Daniel Fung Reviews Supreme Court Justice’s Stance on Outdated Federal Marijuana Laws

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For many years, the United States has had a complex and challenging relationship with marijuana. This relationship came to a head in 2005, when the Supreme Court passed a ruling that under the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution, Congress can criminalize the production and use of homegrown cannabis even if state laws allow it for medicinal purposes. However, earlier this month, highly conservative justice Clarence Thomas made a statement saying that due to the recent new federal policies regarding marijuana, federal laws against marijuana use may no longer make sense. Daniel Fung, Watertown, CT resident, and cannabis expert, believes very strongly in the federal decriminalization of marijuana and is excited to see this recent development. Below, Daniel Fung of Watertown, CT, will review Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s statement and hopefully highlight the significance of this statement. 

In a statement on Monday, conservative justice Clarence Thomas responded to a recent court hearing regarding the appeal of a Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensary that was denied federal tax breaks. To this, Clarence Thomas wrote, “A prohibition on interstate use or cultivation of marijuana may no longer be necessary or proper to support the federal government’s piecemeal approach.” 

Today, thirty-six out of fifty states allow the use of medical marijuana, with 18 also allowing its recreational use. However, federal tax law does not allow marijuana businesses to deduct their own business expenses, meaning businesses that may be struggling might still owe significant federal income tax. 

Although the Department of Justice does not allow federal prosecutors to pursue marijuana businesses that follow state laws, the IRS continues to enforce its own penalties against marijuana farms and dispensaries. Clarence Thomas stated that “this willingness to look the other way on marijuana is more episodic than coherent.” Within his five-page statement, Clarence Thomas would go on to say, “Federal policies of the past 16 years have greatly undermined its reasoning,” he said. “The federal government’s current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana.” For his final point, Clarence Thomas stated that another consequence of federal prohibition is that many state-legal cannabis operations must operate cash-only due to restrictions on using federally backed financial institutions, and because of this, many marijuana facilities are a target to robbers and burglars.

Daniel Fung of Watertown CT Discusses Research Suggesting CBD May Help Treat COVID-19

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In the non-peer-reviewed, pre-clinical study “In Search of Preventative Strategies: Novel Anti-Inflammatory High-CBD Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in Covid-19 Gateway Tissues” Canadian scientists at the University of Lethbridge have discovered cannabis may be able to block droplets of the virus from infecting human cells. The tests were conducted in April, when scientists looked to see how a sample of sativa extracts containing high amounts of the cannabinoid CBD interacted with the ACE2 pathways the virus uses to enter the body.

Daniel Fung Watertown CT cannabis expert notes that the results indicate, through testing several cannabis plants, extracts high in CBD may be able to block the proteins that COVID-19 uses as the gateway into the body. This is a notable finding for researchers, as it has been considered that cannabis could reduce the entry points into the body by as much as 70 percent. The researchers have stressed that more studies are needed to fully research if cannabis can modulate the enzyme, but teams are hopeful that cannabis can be utilized to decrease disease susceptibility of some of the most vulnerable of our population. Daniel Fung of Watertown CT acknowledges that, while many have heard of the immensely important research going into finding a vaccine for COVID-19, one cannot discount the ways in which effective and safe treatment can help us going forward.

One important thing of note in the study’s findings was that not just any variety of cannabis will prove useful for treatment, as the study suggests that a mere handful of the over 800 types of sativa available have seemed helpful for medical application. All the strains that are under further research were high in CBD (known for its anti-inflammatory properties), but low in the cannabis high producing cannabinoid, THC.

While the potential health benefits of marijuana have been studied for quite some time, Daniel Fung of Watertown CT recognizes that the idea that it can be used to help people during the pandemic is a huge finding for both the healthcare and cannabis industry. With research such as the findings presented by this study and dispensaries being labeled as essential businesses in several states during the pandemic, Daniel Fung believes that recent developments could go a long way towards further legitimizing the industry. The CBD industry, for example, has begun to boom as of recently but has faced questioning from skeptics about its true helpfulness as an anti-inflammatory and potential pain reliever. The findings of the University of Lethbridge team may prove that there is scientific legitimacy in these claims, facilitating even more growth in the space.

Daniel Fung CT says ‘Wait and See’ while Federal Government Looks into Vape Safety

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Daniel Fung CTIf you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, it’s highly likely that the controversy surrounding vaporizers has come across your eyes and ears. With five deaths reported as of mid-September 2019 and hundreds of others entering hospitals for respiratory problems, the vape oil and mysterious black market additives are being called into question. Daniel Fung CT, who has a long background in the cannabis industry, is familiar with “vape” pens of all shapes and sizes. More importantly, he understands the minuscule design changes that manufacturers can decide on – and the differences this will have on performance. Tweaks that different vape devices offer could include different temperatures, taste profiles, volts, watts, resistance and more. In this article, we’ll explore the current situation surrounding vapes and how Daniel Fung CT – an industry veteran whose seen shifts in consumption and delivery methods – views the issue.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the issue and a decision has yet to be made. Those who’ve been hospitalized with respiratory issues range in age and some have not had any sort of preexisting conditions prior to this episode. “The cause of the illnesses is a mystery, though health authorities have linked them to the vaping of key marijuana ingredients or nicotine,” the article states. “Most of the cases seem to be cannabis-related, state and federal health officials say.” It’s wise to not rush to judgment, but the health issues clearly aren’t just scare tactics and a thorough investigation into what could be causing these adverse reactions is indeed warranted.

Vaping has been championed as a safer alternative to the traditional ways of smoking tobacco or cannabis. According to a recent article from MJBizDaily.com, “state-legal marijuana stores have not yet reported a serious downturn in vaporizer cartridge sales.” Even cannabidiol (CBD) can be ingested via vape and it’s said to be a more direct way of receiving the benefits of CBD. The benefits of CBD are also still being researched, but those who’ve used it regularly tout stress and pain-relief as some of the reasons why they vape or eat CBD-laden products. It would be unfortunate then to force those who are seeing the benefits of CBD to discontinue use of their vaporizers. Daniel Fung CT, who has seen the vape, cannabis and CBD markets explode in the past few years, will keep a close eye on ongoing developments and withhold judgment for the time being.