Until Legality Reaches All 50 States

You can thank the great state of Oregon for thrusting fungi back into the spotlight when the Beaver State legalized psilocybin - aka magic mushrooms - back in 2020. Since then, the U.S. Until legality reaches all 50 states, we'll have to forget about mushrooms like the liberty cap, which can cause nausea, hallucinations and introspective experiences, Nature’s Garden Brand and embrace more delicious varieties of edible fungi you can grow at home. There are a few mushrooms that are almost impossible to grow," says Justin Matoesian, co-founder of TerraVita, a company that combines potent, plant-based ingredients with CBD to create a collection of wellness products and adaptogens. "These mushrooms include chanterelle, porcini, boletus rubriceps and the Aspen bolete. They grow on dying matter and are very popular amongst mushroom foragers in the wild. Climate is very important for growing mushrooms," says Matt Feldman, founder/CEO of Moku Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based jerky made from mushrooms. "Make sure to understand the climate requirements for whichever mushrooms you choose to grow at home. Also, don't give up if the first try doesn't go as planned! It takes a little time to get it down. Not only are reishi and lion's mane edible, but they come with them a number of physical and mental benefits including protection against ulcers in the digestive tract and anti-cancer properties. Until then, they taste delicious when sauteed with a little bit of olive oil, garlic and thyme. While the concept of growing your own vegetables at home may seem daunting, keep in mind that mushrooms may be one of the easiest things to grow indoors. There are over 50,000 species of mushrooms! Of that number, roughly 1 to 2 percent are poisonous and/or hallucinogenic.



CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two major compounds found in the cannabis plant. Each has unique properties, potential health benefits, and side effects. The following article covers CBD and THC, their effects, their legal status, and their safety considerations. CBD and THC are known as cannabinoids. They have very similar chemical structures and activate the same receptors within the body’s endocannabinoid system. Despite their similarity in structure, CBD and THC exert entirely different effects. The most significant difference between these two compounds is that THC is psychoactive. This means it can affect how the brain works. THC activates the body’s "reward" pathways to produce the "high" that’s associated with marijuana use. It does this by activating a cannabinoid receptor called CB1. When THC activates this type of receptor, things like movement, body temperature, and brain function are affected. In contrast, CBD is not considered psychoactive. It does not cause euphoria or a "high," even at large doses.



Much of the research on CBD and THC is preclinical, meaning it’s been studied in animal models. Large-scale human trials are necessary to determine if CBD or THC can help treat most of these conditions. Though it does act on cannabinoid receptors, CBD mainly affects other receptors, including serotonin receptors. It may help counteract some of the negative effects of THC, including serious side effects like psychosis. CBD has many purported therapeutic properties. Pain. Overall, there isn’t enough evidence that CBD by itself helps with pain. Some research has shown that high doses can improve neuropathy (nerve pain), though more data is necessary. Anxiety. So far, the results are mixed. Some studies show that CBD can improve symptoms of social anxiety disorder and Nature’s Garden Brand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while others show no effect. Seizures. Epidiolex, a purified CBD oil, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for some hard-to-treat types of childhood epilepsy.



Brain protection. Animal studies have shown that CBD may have benefits for those who have Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, but human clinical trials are necessary to verify these effects. Effects on animals may or may not translate into benefits for humans. THC is the psychoactive ingredient from the marijuana plant. The possession and use of marijuana and THC-containing products are not legal in all U.S. THC is effective for increasing appetite and for nausea and vomiting related to cancer chemotherapy. Pain. Prescription THC products have been shown to improve neuropathy and quality of life. Spasticity (muscle tightness). Sativex (nabiximols), Nature’s Garden Gummies Garden CBD Gummies a mouth spray that combines THC and CBD, is approved for spasticity in Europe. PTSD. A very small trial found that Cesamet reduced nightmares in 10 military personnel with PTSD. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Smoking THC was found to improve symptoms of IBS, but benefits may be only short-lived. People who used THC long-term were more likely to ultimately require surgery for IBS.



Notably, most of the research into THC’s effects has used standardized THC prescription medications. Other THC-containing products available at dispensaries may or may not be beneficial for any of these conditions. More research is undoubtedly necessary. Understanding how CBD and THC are regulated in the United States is a bit tricky. Basically, it comes down to the source of the product, whether it comes from the marijuana plant or hemp plant. In 2018, the U.S. CBD that contains less than 0.3% THC. Plants that contain this low concentration of THC are known as hemp. Historically, hemp has been used to make things like fiber and paper. Notably, marijuana (which comes from a cannabis plant with more than 0.3% THC) remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance. This means that the FDA considers it to have a high risk of abuse and no accepted medical use. Accordingly, CBD and THC that come from a marijuana plant are also Schedule 1 controlled substances.