What is REM Sleep? There are five stages of sleep, four of which are NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep, and one of which is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The four stages of NREM sleep are: Light sleep – easily interrupted, usually lasts 1-7 minutes Deeper sleep – more difficult to wake from, usually lasts 10-25 minutes Slow-wave sleep – usually occurring during the first third of the night Slow-wave sleep – most difficult to wake from, lasts 20-40 minutes REM sleep – dream activity, increased heart rate, rapid, irregular breathing patterns These five stages of sleep last for different […]

Medical Marijuana and Anesthesia The therapeutic properties of medical marijuana are becoming more well-known every day, thanks in large part to increasing legalization worldwide. However, with increased legalization and increased consumer use comes new questions about combining medical marijuana with other forms of medication such as anesthesia. While the use of cannabis can help relieve anxiety, stress, depression, and other symptoms, medical professionals are discovering that the combination of MMJ and anesthesia may affect how patients respond on the operating table and their recovery time after surgery. Doctors and nurses are concerned that patients may be hesitant to divulge their […]

Doorstep medical marijuana delivery service will soon be a reality for thousands of medical marijuana patients in the state of Colorado. Proponents are excited about House Bill 1234 taking effect, but the bill was not passed without controversy. Lawmakers in the state Senate passed the measure on May 1, 2019, just before the session closed on May 3rd, but Governor Jared Polis still needs to sign it. If signed into law, medical marijuana delivery could start by the beginning of 2020 and recreational marijuana users can look forward to deliveries in 2021. Delivery by third-party drivers and online ordering will […]

Colorado dispensaries are having a record year in sales and profits, and although it’s still in the first half of the year, the combined $244.3 million in retail sales logged during the first two months of 2019 topped the same period of sales in 2018 by around $14 million. As laws and restrictions relax and competition between cannabis retailers grows, mature markets are seeing the number of stores in their areas grow exponentially. Many markets have experienced such rapid growth that the relative density of marijuana shops has surpassed that of coffee mega-retailer Starbucks. Denver, Colorado and Portland, Oregon are […]

Doctors and patients all over Colorado are excited about a new Colorado medical marijuana law that may help reduce opioid use. The recently passed Senate Bill 13, which expands the list of medical conditions which qualify for medical marijuana prescriptions, allows medical providers to prescribe medical marijuana rather than opioids for debilitating chronic and painful medical conditions. The bill was signed by Governor Jared Polis in May of 2019, with the House voting 47-16, and the Senate voting 33-2. During the bill signing, Gov. Polis remarked, “Colorado loses a community member to drug overdose roughly every nine hours, with opioids […]

There are many reasons to get a medical marijuana card. As the body of research continues to grow, more scientific proof becomes available to the general public regarding the benefits of using medical marijuana for a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to: Cancer Chronic Pain Epilepsy PTSD Eating DEisorders Insomnia Migraines Fibromyalgia People who suffer from the above medical conditions have found real help with and relief from their debilitating symptoms, ranging from pain to fatigue, a lack of appetite to seizures, and a wide range of other physical and mental conditions. As a natural medicine, marijuana […]

Medical marijuana legalization has come a long way in a very short amount of time, but cannabis use in hospitals is a different matter. Although the world is rapidly learning of the true healing benefits of the cannabis plant, and the social stigma is dissipating daily, hospital drug policy has not kept pace with popular opinion. Currently, medical cannabis patients are prohibited from using cannabis in a hospital setting, even in states with established medical cannabis programs. This is difficult for many people to understand, especially if they are currently seeing positive results of using medical marijuana, as is the […]

Colorado Governor Jared Polis made history on April 2, 2019, by signing a ground-breaking bill into law, House Bill 19-1028. This bill added Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to the list of qualifying medical conditions for those seeking medical cannabis as an alternative to traditional drugs and medications. Bill 19-1028 is especially momentous because just last year former Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed similar legislation. Gov. Hickenlooper cited the necessity of more in depth research for the reason for the veto. Gov. Polis not only made history by signing the bill, he also chose a notable day to make this important announcement, […]

According to a recent research study published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, teens from states that have legalized medical cannabis, are less likely to use cannabis compared to teens in states where medical cannabis is not legal. The findings contradict some theories that suggest that states where medical cannabis is legal will result in higher rates of teen cannabis use. More than 800,000 high school students were surveyed from 45 states between 1999 and 2015, to calculate the number of teens who smoke cannabis in the American Journal study. Other studies had similar findings such as […]