Latest news with #THC
Gulf Insider
44 minutes ago
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Cannabis, Smoked Or Eaten, Linked To Tobacco-Like Blood Vessel Harm
Long-term marijuana smoking and THC edible use may harm the blood vessels as much as tobacco, a new study suggests. The research indicates that cannabis users might face an increased risk of heart disease, even if they are otherwise healthy. Both smoking and eating cannabis caused the blood vessel linings to not work as effectively, even in otherwise healthy adults who never used tobacco, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found. 'The blood vessels don't seem to care whether the smoke is from tobacco or cannabis,' study author Matthew L. Springer, professor of medicine at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at UCSF, told The Epoch Times. The research shows cannabis users had blood vessel function 'very similar' to tobacco smokers in previous studies, he noted. For the estimated 17.7 million Americans who use marijuana in some form every day, according to polling data, the study raises important questions about long-term health risks that remain largely unstudied. The research, recently published in JAMA Cardiology, tracked 55 healthy adults aged 18 to 50, dividing them into three groups: marijuana smokers, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) edible users, and non-users. All cannabis users consumed their preferred method at least three times weekly for more than a year—making them regular, not casual users. Springer said they had a good reason for the relatively small number of participants. 'We were very picky!' 'The study is very clean in that our cannabis user groups have never been tobacco smokers/vapers, and tend to avoid secondhand smoke,' he added. 'The marijuana smokers only smoke marijuana and don't vaporize it or vape THC, and our THC edibles group avoids all smoke.' Researchers measured blood flow-mediated dilation, which shows how well blood vessels relax and contract. Both cannabis groups showed significantly worse vascular function than nonusers, with heavier use linked to greater damage. While smoking marijuana and eating edibles both harmed blood vessels, researchers noted they likely do so for different reasons. Marijuana smokers showed reduced production of nitric oxide, a compound that helps blood vessels stay healthy. This effect was not seen in edible users, though their blood vessels sustained similar vascular damage. Other measures of blood vessel health, such as arterial stiffness, did not differ among the groups. For cannabis smokers, Springer believes that smoke is the culprit for their blood vessel damage. 'Tobacco smokers have the same functional problems, and there's no THC in tobacco smoke,' he noted. Previous rat studies showed that even marijuana smoke without any cannabinoids still damaged cardiovascular function. For edible users, the mechanism remains unclear, though the damage is equally real. Springer emphasized that the bottom line is that smoking marijuana does not appear to avoid the harmful vascular effects of smoking tobacco, and neither does frequent use of THC edibles. He noted the study had some limitations, including variability in cannabis strains and self-reported use, which could affect results. 'It's a relatively small study,' Springer said. 'Nonetheless, the differences between groups are clear, and the statistics are robust and show that our results have a high confidence level.' Click here to read more…
CBS News
15 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Fort Worth shop owner fears closure as Gov. Greg Abbott weighs THC ban
Fort Worth shop owner says THC ban could shut down his business Fort Worth shop owner says THC ban could shut down his business Fort Worth shop owner says THC ban could shut down his business Alex Noriega, owner of Natural Buds in Fort Worth, says a proposed statewide ban on hemp-derived THC products could force him to shut down just nine months after opening. THC ban threatens small shops Noriega, who uses THC to manage seizures, says the products have significantly improved his quality of life. "It used to be where I would have seizures on a weekly basis. Now I only have them every three to four months," he said. But with Senate Bill 3 awaiting action from Gov. Greg Abbott, Noriega says the uncertainty is taking a toll. "As Sunday approaches, the 22nd, when the governor has to sign this by, I've been getting less sleep every night," he said. 90% of inventory at risk Noriega estimates that 90% of the products he sells contain THC and would be banned under the bill. "I sold the family house to open this place, so everything's on the line," he said. "Eliminating THC would put us completely out of business." Customers worry about safety Customers like Devonrick Jefferson say a ban could push people toward unregulated alternatives. "I feel safe coming to the THC stores versus buying on the street," he said. "Here, it feels regulated. I know what I'm putting in my body." Governor silent as deadline nears Senate Bill 3 would ban products containing Delta-8, Delta-9, and THC-infused beverages, while still allowing non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD. The bill has sparked backlash from business owners and advocates, who say it could eliminate $4.3 billion in annual revenue and 53,000 jobs statewide 1. Gov. Abbott has not publicly stated whether he will sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action by Sunday, it will become law without his signature.
Business Insider
17 hours ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Gen Z is ditching alcohol, but their weed habit may be risky for their health, too
Gen Z may be cutting back on booze, but could still be facing serious health risks from their new drug of choice. Cannabis use has been steadily growing in recent years, and Gallup polls suggest it's catching on most with Americans aged 18 to 34. At the same time, 20-somethings are spending less time and money than ever in bars and liquor stores (and worrying alcohol industry leaders), in part because of a growing movement of health-consciousness. Sinking alcohol sales in recent years have coincided with a renewed focus on the health risks of drinking, including the link between any amount of alcohol use and cancer. With an outpouring of products like THC-infused seltzers, mocktails, and tinctures that offer a buzz without the hangover, the cannabis industry is capitalizing on dwindling interest in alcohol. These alternatives cater to young people who are sober-curious, drinking less without abstaining completely, or " Cali sober," giving up alcohol while still consuming cannabis. However, emerging research suggests alternatives like cannabis aren't risk-free either Using cannabis may double your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a large study published June 17 in the journal Heart. Researchers from the University of Toulouse looked at data from 24 studies, including about 200 million people primarily between ages 19 and 59, to see how cannabis use affected health over time. They found that cannabis users had a 29% higher risk of heart attack, and a 20% higher risk of stroke, compared to peers who didn't use. A striking number of these patients who were hospitalized for heart problems are young and did not have a prior history of related medical issues or risk factors, the study's senior author Émilie Jouanjus, associate professor of pharmacology at the University of Toulouse, told CNN. Edibles may not be risk-free, either. Previous research found that ingesting THC, the active ingredient in cannabis linked to the sensation of being high, is linked to cellular dysfunction, which increases risks to heart health, even if you don't smoke it. The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that although cannabis isn't the outsize threat presented during the "Reefer Madness" era, it has significant health risks, and scientists are urging more caution from consumers. An editorial published alongside the most recent study calls for a closer look at regulation of the emerging cannabis market, including warning labels similar to those on cigarettes. "Regulation is focused on establishing the legal market with woeful neglect of minimizing health risks," the authors wrote. "Specifically, cannabis should be treated like tobacco: not criminalized but discouraged."
