Are All Essential Oils the Same? How to Determine Quality Essential Oils
At the start of the 21st century, American perception of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries was somewhat favorable. We went to a doctor who listened to our health concerns and suggested ways to help reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, cholesterol and excess weight. Believe it or not, pills weren’t the first line of defense...
Profiles in Retirement 4 Professionals Who retired on Their Own Terms
About one-quarter of board-certified, practicing veterinarians in the United States are 60 years of age or older, according to a recent AVMA survey. A significant portion of these have already passed the “normal” retirement age of 65 but have decided to stay on the job for at least a little while longer—or in some cases, for...
Can Psychedelics Reverse Neurological Damage Associated with Mental Health Conditions?
Two recent studies from Denmark and Spain have found evidence suggesting that psychedelics may cause lasting and positive changes in the brain, specifically in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. Researchers say the findings are significant as deterioration of neurological functioning in these areas is strongly associated with mental and behavioral health issues including depression,...
Scientists Unlock Neurological Code of Dissociation
Scientists are unlocking the neurological code of dissociation, a form of altered consciousness that is frequently associated with psychedelic drug use. The findings, published in Nature, point toward a possible future when psychedelic states can be created through technology rather than substances Using data obtained from sophisticated brain imaging technology as their guide, a team...
New Congressional Legislation Would Lift Restrictions on Important Cannabis Research
In a move that should expand scientific research efforts into the medical benefits of cannabis, on September 9th, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee sent new marijuana-related legislation to the House floor for further debate and consideration. H.R. 3797, labeled “The Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2019,” would permit certified scientists to...
Technology Easing Security Concerns in Cannabis
Whether they are growing, processing, manufacturing, distributing, or selling, businesses handling cannabis, and the cash exchanged for it, are highly vulnerable to theft. They deal with valuable products sold in thriving illicit markets, creating temptations some people with bad intentions might find hard to resist. Consequently, security is a vital issue at cannabis facilities. Potential...
Pakistan to Legalize Hemp Cultivation and Production
Despite starting its hemp industry nearly from scratch, Pakistan still expects to reap significant economic rewards in short order. They will fund intensive scientific research to diversify their hemp-based product lines as quickly as possible and forecast profits of at least $1 billion in the first three years after the initial hemp crops are planted....
Scaling Up: Commercial Hemp Oil Extraction Machines
The demand for CBD products is booming. Even the COVID-19-induced economic contraction has not been enough to slow the explosive growth of the hemp industry, which hopes to ride the coattails of cannabidiol to the Promised Land. The cannabis research firms, BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research, estimate that by 2024, U.S. consumers will spend...
Toxic Contaminants in Cannabis Extracts: What are the Dangers?
Chemical substances are sometimes added to cannabis extracts used in vaporizers. Some of these substances increase vaporization efficiency by diluting the thick, gooey cannabis extract. Others are used to change the appearance of the extract, to make it appear unadulterated if a fluidizing agent has been used. Pine Rosin Earlier this year, researchers from Portland...
CBD Marketplace Plagued by Labeling Inaccuracies, Still
The market for cannabidiol (CBD) products is growing, driven by the public’s insatiable demand for anything that includes the letters ‘CBD’ on its label. CBD is highly attractive because of its innumerable health benefits, and its ease of availability is an added convenience. Unfortunately, the demand for CBD products has grown so fast that quality...
What is a Trichome?
Cannabis and hemp plants are fertile producers of a dazzling array of chemical compounds, many of which have therapeutic effects in the human body. At the heart of this production system are the trichomes, which cover the surface of female cannabis plants throughout their blooming stage. Trichomes are tiny, translucent, crystalline structures with bulbous heads...
New Federal Initiative Promises Better Quality Control in Cannabis Testing
Most legitimate cannabis and hemp companies form relationships with third-party testing laboratories. Independent chemists test their products for cannabinoid content, terpene content, and contamination levels, and the data collected is made available to retailers and consumers. In theory, independent labs should offer an additional degree of transparency to the industry, guaranteeing that product labels are...
My Portfolio
I started ghostwriting in 2009 and in that time I have penned hundreds, if not thousands of articles and 15 books. Despite this large body of work, like all of us who've made our living as a ghost, until relatively recently, I had very little to show for it. Six months after Being Biracial: Where Our Secret Worlds Collide was published in 2015, I decided I needed to change that. Below are some of my bylined pieces.
