It's Time For MORE
While Cannabis has been deemed essential amongst legalized states throughout the country, thousands of people are sitting in prison to partake in a legal and thriving industry. Amazingly, Cannabis is legal in many States, but what's insane is that arrests and incarceration STILL target Black Americans over White Americans.
OFFFIELD is committed to using our resources and platforms to enact change, like our growing work with The Last Prisoner Project. Additionally, we support legislation like the MORE Act to restore justice to millions by decriminalizing Marijuana and expunging nonviolent federal cannabis convictions. Here's what you need to know about this legislation, whose vote was recently postponed in Congress. At the end of this article is a quick link to tell Congress your support for the MORE Act.
An Overview of the MORE Act
Introduced by Senator Kamala Harris, now Vice Presidential Candidate Harris, in 2019, the MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act seeks to legalize Cannabis while exonerating the over 40,000 people still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis crimes while making the legal cannabis industry more equitable.
The MORE Act would legalize Cannabis while exonerating those incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis crimes.
The bill introduced by Sen. Harris specifically removes Marijuana from the list of substances that were blacklisted by the substance control bodies. The bill acts to eliminate criminal penalties for all individuals who manufacture, distribute, and possess the Marijuana.
What then does this mean then?
This means that Marijuana will be legal, which would make Cannabis legal while expunging prior cannabis convictions. This bill has equity at its core.
Is that all for the bill? No. What else then?
The bill seeks to make other significant changes that affect many areas of economic legalization. The bill would,
Impose a 5% tax on cannabis products. All funds generated from the tax will be deposited into a fund to help run charities all over the country. These include community reinvestment grants where businesses could provide assistance and offer equitable grants towards Cannabis licensing.
Create new protections for cannabis users and the industry. Ensure access for all citizens on or seeking federal public services freely and explicitly, making it illegal to discriminate based on Cannabis use.
Provide legitimate loans to businesses and entities that provide cannabis-related services to help motivate service providers to run legitimate businesses.
Address the wrongs committed by the war on drugs and our current legal system by expunging prior convictions on the state and federal level.
How will the grants be administered?
The bill sought to solve the issue by creating and establishing a Cannabis Justice Office harbored under the Department of Justice. This means that the whole process will be overseen by the DOJ and would make it easy to kick start the program.
What then does this mean for Americans?
It means that they will be able to use Cannabis, that federal and state policies would be developed to guide the creation, distribution, and sale of Cannabis, all while providing significant job and economic growth. Together, these actions would help reduce the risk of many companies doing illegitimate businesses and make sure that they have access to safe products.
Getting a bit deeper on these benefits;
Safety: The legalization of Marijuana will promote consumer safety. The creation of standardized, modernized and monitored growing, distribution, and development sales of cannabis products through proper regulation. Then consumers will get the best information on the products and consume with greater safety and trust.
Research: Marijuana research can come to the forefront. There has been far too little research on a plant that can provide legitimate alternatives to synthetic-based medications, like opioids, as a controlled substance. Excitingly, research can lead to an array of discoveries with untold benefits.
Economic Growth: Even in its infancy, Marijuana is one of America's best selling agricultural products; this means its legalization and sale to the general public will improve and boost the economy a great deal. This will increase returns to our economy, from tax revenues to business creation.
The Take-Away
The MORE Act is the type of progressive approach to legalization that will serve our country well. It's a thoughtfully crafted piece of legislation that provides not just for the privileged few but makes Cannabis what it always has been a plant of creation, equity, and change. It's time for MORE.
Want to take action?
The patriots at Ben and Jerry's (yea the woke AF ice cream makers) have created an amazing tool to tell your representative you support the MORE Act. It's fast and effective. Then you can go for an OFFFIELD Enhanced run and enjoy a guilt-free pint of Half Baked.
References
A study titled “Enjoyment as a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise Frequency” emphasizes the critical role of exercise enjoyment in promoting long-term adherence to fitness routines. It found that when individuals engage in exercise that aligns with their preferred intensity, they experience higher levels of enjoyment, leading to stronger exercise habits, more frequent workouts, and a greater intention to continue exercising.
