that have been waged against retailers like Walgreens.

Another of the big settlements has to do with the Native American population of America, a population hit very hard by opioids. This lawsuit was also against the four companies involved in the National Settlement, with a total of $590 million to be paid out to federally recognized tribes. It started as a settlement between AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson and just the Cherokee tribe for $75 million. This was then increased to $440 million, with a stipulation that it can be accessed by any federally recognized tribe member.


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For its part, Johnson & Johnson was also included and has two years to pay out $150 million in this particular case. Of that, $18 million is specifically for the Cherokees. To give an idea of the brazen ego of these companies; upon making this settlement, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that “This settlement is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing and the company will continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve.” I guess the company just likes paying out big sums of money.

Even more opioid lawsuits

It’ not just the pharma companies and distributors that are set to pay a lot of money. Even retailers got hit with lawsuits. CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart were staring down over 300 lawsuits over opioids, and settled for $13 billion in late 2022.

And what of Purdue specifically? The company that skyrocketed this whole issue with the creation of Oxycontin, and all the lies surrounding the usefulness and addictiveness of this drug? It also is in the process of dealing with the fallout of its blatant disregard for humanity. This company isn’t a corporation, and is privately owned by the Sackler family. The family was made to pay out $6 billion in a 2022 settlement, which goes mostly to local and state governments. And this as a part of a revised bankruptcy settlement, just to give an idea how much these little pills are hurting everyone…including those who made them.

Opioid lawsuit money

Even the federal government, which allows the opioids through regulation, is a part of it. The US Justice department made an $8 billion settlement with Purdue, which was reported in October 2022. And who gets this money? It goes to the Treasury Department, which is allocating $1.775 billion for states, tribes, and local governments for the future. And only $225 million for a “public benefit trust” to state and local communities now. It’s thought that once its all told, approximately $50 billion will be paid out from opioid lawsuits altogether on the state and local level.

Opioid lawsuit money: How is it split?

The whole point of these lawsuits is that the drugs hurt (and are still hurting) a lot of people. Now, sure, you can also say the disability damages affect a wider audience, including governments, but the thing to really remember in this, is who the victims are. And that’s primarily people who started opioids for pain issues. When you think about it, these lawsuits have less to do with people who decided to take up the drugs on their own.

So how does the money get to them? Or does it even? States are bringing in millions and billions of dollars from these opioid lawsuits, so where does the money go? This is where things get a bit complicated. And where we have to hope that the created systems, actually use the money appropriately.

The National Academy for State Health Policy is interested in this question, and compiled data to help elucidate the situation by looking at “state legislation, opioid settlement agreements and spending plans, advisory committees, and other entities charged with disbursing state funding”. According to the agency, all the states are setting up regulated structures for money dissemination; some related to the settlements themselves, and some as a part of new policy.

As the biggest payout as of yet, the National Settlement includes both the ability for states to create their own policies, while also defining some aspects of the payment structure. For example, this settlement includes a timeline for payouts, which stipulates 18 months. The money is split due to factors like overall population; how many overdoes deaths the location had, as well as how many active use cases there are now; and how much of the medications made their way into the location.

What about once a state has the money? The settlement agreement goes on to stipulate a standard rate for dissemination past that point, with 15% of the payment going to a State Fund, 70% to an Abatement Accounts Fund, and the last 15% to a Subdivision Fund. Should a state want to change this policy, it can challenge it. While all this applies to the biggest lawsuit, many settlements have similar instructions.

Lawsuits over opioids
Lawsuits over opioids

The ’State Fund’ is money which is “awarded directly to the state, with final spending authority residing with legislative appropriation, attorneys general, the Department of Health, or the state agencies responsible for substance use services.” The Subdivision Fund (Local Share) is money paid “directly to participating political subdivisions, including participating cities and counties.” And the Abatement Fund is to “distribute funding across the state.”

Essentially, each state is tasked with coming up with “unique process and administrative structures for allocating funding across state and local entities, identifying abatement needs, obtaining input from the public and experts, providing guidance on priorities and spending activities, and promoting transparency around the use of funds.” And these processes can be used for any opioid lawsuit money from future or already on-going cases.

Opioid lawsuit money, and how it can be used

With the National Settlement as the example, there are some stipulations as to how the money can be used once a state takes it in. This is where we need to make sure that these avenues lead to something useful; and that they don’t get corrupted. Which means watching over the process from beginning to end.

The main point is that at least 70% of this money must be used for ‘opioid remediation efforts,’ which essentially means policies that target the problem and attempt to solve it. As per the wording of the agreement:

“Care, treatment, and other programs and expenditures (including reimbursement for past such programs or expenditures except where this Agreement restricts the use of funds solely to future Opioid Remediation) designed to (1) address the misuse and abuse of opioid products, (2) treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders, or (3) mitigate other alleged effects of, including on those injured as a result of, the opioid epidemic.” It’s not, however, more specific than this, leaving the individual locations to figure out what these measures should be.

