Using medical marijuana helps people who suffer from lower pain significantly reduce their opioid use as well as experience lower pain intensity and functional disability, according to a new study that involved hundreds of patients.

Researchers with Tel Aviv University, Rabin Medical Center and Clalit Health Services in Israel enrolled 1,000 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who had previously never used cannabis and tracked their pain, disability status and medication usage annually for a period of 10 years at a specialized orthopedic pain clinic.

After a decade, opioid use, measured in morphine milligram equivalents, “decreased substantially” by 90 percent.

“Opioid reduction was rapid in the first year and remained stable through Year 10,” the researchers wrote.

Pain intensity also dropped by 84 percent, and functional disability was reduced by 30 percent.

The study, published in the European Spine Journal, also looked at how many patients achieved significant pre-specified thresholds for the outcome measures.

For reduced opioid use, 91 percent of patients met the target of at least 50 percent reduction in opioid use.

The goal of 30 percent of greater reduction on a pain intensity scale was achieved by 62 percent of participants. Sixty-two percent of patients reached the targeted decrease in functional disability scores of 10 points or more on a standardized scale.

“Medical cannabis therapy was associated with reductions in opioid use, pain intensity, and functional disability over 10 years, accompanied by polypharmacy reduction and acceptable tolerability.”

There was also a “substantial” reduction in use of other non-opioid medications among patients who completed the study.

“Tramadol/tapentadol use decreased from 89.7% to 5.6% (−84.0% points), benzodiazepines from 78.8% to 5.3% (−73.5 pp), SSRIs from 77.7% to 5.8% (−71.9 pp), and gabapentinoids from 31.3% to 0.6% (−30.7 pp),” the study said. “These reductions were clinically driven rather than protocol-mandated, reflecting individual physician-patient decisions based on symptom response. The pattern of polypharmacy reduction paralleled opioid reduction, occurring primarily in the first 2 years.”

The reduction in use of several different kinds of medications suggests that “medical cannabis may address multiple symptom domains simultaneously,” the researchers wrote.

“Chronic pain patients frequently require polypharmacy to manage pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression, each of which carries risks of adverse effects and drug interactions,” the said.

Participants in the study used marijuana products that included dried flower for vaporization and cannabis oils for oral/sublingual administration. There was some patient drop off as the study went on, and 638 of the 1,000 who enrolled ended up completing the final follow-up observation.

The researchers cautioned that the single-arm observational nature of the study means that causality cannot be inferred. They also noted that the size of the reductions in the outcome measures in the study “substantially exceeded” those from previously published randomized controlled trials, suggesting that “observational biases contribute to these findings.”

Nonetheless, they said their study is the “longest follow-up of medical cannabis therapy specifically in CLBP patients and demonstrates sustained, clinically meaningful improvements exceeding pre-specified [minimal clinically important difference] thresholds for opioid reduction, pain relief, and functional disability.”

“In this 10-year single-arm observational study, medical cannabis therapy was associated with reductions in opioid use (−89.8%), pain intensity (−84.2%), and functional disability (−30.4%), with high proportions of patients achieving pre-specified MCID thresholds,” the study concluded. “Substantial polypharmacy reductions and acceptable tolerability were observed.”

This is far from the only study supporting the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of pain—nor is it the first to suggest cannabis can serve as a substitute for conventional therapies such as opioids.

A study published earlier this year found that medical cannabis use by people with chronic lower back pain leads to “large, sustained, and statistically robust improvements.”

In April, a study found that using medical marijuana appears to help people reduce the use of other medications, including opioids, sleeping aids and antidepressants. They also experience far fewer negative side effects after switching to cannabis from prescription drugs, the study involving more than 3,500 patients determined. 

About one in three Americans who use CBD say they take it as an alternative or supplement to at least one medication—particularly painkillers—according to a federally funded study published in February.

Similarly, another recent federally funded study, published by the American Medical Association (AMA), added more evidence that marijuana can serve as an effective substitute for opioids in chronic pain treatment.

Other AMA-published research has found that legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes is “significantly associated with reduced opioid use among patients diagnosed with cancer.”

A separate paper published last year similarly found that medical marijuana legalization is “associated with significant reductions in opioid prescribing.”

In August, meanwhile, Australian researchers published a study showing that marijuana can serve as an effective substitute for opioids in pain management treatment.

Another study published last year in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review found that, among drug users who experience chronic pain, daily cannabis use was linked to a higher likelihood of quitting the use of opioids—especially among men.

Other research also found that legalizing medical cannabis appeared to significantly reduce monetary payments from opioid manufacturers to doctors who specialize in pain, with authors finding “evidence that this decrease is due to medical marijuana becoming available as a substitute” for prescription painkillers.

Further research also showed a decline in fatal opioid overdoses in jurisdictions where marijuana was legalized for adults. That study found a “consistent negative relationship” between legalization and fatal overdoses, with more significant effects in states that legalized cannabis earlier in the opioid crisis. Authors estimated that recreational marijuana legalization “is associated with a decrease of approximately 3.5 deaths per 100,000 individuals.”

“Our findings suggest that broadening recreational marijuana access could help address the opioid epidemic,” that report said. “Previous research largely indicates that marijuana (primarily for medical use) can reduce opioid prescriptions, and we find it may also successfully reduce overdose deaths.”

Another recently published report into prescription opioid use in Utah following the state’s legalization of medical marijuana found that the availability of legal cannabis both reduced opioid use by patients with chronic pain and helped drive down prescription overdose deaths statewide. Overall, results of the study indicated that “cannabis has a substantial role to play in pain management and the reduction of opioid use,” it said.

