Tag: All Medical Marijuana News

Cannabis Tinctures 101: What are They, How to Make Them, and How to Use Them

Cannabis tinctures, also known as green or golden dragon, are alcohol-based cannabis extracts – essentially, infused alcohol. In fact, tinctures were the main form of cannabis medicine until the United States enacted cannabis prohibition. With a name like “green dragon,” you might think cannabis tinctures are not for the faint of heart, but they’re actually a great entry point for both recreational and medical users looking to ease into smokeless consumption methods.

How to Dose and Use Cannabis Tinctures

Tincture dosages are easy to self-titrate, or measure. Start with 1mL of your finished tincture and put it under your tongue. If you’re happy with the effects, you’re done. Otherwise, try 2mL the next day and so on until you find the volume you’re happy with (ramp up slowly while testing your desired dosage so you can avoid getting uncomfortably high).

According to The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook, tinctures will last for many years when stored in a cool, dark location. When combined with easy self-titration, the long shelf life means you can make larger quantities of tinctures at once and have a convenient, accurate way to ingest cannabis.

Compared to the traditional cannabis-infused brownie, tinctures are a low calorie alternative. If you make your tincture with 190-proof alcohol, you’re looking at about 7 calories per mL. Unless you have an extremely weak tincture, you’ll easily stay under your typical brownie’s 112 calorie count (and let’s face it, your brownies are probably far more caloric than that).

Tinctures can be incorporated after cooking into all sorts of meals and drinks:

• Juices
• Ice creams and sherbets
• Soups
• Gelatin
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Salad dressing

I recently added some cannabis tincture to my homemade chicken tikka masala for a delicious infused dinner.

How to Make Cannabis Tinctures

If you don’t have a full-featured kitchen or just prefer simple, mess-free preparation techniques, cannabis tinctures are a great DIY project. At a minimum, you can make a tincture with a jar, alcohol, a strainer, and cannabis products. That’s all you need!

Depending on your available time, equipment, and risk tolerance, you’ll prefer some recipes over others. All of the below recipes have been tried by yours truly and have been confirmed to work. Pick whichever one seems most convenient to you!

Traditional Green Dragon

If you’ve heard about green dragon before reading this article, this is probably the recipe you’re most familiar with.

Master Wu’s Green Dragon

This guide was first published in 2006 on cannabis.com and is one of the most comprehensive tincture recipes available online, with detailed instructions and excellent tips and tricks. Master Wu’s recipe differs from the traditional method in that it uses heat to speed up the extraction and concentration process. Unlike the traditional method, you’ll be finished with this recipe in an evening. Below you’ll find an abridged summary of the technique.

Modern Green Dragon

If you’re following some of the latest developments in online tincture recipes, you may have heard of the following recipe which sounds too good to be true, but many people (including myself) are having great results with it.

Cannabis Tincture FAQs

How do I take my tincture?

Tinctures are usually taken by putting a few drops under your tongue (sublingually). When taken this way, the arterial blood supply under your tongue rapidly absorbs the THC. That being said, you can always swallow the tincture in a drink or food, but it will be absorbed slower by your liver.

How fast is the onset?

When dosing a tincture sublingually, expect to feel the effects in 15-45 minutes and reach your peak high at about 90 minutes. If you simply drink the dose, expect a slower onset that more closely resembles traditional edibles.

How long will I feel the effects?

Expect to be high longer than when you smoke or vaporize, but shorter than when you eat a butter or oil-based edible.

Have more questions?

Ask them in the comments below and we’ll do our best to get them answered for you!

As Washington Deadline Looms, Cities Warn Unlicensed Cannabis Shops to Close

SEATTLE (AP) — With a deadline looming for the merging of Washington’s recreational and medical marijuana markets, cities around the state are warning unlicensed dispensaries to close up shop.

July 1 marks the date when, after nearly two decades of confusion about the status of medical marijuana, the industry becomes regulated for the first time. Hundreds of cannabis shop workers are being certified as medical marijuana consultants, the Department of Health is preparing a voluntary registry of patients, and the Liquor and Cannabis Board has been granting endorsements enabling recreational marijuana stores to sell for medical use.

As part of the transition, required under the Cannabis Patient Protection Act passed by the Legislature last year, unlicensed dispensaries that proliferated in the past decade need to shut down, as do the large-scale growing cooperatives that supplied them, to eliminate competition with Washington’s pioneering legal marijuana law, Initiative 502, approved by voters in 2012.

It’s unclear how many unlicensed dispensaries remain open statewide. In Thurston County, Sheriff John Snaza and a county prosecutor are visiting each dispensary to personally inform them of the expectation that they close by July 1 unless they have a state license.

“We had more than 100 stores in the city last year,” said Seattle deputy city attorney John Schochet. “We sent letters to the ones that didn’t appear to have any eligibility for Initiative 502 licenses, to tell them to close. Most of them have at this point, but we have a few that remain open.

“We’re going to be communicating with them and letting them know that June 30 is going to have to be their last day in existence.”

During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Liquor and Cannabis Board officials said their goal is to have the unlicensed businesses close voluntarily, but their enforcement staff is prepared to help local police and prosecutors take additional steps if necessary. The shops could see civil or criminal enforcement, ranging from city-level sanctions or the seizure of inventory to drug distribution charges.

“We actually have rules in place that allow for seizure and destruction of product … that is not identified within our traceability system,” said the board’s enforcement chief, Justin Nordhorn. “The intent of that particular rule is not to clog up criminal courts and not to necessarily take criminal action against everybody that’s continuing to run a dispensary, but to … dry up the supply for those particular stores.”

Washington in 1998 became one of the first states to approve the use of marijuana as medicine, but the initiative passed by voters did not allow commercial sales. Instead, patients had to grow the marijuana for themselves or designate someone to grow it for them. The measure did not prohibit patients from pooling their resources together to have large collective gardens on a single property, which police sometimes raided.

After Initiative 502 passed, lawmakers had a financial incentive to reduce competition with the state’s recreational market, and they did so last year. The Liquor and Cannabis Board decided to boost the maximum number of licensed retailers statewide from 334 to 556 to accommodate the medical market, and it adopted a merit system for helping decide who got the additional licenses.

So far, the liquor board has issued medical endorsements to 317 stores, though it’s unclear how many of them will be ready to serve patients by July 1. Patients are also allowed to grow marijuana at home or join a small cooperative, limited to four patients.

Some medical marijuana advocates say the merit system didn’t work as intended, leaving some longstanding and well-meaning dispensaries without a license even as other relatively new businesses were approved. Several have sued the liquor board after their efforts to be licensed were rejected. Among them was John Davis, who has run a Seattle dispensary for the past five years and has long advocated for medical marijuana regulations.

“I’m trying to get whatever relief I can through the administrative system, through the superior court, I’m trying to do whatever I can, but I’ve got to close my doors at midnight on July 1,” he said. “What else am I supposed to do?”

State of the Leaf: Irish Like a Bit o' Green, and Can Cannabis Save Atlantic City?

What’s new this week: Deadlines are fast approaching for ballot initiatives in a number of states. Campaigns in Arkansas and North Dakota are scrambling to round up enough support for a ballot push, while the numbers coming out of Colorado and New Mexico prove that the cannabis industry is booming and supporting a successful economy.

U.S. News Updates

Arkansas

Three petitions make a play for cannabis in Arkansas. There are three competing measures for cannabis in Arkansas, although they don’t all stand and an equal chance. Arkansans for Compassionate Care had their measure approved in 2014. They’ve been gathering signatures ever since. An alternate medical measure from attorney David Couch was approved this year, and a third measure that would legalize cannabis for recreational use has been approved but is failing to gain widespread support.

Colorado

Colorado’s 4/20 sales broke the bank this year. Cannabis sales on the April holiday brought Colorado its most profitable day since legalization began, with $7.3 million in total sales, a 53 percent increase from last year. The month of April ended with a whopping $117 million in transactions, surpassing the previous monthly sales record of $101 million last December. The majority of the sales, $76.7 million, were in the recreational cannabis market.

Hawaii

Cannabis activist sues the state to stop dispensaries. In a strange twist of fate, longtime marijuana activist Mike Ruggles, the former operator of a cannabis collective, is suing Gov. David Ige, Health Director Virginia Pressler, Attorney General Douglas Chin, and the four companies issued licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries in an attempt to stop the forthcoming dispensaries from opening. Using federal law as the basis for the suit, Ruggles argues that the state cannot give citizens a license to break federal law (an argument used years ago, to much confusion, by a Long Beach, Calif., dispensary-license loser). Federal illegality isn’t Ruggles’ objection, though; it’s just a way to stop commercial dispensaries. “They’re basically trying to make money off the backs of sick and poor people,” he said.

New Jersey

Can cannabis save Atlantic City? New Jersey state Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) plans to introduce a legalization bill that he is convinced will produce enough revenue to breathe new life into the ailing Atlantic City. Atlantic City Councilman Frank Gilliam is on board and hopes that other council members will follow suit. Meanwhile, a marijuana decriminalization group is advocating for a statewide initiative that would eliminate penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis in Newark. The East Central Ohio Decriminalization Initiative would remove penalties for possessing less than 200 grams of cannabis in the city. Under Newark’s current law, possessing less than 100 grams of cannabis is punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and up to 60 days in jail.

New Mexico

Medical marijuana is booming in New Mexico. With the addition of 12 new licensed producers, the cannabis economy is thriving in the Land of Enchantment. Dispensaries and licensed producers offer significant employment opportunities, with about $3 million paid out in salaries and compensation in the first quarter of 2016, an increase from $2.3 million in the same period last year. New Mexico now has more than 55,000 registered medical marijuana patients. First quarter sales soared from $5.7 million last year to $10 million over the same period in 2016.

New York

New York’s medical program is bunk at best. A new report from the Drug Policy Alliance examines the effects of New York’s medical cannabis program, which has been fraught with issues since its inception. Between the long wait for implementation, the restrictive nature of the program, the prohibitively high costs, and general inaccessibility, the program has made it incredibly difficult for many patients to access medicine. The law doesn’t allow for the cultivation or smoking of cannabis, and there are just 20 dispensaries to serve the entire state. In addition, very few physicians are certified to authorize patients, meaning that even qualified patients often must search for months in order to find a physician.

North Dakota

North Dakota ramps up signature gathering. The North Dakota Compassionate Care Act of 2016 is coming up on the state’s deadline for making the November ballot. The deadline to submit signatures is July 11, and the campaign’s supporters will need to pull out all the stops to claim a spot on the ballot. The campaign will be holding an event for last-minute signature gathering at the 33rd annual Rally in the Valley in Valley City, North Dakota this Friday, June 17, and you can also find petition locations here.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania in a tizzy over proposed fine increase. The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee postponed action on a bill that would increase the fines on the first and second offense for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Although House Bill 1422 is technically a decriminalization measure, decreasing the penalty from jail time to a civil offense, it would also establish the current maximum fine of $500 as the minimum fine for a first offense. The bill would change the language from “not exceeding” to “not less than” and increase the fines for second and third offenses to $750 and $1,000, respectively. The committee will likely revisit the bill before the House adjourns for the summer.

International News Updates

Ireland

The Irish favor a bit o’ the green. The most recent Global Drug Survey found that cannabis is the primary (illegal) drug of choice for the Irish by a wide margin. The survey indicated that 78.6 percent of Irish respondents reported using cannabis at least once over the previous 12 months. It was a big jump from the same survey last year, where 60.8 percent of respondents affirmed their cannabis use. Another promising result from the study was the lack of use of synthetic cannabis, a dangerous substitute not related to the cannabis plant, which registered a 1.9-percent use rate.

The Definitive Cannabis Travel Guide to Los Angeles

Welcome to Leafly’s travel series, our definitive 24-hour cannabis-infused guides to the best cities in the world.

When most people think of Los Angeles, a few images come to mind: the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, Malibu beaches, and TCL Chinese Theater usually among them. The other major thing L.A. is known for? A high (sorry, I couldn’t resist) concentration of medical cannabis dispensaries. You can scarcely make it a few blocks without seeing the iconic green cross indicating yet another dispensary location. To make it even more of a cannabis-friendly playground, there are glass shops everywhere, so you never have to go far to find a pipe, rig, or rolling papers and hemp wicks. If all that isn’t enough to convince you, come for the weather – Downtown L.A. had a whopping 292 days of sunshine in 2015.

Los Angeles Vitals

Cannabis legality: Medical only (doctor recommendation + valid state ID required to enter dispensaries)

Nicknames: L.A., City of Angels, LaLaLand, Hollywood

Population: 9,818,605

Pop culture claims to fame: The Big Lebowski, Pretty Woman, The Muppet Movie, and The Fast and The Furious, just to name a few. Los Angeles is the epicenter of the film industry.

Dispensaries on Leafly: 60

For the record: It is illegal to consume cannabis in public, but it’s not strictly enforced. Be smart, and when in doubt, use a vape pen.

Day One

At 4:20 p.m., you’re: Checking into The Magic Castle Hotel, perhaps the most enchanting accommodation in L.A.

Photo credit: Cavalier92

This is a neat hotel in its own right, but it’s also a means to access the incredible members-only club next door. More on that later (but go ahead and start getting excited now).

Head’s up: Lyft and Uber are the best ways to get around Los Angeles – public transportation is terrible.

At 5:20 p.m., you’re: Taking advantage of the 10% off happy hour special (Monday through Friday, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.) at La Brea Compassionate Caregivers, a cute little dispensary in Hollywood that offers a great selection of high-quality flower, plus a friendly, knowledgeable staff who remember the names of all their regulars.

You’re buying a gram of Blue Dream and an awesome new pipe to put it in, plus a pre-roll or two for convenient toking on the go.

Word to the wise: At the dimly lit ristorante you’re headed to next, no one will notice if your eyes are a bit red, so snag a hit or two of that Blue Dream from your new pipe before you arrive.

At 6:00 p.m., you’re: Walking into Miceli’s, Hollywood’s oldest Italian restaurant, which has been owned and operated by the Miceli family since 1949.

Photo credit: Miceli’s

Here, the wait staff will serenade you with Italian arias and far more in between classic courses like prosciutto with melon, chicken marsala, shrimp and scallop cacciatore, and cannelloni (don’t forget a glass of Chianti). You’ll likely be fine without reservations, but feel free to call ahead if you like (get in touch with the Las Palmas Avenue location). While you’re here, don’t miss checking out the famous piano bar, and be sure to tip the pianist when he plays your requests.

What you’re skipping: Madame Tussauds wax museum. It’s overpriced (do you really want to spend $20 apiece to see creepy wax figures?), plus you’d be fighting mobs of people trying to get selfies. If you’re itching to see a celebrity, you’re just as likely to spot one at Miceli’s.

At 7:30 p.m., you’re: Seated and waiting for the lights to dim to kick off the feature presentation at the El Capitan Theatre, a short walk down Hollywood Boulevard.

Photo credit: Loren Javier

The state-of-the-art theater seats 1,000, boasts pristine acoustics for a truly sensational experience, and screens recent and throwback Disney movies alike. In short, it’s made for people who have just come from the dispensary.

Fun fact: ¡Feliz cumpleaños, El Capitan! The landmark celebrates its 90th birthday this year.

At 9:45 p.m., you’re: Walking 10 minutes back up Hollywood Boulevard to iO West, a comedy club where some of the brightest up-and-coming improv performers put on an amazing array of shows every night of the week.

Photo credit: Ryan Coil

Shoot for the 10:00 p.m. showing (you can check out upcoming themes here).

At 11:15 p.m., you’re: Realizing that you just time-warped back to four decades ago.

Photo credit: Luke Gibson

Good Times at Davey Wayne’s is a straight-out-of-the-70s living room of a bar, complete with exactly the sort of psychedelic color scheme, radical rock walls, far-out wallpaper, righteous back patio, retro drinks, and groovy clientele you’d expect of the most canna-tastic decade of them all. Among the menu items: Choco Tacos and cocktails with names like “Some People Call Me Maurice.” There’s a reason Davey Wayne’s lands on virtually every “best bars in LA” list – any place you have to enter through a refrigerator door is straight-up awesome. Don’t miss it.

Head’s up: On weekend nights, this place is likely to be busy. If you have to wait to get in, take advantage of the free time and step into the alley around the corner to smoke your pre-roll – you’ll want to be high for time-travel this trippy.

At 12:45 a.m., you’re: Hopping in a cab and heading to Wi Spa, a 24-hour family-friendly Korean spa in Koreatown.

Wi Spa has gender-segregated floors where guests must disrobe entirely (yes, I mean get naked) and shower before soaking in one of the warm, hot, or cold tubs, or using the dry or steam saunas. There is also a mixed-gender floor (don’t worry, they give you shorts and a t-shirt to wear) called the Jimjilbang, where you’ll find five dry saunas at different temperatures (including an ice sauna). The co-ed floor has a restaurant, children’s area, and free WiFi, and is the best possible spot to relax after a long day. By the time you grab a ride share home, you’re going to be completely and entirely ready to face-flop into bed.

Day Two

At 10:15 a.m., you’re: Starving, so you head to The Ivy to brunch with the best of Beverly Hills.

Photo credit: The Ivy

This lionized establishment is as gorgeous as it is spendy. Menu items like fig, apricot, and pecan brioche French toast (adorned with Italian ricotta di bufala cheese) will set you back a hefty $25 – but what better time to splurge? After all, it is fig, apricot, and pecan brioche French toast we’re talking about here. Reservations are a good idea; make them on OpenTable.

Don’t want to splurge? If you’re here on a Sunday, the Mud Hen Tavern is a neighborhood fave that rocks a classic L.A. cool-casual vibe, and a Sunday brunch menu with mouthwatering options like lemon poppy seed waffles (with raspberries and coconut syrup) and chile relleno breakfast burritos.

At 11:45 a.m., you’re: Back at your hotel and finally ready to investigate it in full (request a late check-out so you don’t have to deal with your bags as you explore). The Magic Castle serves as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the practice of magic. Real talk – this is one of the coolest spots in the city. There are several bars, four theaters with multiple performances every evening, and maybe a ghost. Throughout the castle are an eclectic mix of magical artifacts from famous magicians including Houdini’s cuffs, which you’ll find in the Houdini Séance room.

Photo credit: Victor Lee

Word to the wise: There are no photos inside the castle, only out front (there’s a branded step-and-repeat) and in the lobby. You enter the Castle through a secret passageway behind a bookcase in the lobby that opens when you say, “Open Sesame.” No, I’m not kidding. Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds.

At 1:30 p.m., you’re: Stopping at Woodland Hills Treatment Center (WHTC) in Studio City for supplies before heading to Universal Studios.

The dispensary has white columns and iron fences, and looks more like someone’s house than a dispensary. You walk into the waiting area and before long you’re ushered into the gigantic main floor of WHTC. Three flat-screen TVs list the menu offerings and there are beautiful glass cases displaying the location’s high-quality products.

What you’re leaving with: Make sure you pick up some Lord Jones Sea Salt Caramels, a mouthwatering hand-crafted confection manufactured locally. Also check out the dispensary’s selection of sexual wellness products: it carries both Foria Pleasure and Foria Relief, which you can’t get outside of California and Colorado.

At 2:15 p.m., you’re: Chewing on your recently acquired caramels as you enter Universal Studios (since there are lots of kids running around, edibles are your best options, plus the lengthy high will sustain you throughout the afternoon). Universal Studios boasts experiential rides and attractions that will delight your inner child, most exhilarating of which is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Photo credit: Ana Paula Hirama

You enter through Hogsmeade, passing The Hogwarts Express, The Three Broomsticks, and even a frog choir. Pick up a wand at Ollivander’s (you can choose from interactive and plain wands) and grab a frozen Butterbeer. Make your way to the Hogwarts Castle to experience the Forbidden Journey ride. Waiting in line is a joy as you weave through the castle past the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and even Dumbledore’s study. Holograms of Harry, Ron, and Hermione guide you and portraits have conversations above your head.

Word to the wise: The ride itself is intense, awesome, and not for those prone to motion sickness. If you’re looking for something more adult-oriented, The Walking Dead Attraction opens in July, or check out the areas devoted to The Mummy or Jurassic Park.

At 4:20 p.m., you’re: Headed back down the 101 (why do locals always prefix freeways with “the”? Local channel KCET has the answer), admiring the gorgeous homes that speckle the mountains of the Hollywood Hills.

Photo credit: Looking for Janis

You’re on your way to your last stop at Barney’s Beanery, a laid-back Route 66 spot with food, beer, pinball machines, and pool tables surrounded by brightly colored booths. You might recognize the decor from the 1991 film The Doors (which is appropriate because Jim Morrison is reputed to have spent a great deal of time here). Barney’s classic all-beef chili has been on the menu since 1920, and you can enjoy each delectable bite as you ponder which of the booths Quentin Tarantino was sitting in when he wrote some of his screenplays.

Fun fact: The West Hollywood location in particular has hosted lots of celebrities over its nine decades of business, including Janis Joplin, whose favorite booth was #34.

Coordinated Raids Hit Northern California Hash-Oil Producers

Law enforcement agencies raided multiple hash oil producers in Sonoma County on Wednesday, according to media and eyewitness reports.

From the local Santa Rosa Press Democrat:

At least nine people were detained on a curb outside at a rural Irwin Lane property in west Santa Rosa while police from several jurisdictions searched a warehouse and several large greenhouses.

Santa Rosa Police Lt. Mike Lazzarini said it was just one of several sites where investigators suspect large scale production of concentrated cannabis was taking place.

Fire personnel were also on hand because of the potentially hazardous materials involved in hash production, such as butane gas.

Santa Rosa detectives led the raids, the paper reports, with the help of agents from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Raids were reported at Care By Design and AbsoluteXtracts, both based in Santa Rosa. The location of a third raid has not yet been confirmed.

As word of the enforcement actions spread, a network of activists and patient advocates sprang into action:

RAID ALERT!
Raid underway on Care By Design/AbsoluteXtracts in Sonoma county (right now) need help from communty… http://t.co/et3ljMUMaH

— San Diego ASA (@ASASanDiego) June 15, 2016

Raid underway in Sonoma County. Care By Design and @absolute extracts. Impromptu meeting today at 4pm to discuss… http://t.co/3HZrixb4Bj

— Heidi Grossman (@HeidiStylist) June 15, 2016

The Sonoma County Cultivators Alliance will hold an impromptu meeting today to discuss the raids. It begins at 4 p.m. at 2255 Challenger Way, Suite 106, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.

A spokesman for the Santa Rosa Police Department said he could not confirm details of the raids because the department had not yet issued a press release. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department could not immediately be reached for comment.

5 Father's Day Gift Ideas for Your Pro-Cannabis Pop

Father’s Day is just around the corner, which inspired us to highlight a few cannabis products that your dad would love. Whether he’s a marijuana newbie or ganja old-timer, these items are a great addition to your father’s stoner toolkit.

Myster Stashtray

For starters, help keep your dad’s stash and accessories stored away safely with the clean and classy Stashtray from the folks at Myster. This all-in-one tray comes with the aforementioned rolling tray, a grinder, strain container, ashtray, and bowl stand. Better yet, all of the parts are magnetically attached to the tray, which should be a great help in keeping your dad from losing those accessories. For even more discretion, the First Edition Bundle comes with a sly book box for storage in plain sight!

Cost: $150 ($195 for the First Edition Bundle w/ Book Box)

Firefly 2

Whether you’re introducing your dad to cannabis for the first time or he’s well-adjusted to it, the newly designed Firefly 2 dry herb vaporizer is a great way to enter the world of vaping. Sleeker than the original Firefly, the Firefly 2 saves on space without wasting on vapor quality and performance. Touch-activated sensors turn this thing on and very quickly heat it up to your desired temperature, with the solid green LED light signaling that it’s time to vape. This vaporizer even comes with an app that allows you to customize the touch sensor as well as set your temperature, making the Firefly 2 an easy yet sophisticated vaping option that your dad would enjoy.

Cost: $329.95

Remedy Pain Stick

As your dad gets up there in years, he’ll have to deal with various sorts of aches and pains while going through daily life. You can help bring him relief and relaxation with The Remedy Pain Stick from Cannabis Basics. While it’s the same shape and function as the glue sticks we all grew up with, The Remedy Pain Stick comes as a topical oil blend of CBD, THC, and THCA for all-purpose pain and tension relief. A liberal application of this stick to muscles, joints, temples, and other sore areas will have your dad feeling a nice and soothing relieving sensation. The Remedy Pain Stick is also small enough to carry anywhere he goes, and is currently only available in Washington, although the changing national climate towards marijuana will help this product become more available in other states as time goes on.

Cost: varies by shop

Pitch-N-Puff One Hitter

I know it may be cliché, but a lot of dads (mine included) love golf. Why not help them relax and enjoy their game even more with the Pitch-N-Puff One Hitter from Puffingtons? Simply put, this is a one-hitter shaped like a golf tee, perfect for getting lifted with the utmost discretion at the golf course or anywhere else. It fits great in your pocket, golf bag, or anywhere else you or your dad can pack this little guy.

Cost: $11.99

Herb Cookbook

If your dad enjoys cooking and throwing down in the kitchen, then “Herb: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis” by The Stoner’s Cookbook is a great resource to help your old man expand his culinary repertoire. This book covers it all, from THC extraction methods and medical benefits to hundreds of delicious cannabis-infused recipes curated by chefs Melissa Parks and Laurie Wolf. Edibles are a great way to consume cannabis without smoking, and this is a great gift for any dad or “budding” chef to enter into the world of edibles.