Enjoyment acts as a motivating factor, reinforcing positive feelings and commitment to regular exercise. Tailoring workouts to match individual preferences for intensity can enhance the pleasure of exercise, ultimately fostering better engagement and sustainability in health club settings.
Another study found that cannabis may be a primary motivator for people to exercise more often because it elevates their enjoyment. This is a key factor for OFFFIELD, as we are endurance athletes in every sense of the word. We’re not just focused on getting to the finish line quicker in our next marathon, but also getting to the finish line way slower when it comes to life.
All of our products are formulated to activate your Endocannabinoid System, responsible for regulating mood during exercise. Our High Performance line of products, including Energy Gummies and Sports Drinks specifically focus on enjoyment as a key contributor to overall performance enhancement.
Have you ever heard of a molecule, Anandamide? It's a special chemical in your body known as the “bliss molecule,” that helps you feel happy and relaxed.
When you run or do lots of exercise, sometimes you get a great feeling afterward or during longer duration training. This is called the Runner's High (you may have noticed we’re obsessed with it). Scientists used to think this was only because of endorphins, which are like natural painkillers. But now they know anandamide, a cannabinoid we produce in our body, is also the primary reason for the effects in both mind and body.
Anandamide works by fitting into receptors throughout your body, kind of like a key fitting into a lock. When this happens, it makes you feel good… real good. Funny enough, these receptors are the same ones that react to the chemicals in cannabis, or phyto-cannabinoids. Although similar, Anandamide is created by your own body.
So next time you're out running and start to feel amazing, you can thank anandamide. And if you want to hit it a little earlier, you can try our products designed to mimic our best buddy Anandamide. You don’t have to thank us, but we do accept compliments.
A groundbreaking new study conducted by researchers at Washington State University has revealed several significant health benefits associated with cannabis use, including a reduced risk of anxiety and obesity, as well as enhanced memory function. The findings, published in *Scientific Reports*, offer fresh insights into how CBG may impact mental and physical health.
Key Findings
1. Reduction in Anxiety:
The study found that individuals who had used cannabis within the past month were 31% less likely to experience anxiety compared to non-users. Participants who consumed cannabis recently showed marked resilience to stress, with significantly lower anxiety levels during the trial. These findings suggest that, particularly CBG, may offer a natural and effective means of managing anxiety without the cognitive impairments often associated with traditional treatments [oai_citation:1,Cannabigerol (CBG) Reduces Anxiety and Improves Memory - Neuroscience News] [oai_citation:2,CBG found to reduce anxiety and enhance memory in clinical trial]().
2. Lower Risk of Obesity:
Another surprising outcome of the study was the discovery that recent cannabis users were also 31% less likely to be obese. This finding challenges the common stereotype that cannabis use leads to weight gain due to increased appetite or "the munchies." Instead, the study suggests that cannabinoids may influence metabolism, appetite regulation, and energy balance in ways that contribute to a healthier weight profile [oai_citation:3,Cannabigerol (CBG) Reduces Anxiety and Improves Memory - Neuroscience News] [oai_citation:4,CBG found to reduce anxiety and enhance memory in clinical trial]
3. Enhanced Memory Function:
In addition to reducing anxiety and obesity risk, the study found that CBG may enhance memory, particularly verbal recall. CBG appeared to improve participants' ability to remember and recall information. This finding could have significant implications for those seeking to manage anxiety without sacrificing cognitive function [oai_citation:5,CBG Shows Promise in Reducing Anxiety Without Intoxication - ScienceBlog.com]
Implications and Future Research:
These findings highlight the potential of cannabinoids like CBG in addressing some of the most pressing health concerns today, including anxiety disorders and obesity. As more people seek natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals, the role of cannabis in health and wellness continues to expand. However, while these results are promising, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these effects and to explore the long-term impacts of cannabis use on mental and physical health.
Future studies will likely focus on the physiological effects of cannabis, such as its impact on heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, as well as its broader implications for cognitive and metabolic health. Additionally, researchers are keen to investigate how different cannabinoids interact and what combinations might offer the most therapeutic benefits.
For those interested in exploring the details, the full study is available here [oai_citation:6,Cannabigerol (CBG) Reduces Anxiety and Improves Memory - Neuroscience News] CBG found to reduce anxiety and enhance memory in clinical trial].
