Changing Views on Cannabis
Only with the passing of time will legalization of cannabis be seen by everyone as a good change. Legalization, which is viewed as more of a more liberal idea in our politics is changing and many more conservatives are shifting their mind sets on Cannabis.
“So why have I changed my stance? Looking at the numbers helped,” Senator Chuck Schumer explained. “2/3 of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized; meanwhile, more than half of all drug arrests in the United States are marijuana arrests.”
Today we met with future Denver City Council Member Scott Durrah. Durrah run on a pro-legalization of cannabis platform and if pushing for major reformation of the cannabis industry. Durrah is also heavily involved in activism efforts around racial minority support. He shared with us his view on cannabis, the medicinal support it provides, and also the aid that cooking with cannabis can have on one’s diet. He has been around cannabis since he was very young and has incorporated it into his diet for health benefits for many years. He has seen first hand the positive effects that cannabis can have on those struggling with cancer to seizures. This former marine veteran is highly educated on cannabis law and the effects it has had on minorities and people of color and continues to be a very strong candidate in this political race for Denver City Council.
We also met with Ricardo Baca who is the founder of Grasslands, which is a journalism like agency. This agency helps its clients in a variety of ways such as public relations, content marketing, and social media. Ricardo Baca is also a leader in the legal cannabis industry and has been working in this field for many years. Baca is a prime believer in how the world can change its view on cannabis and we can ultimately shift our mindset on how cannabis is a ‘gateway drug’ to how cannabis can be a ‘Exit Drug’ for many addicts of harder drugs.
Cannabis has always been a tricky world to navigate and we all want to know how to interact with the plant properly to get the best benefits we can. One thing I know that most cannabis users struggle with is the idea of finding the best strain for yourself. Finding the perfect strain is not always an easy task, you can always use the trial and error method and try to make the best informed decision possible, but it ultimately comes down to your mindfulness if you think this is the right plant to incorporate into your life style and consumption. The Budtenders at your local dispensary can help you out to the best of their knowledge but sometimes that does not go past the fact that they know the main difference between what Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid strains have to offer.
“Indica” is described colloquially as “in da couch,” as it’s generally relaxing and soporific, while sativa can be stimulating, creative and social. Hybrids combine qualities of both in various ratios.
Many people look to cannabis to help them with their daily problems of depression, anxiety, mood swings, or sleep. What some people do not know is that cannabis can also be an active agent in helping those diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. This is shown in signs of hyperactivity and ones inability to pay attention for longer durations of time and cannabis cerebral effect can help people with problems such as sitting still, fidgeting, and making impulsive decisions.
Research has found that the brains of people with ADHD are smaller in regions that regulate impulse control, concentration, and inhibition.
Brain development in those who have ADHD is also different. The neuro-pathways don’t connect and mature at the same rate making it harder to pay attention and focus. ADHD can also affect people’s brain chemistry. Those with ADHD have been known to have problems processing dopamine a chemical connected to movement, sleep, and learning.
Other than the regular prescription stimulant medication route there is another alternative for this, cannabis. This is not frequently talked about but it is gaining more attention in recent years. It offers a chance for patients to achieve this calming effect without the negative side effects that one gets from pharmaceutical stimulants. There is not a large enough study or collection of data about this to come to more informed decisions on the topic and because ADD and ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in children cannabis is not often a route for treatment that most would take. This is due to the fact that we are aware that consuming cannabis before the age of 20 can have developmental impacts on one’s brain. But we do know that there are thousands of adults that use cannabis to treat their ADHD and it does work very effectively.
