Largest Pot Brownie Tips the Scales At 850 Pounds!

Sometimes we argue over cannabis laws and what should be legal. Sometimes we argue over cannabis uses and what the plant can do. Sometimes we argue over the commercial industry and all the problems therein, and sometimes we argue over products and which ones are best. Today isn’t about arguing though, it’s simply about enjoying a pretty cool story of cannabis edibles. Yup, just recently, the largest ever pot brownie was created, weighing in at a massive 850 pounds!

If edibles are your thing, then the largest pot brownie made by Marimed is pretty awesome. Of course, there are plenty of other options that don’t involve an 850 pound brownie! Tons of other edible products exist like gummies; and if you’re more of a vaper, there are even more options on shelves. With the rise of the cannabinoid market, and compounds like delta-8 THC, THCV, and HHC, not only are a range of delivery methods available, but you can vary what kind of cannabis you use. Remember to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter for deals on legal cannabis products, as well as all the latest news and industry stories. Also save big on Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC products by checking out our “Best-of” lists!

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The story of the largest cannabis brownie

Well, let’s get right into this. Of all the stories to come out about cannabis, this is certainly one of the more interesting, fun, and delicious ones out there. On December 7^th, 2021, Massachusetts cannabis company Marimed made history by baking the largest pot brownie ever made, crushingly big at 850 pounds. This purportedly set a new world record in terms of largest brownies.

How much THC does the largest pot brownie weighing 850 pounds have? According to Marimed, the hulking baked good contains a whopping 20,000 mg of THC. Now consider that a standard cannabis edible will have no more than 5-10 mg of THC if made legally. Which means this brownie has enough THC to get an entire town stoned. If you’re wondering how much space such a brownie covers, this amazing brownie stands at 15 inches tall, and three feet by three feet. That’s one huge brownie!

Marimed baked this amazing display of weed sumptuousness in honor of National Brownie Day, December 8^th, and in promotion of the company’s new line of weed baked goods, dubbed Bubby’s Baked. If you’re hoping Bubby’s Baked will provide 850 pound brownies to customers, you’ll be a bit let down by the more normal edible sizes, and THC content that goes by state regulation – 5 mg per edible. The new line will include chocolate chip cookies and snickerdoodles with precision dosing, and a nice chewy consistency.

How was it done?

Now, there isn’t much reason for the average person to don a kitchen apron and prepare to make a colossal marijuana brownie. But if you did want to, here’s what Marimed had to use to get it this big. According to USA Today, Marimed cracked 1,344 eggs, poured in 250 pounds of sugar, mixed in 212 pounds of butter, required 5.3 pounds of vanilla extract, called for 81 pounds of flour, combined it with two pounds of baking powder, added in three pounds of salt, and finished it off with 122 pounds of cocoa powder. Not an activity to be done in a small kitchen!

In fact, it took five bakers to complete this brownie, using a very large commercial oven to do so. I mean, how many people live in a house that has an oven large enough to make a pot brownie of 850 pounds?

Prior to this monumental baking feat, Guinness World Records cited a 234-pound brownie as being the biggest ever made. Clearly, so long as the story is completely true, Marimed blew this old record out of the water with the now-largest pot brownie of 850 pounds. That’s literally over three times as big.

Interesting Edibles: The Most Creative Ways of Eating Cannabis

A bit about Marimed

Based out of Norwood, Massachusetts, Marimed calls itself a “premier seed-to-consumer vertically integrated multi-state operator.” According to the company, it acts as a consultant for those who want to go into cannabis production, helping with plans for design, development, operations, and financing.

In terms of the new line of baked goods that Marimed baked the largest pot brownie to promote, Ryan Crandall, the company’s Chief Product Officer and SVP of Sales, had this to say: “Bubby’s Baked fills a big hole in the edibles market that cannabis consumers crave – high-quality, delicious baked goods that stay moist and chewy.”

He goes on to point out the nostalgia of the product, saying, “For many of us, homemade brownies were our first taste of cannabis-infused edibles. Bubby’s recreates and elevates that nostalgic experience, infusing full-spectrum, craft-quality cannabis into timeless recipes, for a reliable high reminiscent of simpler times.”

For those in Massachusetts who want to check out Marimed, its dispensary is located in Middleborough, Massachusetts, and called Panacea Wellness. These products can be found in other dispensaries all over Massachusetts, and by next year, Bubby’s Baked should also show up in dispensaries in Delaware and Maryland.

Largest brownie world title

As stated, Marimed created the largest pot brownie weighing in at 850 pounds. And as stated, this beat out the previous record of 234 pounds, which was given in 2013 to the company Alabama’s Something Sweet Bake Shop. So, this means Marimed is the new record holder, right? Well, not exactly.

According to Marimed via Chief Product Officer Ryan Crandall speaking to McClatchy News by email, Guinness World Records apparently isn’t going to count the company’s brownie. Why? Because the previous winner was for a regular brownie, not a cannabis-infused one. Said Crandall, “Unfortunately, Guinness World Records rejected our entry because they don’t accept cannabis-related records… That was a disappointment, but we’re still very proud of what we accomplished.”

Cannabis Trends Started in America: Vapes, Edibles, and Delta-8 THC

Different publications of the story provide different endings for this largest, but officially unrecognized, pot brownie. While some sources say it will be divided up and sold to prospective buyers, others say it will be sold to a medical patient. In the state of Massachusetts, 20,000 mg of THC is the max amount allowed to a medical patient, making the large-ass brownie a sweet sale to someone who needs it medicinally.

The world of edibles

For those wondering where the tradition of the pot brownie started, it’s an interesting story that involves both the US, and France of all places. In the 1800’s, it became commonplace for elitist writers in Paris to gather at Club des Hachischins (appropriately titled ‘hash-eaters club’) to drink infused coffee and tea, and eat infused candies.

Skip ahead to 1954 in that same crowd, and Alice B. Toklas, the life partner of American author Gertrude Stein, put out the book the Alice B. Toklas Cookbook wherein she gave the recipe for ‘Haschisch Fudge’. This ‘fudge’ used ground cannabis, not hash, and did create a fudge more than a brownie. Apparently it wasn’t Alice’s original recipe, but a recipe she had gotten from someone else that she had been using to make this fudge.