Cost: $16.99 in paperback on Amazon

High Times Hangover And The ‘Easy Money’

It seems like every year I get into the same place: right after the celebration I pen an opinion piece about the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup. Lots to talk about this year! Let’s get into the details and the “easy money.” First, no rain! Second, No Break from the Sun! Boy, be careful what

OLCC Approves Cannabis Tracking System 3rd Party Software Providers

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission and Metrc (TM)have approved four software solution providers whose products are compatible for integration with the Oregon Recreational Marijuana Program Cannabis Tracking System (CTS). These products will allow OLCC recreational marijuana licensees to electronically transmit inventory and sales data into the CTS, a time-saving step that eliminates the need for

Anti-Cannabis Group Uses Orlando Massacre as Prohibitionist Talking Point

It’s an exchange of Twitter barbs that might be dubbed a “dustup” if 49 people weren’t dead.

In the wake of Sunday’s tragic shooting rampage at a popular gay night club in Orlando, an anti-cannabis group saw an opportunity to score political points. Responding to an Oregon congressman’s tweet expressing his condolences, the group, SAM Oregon, lashed out at the congressman for supporting legal cannabis.

@repblumenauer you can’t support 1 threat to public health/public safety and then condemn another. You have failed this state.

— SAM Oregon (@SAM_Oregon) June 12, 2016

Nothing like the shameless exploitation of a hateful act to win over hearts and minds.

Cannabis advocate Russ Belville caught the exchange and followed it blow-by-blow.

For his part, Rep. Earl Blumenauer shot back at SAM Oregon that the public health threat posed by guns far outweighs any danger posed by cannabis:

@SAM_Oregon Over 32k dead from gun violence each year in US. ZERO dead from marijuana. Your comparison is delusional & shameful.

— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) June 12, 2016

SAM Oregon is the state arm of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group that, according to its mission statement, “neither legalizes, nor demonizes, marijuana.” (No clear word on how the group feels about making heartless comparisons to mass shootings.) Portlander Randy Philbrick leads the local affiliate, while prohibitionist Kevin Sabet — dubbed by Rolling Stone as legalization’s “biggest enemy” — co-founded the national group.

For a group so apparently concerned with public welfare, SAM Oregon’s boldness was read widely as insensitive and out-of-touch. The tiff quickly drew in other voices from the cannabis community, including Marijuana Majority Chairman Tom Angell as well as lawyer and former Law Enforcement Against Prohibition organizer Shaleen Title.

Make sure you see this embarrassing & shameful prohibitionist tweet before @learnaboutsam eventually forces a delete http://t.co/vgXOBdpJnP

— Tom Angell (@tomangell) June 13, 2016

Um hey @learnaboutsam you might want to rein in your affiliate who’s trolling a US congressman on Orlando. #tonedeaf http://t.co/qCdmnSAwOm

— (((Shaleen Title))) (@shaleentitle) June 13, 2016

Others replied less diplomatically.

@SAM_Oregon @repblumenauer this is some reprehensible shit right here

— Tony Dilansico (@Slopster53) June 13, 2016

How does SAM Oregon feel about the whole thing? Once again, we go to Twitter:

Blowing our statement out of proportion doesn’t mean you’re right. MJ is a threat to public health/public safety whether you like it or not

— SAM Oregon (@SAM_Oregon) June 13, 2016

So there.

US CO: Column: Canna Activists to Obama: Deschedule Now

Colorado Springs Independent, 15 Jun 2016 – Advocates call for descheduling. Last week, CannaBiz covered local activists’ demonstration outside the Air Force Academy before President Barack Obama’s widely watched commencement address. As cars from all over the country poured in, the loosely affiliated Cannabis Patient Rights Coalition spoke out – asking the mayor to stop tightening local regulations and the president to stop classifying cannabis as an illegal narcotic.

How Does Cannabis Affect Your Memory?

Dude, where’s my car? Cheech & Chong. Jeff Spicoli. Harold & Kumar. Popular culture is littered with references to lovable – yet, usually forgetful – “stoners.” Cannabis and poor memory seem to go hand in hand, right? But, what does the science really say about cannabis and its effect on the ability to remember?

To better understand how cannabis affects memory, it’s important to first recognize that memory is not a construct that can be easily measured. Why? There are many different types of memory, each of which we test in different ways. Secondly, there are acute, or short-term, effects on memory (e.g., while under the influence), and possible long-term effects. And, finally, dosing, frequency, and strains play a big role in how cannabis affects memory.

What are the Short-Term Effects of Cannabis on Memory?

THC, the primary constituent in cannabis that gives users a euphoric effect, appears to impair memory in two significant ways:

Interestingly, studies show that frequent cannabis users may develop a tolerance to these effects. In other words, they become less sensitive to these effects and have less difficulty encoding memories or recalling events after use.

The good news is that in most consumers, memory impairments appear to be temporary. One study found that THC significantly impaired recall two hours after consumption, but no residual effects persisted after 24 to 48 hours. Also, cannabis doesn’t appear to affect one’s ability to recall existing memories. For example, even if you’re really stoned, you’re unlikely to forget your birth date, where you live, or what school you graduated from.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Cannabis on Memory?

Higher doses of cannabis taken frequently can have an adverse effect on long-term memory. In one study published by JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers concluded that people who consume a lot of cannabis over a long period of time (five or more years) developed poorer verbal memory recall than people who consumed less or not at all.

But how much was their memory impacted?

Reto Auer, a professor at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and the study’s main author, said they looked at nearly 3,400 Americans over a 25-year period. Testing verbal recall, they found that users who smoked every day could, on average, recall 8.5 out of every 15 words. In contrast, those who smoked much less or didn’t consume at all could recall 9 out of every 15 words.

While the difference of half a word doesn’t seem like much, Auer suggested that the longer one consumed chronically, the worse their memory might get. But, of those who participated in the study, only 8 percent considered themselves frequent users.

Notably, they didn’t find that heavy users had other adversely impacted cognitive abilities, such as focus and processing speed.

Can Cannabis Protect Memory?

Some studies suggest that higher levels of CBD – a non-psychoactive cannabis constituent – may offset THC’s memory impairment. Better yet, CBD may have therapeutic potential to reverse or prevent certain cognitive impairments.

Early research shows that CBD could protect against brain damage caused by binge drinking or alcohol abuse. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reported that CBD reduced alcohol-induced cell death in the brain by up to 60 percent.

Other studies have shown that CBD could act as a neuroprotectant and help prevent the onset of diseases like Parkinson’s, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.

Cannabis May Help Fight Bad Memories

Generally, we don’t think of memory impairment as a good thing. However, when it comes to individuals with PTSD, it’s a different story. One of PTSD’s defining symptoms is the inability of sufferers to extinguish memories from the traumatic event (or events) that caused the PTSD such as abuse, sexual assault, or combat.

Veterans regularly complain that pharmaceutical treatments prescribed to them by doctors – such as the highly addictive anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Valium – don’t work well and sometimes worsen symptoms.

Many veterans turn to cannabis claiming it’s the only thing that works; preclinical research shows that THC and CBD can “disrupt the reconsolidation of negative memories.” Translation: as Dr. Mike Hart from Marijuana for Trauma explains, “Cannabis helps people forget painful and intrusive memories.”

Further Research is Needed

We’re just beginning to understand how cannabis use affects the brain and memory, but encouragingly, it seems the adverse effects are exaggerated. Yes, cannabis can make you forgetful while using (or shortly thereafter). And, yes, it can have a modest impact on verbal recall in chronic, long-term users. But, in most people, after a short period of abstinence, memory function returns to normal.

Moreover, we are discovering potential therapeutic benefits. Of course, the old cop-out rings true: further research is needed, especially when it comes to studying cannabis to treat disorders like PTSD, or to prevent conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia that affect millions of people. However, we can hope that as public opinion shifts, the federal government will follow suit and ease restrictions that enable scientists to take research out of the lab and conduct more clinical studies on human subjects.

California’s Proposed Cannabis Fee Just Got Smaller, but is It Still Too Much for Medicine?

Amid vocal pushback, California lawmakers this week scaled back a proposed fee on medical cannabis purchases and added a way for low-income patients to dodge the added cost. But patient advocates, noting that other medical treatments aren’t subject to special taxes, argue that even the modified plan will make for an undue burden on patients in the state.

Senate Bill 987, introduced by Sen. Mike McGuire, would have tacked a 15-percent “user fee” — effectively a tax — onto all cannabis purchases. But on Monday lawmakers amended the bill to bring the rate down to 10 percent and include an exemption for patients who obtain a state medical cannabis ID card and can prove their income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

The changes would no doubt ease the financial impact on patients, but many are still concerned the costs are too steep. Even obtaining an ID card — generally not necessary for patients to purchase, grow, and consume cannabis — can cost hundreds of dollars (prices vary by county).

The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee is set to consider the bill Monday afternoon. Advocates are calling on patients and other members of the public to write to the committee to oppose the fee. Signed letters sent by end of day Tuesday, according to Americans for Safe Access, will be included in next week’s committee analysis and report.

Committee staff request that letters be sent by fax — yes that’s right, facsimile machine — to 916-319-2198.

Did ABC Just Air a Cannabis Homegrow Ad During the NBA Finals?

As the clock ticked into the fourth quarter of last night’s NBA Finals showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, ABC cut to a commercial break — and aired what might be remembered as a landmark ad for the cannabis industry.

Black Magic potting soil’s 30-second “Growers” spot features twentysomething hipsters growing plants in urban storerooms, closets, and “under the cover of darkness” with specialized lighting. “They seek perfection on a level that would drive lesser souls to madness,” intones the voiceover artist in a deep, truck-driving rumble. The bit ends with a shot of a badass dude in a grow room and the catchphrase, “Black Magic: Yield to no one.”

“Yield.” See what they did there?

The plants featured in the spot were not cannabis. It looked like the tatted growers were raising leafy greens, tomatoes, and sage. But the atmospherics were unmistakable. Those folks were growing indoors with lights, looking for production from their soil — which, by the way, is available at The Home Depot only in the strategic markets of Washington (legal), Colorado (legal), and Michigan (medically legal).

It wasn’t the first wink-nudge cannabis-related ad on network TV — we’d give that distinction to Jack in the Box’s “Stoner Dude” ad from 2009 — but it may be the first network spot aimed at cannabis growers.

Kimberly Chisholm, marketing leader with Hawthorne Gardening, the Port Washington, NY-based company that produces Black Magic soil products, said the ad aired once in West Coast and Rocky Mountain markets during the game last night. It wasn’t a cheap buy. “We just launched the brand a couple months ago, and we were looking for a way to reach a young, male, early-adopter demographic,” she told Leafly.

“We know people who grow hydroponically are interested in yield and love being able to customize” their grow setups, Chisholm added. Black Magic is one of the first companies to offer coco coir mix, a favorite substrate for cannabis growers, through The Home Depot. “They’re the largest gardening seller in the U.S., and they were looking to try something new. It’s a great fit for us, especially in markets like Seattle and Boulder, where hydroponic growing is fostering a whole new community.”

Last night’s game drew monster ratings in Northern California, where fans tuned in to see if their beloved Warriors could clinch their second straight NBA title. They didn’t — but Black Magic saw some massive brand exposure and, perhaps, a little uptick in potting soil sales. How’s that for yield?

Can Cannabis Users Donate Blood?

The cannabis community is typically a generous bunch that loves to share (for proof, witness the altruistic glory of the communal bong). However, there’s more than one way to demonstrate goodwill towards your fellow man. Every year, on June 14th, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. This year’s theme is “Blood connects us all.” The campaign aims to focus on thanking blood donors and highlighting the dimension of “sharing” and “connection” between blood donors and patients.

Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. The annual event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need. Here at Leafly, we’d like to encourage anyone who has the opportunity to get out there and do their part by donating blood if they can.

If you’re a regular cannabis user, you may have wondered whether marijuana consumers can donate blood. In short, the answer is yes. To get a definitive answer, not only did we parse through various informational blood donor sites, we also reached out to local blood banks and the American Red Cross via email to get confirmation. We contacted three local Washington state blood donation companies to get their perspective: Bloodworks Northwest, Cascade Regional Blood Services, and Biomat USA. All responded very quickly.

Here’s the email we sent out:

I am writing an informational article for Leafly.com and wanted to get some information regarding cannabis and blood donation as June 14th is World Blood Donor Day. Do you test for THC? If so, does the presence of THC make someone ineligible to give blood? What advice can you give a cannabis user who would like to make a donation?

These are the responses we received from Bloodworks Northwest, Cascade Regional Blood Services, and Biomat USA:

Cannabis use does not affect a person’s ability to be a blood donor unless they are assessed to be under the influence as determined during the donor screening process. We cannot accept blood from anyone who is intoxicated with alcohol, cannabis, or prescription drugs because of the possibility of an unreliable history and the inability to give consent for the draw. The FDA does not require testing for THC either at registration or during testing for blood borne pathogens which all donated/collected blood receives. – Bloodworks Northwest

Blood Banks do not test for THC. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any advice to give a cannabis user who would like to make a donation. Sorry I could not help you more. – Cascade Regional Blood Service

Your blood will be tested for your blood type and infectious disease markers (including Hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV). These screening tests are to evaluate donor suitability and are not formal diagnostic tests. In addition, other tests may be performed based on your medical history or special testing required to qualify your plasma donation. Donors are also screened for syphilis, hematocrit, and protein levels. – Biomat USA

All of these replies are pretty straightforward in confirming that there is no required testing for THC, but we felt we needed to cast our net a little wider. The American Red Cross is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, collecting and processing approximately 40 percent of the blood supply and distributing it to about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Reinforcing what we’ve already learned, they provide guidance in their informative Common Questions about Donating Blood pamphlet:

While the Red Cross does not encourage the use of controlled substances, marijuana or alcohol use does not necessarily disqualify you from giving blood as long as you are feeling well. If you have EVER injected any illegal drugs, you can never give blood. – American Red Cross

Never let it be said that we at Leafly don’t go that extra mile for our users. Not totally satisfied with this, we reached out directly to the American Red Cross with the same question we’d previously asked. This is the answer we received:

The American Red Cross does not test for THC. Under the current medical eligibility policy set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for blood donation, individuals who are currently under the influence of licit or illicit drugs or alcohol are not accepted for donation. Legal or illegal use of marijuana is not otherwise a cause for blood donation deferral. It is important that individuals do not present to donate under licit or illicit drugs or alcohol. Presenting donors must be generally healthy and feeling well at the time of donation. Potential donors should get a good night’s sleep, eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids at least two hours prior to donating. – American Red Cross

You can take “feeling well” as a euphemism for “not being high.” If you are not “under the influence” of marijuana at the time of donation, it means that the psychoactive THC compounds in your blood have already been broken down. Your body metabolizes THC into two different chemicals; 11-OH-THC and 11-nor-9-Carboxy-THC. This process happens relatively quickly. Enzymes in the liver continue metabolizing these chemicals and transforms the psychoactive 11-OH-THC into 11-nor-9-Carboxy-THC which is non-psychoactive. This takes several hours ,and by the time that there is no THC or 11-OH-THC in your system, you are no longer high. So, when a blood bank states that your donation will not be accepted if the staff believe you have recently consumed cannabis, they are simply making sure that your body has broken down any psychoactive chemicals that your blood may contain.

In a nutshell, as long as you don’t turn up baked, cannabis users are perfectly eligible to donate. You needn’t worry about any shark-eyed FDA enforcers jumping out from behind a curtain ready to nab you for allegorically spoiling the water-hole. That being said, you should be prepared for a mild, perfunctory screening process on the day of donation. You will have to answer some questions about your health history and places you have traveled to recently. You will also receive a mini-physical; the blood bank will take your blood pressure, temperature, and a small sample of your blood to test your iron level. The best advice that we at Leafly can give prospective donors is to turn up on the day well rested, having eaten a hearty meal, drank plenty of water, and to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana prior to donating.

Interestingly, we learned from our correspondence that the summer months can be particularly challenging for blood donations as vacation plans and seasonal activities often cause donors to be less available to give. According to the American Red Cross, this seasonal challenge can be overcome if at least two more people above what’s expected come out to give blood at each drive this summer. Leafly lovers, this is the time to make the effort. Your blood donation alone could save up to three lives. So, lay off the communal bong for one evening, encourage those other bong-hitting heroes to come along with you, and hit up your local blood bank.

Colorado Cannabis Breaks Sales Record — Again

The Colorado cannabis industry raked in record revenue last month, bringing in $117.4 million in total receipts. It’s the third time in the history of the state’s legal cannabis program that total sales topped $100 million.

A majority of the windfall — $76.7 million —came from adult-use cannabis sales, according to state figures. The previous peak in the recreational market came in December 2015, when retail shops brought in $62.2 million.

As The Cannabist notes, the record industry numbers also mean a big windfall for the state:

The more than $5.5 million collected in excise tax is a monthly record from when recreational sales began in January 2014, and brings the yearly total to $16.7 million.
Through four months, Colorado has amassed almost $57 million in taxes and fees for medical and recreational cannabis.

But April is no ordinary month in the cannabis community, and 4/20 played an outsized role in the record sales. The week preceding April 20 brought in $34 million in retail sales, while day-of sales hit $7.3 million, far eclipsing the $6.1 million single-day record set in September 2015.

Whether a sign of more consumers moving away from the black market or simply a reflection of more adults indulging — data suggest both are happening — it’s clear that Colorado’s cannabis industry isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

19 Canadian Marijuana Stocks

Things could be looking up for the cannabis space, and for Canadian marijuana stocks in particular.

At this year’s United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS 2016), Canadian health minister Jane Philpott announced that the Liberal government intends to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana in spring of 2017. The move gets Canada one step closer to legalizing cannabis for recreational use, a subject that is no doubt top of mind for investors in Canadian marijuana stocks.

A number of states and provinces in Canada and the US are in various phases of legalization for both medical and recreational marijuana use, making the market confusing for new investors. What’s more, the pot bubble of 2014 serves as a good reminder for investors to do careful due diligence on any potential cannabis investment. Still, there are good opportunities out there for interested investors willing to do their research.

With that in mind, here’s a look at a few publicly traded Canadian marijuana stocks. The list includes cannabis and hemp focused stocks listed on Canadian exchanges.

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Canopy Growth (TSXV:CGC)

One of the larger Canadian marijuana stocks, Canopy holds producers Tweed and Bedrocan under its umbrella. Tweed’s production facility is located in the old Hershey factory in Smith Falls, Ontario.

Near the end of May, Bedrocan stated that it would begin offering same-day delivery services in Toronto. Canopy Growth also announced it would be expanding into Australia as well through a partnership with AusCann Group Holdings.

At the start of June, Canopy announced it had received conditional approval to list on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Mettrum (TSXV:MT)

One of the first medical cannabis producers in Canada to be licensed under MMPR, Mettrum Health is a vertically integrated provider of cannabis products. It operates three facilities in Ontario with an annual production capacity of 12,000 kilograms. Mettrum offers a range of products in both whole-bud and extract forms.

On May 9, the company received an amendment to its license allowing it to both produce and sell medical cannabis and extracts.

OrganiGram (TSXV:OGI)

As its name suggests, OrganiGram specializes in producing organically grown medical marijuana. The company is licensed under MMPR, and has a production facility located in Moncton, New Brunswick. On June 2, Organigram closed a $10 million bought deal financing and announced the appointment of Peter Amirault to the company’s board of directors.

Aphria (TSXV:APH)

Also licensed under MMPR, Aphria is located in Learnington Ontario, at “Canada’s southernmost point.” The company announced on June 2 that it expects to more than double its growing capacity—the company’s board recently approved a $10 million project increasing its greenhouse square footage from 43,000 to 100,000 square feet.

Aurora Cannabis (CSE:ACB)

Aurora’s production facilities are located in Mountain View County, Alberta, near the Rocky Mountains. The company aims to “produce the cleanest, safest medical cannabis available on the market,” and all of its strains are currently offered at $8 per gram.

On June 8, Aurora acquired CanvasRx, the largest medical cannabis patient outreach service in Canada. It also announced a best efforts private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $15 million. 

Naturally Splendid (TSXV:NSP,OTCMKTS:NSPDF)

Naturally Splendid has a slightly different focus—rather than being involved in the medical marijuana space, the company offers investors exposure to the hemp-based healthy foods and omega markets. It is the only publicly traded company in the world offering investors exposure in this area.

After securing a nearly $1 million purchase order for hemp food products for Korea Beauty & Health Care back in February, Naturally Splendid reported in May that purchase orders from the country had risen to C$3 million in value. The company is planning to move to larger production facilities (12,000 square feet vs. 6,700 square feet) in response to increased sales opportunities. The move is expected to be complete by July 1 2016.

Naturally Splendid also has a sister company listed on the OTC, Laguna Blends (OTCMKTS:LAGBF), which is focused on the nutritional health benefits of hemp.

Beleave (CSE:BE)

Beleave is still in the review stage for its license to produce cannabis under Canada’s Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR). However, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March with Ryerson University relating to drug standardization research in March, and also entered a letter of intent (LOI) in April with gDial for the research, development, and licensing of a proprietary drug dosing, detection, and usage-tracking technology.

Beleave has also been endorsed by the City of Hamilton Planning and Economic Development Department.

Golden Leaf Holdings (CSE:GLH)

Listed in Canada but located in Oregon, Golden Leaf Holdings is focused on producing high quality cannabis oils. On May 26, the company announced a new Golden Private Stash product line, a premium solvent-free cannabis oil produced in small batches.

Vodis Pharmacueticals (CSE:VP)

Vodis has medical and recreational marijuana business operations in both Canada and the United States. The company reported successful production cycles for recreational marijuana at its Washington Facilities on April 4, and appointed Sean Côté as the company’s new CEO on May 11.

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THC Biomed (CSE:THC)

Located in Kelowna BC, THC BioMed has been granted permission to conduct research and development for scientific purposes with medicinal marijuana. The company provides scientific and biotechnical services to current and potential licensed producers under MMPR.

On May 26, Health Canada granted TCH BioMed a license to produce fresh marijuana, cannabis oil and cannabis resin.

PharmaCan (TSXV:MJN)

PharmaCan is a merchant bank focused on investing in the Canadian marijuana industry. It also supports the companies in which it invests through management consultation.

Examples of comapnies in which PharmaCan currently holds an interest include In The Zone (100 percent), Whistler Medical Marijuana Company (21.5 percent) and the Peace Naturals Project (27.3 percent).

Calyx Bio-Ventures (TSXV:CYX)

Calyx is an agri-tech company which owns a portfolio of proprietary intellectual property with applications in crop enhancement, as well as a software platform tailored to the advanced indoor agriculture sector.

The company reported in September 2015 that its software subsidiary, Cannigistics Agri-Solutions, had signed two software licensing agreements in just over a week. There has been no news from the company so far in 2016.

Abattis Bioceuticals (CSE:ATT)

Abattis Bioceuticals is a vertically integrated biotechnology company focused on natural health products including cannabis. The company develops natural health products and conducts research and development for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, bioceutical and cosmetic markets.

On May 11, Abattis announced it had selected Ingredient Identity as its regulatory management partner. “Abattis’ and its subsidiary companies presented us with one of the most fun and unique opportunities to date in the history of our firm,” said Brandon Griffin, CEO of Ingredient Identity, in a statement. “We created an incredibly comprehensive solution to work closely with the Abattis team now and seamlessly as it grows.”

Emerald Health Botanicals (TSXV:EMH)

Emerald Health Botanicals, previously Emerald Health therapeutics, is a licensed medical marijuana producer under MMPR. Also, as a federal research grant recipient, the company conducts research and development into the characterization of cannabis strains and cultivation technologies. It also collaborates with academic and medical research to help gain further understanding of the effect of cannabis on humans.

Emerald Health announced in November 2015 that it had received a supplemental license from Health Canada to begin producing cannabis oils and capsules. More recently, the company completed a shares for debt transaction at the start of May.

Tinley Beverage (CSE:TNY)

Tinley Beverage is the producer of Hemplify, a drinkable vitality supplement containing hemp extract made from the stalk of industrial hemp. The vegan, sugar free drink is a source of electrolytes, vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids.

The company reported receiving its first orders for Hemplify products on March 10. The company’s first commercial bottling run for Hemplify is scheduled for mid June.

Cannabix (CSE:BLO)

On the technology side of things, Cannabix technologies is developing a breathalyzer that detects THC for use by law enforcement. The company’s marijuana breathalyzer is currently under development in partnership with University of Florida chemists. The company’s researchers have confirmed the ability to specifically detect THC at standard temperature and pressure, and have isolated THC and THC-related by-products in controlled simulated breath samples.

On May 11, Cannabix added Dr. Marilyn Huestis to its advisory board, one of the world’s foremost experts on the effects of marijuana use on driving impairment.

Puf Ventures (CSE:PUF)

Puf Ventures has a diversified portfolio of assets in the Canadian marijuana sector. It owns a passive, non-controlling interest in AAA Heidelberg, which is focused on using all-natural nutrients to grow healthy, pest free plants. AAA Heidelberg has had an MMPR application pending with Health Canada since 2013.

Other ventures the company has invested in include 1313 Cigs, VapeTronix, and Weed Beacon.

True Leaf (CSE:MJ)

Canada-based True Leaf is focused on the production of hemp-based functional dog chews. This year, the company has made waves with its product in the US, passing a 6,000 store milestone in April. On May 17, the company announced that it would soon offer True Hemp pet treats for sale in Europe as well.

Maple Leaf Green World (TSXV:MGW)

Maple Leaf Green World is involved in a number of different projects around the globe. In Canada, the company is seeking MMPR licensed producer status, while in California, the company is joint-ventured with a non-profit collective to set up a growing facility. The company is also involved in an eco-agriculture venture in China, focused on growing value-added tree seedlings.

The most recent news from the company came on April 20th, when it announced $485,000 in subscriptions for private placements.

Any Canadian marijuana stocks we missed? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!

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Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include Puf Ventures, True Leaf and Maple Leaf Green World.

The post 19 Canadian Marijuana Stocks appeared first on Investing News Network.

Why Are the Feds Out to Get 19-Year-Old Devontre Thomas?

