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The Canada Border Services Agency is reporting two recent cannabis busts at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel involving two Canada-bound travellers.

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The first stop occurred on March 11 and resulted in CBSA officers seizing 2,722 grams of cannabis. No charges were laid but the traveller was fined $2K for the importation of cannabis, reports iHeartRadio.

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The following day, CBSA officers seized six grams of magic mushrooms and 1,894 grams of cannabis. Again, no charges were laid but the traveller was fined $2K.

It is illegal to take cannabis – including edibles, extracts and topicals, and all products containing CBD – across the Canadian border, whether you are entering or leaving the country, notes the Canadian government.

The prohibition applies even to those who hold a medical document authorizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes, though individuals with a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada may travel with cannabis. 

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Penalties for cannabis-related offences at the border include fines of up to $2,000. The CBSA also maintains records on previous enforcement actions, including monetary penalties.

For those entering the U.S., cannabis-related offences can lead to a lifetime ban from the country. Despite the plant being legal in many states, it remains federally illegal and federal law supersedes state laws.

Travellers who arrive at a U.S. port of entry or border crossing with cannabis in their possession may be denied admission, and face seizure, fines and apprehension.

Canadians who work in cannabis and attempt to enter the U.S. for reasons related to the industry may also be deemed inadmissible.

In November, a B.C. man that operates a cross-border business said he would likely need to fold his company after he attempted to enter the U.S. with a bottle of CBD oil in his car.

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The man, who owns an events company that works with Christmas festivals in the U.S., said he put the CBD in his centre console a few years ago and had forgotten about it. As a result, he was handed a lifetime ban and fined US$500 (about $670).

The man can attempt to enter the U.S. with a waiver, though the waivers are temporary, there’s no guarantee they will be approved and they cost US$585. 

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The Correctional Service of Canada says it is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions after a number of busts at facilities in Ontario and Quebec this month.

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March began with a drug bust at Cowansville Institution, a medium-security federal institution in Quebec.

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Staff members seized packages of contraband on the perimeter of the institution on March 1, 11 and 13, and estimate the items carry an institutional value of nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

The packages included 763 grams of cannabis wax, 345 grams of hashish, 104 grams of marijuana, 400 methamphetamine tablets, 950 grams of tobacco, four SIM cards and three cellphones.

On March 5, 2023, another package containing contraband and unauthorized items was seized at Collins Bay Institution, a medium security federal institution in Kingston, Ont.

The items included 1.1 kilograms of marijuana, 640 grams of tobacco and rolling papers, 30 grams of crystal meth, as well as cellphones and accessories.

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Six days later, CSC seized a package at Warkworth Institution, a medium security federal institution in Campbellford, Ont. 

The package included approximately 219 grams of marijuana, 200 grams of tobacco and rolling papers, as well as cellphones and accessories.

The following day, back in Quebec, a package was seized on the perimeter of the Regional Reception Centre, a federal multi-level security institution in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec.

The package, valued at $25K, included 55 grams of hashish, 36 grams of cannabis, 100 grams of tobacco and three cellphones.

CSC reports it uses tools like ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors. Drones are also commonly used to drop packages of contraband into facilities.

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In a statement, CSC said its “heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone.”

“CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.”

Last month, a wayward drone likely intended for Bordeaux jail, the largest provincial prison in Quebec, ended up hung up on a backyard clothesline in Montreal instead.

The package contained nearly a kilogram of cannabis, hash and tobacco, along with a homemade knife and cellphones with SIM cards and is estimated to have an institutional value of about $45K.

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More than 20 people across Canada are facing charges after an investigation into a national drug trafficking operation resulted in the seizure of $2.5 million worth of drugs and 19 firearms.

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Dubbed Project Dawpound, Manitoba RCMP say the investigation began in May 2022 and initially focused primarily on the Winnipeg area. It wasn’t long until police discovered the trafficking operation extended across Manitoba and into B.C., Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

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A 36-year-old Winnipeg man has been identified as the orchestrator. Police allege that the man brought large amounts of cocaine and unstamped cigarettes into Manitoba from Ontario. He remains in custody on numerous charges, ranging from conspiracy to trafficking, as the investigation continues.