The money must also be used to set up Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committees. These committees are designed to provide some guidance for the remediation process; they only deal with the 70% allocated to the Abatement Accounts Fund.

Lawsuit money allocation
Lawsuit money allocation

The problem is that such systems have shown to be corruptible time and time again. To combat this (in some form) there is a guideline set up to try to deter unrelated spending. It stipulates a requirement to report all use of the funding money, including unrelated costs like payments to lawyers, investigation costs, court fees, and administrative fees. However, a requirement to report, doesn’t mean the funds won’t still be used for these purposes. If reported unrelated costs are still covered, the simple action of reporting does not mean the funds won’t be misused. We’ll have to keep an eye out.

Moving forward

Will any of this work, or are we simply filling government coffers, to be blown like so much other government money? The way I see it, there are two ways to look at progress. The first is if those who have been hurt, get repaid for their losses. And the second is in how it works to change the current landscape. Considering most new regulation focuses on decriminalizing drugs and setting up safe use sites, instead of looking at alternatives like ketamine; its certainly hard to see a path for positive change. And realistically, so long as the doctor is the dealer, can we actually expect this problem to go away?

It’s best to remember that no state pursuing an opioid lawsuit has barred the sale of opioids in the state; even with lawsuit money rolling in. Not even one made a guideline for making them harder to get. Kind of a contradiction, and one that shouldn’t be ignored if people really expect that governments are working on their behalf.

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New Jersey Cultivation Cap Expired, But Real Estate Issues Remain

New Jersey’s cannabis legalization law initially went into effect in 2021 with a cultivator cap set at 37 licenses. Adult-use sales launched in April 2022, but at the time only seven cultivators were licensed to supply cannabis 13 dispensaries across the state. Last month, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) allowed the cap to expire on Feb. 22.

“The market is developing, and we don’t want to hinder that. The New Jersey canopy is currently only 418,000 square feet—far below the average of other states with legal cannabis,” said Commissioner Maria Del Cid-Kosso. “New Jersey currently has only one cultivation license for every 197,000 residents. The national average is one license for every 31,000 residents. We have a lot of room to grow. We expect that lifting the cap will open the space for more cultivators, ultimately resulting in more favorable pricing and better access for patients and other consumers.”

As of March 2, the CRC has granted licenses to 17 operational cultivation facilities. But even with the cultivation license cap change, many New Jersey municipalities have opted out of adult-use cannabis. One year ago, the Ashbury Park Press reported that nearly 400 towns had opted out of being home to any cannabis businesses. The co-founder and president of New Jersey-based Premium Genetics, Darrin Chandler Jr., told MJBizDaily that finding potential real estate opportunities is “almost impossible,” and described prices as “astronomical.”

On the patient side, New Jersey is still the only state with a medical cannabis program that does not allow patients to grow at home. In the past, many bills have been introduced to permit home cultivation to allow medical cannabis patients to grow for personal use. Bill S342, which is sponsored by Sen. Troy Singleton and Sen. Vin Gopal, would allow patients to cultivate at home. However, a report from Politico states that opposition from Senate President Nick Scutari is a significant roadblock for the bill.

New Jersey’s industry is continuing to attract outside cannabis businesses. Brands such as Al Harrington’s Viola products are expanding into the state this month, starting on March 24 at RISE dispensaries. According to Harrington, he wants to expand his brand to support the local community. “I want to make sure that we are educating our community and empowering them with knowledge to understand the cannabis plant and the benefits that come from it,” Harrington told Business Insider.

Similarly, Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan is preparing to open Hashtoria Cannabis Lounge in Newark, New Jersey as well. “Getting excited yall!!! @hashstoria coming to the brick city !!!!! This is going to be flyest consumption lounge to hit the east coast. This will be monumental ! All hail to the mighty green ! Be strong, be wise and be the best version of you!!! #newjersey #cannabis #hashstoria” Raekwon recently wrote on Instagram.

Recently, the CRC held a public comment period to discuss its draft rules for cannabis consumption rules, which ends on March 18. This includes restrictions for on-site food sales, but permits food to be delivered or brought in from outside, and prohibition of tobacco and alcohol sales on-site.

In late February, the New Jersey Attorney General released an updated drug testing policy for law enforcement. Under the new revision, law enforcement officers will only be drug tested if they appear intoxicated at work. “Agencies must undertake drug testing when there is reasonable suspicion to believe a law enforcement officer is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance, or is under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, including unregulated marijuana, or cannabis during work hours.”

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UN Issues ‘Warning’ to U.S. Over Adult-Use State Laws, Suggesting Repeal

The United Nations’ (UN) narcotics watchdog issued a press release on March 9, saying that U.S. adult-use cannabis laws are out of sync with the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, (with roots in Reefer Madness) and that the “trivialization” of youth harms from cannabis is a major cause for concern.

The UN’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) said that it is “warning” in its Annual Report 2022 that the wave of adult-use efforts in U.S. states “contravenes the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs” and sends the wrong message to youth.