Cannabis is state-legal for adults 21 and older in Oregon. There hasn’t been a federal marijuana possession case tried in the state since 2011. So why is the U.S. Attorney laying federal charges against a 19 year old from Salem who just graduated from high school?

That’s the mystery at the center of the case surrounding Devontre Thomas, a recent graduate of the Chemawa Indian School who’s planning to attend community college in the fall.

Thomas, a soft-spoken student, grew up on the Warm Springs Reservation in central Oregon, a place where unemployment hovers around 60 percent. After community college, he hopes to transfer to a four-year college and major in science and the environment.

Before that happens, though, he’ll have to deal with a federal drug indictment.

Devontre Thomas faces a federal criminal charge for cannabis possession. Photo via KGW

The U.S. Department of Justice is charging the teenager with one count of marijuana possession, which is a misdemeanor but still carries potentially heavy penalties, including up to one year in prison and up to $1,000 fine for a first offense. (In state court, the same offense — minor in possession — would be treated with a court date, a small fine, and possible enrollment in a drug diversion program.)

Why are the feds going after Thomas? Nobody’s quite sure. The alleged crime is said to have occurred more than a year ago. Thomas has a clean record, no previous scrapes with the law. According to a court document filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Martin, “On or about March 24, 2015, in the District of Oregon, defendant Devontre James Thomas knowing and intentionally possessed marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.”

Although the alleged crime occurred in March 2015, charges against Thomas weren’t filed until April 7, 2016 — more than a full year later.

Thomas’s attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben Iniguez, is used to handling high-profile federal cases. He’s the court-appointed defender for Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, whose protests against public-lands policy led to last year’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge standoff. Iniguez is puzzled about the motive behind the high-level charges for an extremely low-level case.

Devontre Thomas, his lawyer says, did not have any cannabis in his possession but admitted to paying another teenager $20 to purchase some. Iniguez says investigators used the words “fragments,” “debris,” and “remnants” to describe what they found on one of Thomas’ friends.

Thomas “did not physically possess anything; it was another student who was in possession,” Iniguez told Leafly. “They are clearly making an example of him.”

It’s unclear whether Thomas’ friend was also charged in the incident. Federal prosecutors have declined to say why they’ve brought charges against the teenager. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland declined to comment on the matter.

This case is different than most of its kind, according to Iniguez, as Thomas was caught at his boarding school on the Chemawa Indian Reservation. “You commit a crime that would be considered a state crime and you might get probation,” Iniguez said. “But you get caught on the reservation, now it is federal.

“You have to go to federal court and you could face mandatory minimum sentences for the same thing.”

“They are not using the fact that it occurred on the Chemawa Indian Reservation as a basis for jurisdiction, but I think that is how it gets referred to them because it is a federal school.”

Iniguez said a plea bargain could be coming from the U.S. Attorney’s office soon.

“We are going to have to decide, are we going to fight this, do we want to challenge the statements?” Inguez said. “I think they are trying to scare him straight, making sure he gets back on the right path, as it were. If he does so, it will probably go away.”

Meanwhile, the reservation on which Thomas grew up is considering a plan to build a 36,000-square-foot cannabis greenhouse. Last December, 86 percent of the voting members of the Warm Springs Tribe agreed to pursue a tribal project to grow and process cannabis on the reservation, for eventual sale in nearby cities like Bend and Portland. The project could create more than 85 new jobs. Under tribal law, however, possession and sale of cannabis outside of the project would remain illegal.

Leafly Product Review: The G-Pen Elite Vaporizer (Ground Herb)

Welcome to Leafly’s Product Reviews, where we take a closer look at a cannabis gadget, accessory, or consumable, and give it a test spin. Today we’re trying out the G-Pen Elite Vaporizer by Grenco Science.

The G-Pen Elite Vaporizer at a Glance

Product: Portable vaporizer (ground material)

Manufacturer: Grenco Science

Price: $169.95

Features: Full LED display, temperature control, battery life indicator, all-ceramic heating chamber

Includes: 1 G-Pen Elite Vaporizer (for ground material), 1 G card, 1 G-Pen tool, 1 USB charging cable, 1 G cleaning brush

Initial Impressions

The G-Pen Elite Vaporizer for ground material by Grenco Science is a small yet powerful portable vaporizer that provides for a solid and effective vaping experience. Going off first impressions, I was a bit surprised at how small this thing is. The smooth and inlaid buttons on the front and side panel prevented any uncomfortable bulging in my pockets while I was carrying it around town. This is in part to the sleek and ergonomic design of the pen, with a rubber groove wrapping around the body for a natural handle when using it. The discreet construction and easy handling of the G-Pen Elite will make it very easy for you to vape anywhere.

Packing the pen was fairly easy as well, though I do say “fairly” because I had some difficulty in removing the mouthpiece to reach the load chamber each time I wanted to pack it. This difficulty was most likely due to the almost too-smooth construction of the pen itself. I had a hard time keeping a solid grip on the smooth plastic of the upper body of the pen while trying to pull the rubber mouthpiece off, but after some persistence I was able to get the mouthpiece off to access the deep chamber that Grenco Science proclaims to hold up to.75 grams of ground material.

I liked the fact that the chamber was deep for the pen’s overall size, but I also felt that the pen’s small stature made for a pretty narrow opening to load your herb, so be sure to keep the included pen tool handy with you as it is necessary if you want to fully pack the chamber for an optimal experience.

After my initial trouble with loading the pen, I was ready to start vaping. Turning on the pen was a breeze — just five quick clicks on the front panel button and I was greeted with the illuminated “G” symbol. Setting the temperature was just as simple as well, as the clear and easy-to-read digital display shows the current temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit, depending on how you roll.

My favorite thing about this pen was how fast it took to heat up to my desired temperature. All I had to do was use the two side buttons below the digital display to set my desired temp (I personally like rocking at around 365 degrees F), hold the front panel button for a second, then release the button and see the numbers on display zoom up to the temperature I had set. The lithium battery in this pen is no joke, as I was at my set temperature and ready to inhale within only 90 seconds. This fast-heating action was by far the most impressive part about using this pen.

And what about the actual vaping experience, you might ask? Well, I honestly have to say that it was a bit underwhelming, although this may be due to the nature of ground herb portable vaporizers in general. One downside to this pen’s small size is that pretty much the whole top half of the pen (mouthpiece included) can get very hot, so you really want to be careful where you put your lips on the mouthpiece. Also, make sure your fingers are resting in the ergonomic rubber grooves of the pen.

While I was able to get a nice taste and feel the effects of the Peppermint Cookies I was vaping, I wasn’t really able to produce a lot of vapor with each exhale. I was definitely using it correctly considering how sufficiently stoned I got, but the low vapor production was a bit disappointing to me. I also used up half the battery life of the pen in just one bowl, but that was also with continuous pulling instead of occasional rips over a long period of time.

Our Verdict

At $170, the G-Pen Elite provides a good and quality portable vaping experience without having to shell out the big bucks for the other portable vapes on the market, making it a great option for people looking for something between dirt-cheap and high-end. While I wasn’t blown away by the vaping experience, I still felt all the great effects of my herb, which is really the most important factor here. I was really impressed with the slick, small, yet powerful construction of this pen, making it a reliable option at a reasonable price.

Have you tried the G-Pen Elite? If so, leave a review on our Products page!

Washington State Leaker Says Canna-Data Breach ‘Not What I Was Going For’

In the wake of the recent data breach at the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), which released sensitive personal and financial information about cannabis license applicants to the watchdog website 420Leaks, many in the cannabis industry are asking: Who is 420Leaks founder John Novak, how did he end up with that data, and what’s he going to do with it?

Leafly reached Novak at his home in Lake Forest Park, Wash. He was happy to talk about it.

To answer the main question: He’s not out to steal anyone’s identity. He was, in fact, surprised the information landed in his lap.

“I had no idea this was going to include the entire application process,” he said. “That’s not what I was going for. I just wanted email exchanges because I’d heard people were getting screwed in the process. I just wanted to see if there were any irregularities, and then Whoa what is this? Holy crap.”

Novak is what government officials call a “super-requester,” a government watchdog who files massive and frequent public records requests. The recent flap over the WSLCB’s erroneous release of applicant info came out of a sprawling request Novak made for all information on collective gardens. In early May, the WSLCB sent Novak a collection of records that included a “redact” folder, which contained sensitive tax and financial information about some license applicants. WSLCB official Melissa Norton later to wrote Novak that “It is our belief that in error the ‘redact’ folder was included” in the release.

On June 8, the WSLCB sent out a letter to a number of license applicants informing them of “a data security incident” and that “your personal information may have been potentially exposed to others.” For those in the industry whose personal data was leaked, it was an unsettling letter to receive.

A copy of one such letter was obtained by KOMO 4 News:

Novak sees himself as more a public servant than a gadfly.

“The goal [of 420Leaks] is running an open government, with accountability,” he told Leafly. “We’re trying to get a spotlight on the fact that medical patients are getting knocked out in this whole process,” he added, referring to Washington state’s efforts to bring the medical marijuana system under the umbrella of the legal recreational cannabis industry. The rift between the state’s medical marijuana community and its recreational cannabis system is a wide one, and 420Leaks is emblematic of the MMJ community’s distrust of the state regulators in charge of that system.

Novak and his main collaborator on the site, John Worthington, began simply as medical marijuana patients growing their own cannabis. However, both were the subject of multiagency raids — Worthington in 2007 and Novak in 2010 — which sparked their ire. The experience, Novak said, transformed him from a medical marijuana activist to a transparency hawk.

“The reason I’m still big on this is that I was raided back in 2010 by a big task force team in Okanogan County under the false assumption that I was a big criminal kingpin,” said Novak. It also soured him on the state’s fledgling legal cannabis industry, ushered in under Initiative 502. he said, as he felt the persecution of patients and adult-use legalization went hand in hand.

“I realized very quickly that this thing is corrupt, and there’s no freaking way in hell I’m going to get involved with it because of everything I saw and the corruption around my raid,” he said. “It’s taxes and it’s controlling the resource. It’s capitalism. It’s everything that’s wrong with America right now. It’s happening in the cannabis world now, and it’s ruthless.”

Novak doesn’t see himself as an outsider. And he’s not exactly an anticapitalist crusader. When it comes down to it, he said, he’s just a guy who wants to grow his own, which isn’t allowed under I-502.

“I’m not anti-business,” he said. “I’m not even really anti-502. 502 was never supposed to do this. Maybe [it was supposed to stop] the [medical marijuana] storefronts, but not the home grows.”

While his research team for the site includes more super-requesters, such Arthur West, notorious for achieving multiple six-figure settlements with Washington state’s government agencies over public records requests and open meetings violation complaints, Novak said he doesn’t see himself as a career transparency activist.

“I just want to grow my plants and share with my friends and family,” he said. “I’m pretty much out of this whole thing as soon as they allow all adults to grow some plants themselves. I’m done. I want to go back to selling petunias and fruit trees.”

Greenhouse Cannabis Cultivation: What are the Benefits?

Greenhouses are becoming the most popular way to cultivate cannabis. They harness the power of the sun, provide a warm climate, and protect gardens from harsh environmental conditions. Past the basics, a greenhouse allows for year-round cultivation, climate control, and controlled exposure to sunlight. What’s more, they’re cheaper than growing indoors and produce a more consistent product than outdoors.

How Does a Greenhouse Work?

How does a greenhouse stay warm even when the outside air temperature is low? This happens through a process known as the “greenhouse effect.” Solar radiation (energy from the sun) passes through the transparent walls of the greenhouse and heats up the soil and plants. In turn, the soil and plants release this energy as infrared radiation which cannot escape the greenhouse. The heat is trapped and warms the air. On a hot day, you experience the science behind a greenhouse when getting into a parked car that has been left in the sun.

The greenhouse effect opens up the doors to year-round cultivation. However, cannabis is a demanding plant that needs both adequate lighting and controlled exposure to lighting in order to harness its continual offerings.

Recreating the Cannabis Life Cycle

In the fall, winter, and spring, the sun stays lower on the horizon. Because of this, plants receive less energy and have a harder time growing. Cannabis requires sunlight for more than 12 hours a day to stay in vegetative growth. Once the plant receives 12 hours or fewer of sunlight a day, it will start to flower and produce trichome-rich buds. Outdoors, plants generally go in the ground around June, grow in a vegetative state in the long days of summer, and then begin to flower in the early fall when the days become shorter.

Advanced greenhouses allow for the control of the light cycles needed to cultivate cannabis. These greenhouses go far beyond just keeping the plants in a warm climate. Other manipulation tools include supplemental lighting, climate control equipment (dehumidifiers, heaters, air conditioning), and the ability to block out all incoming light.

Advantages of Growing Greenhouse Cannabis

Growing cannabis in greenhouses can be advantageous over regular outdoor growing. These four key reasons outline why many growers are turning to greenhouse cultivation.

Lighting Control

Supplemental lighting allows for the gardener to extend the hours of daylight. It also allows the gardener to improve the quality of light on overcast days. Extending daylight hours gives the gardener the ability to keep the plants in a vegetative state and control their natural course. Improving the quality of light with supplemental lighting also helps keep plants healthy and growing vigorously even when the weather is less than ideal.

Weather and Climate Control

Having a controlled climate is essential to produce a top quality product. Protection from the outdoor elements help keep the product safe. For example, heavy rains often result in damaged plants and rot if too much moisture is trapped inside the bud. Plants in a greenhouse are protected from rain and have windows that can be “burped,” or have dehumidifiers to control humidity. In addition, greenhouses may have heaters, air conditioning, and fans, all of which may be used to create a consistent ideal climate to grow while still harnessing the power of the sun.

Manipulating Life Cycles

A common practice among greenhouse farmers is to run cycles of plants known as “light deps,” or light deprivation, during the summer season. It allows the grower to harness the summer light while, at the same time, limit the light exposure the plant receives to trick the plant into flowering prematurely. This greenhouse technique mimics indoor lighting cycles and allows the greenhouse grower to harvest a crop in early August, replant, and then harvest a second crop in the fall.

To continue producing crops during the fall, winter, and early spring, the gardener leans more heavily on supplemental lighting and heaters. On winter solstice in Seattle, for example, we receive less than eight and a half hours of daylight. In addition, that light is very low in the sky and poor for gardening. In a greenhouse, that light would still help heat the greenhouse, but the gardener would need to use supplemental lighting to maintain a quality product and to extend the hours of light in the day.

Energy Conservation

The ability to balance light exposure, use supplemental lighting, and keep the climate stable allows for year round cultivation just like indoor growing. The difference is that the grower only uses supplemental light mechanics when Mother Nature is not providing an ideal environment. This results in substantial energy savings while the quality of the product stays consistent.

Many crops that require specific environments are already produced in greenhouses, including tomatoes, leafy greens, and peppers, so it’s only natural that cannabis finds itself at home in greenhouses as well. As cannabis legalization spreads, farmers are finding it safe and financially beneficial to move from warehouses to greenhouses as the industry develops.

June 22: Minority Cannabis Business Association Networking Rally In Oakland, CA

This last weekend there was a networking rally for the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) in Portland, Oregon. I know many people that attended, and I heard nothing but good things. Another MCBA event is happening this month, this next time in Oakland. Below is more information, via the event’s Facebook page: Join MCBA and

Recipe: How to Make Cannabis-Infused Peanut Butter Cookies (with Optional Bacon Bits)

There’s nothing quite like the joy that is a perfect peanut butter cookie. Cannabis consumers appreciate the beauty of rich, nutty, sugary goodness as much as anyone – and perhaps far more so when the cookie is infused.

These cookies are everything an exceptional peanut butter cookie should be: soft, sweet, salty, decadent – and medicated. You’ll hardly notice the flavor of the THC, but you’ll feel its effects soon enough. Enjoy!

The Perfect Cannabis-Infused Peanut Butter Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies

½ C cannabutter

1 C crunchy peanut butter

2 T shortening

1 egg

2 t vanilla

1 C flour

½ C sugar

½ C brown sugar

½ t baking soda

½ t baking powder

½ t sea salt

Additional sea salt and white sugar to finish

Optional: ½ C bacon bits (and in case you want to kick up the potency, we’ll just leave this infused bacon recipe here)

Directions:

Melissa Etheridge Consumes Marijuana During A Performance For The First Time

At the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup in Clio, Michigan, rock superstar Melissa Etheridge did something she has never done before- and it was all caught on camera! “This is my first time ever, smoking while performing,” Etheridge stated, then did just that. Etheridge, a well-known medical marijuana advocate, produced an individual joint case sometimes

Heroes Among Us: 7 Cannabis Strains That Make You Feel Like Superman

It’s important to celebrate our heroes. Real or imaginary, these men and women help us define our ideal selves. Sometimes these heroes are imbued with superhuman abilities, like the power of flight or telepathy, but much of the time, the attributes that make a superhero are inherently human. Heroes are characters that stand up for the weak and defenseless. They go beyond the call to raise up their fellow man. Heroes are not indestructible, but simply willing to give more of themselves without the need of thanks or admiration.

Yes, heroes are among us and within us, and on this day devoted to Superman, the Übermensch, I’ve curated a shortlist of strains that will imbue you with superhuman sensations that will hopefully enable you to do something heroic…or at least conquer the villainous forces of laziness and depression. Up, up, and away!

Allen Wrench

“This strain is pow!!! Gets you a super uplifting high with a great taste and smooth smoke not very harsh at all even when the bowl is almost ass and still tastes good and the smell is unbelievable super earthy citrus and could smell it from across my house, great strain won’t regret.” – sillbillybro

Maui

“Beautiful strain came on subtle and took over my whole body for a wonderful ride. I have permanent nerve damage due to an IED this stuff makes me feel like superman.” – Dungy51

Kryptonite

“Yup. So that’s what Superman feels like when he is flying. I got a top shelf, frosty, extra strength dose of this stuff. I hit in a vape… Pure, tasty and then BOOM! This stuff is no joke. . .tread lightly.” – Rhobert

Superman OG

“Faster than a speeding bowl-hit, more powerful than locomotive, it’s Superman OG! This wax is dank. Be sure to get it while it lasts at Delta-9 Association in San Jose.” – tgigrass

Incredible Hulk

“Very tasty, high energy strain. Perfect morning smoke to get your day started and the creative juices flowing, but smoke any more than a bowl and it hits you like a train with an incredibly strong cerebral high. Oh, and have some snacks ready because this shit is guaranteed to give you some extreme munchies.” – absentia882

Chemdawg

“8/10: I like this one a lot. She’s very much like an OG Kush but more leaning on the lighter side in terms of effects. She’s not gonna get ya stoned out ya brains, but what she does offer you is a nice full body high and the ability to eat 1,467,279 cheeseburgers and fries. So smile, relax, and just know everything’s gonna be just fine J” – beelzebub

Cinderella 99

“‘I am, I am, I am Superman, and I can do anything’… are not just lyrics from the R.E.M. song, but that’s how you will feel after smoking Cinderella 99. I felt like Superman flying over Market Street in San Francisco. It was an uplifting feeling. When I came back down to earth, I got wobbly legs and a pretty bad case of paranoia, all the people on the sidewalk with their shopping bags, the street performers were making me feel dizzy. That lasted maybe five minutes, then I felt like that first time you got baked, I mean really high. Time slows down, and you feel like everyone in the world knows you’re high. Fun times. I highly recommend for absolutely eliminating anxiety, stress, and aches and pains, just don’t overdo it. Go easy with this one.” – blackhawks15

While these strains might not make you leap over a building in a single bound, shoot lasers out of your eyes, or tear a phone book in half, they should pack a physical stimulation that encourages a sense of wellbeing that traverses the sativa/hybrid/indica continuum. Each strain is suited for a series of semi-heroic deeds that may include making a cape out of bed sheets or other household objects, jumping on a trampoline while wearing said cape, and donning a fist-forward flying motion while walking/running anywhere. Go forth, do good, and live on!

“I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.” – David Bowie

Do Different Consumption Methods Impact Your Sexual Performance?

I’ve covered many ways cannabis can help enhance your sexual experience, but what happens when you experiment with different consumption methods before diving under the sheets with your partner? Do specific consumption methods impact pleasure? I decided to find out and have compiled a summary of how different sexual encounters felt when paired with various cannabis consumption methods.

Before we dive into my unofficial findings, overall, regardless of the method, I prefer sativas and hybrids for pleasure, so you might want to try those out if you’re thinking of combining cannabis with sex. Most indicas I’ve tried are too sleepy for the high energy sex that I prefer, but they’re not bad for a quickie before bedtime.

Of course, having said that, everyone experiences cannabis differently. The strain that causes you to feel creative, euphoric, and productive might make the person next to you feel anxious, uncomfortable, and paranoid. As with all cannabis consumption, your mileage may vary. Experiment on your own, try out different methods (or combinations of methods), and keep a journal or spreadsheet that allows you to track what worked best for your body. Make sure to include variables, like “I was stressed after a long week at work,” or “I’d just finished having hot phone sex with my partner” — that way, you can refer back to your notes to see how a particular combination made you feel under certain situations.

Flower (Smoked)

Smoking flower is definitely my most common method of imbibing cannabis. There’s something meditative about selecting your strain, grinding up the bud, packing the bowl, lighting the hemp wick, and taking that first long, slow hit of green. Smoking is great for anytime sex–you don’t need a lot for setup and, depending on your tolerance, the effects can wear off between 20 minutes and 2 hours.

The pleasurable effects of flower vary by strain, as one might expect, but overall smoking flower tends to give a nice combination of spacey head high with increased tactile sensations. For example, Big Sur Holy Bud, Blue Dream, Jillybean, and Juicy Jack are among my favorites for sexy time consumption because they inspire creativity, vivid fantasy experiences, and a marked increase of body awareness and decrease of mental distractions.

Pros:

• Quick and predictable onset of effects
• Most customizable in terms of amount of consumption
• Tends to evoke feelings of being present and grounded in one’s body

Cons:

• Tends toward dry mouth, arguably more than the other methods
• Not always conducive to smoking inside if there are neighbors, hotel policies, or just those darn smoke detectors

Flower (Vaped)

I only have one vaporizer, the Hot Box, which doesn’t allow temperature controls. As such, all I’ve really noticed in terms of the differences between smoked and vaped flower effects is improved flavor and a slight tendency toward a head high with fewer body effects. However, after reading Bailey Rahn’s piece on customizing your high with temperature, I hypothesize that testing out vaping at different temperatures and evaluating the sexual effects would be a useful way to figure out what temperature settings and strain combinations work best to produce the effects you’re looking for.

Pros:

• Some vapes take up to 10 minutes to warm up, so you’d better set a timer or you might forget to go back and vape after you’ve initiated foreplay

Cons:

• Desktop vapes with whips can be a bit unwieldy for bedroom use, so consider using a handheld vape or a vape like the Herbalizer that comes with a squeeze valve balloon that you can take hits from throughout your sexual encounter

Dabs

I experienced my first dab-fueled sexual experience while away with a lover last month. It was exhilarating. The onset was immediate and profound, and so much more efficient than smoking flower. Every tactile sensation was magnified and it felt like we were melting into each other. My head was completely present and firing on all cylinders, while my body floated in a pleasure cloud that brought erogenous zones online that I didn’t know I had. There was a moment where we were staring into each other’s’ eyes and both of our bodies started spasming in unison as we rode the waves of pleasure together. So hot. Huge thank you to WVapes for letting me try their new product, WDabs, a CO2 concentrate that comes in at 85% THC.

Pros:

• Clear head
• Intense body sensations
• Promotes feelings of intimate connection when done with a partner

Cons:

• Easy to over-consume, especially for beginners, and find oneself in a paranoid and decidedly unsexy head space
• The blow torch setup can be intimidating for new users

Edibles

Unfortunately, edibles are definitely my least favorite consumption method for sex. They’re so hit and miss, where one product’s 10mg serving might send me orbiting into next week and another product’s 25mg serving barely registers. However, if you find an edible that works for you and gives you the effects you’re looking for, they’re highly conducive to marathon sex. There’s no need to re-up when you use an edible that lasts 6-8 hours.

Pros:

• Improved staying power

Cons:

• High variability
• Difficult to consistently dose
• Large time commitment

Topical/Internal (Foria)

Oh, Foria. Between the original Pleasure spray and their new product, Explore, there are many benefits to exploring sex-specific topicals. You’ve heard about Foria Pleasure in Leafly’s lube comparison and my piece on cannabis and erections. Prior to June 1st, Foria was primarily intended for vulvas. Now there’s a new product offering, Explore, an anal suppository designed to enhance pleasure and promote muscle relaxation.

With 60mg THC and 10mg CBD per capsule, Explore allows users of any gender to heighten their anal experiences without numbing or desensitizing. For people with prostates, this product is a must, as there is a high concentration of nerve endings back there and the prostate gland is a magical pleasure center that can lead to orgasms you have to experience to believe. Additionally, the G-spot and internal clitoris can be stimulated anally, which makes this a great product for all bodies. The effects feel like a warm blanket of pleasure wrapping around your entire pelvic region.

Pros:

• Cannabinoids absorb readily into the rectum at 50-75% bioavailablity, more than oral or inhalation
• Increased pleasure with limited psychoactive effects–tends toward a body high versus a head high

Cons:

Explore is potentially incompatible with latex condoms*, especially if used in conjunction with Pleasure (use nitrile or polyurethane condoms instead)

Do you have a preferred consumption method for pairing with sex? Share your experiences by leaving a comment! Also, do you have a sex, relationships, or intimacy dating question? Send it to tips@nullleafly.com and I may address your request in a future article! (Don’t worry, we’ll keep your queries anonymous.)

*Foria Explore is formulated with jojoba extract instead of coconut oil, which some lube companies claim is safe to use with latex because jojoba is a “wax ester” and not an oil in the chemical sense. However, my sex educator brain says until I see a few peer-reviewed studies with significant sample sizes, I’m erring on the side of caution and treating it like any other oil, meaning I avoid using it with latex.

