Ask any gardener: Maintaining a healthy garden requires a delicate balance of various factors, including soil quality, sunlight exposure, and water management. While water is one of the three significant necessities for plant growth, many gardeners focus on the amount rather than the quality flowing from their hoses. Chlorine content is often overlooked and may do more damage than we think, even to the soil. So, how does it affect our garden overall, and how can we mitigate the harm?
The Chlorine Conundrum:Is Chlorine Safe for Plants?
Chlorine is a micronutrient found everywhere in nature. Small amounts of it are essential for a plant to thrive. It aids plant metabolism during photosynthesis and works with potassium ions to initiate osmosis and maintain fluid balance within plants. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing!
Municipal water filtration facilities use chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and ensure the safety of tap water. Although chlorine toxicities occur most often in areas with harder water, even the acceptable levels of chlorine in tap water (4 parts per million, as recommended by the CDC) can harm plants.
How Does Chlorine Affect the Soil and my Garden?
When chlorine-laden water comes into contact with delicate root systems, especially on the regular watering schedule required to maintain a garden, it can damage root cells, leading to reduced nutrient absorption and restricted water uptake. This means a higher potential for stunted growth, wilted and scorched leaves, and lower-quality harvests.
Seeds enveloped in a chlorine-rich environment may experience adverse effects as well. Inside the packet, seeds are naturally encapsulated in protective casings that shield them from the elements until they germinate. Chlorine exposure may weaken or break down these seed casings, making them more susceptible to damage and reducing their ability to grow successfully. Affected seeds can fail to sprout entirely.
Chlorine damage spreads as far as the soil itself. In its chemical form, chlorine is highly reactive and can readily bond with other elements. When it interacts with organic matter in the soil, it can produce harmful compounds that inhibit plant growth. Researchers have found that chlorinated tap water may kill several beneficial microorganisms in soil and compost piles, especially under regular watering.
So, What’s a Gardener to Do?
How to Safely Deal with Chlorine in Your Water
Luckily, there are a handful of viable options to reduce the threat of chlorine in your garden.
Water Aeration: Allowing chlorinated water to sit for at least 24 hours before using it in the garden allows the chlorine to dissipate naturally. Aeration facilitates the release of chlorine gas,
reducing its concentration and rendering it safer for your plants. However, this process takes the longest and does not remove any other potential contaminants in your water.
Ultraviolet Light: UV light triggers various chemical processes that remove chlorine; wavelengths between 180 to 200 nanometers remove free chlorine. UV bulbs operate between 180 to 400 nanometers, making them a good choice for dechlorination. This method is unconventional, however, and it has less effect on organic compounds, chemicals, and dissolved metals that may be present in your water as it simply breaks them down rather than removing them.
Concentrated Vitamin C: Vitamin C is rapidly oxidized by chlorine and chloramine when added to chlorinated water. In this process, the chlorine compounds are reduced to chloride, which is harmless to microbes. Chloride is also a micronutrient required by plants in trace amounts.
Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and using rainwater may be a good alternative to chlorinated tap water. However, rainwater can come with various contaminants due to atmospheric contaminants and roof and plumbing materials.
Filtration: Employing activated carbon filters can effectively remove chlorine from water. This method is a particularly convenient long-term solution, providing a direct barrier between chlorinated water and your plants. By removing chlorine and other harmful contaminants directly from the source, filters create a clean environment that promotes healthy root development, ensuring your garden’s thriving growth.
Of all these options, water filtration stands out as a reliable, efficient, and convenient solution to combat the threat of chlorine in your garden. Activated carbon filters, especially those specifically designed for gardening purposes, not only address the adverse effects of chlorine but also act as a comprehensive solution, eliminating other potential contaminants that might hinder your garden’s health. With filtration, you can cultivate a garden that thrives from the ground up, providing your plants with the ideal environment for robust root development and vibrant, flourishing foliage.
In gardening, it’s crucial to remember that success is directly linked to the quality of our fundamentals. Sun(light), soil, environment, and water; each factor is an essential piece of the puzzle.
The president of South Africa has formally signed a measure making adult use, growing and possession of cannabis legal. Just one day before the national elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act (CfPPA) into law. The National Council of Provinces gave its support to the bill in February after it was enacted by the National Assembly in November 2023.
