Tag: CBD

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia House of Delegates on Monday narrowly passed a bill aimed at establishing a retail marketplace for the sale of recreational marijuana.

Virginia voters decided to end the state’s prohibition on recreational marijuana in 2021, with a date of Jan. 1, 2024 set for the beginning of retail sales. However, in the years since the voters made that decision, little was done to make sure the state would meet its Jan. 1 deadline for retail sales.

In November 2023, the voters put Democrats in control of both houses of Virginia’s General Assembly – a political blow to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin who campaigned hard for other Virginia Republicans leading up to the election.

Now – on Monday – the Virginia House of Delegates advanced HB698 by a narrow margin of 52-48. The bill is a first step in moving the state forward on what Virginia residents voted for years ago.

JUST NOW: The Virginia House of Delegates passed HB698 by 52-48, which would create a retail cannabis marketplace. The next step? It will cross over to the Senate this week. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/rSwjs8EP4h

— Matthew Torres (@News_MTorres) February 12, 2024

The vote was largely along party lines with Democrats voting yes to approve the bill and Republicans voting no. Only one Republican member voted to move the bill forward –…

A Hoppers Crossing woman was among four people injured in an attempted robbery and assault in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night.

The incident occurred on Princes Bridge at about 5.30pm on February 9 where a man allegedly assaulted four people with a glass bottle after earlier attempting to rob a passenger on a nearby tram.

A 46-year-old Hoppers Crossing woman, 67-year-old Warneet man, a 56-year-old Collingwood woman and a 34-year-old Kennington woman were all taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 27 year-old South Melbourne MAN was arrested at the scene and later charged with four counts of recklessly causing injury.

He appeared before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, February 10 where he was refused bail.

He will return to court on Friday, February 16.

Credit: Metlink

Metlink, the public transport authority for the Wellington region, has announced significant enhancements to public transport access for residents of Strathmore Park and Wilton. The introduction of bus Route 4 marks a significant milestone in the regional council’s efforts to restore trust in public transport, according to Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter.

Daran Ponter expressed enthusiasm for the additions, stating, “The addition of Route 4 is a really positive step forward after recent difficulties arising from COVID and driver shortages. It’s no secret that trust in public transport has been shaken, but we’ve been working hard to return reliability to the bus network. It’s great we’re now able to add services our passengers have been calling for that decongest our roads and reduce emissions.”

The enhancements include various service improvements across the Wellington region:

• The reinstatement of 54 weekend bus trips previously suspended due to driver shortages
• Extension of Route 20 to Wellington Railway Station
• Boosted Karori bus services with additional morning peak trips on routes 33, 34 and 2
• Addition of Route 35 morning peak trips for Hataitai and Mt Victoria passengers
• Increased peak frequency of Route 26 to every…

Legal marijuana opens door to public health harms

Kudos to Sherry Greenfield for getting these two articles on the front page: ”Officials set to discuss recreational cannabis”  on Jan. 25 and “Public Hearing set for cannabis rules” on Jan. 27.

Unfortunately, once again, our valiant and fearless County Commissioners are relegated to the difficult task of finding appropriate “restrictions” to a very bad law. One that was passed by the voting citizens of Maryland making cannabis use legal, which became effective July 1, 2023. Our noble commissioners do not even support the legalization of marijuana! Good for them!  I wonder how many other Carroll County citizens also voted against the law!  I know I did. Cannabis legalization is a boon to big business, but many are paying with their health.

Here are some text quotes from The Epoch Times piece “The Overlooked Risks of Legalized Marijuana” from the Jan. 24-30 edition:

“The hazy narrative of harmless recreation masks darker truths now coming to light. Evidence is mounting that the push for recreational drug use has led to cannabis-related hospitalizations and links to mental health issues such as anxiety. depression, cannabis use disorder, and more.”

“Cannabis use disorder is marked by cravings and inability to quit despite life problems, according to a University of Maryland Review.”

“Cannabis use is leading to more emergency room visits, especially for 18-25-year olds.”

“Heavy Cannabis…

— Oshkosh-area business leaders are more optimistic about Wisconsin’s business climate in 2024 than they were last year, a recent survey suggests. 

The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce’s latest annual survey found 75% of respondents feel the state is headed in the right direction, compared to 42% in the 2023 survey. 