Perhaps it would have subsided into nothing, but 14 years later in 1968, filmmaker Peter Sellers put out the movie I Love You Alice B. Toklas, which specifically featured a very uptight lawyer who comes to eat Alice’s fudge. This started the fad of the ‘pot brownie’, which grew immensely in popularity during the counterculture movement of the 1960’s, and the general hippy rising of the time. Clearly from Marimed, and the slew of cannabis brownie options still available today, that fad has not died down yet.

Brownies, in fact, remained a staple and main player in the edibles scene until recent years, since their requirement of butter makes for an easy way to leach the THC out of cannabis, and into the oil. Now, with the emergence of nanotechnology and nanoemulsions, non-fat soluble ingredients can have cannabinoids like THC and CBD infused into them as well, by forcing oil and non-oil liquids together. Cannabis edibles can now be made out of anything, from potato chips, to gummies, to energy drinks, to chewing gum.

Conclusion

Most of us will never be equipped to create an 850-pound pot brownie. In fact, most of us really won’t have the tools or equipment to come close to that. On the plus side, with tons more constantly being learned about how to use weed, the options for at-home edibles is growing everyday. Whereas it used to be only brownies, cookies, and cakes made at home, its now possible to create your own gummies, among many other infused recipe options.

How To Make Your Own Weed Gummies

The world of cannabis food is actually rather wide, and pertains to many types of cooking. Aficionados can whip up all kinds of meals with cannabis ingredients, even very fancy ones. Whether made at home or bought, it’s even possible to celebrate holidays with infused options particular to the day, like Labor Day, 4^th of July, Thanksgiving, and more. So go ahead and buy yourself an old-fashioned pot brownie if you like, or pick up a newfangled gummy if you prefer, and if you’re really feeling motivated, whip up your very own cannabis creation.

Hello and welcome to the site! Thanks for making it to CBDtesters.co, your one-stop-shop for all cannabis and psychedelics-related news from the industry today. Give us a read-thru frequently to stay on-top of the quickly-moving universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The Delta 8 Weekly Newsletter, so you’re the first to get every new story out there.

Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional.

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Bad Research Again? No Study Links Erectile Dysfunction with Vaping

The research situation is getting kind of insane, and not just pertaining to the cannabis industry. So long as the general population takes every headline to mean something, then its easy to pull opinions in almost any direction, by simply saying something like ‘new research shows…’ This most recent example is a laughable excuse for a piece of ‘research’, and highlights the inanity of what’s going on. No, no study just showed any links between erectile dysfunction and vaping, but please, look into the actual research yourself if the headline concerns you.

If you’re concerned about erectile dysfunction and vaping, this study is probably not the place to look for info. On the bright side, weed is more associated with helping with erectile dysfunction, than causing it. In fact, vaping is right now the much safer way of ingesting cannabis or nicotine, and interested vapers can try a bunch of new cannabinoid products like delta-8 THC, THCV, and HHC, even outside of dispensaries. We’ve got great deals to get you through the holiday season, so browse our listings to find your perfect product.

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The study claiming links between erectile dysfunction and vaping

The study, entitled: Association of E-Cigarettes With Erectile Dysfunction: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, was published in November 2021 in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. According to the study authors: “Smoking is independently associated with erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Given existing similarities in the constituents of e-cigarettes or ENDS and cigarettes, this study examines the association between ENDS use and erectile dysfunction.”

The study used information collected from research unrelated to this venture. The data was taken from Wave 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study from the years of 2016-2018. The study investigators specifically took respondents who had mentioned issues with erectile dysfunction, who were 20 years of age or more. Then they used multivariable logistic regression models, which are simply different ways of comparing information to try to find relationships between a dependent variable and different independent variables.

Within this, the investigators looked at ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) use within the full sample, as well as restricting that sample to men 20-65 who specifically had no previous diagnosis for cardiac issues. Multiple risk factors were adjusted for, according to the researchers.

In their results, the researchers found that of the full sample, 20.7% had erectile dysfunction, and of the restricted sample, 10.2% did. Use of ENDS in the full sample was 4.8%, and in the restricted sample, 5.6%. In terms of daily ENDS use, the full sample showed 2.1%, and the restricted sample showed 2.5%. According to the investigators, ENDS users were more likely to report erectile dysfunction than those who never vaped in either the full or restricted samples.

They found that in the full sample, that data points indicated those aged 65 and over who had cardiovascular issues, were more likely to have erectile dysfunction. In both categories, physical exercise was associated with lower rates of erectile dysfunction. The study investigators then concluded that all this means that erectile dysfunction is related to vaping.

Massive issues with study claiming links between erectile dysfunction and vaping

I could have called this section, ‘why this study is completely bogus’, or ‘why this study is completely useless’. Either way, that’s the gist of it. This is literally one of the most useless pieces of published ‘research’ out there, and the word ‘research’ here is insulting to actual research that goes on. No real research went on here.

FDA Still Trying to Limit Vaping, the Healthier Smoking Option

First and foremost, the information collected for this ridiculous effort, was not collected for the purpose of investigating erectile dysfunction and vaping, which means the data points being evaluated are non-specific at best, and will inherently not cover all information that must be looked at in order to make such a designation. The people who responded to the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, for example, were not thinking their data would be used for a study on erectile dysfunction.

The information was indeed collected for the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. This study would likely have information useful for an erectile dysfunction study, but as that is not its purpose at all, it would only have a few helpful points. Anything else would have to be collected from respondents in a more specific way, and this was not done.

I’m not sure there’s a better way of exemplifying lazy researchers who want to get published, then putting out a useless piece of $%!# like this. You see, a real research study can take years to do. It has to be designed, relevant participants need to be found, something needs to be tested. And then all the data has to be calculated. This is very time-consuming, but will net results directly related to the investigation purpose, as ancillary research points on unrelated topics don’t have to be involved, and the study can fully focus on all aspects related to the question, whereby everything can be accounted for that’s necessary.

In the case of what’s going on here, and I see it all the time now, researchers took existing data sets from unrelated investigations, and then put the data into computers that played around with numbers until something that looked relevant showed through. This could have been done in a matter of minutes, or even seconds. The idea that this information is relevant, useful, or reliable is silly at best, and before any real conclusion could be drawn (like the study authors did) it would require backing from actual research studies in the model I just explained. This is an excellent example of the lack of research integrity that exists in the medical research fields of today, especially when dealing with controversial topics.