This legislative change has been in development for several years, beginning with a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that declared the ban on marijuana cultivation and simple possession unconstitutional, requiring legislative amendments in two years. Although the bill to legalize cannabis was introduced in 2020, progress was slow despite the government’s intention to prioritize the cannabis sector for economic growth.
The president’s office announced in a news statement that the CfPPA will result in important regulatory changes, such as the exclusion of marijuana from the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. To support the industrialization of the marijuana sector, this modification will also enable changes to the Plant Breeders Rights Act, the Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Plant Improvement Act, among other laws.
The office went on to say that the bill shields children from needless exposure while offering rules for medical cannabis use for youth. It ensures that minors’ best interests are taken into consideration by providing an alternate method for resolving instances involving the unlawful use, possession or sale of cannabis. The bill also strictly prohibits the commercial sale of cannabis.
Adults are required by the new regulation to cultivate their cannabis plants and to exclusively use them inside their own homes. Furthermore, prior convictions for cannabis possession and growing may be expunged under the legislation.
Speaking on behalf of the parliament, Moloto Mothapo stated that the government hopes that the measure will open the door for further rules that will aid in the growth of the legal cannabis industry in South Africa.
President Ramaphosa outlined his plan for South Africa to join the global medical cannabis and hemp markets in his 2022 State of the Nation speech, estimating that this might generate more than 100,000 jobs. However, the main goal of the present law is to decriminalize cannabis per the 2018 court verdict, which was made in response to a decision made by a lower court in the province of the Western Cape.
As in South Africa, the Supreme Court in Mexico declared in 2018 that the prohibition of marijuana is unconstitutional, forcing legislators to amend the legislation. Mexico has not yet fully implemented the reform despite recent sessions seeing some progress in this area.
The signs of the wave triggering change in marijuana policy in Africa as well suggests that major entities such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) could in future have global markets to serve as the trade in this hitherto outlawed substance becomes more commonplace.
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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of an article each business day at 4:20 p.m. Eastern – a tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. The concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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Long-COVID, also referred to as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, includes various symptoms that persist even after an individual recovers from the COVID-19. These symptoms include cognitive impairment, fatigue, depression, anxiety, headaches and joint pain.
Currently, effective treatment options for long-COVID are limited. However, a new case study has examined how one patient suffering from long-COVID used MDMA and psilocybin to manage her symptoms.
Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms. It has been used by indigenous cultures for spiritual ceremonies for centuries. In the last few years, scientific research has discovered that psilocybin has therapeutic benefits that may be useful in the management of a range of mental-health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
MDMA, which is also known as ecstasy, is also a psychoactive substance that has demonstrated promise in clinical settings, particularly in the treatment of PTSD. Researchers believe that these substances work by improving brain connectivity and emotional processing.
For their research, the investigators focused on a 41-year-old woman who was experiencing debilitating long-COVID symptoms after contracting the virus in 2022. The patient, who had been vaccinated three times, developed a variety of symptoms, including depression, severe anxiety, joint pain, insomnia, cognitive difficulties and a horrible headache.
Traditional therapies such as massages, physical therapy, medications, meditation and intermittent fasting offered little relief for the patient. This prompted them to try osteopathic and chiropractic treatments, which provided short-lived relief. Frustrated at this point, she decided to try psychedelics, which were administered by a trained facilitator.
During her first session, she consumed one gram of dried psilocybin mushrooms, revealing that she saw a 20% improvement in her symptoms for a week. Twenty-four days later, she went in for a second session, receiving MDMA and a higher dose of psilocybin. She observed significant improvement in her symptoms, including an improved sense of well-being and a huge reduction in her symptoms. Additionally, her cognitive function improved, allowing her to return to work and continue with her PhD studies.
An additional session where psilocybin was administered resulted in complete remission, with the patient reporting that she was able to keep up with her professional and academic responsibilities. This is in addition to experiencing considerable relief.
The research highlights the potential of psychedelics being used to relieve the cognitive and psychological symptoms linked to these post-coronavirus symptoms.
However, case studies have limitations that make it hard for findings from a particular case to be generalized for a larger population. Investigators are now focused on determining whether psychedelics are effective and safe for long-COVID and understanding possible mechanisms of action.
