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2023 LEGO Advent Calendars, Day 23 [Feature] The Brothers Brick

Do you hear that, readers? That’s the sound of Christmas getting ever closer! And what better way to count down to the big day than with day 23 of TBB’s LEGO advent calendar roundup? That’s just what we’re doing, so why not join us as we open up the City, Friends, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel calendars on offer this year?

As ever, our intrepid TBB team is on hand with witty comments, insightful observations, and bad jokes for each day’s builds. And of course, you can add your own thoughts in the comments section each day! So without further ado, let’s crack open the build for day 23…

There wasn’t much space for presents in the sleigh yesterday, so it’s a good job we get a trailer for LEGO City today. And if that’s not enough room, we can always put some in the second carriage for the Friends Christmas train.

I’m getting a sense of déjà vu from the tree in the Potter calendar. The Ewok hang glider is a neat build, but what is Marvel’s meant to be? Is it a target to help Captain America land his jetpack?

Kyle: Paying homage to Hawkeye, the Marvel calendar gives us a bulls-eye today.

Bre: Kyle, I thought the bullseye was suppose to be a giant Cap shield. Love the cute little train though.

Lino: Another rocket/tree. The train all together is rather cool.

Ben: I think it could be Star Wars’ weakest day today, but the pay-off for the part-builds arrives and both are successful offerings.

Daniel: The completed train feels like the perfect painted wooden toy made by the elves. Not sure about the captain America shield as a base for the tree though. Seems a bit undignified.

Bart: Love the amount of christmas trees in the Harry Potter advent. This little LEGO christmas train has to be the cutest so far.

The Friends calendar hasn’t had much to shout about this year, so it’s nice to see the whole consist getting some love from TBB Towers! And while City’s sleigh has its own yuletide pilot, the Friends have had to borrow a festive driver from Star Wars…

< 2023 LEGO advent calendars day 22 | 2023 LEGO advent calendars day 24 >

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 Join us as we open up the LEGO advent calendars on the rundown to Christmas!
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TBB readers speak! Your favorite LEGO moments of 2023 [Feature] The Brothers Brick

When we asked what LEGO moments meant the most to our readers, you all answered with a plethora of LEGO moments covering the last 12 months. There were tales of set construction, attendance at conventions and shows, awards won, and one big collab that people can’t stop talking about! Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the form. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to cover every submission we received in this write-up. But don’t let that stop you from talking about your favorite LEGO moments of the past year in the comments. Now, let’s unpack all these great responses!

The sets we built

While several sets were mentioned in the responses, there was one that came up over and over again: Rivendell. The Lord of the Rings is a beloved theme for many LEGO builders, and the return of sets paying homage to Tolkien’s universe was definitely reason for celebration. Milo Page had some great words on his reaction to the set’s announcement and release:

“I have loved LEGO since I was a kid, but I only became interested (and then obsessed) with LOTR a few years ago. I’m also on the younger side, so I missed the initial wave of LOTR sets around ten years ago. When I first heard the rumors of a Rivendell set back in January, I just about lost it. I lost it again when the set was revealed. Not only had LEGO rebooted one of my favorite franchises that I had missed entirely as a kid, the set was absolutely gorgeous. The build is fantastic, it looks incredible, and it just feels like Rivendell from the books and the movies. LEGO knocked it out of the park with this set, and I desperately hope we get more like it in the future.”

And Jacob Tubbs shared a wonderful story about building the Wildflower Bouquet set with his daughter, proving the 18+ age limit on the box to only be a suggestion.

“I bought the Wildflower Bouquet for my wife for Mother’s Day, and the night before I secretly put it together with my 3-year old daughter, so we could surprise her mother the next day with it. She can’t read, and that includes the pictures in the instruction booklet. They are nearly incomprehensible to her.”

“I didn’t even realize at first that after I had finished one flower, she would find the pieces herself and start building the second flower. She just used the first one I built as the model to go off of. I only needed to help when the pieces were being difficult for her to handle. She built most of the flowers most of the way all on her own. I was very surprised. And very proud. And her mother loved the flowers all the more because of it.”

The events we attended

When we weren’t building sets, we were out attending conventions and events, displaying our work and enjoying that of others. For many of us, our best LEGO moment from 2023 happened on one of these excursions. And for Steven Stelter, that excursion took him to another continent:

“Attending my first AFOL Day at the LEGO House and first time in Billund with my friends from around the world.”

Others kept their convention trips more continental, while their experiences were no less consequential. Zane Houston, frequently featured for his outstanding mech work on TBB, attended his first convention this year at Brickworld in Chicago:

“When I got there I carried my cardboard box full of bubble wrap through the hotel only to see people backing U-haul trailers in to the convention hall and unloading massive, custom-built crates made for their displays. I felt like a fish out of water and I was questioning what I was even doing there. After setting up my MOCs I walked outside to head towards the food truck and Lego-celebrity Simon Liu stopped me and greeted me with a hug and immediately made me feel welcome.”

