28 MAY 9-15, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | HEALTH WELLNESS | SERVICES | EMPLOYMENT | ADULT | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | A S K A S T O N E R BY HERBERT FUEGO Dear Stoner: For the average stoner, is resched- uling cannabis to Schedule III a good thing? I’m looking for the short, wiki version of this. Eazy V Dear Eazy V: So far, all we have to work with is a report from the Associated Press about the DEA’s intentions to reclassify cannabis after a public feedback session, but the DEA hasn’t announced anything yet. Still, the AP calling it the “last signifi cant regulatory hurdle before the agency’s biggest policy change in more than fi fty years” isn’t an overstatement. Cannabis business owners focus on the tax implications of reclassifying from Sched- ule I to Schedule III, as they’re all eager for lower tax rates — but Schedule III includes drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids, so I’m not yet sold that recreational businesses will qualify for any new tax breaks. Activists worry that reclassifi cation will push the plant into the hands of pharmaceutical com- panies, which isn’t a crazy prediction, either. Based on how slow and ineffective national hemp and CBD regulations have been, I’m betting on much of the status quo remaining for dispensary shoppers and regular folk until Congress does anything meaningful, but I hope this helps the medical marijuana industry and advances clinical research. At the very least, it’s movement toward some form of legalization, which is further than we were last month. Dear Stoner: I’m about to fi nish installing a pool at home and can’t wait to get high and swim laps in the morning. How much would smoking affect my ability to swim and hold my breath underwater? Parker Dear Parker: The world’s greatest swimmer of all time was photographed smoking weed in 2009, and then went on to win twelve Olympic medals (nine gold) over the next seven years. You do the math. Smoking anything is bad for your lungs, obviously, and swimming sorta depends on those, with it being an underwater cardio- vascular exercise and all. Sustained smoking would impact your endurance and ability to hold your breath, of course, but unless you’re trying to be the next Michael Phelps or swim across the English Channel, there’s little to worry about regarding personal records. Take everything in moderation when smoking or getting high, but don’t be ashamed of a quick toke before swimming laps or taking a dip as the birds chirp. If it weren’t for this annoying thing called a job, I’d do that right now. Send questions to [email protected]. WARNING: Use of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to: 1. Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality); 2. Mental Health Symptoms/Problems; 3. Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting); Cannabis use disorder/ dependence, including physical and psychological dependence Programmatic Cannabis Network Organic & Local SEO • Website Design Social Media Management • Print Media Get started today with a FREE Digital Audit. marijuanamarketingxperts.com