Investigators involved include Joel Castellanos, Harman Chopra, Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Tim Furnish and David S. Jevotovsky. Their findings were published in “Clinical Case Reports.”
As enterprises such as Compass Pathways PLC (NASDAQ: CMPS) make public the findings from their drug-development efforts focused on psychedelic substances, it could become clearer which conditions or symptoms these hallucinogenic substances can help with.
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PsychedelicNewsWire (“PNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on all aspects of psychedelics and the latest developments and advances in the psychedelics sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, PNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, PNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. PNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
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Cultivators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, traders, and enthusiasts, are invited to attend the Alternative Products Expo being held June 20-22, 2024, at the George R. Brown Center, in Houston. With its dynamic vibe of food, culture, art, and pulsating nightlife, Houston is the perfect venue for the Alternative Products Expo.
The Altpro Expo in Houston is hosted by USA CBD Expo, America’s leading CBD and Hemp Expo event organizers. Over recent years, they have expanded to include the full alternative products range ecosystem. Organized by ZJ Events, the Expo caters to the industry’s best CBD traders, manufacturers, and enthusiasts offering an exciting learning experience under a common arena.
With the Houston smoke shop scene in full swing, this year’s Expo is expected to showcase over 500 smoke shops, with numbers rising every year. Both emerging and seasoned brands benefit tremendously by exhibiting their products and services to the Expo’s crowd of enthusiastic audiences.
The Alternative Products Expo offers a phenomenal networking opportunity, where industry people can connect and collaborate with leading brand experts and manufacturers for long-term ROI. Attendees will discover the latest trends and novel ideas currently leading the industry. Exhibitors can showcase their unique offerings to grab a bigger share of the market. Traders can leverage the best show deals as fresh products are introduced with limited-time offers. Also, get updated on the latest regulations and learn the future course of the Alternative Products markets.
Trinity Hemp is the presenting sponsor of Alternative Products Expo Houston.
CannabisNewsWire (“CNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on cannabis news and the cannabis sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
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Lexaria recently received two new patents granted in the U.S. in its patent families #21 and #24
The new patents complement the company’s efforts in investigating the capabilities of DehydraTECH-CBD to lower blood pressure in humans with hypertension and mitigate epileptic seizures in rodents
The company relies on R&D to provide data that enables it to apply for patent protection, supports further investigations and discoveries, as well as increases its chances of potentially receiving FDA approvals
According to CEO Chris Bunka, the company’s growing patent portfolio forms the foundation upon which the company forges commercial relationships
Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, started 2024 with a portfolio of 38 patents granted worldwide, having received ten new granted patents during 2023, the most yet in a single year. That patent portfolio, company CEO Chris Bunka explained in his 2024 letter to shareholders, provides vital support for Lexaria’s commercialization efforts as it forms “the foundation upon which future commercial relationships are built.” Yet, according to the letter, the company continues to expect additional patents to be awarded in the future and retains many valid patent applications throughout the world (https://cnw.fm/Bb3nv).
This year, the company has received five new patents, growing its portfolio to 43 granted patents worldwide. This follows the April receipt of three new patents and the most recent announcement of two important new patent awards captured in a May 2024 news release.
According to the announcement, Lexaria received a new granted patent in its patent family #21: Compositions and Methods for Treating Hypertension. This is the company’s third granted U.S. patent in this patent family. Lexaria also reported the receipt of a new granted patent in its patent family #24: Compositions and Methods for Treating Epilepsy. This is the company’s third granted U.S. patent in this patent family (https://cnw.fm/6eFfU).
The company’s growing list of granted patents results from early and ongoing R&D. According to Mr. Bunka, Lexaria uses study-dependent data from studies to confidently support its patent applications. But besides serving the “purpose of allowing us to more confidently apply for patent protection using the study-dependent data,” the studies provide data to potentially support further investigations and discoveries, as well as potential approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
This approach, coupled with the long-term vision, has enabled the company to investigate the capabilities of various active pharmaceutical ingredients processed using its patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology in human and animal studies. For instance, Lexaria has investigated the ability of DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol (“CBD”) to potentially treat hypertension in humans and mitigate epileptic seizures in rodents. These applications are partly or wholly protected by the recently granted patents.