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Anxiety is a serious problem that many individuals experience. Anxiety before public speaking, social anxiety, or anxiety when you are alone can trigger problems like reduced sleep quality, low mood, and stress. An effective way to help yourself is to use CBD oil for anxiety.

If you didn’t know, CBD is an active compound found in the cannabis plant that has healing properties to help individuals with stress, arthritis, sleep issues, and many more ailments in the modern world.

CBD comes in many forms – oils, capsules, gummies, etc. However, Oil is the most versatile form of CBD, and many prefer to use it.​

How does CBD Oil help with Anxiety (backed by research)

CBD and The Endocannabinoid System

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a cell signaling system , present throughout the brain and body.

ECS consists of:

• Endocannabinoids – Anandamide and 2- AG
• Receptors (CB1 and CB2)
• Enzyems

The ECS not only helps with anxiety but also influences many important functions of the body such as:

• Memory
• Sleep
• Metabolism
• Recovery

Research-Backed Findings

1) Helps to reduce anxiety during stressful situations

In a study  where individuals with  social anxiety  disorder were given 600mg CBD and others were given a placebo before a simulated public speaking test. The individuals who took the 600mg CBD experienced lower anxiety compared to the ones who took the placebo.

2) Influences brain regions involved in fear and anxiety 

 CBD can reduce anxiety and change the activity in brain regions that are involved in emotional regulation (amygdala, hippocampus).

3) Promotes a sense of calm 

CBD can promote a calming effect through serotonin signaling. This means CBD interacts with a specific serotonin receptor called 5-HT1A; this receptor, when activated, can help to regulate anxiety responses.

4) Supports emotional balance 

CBD can enhance the body’s endocannabinoid signaling, which helps to increase anandamide levels,  as anandamide helps with mood regulation and stress resilience.

5)  Can produce calming effects without sedation

Many other conventional anti- anxiety medications try to calm anxiety but also give strong sedation, whereas CBD can reduce your anxiety without giving much sedative effects.

Conclusion

Anxiety can be exhausting when you have to deal with it, but with promising results from CBD research, it becomes a natural method to alleviate anxiety.

Research on CBD oil in alleviating anxiety has good results. Studies suggest that CBD can support mood regulation through the endocannabinoid system, serotonin receptors, and brain regions involved in fear, stress, and anxiety responses.

Even though anxiety can be difficult to handle, there is a solution for it.

Before you purchase a CBD product, make sure to consult with a medical practitioner.

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Mexico’s Supreme Court has pushed the boundaries of legal adult-use cannabis a little further. This time, the issue was not cultivation, possession or transport. It was cooking.

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, or SCJN, ruled that authorizations for recreational cannabis self-consumption may also cover the use of cannabis or THC in prepared or semi-prepared foods, as long as those foods are made strictly for the permit holder’s personal use.

The September 10 decision hinges on a distinction that sounds simple but carries real legal weight: making cannabis-infused food for yourself at home is not the same thing as manufacturing a regulated product for sale or distribution.

In other words, Mexico did not just legalize a commercial market for THC brownies, cookies or gummies. What the Court did recognize is that putting cannabis into certain foods can fall within the broader right to personal cannabis use that Mexican courts have been building out for more than a decade.

Cooking With Cannabis Can Count as “Preparation”

The case grew out of an authorization request filed with Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks, better known as Cofepris.

The health regulator ultimately granted permission for activities tied to personal cannabis use, but it imposed several restrictions. One of them barred the permit holder from using cannabis in prepared or semi-prepared foods.

The dispute eventually made its way back to the Supreme Court.

In a 7-2 ruling, the full Court found that adding cannabis or tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to food intended solely for personal consumption amounts to an ordinary culinary activity. On its own, the Court said, that does not make the food a specially regulated health product.

As a result, the SCJN ordered Cofepris to issue an authorization that also allows for that kind of preparation.

That distinction matters because “preparing” was already among the activities that could be authorized for recreational self-consumption, alongside sowing, cultivating, harvesting, possessing and transporting cannabis. 

The unanswered question was how far that idea of preparation could go.

The Court has now drawn the line a little more clearly: cooking cannabis-infused food for yourself can fall within it.

No, Mexico Did Not Just Legalize Edibles

The ruling comes with very clear limits. Cannabis-infused foods made under this framework cannot be sold, distributed, given away, supplied to other people or offered to the public. The authorization applies only to the personal use of the person who holds it.

The ruling also does not erase existing health regulations for other cannabis-related products.

The Court upheld Cofepris’ restrictions on using cannabis in products subject to specific regulatory controls, including medicines, herbal remedies, medical devices, dietary supplements, cosmetics, vapes and similar products.

So the takeaway is not that anything containing cannabis is now fair game.

The ruling is much narrower: preparing cannabis-infused food at home for strictly personal consumption can be part of legally authorized recreational cannabis use.

Mexico’s Cannabis Rules Are Still Being Built in Court

The decision is the latest chapter in Mexico’s unusually court-driven cannabis policy.

In 2015, the SCJN ruled for the first time that the country’s absolute prohibition on recreational cannabis self-consumption was unconstitutional. After reaffirming that position in subsequent cases, the full Court in June 2021 invalidated, with general effect, provisions that prevented the Health Ministry from authorizing activities related to the recreational self-consumption of cannabis and THC. At the time, the Court made clear that adults could seek authorization for activities including sowing, cultivating, harvesting, preparing, possessing and transporting cannabis.