Other issues with this catastrophic piece of ‘research’

Though the study investigators like to say they controlled for different things, the reality is they could only control for what they had data points for, as no respondent was contacted specifically for this study. So if relevant data points like access to secondhand smoke, and actual smoking habits prior to vaping, aren’t accounted for, then how can we possibly know what the cause of anything is? The idea of smoking outside of vaping is incredibly important here. This is a population of people taking in nicotine, and as vaping is new, this implies nearly all would have been cigarette smokers at some point, and cigarette smoking is associated with erectile dysfunction.

The study works to draw the conclusion that vaping therefore affects circulation in the same way that smoking does, and this is laughable at best, and already understood to be wrong. Vaping might not be the safest thing ever, but it’s fundamentally not the same as smoke inhalation.

Recent Study Sheds No Real Light on Cannabis and Sleep

There’s a lot of obvious information here that’s being drawn in funny ways. Like, we already know that erectile dysfunction can have a lot of reasons behind it, but heart and circulation issues are big, and that’s why exercise would improve symptoms. It’s also why older people with cardiac issues would show more cases. This is not new information. Simply looking at ages and heart issues says way more about erectile dysfunction than vaping does in this context.

We don’t know why people are vaping, or when they started. If a person smoked for 30 years and started vaping a year before, why would any erectile dysfunction be assumed to be related to the vaping and not the 30 years of smoking damage? It’s highly likely that the vaping population used, represented a lot of people trying to quit cigarettes, people who might have been using them for quite some time. It could also be that the vapers are representative of people trying to clean up life in other ways, who are trying to stave off or minimize health issues that came from other avenues, and which could be confused for vaping.

Truth is, we know almost nothing, and all the results point to aging and cardiovascular issues as the main culprits. In fact, if any conclusion were to be drawn off the information presented, its that people 65 and older, especially with cardiovascular issues, are more likely to have erectile dysfunction. Considering these are all tobacco users, many being older, making the connection that smoking itself it a massive part of this is a lot smarter than anything the study researchers came out with.

Why this happens

The research landscape is starting to feel closed in and inbred. Rather than making actual pieces of new research, those who want a title published and a headline put out quickly, resort to cheap imitations in the form of taking unrelated data points and working them around until something that looks like a connection shows up. Even if the appearance of that connection can be easily explained as unrelated, or if the issue is very obviously related to other factors. And then a headline blares as if something useful was found. It’s research at its ultimate worst, and a sad state of affairs for anyone who wants decent information.

This ‘study’ (I don’t even like using that term here) is nearly identical in how it was done to something like this study which recently came out claiming that cannabis effects sleep making users sleep too much or too little. Only, that research too was based on unrelated data points in a study where no respondent was specifically questioned about the subject being investigated. Imagine that. Not one respondent actually questioned on the subject being investigated, and no questions specifically designed for the subject being investigated, yet somehow, all these conclusions have been drawn. This sleep evaluation literally taught us nothing new, but ended with headlines about how weed makes a person sleep badly.

Yet another atrocity, is this study about how cannabis can increase the risk of a heart attack, which also took unrelated data points to try to make some connection that never existed. In fact, the only connection that this study realistically made? That smoke inhalation increases heart attack risk, which we already know. The study investigators in this evaluation literally tried to pass off a study linking cannabis to heart attacks, without taking into account smoke inhalation, even though all cannabis users were smoking it. Research integrity? Not a bit here!

New Study: Does Cannabis Increase Risk of Heart Attacks, Or Is This Bad Research?

Conclusion

The whole idea of research is to help us understand the world around us, to make informed decisions, protect ourselves, and for governments to set policy for populations. So, when the research world becomes a mess of people looking to grab headlines and nothing else, the idea of it is essentially thrown by the wayside. This study attempting to show links between erectile dysfunction and vaping, is just another in an increasingly long line of useless information being put out, that does more to confuse, nothing to help, and which is a general disgrace to the idea of science and research integrity.

Having said all this, I would never go ahead and make a statement that there can’t be any existing links between erectile dysfunction and vaping (because I’m not as silly as these researchers). But if there are, if there really are, they certainly weren’t established here.

Hello! Welcome to CBDtesters.co, your best web source for the most relevant and interesting cannabis and psychedelics-related news from around the world. Stop by any time to keep yourself updated on the quickly-moving landscape of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and sign up for The Delta 8 Weekly Newsletter, if you want to know what’s going on first.

Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advise, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional.

The post Bad Research Again? No Study Links Erectile Dysfunction with Vaping appeared first on CBD Testers.

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Personal Experience: Special Lassi in India

Arriving in India was one of the biggest culture shocks of my young life. Aged 18 and having just completed my first year at university I really didn’t know what to expect from a country famous for its chaotic streets as well as its beauty. I wasn’t disappointed. Almost immediately after stepping out of Delhi airport I was greeted by a symphony of horns and shouts mixing with a thousand alien smells.

I was about to embark on one of the craziest few weeks of my life. Who would have known that one of the most special moments on this adventure would involve Cannabis and the famous ‘special Lassi’. In this reflection of a personal experience i had with my friend Tom in the ancient town of Khajuraho I’ll take you with me on one of the most memorable Cannabis experiences I’ve had in my entire life.

Cannabis is not just present in western countries, it has a presence all over the world. It’s so interesting to learn how this incredible plant is used in different places around the world. Remember to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter for deals on legal cannabis products, as well as all the latest news and industry stories. Also save big on Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC products by checking out our “Best-of” lists!

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The Special Lassi

Cannabis and India have been long associated with each other. Making its way into the sub-continent between 2000 and 1000 BC, Cannabis is intertwined with Indian history. Unlike other historic cultures, populations in India used Cannabis for its psychoactive effects as well as for the structural properties of Hemp. Cannabis and its effects were even written about in sacred texts, such as the Atharva Veda, which also alludes to the god Shiva being a fan. In India, Cannabis can be mashed up and used as a substance called Bhang, a milky substance made up of the leaves, buds and stems of Cannabis plants.

This Bhang substance can be added to milk and et voila, you have a bhang lassi, or special lassi for tourists. These drinks are often unregulated in their strengths and it is not uncommon for unsuspecting tourists to go from 0-60, especially if they ambitiously ask for an extra strong one. It was drinking Bhang lassis that myself and one of my best friends Tom had a truly unforgettable experience on a trip to India a few years ago. An experience that started my love affair with Cannabis.