Lexaria has repeatedly demonstrated that DehydraTECH-CBD has shown an ability to lower blood pressure in both acute dosing in hypertension and over a 5-week study duration. In a series of four hypertension studies, the company evidenced DehydraTECH-CBD’s ability to lower human blood pressure (https://cnw.fm/YuYG6), including in cases where the treatment was administered over an extended period (https://cnw.fm/ukRzo). The fourth study also led to the discovery of a potentially novel mechanism of action of DehydraTECH-CBD (https://cnw.fm/MjOjt).
These positive results encouraged the company to begin the process of seeking approval from the FDA to conduct a Phase 1b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of DehydraTECH-CBD for the treatment of stage 1 or 2 hypertension. The company received earlier this year the FDA clearance to conduct the study (https://cnw.fm/Yo9IO) and will provide updates on the status of this planned study in due course.
Beyond the treatment of hypertension, Lexaria has demonstrated, through an animal study, that DehydraTECH-CBD reduces or eliminates seizure activity in animals and, in some cases, even surpasses the performance of Epidiolex(R), one of the world’s leading anti-seizure medications. The company also reported that DehydraTECH-CBD suppresses body weight, improves triglyceride/cholesterol levels, and reduces blood glucose levels in an animal diabetes study.
The successes of these animal studies have supported the possibility of conducting additional human clinical studies of DehydraTECH-CBD. In addition to investigating DehydraTECH-CBD’s capabilities, Lexaria is also looking at the potential application of its drug delivery technology to GLP-1 drugs.
Supported by a robust growing portfolio of granted patents and encouraged by the positive results from its R&D activities, Lexaria continues to forge ahead, aiming to achieve its future business objectives.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX
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CannabisNewsWire (“CNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on cannabis news and the cannabis sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
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In a recent interview on a podcast, Alberta MP Arnold Viersen told host and Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith that he would vote for a bill that made cannabis illegal again if given a chance.
The comments came in a relatively friendly exchange between the two MPs posted on May 31 on Erskine-Smith’s podcast called Uncommons. Erskine-Smith has hosted the show since 2020, speaking with an array of policymakers, politicians, and other subject experts on various Canadian political issues.
The interview with Viersen was centred around Bill C-270, known as the Stopping Internet Sexual Exploitation Act (SISE), a private member’s bill introduced by Viersen in 2022, but it also delved into the broader issue of social conservatism in Canada.
In that vein, Erksine-Smith pressed Viersen on what he framed as a contradiction between a conservative ideology that wants the government to leave people alone with more socially conservative ideas centred around policing people’s personal behaviour, such as abortion or gay marriage or cannabis.
Sharing that he uses cannabis to manage symptoms from Chron’s Disease, Erskine-Smith asked, “If there was a vote to recriminalize cannabis, are you going to make me a criminal again?,” to which Viersen replies: “Your predictions are correct. Yeah.” This remark was met by an exasperated, but laughing, “no” from Erskine-Smith.
Viersen also told Erskine-Smith that he does not see a contradiction in social conservatives like himself claiming to want the government to leave people alone while also criminalizing and policing some peoples’ behaviour.
Erskine-Smith also suggested cannabis could help with Vierson’s poetry, which he has shared in the House. “…if you want the rhyme to flow better, definitely cannabis will help.”
Such sentiments from the Conservatives around cannabis are not uncommon. Marylyn Gladu, Conservative MP for Sarnia—Lambton (ON), who has a storied anti-cannabis history in the House as one of those who led the charge to oppose legalization in the first place, has long said the party would push back on legalization.
In 2019, she told the Globe and Mail last year that the party wouldn’t roll back cannabis legalization but would like to make major changes to it, including raising the age of access, banning home grows (including medical), supporting larger companies over smaller ones, while also wanting to pare back packaging restrictions for foods and drinks.
Recently, another Conservative MP in Ontario has called on the federal Health Minister to look at issues with medical cannabis home grows. Conservatives have also continued to call for an end to a medical cannabis “loophole”.
On April 20 of this year, Erskine-Smith spoke with Gladu on a broad range of topics, which included cannabis legalization. She rebutted Erskine-Smith’s assertion that the sky did not fall after Canada legalized cannabis, claiming there is under-enforcement of the regulations, infiltration of organized crime, and a 32% increase in drug-impaired driving.