But it also set a limit that remains firmly in place five years later: those authorizations do not permit commercialization, supply or distribution.

Congress, meanwhile, has still not completed a comprehensive legal framework for adult-use cannabis.

That has left Mexico in a strange middle ground. The constitutional right to personal cannabis use has already been recognized, but the rules governing what that right actually looks like in practice are still being filled in piece by piece.

And for now, one of those pieces extends all the way to the kitchen.

Photo by Margo Amala en Unsplash

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Cannabis has long been judged at the point of cultivation. Genetics, lighting, nutrients, and environmental controls dominate the conversation. Yet the final character of the plant, its flavor, stability, and commercial value, is determined after it leaves the grow room.

David Sandelman, CTO and co-founder of Cannatrol, has spent his career working in industries where that reality is taken for granted. Wine, cheese, and dry-aged meats are defined by post-harvest discipline. Cannabis, he argues, is still catching up.

“A winery is basically all about post-harvest,” Sandelman said. “That industry spends 90 plus capital on building a winery post-harvest. And then we get into cannabis, and it’s an afterthought in the closet very often.”

That imbalance is beginning to shift as legal markets mature. The consumer is becoming more discerning. Operators are facing tighter margins and the science behind drying, curing, and storage is moving from intuition to repeatable systems.

Food Science to Cannabis

Cannatrol’s origin story sits outside the traditional cannabis arc. Sandelman and his team began as engineers working in food science.

“We originally developed a technology for the cheese industry, which then moved into charcuterie and dry aged meats,” he said. “It was that aha moment. Gee, would this work for a cannabis flower?”

The underlying principles translated directly. Shelf stability, moisture migration, and water activity govern whether a product holds its quality or degrades. Cannabis flower presents the same variables, just in a different form factor.

The first prototype was a test, but the response was immediate.

“And a week or two later, they said, ‘This is some of the finest flower they ever produced,’” according to Sandelman.

That feedback triggered a deeper dive into the mechanics of post-harvest cannabis. Terpene retention, trichome integrity, and yield preservation became measurable outcomes, eschewing anecdotal claims based on taste tests only.

Controlling the Variables

Traditional cannabis drying relies on environmental cycling. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers remove moisture in bursts, often overshooting the target. Operators intervene manually, moving product, burping containers, or adjusting conditions to avoid overdrying or mold.

Sandelman sees that process as fundamentally unstable.

“Every time they cycle on, the vapor pressure drops, it removes moisture from the product, and that’s a continuous process,” he said. “If you leave the flower in a room with air conditioners and dehumidifiers, it’s going to dry it to dust.”

Cannatrol’s approach centers on maintaining constant vapor pressure. Instead of forcing moisture out, the system allows the flower to reach equilibrium.

“What we do is we maintain a constant vapor pressure in the space so that it’s constantly drying until it gets to equilibrium and then stops drying because it’s at equilibrium,” he explained.

The Economics of Moisture

Cannabis, like cheese and meat, is sold by weight. Every percentage point of moisture lost beyond the optimal range is product that cannot be sold.

“If you overdry the product, you degrade the quality… and also you’re losing revenue,” Sandelman said. “That’s money coming right off your top line.”

This is where engineering and economics merge. A controlled dry and cure process protects both the sensory profile and the bottom line. The industry is starting to recognize that connection, particularly as margins tighten and competition increases across mature markets.

Rethinking Standards

One of the more technical, and consequential, debates in cannabis regulation centers on how product stability is measured.

Most jurisdictions rely on percent moisture. Sandelman argues that metric is insufficient.

“Definitely the percent moisture should be done away with, and it should just be about water activity because it’s water activity that determines when mold and microbes can grow,” he said.

Water activity measures the availability of free water that can support microbial growth. It is a standard used across food science. In cannabis, it offers a more accurate picture of shelf stability.

“What we’re finding and learning is that the percent moisture will vary based on the cultivar,” he added.

That variability creates risk. A one-size-fits-all moisture target can lead to underdrying in one strain and overdrying in another. Water activity provides a consistent benchmark across cultivars. As legal markets mature, these kinds of technical adjustments are likely to shape both compliance frameworks and product quality.

The conversation around post-harvest inevitably loops back to the industry’s origins. Before legalization, quality control was inconsistent at best. Storage conditions were unknown and contaminants were common.

“Let’s go back to the old days when you were getting bricks out of Mexico with stems, seeds, twigs, and everything else,” Sandelman said. “Who knows what kind of chemicals they were using… you had no idea.”

Legalization has introduced testing, traceability, and baseline standards. The product is cleaner, safer, and more consistent.

Read more: Electric Haze: Why Real Sativas Refuse to Rush

Extending Quality to Retail

Packaging is only one step in post-harvest. Storage at the retail level is emerging as a critical control point.

“You would never manufacture ice cream and then ship it to a retailer who leaves them out on the shelf in a non-refrigerated space,” Sandelman said.

Cannabis has historically done just that. Product moves through distribution and sits in dispensary vaults under inconsistent conditions. By the time it reaches the consumer, the original quality has degraded. Controlled storage systems are starting to close that gap.

“When I buy the same flower from the same producer at other dispensaries, it isn’t as good as when I buy it at your dispensary,” Sandelman recalled from customer feedback.

That observation reframes the retail environment as part of the production chain. Quality is maintained, or lost, all the way to the point of sale.

A More Informed Consumer

For years, the cannabis market has been driven by a single number. THC percentage dominated packaging, marketing, and purchasing decisions. That is finally beginning to change.