Guide To Surviving The Michigan High Times Medical Cannabis Cup

Coming out to the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup on Saturday or Sunday, June 11 and 12? Here’s a guide on what to do- and what to avoid. 1. BE A PATIENT- AND BE PATIENT If you are not already registered with the State of Michigan, there will be a physician on-site to do certifications.

The Shake: Jesse Ventura Blasts Ohio, Australian Sex Party Candidate Sows Cannabis Seeds

Jesse Ventura pens strong “Marijuana Manifesto.” The former professional wrestler and Minnesota governor wrote an extensive op-ed in favor of cannabis use and legalization for CNBC.com, complete with his smiling mug in quite the tie-dye T-shirt. Ventura argues that “every person on the planet should be allowed the freedom to use his or her judgment when it comes to what’s best for his or her life and well-being, as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s rights.” If you want to give yourself a heart attack by gorging on Big Macs, “then that’s your prerogative.” Ventura praises Colorado’s recreational system and criticizes Ohio’s new MMJ law as “by far the most pathetic I’ve seen thus far.” The op-ed is aimed at drumming up interest in his upcoming book, Jesse Ventura’s Marijuana Manifesto, due out this September.

Justin Trudeau’s argument is quiet but compelling. Rather than focusing on the revenue to be gained or “creating a boutique industry,” the Canadian prime minister boiled down the argument for legalization to two major components: regulating a currently unregulated market and ensuring that cannabis stays out of the hands of kids. Agreed. Now let’s make it happen sooner, rather than later, eh?

MI Legalize lost the petition, but the fight’s not over yet. Thomas Lavigne, an attorney and member of the Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Committee, will represent MI Legalize in the group’s forthcoming legal challenge to the state, which rejected its ballot petition earlier this week. The battle may be fought in the Michigan Court of Claims, but it could cut a path all the way up to federal court.

Meet Australia’s new Sex & Marijuana party candidate. Michael Balderstone is the Marijuana Party’s lead Senate candidate on the Australian Sex Party ticket. Sounds more like spring break shenanigans than a federal Senate election, but Balderstone is hoping to literally sow “seeds of hope” by planting thousands of cannabis seeds along the Australian coast. Way to one-up Johnny Appleseed, Aussies.

What will it take for a cannabis breathalyzer to come to life? A group of professors and researchers have spent years devising the best possible way to measure a driver’s impairment accurately through a technique known as differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), which generates two electric fields in which THC flows toward a sensor. They’ve been testing it with Washington State University students, with some odd protocols needed to get around federal rules against actually administering cannabis. No market-ready product yet, but they’re getting close.

And last but not least: When life gives you lemons, send ‘em cat photos. One woman, tired of endless exchanges over her lack of internet for weeks, began bombarding her telecommunications company with hilarious pictures of her cat. I know what I’m doing the next time a feud with Comcast comes up…

Image via Flickr user moleofproduction

Colorado Will Ban Cannabis Gummy Bears Next Month

Marijuana gummy bears won’t be legal in Colorado starting next month.

Neither will marijuana products in the shape of any other animal. Or fruits. Or people.

A bill signed into law Friday by Gov. John Hickenlooper makes it a crime to sell pot-infused candies in certain shapes.

Sponsors say that gummy bears, gummy worms and chewy candies shaped like fruits are too attractive to children.

Colorado already requires edible marijuana to come with a stamp that says the item includes THC, marijuana’s intoxicating ingredient. That requirement takes effect later this year.

The gummy bear ban takes effect July 1.

The Leafly Guide to Pairing Tea and Cannabis

Tea and cannabis are alike in a lot of ways. Both are botanicals with medicinal properties; both are fragrant and agreeable to the senses; both have been used by cultures around the world for centuries; both can bring us pleasure, satisfaction, and comfort. As it turns out, both can also be even better when paired together. But how to go about pairing your tea with the perfect cannabis strain? Don’t be intimidated by pairing – it’s easier than you think.

Pairing Cannabis and Tea by Flavor

In order to pair your tea with cannabis, the first thing you’ll want to pinpoint are the aromas and flavors of each. Bring the dry tea leaves or tea bag close to your nose and mouth, and inhale deeply. Is it floral? Woodsy? Spicy? Citrusy? It can be hard to pull individual characteristics out of the complete bouquet, so use a flavor wheel to help you put your finger on the aromas you’re picking up. Keep in mind that tea can sometimes taste totally different when brewed than it smells when dry, so brew a cup, sniff, and take a few sips to get a more complete picture of aroma and flavor. Then, take a deep whiff (and perhaps a hit) of your cannabis and pick out its unique characteristics. (Need a cheat sheet? Use our strain explorer to search by flavor.)

Every type of tea (apart from herbal, which is not technically tea) comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The distinctions in tea type stem from the processing methods used on the tea leaves, which lead to varying levels of oxidation and thus to unique features. Individual teas can vary to a great extent, but these main categories often display common aromas and flavors:

White: These tea leaves are the youngest in the spectrum; they’re plucked directly off the tea plant prior to complete ripeness, and dried without allowing any time for oxidation. Their flavors are subtle, floral, honeyed, and delicate.

Green: These leaves are ripened fully, but steamed or fired immediately after being picked, and dried without any oxidation taking place. These teas retain mellow flavors often described as sweet, herbaceous, grassy, refreshing, or even nutty.

Oolong: These tea leaves are frequently tossed or bruised prior to drying, which begets partial oxidation in the leaves, leading to earthy, woodsy flavors that fall somewhere in between light, refreshing green teas and the bold, tannic black teas.

Black: This common type of tea is made from tea leaves that have been rolled, releasing enzymes that react with oxygen and ensure thorough oxidation prior to being fired. Black teas frequently display dark stonefruit, smoke, or malt flavors and tannic characteristics. They play well with other flavors too – you’ve probably had ginger peach black tea, or earl grey with bergamot orange peel.

Pu-erh: Sought after by tea aficionados, pu-erh is made from a subspecies of Camellia sinensis, and comes (by law) from the Yunnan Province of China, where it is aged and fermented prior to consumption. These unique teas can be dark, rich, earthy, fruity, or chocolatey.

Herbal: This category encompasses tisanes not made from actual tea leaves, including chamomile, rooibos, mint, yerba maté, and more. Flavors vary depending on the herbs, flowers, spices, and other botanicals that constitute the blend.

You can use pairings to either accentuate or complement the natural flavors of your favorite tea or strain. For instance, if you detect subtle hints of lavender in your white tea, a strain with a similar flavor profile like Lavender can magnify those elements; meanwhile, if your tea is quite lavender-esque on its own, a contrasting cannabis strain (think something citrusy, like Headband) can balance out those overly floral features.

Pairing Tea and Cannabis by Effect

When you pair beer with different cannabis strains, it’s important to take the effects of each into account; otherwise, a pairing of a heavy, high-alcohol beer with a sedative indica can put you straight to sleep, no matter how good they taste together. Similarly, consider the effects of the tea you’re pairing compared to the effects of the strain you’re considering. The main factor at play here is caffeine content; if you’re enjoying a highly caffeinated black tea, you can mollify the buzzy side effects with a relaxing indica, whereas if you’re sipping a caffeine-free white tea but aren’t quite ready to hit the sack, a sativa-dominant hybrid can prolong the relaxation.

Different herbal teas can also have their own range of effects; some serve to calm the mind, others help relax the body, and so on. Many of these teas’ effects can be attributed to the same terpenes that modify the effects of certain cannabis strains. Chamomile, for instance, has bisabolol to thank not just for its aroma, but also for some of its relaxing effects, just like Harle-Tsu (a strain frequently high in the same terpene) does. If you tend to experience mild paranoia when consuming a particular strain, for example, pairing it with a soothing herbal tea may be the perfect way to combat those effects and make for an enjoyable experience.

It’s important to remember that tea and cannabis pairing is far from an exact science; every individual experiences the effects of both tea and cannabis a bit differently. As with any pairing, what matters is whether you’re happy with the results. If you are, it’s a good pairing!

Cannabis and Tea Pairings to Try

Black tea and Jillybean: Earl grey tea is one of the most iconic flavor marriages out there; bold, tannic black tea leaves meet zesty, fragrant bergamot orange peel. Create your own version of earl grey with plain black tea leaves and a complex, orangey strain like Jillybean; this combination promises to be a crowd-pleaser any time you entertain friends.

Green tea and Blueberry Kush: The juicy, fruity indica that is Blueberry Kush plays beautifully with the light, grassy flavor profile of your favorite green tea. It’s the perfect pairing for a cozy evening at home.

Rooibos and Sour Diesel: Rooibos, also known as red tea, derives from the African red bush, packs tons of antioxidant properties, and brings a full-bodied flavor without all the tannins of black tea. Pair it with an uplifting, boldly flavored strain, like the pungent, earthy, sativa-dominant Sour Diesel, to get your motivation and creative juices flowing.

National Cannabis Industry Association Debuts New Interactive Policy Map

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), in partnership with association members CannaRegs and New Frontier, announce the launch of a new State-by-State Marijuana Policies Map, providing a valuable, regularly updated overview of every state’s approach to cannabis and cannabis markets. This free resource, now available on NCIA‘s website, will enable NCIA members and people interested

PGT # 303 – The Sky is not Falling

Listen LIVE 8-10 pm EST tonight and every Thursday at  www.planetgreentrees.com or call in 347-326-9626

Hosted by attorney Michael Komorn from Komorn Law and Chad from Birmingham Compassion

Contributions from Rick Thompson from The Compassion Chronicles-also providing the news, and show producer Jamie Lowell from the Third Coast Dispensary in Ypsilanti

Tonight- As expected the State Board Of Canvassers formally rejected the petitions of MILegalize setting the stage for anticipated legal challenges. Also- High Times returns to Clio again this year to put on another medical cannabis cup and expo. 

Joining us- MILegalize board member and partner in the Detroit law firm Cannabis Counsel- Tom Lavigne

In studio tonight- High Times Magazine Editor In Chief- Dan Skye

And the incomparable Josey Scoggin

Regular guests and friends of the show: Jim Powers- Michigan Parents for Compassion co- founder and board member of MILegalize. Also- attorney Jeff Frazier, attorney David Rudoi of Rudoi Law, Eric Gunnels Thetford Twp Trustee and T-pain

CDC Says Teen Cannabis Use Dropping as More States Legalize

Teenage cannabis use continues to drop nationwide, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as more states move to legalize and regulate through medical and adult-use programs.

The report, released today, is based on statistics compiled as part of the federal agency’s 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Study. The survey is conducted every other year using a representative sample of U.S. high school students.

From U.S. News & World Report:

Despite increasingly liberal state laws and public attitudes, students’ reported lifetime pot use fell more than 2 percentage points to 38.6 percent in 2015. Past-month use slipped more slightly to 21.7 percent, though neither change is itself statistically significant.

The results support data from a number of studies published recently, all of which reported a collective drop in teen cannabis use, even as they viewed that use as less risky to their health.

The full study can be found below.

2015 YRBS Results by stevennelson10

NCIA Cannabis Business Summit Rolls Into Oakland

The most influential marijuana business event in the industry returns, featuring CA Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Numi Tea CEO Ahmed Rahim, industry leaders, federal lawmakers, and three days of in-depth education and networking in the nation’s largest legal marijuana market.

The National Cannabis Industry Association, the only national trade association representing the businesses of the legal marijuana industry, will hold its third annual national conference, the Cannabis Business Summit and Expo, in Oakland, CA, June 20-22, 2016, at the Marriott City Center.

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom will deliver the policy keynote address on Tuesday, June 21. Newsom, who is running for Governor of California in 2018, is a key supporter for marijuana reform and legalization and a high-profile advocate for the benefits of embracing a legitimate cannabis industry.

Numi Organic Tea CEO and co-founder Ahmed Rahim will deliver the business keynote on June 21, sharing insights into his company’s embrace of the “triple bottom line” approach, best practices in moving toward organics and fair trade, and the importance and benefits of connecting with the local community.

This year the Cannabis Business Summit moves to California from Denver, bringing business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy influencers to the largest legal marijuana market in the U.S. This move comes at a crucial time in history, with California’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) ballot initiative expected to be certified for November voting and the campaign fully underway.

The Cannabis Business Summit is also drawing global attention, with attendees representing Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Colombia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.

The Cannabis Business Summit is not only positioned for business owners and operators across multiple verticals in the cannabis industry, but acts as a valuable introduction to a new frontier for outside industries looking to expand into a new space. The Summit offers a meeting ground for investors and entrepreneurs to connect with legitimate buyers and sellers already established in the market, as well as with the brightest minds behind promising start-ups.

Several topic-oriented tracks will give attendees the opportunity to focus on their areas of expertise. Tracks offered include: The Fine Print: Money, Law, and Your Business; Cultivation and Processing; Running Your Cannabusiness; Policy and Reform; Medical Applications of Cannabis; and Leading Edge: Emerging Topics in the Cannabis Industry. Featured educational sessions will highlight some of the industry’s most influential pioneers and innovators.

More Conference Highlights:

• Educational facility tours and hands-on workshops
• Sold out Expo Floor
• Multiple networking opportunities with worldwide industry leaders
• Arcview’s Investor Forum (June 18-20)

More information about the Cannabis Business Summit, including a full list of speakers and a detailed agenda, can be found at CannabisBusinessSummit.com

The post NCIA Cannabis Business Summit Rolls Into Oakland appeared first on #illegallyhealed.

Alaska Cannabis Regulators Poised to Award First Licenses

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska regulators were poised Thursday to award the first licenses for legal marijuana businesses in the state, another milestone for the fledgling industry.

Priority is being given to growing and testing operations to ensure that retail stores, once authorized, will have legal product to sell. The Marijuana Control Board could issue its first retail licenses in about three months, which Cynthia Franklin, director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, has said coincides with a crop life.

Thirty applications are up for consideration during Thursday’s Marijuana Control Board meeting. Two of those are for testing facilities. The rest are for grow operations.

Testing facilities will play an important role in the industry, with cultivators and processors needing to have their product tested for such things as potency and potential toxins.

It’s not yet clear how many testing facilities the industry will need because it’s not clear how much product will be tested, board chairman Bruce Schulte said in an interview Wednesday. Alaska needs at least one functioning lab, he said.

“Whether the right number is two or four or one, that remains to be seen,” he said.

Both of the businesses up for consideration of testing licenses Thursday are in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. But for businesses in communities not connected to the road system — accessible by air and/or water — getting samples to a lab in Anchorage could be tricky. While cannabis has been legalized in Alaska, it is still prohibited under federal law.

Schulte said that’s a problem but he said the board hasn’t been involved in how businesses should go about getting their product tested. The board just wants to know that it has been tested and meets quality standards, he said.

Jeremy Woodrow, a spokesman for the state ferry system, said the system is in a tough spot because it’s regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard but it’s trying to be as lenient as possible within the confines of the state law. The system has allowed marijuana that meets personal use limits of one ounce or less but use on board is banned and any larger amounts could be reported to the Coast Guard, he said.

The system isn’t telling anyone not to bring cannabis on board but anyone who does so needs to know the risk, he said.

The Definitive Cannabis Travel Guide to Denver

Welcome to Leafly’s travel series, our definitive 24-hour cannabis-infused guides to the best cities in the world.

Denver, Colorado is the city that put marijuana on the map, but its cultural and culinary scenes were booming even before it was legal. While most of the city’s center is home to big business, the recently revitalized Denver Union Station has made headlines around the world, bringing tourism to an all-time high for a place that was once just a pit stop en route to a ski town. Denver is more happening than ever and even earned the number one spot on Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Places to Live list for 2016. And after a longtime illegal love affair, cannabis and Colorado are official. Today, cannabis travel in Denver is booming, which makes the Mile High City the ultimate destination to visit…well, high.

Denver Vitals

Cannabis legality: Recreational (21+, ID required)

Nicknames: The Mile High City, Queen City of the West, Broncos Country

Population: 649,495

What people think of: Peyton Manning, music, mountains, microbrews, marijuana.

Dispensaries on Leafly: 121

For the record: It is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor.

Day One

At 4:20 p.m., you’re: Arriving at L’Eagle, an all-organic dispensary with the best bud in Denver.

It’s located in an industrial park just outside of the city, so head there directly from the airport in a Lyft or take a slight detour for one last stop on your road trip. With its grow facility on site, L’Eagle produces 100 percent organic cannabis (AKA no pesticides ever) with super knowledgeable budtenders (ask for Courtney) to help guide you through the long list of strains and highly curated edible offerings. Go for what L’Eagle is known for: Death Star (indica) and Strawberry Cough (sativa) to pack into a new piece from the solid glass and vaporizer selection, or pick up a 10-pack of pre-rolled “shorties” ($60) from the rotating “Joint Menu.”

At 5:00 p.m., you‘re: Checking in at The Crawford Hotel.

The luxury boutique property opened in July 2014 in conjunction with the train station’s restoration, blending historic Denver into a hip hideaway in what is now the city’s epicenter.

Still a stigma: We considered recommending The Art Hotel, but were declined info and images from the property’s PR firm (not based in Colorado, of course): “As it turns out, the property’s guest rooms are non-smoking, so we don’t think the hotel will be the best fit for your readership.” Like tobacco, we’re well aware that pot smoking is not permitted in any hotel rooms in the state of Colorado and will take this opportunity to reiterate the rules now. Although Colorado blazed the legalization trail, there is still technically nowhere to consume cannabis in public.

Plan B: Want to stay somewhere that’s smoker-friendly? Some Airbnb hosts don’t mind, which is where Bud and Breakfast comes in — it’s a similar platform offering out-of-towners a resource for marijuana-friendly vacation rentals throughout Colorado and beyond.

At 6:00 p.m., you’re: Getting some modern inspiration at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

Photo credit: Todd Carpenter

The David Adjaye-designed building is an incubator for progressive artists, featuring an eclectic and rotating collection of photography, new media and mega works. After strolling through the stark space, sip a glass of wine at the MCA Café on the rooftop with beautiful views of downtown. The gift shop is also a must for quirky matter and art books.

At 7:30 p.m., you‘re: Walking along the Cherry Creek River toward Confluence Park where it merges with the Platte River to catch a perfect Colorado sunset.

Photo credit: Craig Turpin

The trail system continues to Commons Park where you’ll see “Stoner Hill.” Continue through the park up two pedestrian bridges and you’ve hit the heart of LoHi, Denver’s original hipster hood.

Word to the wise: Stay on the paths, smoke stealthily at your own risk, and keep an eye out for the cops that are frequently present.

At 8:15 p.m., you’re: Doing dinner at Old Major.

The award-winning chef (and cannabis enthusiast) Justin Brunson does “seafood, swine, and wine” serious justice at his wildly popular restaurant known for its in-house butchery and pork-focused menu. Go whole hog with the signature “Nose to Tail” — a perfectly presented plate featuring a porchetta of belly, sausage, and tenderloin, crispy ears, asparagus, maitakes, and lemon-thyme jus.

Meat haters: There’s one in every group, so hit Avanti Food & Beverage just a few blocks away as a backup. The modern day food hall features seven culinary concepts with a full bar and a roof deck.

At 9:30 p.m., you’re: On Recess…in a beer garden!

Since Denver is pretty much the craft brewery capital of the country and you only have 24 hours in town, hit the mother lode of lagers at a single location. Once a book bindery, the spacious spot features a rotating menu of big-name and small-batch beers to taste, which we recommend doing outside. More like your friend’s backyard than a bar, the patio is dotted with fire pits, picnic tables, and lawn games.

Word to the wise: You may have heard that alcohol’s effects are more potent at higher altitudes. This is technically a myth ­– however, you are more likely to become dehydrated at higher altitudes, which can exacerbate a hangover, so it’s best to sip slowly. Can you get higher at higher altitudes? It’s similarly unlikely, but it never hurts to step outside with your new pipe and give it a try…

At 11:00 p.m., you’re: Hopping in a Lyft to catch a live show at El Chapultepec, Denver’s oldest jazz and blues club.

Photo credit: David Hill

The dim, vintage, and intimate downtown landmark has welcomed the sultriest of sounds to the stage since 1933. And if you’re feeling a second wave of hunger before you call it a night, order up a burrito smothered in green chile — a Denver diet staple.

At 12:30 a.m., you’re: Back on foot and heading home to retire in one of the 112 custom Crawford guest rooms.

No two rooms in the historic hotel are alike, but all of them take inspiration from train travel in its heyday and feature original wooden beams, exposed brick, clawfoot tubs, and high ceilings. The dog-friendly property’s other awesome amenities? In-room iPads, a fleet of Teslas, Panda bicycles, and C.O. Bigelow bathroom products.

Day Two

At 9:00 a.m., you’re: Checking out a bike outside Union Station at 16th & Wynkoop.

In 2010, Denver B-cycle became the first large-scale municipal bike-sharing system in the country. With over 80 stations and 700 red bikes (basket included!) available throughout the city, you can check one out where you begin and return it where you end.

At 9:15 a.m., you’re: Pedaling back up to LoHi for coffee.

Photo credit: Blackeye Coffee

Coffee shop culture is big in Denver and Blackeye Coffee takes it to the next level by brewing single cups at a time with local beans from Boxcar Coffee Roasters.

Word to the wise: However tempting their pastry and breakfast menu looks, hold off until the next stop.

At 10:30 a.m., you’re: Brunching at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox.

Owner and chef Justin Cucci (of Root Down and Linger fame) transformed this former-brothel-turned-peep-show-turned-adult-video-library into an eatery and music venue, and its circa-1894 building remains on the National Register of Historic Places. Paying homage to its past, Ophelia’s celebrates sexuality with boudoir-style furniture and décor — most of which Cucci personally sourced from eBay, Craigslist, estate sales, and nearby dumpsters. Oh, and the food on the organic and worldly menu is impressive too – it pairs best on Saturdays and Sundays with an inventive cocktail or three from bar director Mike Henderson, enjoyed while rocking out to a no-cover live brunch show.

At 11:45 a.m., you’re: Still on a bike and cruising RiNo.

Photo credit: The Plus Gallery

It’s inevitable that the industrial part of any town will eventually turn its vacant warehouses and rail yards into great gallery spaces, hip hangouts, and modern lofts. Jack Kerouac’s old neighborhood has evolved in such a way over the past decade, and is now home to a crazy concentration of cool. Check out the many murals of street art between stops at a few of my favorites: Topo Designs, Megafauna, Plus Gallery, RedLine, Kit and Ace, Mid-Mod Mall, and The Source.

At 1:30 p.m., you’re: Hitting up Botanico, a boutique brick-walled recreational cannabis store in RiNo with a small-business vibe, great pricing (check out the sale selection), experienced staff, and invariably friendly service.

Let your budtender walk you through the menu in a private bud room, where you’ll feel comfortable asking any burning questions one-on-one, and don’t forget to ask about the edibles menu; we suggest picking up at least a few sweet treats to go.

Don’t be a Dowd: Colorado edibles are more potent than most other states’, with many clocking in at 100 milligrams apiece. While this frequently means more bang for your buck, remember that a recommended dose is 10 milligrams, and be sure to portion your brownies and chocolate bars accordingly.

At 2:30 p.m., you’re: Returning your B-Cycle and back at Union Station to check out (request a late one!).

Photo credit: The Terminal Bar

Since you haven’t even had time yet, hang out in the Great Hall for prime people-watching and more beer sampling at The Terminal Bar, known for its extensive draft selection. To circumvent the need for airport food, you can also mosey over and hit the market inside Mercantile Dining & Provision for gourmet munchies to go.

If you’re feeling so inclined: Break off a piece of the edible in your bag and pick out a Terminal Bar beer to savor it with a cold one (pairing advice here).

At 3:30 p.m., you’re: Stocking up on travel reading materials at Tattered Cover, the historic 20,000 square-foot bookstore of all bookstores, which is located just across the street.

Photo credit: bookchen

The impressive newsstand features publications from all over the world, and owner Joyce Meskis is one of the nation’s staunchest advocates for intellectual liberty and freedom of expression.

At 4:20 p.m., you’re: Heading straight out back to the platform to board the “Train to the Plane.”

A $9 one-way ticket takes you from downtown to Denver International Airport along the just-finished University of Colorado A Line.

Women in Cannabis: Paola Pineda is Bogota’s Top Cannabis Doc

BOGOTA — The cannabis industry may be disproportionately male, but pioneering women across the globe are thinking outside the box to return cannabis to the mainstream of medicine and society. In Colombia, Dr. Paola Pineda Villegas, a surgeon with a master’s degree in the study of HIV and a specialist in medical and sanitary law, is just such a leader.

Pineda, 37, has been the most cited expert on medical cannabis in Colombia in recent years, as interest in the plant’s medicinal use has grown. She’s been hailed by the press as “the cannabis doctor” and has treated more than a thousand patients.

Pineda is scientific director of a cannabis research collective called Grupo Curativa (the Healing Group), based in Bogota, Medellín, and Popayán. She’s been collecting patient data on the efficacy of cannabinoid therapy in observational trials to share with peers and guide future treatments.

For 13 years, Pineda worked with patients suffering from HIV and a range of other conditions, but she began prescribing cannabis just five years ago, after studying the topic intensely. An advantage of cannabinoid therapy, she said, is the wide range of cultivars, cannabinoid, and terpene profiles available, all of which can be applied to treat particular pathologies. “Every patient is a different world in terms of the interaction of phytocannabinoids and terpenes with each patient’s endocannabinoid system,” Pineda told Leafly.

One of the most interesting discoveries made by Pineda’s team is the efficacy of some local sativa landrace strains to treat certain conditions. Formulations made from such local sativa landraces as Colombian Gold offer the addition of at least minor amounts of cannabidiol, or CBD, a cannabinoid believed to relieve spasticity and diminish the intensity of seizures.