“The most concerning effect of cannabis legalization is the likelihood of increased use, particularly among young people, according to estimated data,” the INCB wrote. “In the United States, it has been shown that adolescents and young adults consume significantly more cannabis in federal states where cannabis has been legalized compared to other states where recreational use remains illegal.”

The UN 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs states that UN member States must carry out the provisions of the Convention within their territories. U.S. state laws don’t appear to carry much weight. “The internal distribution of powers between the different levels of a State cannot be invoked as justification for the failure to perform a treaty,” the Convention reads. 

The INCB continued, saying, “There is also evidence that general availability of legalized cannabis products lowers the perception of risk and of the negative consequences involved in using them. New products, such as edibles or vaping products marketed in appealing packaging have increased the trend. INCB finds that this has contributed to a trivialization of the impacts of cannabis use in the public eye, especially among young people.”

“The expanding cannabis industry is marketing cannabis-related products to appeal to young people and this is a major cause for concern as is the way the harms associated with using high-potency cannabis products are being played down,” said INCB President Jagjit Pavadia.

Pavadia continued, “Evidence suggests that cannabis legalization has not been successful in dissuading young people from using cannabis, and illicit markets persist.”

The legalization of adult-use cannabis—not candy-flavored Adderall, sometimes used by six-year-olds, or six-digit overdose deaths from fentanyl in 2022—is the UN’s cause of concern in the U.S. Edibles and vape pens with candy and cereal flavors also raise an alarm at the INCB.

Ironically, the 1961 Single Convention can be traced to the Reefer Madness era in the U.S., and shouldn’t be used as any real metric, according to NORML. 

“Cannabis policy reform advocates have been readily vexed by the United Nation’s extreme anti-cannabis advocacy and propaganda since the 1970s, and arguably after America’s original drug czar Harry J. Anslinger, in his last act as a life-long anti-cannabis zealot and 30-year plus federal drug czar, he watched President John F. Kennedy commit the world and then American-dominated United Nations to America’s Reefer Madness via the signing of the Single Convention Treaty in 1961,” wrote former NORML executive president, Allen St. Pierre.

The report then says that the U.S. should decriminalize and depenalize cannabis alternatively instead of legalizing adult-use.

According to the INCB, the UN provides more than enough leniency: “The convention-based system offers significant flexibility for States to protect young people, improve public health, avoid unnecessary incarceration and address illicit markets and related crime.”

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Boomers Mushroom Gummies: A Legal Way to Experience the Benefits of Psychedelics

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Boomers Psychedelic Gummies
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Boomers Mushroom Gummies, as featuring Amanita Muscaria extract may provide a range of medical, spiritual, and recreational benefits to users.

Medically, these gummies have shown promise in helping alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The active ingredients in Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, such as Muscimol, Ibotenic Acid, and Muscarine, may contribute to a sense of well-being and emotional balance, making them an appealing option for those seeking alternative treatment options.

Spiritually, Boomers Mushroom Gummies can facilitate introspection and self-exploration, allowing users to gain insights into their inner selves. Many people have reported experiencing a heightened sense of connection with the world around them and a deepened appreciation for the present moment. These gummies can serve as a tool for personal growth and self-discovery, promoting a greater understanding of one’s purpose and place in the universe.

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Recreationally, these gummies offer a unique and enjoyable experience. The gummies’ psychedelic effects can lead to vivid visuals, enhanced sensory perception, and a sense of euphoria, providing a fun and engaging way to relax and unwind. With their delicious flavors and legal status, these gummies make for an exciting and accessible option for those interested in exploring the world of psychedelics.

Why the products are legal?

Boomers Mushroom Gummies are made from Amanita Muscaria, a type of magic mushroom that is legal in many parts of the world. Unlike psilocybin mushrooms, which are classified as a controlled substance in several countries, Amanita Muscaria is not subject to the same strict regulations, making these gummies a legal and accessible option for those interested in exploring the benefits of psychedelic substances.

In the United States, Amanita Muscaria mushrooms are legal in most states, with the exception of Louisiana. This means that consumers can purchase and enjoy Boomers Mushroom Gummies without worrying about the legal repercussions associated with other types of psychedelic substances. It is important, however, for individuals to familiarize themselves with the specific laws and regulations in their region before acquiring these gummies to ensure compliance with local legislation.

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As the legal landscape around psychedelic substances continues to evolve, Boomers Mushroom Gummies offer a safe and convenient way for individuals to explore the benefits of these substances without running afoul of the law. By using Amanita Muscaria as the primary ingredient, these gummies provide an opportunity for users to experience the medical, spiritual, and recreational advantages of psychedelics in a legal and accessible format.

The histrory of the Amanita Muscaria mushroom

The Amanita Muscaria mushroom has a long and fascinating history, dating back thousands of years. This distinctive red-and-white spotted mushroom has been used for various purposes across different cultures, including spiritual, medicinal, and recreational applications.

Amanita Muscaria has played a significant role in the shamanic practices of indigenous Siberian tribes, where it was consumed as an entheogen to induce altered states of consciousness and facilitate communication with the spirit world. In other parts of Europe, particularly in Norse and Celtic mythology, this mushroom was believed to possess magical properties and was associated with deities and supernatural beings.