“The consumer is going to get away from, ‘give me your highest THC,’” Sandelman said. “People are going to start understanding the terpene profile, flavor, taste, a lot more.”

This shift aligns with broader trends in food and beverage. Consumers are moving toward complexity, nuance, and experience. Cannabis is following a similar trajectory. Post-harvest plays a central role in that evolution. Terpenes are volatile and flavor is fragile. Without controlled drying and storage, those attributes degrade quickly.

As consumers become more educated, the market will reward operators who can preserve those characteristics.

Scaling Across Markets

Cannatrol’s recent expansion into Europe, partnering with Dutch Garden Supplies highlights adaptability as another dimension of post-harvest technology. Germany’s social club model favors smaller-scale cultivation. Other markets may lean toward medical production under strict GMP standards. Each framework requires different infrastructure.

“Each country is going to be different how they roll out,” Sandelman said.

The common thread is consistency. Whether the system is serving a home grower or a pharmaceutical-grade facility, the expectation is the same. The product should perform predictably.

That expectation is pushing the industry toward standardized processes, even as regulations vary across jurisdictions.

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Using marijuana appears to have a “positive outcome” on people struggling with some eating disorders, according to a new study.

“Cannabis is widely used by people with eating disorders and is widely perceived as beneficial in restrictive and food-averse, but not binge, eating disorder subtypes,” the paper, published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, found.

Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia surveyed more than 7,500 people with a diagnosed or self-reported eating disorder (ED), with more than 3,o00 of whom that used cannabis within the past year. Respondents represented 76 countries, with most residing in Australia (29.7 percent), the United Kingdom (21.7 percent) and the United States (17.6 percent).

“Cannabis received the highest mean ratings of any drug for improving ED symptoms” among people avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, anorexia nervosa and other specified feeding and eating disorder, the study found. People with unspecified feeding or eating disorder “also reported a favorable rating.”

For people with anorexia nervosa specifically, “cannabis use drove reductions in food-related anxiety and guilt, which, together with appetite stimulation, helped normalise their eating,” the study found. “The gastroprotective and antinausea properties of cannabis appear to provide additional therapeutic benefits over and above those provided by appetite stimulation and anxiety reduction.”

For people with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), which involves a lack of desire to eat and aversions to food based on sensory factors such as texture, taste and smell, there is a “transformational effect of cannabis” related to “increased appetite and enhanced ability to recognise hunger cues,” the researchers wrote.

“The higher frequency of daily cannabis use amongst those with ARFID may well reflect self-medication for these therapeutic benefits,” they said. “Indeed, daily use of cannabis flower was generally associated with higher ED symptom improvement scores relative to intermittent use, suggesting that symptom improvement may drive frequency of use.”

In contrast, people with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa, “provided lower ratings” for marijuana’s efficacy—perhaps because “the appetite-stimulating properties of THC may exacerbate binge/purge symptomatology,” the paper said.

When participants were prompted with open-ended questions, “general mental health was self-reported as improved by cannabis in most respondents regardless of diagnosis,” the researchers wrote. Participants also said cannabis helps with improved ability to eat, improved awareness of hunger cues, reduced guilt related to their eating disorder, less nausea and diminished food-related anxiety.

“Our findings suggest that cannabis is widely used by individuals with an ED or disordered eating and that naturalistic use of cannabis is self-reported as having a positive outcome on ED symptoms.”

That said, “a substantial number described mixed experiences of both improvement and exacerbation of ED symptoms,” the study found.

The research is a follow-up to an earlier paper that some of the same authors published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found that marijuana and psychedelics were “the highest rated” drugs in effectively addressing eating disorder symptoms.

“Our top-level analysis indicated that cannabis was commonly used among respondents and was one of the few drugs rated positively for ED symptom improvement. In [anorexia nervosa], [avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder,], and [other specified deeding and eating disorder], this positive rating was superior to all prescription drugs.”

While daily use of marijuana flower specifically was more associated with improved eating disorder scores than intermittent use in the new study, symptom improvement didn’t vary overall based on cannabis product type or cannabinoid composition.

The researchers noted that the self-report and naturalistic nature of the study means that no strong causal conclusions can be drawn, saying that “future clinical trials of cannabis products are warranted in eating disorders.”

They also flagged concerns about cannabis dependence and “other adverse effects” of frequent use that some participants reported.

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Headaches happen during migraine attacks but they are just a symptom of it.

Then what is migraine? Well…

Migraine is a disorder.

“Migraine is a widespread neurological disorder, affecting approximately 1 billion people” –Study.

​Specifically, migraine is a disorder of the brain and the nervous system. It makes people unable to function in their lives due to it’s severe effects. Many migraine patient turn towards synthetic pills but they don’t get relief. We’ll discuss a natural solution that can help you deal with migraine.

​

What causes Migraine?

Scientific studies can’t pinpoint the root cause of migraine. But when you look at the patterns of people who experience migraines, they can be traced back to triggers or lifestyle decisions that disrupt your body’s homeostasis; these include:

Hormonal Changes

Medications or periods can affect the body’s hormones. The natural workings of the hormones get side tracked and result in unwanted effects like migraine.

Stress

Experiencing high levels of stress can disrupt homeostasis and also cause migraines.

​

Skipping Meals

Your body needs food to convert into energy. When you skip meals, this causes low blood sugar and can trigger a migraine attack.

​

Low Hydration

Water is needed to deliver nutrients to cells, support digestion, lubricate joints, and regulate body temperature. Low water levels in your body can slow down or even disrupt its natural processes.