She also criticized legalization for allowing provinces to manage distribution and sales, complaining about the number of cannabis stores in Ontario. Of course, provinces have jurisdiction around distribution and sales and any attempt to take that power away would have been unconstitutional, and the number of cannabis stores in Ontario is directly due to the management of the file by Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government.
Gladu and the rest of the Conservative party all voted against legalizing cannabis, save for one Conservative MP, Scott Reid (ON), who says the party punished him for breaking ranks on the bill.
Erskine-Smith, Scott Reid, and NDP MP Don Davies are co-chairs of the federal cannabis caucus.
“Whether the mask is labeled fascism, democracy, or dictatorship of the proletariat, our great adversary remains the apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military.”—Simone Weil, French philosopher
John W. Whitehead – We are caught in a vicious cycle of too many laws, too many cops, and too little freedom.
It’s hard to say whether we’re dealing with a kleptocracy (a government ruled by thieves), a kakistocracy (a government run by unprincipled career politicians, corporations and thieves that panders to the worst vices in our nature and has little regard for the rights of American citizens), or a Nanny State Idiocracy.
Whatever the label, this overbearing despotism is what happens when government representatives (those elected and appointed to work for us) adopt the authoritarian notion that the government knows best and therefore must control, regulate and dictate almost everything about the citizenry’s public, private and professional lives.
The government’s bureaucratic attempts at muscle-flexing by way of overregulation and overcriminalization have reached such outrageous limits that federal and state governments now require on penalty of a fine that individuals apply for permission before they can grow exotic orchids, host elaborate dinner parties, gather friends in one’s home for Bible studies, give coffee to the homeless, let their kids manage a lemonade stand, keep chickens as pets, or braid someone’s hair, as ludicrous as that may seem.
As the Regulatory Transparency Project explains, “There are over 70 federal regulatory agencies, employing hundreds of thousands of people to write and implement regulations. Every year, they issue about 3,500 new rules, and the regulatory code now is over 168,000 pages long.”
In his CrimeADay Twitter feed, Mike Chase highlights some of the more arcane and inane laws that render us all guilty of violating some law or other.
As Chase notes, it’s against the law to try to make an unreasonable noise while a horse is passing by in a national park; to leave Michigan with a turkey that was hunted with a drone; to refill a liquor bottle with different liquor than it had in it when it was originally filled; to offer to buy swan feathers so you can make a woman’s hat with them; to enter a design in the Federal Duck Stamp contest if waterfowl are not the dominant feature of the design; to transport a cougar without a cougar license; to sell spray deodorant without telling people to avoid spraying it in their eyes; and to transport “meat loaf” unless it’s in loaf form.
In such a society, we are all petty criminals.
In fact, Boston lawyer Harvey Silvergate estimates that the average American now unknowingly commits three felonies a day, thanks to an overabundance of vague laws that render otherwise innocent activity illegal and an inclination on the part of prosecutors to reject the idea that there can’t be a crime without criminal intent.
The bigger the government grows, the worse the red tape becomes.
Almost every aspect of American life today, including the job sector, is now subject to this kind of heightened scrutiny and ham-fisted control.
Whereas 70 years ago, one out of every 20 U.S. jobs required a state license, today, almost 1 in 4 American occupations requires a license.
According to business analyst Kaylyn McKenna, more than 41 states require that makeup artists be licensed. Twenty-eight states require a license before you can work as a residential painter. Funeral attendants, whose duties include placing caskets in visitation rooms, arranging flowers and directing mourners, have to be licensed to do so in Kansas, Maine and Massachusetts.
The problem of overregulation has become so bad that, as one analyst notes, “getting a license to style hair in Washington takes more instructional time than becoming an emergency medical technician or a firefighter.”
This is what happens when bureaucrats run the show, and the rule of law becomes little more than a cattle prod for forcing the citizenry to march in lockstep with the government.
Overregulation is just the other side of the coin to overcriminalization, that phenomenon in which everything is rendered illegal, and everyone becomes a lawbreaker.
As policy analyst Michael Van Beek warns, the problem with overcriminalization is that there are so many laws at the federal, state and local levels—that we can’t possibly know them all.