Like most doctors in countries with repressive drug laws, Pineda was educated to think cannabis use was a problem rather than a possible solution to complex illnesses such as refractory epilepsy, severe pain, or sleep disorders. She was taught that pharmaceutical drugs were the only option to address those ailments, she said, and instructors downplayed the severe side effects and risks of opiates and benzodiazepines.

Her turn towards cannabis came, as it does with many doctors, when a patient’s opiate therapy ceased to bring benefits. She was searching for something that would both work and be safe to administer without fear of addiction or life-threatening side effects.

She doesn’t challenge the use of traditional pharmaceuticals and conventional medical practice, and indeed noted their value. “Cannabis meds are just another very valuable tool from the wide range of possibilities that doctors have,” she said. “Cannabis must not fight with traditional pharmaceuticals, they simply are other aids for physicians seeking to improve the welfare of patients.”

Pineda aims not only to advance cannabinoid therapy, but also to keep costs low. It’s an effort to ensure patient access amid the economic plight facing many here. After suffering through decades of narco-wars that are only now drawing to a close, economic prospects in the South American country remain uncertain at best. Gross domestic product per capita in Colombia is $7,093 annually, according to the World Bank. That’s just 13 percent of GDP per head in the United States ($54,629).

Pineda has created an interdisciplinary group of professionals who produce preparations for clinical use from donated homegrown plants. That cultivation is protected by an existing law that allows people to have up to 20 plants for personal use. But as soon as a recently approved medical cannabis law takes effect, personal cultivation with the intention to sell — even to patients in need — will be penalized. So Pineda’s suppliers will need to seek licenses from the state.

Pineda’s efforts to broaden access to medical cannabis led her to create the Grupo Curativa collective, an alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to the social and scientific development of medical and industrial uses of cannabis in Colombia. The group aims to set standards for proper manufacturing practices of cannabis products and to share experiences and clinical data. Partners in the effort include local producers and researchers such as Cannalivio and Anandamida Gardens.

Nevada Officials Endorse Legalization, While Review-Journal Does About-Face

Thirteen state officials are urging Nevada residents to vote yes on Question 2, the statewide initiative “to regulate marijuana like alcohol.” The group of supporters includes ten current members of the Nevada Legislature along with a former state lawmaker and a member of the North Las Vegas City Council.

Legalization campaign spokesman Joe Brezny announced the endorsements this afternoon. “With so many current and former elected officials coming out in support of Question 2, we are confident the people of Nevada will take the opportunity to regulate marijuana like alcohol this November,” he said.

“The truth is that marijuana should never have been illegal in the first place. As a substance, marijuana is far less harmful than alcohol,” he added.

State Senate Minority Leader Aaron Ford (D-Las Vegas), one of today’s endorsers, said Question 2 gives Nevada an opportunity to break free of years of failed public policy.

“I believe that a legal, regulated recreational marijuana market will help eliminate a significant portion of the criminal drug trade while providing significant new tax revenue to our state,” Ford said. “I will be voting yes on Question 2 and I urge other Nevadans to do so as well.”

Meanwhile, however, the Las Vegas Review-Journal went the other way, reversing its longtime support for legal marijuana. The flip-flop was sudden but not wholly unexpected; the paper was recently purchased by billionaire and outspoken cannabis prohibitionist Sheldon Adelson.

Adelson, operator of Las Vegas’s Sands Hotel and Casino and one of the richest people in the world, acquired the paper last December. A staunch opponent of both adult use and medical marijuana, Adelson sent the editorial writers on a visit to a drug treatment facility, which was followed by an editorial — titled “Pot legalization a bad bet for Nevada” — in Wednesday’s paper.

“Legalizing weed would jeopardize the health of countless Nevadans, expose more people to drug abuse and addiction, put excessive stress on the state’s health-care facilities and do little to relieve the state’s bloated prison population,” the editorial stated.

Until today, the newspaper’s editorial page consistently opined in favor of cannabis law reform (see “Legalizing recreational pot is good policy”). Adelson also is reportedly preparing to launch a super PAC in support of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, but he has yet to announce how much he’s willing to fund anti-marijuana efforts.

BREAKING: Ohio Gov. John Kasich Signs Medical Cannabis Bill Into Law

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 523 into law today, putting to rest speculation on whether medical marijuana will be coming to the Buckeye State.

The bill marks a historic new chapter for the state, which has never had any form of legal medical cannabis, although the bill has been criticized by advocates as not going far enough for patients. The new law stipulates that qualified patients may possess only certain forms of medical cannabis, such as pills, oils, edibles, and tinctures — it doesn’t allow access to raw flower for smoking.

Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, a local cannabis group backed by the Marijuana Policy Project, announced several days after the bill sailed through the House on a 71–26 vote, that they would be abandoning their initial plan to gather the more than 300,000 signatures needed for a November push, despite objections to the bill’s finer details. The group admitted that the legislation was, however, “a step forward.”

The bill has been sitting on the desk of Gov. Kasich since it cleared the House at the end of May and supporters wondered whether he would put his official seal of approval on the bill.

Indeed, Kasich signed the bill into law with no pomp or circumstance, opting out of a public ceremony, preferring instead to sign the bill along with dozens of others destined to become law.

The bill will go into effect within 90 days, making it legal to possess medical cannabis for qualified patients by September 6th, although the Ohio State Pharmacy board, the State Medical Board and the Department of Commerce will still be tasked with overseeing and regulating the system of dispensaries in the state. Dispensaries are not expected to be operational for about two years.

The bill will allow the use of medicinal cannabis by patients who suffer from the following qualifying conditions:

• HIV/AIDS
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Cancer
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pain that is either:
  • Chronic and severe
  • Intractable
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis

The bill will officially make Ohio the 25^th U.S. state to legalize medical marijuana. That’s right: Half of all states in the U.S. now have medical cannabis laws on the books.

Reactions to the signing of the bill show the mixed opinions from voters and politicians alike. The bill incited many debates on the topic among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, but inevitably, they approved the bill in lieu of a more comprehensive proposal planned for the November ballot. Rep. Robert Sprague (R-Findlay), who voted against the measure, worried that the law could lead to another opioid crisis. Meanwhile, families like Heather and Adam Benton, who moved to Colorado to treat their daughter’s severe myoclonic epilepsy, just may be on their way home.

State of the Leaf: Setback in Michigan, Progress in Vermont, and a Three-Way Race in Montana

Summer is heating up, and it’s do-or-die time for legislation! The governors of Colorado, Michigan, and Vermont all signed last-minute bills into law, new surveys out of Minnesota and Israel found that medical marijuana patients are largely happy with their treatment, and Montana’s dueling campaigns are running up against a whole lot of friction to get in under the signature-gathering deadline.

U.S. News Updates

Colorado

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill into law this week that requires Colorado school districts to adopt a policy allowing medical marijuana. The law only applies to students who qualify for medical marijuana, and only allows for non-smokable forms of cannabis. School districts may opt out of the policy if they can prove they’ve lost federal funding because of the policy, or if they place an easy-to-find explanation on their website as to why they are opting out. The new law states that any lost federal funding will be reimbursed to the district by the state.

Michigan

Michigan’s adult-use legalization campaign suffered a major setback when Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill into law that requires all petitions vying for a spot on the ballot to submit signatures obtained within a 180-day period. Senate Bill 776 put a hard-set line on the 180-day collection period, with no exceptions. The law appears to have been set in motion when MI Legalize asked the Board of State Canvassers to update the signature submission format from paper to digital in order to ease the process. Earlier this week, the State Bureau of Elections announced that MI Legalize would be about 106,000 signatures short due to the new law. The group is threatening legal action to challenge the state agency’s decision to reject nearly 137,000 signatures that were gathered outside the 180-day period.

Minnesota

A new survey from the Minnesota Department of Health found that 90 percent of the medical marijuana patients in Minnesota’s program say the drug has been beneficial, while only 10 percent reported that they saw “little to no change” upon using cannabis as treatment. Of the responses, 24 percent reported seeing “mild to moderate benefits” and a full 66 percent of the respondents said they experienced “significant” improvement with the addition of cannabis as treatment. Among those who experienced the most relief were patients suffering from HIV/AIDS and cancer. Side effects were generally minor.

Montana

It’s a race to the finish line for Montana’s three campaigns for and against cannabis, with just days left to gather the 24,175 signatures needed to earn a spot on the ballot. The June 17 deadline is coming up fast, and all three campaigns have been pouring time, energy, and cold hard cash toward the efforts.

Initiative 176 would repeal Montana’s medical marijuana program on the grounds it’s federally illegal. The campaign is run by Steve Zabawa, a Billings businessman and founder of Safe Montana, who has dumped $70,896 into the campaign.

Initiative 182 would remove the recent restrictions imposed on dispensaries that limit them to three patients apiece. The Montana Cannabis Industry Association has gathered $94,500 in support of the measure.

Initiative 178 is a legalization long shot from the folks behind Cycling for Sensible Drug Policy. It has gathered only $6,700 in donations and is falling short on the number of signatures needed.

Vermont

Vermont’s chance for legalization went up in smoke, but that doesn’t mean cannabis progress is completely stalled. This week Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law a bill to expand the state’s medical marijuana law. The bill, S.14, expands qualifying conditions to include chronic pain and glaucoma; it also allows MMJ use for those in hospice care. Medical marijuana was previously allowed only for severe pain. Now those with chronic, less-severe pain will be able to obtain a medical recommendation. Shumlin addressed that concern in his signing speech, noting America’s opioid epidemic, which is a particular problem in Vermont. By signing the bill, he said he hoped that medical marijuana can help treat pain and lower opioid addiction and overdose rates.

West Virginia

West Virginia Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Charleston) made waves in the West Virginia Legislature by introducing House Bill 114, which would decriminalize the possession, growth, and use of limited amounts of marijuana for personal use by adults. The bill currently has four co-sponsors, but House Speaker Tim Armistead (R-Elkview) has refused to consider even minor, limited reforms to the state’s draconian drug policies.

International News Updates

Israel

Israel’s first study conducted with the permission of the Health Ministry observed new patients over the course of two years and covered a gamut of characteristics, including diseases, socioeconomic status, dosages, previous treatments, side effects. The result? The study found that 99.6 percent of those who applied for medical marijuana did so after conventional medicines were ineffective, with 56 percent trying to avoid unwanted side effects. More than 90 percent of the patients surveyed reported significant improvement in pain and nausea with the use of medical cannabis. The study’s results were presented at the sixth International Jerusalem Conference on Health Policy.

L.A. Dispensary Owner Shoots Two Suspected Robbers

Two suspected robbers are in critical condition this morning after a Los Angeles area dispensary owner opened fire on them as they entered the storefront. At least one of the would-be robbers were armed with an assault rifle, a sheriff’s spokesperson told reporters, and both were wearing bulletproof vests.

According to CBS Los Angeles, the incident occurred at the HP Med Collective, which is located in a Walnut Park storefront with no signage. The owner identified himself to reporters only as Ike, declining to provide a last name.

The shooting took place around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Thomas Giandomenico, according to KTLA. The owner said he saw the suspected robbers on surveillance video as they were entering the store.

“They were there to kill us,” he told KTLA.

According to Giandomenico, the owner opened fire on the two suspected robbers, striking them multiple times. It’s unclear whether the suspects fired any shots during the incident, the lieutenant said.

The owner was questioned and released following the shooting, and no other related injuries were reported.

Giandomenico said authorities are currently treating the shooting as a matter of self-defense, but it could develop into a homicide case. The investigation is ongoing.

The Shake: Who Was Behind the Toronto Raids? And the Dutch Can’t Handle German Cannabis Demand

Who was behind the raids in Toronto? Not us, say LPs. After Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announced details of last week’s dispensary raids, there were rumors that licensed marijuana producers were behind the mass arrests. Some licensed producers had invested millions of dollars to become legitimate MMJ players, the theory went, and were unhappy that politicians had done nothing to stop the proliferation of unlicensed dispensaries in Vancouver and Toronto. But Bruce Linton, CEO of licensed producer Canopy Growth, said the notion that LPs were behind the raids is more conspiracy theory than reality. Neil Closner, CEO of Markham-based MedReleaf, said “we were not directly involved in making that happen.”

Germany is seeing a rise in medical marijuana. A month or so back, a court ruling declared that Germany first medical marijuana patient has the right to grow his own medicine at home. Now there are 650 patients in Germany, and MMJ patients can acquire their medicine directly from a German pharmacy. The only problem: The Dutch government, which supplies Germany with its cannabis, can’t keep up with the demand.

Controversial San Jose ballot measure fails. Voters in San Jose yesterday rejected a ballot measure that would’ve allowed virtually unlimited medical dispensaries in the city. Nearly 65 percent opposed Measure C, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, meaning that only the 16 licensed dispensaries may legally operate within the city. Early support for the measure dwindled in the lead-up to the election as licensed dispensary owners and others in the industry, as well as former Mayor Chuck Reed, came out in opposition. Read Leafly’s original coverage of the yearslong battle here.

Cannabis seller serving 55 years finally set free. Weldon Angelos, 36, walked out of federal prison last week after President Obama commuted his sentence. Former federal judge Paul Cassell, who was forced by federal law to impose the 55-year sentence, called the penalty “cruel, unjust, and irrational,” and wrote to the president asking him to commute Angelos’ sentence. Despite Obama’s recent flurry of activity to commute sentences, he’s still granted a lower percentage of clemency petitions than any president in the past century.

New Colorado law requires schools to adopt MMJ policies. Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill into law on Monday that would require school districts to adopt policies that allow medical marijuana. This law only applies to students who have a license to use non-smokeable cannabis.

Michigan's Legalization Ballot Measure Is in Jeopardy

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A group trying to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Michigan might not be able to put the measure before voters on the November ballot after the state elections bureau released an unfavorable report and Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday signed into law a bill that might rule out thousands of signatures the group submitted last week.

On Tuesday, the state Bureau of Elections recommended in a report that the Board of State Canvassers — which has the authority to approve the petition for voter consideration — reject the petition because the group, MI Legalize, didn’t submit enough valid signatures before the deadline. The report said MI Legalize couldn’t prove that more than 100,000 signatures it collected were actually signed by registered voters.

Also on Tuesday, Snyder signed a bill that stops groups like MI Legalize from counting signatures gathered outside of a 180-day timeframe toward the roughly 250,000 it needs to qualify for voter consideration on a statewide ballot. Without counting signatures gathered outside of that window, MI Legalize does not meet the state’s required signature threshold, and the issue can’t go before voters in November.

The bill Snyder signed into law was drafted after lawmakers learned the marijuana group was attempting to use a legal loophole allowing it to count signatures gathered outside of that 180-day window to meet the signature requirement.

But it’s still unclear if the law applies to MI Legalize. Fred Woodhams, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office said that the office is reviewing the legislation to see if it would apply to that group and render many of its signatures void.

MI Legalize says they’ve collected about 354,000 signatures — exceeding the minimum requirement. The group has said that it may pursue litigation.

The Board of State Canvassers meets Thursday to consider the issue.

Michigan already has a law allowing marijuana for medical use but this measure would legalize recreational marijuana.

Here’s Why The DEA May Finally Relax on Medical Cannabis

What was once a pipe dream could now be on its way to becoming a reality: the end of Prohibition 2.0.

Just as with the end of alcohol prohibition, what started state by state is now being discussed at the federal level. The DEA is even talking about looking into rescheduling cannabis as early as this summer.

With everything happening in the world of cannabis nowadays, it’s essential to look into the increasingly real possibility of a federally rescheduled cannabis plant.

Check The Schedule

First of all, rescheduling cannabis would have even more significant effects long-term than in the short term. If the DEA were to reschedule cannabis, businesses currently operating in quasi-legal systems already in place in half the U.S. would keep running as they are today, contrary to popular misconceptions.

Cannabis dispensaries and collectives remain open thanks to a series of memoranda issued by the U.S. Department of Justice known as the Cole and Ogden memos. They act as executive orders exempting cannabis from certain restrictions in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

The rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule II, for example—just one step down the ladder—would strengthen the administration’s current policy of not treating cannabis-related offenses as a top priority. And, with public support for cannabis reform at an all-time high, trying to make life more difficult for ganjapreneurs by requiring FDA approval (as Schedule II status normally requires) would be a possible disastrous situation.

Legal Crack, Deadly High

As far as enforcement on the streets is concerned, state laws would still be in effect, so we couldn’t all start lighting up just yet. What would happen instead is a giant crack in the foundation of the dam holding back cannabis law reform.

We have recently seen tiny cracks appear in the dam. But, a rescheduling of the non-toxic herb out of the “heroin category” would unleash like a torrent the main key to progress: research, including the all-important clinical trials.

New research will eventually begin to reveal the number of lives that could have been saved from opioid addiction, overdose, and disease had we acted sooner with compassion. When it does, the collective shame will forever cling like a thick, foul stench to the prohibitionists who swilled their favorite drug while millions needlessly suffered for lack of theirs.

Science-haters Gonna Hate

The main difference between substances in Schedule I and those not in Schedule I is the idea of “no currently accepted medical value” and the resulting bizarre ban on research. What may be the most ridiculous idea ever conceived, this ban on science makes the increase of knowledge on any given subject essentially impossible. It’s like giving up on learning—as if our familiarity with any substance’s medical usefulness could be forever 100 percent complete, carved in stone in the late 20th century, with no further study needed or even allowed. It would be hard to imagine a more unscientific—no, anti-scientific posture. That’s your tax dollars at work.

Moving cannabis out of Schedule I will instantly make research possible and profitable; studies will flood the scientific landscape. Those will answer more questions and prompt more ideas for safe use, in turn providing the basis for even more research. From there the entire cannabis freedom movement will snowball.

Cannabis being re- or de-scheduled will give law enforcement agencies even less reason to prioritize minor violations than they already have. This will save police, courts, and taxpaying citizens valuable resources—money, time, and human dignity. ALL taxpayers will be positively affected, not only those directly benefitting from cannabis for stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, inflammation, muscle spasms, diabetes, or countless other ailments plaguing humankind.

With arrests plummeting, we’ll begin to address the constantly avoided problem of mass incarceration. This will help keep families together, reducing the amount of trauma entire communities are forced to feel and carry with them. Then, some day down the road, folks will gather round their MagicalButter machines, making edibles and sharing ghost stories about the barbaric, hypocritical age of cannabis prohibition.

RELATED: For dozens of delicious cannabis recipes, quick how-to videos, and how to get your own countertop Botanical Extractor, visit MagicalButter.com.

All that will come later. States can move as quickly or as slowly as they want, but whatever progress each state makes will only be eased by removing cannabis from Schedule I. What’s important is the message. It’s the simple, crucial message that there is more to cannabis than we originally accepted or understood.

It’s the message that cannabis and those who benefit from it deserve a second chance.

Do you believe cannabis should be re-scheduled or de-scheduled? Tell our readers in comments below!

About the Author

Zachary D. Brown

Born in Arizona and raised in Maryland and Guinea, West Africa, Zach Brown claims the D.C. metro area as his home turf. He is currently back in Africa writing, teaching English as a second language, and making music in Bamako, Mali. Zach is an Eagle Scout who earned a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland. He was also president of the UMD chapters of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy).

The post Here’s Why The DEA May Finally Relax on Medical Cannabis appeared first on #illegallyhealed.

The Shake: Minnesotans Seeing MMJ’s Benefits, and Michigan Falls Short on Signatures

The majority of Minnesota MMJ patients are reporting benefits. Around 90 percent of medical cannabis patients in Minnesota reported “mild to significant” benefits experienced during the first three months of the state’s medical marijuana program. The numbers come from a Minnesota Department of Health survey of enrolled patients. Only about 20 percent of the patients reported side effects, which were generally minor and included feeling lightheaded, paranoid, or sleepy. The biggest concern for patients in Minnesota, though? Cost. About 73 percent of patients reported that cannabis prices in the state are too high.

Michigan: Marijuana legalization group short 106,000 signatures. According to the Michigan elections bureau, the Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Committee is nearly 106,000 signatures short of qualifying its legalization measure for the statewide ballot in November. The legalization group says 137,000 of its signatures are still valid despite being older than 180 days. The whole thing’s a bit of a mess, and it looks like it may ultimately be decided in court.

Why are Ausssies backpedaling on medical marijuana? Fiona Patten, leader of the Australian Sex Party (yes, really) and a member of the Victorian upper house of Parliament, recently wrote to a Melbourne newspaper to say that it’s “painfully clear now that none of the major parties want to see recreational cannabis legal in Australia.” According to Patten, all the legislative promises are “a smokescreen to hide the fact they are basically old style Scotch and Coke drinkers and they don’t believe in hippy medicine … unless they think they can win votes with it.” Zing.

Shumlin signs bill expanding Vermont medical marijuana law. Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed into law a bill to expand qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program. Cannabis had already been allowed for severe pain, but not for pain that was less severe but still chronic. Added to the list were also glaucoma and patients in hospice care. Shumlin expressed hope cannabis could be used by some patients to replace opioids, which critics had complained were easier to access than medical marijuana.

Florida to hold first cannabis investment conference on Wednesday. Folks in the Sunshine State can attend an investment conference tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale. The event is hosted by a New York City financial and strategic advisory firm specializing in the cannabis industry. Among the topics to be discussed: real estate, security, biotechnology, cultivation, and retail.

New rules? No problem for this Colorado MMJ company. One Colorado edible business is ahead of the curve when it comes to new, statewide product labeling requirements. Americanna spent $100,000 and more than seven months to create its cannabis-infused gummies in compliance with new rules effective Oct. 1. “We are ahead of the curve,” said owner Dan Anglin. ”We did this last year and began searching to make the new molds soon as we knew what was needed.”

Is Guam next in line for cannabis decriminalization? A fourth and final public hearing for the revised medical marijuana rules and regulations is set for June 7 at the Santa Rita Senior Center. The prospective bill would decriminalize the non-medical use of marijuana, along with distribution, cultivation, and other forms of possession and use.

Hungry? Edible sampling begins in Oregon. Edibles, topicals, and extracts became legal last week in Oregon for adults 21 and older. A variety of new cannabis-infused products are now on the shelves with cannabis consumers trying to decide which to try first. Dispensary owners and state health officials are urging consumers to start off slow in their consumption in order to understand the effects marijuana has on them. (Choose carefully: You can only buy one 15-mg THC edible per day.)

Spider Mites, Fungus Gnats, and Root Aphids: How to Deal with 3 Common Cannabis Pests

One of the more challenging aspects of growing cannabis is preventing, detecting, and controlling infestations of harmful biological pests. Smart growers do everything they can to keep pests from gaining a foothold in their gardens because it’s easier than dealing with them once they’re on the plants. If you find yourself plagued with these three common cannabis pests, here are some guidelines for combating the nasty little buggers.

General Tips for Protecting Your Grow

First, let’s go over some basic guidelines for keeping your plants healthy and pest-free.

• Make sure your grow room is completely sealed. Use caulk or spray foam to fill any gaps or cracks, seal doors and windows with weather stripping, and place a filter over any air inlet.
• Don’t let your clothes cross-contaminate your plants. If you have been outdoors, change your clothing before entering the grow room to prevent potential “hitchhikers” from gaining access.
• Prevent your pets from accessing your grow area. Never allow pets to enter your garden as they can carry all manner of bugs and pathogens.
• Keep your equipment sterile. Always use new growing media that are either completely inert or have been pasteurized.
• Practice good sanitation. Keep your grow clean and tidy, wash and sterilize all tools and containers, wash your hands before handling plants, and remove all plant debris immediately.

Next, we’ll examine three of the most common cannabis pests and some of the more effective ways of eradicating them. Use a magnifying glass and compare pests with images found online to positively identify them before attempting to treat your plants.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are the most common pest associated with cannabis, and also one of the most potentially devastating. These are tiny (.4 mm) arachnids that generally live on the underside of leaves, where they puncture the leaf surface to suck out the plant’s juices. They are very hard to spot with the naked eye, but infested leaves show stippling on their top surface, little white dots that some people initially confuse as mold or mildew. Spider mites also spin little webs, so if you see anything that looks like miniature cobwebs on your plants, you can be sure you have a significant infestation.

How to Get Rid of Spider Mites

Spider mites thrive and reproduce quickly in warm, dry environments. To slow an infestation, lower temperatures and raise the humidity in your room. While there are many commercial miticides available, most of them are quite toxic and should never be used on cannabis.

Pyrethrum, however, is a naturally derived insecticide that is very effective at killing mites. Three applications at 5-10 day intervals should be enough to completely eliminate spider mites. Either spray a solution on your plants or use room foggers. Keep in mind, however, that pyrethrum is not recommended for flowering plants.

Things like insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and neem oil are safe for use on flowering plants and are generally quite effective. Concentrated neem products like Azamax and Azatrol are very popular with cannabis growers and are safe for use throughout the grow cycle, but are expensive.

Biological controls such as predatory mites and ladybugs are also viable options but cannot be used in conjunction with insecticides for obvious reasons.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are grey or black long-legged flies that are usually 2-4 mm long and resemble tiny mosquitoes. Their larvae are white or transparent, 4-6 mm long, and live in the growing medium where they feed on roots, organic matter, and fungus. A severe infestation will lead to pale foliage and a general loss of vigor that leaves plants susceptible to disease, especially root-rot. And while adult gnats do not directly harm the plant, they are vectors for disease, and also easily become trapped in resinous flowers.

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats

Keeping the humidity low and making sure not to overwater are key in preventing fungus gnat infestations. The most effective way to prevent or end an infestation is to place a physical barrier over your grow medium. A two-inch layer of sand, perlite, or other similar product (Gnat Nix works wonders) on top of your grow medium prevents adult gnats from laying their eggs in the medium, effectively ending their life cycle.

The naturally occurring soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, subspecies Israelensis, kills fungus gnat larvae and is available in many inexpensive forms like Summit Mosquito Bits, Gnatrol, and Microbe-Lift BMC. Insecticides like pyrethrum and neem oil can be effective when used as a soil drench, but must be applied several times and can have negative effects on plant roots.