“Since Brickworld, I have stayed in touch with the amazing members of OrphanLUG. More than just accomplished builders, they are some of the nicest, genuine, and welcoming people I’ve ever met. It probably doesn’t seem like much to them when they share music, memes, and non-lego hobbies but for the first time in 13 years I have legitimate friends in the Lego community.”

But for some, it had nothing to do with meeting up with LEGO friends or displaying their creations. Some like Joe B. just wanted to take in a great display of brick-built creativity.

“My brother and his wife drove from out of town to spend a day at Brickworld Indy with me and my daughters and we had a great time. We saw lots of amazing MOCs and the girls got to build in a LEGO Masters style contest hosted by a former contestant. My sister-in-law may be a bigger AFOL than me now and starting to collect modulars and make her own city.”

By the way, here’s the result of Zane’s first LEGO convention. We certainly enjoyed the Chert Chewer here at TBB, too!

The awards and opportunities we earned

And speaking of awards, some of us achieved some great things in LEGO this past year. I know this was a meaningful year of opportunities for me, personally. But Blair Archer may just have me beat. He wrote:

“Starting my dream job as a Designer for The LEGO Group, after 10 years of working towards this goal!”

Congratulations, Blair! And not that it’s a competition, but Jan Woźnica also subtly hinted at his big LEGO moment of 2023.

“Release of the 21340 Tales of the Space Age set”

Other wins occurred closer to home, like when Kimberly Giffen took Best in Show at BrickCon for the second year in a row with the Silver Pavilion. But she keeps those larger accomplishments in perspective:

“But what I enjoy most is the community. It isn’t a big moment, it’s the combination of all the small moments. It’s a quiet conversation with another builder before a convention opens. It’s attending the monthly LUG meeting and sharing a dinner with other AFOLs. It’s about the shared experience of doing a LEGO event with someone.”

You can see Kimberly with her award-winning build below.

The masses we assembled

A good chunk of the submissions we received mentioned a mega collaboration that occurred this year at Brickworld. And while we’ve covered a few of the pieces from this mega metropolis, we haven’t truly displayed the scope of this massive collaboration. Pinkwheels gave a pretty good description:

New Hashima Cyberpunk collaborative build; 80 some builders, 20’x20′ layout and hundreds of LEDs. Build included several SHIPs, a custom cyberpunk train and MUSIC! I don’t think I will ever see 40 plus people sitting around in the dark listening to music staring at a Lego MOC like we had a Brickworld. Not to mention the great fun and camaraderie we had as a group building it for 3 days straight!”

One of the contributors, Kit, did a great job wrapping up the experience with the excellent phrase, “I started building cyberpunk cubes, and finished building memories.” And another regular on the TBB pages, Casey McCoy, had the following to say of his experience:

“…Being able to be a small part of it was the highlight of my LEGO life. A specific highlight was the World of Lights that took place on Saturday night. The whole New Hashima crew sat on the ground basking in the neon glow for hours. Could have stayed there all night.”

See below for a shot of the finished collaboration. But be sure to check out TBB alum and New Hashima coordinator Simon Liu‘s Flickr page for even more angles.

Wrapping up 2023

It’s definitely been a memorable 2023, full of so many moments in this great hobby of ours. As I think about my favorite times from the past 365 days, I am constantly brought back to meetings and events with my LEGO users group and some of my fellow writers at TBB. Thank you again to everyone who took time to fill out our form, and let’s make some more great moments in 2024.

The post TBB readers speak! Your favorite LEGO moments of 2023 [Feature] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.

 Let’s recap the year of 2023 from the standpoint of our readers. What did you all find to be your favorite LEGO piece of the past year. Read on to find out!
The post TBB readers speak! Your favorite LEGO moments of 2023 [Feature] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.  Read More Feature, LEGO, Best of 2023, BrickCon, Brickworld, LEGO House, LEGO Ideas, New Hashima, Rivendell, Wildflowers The Brothers Brick 

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2023 LEGO Advent Calendars, Day 22 [Feature] The Brothers Brick

Do you hear that, readers? That’s the sound of Christmas getting ever closer! And what better way to count down to the big day than with day 22 of TBB’s LEGO advent calendar roundup? That’s just what we’re doing, so why not join us as we open up the City, Friends, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel calendars on offer this year?


As ever, our intrepid TBB team is on hand with witty comments, insightful observations, and bad jokes for each day’s builds. And of course, you can add your own thoughts in the comments section each day! So without further ado, let’s crack open the build for day 22…

We’re only a few sleeps from the big day, and we’re really getting in the mood as City has us building a sleigh today. There’s a carriage for yesterday’s loco to pull in Friends.