“It’s also impossible to enforce all these laws. Instead, law enforcement officials must choose which ones are important and which are not. The result is that they pick the laws Americans really must follow, because they’re the ones deciding which laws really matter,” concludes Van Beek.
“Federal, state and local regulations — rules created by unelected government bureaucrats — carry the same force of law and can turn you into a criminal if you violate any one of them… if we violate these rules, we could be prosecuted as criminals. No matter how antiquated or ridiculous, they still carry the full force of the law. By letting so many of these sit around, just waiting to be used against us, we increase the power of law enforcement, which has lots of options to charge people with legal and regulatory violations.”
Case in point: in New Jersey, in what journalist Billy Binion describes as “yet another example of the effects of overcriminalization, which increases interactions between civilians and police with little benefit to actual public safety,” police went so far as to arrest a teenager and seize other teen’s bicycles for so-called traffic violations and a failure to register their bikes with the state.
This is the police state’s superpower: it has been vested with the authority to make our lives a bureaucratic hell.
That explains how a fisherman can be saddled with 20 years’ jail time for throwing fish that were too small back into the water. Or why police arrested a 90-year-old man for violating an ordinance that prohibits feeding the homeless in public unless portable toilets are also made available. Or how states across the country, in a misguided attempt to disperse homeless populations, have criminalized sitting, sleeping, or resting in public spaces; sharing food with people; and camping in public.
The laws can get downright silly.
For instance, in Florida, it’s against the law to eat a frog that was used in a frog-jumping contest. You could also find yourself passing time in a Florida slammer for such inane activities as singing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit, breaking more than three dishes per day, farting in a public place after 6 pm on a Thursday, and skateboarding without a license.
“Such laws,” notes journalist George Will, “which enable government zealots to accuse almost anyone of committing three felonies in a day, do not just enable government misconduct, they incite prosecutors to intimidate decent people who never had culpable intentions. And to inflict punishments without crimes.”
Unfortunately, the consequences are all too serious for those whose lives become grist for the police state’s mill.
In this way, America has gone from being a beacon of freedom to a locked down nation.
We labor today under the weight of countless tyrannies, large and small, carried out in the so-called name of the national good by an elite class of governmental and corporate officials who are largely insulated from the ill effects of their actions.
We increasingly find ourselves badgered, bullied and browbeaten into bearing the brunt of their arrogance, paying the price for their greed, suffering the backlash for their militarism, agonizing as a result of their inaction, feigning ignorance about their backroom dealings, overlooking their incompetence, turning a blind eye to their misdeeds, cowering from their heavy-handed tactics, and blindly hoping for change that never comes.
The overt signs of the despotism exercised by the increasingly authoritarian regime that passes itself off as the United States government (and its corporate partners in crime) are all around us: censorship, criminalizing, shadow banning and de-platforming of individuals who express ideas that are politically incorrect or unpopular; warrantless surveillance of Americans’ movements and communications; SWAT team raids of Americans’ homes; shootings of unarmed citizens by police; harsh punishments meted out to schoolchildren in the name of zero tolerance; community-wide lockdowns and health mandates that strip Americans of their freedom of movement and bodily integrity; armed drones taking to the skies domestically; endless wars; out-of-control spending; militarized police; roadside strip searches; privatized prisons with a profit incentive for jailing Americans; fusion centers that spy on, collect and disseminate data on Americans’ private transactions; and militarized agencies with stockpiles of ammunition, to name some of the most appalling.
Yet as egregious as these incursions on our rights may be, it’s the endless, petty tyrannies—the heavy-handed, punitive-laden dictates inflicted by a self-righteous, Big-Brother-Knows-Best bureaucracy on an overtaxed, overregulated, and underrepresented populace—that illustrate so clearly the degree to which “we the people” are viewed as incapable of common sense, moral judgment, fairness, and intelligence, not to mention lacking a basic understanding of how to stay alive, raise a family, or be part of a functioning community.
In exchange for the promise of an end to global pandemics, lower taxes, lower crime rates, safe streets, safe schools, blight-free neighborhoods, and readily accessible technology, health care, water, food and power, we’ve opened the door to lockdowns, militarized police, government surveillance, asset forfeiture, school zero tolerance policies, license plate readers, red light cameras, SWAT team raids, health care mandates, overcriminalization, overregulation and government corruption.