Yes, yopu have read it right, this is how people used this amazing mushroom in the old times…

Throughout history, Amanita Muscaria has been used for its psychoactive effects, often in religious and spiritual ceremonies. Despite its widespread use across various cultures and traditions, it was only in the 20th century that the active compounds responsible for its psychedelic effects, such as Muscimol, Ibotenic Acid, and Muscarine, were identified and studied.

Today, the Amanita Muscaria mushroom continues to intrigue researchers and enthusiasts alike. As a legal alternative to psilocybin mushrooms, it is increasingly being used in the form of gummies and other edibles, allowing individuals to experience the benefits of this ancient and culturally significant mushroom in a modern and accessible way.

boomers mushroom gummies
Boomers Mushroom Gummies

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Legal Weed Sales Projected To Grow 14% in 2023

Sales of legal cannabis in the United States are projected to grow by 14% in 2023, according to a recent report from Colorado-based cannabis industry market analysis firm BDSA. In an updated five-year global legal cannabis market forecast, the company reports that global spending on legal cannabis increased by 4.8% to $32 billion in 2022. BDSA projects that the global cannabis market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2% from 2022 to 2027, resulting in a total worldwide regulated cannabis market size of $59.6 billion by 2027.

The U.S. legal cannabis market has shown significant growth across the industry as more and more states legalize adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana. And while the industry’s growth slowed in 2022 in response to market conditions including rising inflation and economic uncertainty, BDSA expects the U.S. legal weed market to again show significant growth this year, projecting a 14% increase in the market in 2023.

“Legal cannabis spending slowed significantly in 2022 due to rapid price declines across all markets,” Roy Bingham, co-founder and CEO of BDSA, said in a statement from the company. “Despite this, our updated forecast predicts strong growth in the U.S. driven by developing markets, particularly the adult-use markets of Missouri, New Jersey and New York.”

Currently, 21 states have legalized cannabis for adults, while 37 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories have passed laws to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. Additionally, 11 states permit the use of low-THC cannabis formulations for medicinal purposes. Only Idaho and Nebraska continue to prohibit all forms of cannabis. 

Some Mature Cannabis Markets Contracted In 2022

The U.S. cannabis market posted rapid growth during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns kept consumers home and dispensaries were designated as essential businesses in many states. But last year marked the first decline in overall cannabis spending in some mature cannabis markets in the United States. In the West, early cannabis policy reform adopters California, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon saw a combined drop in spending on legal adult-use cannabis of 16.5% in 2022, according to the updated report. BDSA expects most mature cannabis markets in the U.S. to return to positive growth in 2024, although more slowly through 2027 than in the years leading up to the pandemic. 

Newer legal cannabis markets showed strong growth in 2022, despite the decline seen in more mature markets. BDSA also projects new legal adult-use cannabis markets to launch by 2027, predicting a start of legal sales in Maryland in 2024 and in Florida and Ohio in 2025. The launch of new recreational marijuana cannabis markets is also possible in Minnesota and Hawaii by 2027, BDSA notes, but the company does not expect to see federal cannabis legalization during the five-year forecast period.

Brian Vicente, founding partner of the cannabis law firm Vicente LLP, agreed that emerging markets will help fuel the growth of the legal cannabis industry in the upcoming years.

 “The future remains bright for the cannabis industry in the United States. Despite a recent setback at the polls, with Oklahoma voters shooting down legalization this month, we are still seeing other domestic markets expand and commence sales,” Vicente wrote in an email. “This includes significant revenue growth in newly-legal cannabis markets like Missouri and New Jersey, and also emerging medical markets like Mississippi. With additional states like Florida and Ohio looking likely to legalize in the next several years, we can expect continued expansion in cannabis sales.”

By 2027, U.S. sales of adult-use cannabis are forecasted to contribute 78% of the total spending on legal cannabis worldwide, up from 64% in 2022. U.S. legal cannabis spending is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.3%, from $26.1 billion in 2022 to $44.5 billion in 2027, with the industry’s growth driven primarily by the New York, Florida, New Jersey and California recreational marijuana markets. 

Globally, cannabis markets outside the U.S. and Canada are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 40% to $9.5 billion in 2027, up from $1.8 billion in 2022. BDSA forecasts the Canadian market will see overall growth of 12% this year, increasing to a $5.7 billion market by 2027 at a CAGR of 6.3%. New adult-use markets in Germany and Mexico are expected to be the primary drivers of global growth, while existing limited medical cannabis programs are expected to expand, particularly in the European Union and Latin America.

The post Legal Weed Sales Projected To Grow 14% in 2023 appeared first on High Times.