The Star Wars micro builds have been excellent this year, and today’s Star Destroyer keeps that trend going. Marvel’s Wong minifigure also looks good holding the tesseract. Harry Potter’s bench feels a little underwhelming by comparison, but I guess even minifigures need a place to sit!

Bart: A bench….

Ben: A little bit of an off day for all themes today but the sleigh is a nice build.

Daniel: Ohhh, HP phones it in again with a bench made with 3 parts. Sheesh. The Star Destroyer is okay, but I’m confused by the color choice and it feels like a weak build compared to the one that comes with the Super Star Destroyer set.

Kyle: Little known fact: the Tesseract holds both the Space Infinity Stone and the Holiday Spice Infinity Stone. The more you know!

Lino: The sleigh that slays.

Now that you mention it Lino, swords on a sleigh that’s zipping around people’s heads is probably a bit dangerous. Is that an OSHA thing? Or do sleighs fall under the remit of the FAA?

< 2023 LEGO advent calendars day 21 | 2023 LEGO advent calendars day 23 >

The post 2023 LEGO Advent Calendars, Day 22 [Feature] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.

 Join us as we open up the LEGO advent calendars on the rundown to Christmas!
The post 2023 LEGO Advent Calendars, Day 22 [Feature] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.  Read More Feature, LEGO, City, Friends, Harry Potter, LEGO Advent Calendar, Marvel, Star Wars The Brothers Brick 

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STIIIZY wraps roll up the competition Leafly

The artisans at STIIIZY are bringing their legendary quality to a smoke shop near you with all-natural leaf blunt wraps.

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 The artisans at STIIIZY are bringing their legendary quality to a smoke shop near you with all-natural leaf blunt wraps.
The post STIIIZY wraps roll up the competition appeared first on Leafly. 

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LEGO 71045 Collectible Minifigures Series 25; is this series the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)? [Review] The Brothers Brick

A new year often means a new set of Collectible Minifigures from LEGO, and 2024 brings with it the landmark 25th set (not counting the licensed lines, like Marvel, DC, and the Muppets). Over time, a lot has changed about LEGO’s approach to this line – like new packaging and a more even distribution of figures. But hopefully, what hasn’t changed is LEGO’s commitment to quality, with the CMFs brining extensive prints, fun new accessories, and plenty of charm. So, let’s take a look at this newest set and see how it compares to the two dozen sets that came before it. 71045 Collectible Minifigures Series 25 will be available January 1st for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Unboxing the case and packaging

Series 25 debuts a new tower style box, which holds exactly 12 of the new cardboard individual packages that debuted with the second series of Marvel CMFs. This means each tower can be expected to hold one complete set of figures (although we’re sure larger boxes will also be available). The tower allows for an individual figure box to be easily slid out of the slot at the bottom, and they can be reloaded via a similar slot up top.


The new individual boxes eliminate the ability to feel for any special parts, making it tougher to find the exact figure you want, but even distribution shouldn’t make it too hard to track down your favorites. As is traditional, the figures come disassembled, with a black display stand and checklist.


Triceratops Costume Fan

First up in the Series 25 roster is someone who will make a great companion to Series 24’s T-Rex Costume Fan. The Triceratops Costume Fan sports a brand-new dual-molded dinosaur head element, but reuses the rubbery tail of his T-Rex pal. The olive-green plastic is paired with brown spots on his arms and back, as well as a rather reptilian belly print on his torso.

He sports a double-sided head, one side with a slight grin and the other with a gigantic smile. No doubt he’s excited about meeting his hero from the recent Jurassic Park sets.


Sprinter

Athletics is a common theme for LEGO to explore in the CMF lines, and this series’ Sprinter is one of my favorites in that regard. We’ve seen the Sprinter’s prosthetic leg mold in use before, but I believe it’s previously only been available as a left leg. So, it’s nice to have that available for both legs now. He’s also sporting (get it?) a first-place stand and gold medal.

The Sprinter’s medium azure jersey is emblazoned with the number 2024, and his new mop of curly hair helps conceal his second expression – either pushing through the pain or elated by the win.


Film Noir Detective

The Film Noir Detective is one of the cleverer ideas we’ve seen in the CMF line. Cast entirely in black, white, and shades of grey, this private eye has stepped right out of an old black and white mystery movie. Why, then, is his accessory a primary color? Why, because it’s a red herring, of course. (Which he can examine with the included magnifying glass.)

The Detective’s dual-molded legs do a decent job of mimicking black trousers poking out from beneath a long trench coat. The up-turned collar might be a bit of overkill, and I like the look of the figure better without it. Also, this is one of the rare single expression CMFs, as the dark bluish gray fedora does little to hide the back of the head, even with that giant collar included.


