All Starry-Eyed A new survey by Pew Research Center reveals that 6 out of 10 (62 percent) of Americans now report support legalizing adult cannabis use in the United States. While that number only increased one percent over the last year, support of cannabis legalization has literally doubled over the past couple decades. With that level of growth, it makes total statistical sense that some of those cannabis proponents would be celebrities.As The Stranger reports, celebrities with major box office appeal are joining the plant medicine crusade. Celebrity cannabis supporters range from well-known stoners—Willie Nelson, Tommy Chong and Snoop Dogg—to notable thespians Shailene Woodley, Tim Robbins, Olivia Wilde, Danny Glover and pop icons Jay-Z, Common and Ty Dolla $ign. Whether they hew closely to grassroots activism or contract to endorse or market industry products, household names are profiting from their association with cannabis; that currency can be cultural, cash or a combination of the two. A dearth of capital and the absence of traditional bank loans limits cannabis businesses’ funding options. As The Stranger’s coverage notes, “Partnering with a celebrity, and the deep-pocketed partners who come with them, can give a much-needed boost to a new cannabis brand.”On “Weed Tampons”Amid a plethora of cannabis startups, a couple consumer markets—women’s health and sexual health—remain relatively untapped. Science Alert reports that Harvard psychiatry professor Staci Gruber is undertaking a first-of-its-kind observational study on “weed tampons,” a notable cannabis women’s health product. The product nickname is a misnomer because these “weed tampons” are actually vaginal cannabis suppositories. Foria Wellness’ Relief suppositories boast 60mg of THC and 10mg of CBD and cost around $11.This study will track 400 women’s self-reported menstrual symptoms for a few months, including any symptom relief provided by marijuana suppositories; these symptoms include pelvic cramps, back pain, headaches, irritability and mood swings. In an interview with Business Insider, Gruber said that this Foria and Flow Kana-funded observational study is the first step in turning anecdotal info into hard data and working toward a clinical trial that could prove a “holy grail.” Clinical trials of cannabis products still present tremendous regulatory and policy hurdles in the US owing to federal inclusion of cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Massachusettsan Gruber also heads up McLean Hospital’s Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery program.
News On The Green
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