Healthcare
What are the Real Benefits of CBD for Dogs?
Are you a bad dog owner if you aren’t giving CBD to Fido?
The endocannabinoid system is not only present in humans, but in dogs too.
In our furry companions, the endocannabinoid system also helps to regulate many important bodily functions including appetite, pain, immunity, anxiety, sleep, seizures, and much more. This is why our furry companions can also benefit from cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound in marijuana that has been proven time and again to have powerful health benefits.
CBD is an excellent natural medicine for many of the common ailments afflicting dogs. Of course, we never want to see them suffering or in pain, and we only want the best and safest for them.
There is a growing body of research showing the efficacy of CBD for treating many diseases. Here’s a look at some of them.
Canine Osteoarthritis
Canine osteoarthritis is one of the conditions that CBD can treat. This disease leaves dogs feeling stiff and pain, and no longer able to enjoy the pleasures of running and playing due to the loss of mobility. According to research, around 20% of dogs aged one year old and up have a high risk of developing osteoarthritis.
For the trial, researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine together with Medterra CBD products conducted a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study over the course of 4 weeks. The participants involved 20 large-breed dogs with osteoarthritis; they were randomly given either one of 3 CBD products or a placebo, after which they were evaluated by both their owners and veterinarians to assess pain and mobility. However, neither veterinarians nor owners were given information on CBD to prevent biases in their evaluations, reports Forbes.
The study revealed that the dogs who were given liposomal CBD and higher doses of CBD saw great improvements in quality of life as well as mobility. Those in the placebo and lower dose groups did not see much improvements.
Canine Seizures & Epilepsy
In 2019, Dr. Stephanie McGrath of Colorado State University set out on a pilot study to analyze the short-term impact of CBD on dogs with epilepsy. The study, led by McGrath who is a neurologist at the James L Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Colorado State University, involved 16 dogs. She discovered that 89% of canines who were given CBD during the trial saw a reduction in seizure frequency; 9 dogs were given CBD while 7 in the control group were given a placebo.
On top of the seizure frequency reduction, McGrath also noted that there was a close correlation between seizure reduction and how much CBD was in the dog’s blood. “We saw a correlation between how high the levels of CBD oil were in these dogs with how great the seizure reduction was,” she explains.
Other Benefits
Many dog owners are seeing great results using CBD for treating other things. Even canine aggression; the owner of any unpredictable dog can tell you how stressful it is not knowing when your dog may hurt another dog, animal, or person. However, this isn’t enough to put your dog down, but CBD has been shown to help.
CBD has powerful anti-anxiety properties and can be given to dogs who bite out of anxiety or fear. It’s a natural sedative, which you can give your pooch before potentially stressful events such as a trip to the dog park, New Year’s Eve, bringing a new family member home, going to the vet, and much more. When dogs are calmer, it enables them to socialize with ease and this relaxed state of mind makes training and behavior modification even better.
It can also help improve quality of life for dogs with cancer. Unfortunately, some 50% of adult dogs will succumb to cancer, which is painful to watch. They may need to undergo radiation or chemotherapy but their quality of life will suffer greatly. CBD has been widely studied for helping humans deal with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, while suppressing the growth of new cancer cells.
Furthermore, dogs suffering from any kind of pain can benefit from CBD. Dogs can suffer from pain just like humans because of so many things: arthritis, dental diseases, bone problems, hip dysplasia, skin disease, cancer, surgery, and much more.
Shopping For The Best CBD For Your Dogs
There are some things to keep in mind when shopping for dog-friendly CBD products. First and foremost, only buy hemp-derived CBD products that have been designed specifically for dogs. Some human-grade CBD medications may contain THC, which can be toxic for dogs. Hemp-derived CBD contains less than 0.3% THC and higher CBD levels to ensure that your dog won’t get high.
Second, look for products that have a certificate of analysis (COA), which is also what you should be looking for when buying premium CBD or THC products for yourself. A COA is a verification from third-party laboratories that ensure the safety of each product as well as the accuracy of ingredients used in each of it. Because the CBD industry is not regulated, there are many products out there that don’t contain exactly what they say.
You may also want to use organic CBD products for your dog. Doing so reduces the risk of further illness because no pesticides and harmful chemicals were used to cultivate the hemp where the CBD came from. Reducing the exposure of your dog from toxins is critical especially if they are seriously ill.
CBD products for dogs come in a wide range of choices, so if you see your furry family member struggling, remember that there’s hope now.
Source: https://cannabis.net/blog/medical/what-are-the-real-benefits-of-cbd-for-dogs
Business
New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud
New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.
The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.
The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.
The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.
After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.
In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.
The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.
Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.
Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.
The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:
- Regulators alleged in August that Albuquerque dispensary Sawmill Sweet Leaf sold out-of-state products and didn’t have a license for extraction.
- Paradise Exotics Distro lost its license in July after regulators alleged the company sold products made in California.
Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/
Business
Alabama to make another attempt Dec. 1 to award medical cannabis licenses
Alabama regulators are targeting Dec. 1 to award the first batch of medical cannabis business licenses after the agency’s first two attempts were scrapped because of scoring errors and litigation.
The first licenses will be awarded to individual cultivators, delivery providers, processors, dispensaries and state testing labs, according to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC).
Then, on Dec. 12, the AMCC will award licenses for vertically integrated operations, a designation set primarily for multistate operators.
Licenses are expected to be handed out 28 days after they have been awarded, so MMJ production could begin in early January, according to the Alabama Daily News.
That means MMJ products could be available for patients around early March, an AMCC spokesperson told the media outlet.
Regulators initially awarded 21 business licenses in June, only to void them after applicants alleged inconsistencies with how the applications were scored.
Then, in August, the state awarded 24 different licenses – 19 went to June recipients – only to reverse themselves again and scratch those licenses after spurned applicants filed lawsuits.
A state judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Chicago-based MSO Verano Holdings Corp., but another lawsuit is pending.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/alabama-plans-to-award-medical-cannabis-licenses-dec-1/
Business
Pot Odor Does Not Justify Probable Cause for Vehicle Searches, Minnesota Court Affirms
The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed that cannabis odor does not constitute probable cause to search a vehicle.
If Minnesota police search a vehicle solely based upon the smell of pot, they can’t justify searching a vehicle, even if there is evidence found of other alleged crimes. Even after appealing a lower court decision to suppress the evidence—twice—the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed, and the dismissal of his charges stands.
In a ruling filed regarding a case the State of Minnesota Court of Appeals on Sept. 13, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed that cannabis odor does not constitute probable cause to search a vehicle.
The case has been ongoing for two years. On July 5, 2021, just before 10 p.m., a Litchfield police officer stopped a car for an obscure local law: the light bar mounted on the vehicle’s grill had more auxiliary driving lights than are permitted under Minnesota law. The officer asked the driver, Adam Lloyd Torgerson, for his license and registration. Torgerson, his wife, and his child were present in the vehicle. The officer stated that he smelled pot and asked Torgerson if there was any reason for the odor, which he initially denied. But cops found a lot more than just pot.
A backup officer was called in. The couple denied possessing any pot, but Torgerson admitted to smoking weed in the past. The second officer stated that the weed odor gave them probable cause to search the vehicle and ordered them to exit the vehicle. The first officer searched the vehicle and found a film canister, three pipes, and a small plastic bag in the center console. The plastic bag contained a white powder and the film canister contained meth, which was confirmed in a field test.
Torgenson was charged with possession of meth pipe in the presence of a minor and fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance after the unwarranted search of Torgerson’s vehicle.
Police Aren’t Allowed to Do That, Multiple Courts Rule
But the search had one major problem—cops weren’t searching for a meth pipe. They only searched his car because they could smell pot, and the meth and paraphernalia were a surprise for everyone. Still, they had no grounds to search the vehicle. The man’s charges were later dismissed after the district court determined the odor of cannabis alone was insufficient basis for probable cause to search the vehicle, regardless of whatever other drug paraphernalia they found.
The state appealed the case, but the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision. The case was appealed a second time, this time to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which agreed with the lower court’s ruling.
“This search was justified only by the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” the Minnesota Supreme Court decision reads. “Torgerson moved to suppress the evidence found during the search, arguing that the odor of marijuana, alone, is insufficient to create the requisite probable cause to search a vehicle under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. The district court granted Torgerson’s motion, suppressed the evidence, and dismissed the complaint. The State appealed. The court of appeals affirmed the district court’s suppression order. Because we conclude that the odor of marijuana emanating from a vehicle, alone, is insufficient to create the requisite probable cause to search a vehicle under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, we affirm.”
It amounts to basic human rights that apply—regardless of whether or not a person is addicted to drugs.
Other States do Precisely the Same Regarding Pot Odor as Probably Cause
An Illinois judge ruled in 2021 that the odor of cannabis is not sufficient grounds for police to search a vehicle without a warrant during a traffic stop.
Daniel J. Dalton, Associate Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit, issued a ruling in response to a motion to suppress evidence in the case of Vincent Molina, a medical cannabis patient arrested for cannabis possession last year.
In that case, Molina was arrested despite the decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis in Illinois in 2019 with the passage of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
In some states, the issue of probable cause and cannabis was defined through bills.
Last April, the Maryland House of Delegates approved a bill that reduces the penalties for public cannabis consumption and bars police from using the odor of cannabis as the basis for the search of an individual or auto. Under Maryland’s House Bill 1071, law enforcement officers would be prohibited from using the odor of raw or burnt cannabis as probable cause to search a person or vehicle.
The rulings represent the rights of citizens when they are pulled over by police, even if there are hard drugs involved.
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