Train Kid

What would a Collectible Minifigure line be without an over-the-top costume? From boats to trees to LEGO bricks, minifigures love a giant costume. Train Kid’s locomotive brings plenty of pieces with it, including red skateboard wheels and a printed dish. (In theory it should also have a black tile on the back, but mine either wasn’t included or got misplaced.)

Stepping outside of the train, you can see Train Kid sporting a pair of overalls with a neckerchief and a snazzy sand blue flat cap. The cap doesn’t quite cover the back of his head, so the single expression is all you get. But with that big smile and the color coordinated eye patch, a single expression is all you need. Plus, it’s always nice to get another pair of the posable medium legs.


Goatherd

The Goatherd is likely to be the most sought-after figure in the line, but more for his accessory than himself. That’s right, LEGO has finally brought the goat back. (It was previously only available in one single set, and the piece has fetched more than $60 on the secondary market in the past.) I’m sure there will be some who would have preferred the goat be in a mainline set, rather than packaged with a blind boxed figure, but once the line has reached saturation in the market, finding some loose goats shouldn’t be too vexing.

The Goatherd himself has plenty to like besides his animal pal. Dual molded legs and lots of medieval-style printing, as well as a backpack, hood, walking stick, and…a white round tile. What is that? A salt lick for the goat, maybe? He’s also sporting an unshaven face with awake and sleeping expressions.


Vampire Knight

Continuing the medieval trend, but veering into the realm of fantasy, we have the Vampire Knight. I used to love the Fright Knight subtheme as a kid, so it’s a ton of fun to see it revisited here. The Vampire Knight has a glowing battle axe made from four pieces, a battle helmet, as well as a shield printed with the Fright Knight logo. He also has a cape that’s red on one side, and printed with the Fright Knight theming on the other. Unlike a lot of the softer, modern cape accessories, this has that old school, stiff paper texture, which will help him blend in with your retro sets.

The Knight’s helmet entirely covers his face, which is a shame because he has a double-sided head with both closed mouth and open mouth/glowing eyes expressions. There’s a ton of charm to the vampire’s giant mustache, too. It makes his fangs sticking down look a bit like walrus tusks. (No one tell him I said that.)


Pet Groomer

A Collectible Minifigure line can’t be all detectives and vampires. You need a little of the everyday to help offer some variety, and the Pet Groomer fills that slot nicely. While the reappearance of the goat is sure to have people talking, I think the brand-new Afghan hound element might be more interesting overall. Hopefully a pair of scissors is all it will take to keep that dog looking its best, because that’s the only other accessory included.

There’s a case to be made that this is one of the weaker overall figures in the set. There’s plenty of printing on the torso and legs, on account of the apron, but it’s just an apron. And the two included expressions, grinning and smiling, don’t offer much variety. An “oops I cut off too much fur” look might have given the character more…well, character. The most interesting element of the figure is the new hair piece, a blonde ponytail with a dual-molded cochlear implant element. Between that and the new dog, it’s hard to say this figure doesn’t deliver, but I suspect no one is going to award it Best in Show.


Fitness Instructor

Speaking of everyday jobs with character, there’s absolutely nothing subtle about the Fitness Instructor. From her tattooed arm to her rock-hard abs, this is a minifigure with presence. Her ten-pound kettle bell keeps her in good shape and she stays hydrated with her Vita Rush-branded bottle.

She’s wearing gym shorts courtesy of some dual-molded legs and she keeps a smile on her face, even when she’s sweating.


E-Sports Gamer

And speaking of not subtle, the E-Sports Gamer makes a big statement. With pink hair, blue lipstick, and lime green headphones, you can tell this is not a person interested in blending in. Her sponsored uniform (featuring the aforementioned Vita Rush logo on the back) features dual-molded arms for a short-sleeved jersey look. And the eagle-topped pinstripes on the side of her pant leg will no doubt find itself as the pilot uniform in plenty of sci-fi custom builds.

And speaking of sci-fi, her included gaming keyboard and mouse are molded in black but printed with bright purple, yellow, and green, making them ideal for decorating any cyberpunk type-scenarios. Her double-sided expressions feature a stoic, “ready to tangle” grin and a cheerful, “I won” look for when she’s awarded her included trophy.


Mushroom Sprite

The Vampire Knight isn’t the only fantasy creature in this wave, but where the Vampire Knight is a creature of war, the Mushroom Sprite is just a fungi (or gal). Sporting a new hard plastic skirt piece over a static set of mini legs, the Sprite’s big draw is her mushroom cap. Dual molded in red and white, this hat will find plenty of uses among Super Mario custom builds (and maybe even a Smurf house or two).

The Mushroom Sprite also includes a friend from the forest in the form of a beautiful butterfly, molded in black with bright blue and green printing on the wings. The Sprite’s head features gentle smile and elated laughter expressions.