“Those big fluctuations in blood glucose levels could induce release of stress hormones, which can affect migraine,” Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN, 

​

Sleep Deprivation

Poor sleep quality can trigger migraine because sleep restores many of the bodily functions, including memory, mood, and immunity. When you don’t get proper sleep your body can’t flush out neurotoxins from your brain that have been accumulated throughout the day. The uncleaned neurotoxins can increase the likelihood of migraine attacks.

Foods and Drinks

Certain foods, mostly processed foods and drinks with alcohol, can trigger migraines. But how to know if one is experiencing migraine? you can learn about the common signs of migraine for this.

Signs of Migraines

When people experience migraines they get:

• Vomits
• Dizziness
• Hectic headaches
• Pain in the face and neck
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Unexplained fatigue/lethargy

Some individuals get different types of migraines.

Types of Migraine

Migraines are of two types:

1. Episodic Migraine
2. Chronic Migraine

Episodic Migraine – According to studies, episodic migraine happens up to 14 times a month.

Chronic Migraine – Chronic migraine happens 15 or more times per month.

Migraines can also be categorized into different levels, which have their respective pain intensity levels. Let’s have a look at the different intensities of migraine.

Migraine Intensity Scale

There are 4 levels of Intensity to migraine.

​

1st Level :Little or no intensity – There is almost no pain.

2nd Level : Mild Intensity –  Persistent pain can be felt, but it can be managed.

3rd Level :Moderate Intensity – Throbbing pain that comes along with light sensitivity and nausea.

4th Level : High Intensity – Severe Pain, vomiting, and dizziness; these make it very difficult to function.

​

Migraines and headaches, no matter the intensity, can be prevented when you have the right approach.

​

How to Prevent Migraines and Headaches

Migraines and headaches can be triggered due to many reasons, but the root cause is the same.

The key action to stop migraines and headaches is to keep your body in homeostasis.

For that, you need to be:

• Be calm
• Get quality sleep
• Don’t exert too much in physical activity.
• Avoid foods and drinks that trigger migraines.

Or you can try CBD.

What is CBD?

CBD is an active compound found in the cannabis plant, along with many other cannabinoids like THC, CBN, CBG, and many more.

CBD has medicinal properties such as:

• Anti Anxiety
• Anti depressant
• Analgesic (pain relief)
• Calming effect for sleep
• Neuroprotective properties

Migraines can be prevented with the help of CBD because they help to keep your body in a state of homeostasis (balance) by interacting with the ECS.

​What exactly is the ECS?

The ECS is a complex cell signaling system that controls important body functions including:

• Mood
• Memory
• Metabolism
• Sleep and much more

When the ECS gets unbalanced, you are more prone to experience ailments like migraines. However, CBD has calming effects that help to keep you relaxed by binding with pain receptors and easing the pain. It also slows down the breakdown of anandamide (the bliss molecule), which keeps your mood balanced.

But you need a good CBD extract.

You need a full-spectrum CBD extract.

The full-spectrum CBD extract contains all cannabinoids of the cannabis plant, including CBD, THC, CBG, terpenes, flavonoids, and more.

The full-spectrum CBD products have an entourage effect, meaning all the plant compounds work in synergy to produce greater effects. ​ The THC+ CBD extracts work better than the isolated extracts when dealing with migraines and headaches due to the entourage effect.

Even if the migraine is severe, full-spectrum CBD can help you reduce the pain and prevent migraine attacks.

​

Doctor’s consultation

Consult with a doctor before trying any CBD product for migraine and headaches because they can guide you on the dosage guidelines.

CBD comes in different forms like oils, capsules, gummies, etc. A doctor can prescribe the form better suited for your unique situation.

Conclusion

Migraine can be difficult to deal with due to its effect on your brain and nervous system. However, you can prevent it by being in homeostasis with the help of CBD and a healthy lifestyle. CBD can help you avoid migraines with its calming, pain-relieving, mood-balancing, and other properties, which will deal with migraine triggers like stress, sleep deprivation, and hormonal disruption.

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Award-winning cannabis journalist and best-selling author David Downs highlights the hottest flowers blazing up the charts in legal U.S. states for the start of fall. It’s his (mostly) monthly column, dubbed “Terp Sherpa.”

There’s a reason why more people are smoking weed daily than drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes: Weed is very tight!

This month’s collection of hot zaza in legal stores from shore to shore speaks for itself. We got fruity, we got gassy, we got creamy and we got dreamy. High Times’ Terp Sherpa column finna get you higher! Let’s go!

Giraffe P

Angel City Farmers, Jungle Boys (CA), Minntz (MI), EV Family Farms (NJ), Garden Society (NY)

Terp Sherpa must acknowledge the power of the P—Giraffe P that is. The strain swept the California Zalympix contest earlier this summer, winning Best Tasting and Best Overall, with both the industry and the popular vote in agreement. Then Giraffe drew long lines for a clone release of it in Berlin at Mary Jane, where Doja sold cuts of it for 500 euros a pop.

Giraffe P is a cross of Z x Animal Bx2 bred by Seed Junky Genetics. It’s thicc, icy, and dark with a loud, zesty, gassy smell and a tropical candy, and vanilla taste. Its potent indica-hybrid effects are perfect for chillin’, grillin’, and enjoying a movie or show.

You can find Giraffe P in dispensaries across the USA, from California’s Jungle Boys, and in Master Makers’ new infused joints. On the East Coast, you’ll find it in New Jersey from EV Family Farms, in New York from Garden Society, and in Michigan from Seed Junky affiliate Minntz. If you see Giraffe P, be sure to try a taste.