Connecticut Cannabis Sales Top $18 Million in February

Licensed cannabis sales topped $18 million in Connecticut during February, the first full month of regulated recreational marijuana sales in the state. Sales of adult-use cannabis began on January 10, only seven months after lawmakers passed legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation to end the prohibition of recreational marijuana in June 2021, legalizing the possession of cannabis by adults 21 and older and creating a framework for regulated adult-use sales. The measure also included restorative justice and social equity measures, including provisions that led to the expungement of nearly 43,000 marijuana-related convictions at the beginning of the year.

The Connecticut legislature passed a bill to legalize the medicinal use of cannabis in 2012, leading to the launch of legal medical marijuana sales to patients with qualifying debilitating medical conditions in September 2014. Regulated sales of adult-use cannabis began in Connecticut at seven of the state’s existing medical marijuana dispensaries on January 10.

“Today marks a turning point in the injustices caused by the war on drugs, most notably now that there is a legal alternative to the dangerous, unregulated, underground market for cannabis sales,” Lamont said in a statement last month. “Together with our partners in the legislature and our team of professionals at the Department of Consumer Protection, we’ve carefully crafted a securely regulated market that prioritizes public health, public safety, social justice, and equity. I look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure that this industry remains inclusive and safe as it develops.”

Cannabis Sales Data Released On Friday

Last week, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) released cannabis sales figures for February of this year, the first full calendar month of regulated adult-use cannabis. According to data provided by the department on Friday, total regulated sales of marijuana for the month came to more than $18.4 million. Total adult-use cannabis purchases in the state totaled about $7.02 million from February 1 through February 28, while medical marijuana sales contributed approximately $11.4 million to the monthly total.

Registered medical marijuana patients purchased 316,644 cannabis products in Connecticut last month, while adults 21 and older bought 168,565 adult-use cannabis items. Since the launch of recreational marijuana sales last month, the DCP’s Drug Control Division has approved more than 600 new brand names for products that may be sold in both the medical marijuana market and the adult-use market.

The DCP collected the cannabis sales data with its BioTrack seed-to-sale tracking system, which monitors the production, distribution and sale of all medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis merchandise in the state. In a press release, the department noted that it does not regulate prices, set sales expectations, or make revenue projections for Connecticut’s licensed cannabis market. 

The department noted that cannabis sales information will be made public on or about the tenth day of each month. All data is subject to further review by the DCP. Because Connecticut’s seed-to-sale tracking system was not operational until last month, sales figures for the medical marijuana market prior to January 10 are not available.

Purchase Limits On Recreational Weed in Connecticut

To ensure that there is a sufficient supply of cannabis for the state’s medical marijuana patients, purchases of recreational marijuana are currently limited to a quarter ounce of cannabis flower per transaction. Medical marijuana patients are permitted to buy up to five ounces of cannabis per month, with no quantity limits on individual transactions. 

In its notice last week, the DCP reminded consumers and patients that information about responsible cannabis use and the potential health risks of using marijuana is available online.

“Adults who choose to consume cannabis are reminded to do so responsibly, including storing cannabis products in their original packaging, locked up and out of reach of children and pets,” the department noted in its press release. “Resources regarding responsible cannabis use, as well as information about addiction and health risks is available at ct.gov/cannabis.”

The post Connecticut Cannabis Sales Top $18 Million in February appeared first on High Times.

What Gas Station Heroin Says About Our Need to Get High

Some, like the world of Western medicine, look at drug use as a medical issue. Others see it as a consequence of the stress of different factors of life. No matter how you look at it, there’s no getting away from it. And it seems like people will do whatever they can to feel better somehow. The latest example is dubbed ‘gas station heroin’. But is there really a threat here; or is this governmental subterfuge in light of the growing opioid issue?

What is gas station heroin?

No, it’s not a Lou Reed song, though it sounds like it could be. And it’s not the title of an art film made by an eager grad student either. It’s not exactly what most people would guess it is, because it doesn’t actually have anything to do with heroin. Heroin is an opioid, a product of the processing of opium. And gas station heroin is not in that class of drugs.

Surprisingly, it’s actually an anti-depressant of the tricyclic class of antidepressants. The official name is tianeptine, and it’s sold under many brand names, including Stablon and Coaxil. It’s technically an atypical tricyclic antidepressant in that it doesn’t necessarily work like other antidepressants. Tricyclics are used primarily for anxiety and mood disorders, and work by inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, and the norepinephrine transporter. By doing so, they increase these neurotransmitters in the brain.


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However, tianeptine is a bit different. It is used for anxiety and depression, but it’s been found that it also acts as an atypical μ-opioid receptor agonist. Which means it promotes more action at μ-opioid receptors, which is what opioids do. So the same drug causing mass issues with addiction and overdose, has at least some similar effects to this antidepressant tianeptine. Tianeptine in high doses is used for recreational use, with the main issue in withdrawal symptoms; though this relates not just to an opioid effect, but to antidepressants in general.

Back several years ago, doctor-prescribed medications weren’t the bigger problem, today they are. And not only does the following information back up how dangerous the medicines offered to us can be, this whole situation shines a light on just how bad our collective need is to get high. Whether considered an actual disorder, or a reaction to the stress of life, it indicates quite an issue when people are using anything possible, just to catch a little buzz.

