Unique Pot Moves

William Courtney, a doctor in California, has developed a liquefied form of medical marijuana. He claims that it is low in THC (marijuana’s primary psychoactive substance) and high in cannabidiol (CBD), the agent in marijuana that appears to have the greatest medical effect. The result is a juice that may be beneficial for certain diseases but reduces the drug’s buzz.

“The bridge to legalization is medical marijuana,” states Addison DeMoura, one of the proprietors of the Steep Hill Medical Collective in Oakland. “I believe the bridge from medical marijuana to real science will be CBDs.”

In addition to juiced marijuana, California is also dealing with the issue of marijuana in food. In fact, this summer saw the San Francisco Department of Health issue the country’s first laws concerning the labeling and retailing of victuals containing the drug. The new measure states that marijuana brownies and cookies should be packaged individually in opaque wrappers, with the quantity of marijuana clearly displayed. It also prohibits marijuana “candy” and requires that dispensaries apply for a specific permit to sell cold or hot drinks spiked with pot.

The law addresses an increase of emergency room admissions for individuals who had accidentally eaten marijuana-laced food. One physician also comments that fare containing marijuana is a leading cause of accidental poisoning among San Francisco-area pets.