Fierce Barbarian

But friendly Sprites aren’t all that walk these woods, and the Fierce Barbarian is here to keep evil monsters at bay. The bright red hair and high cheekbones are giving Bridget Nielson vibes, but the overall design of the printing is versatile enough for all kinds of warriors. The arms have vambraces printed on them, and the dual molded legs feature furry pants and laced boots suitable for a Master of the Universe.

The accessories for this figure are limited to the sword. But what a sword it is – dual molded in two colors and sporting a hollow stud at the hilt. Beneath the Barbarian’s hair/headband piece you’ll find a stoic tough expression, or a rage filled snarl with battle paint around the eyes.


Harpy

The final member of this delightful dozen is also the most terrifying. Vampire Knight has nothing on the Harpy. From her dark blue faun legs to her dark purple wings and pink head, she’s like something out of Lisa Frank’s nightmares and I love it.

The Harpy comes sporting only the one expression, since her mohawk/ponytail piece doesn’t do much to cover the back of her head. But that’s okay. I’m less worried about the expression on her face and more worried about where she’s going to stick those golden Wolverine claws.


Conclusion and recommendation

I’ll be honest, I can’t imagine ever not recommending a line of Collectible Minifigures. This line continues all the trends that have made LEGO fans fall in love with the line. Great prints, new accessories, and most of all, tons of fun. And this set might be the most buyer friendly line to date. If you can track down a 12-figure tower you can score a whole set and don’t even have to worry about off-loading the extras.

71045 Collectible Minifigures Series 25 will be available starting January 1 for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49. They may also be available from third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

The post LEGO 71045 Collectible Minifigures Series 25; is this series the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)? [Review] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.

 We’ve got an early look at the milestone 25th series of Collectible Minifigures!
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30,000 Papers on Cannabis Published By Scientists in Last Decade The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine

The wave of legalization that has swept over the United States in the last decade has coincided with a swell in published research on cannabis.

That is the finding unearthed by the marijuana advocacy group NORML this week. 

Citing the results of a keyword search of the the National Library of Medicine/PubMed.gov website, NORML said that, for the third year in a row, “researchers worldwide published over 4,000 scientific papers specific to cannabis, its active constituents, and their effects.” 

“Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in scientific inquiries about the cannabis plant — with researchers publishing more than 32,000 scientific papers about cannabis since the beginning of 2013. Much of this uptick is a result of researchers’ newfound focus on marijuana’s therapeutic activities as well investigations into the real-world effects of legalization laws,” NORML said.

According to NORML, “more than 70 percent of all peer-reviewed scientific papers about marijuana have been published in the past ten years, and over 90 percent of this literature has been published since 2002.”

“As of this writing, PubMed.gov cites over 45,900 scientific papers on marijuana dating back to the year 1840. Available to the public online since 1996, PubMed is a free resource supporting the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature,” the organization added.

NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said that the finding refutes critics who argue that there is insufficient research on cannabis.

“Despite claims by some that marijuana has yet to be subject to adequate scientific scrutiny, scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in recent years, as has our understanding of the plant, its active constituents, their mechanisms of action, and their effects on both the user and upon society,” Armentano said in a statement. “It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know.”

It seems that each week brings a fresh study on marijuana, and its effects on the mind and body. And not all of the findings provided support to marijuana advocates.

One such study, published last month, found scant evidence that using cannabis can help addicts reduce or stop their long-term intake of illicit opioids.

The study out of Australia involved more than 600 heroin addicts, and spanned 20 years.

“Cannabis use is common among individuals with opioid use disorder, but it remains unclear whether cannabis use is associated with an increase or a reduction in illicit opioid use. To overcome limitations identified in previous longitudinal studies with limited follow-ups, the authors examined a within-person reciprocal relationship between cannabis and heroin use at several follow-ups over 18 to 20 years,” the researchers wrote in their introduction.

“After accounting for a range of demographic variables, other substance use, and mental and physical health measures, an increase in cannabis use 24 months after baseline was significantly associated with an increase in heroin use at 36 months (estimate=0.21, SE=0.10). Additionally, an increase in heroin use at 3 months and 24 months was significantly associated with a decrease in cannabis use at 12 months (estimate=−0.27, SE=0.09) and 36 months (estimate=−0.22, SE=0.08). All other cross-lagged associations were not significant,” they said, in detailing their findings.

While the study produced “some evidence of a significant relationship between cannabis and heroin use at earlier follow-ups,” the researchers noted that it was “sparse and inconsistent across time points.” 

“Overall, there was insufficient evidence to suggest a unidirectional or bidirectional relationship between the use of these substances,” they said.

Another study, also published in November, explored whether or not cannabis is a psychedelic substance. The answer, it turns out, isn’t so simple.