The current tianeptine issue

It’s certainly not an issue like opioids, and many probably have never heard the names tianeptine or its slang name ‘gas station heroin’. But in some places, its created enough buzz to get the attention of law enforcement, and is now the subject of new worries, and new laws. One of the recent stories related to tianeptine, comes out of Mississippi.

Last month it was reported that this drug is sold, not by pharmacies, but by gas stations and corner stores, with names like Za Za, Tiana, and Red Dawn. It’s found with other supplements, and doesn’t stand out as anything special. It certainly doesn’t require any kind of prescription, though when sold as an antidepressant, it does. However, its not cleared for medical use by the FDA in America, and is only found as a prescription antidepressant in other countries. After trials in 2009, all development of the drug stopped in the US by 2012. Although why this happened, was not made clear.

In Mississippi, doctors are putting out warnings about the safety of this drug, with fear-inducing lines like this one from Dr. Jennifer Bryan, the chairman of the Mississippi delegation of the American Medical Association, “It can kill people, to be quite honest, and it’s highly addictive.” She continued about a specific case, “I had a young woman come to me, and she was a mother, and she was dealing with depression. And a friend told her about Za Za. So she tried it. And I promise you that same day, she said she could not stop, and it was so sad.”

In terms of why its on shelves at all? Bryan explains, “In sneaky situations like tianeptine, something that the FDA on the drug side has not approved for prescription in the United States due to safety reasons, can sneak in the back door as a supplement.”

Is tianeptine actually that dangerous?

Tianeptine is known as gas station heroin

There are plenty of issues with antidepressants, but is this one really *that bad, or just another example of the US government (local or federal) not liking an industry it can’t get in on? The US government loves approving dangerous medications. I mean, it regulates the legal opioid industry, making any talk of illegalizing tianeptine, a massive point-miss if all synthetic opioids (where the real death toll is) don’t follow. So while the government is great at providing us plenty of dangerous pills, it sure seems unhappy about this specific one, which it doesn’t legally sell. Opioids are legally sold.

As far as danger? I can’t find a specific death statistic. In a 2018 review that went over 25 different articles, which contained information on 65 people, it mentioned 15 overdose cases. Overdose doesn’t actually imply death, just taking too much of something. Of those 15 there were three deaths, but all involved one or more other substances, meaning the deaths cannot be put on tianeptine directly. The same report goes on to mention six other deaths, but stipulates they only ‘involve’ the drug, which makes it the same as the three deaths above. In no case has tianeptine been fingered as the only cause of death.

The thing is, I can’t find other information on fatalities at all with this drug, or any real information on disability issues. So it doesn’t sound that bad, right? Especially when opioids are taking out close to 100,000 people a year now. Yet, as those drugs are not banned, states like Mississippi are banning drugs like tianeptine. For 2021, Mississippi reported approximately 491 drug overdose deaths, with suspicion that 71.7% of them (352), were because of opioids, or related.

That same state hasn’t banned any drug associated with those overdoses. However, on March 1st, it did pass legislation to ban tianeptine via House Bill 4. If signed by the governor, the new law will ban the sale and possession of the drug. But it won’t stop any opioid use. So basically, a lesser drug which isn’t associated with that many issues (and none direct that I’ve seen) is being banned, while the #1 overdose drugs, opioids, remain as legal as before.

Where else this is happening, and why it makes no sense

Several other states also made measures against tianeptine, while doing nothing about opioids. In Minnesota its now a Schedule I substance, but I saw not one death statistic. That same state had 1,286 overdose deaths in 2021. 924 were opioid related. Michigan made it a Schedule II drug, but also failed to report any death statistics for it. What Michigan did have, was 2,738 overdose deaths in 2020, with 79% being opioid related.

It should be noted that while Alabama spoke of a crisis related to the drug, it also failed to mention even one death; which makes one wonder how the word ‘crisis’ is defined, when there are drugs out there causing tens of thousands of deaths a year. Of course, that state actually has an opioid crisis, with 343 of the 401 overdoes deaths in 2020, relating to synthetic opioids.

Opioids are legal, while states go after tianeptine
Opioids are legal, while states go after tianeptine

In Tennessee the sale of the drug was outlawed, and it was put in Schedule II of the state’s Controlled Substances list with a class A misdemeanor charge. However, once again, this was done with not one death brought up. Weird, when Tennessee reported 2,388 opioid overdose deaths in 2020. Are we perhaps having our attention turned away from the real problem, by introducing a fake one?

In Oklahoma tianeptine is listed as a drug with a Schedule II ban, but no deaths are reported. What is true, is that Oklahoma had 733 overdose deaths between 2019-2020, 36.3% of which had to do with opioids. Incidentally, meth accounted for about 64%. In Georgia its now also Schedule I. The report referenced, again, mentioned no deaths. The comparison? 2,390 drug overdose deaths in the state in 2021, with 1,718 (71%) attributed to opioids.