Despite a leak into the operation, police seized 7.8 kilograms of cocaine, 13.82 kilograms of crystal MDMA and 2.06 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, among other drugs and weapons. Police say the contraband cigarette portion of the operation alone would have yielded Manitoba $1.47 million in tax revenue.

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Police narrowed the leak of the enforcement plans to a member of the Manitoba Finance Special Investigations Unit. CBC reports that the unit typically investigates cigarette smuggling. A 50-year-old man was later identified as the source of the leak and has since been charged with bribery of officers, breach of trust by public officer and conspiracy to evade payment.

A 27-year-old guard at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg was also charged in relation to the investigation. Per the Winnipeg Free Press, the guard stored and sold illicit drugs while working at the laboratory, which has the world’s strictest bio-safety security classification. The guard reportedly did not have access to sensitive materials.

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In a statement to CBC a spokesperson for the federal minister of health called for an immediate internal investigation “into the events that occurred on the grounds of the National Microbiology Laboratory.”

“We have also directed our officials to review internal security procedures,” they added.

“Project Dawgpound yielded fantastic results and got a kilo-level trafficker and his network off the streets,” said Inspector Grant Stephen, Officer in Charge of Federal, Serious and Organized Crime for the Manitoba RCMP. “We will continue to enforce against the illegal drug trade and disrupt networks that often lead to or are connected with organized crime in the interest of creating a safer Manitoba and a safer Canada.”

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While the internet is littered with fake ads fraudulently claiming celebrity endorsement for CBD products, the cast of Shark Tank is one of the longest-running targets.

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Currently in its fourteenth season, online scammers have been using the show and cast to promote keto and CBD gummies in fake articles.

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According to the fact-checking website Snopes, the Shark Tank scam involves using fake news articles that are designed to look legitimate and direct readers to purchase products through fulfilment centres across the U.S.

Beyond the fake endorsements from the Shark Tank crew, which includes psychedelics investor Kevin O’Leary, the charges for the products often add up to much higher than the advertised price.

The long-running scam was enough to drive Mark Cuban, who has been on the show since season two, to publicly complain last year. In a series of tweets, Cuban called out Google, Facebook and even the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

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“This s**** has been going on for years. We report them, the platforms do nothing and people get ripped off!” Cuban noted in one tweet.

The Shark Tank cast is far from alone, however.

Most recently, the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton, took to Instagram to clear the air after fans spotted the dubious fake advertisements on Facebook claiming she endorsed CBD gummies that can “reverse dementia.”

“Dolly Parton is not affiliated with, has not endorsed, and is not associated with any keto or CBD gummy product. She’s more the cake, cookie, and cornbread type,” reads the post, which is signed “Team Dolly.”

The ad directed users to websites that mimicked Fox News and contained a fake article with the headline “Dolly Parton reverses dementia solution sparks huge lawsuit pressure on Fox, she finally fights back on air.”

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Other celebrities who have spoken out about fake CBD ads that claim their endorsement include Tom Hanks, Sir David Attenborough and “Jeopardy” host Mayim Bialik, who filed a lawsuit last year in Florida Federal Court alleging dozens of CBD websites and online markets falsely claimed she endorsed their products.

Last July, Clint Eastwood, 92, was awarded $2.6 million after winning a trademark infringement CBD lawsuit. The suit alleged that California-based marketing company, Norok Innovation, leveraged the actor’s celebrity status to drive traffic to a website selling CBD products.

The lawsuit marked the second time that Eastwood had successfully collected damages on false endorsements. In the fall of 2021, Lithuanian company Mediatonas UAB was ordered to pay $7.7 million in damages after allegedly posting fake CBD endorsements from Eastwood.

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One lucky and presumably stoned couple could soon tie the knot with a weed-themed wedding giveaway valued at US$30,000 (about $41K).

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Greenhouse Of Walled Lake, a Michigan-based dispensary, has partnered with cannabis manufacturer Choice Labs to offer the prize. Interested couples will need to fill out a form online before the end of April and explain why they want to win.

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The ceremony will happen at the Greenhouse grounds, which will be transformed into a wedding venue with the assistance of wedding planner Haley Makay.

“We’re seeing a generation choose weed over booze, even when it comes to traditional celebrations like weddings. Move [over] ‘open bar,’ hello ‘bud bar,’” said Greenhouse owner Jerry Millen.