The Indian Trip: Cannabis in India

Tom was on his gap year and I had just finished my first year of university. I had promised him at some point that if he decided to go to India, I would pop out (ah student loan money) and visit him for a few weeks. I met him in Delhi and we toured around the so-called golden triangle in Rajasthan. If you’ve never been to India and have the chance to go… go. I have never been to a country so beautifully steeped in history, culture and kindness and of course the food. Cannabis is illegal in India, but seemingly omnipresent.

At every city we went to, someone offered us bhang or ganja. In many places we were stung by bad Cannabis. One gram we bought I’m sure was just tea leaves, but we smoked it in Tom’s Elephant pipe that he’d picked up at an airport. Nothing happened. At one point a taxi driver sold us some weed and joined us to smoke it, eventually forgetting that he had the rest in his taxi. We hadn’t had the best luck, that is until the last week of our trip.

India’s Bhang Loophole, and the Question of Legalization

Khajuraho 

After two weeks of driving around some of the most beautiful cities we could find on the map, we were stuck with how to spend the last few days of our trip. A French traveller that we’d met in Ranthambore had suggested a little town called Khajuraho. Khajuraho is most famous for a group of Hindu and Jainist temples that have intricate sculptures of people in various sex positions.

There are many theories as to what these temples were for, one being that the sexual images are on the outside, meaning people had to leave behind their desires before entering the temples, but they have now become a tourist hotspot. Tom and I cycled around a few of the biggest temples, taking pictures, but we were mostly concerned with the storm cloud that had been shuffling in over the city all afternoon. We cycled back towards the high street, dropped off our bikes and looked for somewhere to take shelter as the heavens began to open.

One More Please

Storms in India take on gigantic proportions, making the drizzle of England seem pathetic: Like comparing being soaked by an inconsiderate driver passing by a puddle to a full blown precipitation tsunami. The only shelter we could find was a little bar on one of the high streets that had a large tarpaulin smoking area full of fellow tourists huddled in and waiting for the storm to pass. A waiter came over and gave us a menu, handily plastered with stock photos of cocktails we couldn’t really afford. “If you like, we do special Lassis?” The waiter said to us, with a knowing grin. At this point in our trip, we hadn’t actually come across a bar that actively promoted special Lassis, and we still weren’t one hundred percent on what constituted “special”. “It’ll make the rain pass quicker,” was all the waiter said, so we ordered one to share. 

It went down easy. Too easy. The thick milky texture and the all too familiar taste of Cannabis oil blended perfectly together. After finishing the first in 6 shared sips, we ordered two more. One each. Not completely sure of what they would do to us. After being stung by the fake Cannabis earlier we were certain that they were going to be very weak. 20 minutes later though, as the rain grew stronger and played out it’s ever more percussive sounds on the tarpaulin we were both quite certainly stoned. We chatted for a while about all of the usual travel chat: people back home, girlfriends, university hopes etcetera, etcetera.

We were both having a great time, laughing and relishing this moment. Tom and I had been very close at school and it was great to feel like we were building back up that special bond. The waiter came back over with two more special Lassis, still beaming. He placed them down then beckoned us towards the entrance to the bar. “Come outside, you have to see this.” Tom and I looked at each other and stood up in unison. Whatever it was that was going on outside, we would follow this waiter. To us he’d gifted us the best drink of the holiday, so out we went into the storm.

Cannabis Through History: Exploring Ancient Egypt

The Storm and the Parrots 

Now, I’m not too sure exactly how high we both were at this moment in time, but something genuinely quite magical happened. Above our heads the storm was in full swing, great forks of lightning seemed to split the sky in half. Illuminating the grey, monolithic clouds which were now no longer ominous, but beautiful plooms of whirling mist. What seemed like hundreds of parakeets, spooked by the lightning, or just having a ball, were all leaving their nests in the trees on the side of the road. Little green dots, floating, swinging and darting about above our heads, lit up by the flash-bulb bursts of lightning, giving their wings a neon buzz. Their calls and chatters underscored by the great rumbling of the thunder storm. I looked over at Tom and he was staring with his jaw dropped all the way down to the floor. 

“Is this genuinely happening, or are we tripping balls?” I asked, half joking, but half worried that we were in some shared hysteria. The scores of townspeople around us stunned in silence at the scene above seemed to answer my question. It was truly magical. I’ve seen some incredible things before. I’d seen plenty on this holiday alone, but this blew them all out of the water. The parakeets were flying in formations, like Swifts do back in England. Synchronised patterns underneath the bright lightning sky. We stood there for about twenty minutes, not caring that we were drenched by the rain, but in awe of nature’s humongous flex above us. After a while, the storm began to die down and the parakeets became a little quieter too, as if they knew their show was drawing to a close. We both made our way back under the canvas and didn’t speak for another ten minutes, stunned by what we’d just seen. “Let’s head back to the hotel,” were the only words I could muster. Tom nodded and we went outside to grab a Tuk-Tuk.

The tuk-tuk home was almost as magical as the sights we’d just seen. We were both now quite high and the wind and rain brushing our faces as the tuk tuk shot through the narrow streets back towards our hotel was an experience. Slowly coming down, we both reflected on what had been an absolutely incredible end to our Indian experience. 

A Personal Experience: Mushrooms in Vietnam

Reflections 

Cannabis has always been key to some of the best experiences of my life, getting high with friends, watching a show, but this was by far the most beautiful experience I’ve had on the drug. In fact it may even be one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Of course, the only issue is whenever I tell people about it, it just sounds like I was incredibly high and hallucinated a thunder storm in a city of sex temples, surrounded by hundreds of parakeets. Tom knows it happened for real though… and now you do too.

Hello and welcome… Thanks for joining us at CBDtesters.co, your #1 web source for the most intriguing and thought-provoking cannabis and psychedelics-related news of today. Stop by daily to get your fix in this constantly-changing universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting a story.

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Exploring Cannabis Culture: Los Angeles

“I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They’re beautiful. Everybody’s plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic” – Andy Warhol

Next up in our cannabis culture articles, we’re heading over to the land of opportunity: America. More specifically, we’re off to the home of the rich and famous: the city of Los Angeles. The USA has varying views on cannabis, mainly due to the fact that each of its 50 states has their own laws on cannabis legalization. This means that whilst one state might accept cannabis both recreationally and medically, another may not. Today we’re going to be diving into the cannabis laws and pot culture within the state of California, and more specifically, the city of LA; figuring out what cannabis really means there. Remember, cannabis culture isn’t just about laws or the government, it’s about the people. Culture is made by people. So, without more delay, let’s stroll past the Hollywood sign and into the land of LA. 