“Cannabis and classic psychedelics are controlled substances with emerging evidence of efficacy in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Cannabis has largely not been regarded as having psychedelic effects in contemporary literature, despite many examples of historical use along with classic psychedelics to attain altered states of consciousness,” the researchers said

“Research into the ‘psychedelic’ effects of cannabis, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in particular, could prove helpful for assessing potential therapeutic indications and elucidating the mechanism of action of both cannabis and classic psychedelics. This review aggregates and evaluates the literature assessing the capacity of cannabis to yield the perceptual changes, aversiveness, and mystical experiences more typically associated with classic psychedelics such as psilocybin. This review also provides a brief contrast of neuroimaging findings associated with the acute effects of cannabis and psychedelics. The available evidence suggests that high-THC cannabis may be able to elicit psychedelic effects, but that these effects may not have been observed in recent controlled research studies due to the doses, set, and settings commonly used.”

They added, “Research is needed to investigate the effects of high doses of THC in the context utilized in therapeutic studies of psychedelics aimed to occasion psychedelic and/or therapeutic experiences. If cannabis can reliably generate psychedelic experiences under these conditions, high-THC dose cannabis treatments should be explored as potential adjunctive treatments for psychiatric disorders and be considered as an active comparator in clinical trials involving traditional psychedelic medications.”

The post 30,000 Papers on Cannabis Published By Scientists in Last Decade appeared first on High Times.

  Read More The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine News, Science, cannabis research, Legalization, NORML, Paul Armentano, peer-reviewed, studies More than 70% of all peer-reviewed scientific research on cannabis has been published in the past ten years.
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Connecticut Allows Weed, Not Alcohol Sales on Christmas and New Year’s Day The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) released a press release Wednesday, reminding residents that alcohol sales will be banned on Christmas and New Year’s Day, but cannabis and gambling is allowed.

Connecticut officials told residents to buy alcohol ahead of time if they want booze on Christamas and New Year’s Day.

“Every year we remind consumers and businesses that, due to Connecticut law, hours for some liquor permittees change during the holidays. If you choose to consume alcohol with your holiday celebrations, be sure to make those purchases ahead of time, and, of course, please drink responsibly,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. 

“And, because we regulate many things you may be wondering about, Connecticut Law does not prohibit the sale of cannabis, or limit your ability to place wagers during the holidays. No matter how you choose to spend the holidays, please know your limit, arrange designated drivers and be respectful of the establishments and communities where you celebrate.”

Changes to hours for certain liquor permittees are only in effect on the day of the actual holidays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, which both fall on a Monday this year.

The announcement included the specifics of where alcohol can be purchased:

Regarding off-premise alcohol consumption, package stores must remain closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; Grocery stores cannot sell beer on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day; and Manufacturer permits cannot sell alcoholic liquor to go on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Regarding on-premise alcohol consumption, Permittees who serve food may sell alcohol for on-premise consumption on Christmas Day; Normal hours remain the same, except premises may stay open an extra hour New Years Eve evening until 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day morning.

If anyone has questions about the policy in Connecticut they are encouraged to contact DCP’s Liquor Control Division via email or phone.

“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 release reads. “Resources regarding responsible cannabis use, as well as information about addiction and health risks is available at ct.gov/cannabis.”

Cannabis sales in the state have no signs of slowing down, according to state data published each month.

Connecticut Doubles Personal Cannabis Limit 

The DCP announced in an Oct. 10 press release that new preliminary data shows combined sales for adult-use and medical cannabis totaled to over $25 million for the period from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2023. The numbers do not include adult-use cannabis taxes, and medical cannabis patients never have to pay taxes on cannabis purchases.

“The adult-use market recorded more than $14.3 million in sales during the month of September, while the medical marijuana market recorded almost $11 million in sales for the same period. Adult-use sales began on Jan. 10, 2023,” the report reads.

“In September, medical marijuana patients purchased 284,116 products, and adult-use consumers purchased 376,035 products,” the report continues. “The average product price for medical marijuana patients was $38.21 in September, while the average price of adult-use products was $38.37. In September, 52 percent of sales were usable cannabis, or flower, while vapes made up 30 percent of sales. Edible products represented 11 percent of sales.”

Connecticut regulators have doubled the amount of adult-use cannabis consumers can purchase in a single transaction.

Per the new regulations approved by the Connecticut DCP, adult-use cannabis consumers will be permitted to purchase up to a half-ounce (about 14 grams) of cannabis flower or its equivalent beginning next month. 

The limit on purchases of medical marijuana has not been changed. It remains at 5 ounces of cannabis flower or the equivalent monthly, with no limits on purchases in a single transaction.