In addition to a bud bar, the wedding will also feature an infused chocolate cake and the throwing of weed leaves instead of rice. The winners will be announced in early May and the contest is open to those who are old enough to receive a marriage license. No purchase is necessary.

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Whoever wins the prize won’t be the first to tie the knot with an ode to cannabis.

In 2020, a Florida couple exchanged vows at a medical cannabis shop, Columbia Care Dispensary, in Cape Coral. The couple was first introduced to the plant after the groom was diagnosed with cancer and turned to pot to cope with the side-effects of his medical treatments.

With his cancer in remission, the couple viewed the wedding as a chance to awareness about medical cannabis.

That same year, a Colorado couple who work in the cannabis industry also celebrated with a weed-themed wedding. Guests could partake in a selection of dried flower and edibles, and pipes and bongs were on hand.

“I wanted to have a different wedding, one that represented our love. We are very non-traditional in some ways so the cannabis-themed wedding was important,” the bride said, who was handed a custom wedding bong from the officiant after exchanging vows.

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“I took the first bong rip in front of everyone and he took the next. It’s like jumping the broom but for stoners,” she said.

And while cannabis has been featured at the weddings of the likes of Meghan Markle and NBA star Draymond Green, the key is being transparent and letting guests know the theme ahead of time, as one Florida couple found out last year.

The bride and a catering manager were arrested after servings guests cannabis-infused food in an apparent prank that backfired.

The guests were unaware of the secret ingredient, which caused several to fall ill and prompted a visit from police and first responders, who treated guests complaining of stomach pain and vomiting.

“I thought I was having a heart attack. My heart was racing and before I went to bed that night, I actually slept in my car right on-site,” one guest said.

Charges were laid after several guests, and the lasagna, tested positive for THC.

While medicinal marijuana is legal in Florida, recreational cannabis is not. Possessing less than 20 grams of cannabis carries a penalty of up to a year in jail or one-year probation and a $1,250 fine, per Hussein and Webber.

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A B.C. cannabis store is calling on the government to rethink mandatory window coverings after being targeted in a robbery.

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Vancouver-based Kingsway Cannabis posted security footage on Twitter of the attempted robbery, which shows the individual brandishing what appears to be a gun.

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Dressed in dark clothing, with a baseball cap, sunglasses and face covering, the individual points the weapon at a store employee before fumbling with the cash register unsuccessfully. The individual, who remains at large, then exits the store.

Kingsway Cannabis owner Charles Variboff told Global News that it’s the first time the shop has been targeted.

“When someone has a gun that is really scary, you have no idea if it is a real gun or a replica or a starter pistol or a bb gun,” Variboff said.

On Twitter, Kingsway Cannabis called on the government to “rethink the mandatory window frosting.”

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Under the federal Cannabis Act, cannabis stores are prohibited from displaying any cannabis-related products or materials where they might be visible to a young person. The use of window coverings and opaque glass has become widespread to stay within the rules, but it has also provided effective cover for thieves.

In June 2020, B.C. became the first province in Canada to remove the requirement that cannabis retail stores “be enclosed by non-transparent walls.” Stores are still required to configure their layouts in such a way that it prevents minors from being exposed to cannabis products from street level.

Alberta followed suit last August when the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) issued a memo to retailers stating they could ditch the window coverings. Ontario has yet to issue a similar ruling.

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“When you create opportunity, you have to expect something is going to happen,” Elisa Keay, who owns K’s Pot Shop, told The Toronto Sun last April. “If someone were to close that door and lock it, nobody from the outside would know anything untoward that’s going on in here.”

Vancouver police are encouraging anyone who might have information about the attempted robbery to come forward.

“Whether this was a real gun or a fake gun, we don’t know. That’s something we’re investigating,” a member of the Vancouver Police Department told CTV Vancouver. “Nonetheless, this is terrifying for everyone involved. Whether this is a cannabis store or a candy shop, it’s terrifying no matter where it happens.”

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The diverse, non-human life forms that live in our guts – known as our microbiome – are crucial to our health. A disrupted balance of these contribute to a range of disorders and diseases, including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease. It could even affect our mental health.

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It’s well known that the microbes living in our guts are altered through diet. For example, including dietary fibre and dairy products in our diets encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise can also modify the types of bacteria that reside within our guts.