In Indiana, the drug was banned in late 2022, but the pattern repeats as the report mentioned no deaths attached. On the other hand, the state had 2,755 overdose deaths in 2021, 85% of which were only fentanyl, meaning synthetic opioids altogether caused more than 85% of deaths in the state. In Ohio, the ban was instituted as an emergency measure, making it a Schedule I substance. Just like the rest, it mentions no death toll with the drug, even as it continues to sell opioids with 81% of overdose deaths in 2020 (5,017 total), due to fentanyl.

Conclusion

Perhaps what gas station heroin shows us more than anything else, is that 1) people want something to make them feel good, and 2) no country or state wants an industry it can’t tax and control. These efforts seem more like subterfuge though, trying to take attention off the lack of action on the real issue, by trying to make this into one. And that doesn’t mean for a second that I think the stuff is okay, but the contradiction of caring about it at all, while doing nothing to ban opioids, makes the whole thing laughable at best.

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THCM: And What It Means for Pregnant Women

It’s not good to smoke when pregnant, but that’s obvious because it’s not good to smoke in general. Recently pregnant women have been checked for the compound THCM, to see if they’ve smoked weed while pregnant. What are the implications of the test, and does this make sense?

What is THCM?

First it was THC, and that’s all we talked about with weed. Several years ago CBD became a big name what with the 2018 US Farm Bill. In the last few years, its been all about other minor compounds found in the plant, like delta-8 THC, HHC, THCO, and synthetics like delta-10. There are so many letter combinations, its hard to follow, and even now we don’t really know a lot about these compounds. What we do know, is that they either occur in nature, or were made in a lab.

THCM doesn’t fit into either of those categories. Officially called 11-Nor-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-Carboxylic Acid {Carboxy-THC}, it was discovered in 1997 (or 1977 depending on your source, for which there aren’t many good ones), and has never been isolated from the cannabis plant, so its effects – and most other information – are unknown. It’s not actually found in the plant, but it is used for a specific purpose.

So far, THCM has only been found, not in cannabis, but as a byproduct of cannabis smoke. To be clear, its not a byproduct of using cannabis in general, but a byproduct that comes from lighting the weed on fire and breathing it in. So if you’re tested for it, and you use cannabis edibles, or vapes, a test for THCM won’t turn up anything. The testing for it is highly specific, and only applies to pregnant women right now.


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How is a person tested for cannabis?

A regular weed test is generally done using urine. And the results depend greatly on the amount a person uses. It picks up THC that entered the system in any way (edibles, vaping, smoking, etc…) For an occasional smoker, it might only show up in the urine for a few days, but this varies by person. Things like body fat content, exercise regimen, and diet can play a big role in how long THC stays with us. For a heavy user, it can take as long as 30 days after the final smoke. For moderate smokers, its likely to be in the middle – maybe 10-15 days.

Then there are blood tests for THC, but we don’t hear about them often. They’re used when the circumstance of testing involves some kind of criminal activity. For example, this testing method is employed more and more on roadways, if a state designates a blood THC level for driving. These tests are way more accurate, but can only tell if weed was used within the last two days. So they don’t cover as much time, and are best for circumstances that involve very recent use.

There are also hair tests, but they’re not very reliable. THC in hair can be detected for months after use, but these tests aren’t terribly specific to use. How many times have you sat in a room filled with weed smoke? You know what else was with you? Your hair. Testing hair doesn’t necessarily mean that a person smoked, it just means they were around smoke. Realistically, you likely won’t ever be given a hair test because of the lack of accuracy.

Why is THCM tested for?

All the above tests are essentially looking for THC, as that’s the psychoactive part of the plant. And while urine tests can usually pick up that a heavy smoker smoked within the past month, and a blood test can tell the same for the past couple days, there is one other way to test for longer periods. Whether it’s actually useful or not is hard to say, but its certainly happening, so I’ll share it with you.

As mentioned, THCM is a byproduct of cannabis smoke. Not of other forms of weed use. It acts as a biomarker, which is “A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule.” In this case, it marks whether a person smoked cannabis within the five months before birth.

Yup, it’s used on pregnant ladies to determine if they smoked weed. So let me repeat again, its not whether a person ‘used’ weed in the five months prior to birth, it’s whether a woman ‘smoked’ weed in that time. So, its not testing for weed use technically, its testing only for if a woman smoked it. While it can detect if a fetus was exposed to cannabis smoke in-utero, it doesn’t apply to other forms of weed intake within that same time period; that will only show in urine or blood.

The dangers of smoking while pregnant

We already know smoking is bad. In general, and during a pregnancy. Let’s remember, smoking is the #1 death toll drug; even if its not about a specific compound, but a means of intake. And that’s what it is about. It doesn’t matter if its weed, cigarettes, or some herb given to you by a shaman; if its lit on fire and breathed in, its smoking. And that’s the issue. Tobacco, for example, has plenty of medicinal uses, and its simply the lighting it on fire and breathing it in that’s bad.