Finally, yellow sticky traps can be used to catch adults, hopefully before they lay hundreds of eggs in your grow medium.

Root Aphids

Perhaps the most difficult cannabis pest to eliminate are grape phylloxera, or root aphids — tiny aphid-like insects that feed on plant roots. About 1 mm long and ranging in color from yellow to green to brownish-orange, root aphids are often confused with fungus gnats as some adults will grow wings once a population has reached critical mass. Plant roots turn yellow, swell, and then harden as the root aphids feed on them, leading to secondary fungal infections and dead spots. Eventually, plants will become stunted and yields will be greatly diminished.

How to Get Rid of Root Aphids

Once infestation occurs, it can be nearly impossible to eliminate root aphids from your plants. The number one treatment is BotaniGard, an insecticide composed of the living fungus Beauveria bassiana, which infects and kills the aphid and then releases spores to infect the next victim. It can be used in conjunction with pyrethrum, neem, and citrus oils, but care should be taken with these to avoid harming the plant. Apply as a soil drench every other day for a minimum of six treatments. Predatory nematodes can also be quite effective in controlling root aphids.

The Evolution of Online Smoke Shops: From Pipe Dreams to Cannabis Industry Leaders

This article is sponsored by EveryoneDoesIt.com – The World’s Online Smoke Shop.

While they may be more popular today than ever before, smoking and smoking technologies are anything but recent developments. In fact, smoking various substances can be linked to numerous ancient civilizations including the Mayans, the Aztecs and many indigenous American cultures. As smoking spread over the centuries, smoking accessories were created and popularized around the world. In Africa, artisans began making smoking pipes and bowls soon after Christopher Columbus brought the practice of smoking tobacco back from the New World. The Middle East considered smoking a social activity and invented the hookah. In South Asia, short pipes called chillums became popular. The 1800s saw the invention of rolling machines.

It wasn’t until the 1960s, when South Asian chillums and pipes gained popularity in the United States, that smoking accessories started to become a widely sought-after commodity. Soon after, the rise of hookah bars across the country popularized those devices, while the 1990s saw the first vaporizers. Today, vaporizers continue to gain in popularity and are quickly changing the way people consume tobacco, cannabis, and similar products. At the same time, the popularity of consuming concentrates has skyrocketed, with dab rigs and accessories gaining market share at breakneck speed. And right alongside the evolution of smoking technologies, the headshops that sell them have grown and evolved to join the digital age, providing consumers with historically unprecedented selection, pricing, and availability while contributing to the evolution of the very accessories they supply.

Operation Pipe Dreams and the First Online Headshops

EveryoneDoesIt.com was one of the first smoking accessory suppliers to begin selling its products online in 2000. Originally founded as a brick-and-mortar store above a jewelry shop in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, U.K., the team moved through multiple locations before deciding to take their collective years of experience and break into the digital realm. “The thing that really kickstarted the business was Operation Pipe Dreams,” says James (last name withheld on request), a senior advisor to EveryoneDoesIt with more than 20 years’ experience in the headshop industry. “Guys that are new to the industry don’t realize what it was like in America back then. There were undercover glass blowers; I knew guys that used to break down their kilns and move around the West Coast; you couldn’t ship glass; people used to drive it over state lines.”

Operation Pipe Dreams was a 2003 initiative spearheaded by the D.E.A., whose objective was to shut down retailers of so-called “illegal drug paraphernalia.” “Nobody in America could operate,” recalls James, “but ironically, the U.K. businesses blew up.” As the D.E.A. targeted American stores and websites, EveryoneDoesIt’s American business exploded to represent 50 percent of the website’s revenue.

Over the next 10 years, regulations surrounding sale of smoking accessories would slowly begin to relax, at which point many new players jumped into the online headshop industry after seeing the successes of early players like EveryoneDoesIt. “In 2012 and 2013…we did a scoping trip to the USA, [and] it just blew us away, the scale of the market,” James recalls. “Federally, we’ve got issues which everyone is aware of…[but] you guys now live in the promised land.”

The Benefits of Online Smoke Shops: Selection, Discretion, Service, Price

As the industry has evolved, the clean interface and streamlined user experience of online headshops in 2016 has also changed greatly from the earliest sites. Back in those days, it wasn’t uncommon for a retailer to snap pictures of products on their kitchen table to post online. Today, visitors to sites like EveryoneDoesIt can create member accounts, track their wish lists, get alerts when sold-out items are back in stock, and follow along as orders are packed and shipped to their destination. EveryoneDoesIt currently receives over 50 million monthly hits – and not just from young, stereotypical customers.

“When I look at demographic info we have a very wide range of people come to the site,” says James. “I think the marijuana industry is a very broad church…our customers are 18 to 80.” By offering discreet shipping, online headshops are able to cater to shoppers who might feel uncomfortable walking into a physical brick-and-mortar headshop. In turn, access to a wider market means that an online headshop can carry a much broader range of paraphernalia than a physical headshop could. Furthermore, eliminating the overhead of maintaining a physical store means that online buyers enjoy optimal pricing. EveryoneDoesIt has also been able to employ a 24-hour customer service team that not only replies to messages day and night within about three minutes, but also helps gather customer feedback to curate and optimize product selection.

Online Headshops and Legalization: Shaping the Future of Smoking Accessories

While many advances in smoking technology have been allowed or furthered by legalization itself, the widespread availability of smoking accessories via online headshops has also had implications for the spread and evolution of smoking accessories. For example, take dabbing, which was popularized in the United States thanks to the first states’ legalization, but initially was largely lost on Europe: by offering dabbing accessories to an international community, EveryoneDoesIt.com has helped dabbing culture spread beyond the United States. “The dabbing phenomenon…really took me by surprise,” says James. “It’s mainstream, it’s amazing, there’s all these dabbing tools and everyone knows what they’re for.” By comparison, “In the European market it’s like, ‘What’s all this?’” European consumers as a group have only just begun to understand and purchase dabbing accessories.

Online headshops still toe legal gray lines, but James argues that, “After moving from the black market to a gray market, the future [of smoking accessories] is moving toward complete legitimacy.” As such, online retailers including EveryoneDoesIt will look to begin leveraging sources of traditional online retail such as Amazon, eBay, and Instagram to market everything from grinders to vape pens. “We’ve realized that to be the best in the industry you’ve got to cover a lot of different bases. The e-commerce market demands a certain amount of respect,” says James. “These days our competition are all very driven individuals…[but] our strengths will always be the fact that we straddle international marketplaces, competitors don’t have the depth of product we have, and they don’t have the established relationships with suppliers of glass products that are always in demand in the States.” From the largest selection of Roor glass on the market to the best customer service in the industry, James believes that EveryoneDoesIt will continue to evolve and lead the industry forward in the years to come.

Jane West: Cannabis, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

I’ve been thinking about liberty and the pursuit of happiness lately.

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It’s our birthright as Americans, written into the Declaration of Independence. Over the past several decades, we have increasingly pursued happiness in prescription pill bottles. With more than 70 percent of adults taking at least one prescription drug, Americans are now the most medicated people on earth. Thirteen percent of all Americans, including one in four adult women, now take some form of antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug. Doctors wrote almost 250 million opioid prescriptions in 2012 — enough for every adult in America to have their own bottle of pills. Opioid sales have quadrupled since 1999, as have deaths from prescription opioids.

The prescription is clearly not working. Our heavy reliance on pills has created what the CDC describes as a drug overdose epidemic. Today, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. More than 40 percent of those deaths are caused by opioid overdose. On average, 78 people die from opioid overdoses in this country every day. At the same time, the suicide rate for middle-age white people is climbing at an alarming rate.

How did we become the world’s most medicated nation? The United States is one of very few developed nations that allows direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. Pharmaceutical companies can tout their products in magazines, on the radio, on TV, and on billboards. In 1963, Valium became the first drug to launch with an aggressive marketing and advertising campaign. It was also the first drug to reach $1 billion in sales. Consumer marketing is the backbone of a more than $1 trillion industry. In America, unlike most of the world, you’ll find cheery pharmaceutical ads in magazines, on TV and radio, and on billboards. The advertisements are far more effective than the medications. Marketing primes us to pop pills.

I was at my doctor’s office recently when I realized just how pervasive pharmaceutical advertising is. Waiting to be called, I took a seat and picked up a magazine. It was an old issue of Us Weekly. Only, it wasn’t quite Us Weekly. “Having trouble sleeping?” the cover line asked.

I thought to myself, “Well, yes, I do have trouble sleeping.” I turned the page and read on.

The helpful article I was looking for turned out to be an advertorial. What looked and felt like an Us cover feature was a glossy ad for a prescription sleeping pill called Belsomra. The four-page ad included three pages of warnings and side effects disclosures, required by law. The top three side effects — memory loss, anxiety, and abnormal thoughts and behavior — feel at home in a typical Us Weekly scandal. Prescription pills and their side effects are often central to celebrity breakdowns. And celebrity deaths. The recent news that Prince died from an accidental overdose of the powerful opioid fentanyl is only the latest tragedy.

Pick up some recent issues of women’s magazines. You’ll find page after page of slick pharmaceutical advertising. On television, we’re treated to an endless parade of cartoonified body parts and psyches that go from glum to giddy with the help of Abilify, or Celexa, or any of the thousands of legal, mind-altering substances from your pharmacy. No matter the drug, the message is always the same: The pills will fix it.

It doesn’t play out that way in real life.

At a yoga and cannabis event a couple weeks ago, I spoke with a colleague who described a time when her personal pursuit of happiness included a daily regimen of Ativan and Klonopin. “At a certain point, I realized I was a zombie,” she told me. The world came at her dull and hazy. She felt cut off from the far reaches of her emotions.

When she asked her doctor to dial back, she was told it wouldn’t be easy. “It’s harder to get off Klonopin than to get off heroin,” she explained. “Ask Stevie Nicks.”

We enter with a problem — insufficient happiness — and are offered daily pharmaceutical dependence as a cure. I believe that cannabis is our best alternative, and I want other people to know what is possible. I’m meeting more and more women who are replacing pills with cannabis wellness regimens. For decades, authorities cast cannabis as a drug that makes you lose control. When I talk with women who are new to cannabis about the plant’s therapeutic benefits, I find that many are still unwilling to try it. Over and over, I hear the same fear: losing control.

Their fear is misguided, the result of decades of drug war propaganda. The truth is that cannabis is a wellness product. It elevates the human experience. It can lead to introspection and positive shifts in perspective. Cannabis allows us to look at problems from different angles and reconsider the way we think about our lives. It doesn’t make you lose control; it enables you to tap into your natural intuition, and it empowers users to manage their stress, pain, and anxiety with a non-addictive herbal remedy.

Here’s where liberty enters the picture. We tend to define liberty in terms of physical space, but liberty also applies to our cognitive space. We should have the right to responsibly alter our own consciousness as we see fit. That may involve coffee, alcohol, or cannabis. Our minds are sacred, private spaces. By protecting cognitive liberty, we are preserving the sanctity of consciousness.

In Mexico, there’s a concept known as the “right to free development of personality.” It’s the right to think as you please, and express your individuality as you choose. Last year, Mexico’s highest court ruled the use of cannabis legal under that right. It’s time for American guardians of liberty to embrace individualism and self-determination as constitutional rights.

Cannabis is a positive force in my life. It contributes to my physical wellness and my cognitive health. Two years ago, openly identifying as a cannabis consumer was radical enough to get me on Nightline and CNBC. “Pot-smoking moms!” they called us. Now we’re just moms who use cannabis as a part of our very busy, successful, and — yes — happy lives.

NFL And Cannabis Researchers To Explore Potential Use By Players

I am a huge fan of Baltimore Ravens player Eugene Monroe. That’s not because of what he does on the field, although he is an amazing athlete and I plan on rooting for him this upcoming season. The real reason why I’m such a big fan of Mr. Monroe’s is because of his advocacy and

BREAKING: Majority of American Voters Supports Cannabis Legalization, Survey Says

With election season heating up, a new poll has found that a majority of Americans support legalizing cannabis: 54 percent of registered voters favor legalization nationwide, according to a Quinnipiac University poll published Monday.

The attitudes split sharply along party lines: 65 percent of Democrats support legalization, while only 36 percent of Republicans do. Among independents — a coveted group, especially in the lead-up to a national election — 61 percent backed the idea. Men and women also differed in their responses; 60 percent of men said they support legalization, while women were almost equally divided. And while a majority of voters under 65 think cannabis should be legal, 57 percent of older voters oppose it.

Nearly every group, however, agreed on one thing: America’s veterans should have access to medical cannabis. At least 79 percent of every party, gender, age, or racial group agreed that Veterans Affairs doctors should be able to prescribe cannabis in pill form to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“That is the full-throated recommendation of Americans across the demographic spectrum, including voters in military households,” Tim Malloy, the poll’s assistant director, said in a statement.

“The response from voters should take political considerations out of the debate and allow doctors to do what’s best for veterans.”

Recent changes have allowed VA doctors to discuss cannabis treatment with veterans in states where medical use is legal, but more than half of states still bar possession or use for any purpose.

Attitudes on cannabis have changed rapidly in the U.S. during the past decade. In 2013, less than a year after Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize adult use, a Gallup poll found that 58 percent of all Americans favored legalization — 10 points higher than a survey a year earlier and the first instance of majority support. (That number has since held steady; the Gallup’s most recent numbers still show 58 percent in favor of legalization.)

But while a majority of voters may favor legalization in concept, it’s harder to agree on the finer points. A number of voter initiatives have failed in recent years, and even efforts to legalize on the state level have split cannabis advocates into competing factions.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,561 voters nationwide on landline and mobile phones. It has a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points. Participants were asked whether they thought “marijuana should be made legal in the United States,” with no other qualifications. Further results are available online.

Cannabis Growing 101: Everything You Need to Get Started Indoors

Congratulations, you’re interested in growing your own cannabis plants for the first time! But before you flex that green thumb of yours, understand that growing cannabis indoors presents a unique set of challenges for the new hobbyist, and the sheer volume of information available on the subject can be overwhelming. Our guide to indoor growing will help simplify the process for you into clear, easy-to-digest sections designed to help the first-time grower get started.

Step 1: Designate a Grow Space

The first step in setting up your personal cannabis grow is creating a suitable space in which to do it. Whether it’s a closet, a tent or cabinet, a spare room, or an unfinished basement, you’ll need to tailor your equipment (and plants) to fit the space.

Start Small…

When tackling your first grow project, you’ll want to start small for multiple reasons:

• The smaller the grow, the less expensive it is to set up
• It’s much easier to monitor a few plants than a large number
• Your mistakes as a first-time grower will be less costly

Remember, most new growers will experience setbacks and lose plants to pests or disease. A failed grow of two plants will put a far smaller dent in your wallet than 15 plants.’

…But Think Big

When designing your space, you’ll need to take into account not only the amount of room your plants will need, but also your lights, ducting, fans, and other equipment, as well as leaving enough room for you to work. Cannabis plants can double, even triple in size in the early stage of flowering, so make sure you have adequate head space!

If your grow room is a cabinet, tent, or closet, you can simply open it up and remove the plants to work on them; otherwise, you’ll need to make sure you leave yourself some elbow room.

Cleanliness is Crucial

Make sure your space is easily sanitized; cleanliness is important when growing indoors, so easy-to-clean surfaces are a must. Carpeting, drapes, and raw wood are all difficult to clean, so avoid these materials if possible.

Keep It Light-Tight

Another crucial criterion for a grow room is that it be light-tight. Light leaks during dark periods will confuse your plants and can cause them to produce male flowers.

Other Variables

When deciding where to grow your cannabis, keep the following variables in mind:

• Convenience — You’ll need to monitor your plants carefully. Checking on them every day is important, and beginners will want to check in several times per day until they have everything dialed in. If your room is hard to access, this crucial step will be difficult.
• Temperature and Humidity Concerns — If your grow space is already very warm or very humid, you’ll have issues controlling your grow environment. Choosing a cool, dry area with ready access to fresh air from the outdoors is highly recommended.
• Stealth — You’ll most likely want to conceal your grow from nosy neighbors and potential thieves, so be sure to pick a place where noisy fans won’t garner any unwanted attention.

Step 2: Choose Your Lighting Equipment

The quality of light in your grow room will be the number one environmental factor in the quality and quantity of your cannabis yields, so it’s a good idea to choose the best lighting setup you can afford. Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular types of lights used for indoor growing.

HID

HID (high intensity discharge) lights are the industry standard, widely used for their combination of output, efficiency, and value. They cost a bit more than incandescent or fluorescent fixtures, but produce far more light per unit of electricity used. Conversely, they are not as efficient as LED lighting, but they cost as little as one-tenth as much for comparable units.

The two main types of HID lamp used for growing are:

• Metal halide (MH), which produce light that is blue-ish white and are generally used during vegetative growth
• High pressure sodium (HPS), which produce light that is more on the red-orange end of the spectrum and are used during the flowering stage

In addition to bulbs, HID lighting setups require a ballast and hood/reflector for each light. Some ballasts are designed for use with either MH or HPS lamps, while many newer designs will run both. If you can’t afford both MH and HPS bulbs, start with HPS as they deliver more light per watt. Magnetic ballasts are cheaper than digital ballasts, but run hotter, are less efficient, and harder on your bulbs. Digital ballasts are generally a better option, but are more expensive. Beware of cheap digital ballasts, as they are often not well shielded and can create electromagnetic interference that will affect radio and WiFi signals.

Unless you’re growing in a large, open space with a lot of ventilation, you’ll need air-cooled reflector hoods to mount your lamps in, as HID bulbs produce a lot of heat. This requires ducting and exhaust fans, which will increase your initial cost but make controlling the temperature in your grow room much easier.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent light fixtures, particularly those using high-output (HO) T5 bulbs, are quite popular with small scale hobby growers for the following reasons:

• They tend to be cheaper to set up, as reflector, ballast, and bulbs are included in a single package
• They don’t require a cooling system since they don’t generate near the amount of heat that HID setups do

The main drawback is that fluorescent lights are less efficient, generating about 20-30% less light per watt of electricity used. Space is another concern, as it would require approximately 19 four-foot long T5 HO bulbs to equal the output of a single 600 watt HPS bulb.

LED

Light emitting diode (LED) technology has been around for a while, but only recently has it been adapted to create super efficient light fixtures for indoor growing. The main drawback to LED grow lights is their cost: well designed fixtures can cost 10 times what a comparable HID setup would. The benefits are that LEDs last much longer, use far less electricity, create less heat, and the best designs generate a fuller spectrum of light, which can lead to bigger yields and better quality. Unfortunately, there are many shoddy LED lights being produced and marketed towards growers, so do some research and read product reviews before laying down your hard-earned cash.

Induction

Induction lamps, otherwise known as electrodeless fluorescent lamps, are another old technology that has been recently adapted to suit the needs of indoor growers. Invented by Nikola Tesla in the late 1800s, the induction lamp is essentially a more efficient, longer-lasting version of the fluorescent bulb. The main drawback of these fixtures is their price and availability.

Step 3: Give Your Plants Air

Plants need fresh air to thrive, and carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential to the process of photosynthesis. This means you will need a steady stream of air flowing through your grow room, easily achieved by means of an exhaust fan placed near the top of the room to remove the warmer air, and a filtered air inlet on the opposite side near the floor.

You’ll need to ensure that temperatures remain within a comfortable range for your plants, between 70*f and 85*f when lights are on and between 58*f and 70*f when they are off. Some varieties of cannabis (generally indica strains) prefer the lower side of the range, while others are more tolerant of higher temperatures.

The size of your exhaust fan will depend on the size of your grow space and amount of heat generated by your lighting system. HID systems put out a ton of heat, especially if they aren’t mounted in air-cooled hoods. People who live in warmer regions will often run their lights at night in an effort to keep temperatures in their grow down. It’s advisable to set up your lights, turn them on for a while, and then determine how much airflow you’ll need to maintain a comfortable temperature for your plants. This will allow you to choose an exhaust fan suitable for your needs. If the odor of cannabis plants in bloom will cause you problems, add a charcoal filter to your exhaust fan.

Alternately, you can create a sealed, artificial environment by using an air conditioner, dehumidifier, and supplemental CO2 system, but this is quite expensive and not recommended for the first-time grower.

Finally, it’s a good idea to have a constant light breeze in your grow room as this strengthens your plants’ stems and creates a less hospitable environment for mold and flying pests. A wall-mounted circulating fan works well for this purpose — just don’t point it directly at your plants, because that can cause windburn.

Step 4: Pick Your Controls and Monitoring

Once you have selected your lights and climate control equipment, you’ll want to automate their functions. While there are sophisticated (and expensive) units available that control lights, temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, the beginner will generally need a simple 24 hour timer for the light and an adjustable thermostat switch for the exhaust fan.

The timing of the light/dark cycle is very important when growing cannabis; generally you will have your lights on for 16-20 hours per 24 hour period while the plants are in vegetative growth, then switch to 12 hours of light per 24 when you want them to bloom. You need your lights to turn on and off at the same times every day or you risk stressing your plants, so a timer is essential. You can use a timer for your exhaust fan as well, but spending a few extra dollars on a thermostat switch is a much better option.

With the most basic models, you simply set the thermostat on the device to the maximum desired temperature for your space and plug your exhaust fan into it. Once the temperature rises to the level you set, it will turn the fan on until temperatures fall a few degrees below the set threshold. This saves energy and maintains a steady temperature. Since you’re probably not spending most of your time in your grow space, a combination hygrometer/thermostat with high/low memory feature can be very handy in keeping tabs on conditions in your room. These small, inexpensive devices not only show you the current temperature and humidity level, but the highest and lowest readings for the period of time since you last checked.

It’s also a good idea to keep a pH meter or test kit on hand so you can check the pH level of your water, nutrient solution, or soil. Cannabis prefers a pH between 6 and 7 in soil, and between 5.5 and 6.5 in hydroponic media. Letting the pH get out of this range can lead to nutrient lockout, meaning your plants are unable to absorb the nutrients they need, so be sure to test your water and soil regularly and make sure the nutrient mix you are feeding your plants falls within the desired range.

Step 5: Decide on a Grow Medium

Growing indoors means you have many different methods to choose from, and whether it’s good old fashioned pots full of soil or a rockwool slab in a hydroponic tray, every medium has its benefits and drawbacks. Here we’ll examine the two most popular methods and the media they employ.

Soil

Soil is the most traditional medium for growing cannabis indoors, as well as the most forgiving, making it a good choice for first-time growers. Any high quality potting soil will work, as long as it doesn’t contain artificial extended release fertilizer (like Miracle Gro), which is unsuitable for growing good cannabis.

A very good choice for beginners is organic pre-fertilized soil (often referred to as “super-soil”) that can grow cannabis plants from start to finish without any added nutrients, if used correctly. This can be made yourself by combining worm castings, bat guano, and other components with a good soil and letting it sit for a few weeks, or it can be purchased pre-made from a few different suppliers. As with all organic growing, this method relies on a healthy population of mycorrhizae and soil bacteria to facilitate the conversion of organic matter into nutrients that are useable to the plant. Alternately, you can use a regular soil mix and then supplement your plants with liquid nutrients as the soil is depleted.

Soilless (aka Hydroponics)

Indoor growers are increasingly turning to soilless, hydroponic media for cultivating cannabis plants. This method requires feeding with concentrated solutions of mineral salt nutrients that are absorbed directly by the roots through the process of osmosis. The technique for quicker nutrient uptake leading to faster growth and bigger yields, but it also requires a higher order of precision as plants are quicker to react to over or underfeeding and are more susceptible to nutrient burn and lockout. Different materials used include rockwool, vermiculite, expanded clay pebbles, perlite, and coco coir, just to name a few. Commercial soilless mixes are widely available that combine two or more of these media to create an optimized growing mix. Soilless media can be used in automated hydroponic setups or in hand-watered individual containers.

Step 6: Determine Which Containers to Use

What type of container you use will depend on the medium, the system, and the size of your plants. A flood-and-drain, tray-style hydroponic system may use small net pots filled with clay pebbles or just a big slab of rockwool to grow many little plants, while a “super-soil” grow may use 10 gallon nursery pots to grow a few large plants. Inexpensive options include disposable perforated plastic bags or cloth bags, while some choose to spend more on “smart pots,” containers that are designed to enhance airflow to the plant’s root zone. Many people grow their first cannabis plants in five gallon buckets. Drainage is key, though, as cannabis plants are very sensitive to water-logged conditions, so if you repurpose other containers, be sure to drill holes in the bottoms and set them in trays.

Step 7: Feed Your Plants Nutrients

Growing high-quality cannabis flowers requires more fertilizer, or nutrients, than most common crops. Your plant needs the following primary nutrients (collectively known as macronutrients):

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)

These micronutrients are needed as well, albeit in much smaller quantities:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Copper

​

If you aren’t using a pre-fertilized organic soil mix, you will need to feed your plants at least once a week using an appropriate nutrient solution. These nutrients are sold in concentrated liquid or powder form meant to be mixed with water, and generally formulated for either vegetative or flower (“bloom”) growth. This is because cannabis has changing macronutrient requirements during its lifecycle, needing more nitrogen during vegetative growth, and more phosphorus and potassium during bud production.

Most macronutrients are sold in a two-part liquid to prevent certain elements from precipitating (combining into an inert solid that is unusable by the plant), meaning you’ll need to purchase two bottles (part A and part B) for veg, and two bottles for grow, as well as a bottle of micronutrients. Other than these basics, the only other nutrient product you may need to purchase is a Cal/Mag supplement, as some strains require more calcium and magnesium than others.

Once you’ve purchased the necessary nutrient products, simply mix them with water as directed by the label and water your plants with this solution. You should always start at half-strength because cannabis plants are easily burned. It’s almost always worse to overfeed your plants than to underfeed them, and over time you will learn to “read” your plants for signs of deficiencies or excesses.

