Culture

Research published online May 14 in Social Psychological and Personality Science has uncovered that marijuana buffers people from experiencing social pain.

 

“Prior work has shown that the analgesic acetaminophen, which acts indirectly through CB1 receptors, reduces the pain of social exclusion. The current research provides the first evidence that marijuana also dampens the negative emotional consequences of social exclusion on negative emotional outcomes,” Timothy Deckman of the University of Kentucky and his colleagues wrote in the study.

 

The four-part study, which included a total of 7040 participants and three methodologies, was based on previous research that found an overlap between physical and social pain. Acetaminophen, which is used in over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, has been found to reduce physical and social pain.

 

Aceteminophen and marijuana both affect cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain and both drugs are used to treat physical pain.

 

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com

A new study reported on this week at the annual meeting for the American Association of Cancer Research has found that habitual marijuana consumers have no more increased risk of lung cancer than casual consumers, or those who don’t consume at all. This was found to be true regardless of how many times a day a person consumes cannabis, and regardless of how long they’ve been a consumer.

 

The study included data from six case-control studies conducted in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. It included a subject pool of 2,159 lung cancer cases and 2,985 controls – the studies were part of the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO), an international group of lung cancer researchers.

 

Dr. Zhang of the University of California performed two analyses, one which compared all lung cancer cases and all controls, regardless of current or past tobacco use. Then, the analysis was restricted to those who had never smoked tobacco, which consisted of 370 cancer cases and 1,358 controls. Dr. Zhang also adjusted the models to account for age, sex, etc.. Habitual use was defined as one joint per day, per year.

 

When compared with cannabis smokers who also used tobacco, habitual pot smokers had no significant increase in cancer risk.

 

Read more: http://www.theweedblog.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- There has been a lot of talk since Amendment 64 passed in the November election.

 

Everything from how to tax marijuana, to how its legalization will impact how others view our state.

 

As lawmakers work to hash out the details, some local businesses our already eyeing the drug's potential to bring in dollars.

 

Marijuana-based businesses are nothing new to our area, as we saw hundreds of medical marijuana shops pop up several years ago around town.

 

The difference now is, local entrepreneurs have the opportunity to possibly expand their businesses to incorporate tourism through responsible, recreational use.

 

"It is an amazing moment, investors from across the state and across the country are flocking here," KC Stark said.

 

Stark is the founder and owner of Studio A64, an "upscale, private cannabis club" in downtown Colorado Springs.

 

"This is the birth of an industry, it is the end of prohibition," Stark said. "Colorado Springs is, and could be even more the silicon valley for cannabis development."

 

Along with his business, Stark is also the founder of the local marijuana business academy. A place in which investors can learn best practices.

 

"In six months we have had I think over 100 investors meet with us, and talk with us," he said.

 

People, according to Stark, who are interested in investing in cannabis energy drinks, spas, dating websites and retail grow operations.

 

Read more: http://www.fox21news.com

LED grow lights for your marijuana garden seem to have been popping up a lot lately in ads and articles. I only know one person that has actually used LED lights for their marijuana garden. It seems like LED grow lights are so much more expensive than traditional grow lights, which is why I think a lot of people haven’t used them. My friend that used an LED grow light setup on his marijuana garden told me that it worked great for the veg stage, but that it wasn’t as effective during the bloom stage.

 

He also pointed out that with such a high price tag (he got his for free somehow), it was hard for him to recommend using LED lights instead of other lights until the price was reduced significantly. Below is a video that High Times just put out in regards to LED grow lights. If you have used one before, or have an opinion on the matter, please leave comments in the comments section:

 

Read more: http://www.theweedblog.com

DENVER -- Marijuana magazines are under scrutiny in Colorado, where lawmakers might require stores to put them behind the counter.

 

The unusual provision to treat pot magazines like pornography was considered Thursday in a Senate committee. If approved, the provision would make Colorado the first state to require stores that allow entry to shoppers under age 21 to place pot magazines behind the counter.

 

"It's analogous to the pornography example," said Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs and sponsor of the magazine amendment.

 

The magazine restriction faced long odds in the Legislature, though. Gardner's magazine limitation was added in a late-night amendment last week and was expected to be removed by Democratic sponsors. Gardner conceded Thursday that he wouldn't be surprised if his magazine idea fails to make the final marijuana regulation bill.

 

A lawyer for High Times magazine called the magazine restriction "patently unconstitutional" and said there's no legal precedent for treating pictures of a drug as obscene. Lawyer David Holland said the magazine would likely sue if the provision becomes law.

 

"It is a content-based restriction that violates freedom of speech," Holland said.

 

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com