Whether you’re talking about the US, Europe, or anywhere else in the world, cannabis culture can vary significantly. To learn about laws across the globe, make sure to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter, your hub for all things cannabis-related. Also save big on Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC products by checking out our “Best-of” lists!

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Los Angeles

Los Angeles, or also referred to as LA if you’re especially cool, is a city in the US state of California. LA has a population of 3.8 million people and is the second biggest city in America. Often when people arrive there, they forget that, and end up having to get an Uber everywhere.  LA is only beaten in size by New York. The city is known worldwide for its celebrities, film and music industry, incredible beaches and, of course, Hollywood. LA is seen probably more on TV than in real life, which makes it quite a surreal place when actually visited. Nonetheless, LA is also home to real people with real lives. In regards to politics, LA is a Democratic safe seat, and has voted in the Democratic Party every year since 1988. The governor of Los Angeles is the Democratic Party member John Bel Edwards. This highlights to liberal attitude of California as a state, which we’ll delve more into later. So is LA a nice place to live? Well, the truth is that LA is like marmite: some people love it, and some people can’t stand it. But let’s take a look at some of its major highlights. 

Hollywood

Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest singers, performers and actors of the 1950s, said this about Hollywood: “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.”

Hollywood is a neighbourhood in LA, which is the home of everything related to the entertainment industry: the Oscars awards, Paramount Pictures, star-studded walk of fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Hollywood became a centre of the film industry in the early 1900s because film-makers were free from suing threats there. In addition, it had warm weather and stretching landscapes that are perfect for film locations. Now, Hollywood is still the home of film, and home to some of the most famous celebrities alive.

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Music Industry 

LA isn’t just famous for its acting industry, it also is the dream location for all aspiring music artists and is home to some incredible music labels. Not only are there some incredible music companies in LA – such as Live Music, Universal and Sony – but it was also a place where the 90s rap genre really flourished. Artists like Dr Dre, Easy E, Snoop Dogg and all of NWA all came to LA to record and play some of their best music. LA is still very much a hub of entertainment opportunity. 

Beaches 

Los Angeles may have an incredible entertainment industry, but it also has some geographic wonders too. In fact, LA has some of the best beaches in America. Santa Monica, Malibu, Huntington and Redondo are just some of the incredible sun-kissed beaches that LA has to offer. If you get bored of the stressful hustling and bustling of Hollywood, the beautiful beaches will soon calm you down.

Is Cannabis Legal in Los Angeles?

Short answer: yes. Long answer: whilst some laws are universal in America, most differ from state to state; and there are 50 of them, so that’s a lot of potentially varied laws. 

“There are actually two different sets of laws; federal laws and state laws. … Constitutional law permits each state to create and enforce additional laws for their state. Each state is considered sovereign and has the power to create laws as needed. Each state is considered unique with its own characteristics.”

In America, their cannabis policy revolves around the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, which states that the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under any circumstance. However, this is not the case in some states. One of these cannabis-accepting states being: California. The act splits all drugs into five ‘schedules’. 

The 5 Schedules

Schedule I

• This includes: cannabis, LSD, heroin and ecstacy.
• This is the most serious schedule, as the law-maker believes these are the most addictive and most likely to be abused. 

Schedule II

• These include: cocaine and mephedrone.

Schedule III

• These include: ketamine and anabolic steroids. 

Schedule IV

• These include: xanax and valium.

Schedule V

• These include: lomotil and motofen. 

However, despite cannabis being part of the Schedule I group, it’s still legal recreationally in 18 states, and medically in 37. How can this be? This is because these specific states have passed cannabis reform bills that have bypassed federal law. California is one of those states. In California, cannabis has been legal medically since 1996, and recreationally since 2021. 

The Truth About Illegal Cannabis Grows in California’s Mojave Desert

The Specific Cannabis Laws in LA

Since June 2021, recreational cannabis is legal in California. Since then, the law states that: 

“You must be 21 or older to have, purchase or use recreational cannabis. This includes smoking, vaping and eating cannabis-infused products. You may possess 28.5 grams of cannabis plant material (about an ounce) and 8 grams of concentrated cannabis. It is illegal to give or sell retail cannabis to minors.”

As you can see, California is rivaling Amsterdam with its cannabis laws. It seems like yet another weed-topia. However, as we’ve mentioned countless times, cannabis culture isn’t about the laws, it’s about the people. So what do the people of LA think of cannabis, and what are their lives like with all cannabis now becoming legalized. 

The City’s General Attitude To Cannabis 

The state of California has a population of 40 million people and it was recorded that California produced 13.5 million pounds of cannabis. That’s almost half a gram for each individual living there. This just goes to show how much cannabis is being produced and enjoyed in California and, more specifically, Los Angeles. The city champions its laid back attitude and cool aesthetic, which is only improved by legal cannabis. Like Amsterdam, LA is another perfect model for any city that one day wishes to also legalize recreational cannabis. But let’s take a look at how cannabis affects day to day life. 

Cannabis Dispensaries

Cannabis dispensaries, like coffeeshops in Amsterdam, are places where Americans can purchase recreational cannabis. There are now over 1000 cannabis dispensaries and definitely more on the way. This has created many jobs in Los Angeles. In fact, the cannabis industry in Los Angeles has made $3.1 billion in sales since 2019. This makes LA the highest cannabis-selling state in America. This also highlights how lucrative the cannabis dispensary industry is in America, and how much the American people utilise it. 

Beach Lifestyle

As you’ve realised, the beach lifestyle in Los Angeles is part of the culture and the way of life. The relaxation, the water, perhaps even the surfing; it’s all part of a meditative lifestyle. As you can imagine, beach culture also goes hand-in-hand with cannabis culture. Los Angeles is full of weed-enthusiasts who chill out at the beach, converse, listen to music and promote a relaxed way of living. It’s good to know that whilst there’s the hectic entertainment industry, with its money and fame, there’s also a parallel universe of hippies enjoying cannabis with the sound of the ocean. From one extreme to the next – that’s Los Angeles for you.