We relied on the government to help us safely navigate national emergencies (terrorism, natural disasters, global pandemics, etc.) only to find ourselves forced to relinquish our freedoms on the altar of national security, yet we’re no safer (or healthier) than before.
We asked our lawmakers to be tough on crime, and we’ve been saddled with an abundance of laws that criminalize almost every aspect of our lives.
We wanted criminals taken off the streets, and we didn’t want to have to pay for their incarceration. What we’ve gotten is a nation that boasts the highest incarceration rate in the world, with many doing time for relatively minor, nonviolent crimes, and a private prison industry fueling the drive for more inmates.
We wanted law enforcement agencies to have the necessary resources to fight the nation’s wars on terror, crime and drugs. What we got instead were militarized police decked out with M-16 rifles, grenade launchers, silencers, battle tanks and hollow point bullets—gear designed for the battlefield, more than 80,000 SWAT team raids carried out every year (many for routine police tasks, resulting in losses of life and property), and profit-driven schemes that add to the government’s largesse such as asset forfeiture, where police seize property from “suspected criminals.”
We fell for the government’s promise of safer roads, only to find ourselves caught in a tangle of profit-driven red light cameras, which ticket unsuspecting drivers in the so-called name of road safety while ostensibly fattening the coffers of local and state governments.
This is what happens when the American people get duped, deceived, double-crossed, cheated, lied to, swindled and conned into believing that the government and its army of bureaucrats—the people we appointed to safeguard our freedoms—actually have our best interests at heart.
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, the problem with these devil’s bargains is that there is always a catch, always a price to pay for whatever it is we valued so highly as to barter away our most precious possessions.
Could the reclassification of cannabis lead to significant reductions in energy consumption by commercial marijuana cultivators and overall improvement in the industry’s environmental impact?
It’s well-known that indoor marijuana cultivation facilities have a major environmental and energy footprint. This is largely due to the massive electricity consumption required for robust HVAC systems, horticultural lighting, and numerous fans and pumps needed to create optimal growing conditions.
Although the exact details of a post-scheduling cannabis industry in the United States are unknown, we can learn from the controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) industry about potential changes in cannabis growing, such as the adoption of less energy-intensive techniques.
Reclassification could unlock a variety of federal programs that are currently inaccessible to cannabis entities due to federal prohibition.
The Biden administration allocated billions for agricultural and clean-energy projects in 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act. For instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has, through loan guarantees and grants, helped domestic CEA enterprises install efficient and sustainable energy technologies. These include chillers, heat pumps, LED grow lights, clean-power generation and sophisticated HVAC systems.
The program works better for larger institutions due to the significant administrative effort associated with applying for USDA assistance.
Nonetheless, CEA companies of all sizes can obtain support navigating USDA grant and loan applications from a number of federal grant aid organizations. The IRS provides a 30% investment tax credit for marijuana companies that want to install renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, on their property.
Developers of cultivation facilities sometimes point to the high upfront costs as a primary deterrent to the installation of cutting-edge, energy-efficient machinery. Rescheduling could free operators from the restrictions imposed by Section 280E of the IRS, which levies greater taxes on corporations that handle plants than on conventional enterprises. This might free up funds, allowing numerous operators to modernize their spaces for increased energy efficiency.
As of right now, indoor facilities are not subject to any national codes; however, this could change in the future when the International Energy Conservation Code is updated. States that enforce clean-air vehicle requirements, such as California, may, in the meantime, implement more stringent regulations than those established by the federal government.
In the meanwhile, multistate cannabis companies will have to manage a complicated web of regulations.
The potential reclassification of cannabis presents a great opportunity to make the industry more environmentally sustainable. It’s imperative that marijuana businesses keep up with constantly changing federal regulations and proactively implement clean, energy-efficient technology.
Compared to outdoor farms or traditional greenhouses, indoor agriculture requires a lot more electricity per square foot yet permits year-round production regardless of the weather. In the event that cannabis becomes legally transferable across state lines, growers may decide to move from costly indoor models in the north to more affordable outdoor or greenhouse settings in the South and west.