Step 8: Give Your Plants Water

Most people won’t think twice about the water they use on their plants; if you can drink it, it must be fine, right? Well, it may not be an issue, depending on your location, but some water contains a high amount of dissolved minerals that can build up in the root zone and affect nutrient uptake, or it may contain fungus or other pathogens that aren’t harmful to people but can lead to root disease. And some places may have high levels of chlorine in the water supply, which can be harmful to beneficial soil microbes. For these reasons, many people choose to filter the water they use in their gardens.

The most important thing to remember during this phase is to not overwater. Cannabis plants are very susceptible to fungal root diseases when conditions are too wet, and overwatering is one of the most common mistakes made by the beginning grower. How often you water your plants will depend on the medium used, size of the plants, and ambient temperature. Some people will wait until the lower leaves of the plant start to droop slightly before watering.

As you gain experience and knowledge, you will alter your grow room and equipment to better fit your particular environment, growing techniques, and for the specific strains you choose, but hopefully this article will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge to get started on the right foot. And remember, growing cannabis is a labor of love, so spend a lot of time with your plants and have fun!

The Shake: NFL Gets Canna-Curious, and Sick Kids in Penn. Get Fast-Tracked

NFL starts a cannabis conversation, finally. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe has broken through the NFL’s wall of silence regarding cannabis, apparently. The NFL’s senior VP for player health and safety reached out to the scientists who received Monroe’s recent $80,000 donation to fund medical marijuana research. “They are definitely showing genuine curiosity, and they are definitely not throwing up roadblocks,” said Marcel Bonn-Miller, the University of Pennsylvania scientist who’s on the forefront of medical cannabis research.

Pennsylvania: Sick kids could get medical cannabis as soon as July. Health Secretary Karen Murphy said state officials are accelerating access for sick children whose families were instrumental in the recent passage of Pennsylvania’s MMJ law. New regulations will allow caregivers to obtain cannabis in other states and bring it to Pennsylvania.

Ohio: Sorry, it’s gonna be a while. It may be 2018 before a medical marijuana patient can walk into a licensed dispensary and purchase legally in Ohio, say state officials. The state’s MMJ bill still sits on Gov. John Kasich’s desk (it becomes law even if he doesn’t sign it). It’s expected to take effect by early September. At that point MMJ patients could purchase in another state and legally bring the medicine to Ohio.

Mass. Supreme Court will hear challenges to legalization measure this week. The state’s highest court will hear two lawsuits over the proposed adult-use legalization ballot measure. One lawsuit takes issue with the THC content allowed under the proposal; another wants the title, “Marijuana Legalization,” amended.

Crunch week for Montana initiatives for and against cannabis. With just two more weeks to gather signatures, it’s going to be a busy fortnight for campaigners for I-176 (which would repeal the state’s medical marijuana program) and I-182 (which would allow dispensaries and stop targeting doctors who recommend medical cannabis). It doesn’t look good for adult-legalization measure I-178, which has seen its advocates shift to I-182 in recent weeks.

Allen Peake keeps fighting in Georgia. The state’s dogged medical marijuana champion scored a small victory over the weekend when the state Republican convention endorsed a resolution to support in-state access to cannabis oil. Keep on keepin’ on, Allen!

Dear Justin Trudeau: It’s really not that difficult. National Post columnist chides the Canadian PM for taking a go-slow approach to federal cannabis legalization. “It’s not the sort of thing that should perplex people in government,” writes John Robson. “You’d think nothing would be easier in a free society than not forbidding victimless acts involving consenting adults.”

When is Your Cannabis in Season? Factors That Influence Growing, Harvest, and Availability

Cannabis is an annual plant that flowers from late summer into fall. The natural growing season begins when farmers plant seeds every spring; these seedlings quickly develop branches and leaves over the next few months, becoming taller and bushier until longer nights after the summer solstice trigger the flowering phase. In autumn, when flowers are ripe, they are cut down, dried, and trimmed before entering the market.

Wherever cannabis cultivation occurs outdoors, consumers typically enjoy an overabundance of fresh flowers after the yearly harvest. Commercially grown outdoor cannabis is sold cheaply and speedily in late fall and winter. States with legal cannabis sales often experience drastic shifts in supply and demand as farmers flood the market with product while some consumers turn to homegrown or cheaper black market sources. Top-shelf sungrown cannabis becomes available more gradually in the winter and early spring. By midyear, stockpiles dwindle and prices rise as surplus turns to scarcity.

How Do Environmental Factors Affect Cannabis’s Growing Season?

In the northern hemisphere, seeds are planted as early as March or as late as May, and flowers are harvested from September through November. Seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, so planting takes place from September to November and harvest time is March to May. In the tropics, near the Equator, it is actually possible to harvest outdoor cannabis throughout the year.

A cannabis plant switches from the vegetative to the flowering stage when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. The precise timing varies depending on latitude. A strain that starts flowering in early July when cultivated in California or Colorado should not flower until August in Canada or Holland. In Hawaii, that same strain may be capable of flowering at almost any time.

Temperature, altitude, rainfall, and other environmental conditions also influence cannabis maturation and determine the ideal growing season in any given location. Mild weather encourages plants to finish sooner, whereas excessive heat or cold can delay flowering and ripening.

Do Different Strains Have Different Growing Seasons?

Strain genetics have a significant impact on growing season. Cannabis varieties adapt to their native habitat, and breeders create strains that are best suited to the local climate. Generally speaking, indicas stay shorter and flower faster than their sativa cousins, while equatorial sativas have the longest flowering time and may not survive long enough to ripen when grown too far north or south. A strain developed in a cool coastal area will likely finish early when grown in a warm inland region. While landraces and old-school strains tend to be more demanding, modern genetics have been designed to deliver higher yields in a shorter period of time.

DJ Short, creator of the iconic Blueberry, reports that the second to third week of October is his favorite time to harvest his signature indica strain in Oregon, where he lives. But he waits until late November or even December to harvest certain sativas. The cultivators at Shine On Farms endure increasingly wintery weather at their off-grid farm in the hills of northern California’s Anderson Valley, long after the growing season has ended for their friends and neighbors, as they wait for their beloved Super Silver Haze to finish flowering.

How Do Cultivation Techniques Influence Cannabis Growth?

Cultivation techniques, strategies, and preferences affect the growing season as well, and farmers make calculated decisions based on their experiences and objectives. Many believe it is better to plant when the moon is waxing and harvest when the moon is waning. Guerilla growers sometimes plant later in the season, a strategic decision resulting in smaller plants that are easier to conceal from law enforcement. Regulations such as plant count limits incentivize some legally permitted cultivators to plant early in order to grow larger plants.

When flowers ripen in the fall, farmers must choose the most opportune moment to harvest. Flowers that are harvested early induce a lighter, more cerebral high, and flowers that are harvested late have a more narcotic body effect. A later harvest also leads to increased risks from mold, mildew, pests, and damage from frost or storms.

Ed Rosenthal, the “guru of ganja,” considers cannabis perfectly ripe when the trichomes turn to a milky or amber color, but notes, “this is about a week later than some people prefer.” In his Big Book of Buds, Rosenthal complains that the cannabis for sale in Dutch coffeeshops is often immature, which results in a “racing and buzzy” high that he finds unsatisfying. “Obviously, ripening time is affected by your idea of ripeness,” he concludes.

Mendocino farmer and activist Casey O’Neill, who writes for The Ganjier, says, “There are about as many methodologies for harvesting cannabis as there are cannabis farmers.” Because crops frequently ripen all at once, and harvesting is an arduous and time-consuming process, O’Neill says, “It is better to start harvesting early and finish on time, rather than starting on time and finishing late.” O’Neill also appreciates the high bestowed by “fewer amber trichomes and more clear to milky ones,” which add “a kiss of ephemeral lightness,” avoiding the “sedative, opioid effect of the amber trichomes.” He explains that his indica-dominant strains would be “too heavy for the modern consumer” if they were allowed to ripen more fully.

The Impact of Harvesting, Drying, and Curing Decisions on Seasonal Cannabis Availability

Once plants have been harvested, they must be dried to reduce water content and remove chlorophyll. Plants should be hung in a climate-controlled room for 10 days to two weeks, although some claim that as few as five or six days can be sufficient and others insist that two weeks is the minimum. According to Franco, of Green House Seed Co., “The difference between drying 10 days and 14 days is not very evident to the novice, but creates a world of difference to the connoisseur.” Flowers that are dried too rapidly will have a harsh or bitter flavor, and flowers that are too moist will not burn.

Connoisseur-quality cannabis should be cured after drying, but commercial growers rarely take the time to do so. “In a perfect world, there would be about six to eight weeks between cutting the flowers, hanging to dry, trimming, and then stabilization,” says Kevin Jodrey, the cultivation director at Wonderland Nursery in Humboldt County. “The reality is that the grower prays for a quick drop as soon as it is dried and trimmed, which could be as short as 10 days from chop to sale.”

Drying and curing inevitably shape flavor and effect, for better or worse. Preserving and developing the cannabinoid and terpene profile is a delicate process. Temperature and humidity should be controlled and adjusted according to flowers’ density and terpene content. Flowers that are dried and cured correctly offer a smoother, more nuanced smoking experience. “The high of cured weed is always deeper and more introspective, often becoming a meditation and inner-vision tool,” says Franco. “The flower becomes much more complex and refined, gaining in depth as well as in variation of bouquet.”

Boutique farms are more inclined to dedicate extra time to produce a premium product. Nikki Lastreto of Swami Select says, “We like our flowers best around April. Some strains take longer to ripen — full Kush strains aren’t quite ready until July.”

When to Look for the Best Cannabis in Season

Meticulous handling, hand-trimming, and proper storage differentiate craft cannabis. Small family farms may lack the resources to trim an entire crop all at once, and instead trim continually for several months. Swami Select has found that flowers can maintain optimal freshness for a year or longer when stored in black ultraviolet glass jars in a cool dry space. Therefore, although cannabis harvest naturally occurs at the same time each year, different quality buds may arrive at your local dispensary at different times over the course of the year.

Of course, modern cannabis growers are not constrained by the seasons. By cultivating in greenhouses and periodically blocking out light to simulate longer nights, farmers are able to use the sun’s energy to power three or more harvests per year. These greenhouse-grown flowers — commonly known as “light dep” — are of particularly excellent quality when allowed to ripen under the peak summer sun in late June and July.

Meanwhile, innovation and electricity have made it possible to maintain a constant supply of cannabis throughout the year: a hydroponic indoor grow with staggered light cycles, for instance, can generate at least one harvest every month, ensuring a perpetual supply of fresh indoor-grown flowers year-round. As such, you’ll never arrive at your local dispensary to find it empty due to cannabis being out of season. That said, consider the fact that while you can find fresh produce at the grocery store all year-round, when locally grown fruits and vegetables are in season they are unequivocally superior. If you are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time, the same principle applies to seasonal sungrown cannabis.

Cannabis: Out of the Grow Closet and Onto the Front Porch

The cannabis movement has come a long way in a short time from the days of “…but I didn’t inhale!” Sadly, we still have much further to go before the stigma surrounding cannabis use no longer holds back progress.

All Progress Starts In The Mirror

They say if you really want to change the world, you first have to change yourself. Time and time again throughout time, we see movements rise and fall. And, at the center of it all, we see individuals standing up and banding together for a single cause. Individual people are the building blocks of change.

Once people start to change, they either gain followers or don’t. Either their ideals align with those of others, or they don’t. If all goes well, with enough people advocating for the same ideal, the various arms of communities, the media, and eventually the government begin to follow. And, things are definitely going in the right direction for cannabis.

Lately, the media has begun the long and painful process of reversing the inane stigma associated with cannabis. Bill Clinton was reluctant to admit his experience with it in 1992; later presidents have been more candid about their own. These days, the usual supporters of the movement—rapper Snoop Dogg, country star Willie Nelson, and comic actor Tommy Chong, to name a few—are far from alone. Joining them are what seems like a majority of celebrities, plus more and more doctors and businesses like Walgreens taking vocal positions on the side of change.

Just Say No To Thugs

Of course, there are plenty of forces out there hoping to convince you otherwise: Staying comfortable is the real goal. Change is either futile or plotted at parties to which you will never be invited. Television loves to dish up—though less fervently in recent years—scornful news stories of ordinary people who happen to be cannabis consumers.

Prohibitionist thugs shame them for cannabis consumers choices, perpetuating a stale, bigoted, and outdated “reefer madness” mentality that does everything it can to punish people for consuming this particular plant. It doesn’t even matter if it’s an epileptic child suffering hundreds of daily seizures, a sick mom, or the most decorated Olympian of all time.

How To Be The Bearer of Great News

So, what does it look like to stand up as an individual? It’s simple. You don’t need to be a doctor or celebrity, or set up press conferences around your thoughts on cannabis as medicine. The first step is simply to be honest with those around you about your position on and relationship to the cause of cannabis freedom.

Often people are simply unaware of just how many loved ones they have who sympathize with the cannabis freedom movement. Parents and children hide away and light up separately, all the while wishing for a way to connect.

It can obviously be terrifying to confront one’s closest family members and friends about controversial topics, but being honest about cannabis use may be even more important now than ever. You could even save a life if, thanks to you, someone gets off addictive opioid painkillers and switches to cannabis.

The U.S. is in a bizarre position now. People can nearly always find access to their effective, yet still illegal, medicine. Yet, they remain threatened by the consequences of breaking the law to get it, meaning their freedom—their whole life—hangs in the balance. The medicine is actually here now. It’s just got bars around it. Half the states get it. The other half WILL get it.

Come out, come out, wherever you are

MagicalButter MB2e

So, look in your mirror, and come out of your grow closet. Or, rather, jump! Tell your loved ones the truth about your relationship with this wonderful plant. But, don’t stop there. Be proud! Buy a shirt made of hemp, a super attractive one that will be sure to start conversations. Start asking for hemp milk in your coffee.

Better yet, treat yourself to a countertop MagicalButter machine to flaunt on Independence Day. Make some infused edibles for your guests, and make your barbecue really special. (Be sure everyone knows what they’re having!)

Be loud and proud. You’ll be amazed at the allies you never knew you had.

About the Author

Zachary D. Brown

Born in Arizona and raised in Maryland and Guinea, West Africa, Zach Brown claims the D.C. metro area as his home turf. He is currently back in Africa writing, teaching English as a second language, and making music in Bamako, Mali. Zach is an Eagle Scout who earned a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland. He was also president of the UMD chapters of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy).

RELATED: For dozens of scrumptious cannabis recipes, quick how-to videos, and how to get your own Botanical Extractor for converting cannabis to edible form, visit MagicalButter.com.

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Today: World’s Largest Medical Cannabis Dispensary To Battle Feds In Tax Court

Starting today June 6, through Friday June 10, leaders from Harborside Health Center will once again challenge the federal government, this time in Tax Court at the Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, from 10am to 5pm. “We’re not asking for special treatment—we just want the same rules applied to us that

Marijuana Consumers Need To Hold Cannabis Companies Accountable

The marijuana industry is one of the most popular things on the planet right now. Cannabis has gone from being entirely underground to becoming more mainstream every day. The cannabis industry is new, it is exciting, and it seems like the industry has almost unlimited potential. If you go to any cannabis event and talk

US NM: Medical Cannabis A Growing Business

Albuquerque Journal, 06 Jun 2016 – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rachael Speegle, 34, left a full-time job as a critical care nurse last year to work at an Albuquerque medical marijuana dispensary and growing operation started by her husband. Speegle quickly discovered that people who came to the Verdes Foundation dispensary in Albuquerque had lots of questions that called for her nursing skills.

Leafly Staff Debates: How Should You Talk to Your Family About Cannabis?

Just as the journey is more important than the destination, sometimes the discussion is more important than the conclusion. As such, we’re kicking off a series of informal Leafly chats published largely unabridged. Viewpoints expressed are participants’ own. Enjoy!

Whether you’re coming out to your parents as a cannabis consumer, suggesting medical marijuana to your sister, or determining when and how to broach the topic with your kids, talking to your family about cannabis isn’t always easy. While some family members may routinely kick back and enjoy a joint together, others may not even feel comfortable bringing it up.

Yet talking to your parents, relatives, and children about cannabis in an open, mature manner not only helps advance the societal cannabis conversation, it can bring you closer to your family members and help you better understand one another. Below, you’ll find a chat transcript where Leafly employees discuss how old their kids were when they first talked to them about cannabis, whether and how they consume cannabis with their parents, and more.

These Cancer Survivors Share Their Preferred Cannabis Strains

The fortitude demonstrated by cancer patients and survivors is truly remarkable. With numerous reviewers on Leafly using cannabis to combat the effects of various types of cancer, chemotherapy, and related medications, we’re constantly inspired by the positivity, bravery and determination that shines through their stories.

Today, on National Cancer Survivors Day, we honor these individuals. The following are just a sampling of the strains that have helped cancer patients deal with the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of their condition as they fight toward joining the ranks of hundreds of thousands of cancer survivors across the nation and around the world.

AK-48

“AK-48 has helped me in so many ways with respect to my cancer. My appetite has resumed as normal, I sleep GREAT, less depression, moments of bliss, less pain and increased level of hope for survival. It is, without a doubt, my personal favorite.” –Good-juju

Ingrid

“The first strain I tried for chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite. After first use I went from nearly heaving at the thought of any food to craving – and eating – Mexican food (peppers and all).” –gobby

ACDC

“No brain fog, no paranoia, and doesn’t make me want to eat all of the things. I am in remission from cancer and this helps with remaining painful side effects.” –kamina

Harlequin

“This is, by far, one of my favorite medicinal strains…there is a complimentary THC content and effect that I find helpful as opposed to purely CBD strains. Mix it with some Sour Diesel (not enough to kill the CBD effects), vape away, and it’s my ‘morning coffee’ when on chemo.” –bravo2kilo

Blueberry Kush

“Every time I get this strain, I specifically save it for my friend with cancer. She says it’s her favorite for the pain.” –HebiMidori

Flo

“My left breast was diagnosed a couple months ago with breast cancer. Flo has me feeling better than I have in the two months…my body is relaxed. I did not realize how much tension I have been holding. The future looks better and easier at the moment. Wow.” –dataqueen11

Mr. Nice

“Using this for my back pain and for my golden retriever who has cancer. Works great for both of us!” –dyeager105

Jack the Ripper

“Absolutely fantastic sativa! One of the best strains I’ve had in the past 10 years. The high THC content will knock your socks off and the high lasts for 3-4 hours solid. I have brain cancer so I deal with different health issues…and this strain works extremely well controlling pain, nausea, and vertigo.” –jfu5129

Blueberry

“Super relaxing, pain relieving, joyful, floaty. I am a cancer survivor, have fibro, serious anxiety, and advanced degenerative disc disease and 17 herniated discs in my spine paired with scoliosis, and I feel like a carefree kid.” –DabaDharma

Chemo

“My mom is going through chemotherapy…She suffers from extreme appetite loss, nausea and abdominal discomfort from the chemotherapy. She says this strain is incredible for nausea, probably the best she has ever used and induced a great appetite for her instantly. I haven’t seen her in that much relief regarding nausea in ages.” –rachels95

Black Jack

“This strain has been like a little miracle in my life. Cancer treatment related pain keeps me from sleeping most nights. I literally was pain free for the entire evening allowing me to finally sleep for the first time in weeks. I’m grateful for Black Jack!!!” –karmagirl

Sour Diesel

“I love this strain a lot. I find myself in my own little creative world, giggling, always forgetting what I was doing then remembering…zoning out to music by Soundgarden (“Black Hole Sun”)…I always smoke with my dad because he gets real funny when he’s medicated. He has cancer so it’s better seeing him happy then depressed and in pain. Speaking of, I think he is lost in the kitchen wondering about which entrée he should devour next. I’m gonna go stop him before he eats us out of house and home, or most likely, I will end up eating a tub of ice cream along side him.” –Thecode007

Don’t Miss The MCBA Networking Rally In Portland One Week From Today

If you are in the Portland area, I strongly urge you to check out the Minority Cannabis Business Association networking rally, which is occurring one week from today. Below is more information, via the event’s Eventbrite page: Join MCBA and local cannabis leaders and government officials at the first MCBA Networkwing Rally. This event is

Sex After 50: Can Cannabis Help Older Adults Rejuvenate Their Intimacy?

Meet the Fockers came out in 2004, my senior year of high school. I remember watching Barbra Streisand’s character, a senior sex therapist, thinking, “Wow. I love that she’s so enthusiastic and open about sex for older adults! I’ve never met anyone like that!” Fast forward nine years, and I’m at a sex conference face-to-face with Joan Price, a passionate writer, educator, and advocate for all things related to sexuality for the over-50 crowd. She was wearing a black t-shirt with the words “Naked At Our Age” proudly emblazoned upon it, and I knew right away I’d met a solid role model.

Joan has authored three books on the topic, the most recent being The Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50: How to Maintain – or Regain! – a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life. In her introduction she shares a piece of wisdom that hit me right in the feels:

“Part of embracing our sexuality across the lifespan means redefining what sex means at different stages of our lives. I celebrated my sexuality in my late fifties and early sixties with my beloved Robert, who was my lover and then my husband. I celebrate it now, widowed–as many of us are–with drawers full of sex toys and occasional lusty dates. Things change. We change. But with knowledge and creativity, sex can remain a part of who we are.”

I reached out to Joan to see if she had some additional insights into the growing trend of cannabis use in the older adult population.

Joan Price, senior sex writer, educator, and advocate

Ashley: CBS recently ran a story about cannabis use increasing among seniors. What have you noticed in terms of shifting attitudes related to cannabis in your communities, peer groups, and folks you’ve worked with?

Joan: The CBS story doesn’t surprise me for two reasons. First, pain and the avoidance of pain are huge issues as our aging bodies challenge us. Of course we’ll try something that alleviates pain and helps us sleep!

Second, many of the people we’re calling seniors now are the Boomers who were smoking pot when today’s Millennials weren’t even a gleam in their parents’ eyes! I don’t hear much from people who are discovering cannabis for the first time. Rather, people who used it in the past (some still do, some don’t) are asking, as I am, “Why is medical marijuana, which helps people, legal in only 24 states – while cigarettes, which kill people, are legal in every state?” I do hear from women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who read my review of Foria and want to try it for increased sexual pleasure, but it is illegal in their state and they can’t.

Ashley: Do you think cannabis could positively impact senior sexuality when used mindfully? How might it be helpful?

Joan: Yes, if products like Foria and recreational cannabis were legal in all states, and the stigma of doing something shady and illegal were removed, seniors could benefit from the increased sensation and relaxation and decreased pain during sex. They’d also probably be interested in having sex more often because it would be so pleasurable! That’s just my guess, though.

Ashley: What’s one common misconception about seniors and sexuality that you’d like to see corrected?

Joan: The most serious misconception is that we have an expiration date when it comes to sexual expression and sexual pleasure. We do not! We are lifelong sexual beings.

As Joan points out, pain and avoiding pain are two major challenges for the aging population. Cannabinoids like CBD hold much promise in this area, even in states where THC-infused products are still illegal. One Denver-based company, Apothecanna, used CBD derived from industrial hemp, so they’re able to ship their products to all 50 states. My father, 60, speaks highly of the extra-strength pain spray for relief of arthritis and joint pain.

What are some ways you’ve found cannabis helpful for sex after 50? Tell us in the comments!

Joan Price calls herself an advocate for ageless sexuality. She has been writing and speaking about senior sex since 2005. In 2013, Joan conceived and edited the steamy anthology, Ageless Erotica. Her latest book is The Ultimate Guide to Sex after Fifty: How to Maintain – or Regain! – a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life. Joan continues to talk about senior sex — partnered or solo – in speeches and workshops, and on her blog about sex and aging, NakedAtOurAge.com, which includes senior sex news, views, and reviews of more than 80 sex toys from a senior perspective. She also writes the “Sex at Our Age” column for SeniorPlanet.org. Joan received the 2014 Catalyst Award for “inspiring exceptional conversations about sexuality.”

Got a sex, relationships, or intimacy dating question for Ashley Manta? Send it to tips@nullleafly.com and we may address your request in a future article! (Don’t worry, we’ll keep your queries anonymous.)

Why Do Some Cannabis Strains Smell Like Cheese?

Cannabis is a flower. And like flowers, cannabis exhibits strong, diverse odors that will stimulate your mind and elicit different sensations based on those smells (and, when smoked, flavors). These smell- and flavor-inducing chemicals are known as terpenes, which are representative of potential effects inside each unique flower. Linalool, for example, is a powerful terpene most commonly associated with lavender. It’s known for its relaxing, sedative effects — the same thing people hope to inspire when they place a pouch of lavender under their pillows before bed.

Cannabis is a flower. Lavender is a flower. So what? Flowers smell like flowers.

Wait. Hold your horses, y’all. Here’s where it gets weird.

Of all the terpenes, of which more than 200 are found in cannabis, many evoke smells that don’t occur naturally in nature. Today, we are going to focus on a few terpenes near and dear to my heart (and stomach): CHEESE!

The “cheesy” terpenes are easily some of the most pungent and challenging. But the strains reward the adventurous palate with brilliant, uplifting effects that are pleasantly stimulating and luscious.

Such terpenes include octanoic acid, (methyl thio) butyrate, ethylmethyl acetic acid, hexanoic acid, isovaleric acid, and methyl mercaptan. These chemicals traverse the scale of cheesiness from the sweet, vanilla ice cream elements of Dairy Queen to the significantly cave-aged earthiness of OG Cheese and UK Cheese.

But cheese strains aren’t exclusively savory. Like many fine cheese plates, fruit notes add a complementary sweetness to the umami qualities of a truly robust queso. Strains like Blueberry Cheesecake, Blue Cheese, Sweet Cheese, Bubble Cheese, and many more incorporate sweet elements that can bring creeping indica effects to this primarily sativa-hybrid family.