BBL2

Maine Trees (ME), Lifted (WA)

There’s a new ‘BBL’ you need to know, and it’s BBL2 from Maine Trees. This cross of Blueberry Banana and Blue Lobster just took second place in flower at Seattle’s Terp Warz, where it was grown by Lifted. The win comes after a second place finish in New York’s The Billy’s contest. It’s no surprise. Blue Lobster is built on the loud, potent Apples and Bananas, and the blingy, bulbous Eye Candy. Maine Trees took the work from Compound Genetics and Cipher and bred in their Blueberry Banana to boost the loudness. Now you have these dramatic-looking, dark purple, huge buds that are just reeking loud. Maine Trees keeps the BBL2 close, with just a few licensees nationwide, so don’t miss it when you see it.

Peach Tree

Aficionado Seeds (global), The Flowery (FL), Doja (MI, MA)

Peach season is upon us in cannabis. Aficionado Seeds is selling a Peach Tree clone for $20,000 that was developed by Flower Factory. It’s punch-you-in-the-face loud peach that one might assume came from sprayed-on terpenes. Nope! Aficionado Leo isn’t disclosing the lineage of their Peach Tree, but it’s spongy, sticky, hairy, green bud that need not win a beauty contest to have a long line of suitors. At the same time, iconic designer brand Doja has a Peach Tree that is Gelonade x P41 and is also making waves in Michigan, Massachusetts, and California. There’s no legal authority managing conflicting weed names, so the two will just have to coexist alongside others. We’re in the middle of a proper Peach Wave with the likes of California cloners Purple City Genetics pumping out Moroccan Peach crosses by the truckload. And we’re here for it. Millions of peaches, peaches for thee.

Grapefruit Starburst

Higher Ground Canna, Master Makers and Canyon Creek Family Farms (CA)

The best hash starts with the best, most suitable flower, and the one to watch is Higher Ground Canna’s Grapefruit Starburst. Grapefruit Starburst powered Master Makers’ Gold medal in the California State Fair Cannabis Awards in July, and then it scored second in the Hashathon Cup on L.A. in August. The breeder, Higher Ground Canna’s John, told Terp Sherpa, “the awards were only a matter of time.”

Grapefruit Starburst comes from two of his selections of Starburst #36 x Starburst #36 bred three generations deep. Starburst #36 itself comes from Starburst OG x KC#36. John was among the first to vertically integrate breeding for hash strains—from cultivation and processing all the way through sales in the California medical era. So he got further along than everyone else, faster.

Grapefruit Starburst is green bud with orange pistils, and a frosty, dense look and sandy, fat trichomes that are perfect for washing and making rosin. Canyon Creek Family Farms of Trinity County, CA. and 710 Labs are two of the growers who’ve crushed it with the Starburst #36 line. Grapefruit Starburst is one of my favorite dabs gifted to me at SF Hash Week 2026, with a taste and smell exactly like it sounds—it’s otherworldly, transportive and on a whole other level. It’s got a clear, hybrid, uplifting and creative effect that’s social, with a little body, but not too heavy.

Orange Tree

Greenline (CA)

This month we’re doing peaches, pineapple, grapefruit, blueberry, and yes, Orange Tree. A California delicacy worth seeking out, Orange Tree is an award-winning exclusive from indoor growers Greenline of Monterey, CA. It’s a cross of 24K Gold and Orange Valley OG, so while it reeks of orange, it’s got a fat, dank bottom that lingers in a room. The effects are hybrid, and good for chilling on the beach or hiking, or just smelling the orange tree oil on your fingers like a weirdo. Greenline grows Enviroclean and does its own butane hash blasting, so watch out for them to bring orangey BHO back; much to the chagrin of Tangie haters.

Pineapple Surprize

THC Design (CA)

It’s hard to get legit pineapple terps in weed. Pineapple Express can end up smelling thin, with a hint of hay. The team at THC Design, which grows alongside the brand Lolo in Northern California have pulled it off this summer with the debut of their Pineapple Surprize. California’s rigid rules for genetic sourcing preclude us from revealing the full origin story, but suffice to say, it’s real, vintage pineapple weed with a publicly reported lineage of Hawaiian sativa x Skunk #1. It’s green, full of the awesome terpene ocimene, and one to grab if you’re a sativa-lover longing for something more than Jack Herer. Smoke it and do some yoga or hop on that Peloton.

Hijinx

Fig Farms (CA)

Oakland, CA’s Fig Farms returns for a rare back-to-back appearance in Terp Sherpa because they’ve done their homework. On July 4, they invited me down to smell hundreds of phenos fresh from their R&D room. In nearby walk-in refrigerators sat huge totes of seeds going back decades. They’re popping vintage stuff, classics and certified bangers, finding keepers, and crossing them into their own lines to form new-new for their dedicated Cali fanbase. One of the ones that stuck with me was Hijinx, a gorgeous, gassy cross of their award-winning Animal Face and their crowd-pleasing Rapper Weed. Rapper Weed crosses RS11 x Lemon Cherry Gelato for a guaranteed hit. The Animal Face amps up the aggression—giving it a paint thinner meets kiwi fruit smell. Plus, just look at her. Fig Farms weed isn’t merely pretty; it’s Fig Pretty.