The DCP noted in a statement that the decision to increase the limit on adult-use cannabis purchases was made based on an ongoing analysis of supply and demand in Connecticut’s regulated cannabis market. The agency also said that the limit will continue to be reviewed over time, adding that the caps are in place to help ensure an adequate supply of cannabis for both adult-use consumers and medical marijuana patients.

“DCP has continually reviewed available supply and demand since prior to the launch of the adult-use cannabis industry in January 2023,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement from the agency. “As more retailers, production companies and other supply chain licensees have come online, the capacity of the industry has increased. We are confident this measured approach to adult-use sales has resulted in a healthy market for businesses, and a safe and fair marketplace for adult-use cannabis consumers and medical marijuana patients.”

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  Read More The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine Connecticut, News, adult use, Alcohol, cannabis sales, Christmas, gambling, holidays, Medical Marijuana, New Year's, Recreational, XMAS Cannabis remains allowed on holidays in Connecticut, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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Swiss Capital Mulls Possibility of Legal Cocaine Sales The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine

Local government officials in the Swiss capital of Bern are discussing the possibility of launching a pilot program to study the effects of legal cocaine sales on the general public.

According to Reuters, legislators in the Bern Parliament have proposed the idea as a potential solution to increased cocaine usage in a country already infamous for some of the highest levels of cocaine use in Europe. The discussion began just weeks after a select few Swiss cities, Bern included, launched a similar pilot program to analyze the effects of legal adult-use cannabis sales, the first of its kind in Europe.

“The war on drugs has failed, and we have to look at new ideas,” said Eva Chen, a member of the Bern council from the Alternative Left Party who co-sponsored the proposal. “Control and legalization can do better than mere repression.”

Legislators in support of the idea proposed that due to falling prices of cocaine and rising levels of use, especially in Switzerland, the most common sense solution would be to regulate and control the flow, distribution and purity of the supply rather than continue to fight the uphill battles of prohibition policies. 

“We have a lot of cocaine in Switzerland right now, at the cheapest prices and the highest quality we have ever seen,” said Frank Zobel, deputy director at Addiction Switzerland. “You can get a dose of cocaine for about 10 francs these days, not much more than the price for a beer.”

The measure has already passed the Bern Parliament but still needs approval from the city government before a program can be officially implemented. The measure would also require a legislative change at the national level, so there are still many hurdles to overcome before Bern residents can expect to walk into a cocaine store without fear of legal repercussions. This is at least part of the reason why the proposal is for a pilot program/study rather than direct legalization.

“We are still far away from potential legalization, but we should look at new approaches,” Chen said to Reuters. “That is why we are calling for a scientifically supervised pilot scheme trial.”

This program would be the first of its kind in the world at large where cocaine remains largely illegal for any purpose in a majority of Earth’s sovereign nations. There are some notable exceptions. In Mexico, for instance, it is legal to carry up to a half-gram of cocaine for personal use. In some South American countries low-level possession and cultivation of a small number of coca plants is legal. Many countries have decriminalized personal possession of cocaine and in the United States there are some states like Oregon which have decriminalized as well. In many countries cocaine can also be prescribed for medical purposes, though the rates or prescription are likely very low because comparable medicines exist with far lower rates of abuse. 

Nowhere on God’s Green Earth, however, is cocaine legal to be sold under the guise of adult-use. Swiss legislators hope to change that in the name of personal safety and harm reduction, to say nothing of the economic incentives that must exist for texable cocaine sales.

“Cocaine can be life-threatening for both first-time and long-term users. The consequences of an overdose, but also individual intolerance to even the smallest amounts, can lead to death,” the Bern government said.

The issue remains hotly contested both around the world and among addiction experts in Switzerland and not all are in favor of legalization. Boris Quednow, group leader of the University of Zurich’s Centre for Psychiatric Research told Reuters the issue differed from alcohol 

“Cocaine is one of the most strongly addictive substances known,” Quednow said.

Those in favor of legalization have expressed that common sense measures need to happen because of prohibition’s abject failure to keep cocaine out of Swiss cities, not to mention everywhere else. 

“Cocaine isn’t healthy – but the reality is that people use it,” said  Thilo Beck, from the Arud Zentrum for Addiction Medicine to Reuters. “We can’t change that, so we should try to ensure people use it in the safest, least damaging way.”

Before anyone gets all gung-ho about emigrating to Switzerland, these proposed changes could take years before they go into effect. National law would need to be amended, as aforementioned, and that process largely depends on the success of the adult-use cannabis pilot program currently underway. Many other measures would also need to be taken before any sort of launch date or approval process could be considered. Quality control measures, supply chain concerns and harm reduction practices to name a few would all need to be ironed out to stand up to full Swiss legislative scrutiny. 

