A Weekly Roundup of Stories We Found Interesting – From The Profound To The Profane

New Problem for Legal Weed: Exploding Pot Factories
In the 33 states where the drug is legal for medical or recreational use, at least 10 fires or explosions have occurred in the past five years at facilities that extract hash oil used in edible products. Nearly all resulted in serious injuries for production-line staff.

Bad Weed’s Now The Government’s Problem, And So Are The Inevitable Lawsuits
An interesting view from a Canadian personal injury lawyer suggesting that the government can potentially be held liable to bad weed. In New Brunswick, a class action lawsuit has been launched against a company for using a banned pesticide on cannabis that was consumed by medical marijuana users and allegedly caused them to suffer negative health effects. If the government is either overseeing the supplier or selling product from the supplier, then the government could be held liable.

New York City Bodega Owners Want ‘first Cracks’ at Selling Legal Weed
The United Bodegas of America which serves as a mouthpiece for an estimated 15,000 bodegas that employ 100,000 people throughout New York City’s five boroughs, urges NY officials to let them sell marijuana in their stores once it becomes legal in New York State. The United Bodegas of America say the move could be a boon for communities who have long suffered from the racial and socioeconomic disparities that have historically driven marijuana-related arrests.

Researchers Find Correlation between Recreational Weed Laws and Junk Food Sales
Studies on the relationship between cannabis and appetite have struggled to provide conclusive evidence for why getting high makes you want to snack. Endocrinologists have suggested that one of the effects of THC is the stimulation of hormones that send hunger signals to the brain. The principal hunger hormone is ghrelin. And researchers have found that cannabis consumption both increases ghrelin production and makes the brain more sensitive to it. That double dose, scientists think, is a major factor behind the munchies.

Thai King’s Royal Decree Legalizes Marijuana For Medicinal Use
Thailand’s king this week has signed a royal decree legalizing marijuana and kratom for medical uses, allowing doctors, patients, schools, farmers, entrepreneurs and exporters to cultivate, possess and dispense both drugs.

Legal Marijuana Could Be a Big Winner If The Stock Market Tanks
Bear markets usually create a widespread negative social mood in the country, which makes people more tolerant of marijuana, according to Chuck Thompson, a researcher with the Socionomics Institute, which studies how social mood influences social attitudes and actions.

Support These Charitable Cannabis Business That Give Back
Many cannabis entrepreneurs care deeply about giving back to causes near and dear to their hearts. Here are the cannabis businesses invested in giving back to their communities.