As far as what it can do during pregnancy? This isn’t like weed where there are questionable studies making questionable connections. We have years of data on this. Cannabis is not related to the health issues of smoking; so it makes sense to question whether its the cause of issues in-utero, especially when smoking is included. Smoking is not just about cigarettes. (And as a side note, its horrifying I have to keep pointing this out; and that its repeatedly confused in the minds of the public what the actual risks of smoking are, and where they come from.)

Study after study has turned up the results that this review did: Health outcomes of smoking during pregnancy and the postpartum period: an umbrella review. Main results of the 64 studies it analyzed when looking at smoking during pregnancy (SDP) and 46 different health issues?

“The highest increase in risks was found for sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, stillbirth, low birth weight and obesity amongst infants. The impact of SDP was associated with the number of cigarettes consumed. According to the causal link analysis, five mother-related and ten infant-related conditions had a causal link with SDP. In addition, some studies reported protective impacts of SDP on pre-eclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum and skin defects on infants. The review identified important gaps in the literature regarding the dose-response association, exposure window, postnatal smoking.”

Even this insinuates that how much is smoked and when its smoked is important, and still unaccounted for in much of the research out there. All included studies were done prior to 2017, but I don’t see that as making much difference at this point. What it does show is the continued and measurable aspect of the negative effects of smoking on a fetus.

Dangers of smoking vs vaping while pregnant

So much research comes up on the topic that its hard to deny. Take this paper that was published in The Obstetrician & Gynecologist in 2019 called Smoking in pregnancy: pathophysiology of harm and current evidence for monitoring and cessation. It also reviews tons of literature to come up with many of the same issues. Its first key point is that “Smoking in pregnancy is a risk factor for miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption, preterm birth, low birthweight and neonatal morbidity and mortality.”

Dangers of smoking while pregnant
Dangers of smoking while pregnant

Having said that, even this study shows gaps in understanding. While it mentions in one place that “The adverse effects of cigarette smoke are primarily driven by carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine,” it goes on to stipulate later that “Electronic cigarettes are more popular among smokers, but evidence of their safety and effectiveness in pregnancy are lacking.” This actually indicates that nicotine isn’t where the risk is. If it were, electronic cigarettes would automatically come up as causing the same damage, and as of yet, they have not. Contradictions like this should always be noticed in a study, as they can be factors of personal bias, or a researcher’s own misunderstanding of the research they review.

Vaping has shown specifically not to cause the same issues like cancer, heart disease, and pulmonary disease in the general population. And definitive links to the same birth issues are not found with vaping, whereas you literally can’t get away from them when looking at smoking studies. Which indicates again, this isn’t about tobacco or nicotine, no matter how many times the line is said. This doesn’t mean that inundating a fetus with nicotine is okay either, but the bigger health implication, is simply in the act of smoking something.

Do THCM tests matter then?

The reality is that the jury is out on why picking up THCM matters. Cannabis itself is not definitively associated with birth issues, so it’s a bit odd. Studies blaring titles like Birth Outcomes of Neonates Exposed to Marijuana in Utero, go on to stipulate “However, at this time, there are no data to differentiate smoking itself (ie, inhalation of marijuana smoke) vs ingestion of the cannabinoids as the main factor associated with an increase in adverse events, to our knowledge.” As in, this whole study was done, without considering how the cannabis was used. And that if it was smoked, these results are more likely related to the actual smoking, than the weed.

In fact, that study is scarily similar to this study which attempted to link using cannabis to a raised rate of heart attack (myocardial infarction). The big, glaring issue? It only looked at people who smoked it; as in, no other cannabis use was a part of the study at all. And at not one point did the investigators speak about the general dangers of smoking. Its an entire study that backs up that smoking can lead to increased risk of heart attack, but not cannabis.

I have yet to see a real connection made anywhere beyond these smear campaign articles (what else can you call that?) The pregnancy study is no different. As the main method of cannabis consumption in the world is still smoking, that study likely acted as a study on the effects of smoking to a fetus in-utero, not on the effects of cannabis use to a fetus in-utero.

Since there isn’t great research on the actual topic of the direct effect of weed compounds on a fetus when the co-morbid factor of smoking is eliminated; there’s no real reason for the test in my mind. Co-morbid means the existence of two different factors. In research this can cause problems because if one specific thing is being studied (cannabis use on a fetus), and a co-morbid factor exits (smoking), if the co-morbid factor isn’t controlled for, the results are useless. With a lack of info on weed effects to babies in-utero, a THCM test has no value beyond the idea of smoking in general.

Pregnant woman
Pregnant woman

Conclusion

Truth is, a THCM test like this can cause problems for an expecting mother, which are unnecessary. After all, pregnancy is stressful enough, and as cigarette smoking (the real danger) isn’t illegal while pregnant, there’s no reason to test a woman for this. Especially when it might indicate nothing more than a single joint hit from a months before; and that it hasn’t been ruled out that simply having been in a smokey room, won’t bring on a positive result.

*As a note, I am not encouraging any pregnant woman to use any substance. I am merely questioning the usefulness of this specific test.

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