“They’re generally feeling very positive about where we’re headed in 2024,” Chamber President and CEO Rob Kleman said this week in an interview. “I think 2023 shaped up to be very positive as well from the results that we’ve seen here, but they believe that Oshkosh and our region, our area is doing well, and we’re in a position of strength.” 

Fifty-eight percent of respondents said their 2023 sales had exceeded the previous year, while 65% had higher profits, 48% added jobs and 81% increased wages from 2022 levels. 

Looking ahead to the rest of this year, 70% of respondents expect sales to outperform 2023 and 57% expect to hire more people in 2024. 

Meanwhile, 76% of respondents rate their company’s outlook as “good to excellent” in the next six months. That rises to 89% for the next 12 months and 93% for the next one to three years. 

And while 47% said they have unfilled job openings, that percentage has fallen from 55% in last year’s survey. 

But local businesses continue to struggle with finding qualified workers, Kleman said. When asked about efforts to fill job openings in the past three months, 68% of respondents…

CBD, short for Cannabidiol, has gained significant attention for its potential health benefits. While many are familiar with its pain-relieving and anxiety-reducing properties, it’s worth noting that some studies suggest it may also have a potential role in enhancing musical creativity and performance. As a musician, you might be intrigued by the potential ways in which CBD Capsules could benefit you. In the following comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the multifaceted role of CBD in musical creativity and performance, exploring its diverse benefits and offering valuable insights into its integration into your daily routine for an enhanced musical experience.

Freepik 

Relieves Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety is a prevalent challenge for numerous musicians, frequently resulting in stage fright and nervousness, which can substantially hinder their ability to perform at their best. However, CBD is a valuable tool in addressing performance anxiety by promoting a sense of calm, reducing stress levels, and helping individuals feel more centered and grounded. By incorporating CBD oil into their pre-performance routines, musicians can enhance their ability to manage composure and focus, ultimately enabling them to deliver stellar performances with heightened confidence and ease, leading to a more enriching experience for the musicians and their audience.

Improves Focus and Concentration

As a musician, maintaining a focused and clear…

As state lawmakers consider new regulations for CBD and hemp products, House Majority Leader John Bell has become the president of a startup company manufacturing those products.

Bell said his new role leading Nashville-based Asterra Labs is part of his work at private equity firm Rise Capital, which owns the hemp company. Previous CEO Kevin Sills, who was appointed by House Speaker Tim Moore to the UNC-Wilmington Board of Trustees in 2022, is no longer with the company.

“It’s a very interesting, fascinating world,” Bell told WUNC. “What we do is manufacturing, and then we have a retail side. I’ve been in sales forever in some way, shape or form. And so this is the opportunity that the board (of Rise Capital) gave me and said, ‘Hey, look, go see what you can do.’ And so my goal is to grow the company and get it to profitability, hire a bunch of people, and be a successful company.”

In his new role, Bell said he sees the need for the legislature to pass further regulations for CBD and hemp products.

Back in September, the House unanimously passed a bill to regulate the sale of “hemp-derived consumable products,” which would require licenses to sell the products and ban sales to people under age 18. The products would need to contain less than 0.3% THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The Senate did not take action on the bill before the legislature adjourned for the year.

Since his company could be impacted by new regulations, Bell…

The NSW Government has unveiled the masterplan for its future third CBD at Bradfield. The masterplan, which sets out a framework for future developments, will shape the future of a business district set to deliver 20,000 jobs and 10,000 new homes.

Five times the size of Barangaroo, the masterplan earmarks the key areas for the new city, including homes, streets and roads, city blocks, parks and open space, commercial and retail precincts, and infrastructure strategies. 

The masterplan is still in need of approval, but once it is green lit, the city site will then become the subject of intense development across an array of sectors. The state government hopes to deliver the city in stages, with in excess of two million sqm of gross floor area to be created across the CBD, all in close proximity to the future Western Sydney International Airport.

“Western Sydney is the third largest regional economy in Australia, with one of the most rapidly growing populations,” says Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car.

“Providing better paid, highly-skilled jobs close to where people live, with the right infrastructure, is key to improving the lives of people in Western Sydney. This masterplan shows how investment in the area surrounding the new airport will drive growth and better opportunities for all Western Sydney.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Western Sydney and can only be realised if we work together to…