Tourism

Just like Amsterdam, cannabis tourism is rife in Los Angeles. That’s not just Americans escaping their state where cannabis is illegal, but also people from across the water. There are tours, cannabis crawls, multiple strains of cannabis; the place is built for weed tourism. This brings with it a traveller culture, and more diversity. Lots of people, from many walks of life, all with the same love for the marijuana plant. 

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Conclusion

There you have it, cannabis culture in Los Angeles. Places like LA are seriously testing the waters for the future of cannabis-accepting cities, and the world will thank them in time to come.  Like Amsterdam did before in, LA is leading the charge and may one day be part of a United States of America where all states have fully legalised cannabis. But in the meantime, whilst we wait, why not go check out the cannabis culture in Los Angeles for yourself?

Hello and welcome… Thanks for joining us at CBDtesters.co, your #1 web source for the most intriguing and thought-provoking cannabis and psychedelics-related news of today. Stop by daily to get your fix in this constantly-changing universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting a story.

Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advice, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional.

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Against Voter Will: How South Dakota Took Away Legalized Cannabis

Since Connecticut dropped in summer 2021, the main line has been that there are 18 legalized states for recreational cannabis use in the US. But there should be 19, and one of them should be South Dakota. The story hasn’t gotten as much press as it should have, as most seem not to realize that South Dakota actually passed a ballot measure, which legalized cannabis. Except it didn’t stick, because the government took it away.

How nuts is it that South Dakota legalized cannabis, just to have the government take it away? Not an indication of American democracy! Luckily, with the new cannabinoid market, even illegal states can have access to cannabis products, like delta-8 THC, THCV, and HHC. The holidays might be over, but the deals haven’t ended. Check out what we have on offer, and find what works best for you.Remember to subscribe to The THC Weekly Newsletter for deals on legal cannabis products, as well as all the latest news and industry stories. Also save big on Delta 8, Delta 9 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCO, THCV, THCP & HHC products by checking out our “Best-of” lists!

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What’s the story with South Dakota and legalized cannabis?

On November 3^rd of 2020, during the US national and state elections, South Dakota voters had the chance to cast their ballot on the question of whether cannabis should be legalized in South Dakota. Residents were able to vote on two measures, Measure 26, and Amendment A.

Measure 26 was an initiative to legalize medical marijuana and create a medical marijuana program. Amendment A was an initiative for legalized recreational cannabis in South Dakota, which also had additional requirements for the state to legalize medical cannabis, and to institute hemp sales by April 1, 2022. Recreational cannabis would have gone into effect by July 1^st, 2021.

Measure 26 was officially certified on December 19^th, 2019, by the South Dakota Secretary of State to be on the 2020 ballot. Amendment A also found itself on the ballot. And voters, indeed, were able to vote on both at once. Measure 26 passed with 70% of the vote, making it clear South Dakota most definitely wants a medical program. Amendment A passed as well with 54% of the voting population agreeing it was time for recreational cannabis to be legalized in the state.

This is interesting because it would have made South Dakota the very first state to legalize medical cannabis and recreational cannabis at the same time. And technically, it most certainly did, as per the ballot vote mentioned above. So, there should be 19 legalized states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Virginia, AND South Dakota) except there aren’t, there are only 18, because South Dakota had its recreational cannabis win taken away.

No democracy in South Dakota!!!

South Dakota’s voters made it clear they were in favor of both legalized medical cannabis, and recreational cannabis. By votes of 70% and 54% respectively, both measures were passed on the same day. Unfortunately, sometimes, even when the people are directly given the choice, governments don’t always respect this, and such is the case with South Dakota.

Nearly immediately after South Dakota voters passed Amendment A, on November 20^th, 2020, two law enforcement officials: Sheriff Kevin Thom of Pennington County, and Superintendent Rick Miller of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, filed a lawsuit to invalidate Amendment A. The basis of the suit was that South Dakota has a law for single-subject ballot measures only, meaning a ballot measure cannot cover more than one item legally. Amendment A dealt with legalizing recreational cannabis, legalizing medical cannabis, and instituting hemp sales.

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They also argued that it acts not as an amendment, but as a revision to an existing law, which requires a constitutional convention, rather than an amendment. As expected for a population that knowingly voted it in, there was a very negative response to the lawsuit.

But it gets stickier. This wasn’t two random law enforcement guys who just couldn’t stand the idea of weed being legalized. It was actually a conspiracy between them and leading co-conspirator Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota. This was made public on January 8^th 2021, when she issued an executive order making it clear she was behind the whole thing, and had actually directed law enforcement to file the suit. Noem never wanted Amendment A, and had made that clear before the vote.

Though it seems like simply seeing this connection should have raised grave concerns about governor Noem’s position, and whether she should be allowed to keep it, it instead was upheld, and arguments were heard on the case on January 27^th, 2021. The presiding judge in the case? Christina Klinger, appointed by none other than Governor Noem. By February 8^th, 2021, Klinger ruled that the measure was unconstitutional in that it violated the single-subject rule, and that it was a revision that was needed anyway, not an amendment.

This ruling was appealed, bringing the case to the South Dakota Supreme Court. The ruling was upheld as unconstitutional on November 24^th, 2021, even against arguments that invalidating it would go directly against the will of the people.

This means that even though the actual voters of the state made clear that the majority favored this legal change, (in a ballot approved at the time by the state), the government of South Dakota was not willing to accept this, and decided instead of updating laws accordingly (however it would have to be done), to go against the will of the voting public. This is a glaring example of the lack of real democracy in America, and its shocking that more has not been done to fix this situation for voters.

The campaign director for South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, Matthew Schweich stated how the ruling is “a disrespectful assumption that South Dakota voters were intellectually incapable of understanding the initiative.” He went on to say,

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“The court has rejected common sense and instead used a far-fetched legal theory to overturn a law passed by over 225,000 South Dakota voters based on no logical or evidentiary support.”

What else happened?

On January 27^th 2021, the House of Representatives (possibly also at the behest of Noem) initiated HB 1100, which looked to stall the medical marijuana bill which was supposed to be delivered by July 2021. By using excuses like complication of marijuana laws, current Covid issues, and ongoing litigation over Amendment A, the House sought to delay Measure 26. It tried to change the date for medical cannabis to become effective from July 1^st 2021, to January 2022.

On March 8^th, 2021, the Senate then amended the bill to allow the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana (likely as a way of trying to recoup some voter love after dismissing a voter-approved law). The House didn’t agree to this, causing the need for a conference committee, where HB 1100 died. This meant that while no amount of cannabis was legalized to have, it also didn’t stall the medical program from starting on the intended day.