Fruit Loops

Voyage Bloom (MI)

Next, we zoom on over to Michigan to check in with their zaza mafia where we find the new Voyage Bloom strain Fruit Loops on a tear. It’s the breeder BeanFiendz’s exclusive cross of Rainbow Belts x Super Boof and it smells pretty much like it sounds: artificial fruit, vanilla and cereal. Voyage Bloom has stayed in the winner’s circle first with a Zalympix win for Slurmz (Gastro Pop x Red Bullz), and now four more wins for Fruit Loops—two in the Summer’s End Smokeout (People’s Choice, and Grower’s Choice), and two more in Ball+Blaze in March for Best Tasting and Best High. The effects hit hybrid, and are versatile with all your end of summer activities. I’d say ‘follow your nose’ but we don’t want that Kellogg’s smoke.

Red Eye

Seed Junky (U.S.)

It sucks that the U.S. legal weed market is so balkanized that smokers in one state are left out from the badassery in other markets. We wanted something playing across the country to big crowds like ‘The Odyssey’ in IMAX, so we called up Seed Junky Genetics in L.A., which is running their strains in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, and Michigan. Seed Junky Wes Vasquez said by far their best performer has been their Red Eye, which they are just pumping out at immaculate quality. Red Eye is Permanent Marker crossed to Lemon Cherry Gelato, two hitters that go great together. Yes, it’s in the Gelato wheelhouse, and, yes, that is the most popular terp for a reason. It’s the Matt Damon of terps! The masses like what they like, and vox populi, vox dei. This indica-hybrid is best for sitting back and unwinding whether it’s with some coloring books, or a record, or watching the sunset in a late empire.

Moonbutter

Tower Three (MA)

We end this month’s roundup in the puritan stomping ground of Massachusetts, where killjoys will attempt to re-criminalize weed this fall for the first time in the legalization era. Everyone should sign up to beat those haters like a gong. After you get on the volunteer list with Marijuana Policy Project, celebrate your civic engagement with some superb Moonbutter by Tower Three. They’re one of the state’s few organic-esque indoor living soil growers, and it shows in the rowdy terps. Moonbutter is such a cool, weird, regional strain. It’s a cross of Starkush and Butterwolf from the breeder TeamingWithTerps. Starkush has Nigerian Kush and Stardawg in it from Top Dawg Seeds—making it a stone-cold East Coast classic. Butterwolf brings together Dungeon’s Vault Genetics’ Swamp Thing and Thug Pug’s Peanut Butter Breath. Yeyeah. It’s a fuel, pine, chem strain with notes of rosemary and rubber. It’s also a maximum indica, so when you get mad about the endless historical cycle of prohibition, you can at least chill out about it. Just be sure to get mad again and fuck prohibition—again—this fall.

What did we miss? Put us onto the next peak strain. Email Terp Sherpa today.

Editor’s note: High Times opposes Massachusetts Question 8. This column is a strain review and includes its author’s opinion on that measure.

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Big cities get most of the cannabis tourism attention, but smaller destinations can offer something better: less traffic, more scenery, local character, and legal adult-use cannabis nearby. These cannabis-friendly small towns mix legal access with hot springs, mountains, beaches, art, history, or just enough weirdness to make the trip memorable.

Why Look Beyond the Big Cannabis Cities?

Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Las Vegas deserve their cannabis tourism reputations. They also come with city prices, traffic, parking headaches, and enough people to make a quiet weekend feel like a group project. Smaller destinations offer a different kind of cannabis vacation.

You can spend the morning hiking, soaking in hot springs, exploring an old downtown, or walking along the coast. Then you can visit a licensed retailer and return to lodging where cannabis policies are clearly understood.

For this list, “cannabis-friendly” does not mean you can smoke anywhere you want. It means the destination sits in a legal adult-use state and offers a useful combination of cannabis access and real tourism appeal.

State laws continue to change, and cities can create additional rules. Travelers can use the NCSL State Cannabis Policy Database as one starting point before traveling.

1. Desert Hot Springs, California

Best for: Hot springs, desert weather, relaxation, and Palm Springs side trips.

Desert Hot Springs might be one of California’s most underrated cannabis getaway towns.

It sits north of Palm Springs with mountain views, mineral hot springs, desert resorts, and a much slower pace than Southern California’s major cities. California allows adult-use cannabis for people 21 and older, although local consumption and property rules still matter.

What makes Desert Hot Springs especially interesting for cannabis travelers is the lodging potential. USAWeed has a listing for the Desert Hot Springs Inn, which identifies specific cannabis-use policies rather than leaving travelers guessing.

A good weekend here can be surprisingly simple: soak, eat, explore the desert, relax and repeat.

Joshua Tree National Park is also nearby, but remember that national parks are federal land. Cannabis rules there are very different from California’s state laws.

2. Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Best for: Mountains, hot springs, cabins, hiking, and winter trips.

Pagosa Springs feels almost purpose-built for people who would rather stare at mountains than skyscrapers.

The southwestern Colorado town is surrounded by outdoor recreation. Travelers come for hot springs, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, and access to the San Juan Mountains.

USAWeed also has an unusually fitting option here. The Wilderness Bud & Breakfast near Pagosa Springs combines cannabis-friendly lodging with a high-country setting.

This is the type of destination where planning your lodging first makes sense. Colorado permits adult-use cannabis, but public use is restricted. A legal purchase does not magically make the town park your personal smoking patio.

If your ideal cannabis trip involves mountain air instead of nightclub lines, Pagosa deserves a serious look.

3. Manitou Springs, Colorado

Best for: Quirky attractions, mountain scenery, walkability, and Colorado history.