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  Read More The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine News, World, Bern, Cocaine, cocaine sales, Europe, Legalization, pilot program, Swiss, Switzerland, War On Drugs Just under two months after announcing a pilot program for legal cannabis sales, legislators in the Swiss capital of Bern are discussing an entirely novel idea: legal cocaine.
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Minnesota Health Officials Issue Warning About Illegal High-Potency Hemp Products The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine

The Minnesota Department of Health has issued a bulletin warning consumers that retailers are selling unregulated and illegal cannabis products that exceed the state’s limit for THC. Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana earlier this year, but state-licensed cannabis dispensaries are not expected to open for at least a year, perhaps not until early 2025.

In its bulletin, the health department noted that the agency inspected 167 retailers offering hemp-derived cannabinoid products between August and November and found that more than one in three (39%) of the shops were selling illegal high-potency products. Under Minnesota law, hemp edibles and beverages sold in the state must not exceed 5 milligrams of THC per serving and no more than 50 milligrams per package.

“Illegal, high-dose hemp-derived products may contain hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving, and with multiple servings in a package, this can add up to thousands of milligrams of THC — far above the legal limit,” the health department wrote in a bulletin last week. “These products are produced by a variety of manufacturers and if consumed may lead to adverse health effects, such as becoming unresponsive, seizures or psychotic episodes.”

Garry Bowman, a spokesman for the Department of Health, added that more than 70% of the retailers inspected had “deficiencies of one kind or another,” such as incorrect labeling or product placement, according to a report from the Star Tribune.

Until earlier this year, Minnesota’s hemp-derived cannabinoid product market was unregulated, with many retailers throughout the state selling untested and potentially harmful products. This summer, however, the Department of Health was given the authority to inspect businesses and products to ensure compliance with testing requirements, dosage limits, packaging laws and other regulations. 

The Minnesota Department of Revenue reported that it collected nearly $3.4 million in taxes on cannabis products between July and October. The figure translates to about $34 million in hemp products sold during those four months, putting Minnesota on track to sell more than $100 million in hemp THC edibles and beverages annually. 

The inspections of retailers carrying hemp products are being carried out by the Office of Medical Cannabis, a new state agency that is part of the Department of Health. Chris Elvrum, the assistant director of the office, said that he was not surprised when he learned that so many of the state’s retailers were selling high-potency hemp products.

“I think the marketplace, it just hadn’t been regulated for a while, to any great degree,” Elvrum told the Star Tribune

More Inspections Coming

The recent probe of hemp retailers was carried out when the department had only one inspector on its staff. But the agency has recently hired five additional inspectors, Bowman reported, with another to be hired next month. The increased staff is needed to properly inspect Minnesota’s approximately 3,000 businesses including hemp shops, breweries and liquor stores that have registered with the state to sell or manufacture hemp products. 

Elvrum said that in the future, the inspectors will concentrate their efforts on businesses that most commonly sell hemp products that do not comply with state regulations.

“So, smoke shops and some hemp shops and a few convenience stores. But a lot of them are smoke shops or tobacco shops that carry a variety and have these high-dose products,” Elvrum said. “Right now, there’s about 800 of those registered.”

Inspectors will also eventually examine liquor stores, bars and restaurants that sell hemp THC seltzers and other beverages. Elvrum said those products have been given a lower priority for inspection because the health department has determined that they are generally more compliant with regulations than some other hemp products such as gummies.

Elvrum also noted that when inspectors discover illegal hemp products, retailers are asked to destroy them immediately or box them to be held for subsequent monitored destruction.

“So far, all of the places we’ve visited have either done it on the spot [or] in a few cases, we would send our inspector back to watch them destroy it,” he said.

Retailers found to be selling illegal hemp THC products are subject to fines of up to $10,000 per incident, according to the Department of Health. Businesses selling hemp products without registering with the state as required by law can also be fined up to $10,000. 

Elvrum said that the Office of Cannabis Management has so far not fined retailers not complying with the state’s hemp regulations. But that could change if inspectors return to a business previously found to be selling illegal products and discover repeat violations.

“We are generally giving them the benefit of the doubt on the first visit,” Elvrum said. “Certainly, repeated violations of the same nature are going to end up being considered for a penalty.”

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  Read More The Latest Marijuana News Today | HighTimes Magazine Minnesota, News, adult-use, Health, Hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, illegal, potency, recreational cannabis, THC, warning The Minnesota Department of Health is warning consumers that hemp THC products that exceed state potency limits are being sold at some retailers.
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New York’s Cannabis Operators and Entrepreneurs Brace for Growth and Uncertainty in 2024 TheBluntness

In the dynamic environment that is NY cannabis, industry leaders in New York’s cannabis sector offer their unique perspectives and predictions for 2024 across various key areas.  In the dynamic environment that is NY cannabis, industry leaders in New York’s cannabis sector offer their unique perspectives and predictions for 2024 across various key areas. Read More  TheBluntness