By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

CWU to host Cannabis Caucus

CWU to host Cannabis Caucus

Miles King, News Editor April 25, 2018

The CWU College of Business is hosting a Cannabis Caucus on Friday, April 27. The conference will be the first in Washington devoted the growing industry. The caucus will take place in Sue Lombard Hall...

Opioid prescriptions down

Opioid prescriptions down

Jack Belcher, Senior News Reporter April 12, 2018

A new study released by JAMA Internal Medicine has found that there may be a possible link between the legalization of marijuana and a decrease in opioid addiction. Opioids have been a huge problem...

Violations with marijuana on campus have increased over the years. The Wellness Center is looking to increase education on regulations and policies.

Understanding marijuana on campus

The Observer Staff February 10, 2018

To kick off Marijuana Awareness Month, the Wellness Center has brought back Marijuana Mondays. On Feb. 1, Mackenzie Knowlden, a health education intern for the Wellness Center, kicked off this series talking...

As of Jan. 1, California has legalized the recreational sale of marijuana. They are the second state this year to legalize.

The Golden State goes green on rec pot

The Observer Staff January 18, 2018

**A previous headline for this story, both online and in print, identified California as the Sunshine State. It has since been changed. California became the eighth state to legalize recreational marijuana...

Green states and marijuana advocates have been eager to see what the release of lax Obama-era regulations mean for their business and lifestyle.

Sessions up in smoke

Miles King, Staff Reporter January 11, 2018

When Attorney General Jeff Sessions was appointed by the Trump administration, he made it clear he would fight against the legalization of marijuana on state levels. The morning of Jan. 4, Sessions delivered...

Getting a license to sell from the liquor board may not be so easy. Businesses potentially face opposition from the city, the board and community members. Photo illustration by Jack Lambert.

The complex procedures behind license denials

Miles King, Staff Reporter November 30, 2017

Are you thinking about opening your own tavern or dispensary? There may be more steps to obtaining a cannabis license than you think. Attaining the proper license is the first step in your business plan....

Multiple advocates have filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, claiming its Schedule 1 classification on marijuana is unconstitutional. Photo illustration by Jack Lamber/The Observer.

12-year-old Texas native sues Sessions

Eric Rosane, News Editor November 16, 2017

Most 12-year-olds spend their days in school, playing video games or hanging with their peers outside during extra-curricular activities. For Alexis Bortell, however, she’s spent the last few months...

Marijuana ads leave the scene

Marijuana ads leave the scene

Hanson Lee, Staff Reporter November 2, 2017

Prior to July of this year, you may have seen your local marijuana retailer advertising their products and marijuana plants in forms such as sign waving and other means. If so, then you may have also...

Photo illustration by Jack Lambert.

Sessions vs. the green states

Eric Rosane, News Editor October 12, 2017

Over the summer, Attorney General Jeff Sessions made several false accusations against the states of Washington and Colorado on the basis of the way the state is managing its marijuana distribution...

Nevada had a higher grossing first month for recreational marijuana sales than either Colorado or Oregon.

Nevada “goes green” on rec pot

Eric Rosane, News Editor October 5, 2017

On July 1, recreational marijuana shops all across Nevada opened their doors for the first time to publicly sell marijuana and become the fifth US state to legalize the selling of recreational marijuana....

Despite many negative attitudes towards marijuana, it was found to be the second safest drug according to a Global Drug Survey.

‘The Reefer Madness’ Survey shows marijuana safer than most drugs

Miles King, News Reporter June 1, 2017

The results of a recent Global Drug Survey (GDS) suggest that cannabis is one of the safest drugs with a low number of users requiring emergency medical attention. The survey polled roughly 115 thousand...

Recent studies done by researchers at Bonn University in Germany suggest that small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can restore memory and learning functions in the brains of older subjects, similar to the levels of younger subjects.
Previous studies have shown that THC exposure in younger and adolescent subjects reduces learning and memory ability. The results of this study reflect the opposite in older subjects.
The study was completed using mice ranging in ages from 2 to 18 months. The older mice treated with small doses of THC showed similar cognitive function to the younger mice during testing.
The researchers are planning a clinical trial on humans showing signs of cognitive decline. The results from the study done on mice are promising for those with Alzheimer’s. THC decreases the production of amyloid beta, a protein that spikes in early stages of the disease, according to a study done at the University of South Florida.
Billy Lauderdale, an employee at Cannabis Central in Ellensburg, has noticed an increase in the number of elderly customers.
These customers are purchasing more cannabidiol (CBD) products than marijuana products including THC, according to Lauderdale. Lauderdale believes more marijuana research will “help people understand there is more than one side” to pot and it is not just used to get high. The older customers are utilizing the other parts of the plant.
With more research on medical benefits Dan DeVries, manager at The Fire House in Ellensburg, said “the stigma will go away,” referring to the stereotypes surrounding pot users.
“We’ve been lied to for so long,” DeVries said.
The criminalization and stigmatization of pot goes back to before the Nixon administration, and DeVries believes the older generation is very prideful and stuck in their ways. 
DeVries also believes the lack of research into medical marijuana has led to “people not being able to get outside their circumstances,” in addition to being somewhat narrow-minded.
He also believes younger generations understand marijuana better than older generations. DeVries recognizes the older generation’s lack of acceptance stems from the way they were raised, which was to believe pot is a highly addictive gateway drug.
DeVries also called upon the media to continue to cover medical marijuana research. He believes if the media “continues to publish the hell out of positive news” regarding pot, the older generations could possibly be swayed to change their minds on medical marijuana.

The Miracles of CBD: Study shows increase of memory and learning in older mice

Miles King, News Reporter May 25, 2017

Recent studies done by researchers at Bonn University in Germany suggest that small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can restore memory and learning functions in the brains of older subjects, similar...

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