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Intoxicating Hemp Is Everywhere. Texas Just Might Ban It.
Recreational marijuana may still be illegal in Texas, but its close relative, recreational hemp, is everywhere. More than 5,000 stores across the state sell joints, gummies and drinks loaded with T.H.C., the intoxicating ingredient in cannabis. In some towns, retailers of T.H.C. products outnumber fast food restaurants. By the end of this week, Gov. Greg Abbott must decide whether to sign what might be the nation's broadest legal prohibition on intoxicating hemp-derived products, potentially making Texas a leader in the fight against the intoxicant, whose vocal opponents include Texas's hard-right lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, and California's liberal standard-bearer, Gov. Gavin Newsom. Lobbyists opposed to the ban — passed by the Republican-dominated State Legislature last month — have bombarded Mr. Abbott with messages urging a veto. They have stressed the number of jobs created by the nascent industry, whose sales in the state exceed $4 billion a year, industry experts say. And they have highlighted the use of T.H.C. products to cope with post-traumatic stress, chronic pain and other ailments, particularly among military veterans. The lieutenant governor has accused the industry of peddling drugs. 'They want to hook a generation of young people,' Mr. Patrick said in a news conference at the Texas Capitol last month, standing over a table filled with T.H.C. products. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs historic $20 billion water investment bill, talks state impact
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited Lubbock Wednesday to sign into law the largest generational water investment in state history, addressing a multi-year water crisis and leaving it up to Texans to codify the bill in an election this November. Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7 will allocate $20 billion over a 20-year period to offset water infrastructure and development costs through the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee. Others are reading: Patrick, Perry defend proposed Texas THC ban after smoke shop exploit hemp loophole Authored by State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, the bill comes at a much needed time, he said, as nine cities across the state this year have declined development permits, citing lack of supplies as their reason. "Here's what I know,' said Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican. 'They show up, and they turn on that spigot, the water doesn't come out — those U-Hauls are going to go the absolute opposite direction.' With nearly 1,000 people moving to Texas each day, Abbott said it's important the state's water infrastructure meets the growing population's demand. Story continues after gallery. 'I'll add this: My hometown, Wichita Falls, almost ran out of water a couple of years ago,' Abbott said. 'This is something I got to see occur just a few days away from losing water, and that's where it became a very real understanding. We have communities like that across the state that have this need that has to be addressed.' Perry said irrigated crops in the Panhandle and Rio Grande Valley are the largest areas depleting water resources, and second is municipal use. City water is often pulled from the same sources farmers and ranchers use, Perry said. SB 7 encourages cities to reach a new supply of water further in the ground on the brackish, marine level, creating a more stable water resource for residents and increasing production again for agricultural use. HJR 7, authored by Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, proposes a Texas constitutional amendment that will help fund those long-term water resource projects. While funding has always been available, Executive Director Bobby Bazan with Texas Ground Water Association said funding has never been available in such a large capacity. 'We have an aging infrastructure that is outgrowing its usefulness, timeline, and this money is going to go toward helping improve some of that, making sure, like the governor said, when somebody turns a faucet on, there's going to be water there,' Bazan said. $1 billion will be allocated annually to the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee over the next 20 years, but Perry said he believes the fund will last far longer than its intended time frame. 'What I know about the legislature is if you prove what you said was going to happen, and it's working, and there's support — it'll be another 10 to 20 years.' The law would not fully go into effect unless Texas voters codify it at the polls - OK'ing the proposal in the upcoming November state constitutional amendments election. What does this mean for Lubbock ? Lake 7, located near Buffalo Springs Lake and 50th Street, is one of many projects Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer said SB 7 and HJR 7 will help fund. The proposed lake will be filled with directly reused city water. The water will then go through a treatment plant before it becomes potable water, said Raquel Mullen, customer relations manager with the City of Lubbock. In addition to Lake 7, the bill will help address needs with Lake Meredith and Lake Alan Henry through respective city projects, McBrayer said. 'This bill is going to be very beneficial for Lubbock as well,' McBrayer said. 'We're happy to have it.' McBrayer said he worked with Perry to achieve some of the bill's amendments, such as adding and defining lake-ready projects. 'He took advantage of that, and he saw that need,' McBrayer said of working with Perry. 'He addressed that need in the bill and made some changes, so we're so very happy he worked with us on it.' Perry said just as he met with Lubbock representatives, there was also an effort to meet with all 254 counties in the state to ensure their needs were met. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gov. Abbott signs $20 billion water bill, discusses statewide impact