Marijuana advocates aren’t just going to stop, of course, and an incident like this makes clear what’s coming in the future. Besides the fact that Noem might have an issue keeping her seat come next election, there will likely be a new initiative at the next election, no doubt in line with legal standards to keep the same thing from happening again.

And its not just voters. Just as the Senate had tried to amend HB 1100 to include possession laws, plenty of the government gets the message that its time for change. Laws are also being considered in the legislature that would allow an adult-use market.

Conclusion

South Dakota represents the idea of legal loopholes at their worst. While we often use loopholes to get around unfair legislation, they can also be used to support unfair legislation, or even drown wanted legislation. Overall, the story is an embarrassment to the United States at large, and Noem is an embarrassment for South Dakota.

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I expect that unless she takes a major 180º turn, and she might, that she’ll be evicted from office in 2023. Let’s hope! And let’s hope that legalized cannabis comes soon to South Dakota, as it did vote it in, after all.

Hello and welcome… Thanks for joining us at CBDtesters.co, your #1 web source for the most intriguing and thought-provoking cannabis and psychedelics-related news of today. Stop by daily to get your fix in this constantly-changing universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and remember to sign up for The THC Weekly Newsletter, to ensure you’re never late on getting a story.

Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advise, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional.

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Using Cannabinoids & Fungus For The Development Of Medicine For Cancer

*** THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE ***
Cannabotech is advancing in the development of botanical medicine for cancer: It reports obtaining a worldwide exclusive license to use a unique fungus for the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of pancreatic and colon cancers

The studied fungus was found effective in killing pancreatic cancer cells and reducing the extent of cancerous tumors in animals; Cannabotech estimates it will present a prototype of the drug as early as the first half of 2023;

Using Cannabinoids & Fungus For The Development Of Medicine For Cancer – Credit PR

Herzliya, Israel – 2 January 2022 – Cannabotech, which develops, among other things, medical cannabis-based products and fungal extracts, reports it received exclusive use of a patent for the development of drugs based on the extract of Cyathus striatus fungus. The fungus is being researched in the laboratory of Professor Fouad Fares, an expert in molecular biology and cancer research at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Haifa.

According to the agreement signed between Cannabotech and Carmel, the economic company of the University of Haifa, Cannabotech will develop a botanical drug for pancreatic and colon cancers, based on a combination of cannabinoids from the cannabis plant with the fungus extract researched in Professor Fares’ laboratory, which has shown promising results and found to be effective in killing pancreatic and colon cancer cells, and reducing the extent of cancerous tumors in animals, without damaging healthy tissues. 

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Dr. Alex Weissman, an expert in organic chemistry and former director of R&D at the Chimagis Active Ingredients Factory (API), and Dr. Isaac Angel, an expert pharmacologist with more than 15 years of experience in leading drug development processes, will assist Cannabotech in the research process.

A few days ago, Cannabotech reported the results of a study according to which its CannaboBreast product for the treatment of breast cancer, based on a unique combination of cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant, combined with standard chemotherapy, resulted in an improvement of up to 6-fold in the killing of cancer cells compared to existing treatment (from 10% to 60% cancer cell mortality). 

Cannabotech CEO Elhanan Shaked said: “Cannabotech continues to advance according to its business plan. Along with our preventative medicine products that are already available today, we are operating in the medium-long term in a variety of clinical trials, the most significant of which is the development of a botanical drug for cancer-based on a unique combination of cannabinoids with the Cyathus striatus fungus.”

Cannabotech CEO Elhanan Shaked Credit: PR

Professor Fouad Fares said: “We are pleased with the results achieved so far in animals and the critical reduction in the extent of cancerous tumors and with improved cancer cells’ mortality. The collaboration with Cannabotech enables us to accelerate the research and development process.”

 About Cannabotech:  

Cannabotech is an Israeli biomedical company that develops botanical solutions for preventive medicine and integrative medicine.  These solutions are based on combinations of active agents from the cannabis plant and fungi that work on two central systems in the human body: the endocannabinoid system and the immune system.

As part of the concept of integrative medicine, in the last two years, Cannabotech has been developing a series of 8 preparations based on unique combinations of botanicals from medical cannabis and fungus-based products, designed to help patients with cancer and chronic pain.  Upon completion of their development, the company’s goal is to designate the products to be integrated into oncology patients’ existing treatment protocol.   

At the same time, Cannabotech is working to develop a defined treatment protocol made available to physicians and technology for treatment customization. 

THCV From Cannabis Might Be Best Bet For Treating Diabetes

*** END OF PRESS RELEASE **

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5-Year High: When LSD Was Legal in Switzerland

Switzerland is the birthplace of modern psychedelics, giving us Albert Hofmann, who tripped his way into scientific infamy in 1943. Since that time Switzerland has been a front runner in psychedelics research. And for a short period of time a couple decades ago, LSD was actually legal in Switzerland for five years. Why was this done? And what was the result?

It’s not common knowledge that LSD was legal in Switzerland between 1988-1993, but it was. That policy is not current today, however, psychedelics are quickly moving toward legalization in many places. In the US, psilocybin and MDMA are both getting closer, but for now, are still illegal. The US has many other options though, like the emerging cannabinoid market offering the likes of delta-8 THC, THCV, HHC, and more. Check out our after-holiday deals to get great discounts on all compounds, and start your new year off right.

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A little history on LSD and the infamous Albert Hofmann

In 1929, a young Albert Hofmann, who had just graduated from the University of Zurich with a chemistry degree, began working for chemical company Sandoz. Sandoz, for its part, though started in 1886, was only 12 years into its pharmaceutical program. This was spawned by the isolation of the compound aotamine, from ergot, a fungus that is found in tainted rye. Ergot had already been used in history as a part of natural medicine traditions as a way to quicken childbirth and deal with the bleeding subsequent to it. When found in rye, it can be quite dangerous however, causing a person to get very sick.

Aotamine was isolated for its ability to constrict blood vessels to help stop bleeding. This was done by Arthur Stoll in 1917, kicking off Sandoz’s pharmaceutical lab. In the following years, different compounds of ergot were isolated as well, and it was found they all shared the same nucleus, called lysergic acid, or Lysergsaure in German. These compounds were made into medicines which brought in much money for Sandoz.