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One study found exercise promotes the growth of bacteria which produce the fatty acid, butyrate. Butyrate can promote repair of the gut lining and reduce inflammation, therefore potentially preventing diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and insulin resistance, which leads to diabetes. Exercise-induced shifts in the gut microbiota can also guard against obesity and improve metabolic function.

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Microbiome changes can even be seen following quite modest exercise regimes. One study found that women who performed at least three hours of light exercise – such as a brisk walk or swim – per week had increased levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia hominis, and Akkermansia muciniphila compared with sedentary individuals.

F. prausitzii and R. hominis reduce inflammation, while A. muciniphila has been associated with a lean body mass index (BMI) and improved metabolic health. This means that these microbiome changes are likely to be beneficial to overall health.

But it appears that the type of exercise also has different effects on the changes seen in the gut microbiota. Studies of rodents found that being forced to run on a wheel induced different microbiota changes compared to moderate exercise done when the mouse wanted to. There’s some evidence that the same is true in humans.

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Athletes also have very different microbiota profiles compared to sedentary people of similar age and sex. Athletes had more diverse microflora, and a higher abundance of the three bacterial species mentioned above.

However, it still remains to be definitively proven that exercise can act independently of diet in making these changes. People who exercise may be more likely to also eat a healthier diet, so separating the two factors apart can be somewhat difficult.

Diet versus exercise

Animal studies, mainly on rodents, can shed some light on this conundrum as their diet is easily controlled. In mice, diet and exercise appear to induce very different changes in the microbiota. Some changes caused by a high fat diet – including an increase in Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, which are linked to type two diabetes and obesity – can be reversed by exercise.

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Other studies suggest that exercise-induced changes in the microbiota can be brought about independent of dietary intake – though other studies show dietary changes are required alongside exercise for these to occur. Exercise may even counteract some of the negative effects of a high fat diet, but not all.

Regardless, exercise may still help the good bacteria in our gut, called A. muciniphila, stick to the stomach lining. This better promotes mucus secretion which is important as mucus protects the bacteria from being carried out of the intestine with the digested food.

Studies looking at the immune system have also found that exercise decreases inflammatory signals and promotes a more “regulated” environment, in the gut lining and beyond. This reduces the chances of developing gut diseases. What’s really interesting about A. muciniphila is that it has been found to reverse weight gain from a high fat diet and insulin resistance in mice.

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This study also showed that giving mice A.muciniphila also caused an increase in the cannabis-like molecules that our bodies naturally make, termed endocannabinoids. Among other functions in the body, endocannabinoids are involved in controlling gut inflammation and our gut barrier (the front-line molecules that provide a physical immune defence from external attacks).

The endocannabinoid system is also involved with feeding behaviour by controlling brain signals. Specific endocannabinoids are increased when we feel hungry, and released in the gut when we feel full. The endocannabinoid system is overactive in people who are obese.

Different gut bacteria can change the levels of the different components that make up the endocannabinoid system. Researchers used prebiotics to change microbial composition in mice. They saw a decrease of one type of endocannabinoid and a cannabinoid receptor in an obese mouse. They also saw that the prebiotics made bacteria and toxins less able to pass from the mouse’s gut into its bloodstream.

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This led to reduced bacterial components found in the blood and reduced fat cell production. A healthy diet improves the diversity and richness of gut bacteria, as does exercise – possibly even through the same few bacterial species mentioned earlier. Although this needs to be tested in humans, the results from these studies show the potential interaction between the microbial population in the gut with diet and exercise to bring about an improved metabolism.

More recently, researchers have shown runners and cyclists produce more endocannabinoids in their blood, which provides some pain relief and improves mood. However, it’s not known whether these changes are short lived or whether they bring about long-term changes in the gut microbiome.

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It is tempting to speculate that exercise can change the composition of the gut microbiome and influence well-being, all through a system that has the ability to have a three-way conversation. It remains to be seen if we can manipulate this through diet and/or specific probiotics – but we should not underestimate how we are shaped by our gut residents both at the metabolic and physical level.

This story was first published on June 16, 2020

Rachael Rigby, Senior Lecturer in Gastro-Intestinal Health, Lancaster University; and Karen Wright, Lecturer in Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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