Although this transition could take decades, shifting production to more naturally conducive areas would significantly lessen the industry’s overall environmental footprint.
As the anticipated regulatory change is still very much in flux, entities such as SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) are likely to observe and later decide how best to leverage the changed regulatory landscape in order to further optimize their operations.
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Peace officers with the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety say they have arrested a man and a woman and seized cannabis products from an unlicensed cannabis store in Saint John, NB.
Officers executed a search warrant on May 23 at Gitpu Trading Post at 91 Russell St.
A 30-year-old man and 30-year-old woman, both of Saint John, were arrested and later released to face charges under the federal Cannabis Act in court at a later date.
The peace officers seized:
7.7 kilograms of dried cannabis
388 grams of hashish
274 cannabis food products
285 vape pens containing THC
231 cannabis distillate cartridges
384 jars and packages of cannabis shatter
four bottles of liquid drops believed to contain psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
$5,167.70 in cash
New Brunswick recently passed legislation to give its peace officers more powers to enforce provincial cannabis rules. A representative with the province says more than 100 illegal cannabis stores are operating there as of April 1. Despite this new bill, the province maintains that it cannot enforce its cannabis rules on businesses operating in First Nations communities and reserves.
In March, peace officers with the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety arrested two people and seized contraband cannabis and other illegal products from two unlicensed cannabis stores.
The province has recently announced several new licensed cannabis locations, including one on Germain Street in Saint John, intending to supplant these types of unlicensed stores.
1st Detect has now received approval from the U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) as an authorized vendor for government-related applications
1st Detect recently introduced a state-of-the-art Narcotics Trace Detection (“NTD”) narcotics library, which is particularly useful for detection at points of entry and government agencies involved in combating the illicit drug trade
1st Detect’s portfolio now includes the TRACER 1000, Explosives Trace Detection (“ETD”) and Narcotics Trace detection
Astrotech (NASDAQ: ASTC), through its subsidiary 1st Detect, is revolutionizing narcotics and explosives trace detection. With recent approval as a U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) authorized vendor, 1st Detect is poised to expand its impact across government agencies. TRACER 1000, a cutting-edge detector utilizing ruggedized mass spectrometry technology for superior detection at critical security points. 1st Detect’s commitment to excellence is underscored by its recent achievements and milestones, including its approval by the U.S. General Services Administration as an authorized vendor for key government-related applications (https://cnw.fm/OpXPu). This opens doors to 1st Detect’s products to a wide array of opportunities within government agencies tasked with ensuring national security.
At the heart of 1st Detect’s portfolio lies the TRACER 1000, a cutting-edge trace detector leveraging ruggedized mass spectrometry technology. This instrument represents the pinnacle of innovation in both ETD and now NTD, offering unmatched performance and versatility for security screening applications (https://cnw.fm/i3Fu8).
Key features of the TRACER 1000:
Ruggedized mass spectrometry technology
Simple to use interface
Seamless integration of new narcotics libraries
This development is particularly crucial for airport security and government agencies involved in combating the illicit drug trade by making updates for new drug profiles easy. By incorporating such advancements in mass spectrometry technology widely regarded as the “gold standard” in the industry, Astrotech has set a new standard for accuracy and reliability in narcotics detection.
Astrotech’s commitment to innovation and excellence was on full display at the recent ISC West Conference, held in April in Las Vegas. As a premier event focusing on security and public safety, ISC West provided an ideal platform for Astrotech to showcase its TRACER 1000 trace detector to industry professionals and decision-makers (https://cnw.fm/GajeJ). The company’s participation underscores its dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and addressing the evolving needs of the security market.
Thomas B. Pickens, III, Astrotech’s CEO, and Chief Technology Officer, said: “We are very excited about introducing our narcotics detection library that includes twelve illegal drugs including fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.” On the occasion, Pickens also said the company was extremely excited to share its user-friendly mass spectrometer the TRACER 1000 with leading industry experts and security industry professionals at the ISC West conference. “This allows us a platform to reach those in the industry across various markets, such as security, checkpoint, military, and law enforcement that strive for quality instrumentation, that requires a minimum amount of maintenance, and want accurate but rapid detection.”
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ASTC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ASTC
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