Albert Hofmann entered the picture in 1929, and began working on a synthetic process to build ergot compounds using their component parts. He successfully synthesized compounds of ergot as well as from other medically relevant plants. He began combining lysergic acid with other compounds to see the effect, and on the 25^th combination he mixed lysergic acid with diethylamine, an ammonia derivative. He called this LSD-25, also known as lysergic acid diethylamide.

First acid trips

As it did not meet his needs of stimulating circulation and respiration, it was put on the back burner, however it was noted that lab animals became excitable with its use. It was five years before Hofmann went back to try LSD-25 again, and this time, he himself felt strange in the process. Enough that he left the lab to go home, later writing to his boss, Stoll:

“I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dream-like state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted steam of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors.”

After ruling out that the reaction came from something like chloroform, Hofmann finally realized that it was likely the LSD-25, even though his only place of exposure was his fingertips. This led to his testing it on April 19^th, 1943, a day that went down in history as National Bicycle Day in honor of Hofmann’s experimentation. On that day, without telling anyone but a lab assistant, Hofmann ingested a dissolved 250 millionths of a gram of lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate – the crystalized version, and waited. Within 40 minutes he was experiencing an intense acid trip that led him to be taken home on a bicycle by his lab assistant, which he subsequently described as such:

Albert Hofmann: The Finding and Self-Experimentation of LSD

“Everything in my field of vision wavered and was distorted as if seen in a curved mirror. I also had the sensation of being unable to move from the spot. Nevertheless, my assistant later told me that we had traveled very rapidly. Finally, we arrived at home safe and sound, and I was just barely capable of asking my companion to summon our family doctor and request milk from the neighbors.”

When LSD was legal in Switzerland

Though Switzerland is the home of LSD, and the site for much psychedelics testing, it also illegalized the compound along with much of the world back in the mid-to-late 1900’s. Sandoz had patented LSD, and was selling it as a treatment for anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. By the 1970’s, smear campaigns started in the US as a means of promoting the Vietnam war, and LSD was illegalized nearly everywhere including Switzerland.

Currently, this is still the case, but weirdly, for a five-year period, it was not. In 1988, LSD was made legal in Switzerland for therapy purposes when the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health granted permissions for use to several therapists. This was not far-reaching however, as only five doctors were given the ability to use it, all in private practice. All the doctors were members of the Swiss Medical Society for Psycholytic Therapy, and all used the psycholytic method of combining psychedelics with therapy, also called psychedelic-assisted therapy. Psycholytic is more about smaller dosing, psychedelic-assisted is more about using larger doses.

Of the five doctors given permissions when LSD was legal in Switzerland, three of them prescribed during the entirety of the legalization period: Dr. Marianne Bloch, Dr. Jurai Styk and Dr. Samuel Widmer.

One of the big players in psychedelics research today – Dr. Peter Gasser, was a therapist-in-training at the time, and was able to observe some sessions that took place. Of the whole thing he said, “It was quite surprising for everyone… I think after that, no-one really knew why they got such permission. It was quite free, they could do what they wanted.”

Gasser worked with Dr. Samuel Widmer, one of the five prescribing doctors during this five years of legality. Widmer at that time was able to write prescriptions for both LSD and MDMA. It only lasted five years though, with the government shutting down the program in 1993. Subsequent to it being shut down, Dr. Gasser was charged with evaluating results of this brief experiment on behalf of the Swiss government. Why this entire experiment was done, other than as a manner of research, was not explained.

Afterwards

Though Gasser could report that most patients were happy, one of the failings of the program is that is was only meant for active therapists, not researchers, meaning there was no control group to compare data to. A control is a person who is not be given the drug for the sake of comparison to someone who is given it. This is something Gasser referred to as a “missed opportunity”.

Can LSD Treat Your Mental Illness?

One thing of particular note though, is that of five years of giving prescriptions, and over a hundred case histories, there were no severe incidences with the drugs, or need for hospitalizations. All this started Gasser on a mission of reopening a therapy project by government standards. This took him 10 years to do, and resulted in a 2014 publication Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted Psychotherapy for Anxiety Associated With Life-threatening Diseases.

Gasser’s mentor Dr. Widner didn’t leave the world of psychedelic therapy when the government program ended. Instead, he got around laws by running a commune called Kirschblütengemeinschaft, where it is said he lives with two wives and around 200 followers. He offers both psycholytic treatment, and education in administering psycholytic therapy. Swiss newspaper Ages Anzeiger reported at one point that Widner had trained hundreds of doctors in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. This was confirmed by German journalist Hans-Peter Waldrich who spent time in underground therapy groups.

The word *underground is important here. These groups, and what Dr. Widmer do, do not operate legally, which is why reports are few and far between. One of the things about having it legalized for five years, is that it helped spur on this underground therapy scene, which the government was never able to do anything about. It is often said that its much easier to get acid for recreational purposes in Switzerland, than for a doctor to get it for research. But this means a lot of ability for doctors to administer mind-altering drugs without regulation, and there have been reports of misconduct by some of these doctors.

Dr. Widner himself has earned some of this dissent, with his protégé Gasser stating: “He’s a talented person. He was, at least, a good therapist. But then he became this guru, and I think he made it very difficult… He left our medical society in 1995. I think this was necessary. He went his own way and we went our own way.”

Conclusion

One of the strange things about the five years when LSD was legal in Switzerland, is that there isn’t a lot written about it, almost like it was shoved back into the underground at the end. Many publications, even about the history of acid, will skip over this part in history, and its actually through research papers that much of this info can be found.

Why so quiet? Hard to say… But Switzerland definitely isn’t advertising that it did this, even now that psychedelics are up for legalization again in many places. Perhaps with enough changing tides, these five years will come back into the spotlight, and hopefully, right along with them, a new legalization measure for psychedelic medicine.

Switzerland: The Home of Psychedelics Testing – What’s Going on Now?

Welcome readers! Thanks for stopping by CBDtesters.co, your #1 web spot for the most thought-provoking and important cannabis and psychedelics-related news worldwide. Come visit us regularly to stay aware of the ever-moving universe of legal drugs and industrial hemp, and check out the The Psychedelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re the first to get all the good stories.

Disclaimer: Hi, I’m a researcher and writer. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. All information in my articles is sourced and referenced, and all opinions stated are mine. I am not giving anyone advise, and though I am more than happy to discuss topics, should someone have a further question or concern, they should seek guidance from a relevant professional.

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