Manitou Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak, next to Colorado Springs, but it feels like its own strange little world.

The compact downtown is packed with old storefronts, restaurants, mineral springs, local shops, and an unapologetically quirky personality. Nearby attractions include Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak region.

That mix, is what makes Manitou more interesting than a standard dispensary weekend.

You can build a trip around food, hiking, mountain views, unusual shops, and Colorado culture rather than making cannabis the only reason to visit.

That is usually what makes the best cannabis tourism destination anyway. Weed should add to the trip, not be the entire itinerary.

4. Ouray, Colorado

Best for: Dramatic mountain scenery, hot springs, road trips, and photography.

Ouray is tiny, dramatic, and surrounded by mountains so steep that the town earned the nickname “Switzerland of America.”

This is not where you go looking for giant entertainment districts. You go for mountain roads, waterfalls, hiking, hot springs, historic buildings, and scenery that makes your phone’s camera roll get out of control.

USAWeed has an Ouray Main Street Inn listing for travelers researching cannabis-friendly lodging options in the area.

Ouray also works well as part of a longer Colorado road trip. Telluride, Silverton, Durango, and other mountain destinations can be combined into a multi-day route.

Just keep cannabis inside Colorado and follow local possession, consumption, and lodging rules along the way.

5. Provincetown, Massachusetts

Best for: Beaches, art, nightlife, food, LGBTQ+ culture, and walkability.

Provincetown may be one of the strongest small-town cannabis tourism candidates in the country.

This Cape Cod destination already attracts visitors for beaches, galleries, restaurants, nightlife, festivals, historic streets, and its famous LGBTQ+ community. Cannabis has also become part of the town’s tourism economy.

The Town of Provincetown maintains an official page for licensed marijuana establishments in Provincetown, making it easier for adult visitors to understand which businesses have gone through local and state approval.

The town is highly walkable, which is another advantage for travelers. Still, walkability should never be confused with permission to consume cannabis publicly. Massachusetts has rules on where cannabis may be used, and individual lodging properties can prohibit it.

Provincetown works because cannabis is only one layer of an already strong destination.

6. Eureka and the Humboldt Bay Area, California

Best for: Cannabis history, redwoods, Northern California culture, and road trips.

Eureka is technically a small city rather than a tiny town, but it belongs on this list because of where it sits.

Humboldt County is part of Northern California’s legendary Emerald Triangle. Cannabis culture existed here long before recreational dispensaries became normal in much of America.

For travelers interested in the backstory, USAWeed has a deeper guide to the history of California’s Emerald Triangle.

The larger Humboldt Bay region also gives you redwood forests, Victorian architecture, rugged coastline, small towns, roadside oddities, and one of the most recognizable cannabis-growing regions in the United States.

This is a particularly good choice for travelers who want cannabis culture with some history attached to it.

Just don’t turn a scenic drive through redwood country into a consumption session. Save cannabis for a legal location after the driving is done.

7. Astoria, Oregon

Best for: Oregon Coast scenery, seafood, history, breweries, and rainy-day wandering.

Astoria sits where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, and it has a completely different personality from Portland.

Think steep streets, old houses, working waterfront views, seafood, historic buildings, coastal weather, and enough fog to make everything look like the opening scene of a mystery movie.

Oregon allows adult-use cannabis for adults 21 and older, but public consumption remains restricted. Visitors should confirm local regulations and lodging policies before consuming.

Astoria also works as the northern starting point for a longer coastal trip. If Oregon is on your list, check USAWeed’s Oregon 420 travel guide for more planning ideas.

This is a great destination for travelers who want legal cannabis access without spending the whole vacation in Portland.

What Makes a Small Town Good for Cannabis Tourism?

A legal dispensary alone does not make a great cannabis destination.

The better small-town trips usually have several things working together:

• Legal adult-use cannabis access nearby
• Clear local regulations
• Cannabis-friendly or smoking-friendly lodging options
• Restaurants and local food
• Walkable areas or easy transportation
• Outdoor recreation or unusual attractions
• Enough activities to make the destination worthwhile even without cannabis

The last point matters most.

The strongest cannabis vacations are still vacations.

Small-Town Cannabis Travel Takes More Planning

There is one downside to skipping the big city. Smaller towns usually have fewer options.

You may find fewer dispensaries, fewer cannabis-friendly rooms, shorter business hours, or stricter local rules. Transportation can also become important when attractions are spread out.

Before booking:

• Confirm that recreational cannabis sales are available locally.
• Check dispensary hours before arriving.
• Ask exactly where cannabis consumption is permitted at your lodging.
• Never assume a balcony or patio automatically allows smoking.
• Plan a sober driver or alternative transportation.
• Do not bring cannabis across state lines.
• Be especially careful around national parks and other federal land.

For lodging around the country, compare USAWeed’s 420-friendly hotels and cannabis-friendly lodging before you book.

Sometimes Smaller Really Is Better

You do not need a giant cannabis festival, 30 dispensaries, or a Vegas-sized entertainment district to have a great weed-friendly vacation.

Sometimes you need a hot spring, a mountain town, a strange little downtown, a plate of seafood, or a road that leads into the redwoods.

Desert Hot Springs, Pagosa Springs, Manitou Springs, Ouray, Provincetown, Eureka, and Astoria show how cannabis tourism can fit into a much bigger travel experience.

Choose the destination for what you want to see and do. Then make cannabis one responsible part of the trip.

Explore USAWeed.org to find cannabis-friendly places to stay, verified travel listings, and great, safe, and tested products for responsible adults.

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