Cheese terpenes may not be the most pleasant to smell, but they are everywhere. Check out this quote by THCFarmer.com pertaining to one of the many cheese-like terpenes:

“Isovaleric Acid has a strong, pungent, sour, stinky feet, sweaty cheese smell. It is a major component of the cause of unpleasant foot odor. However, its volatile esters have pleasing scents and are used widely in perfumery. Used as a flavoring it is cheesy, dairy, sweet creamy, fermented, waxy and berry. It has shown effectiveness as an anticonvulsant and antidepressant.”

This isn’t a recommendation to huff your stinky socks in an effort to conquer depression, but a simple illustration of the fine line between the refined and the repulsive. So go on: Grab a bowl, smile, and say, “cheese!” Looking for some options? Check the “cheese” filter in our strain explorer for some pungent options!

New Strains Alert: Chem Jong Ill, Afternoon Delight, Slazerbeam, Blueberry Muffins, and More

Check out the new strains added to the Leafly database! This week’s batch hails from Colorado, bringing potency that will have you thinking you’re a mile high. Starting with his superior dankness, Chem Jong Ill, this dictatorial strain demands respect with a potency suited for pros. But if totalitarianism isn’t quite your speed, maybe tuck into some Blueberry Muffins, yielding fruit-forward fire that would make the Pillsbury Doughboy consider cannibalism. A strain named after America’s #1 single of 1976 couldn’t possibility be this potent, right? Wrong! As Afternoon Delight so aptly put it: “…Thinkin’ of you’s working up an appetite,” and then you eat the whole fridge (f you can get off the couch, that is).

But there’s more! Check out all our newly added strains and share your experiences in a review!

1. Chem Jong Ill

This sativa-dominant cross is for cannabis pros looking to take the top third of their head clean off! Chem Jong Ill is a powerful hybrid by Colorado Seed Inc. that was bred using Chemdawg #4 and Gupta Kush genetics. Built for potency and longevity, this strain is an excellent option for extended physical activity, offering an uplifted, airy high in the body that is easy on the joints. The aroma is thick with a chemical funk and floral notes typical to Kush varieties.

2. Afternoon Delight

Afternoon Delight is a difficult strain to track down. Noted for its small, dense nuggets and an aroma of pine and pungent terpenes, Afternoon Delight is described as an indica-dominant hybrid with a hazy aura that engulfs the mind and body. But indulge with caution, as this hybrid has also been known for its potency.

3. Flo Limone

Flo Limone is Colorado Seed’s twist on a cannabis classic. Flo, the 1996 Cannabis Cup winner known for its light and bright buzz, is crossed against Nina Limone (Super Lemon Haze x Rebel God Smoke) to create an outstanding, full-flavored sativa that is motivating without an aggressive raciness. The terpene profile has also been described as aroma therapeutic, with notes of citrus incense intermixed with Moroccan hash.

4. Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry Muffins is the thoroughly baked indica-dominant hybrid of parent strains Afghani and Blueberry. The complimentary genetics make for a strong yet functional indica that exhibits a classic aroma of — you guessed it — blueberry muffins. Its fruity palate and functional body buzz helps curb anxiety, chronic pain, and nausea.

5. Slazerbeam

A sativa-dominant hybrid of Super Lemon Haze and Gupta Kush, Slazerbeam is loaded with dense, zesty buds. This combo is sweet and lemony while exhibiting hints of OG Kush on the inhale. The flower also packs potency, with an average THC content above 20%. Count on latent Haze and Kush effects that ground this 70% sativa with functionally heavy body effects.

6. Bootlegger

Bootlegger is a potent cross of AK-47 and Rugburn OG from Rare Dankness Seeds. The front-end parentage of AK-47 offers famous potency, but the addition of Rungburn OG (Ghost OG x Rare Dankness #1) improves bud growth and structure, leading to pungent, oily colas that mature in about 8 to 9 weeks. Expect a sweet, earthy aroma with effects distinct to hybrid crosses: creative, cerebral, and mood lifting, along with the functional sedation common among many OG strains.

7. Big Holy Nina

Big Holy Nina from Helping Hands Herbal is a sativa-dominant cross of S.A.G.E. and Nina Limone (Super Lemon Haze x Rebel God Smoke). This stout sativa blend is infused with energy and will ignite your appetite and brighten your mind.

Browse through our other new strains that were recently added to the Leafly Explorer, or check out last week’s newest additions!

California Moving Quickly to Tax Medical Cannabis

Medical marijuana advocates are calling on California patients and caretakers to oppose a pair of bills in the Legislature that would raise costs by imposing taxes and fees on medical cannabis.

The bills are moving quickly through the Capitol and have garnered broad support from lawmakers. This week the Assembly and the Senate both passed separate measures, one of which would take effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.

The more substantial of the two bills, Senate Bill 987, introduced by Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), would charge patients a 15 percent “user fee” on cannabis purchases. It’s essentially an excise tax, and it was called such in the initial version of the bill, but lawmakers amended the language to refer the tax as a fee in an effort to dodge a state requirement that tax increases earn a two-thirds majority vote from lawmakers.

The shift in jargon ultimately proved unnecessary. The full Senate passed McGuire’s bill on Wednesday with a supermajority vote, 27–10–3, indicating a broad base of support for the added tax. SB 987 now goes to the Assembly for consideration.

Advocacy group Americans for Safe Access has come out sharply against the bill. “We do not assess ‘user fees’ on insulin, heart medications, or chemotherapy,” the organization said in an email to supporters.

“Imposing additional tax will be bad for public safety,” ASA’s California Director Don Duncan said. “Inflating the cost of legal medical cannabis will force some patients to buy less expensive cannabis from the unregulated illicit market — where there are no safety standards or oversight. That is the opposite of what regulations are supposed to accomplish.”

Meanwhile, the Assembly passed its own separate MMJ taxation measure on Thursday. Assembly Bill 2243 would tax the distribution of cannabis flowers at $9.25 per ounce, leaves at $2.75 per ounce, and immature plants at $1.25 each. Prior to passage, lawmakers amended the bill, introduced by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), to include a so-called urgency clause, meaning the tax would take effect immediately upon passage.

California medical marijuana transactions already incur ordinary sales tax, which is between 7.5 percent and 10 percent, depending on the jurisdiction. Cities and counties can levy additional taxes, and some jurisdictions charge up to 15 percent on top of state rates, according to Americans for Safe Access.

The group sent out an action alert last weekend asking residents to contact their senators and oppose the bill. The group pointed out that even The Tax Foundation, a third-party tax policy research organization, found that high taxes on medical cannabis create an incentive for patients to turn to the black market.

Other cannabis advocacy groups, including the Marijuna Policy Project, have also come out against the bills and are encouraging residents to contact their legislators.

While the proposed changes would mean higher costs for patients, not all in the medical marijuana community oppose it. When the bill was introduced in February, Eddie Miller, chief strategy officer at GreenRush.com, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he found the proposed tax scheme “excessive” but understandable.

California last year passed an ambitious package of statewide regulations to bring order to the state’s medical marijuana industry, which has been largely unregulated since voters first approved the use of medical cannabis in 1996. The new regulatory scheme, set to take effect in 2018, establishes an elaborate licensing system and sets up an oversight body — all of which will cost the state money.

“We made a commitment last year as we were working through the huge undertaking of setting statewide regulations for medical marijuana that we would follow up on a statewide excise tax,” Sen. McGuire said when he introduced SB 987.

“These are the steps necessary to have a quality industry and a safe industry for the consumer,” Greenrush.com’s Miller told the Chronicle. “It really provides a budget for the state to make it a legitimate industry like alcohol, tobacco, or even gambling.”

But alcohol, tobacco, and gambling are recreational pursuits — not medical ones. And states that allow both medical and adult-use cannabis tend to reflect that distinction.

In Oregon, for example, the state adds a 25-percent tax to recreational purchases. Purchases of medical cannabis by patients and caregivers, however, are tax free. In Colorado, both medical and retail sales are subject to the state’s 2.9-percent sales tax, but retail cannabis incurs an additional 10-percent state marijuana tax.

“Legitimate medicine should be taxed differently than a vice, such as alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis used for non-medical purposes,” Americans for Safe Access says on its SB 987 factsheet.

Some California officials continue to frame the proposal in prohibitionist terms, however, arguing that higher taxes are justified in order to make up for problems they blame on the gray-market system, such as environmental degradation and pesticide use. It’s worth pointing out that for the first 20 years medical cannabis was permitted California, state lawmakers failed to provide clear guidelines for cultivation practices or product testing. For decades it was unclear whether third-party testing labs were even allowed under state law, and operators risked shutdowns or worse.

George Runner, a former Republican state senator who now serves as vice chair of the Board of Equalization, coauthored AB 2243 and has urged the Legislature to pass a tax. “I’m the first to admit that government is too bloated and that Californians are overtaxed,” he said in a statement last year. “But the fundamental question here is who should pay the steep costs of marijuana-related activities that include trespass on public lands, water theft, and unregulated use of pesticides.”

The answer to that fundamental question, according to SB 987 and AB 2257 supporters? Patients, apparently.

Book Review – The Newbie’s Guide To Cannabis And The Industry

By Phillip Smith Legal marijuana is a big deal and it’s only getting bigger. It’s already a billion dollar-plus industry in the medical marijuana and legal states, and with California and a handful of other states poised to go legal in November, it’s only going to get bigger. With growing legality comes growing acceptance. Marijuana

Why Belgians Urge You to 'Pull Your Plant'

ANTWERP — The Belgian cannabis movement, a small but powerful force, is still recovering from the shock caused by the unexpected death of legalization advocate and long-time resident of the country, Joep Oomen, in March. Oomen was a pivotal figure in the broader European drug reform movement and founded Belgium’s first Cannabis Social Club (CSC). Members gathered at the 11th annual Cannabis Liberation Day in Antwerp last month and considered how Oomen’s legacy will inspire the European legalization movement going forward.

Cannabis Liberation Day, where cannabis can sometimes be smelled but is rarely ever seen, is organized by Belgium’s Antwerp-based “Trekt Uw Plant,” the country’s first CSC. The name translates literally as “pull your plant” and figuratively means “make up your own plan.”

Compared to Spain, where the communal clubs are widespread, the movement in Belgium — one of the smallest countries in the European union — is tiny. There are now five registered CSC’s across the nation. Trekt Uw Plant is the largest, with around 400 members. The club launched in 2006, when a government directive ended the prosecution of Belgians in possession of up to 3 grams of cannabis or one female plant.

These legal changes were all Joep Oomen needed to get busy. Fluent in Spanish, he linked Belgium and Spain, where clubs were already popular. And with that, Belgium’s era of Cannabis Social Clubs had begun.

Oomen, a native of the neighboring Netherlands, moved to Antwerp in the ‘90s and ran the office of ENCOD, the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies. He reasoned that if you’re allowed to grow one plant, you could also have that plant cared for by someone else, outside your home.

All that was needed were name tags on every plant in the communal grow room.

Oomen and the members of Trekt Uw Plant went to court twice, but in 2010 the club’s organizers were finally acquitted. Since that last victory, the club has functioned without interference from authorities.

Club members gather once every two to three months at the ruilbeurs, or exchange market, where they receive the yield of their plants. They pay membership fees as well as costs for the care of the plants. This comes down to about €7 per gram, which is very cheap compared to both the black market and the licensed coffeeshops in neighboring Holland.

So far so good, but…

Trekt Uw Plant has generated lots of positive publicity, and more clubs are now trying to follow its example. One of them was Mambo Social Club, founded by Michel Degens, a Trekt Uw Plant member. He worked closely with Oomen, who didn’t see other clubs as competition but as a sign of success for the non-commercial, transparent system that is a Cannabis Social Club. The pair tirelessly explained and promoted the model and its benefits: no criminal involvement, clean cannabis without pesticides, accurate product information, an enforceable age limit, direct contact between growers and consumers, and the creation of new, legitimate jobs.

Mambo Social Club got off to a flying start. Degens made the case for Cannabis Social Clubs on national TV and was soon flooded with so much interest, he had to create a waiting list for new members. But tragedy struck in December 2013, when police searched him as he was carrying the dried buds of 60 plants to the club, where just as many members were waiting. Police also searched his house and found 27 plants, all with name tags. A month after the bust, another caretaker of the plants was raided and all the plants were confiscated.

The Mambo trial and subsequent appeal ended in disaster. This past February, the club’s organizers were acquitted of “inciting and facilitating drug use” but convicted for possession, production, and sale of cannabis. The court denied that the right of possession for personal use can be extended to a communal growing space, as clubs had argued. After long discussions with members, lawyers, and others involved, Degens decided to suspend the operation of Mambo Social Club.

“We’ve suspended cultivation because we’re legally obliged to do so,” he said at the Antwerp Cannabis Liberation Day. “We’re now awaiting the next lawsuit, which will probably be decisive. Our members now have to resort to the black market — even the sick people.”

His message was clear. “It’s time for the cannabis user to come out of the closet. It is crazy to just silently undergo the situation, and it will only keep the current system in place. People need to realize that they’re making criminals of themselves if they stay in the closet.

“This madness must stop. People should not quietly accept being made into criminals for choosing the softest drug over one of the hardest, alcohol.”

Reflecting on the current atmosphere in the cannabis movement after the verdict and the passing of Joep Oomen, Degens said: “The biggest shock has been absorbed. It’s beautiful to see how other people are now taking up the challenge and trying to fill a bit of the void that Joep has left behind. People take their responsibility [seriously], and Trekt Uw Plant has a competent team at the helm. The atmosphere is good, but we miss Joep and we all realize that we don’t even reach to his ankles. It’s impossible to replace him, but everyone is doing their utmost.”

Since Mambo and Trekt Uw Plant operate in exactly the same manner, the Mambo verdict could spell trouble for Belgium’s oldest Cannabis Social Club. But Trekt Uw Plant is ready to go to court a third time in the event of a new raid or investigation. They have a firm belief in the CSC model, a decade of experience, a spotless track record, and a war chest to fund a legal team if needed.

But their most powerful weapons might be their solidarity and their dedication to the club and its founder.

The Definitive Cannabis Travel Guide to Seattle

Welcome to Leafly’s travel series, our definitive 24-hour cannabis-infused guides to the best cities in the world.

Call me biased as I write this from the historic heart of the city itself, but Seattle is ahead of the game on a lot of things. Social values are progressive; music scenes of all genres thrive here; tech giants and startups bring big ideas and talent to town; the coffee is some of the best in the world; cultures and cuisines of all kinds collide; outdoor activities abound; the natural beauty is breathtaking; oh yes, and cannabis is totally legal.

While the Emerald City is beautiful year-round, the best time to visit is between May and October. Forget all the rain-powered stereotypes ­– when the sun shines (and it does, for the majority of the summer), the whole metropolis comes out for boating, beach picnics, bonfires, and more – and trust me, you want to be here (and high) for all of it.

Seattle Vitals

Cannabis legality: Recreational (21+, ID required)

Nicknames: Jet City, Emerald City, Seatown, The 206

Population: 662,400

What people think of: Coffee, rain, Microsoft, Nirvana, the Space Needle

Dispensaries on Leafly: 41

For the record: When I-502 made recreational cannabis legal, Seattle cops celebrated by handing out Doritos at Hempfest.

Day One

At 4:20 p.m., you are: Admiring the airy space and the array of strains at Dockside Cannabis in Seattle’s SoDo (south of downtown) neighborhood.

It’s on your way into the city from Sea-Tac airport. In addition to picking up a vape pen and cartridge (it’ll come in handy at your hotel), we recommend ordering off the curated “blends” menu, which offers package deals designed to pair with certain excursions – for instance, an infused soda and cookies perfect for an afternoon picnic.

While you’re here: Be sure to browse the miniature on-site cannabis museum before you grab a cab to your accommodations.

At 5:20 p.m., you are: Checking in at Bacon Mansion, a cannabis-friendly B&B in Seattle’s most happening neighborhood, Capitol Hill.

Photo credit: the Bacon Mansion

Before you get overly excited imagining all-you-can-eat bacon buffets, be advised that the stately Tudor is named for its architect, Cecil Bacon. However, the cannabis-friendly part is no empty promise – guests may vape in their rooms, or smoke on the porch as they please. We recommend doing just that before heading out for the evening.

At 6:20 p.m., you’re strolling: Down Broadway (of “My Posse’s On Broadway” fame), the main north-south drag through Cap Hill, and stopping for a shot in a paper cup at the Espresso Vivace sidewalk bar.

In a city famed for coffee, Vivace is one of the few indisputable crown jewels: not only do some suggest that its espresso is the world’s best, American latte art was born here all the way back in the 80s.

Fun fact: Locals love the combination of THC and caffeine so much, it’s called a Seattle speedball.

At 6:50 p.m., you’re marveling over: The selection at The Elliott Bay Book Company.

Photo credit: Brooke Fitts

Since 1973, this beloved local family-owned bookshop has offered a huge selection of brand-new books as well as bargain copies, and hosted an immense number of authors (from rookies to presidents) for talks, readings. and signings.

Insider tip: Seattleites are friendly yet famously introverted, so the best way to blend in is to pretend you don’t want to talk to anyone as you people-watch surreptitiously over the pages of your page-turner.

At 7:20 p.m., you are: Next door at Oddfellows Café + Bar, one of superstar restaurateur Linda Derschang’s many local properties.

Photo credit: Dorothée Brand

It’s quintessentially Seattle: the elevated comfort food menu, printed on compostable paper, is peppered with organic, seasonal, sustainably sourced ingredients from local purveyors; hipster and artist types fill the benches and chairs; and the historic space has been referred to as Capitol Hill’s living room. Assuming it’s nice out, snag a table on the secret brick-walled back patio.

At 9:00 p.m., you are: Trying to keep your jaw from dropping as you walk in the door at nearby Canon, which houses the largest whiskey collection in the Western hemisphere.

Photo credit: Canon

There’s a good chance it’ll be crowded, but belly up to the bar (tinted with Angostura bitters rather than wood stain) and watch the bartenders stir and shake up some of the best cocktails in the world.

What you’re ordering: The Campfire in Georgia cocktail. I’m not going to spoil the surprise, but trust me – it’s worth it.

At 10:00 p.m., a bouncer is: Letting you into Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room (just call it Neumos).

Photo credit: Laura Musselman Duffy via Flickr

This concert venue’s location at the intersection of 10th and Pike marks the epicenter of young Seattle, and serves as the beating heart of the city’s independent music scene. The grungy interior is part of the charm, and there’s a band on the schedule every night of the week: browse upcoming shows and buy tickets ahead of time here.

Take note: The quiet-ish section of 10th between Union and Pike streets is a good place to re-up on your vape pen.

At 12:00 midnight, you are: Still awake (thanks, Vivace!) and heading a block up the street to check out the famous Unicorn (with a basement club known as the Narwhal), where you’ll find the trippy, off-kilter circus décor from Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” video.

You won’t be able to hear yourself think on either level, but downstairs is always rowdier. Also, there’s no cover charge.

Pro tip: Tell them it’s your birthday and ask to wear the sequined unicorn helmet.

At 2:00 a.m., you are: Desperately in need of munchies. At this point, you have two equally tantalizing options. The first is the city’s signature 2:00 a.m. dish: a five-dollar Seattle Dog grilled at a sidewalk cart, pressed into a cream cheese-smeared bun, topped with caramelized onions and jalapeños, and smothered in mustard (sauerkraut optional). There are about eight of these carts within a one-block radius of the Unicorn.

The second option is the beloved Dick’s Drive-In: it’s been slinging classic burgers, fries, and shakes since 1953, and is on your walk back down Broadway to your B&B. No substitutions allowed here, and it’s cash only, but you won’t need much: for reference, a hamburger is $1.40.

Photo credit: Joe A. Kunzler Photo, AvgeekJoe Productions via Flickr

The third option? Follow your heart stomach and eat it all.

Bonus stop: Right before you reach Dick’s, you’ll come to the intersection of Broadway and John Street. Turn right; about a block down you’ll see Seattle’s famous mystery soda machine.

Photo credit: A Klar via Flickr

No one knows how it got there or who keeps it stocked, but the real mystery is what you’ll get when you insert 75 cents and push the “Mystery?” button. Go ahead – try it.

Day Two

At 10:30 a.m., you are: Waking and vaping. Why not? You can do that in bed. You’re also hungry, so once you’re up, head on down the street to Americana for a hearty brunch.

Photo credit: sea turtle via Flickr

There are always compelling weekly specials, but sometimes you just have to go with the maple-glazed pork belly, served alongside a corn and mozzarella pancake and scallion scrambled eggs.

At 11:45 a.m., you are: Cabbing to Uncle Ike’s, Seattle’s most well-known pot shop.

Pick up a bottle of Drift sublingual spray (a fun, fast-acting alternative to smoking or vaping), a few pre-rolls, and a couple of mouthwateringly delicious Goodship Cookies (whose packaging is so subtle you can take them, and eat them, pretty much anywhere). Then grab a cab back on down to Lake Union.

At 12:45 p.m., you are: Casting off from the dock at Moss Bay atop a rented stand-up paddleboard ($16 per hour).

Photo credit: Moss Bay

Float around on your knees a bit to get your bearings, then take a stab at standing (it’s easier than you think). Paddling across the lake takes about 20 minutes (barring strong breezes) and you’ll be met with views of the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, and Gas Works Park. Be sure you bring those pre-rolls and a lighter – on a sunny day, there’s nothing better than lying back on your board, lighting up a joint, and savoring your surroundings.

What to bring: You’ll need an ID for rental collateral. Dry bags are available for your shoes and valuables. Though it’s unlikely you’ll fall in, it’s not impossible, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet.

At 2:45 p.m., you are: Feeling good about spending money at Miir, a one-of-a-kind store/craft beer bar/coffee shop in Wallingford (just north of Lake Union) where every purchase funds a “trackable giving project.”

Photo credit: Miir

Picking up an insulated growler or tumbler? Proceeds go toward providing communities with clean water access. Want to splurge on a beautiful bike? Miir donates a second bike to an individual without transportation. Whatever you buy, your receipt comes with a tracking number, and if you hold onto it for at least a few months, you can look the number up on the Miir website later to see GPS coordinates and photos of exactly how your purchase helped make a difference.

What you’re skipping: The elevator to the top of the Space Needle. Yes, the view is gorgeous, but the trip up is expensive, as is the bourgeois turning restaurant at the top.

At 3:20 p.m., you are: Strolling over to Seattle’s funkiest neighborhood: Fremont, also known as the Center of the Universe. Once an old-school hippie haven, the neighborhood has accumulated an eccentric collection of art over the years, and lends itself readily to a walking tour.

Photo credit: Via Tsuji via Flickr

Attractions include a giant concrete troll clutching a VW Beetle under the bridge; a bronze likeness of local clown J.P. Patches; a massive statue of Lenin (rescued from Czechoslovakia after the Velvet Revolution); People Waiting for the Interurban (dressing them up is a favorite local pastime); a rocket; numerous celestial bodies; and two friendly topiary dinosaurs.

How to find them: This map may come in handy, but if you get lost, the Center of the Universe sign at 35th and Fremont can point you in the direction of the above points of interest, as well as Machu Picchu, Timbuktu, and the Bermuda Triangle.

At 4:20 p.m., you are: Nomming on as much chocolate as you want – for free!

The tasting room at original bean-to-bar manufacturer Theo Chocolate (a block up from those topiary dinosaurs – just follow your nose) offers samples of their numerous bars, and they won’t frown at you for trying them all more than once – so don’t be shy.

Don’t forget: As we all know, chocolate pairs beautifully with cannabis, so pick out a few bars to bring with you when you head on your way.

“Gum Disease” Study Finds Cannabis Users are Generally Healthy and Fit

Another cannabis study is getting some play in the media this week. This time it’s about cannabis consumers raising their risk of periodontal disease. Or, as those timid bet-hedgers at the Daily Mail put it:

Anyone who works with cannabis science can tell you that it’s worth reading these headlines with your skept-o-meter cranked to 10 because the study itself often doesn’t bear out the screaming takeaway. In some cases, the data actually disprove the scary “news.”

Such is sort of the case with the gum disease study.

The study was published on Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, one of the field’s most respected peer-reviewed journals. The researchers, a team from Arizona State University, Duke, and other institutions, scraped statistics from the Dunedin Study, a famous data set that followed 1,037 people born in 1972 and 1973, in the town of Dunedin, New Zealand. The subjects have been tested and re-tested for decades. It’s one of the most-cited longitudinal studies in medical science.

The researchers mined the Dunedin data for adverse health effects among cannabis consumers at age 38. In other words: of those who regularly used cannabis up to age 38, were there any health problems associated with that use?

The answer: not really. All they could find was a slightly higher instance of gum disease. The reason, the researchers guessed, was that cannabis consumers tended to brush and floss less than others.

In fact, the shocker in the study was this: cannabis consumers actually exhibited better overall fitness than non-cannabis users. “Cannabis use was associated with slightly better metabolic health,” the researchers wrote. Cannabis users had smaller waist sizes and lower body mass indexes. To put it in the crudest possible Daily Mail terms:

That’s overstating the case. But it makes as much sense, scientifically, as the “teeth fall out” headline.

“Our findings show that cannabis use over 20 years was unrelated to health problems in early midlife.” I’m quoting directly from the study here. “The general lack of association between persistent cannabis use and poor physical health may be surprising,” the scientists wrote. So surprising, in fact, that they racked their brains to come up with possible reasons. “One explanation is that healthy youth select into cannabis use,” they wrote. “Another explanation is that cannabis users may have healthier adult lifestyles.”

Another explanation might be that cannabis users in this cohort found a way to incorporate cannabis into a healthy lifestyle. They successfully avoided repeating the stoner stereotype—the fat slob, the loser, the burned-out head.

It’s a shame the reporters and editors writing up the results couldn’t do the same. Coverage in health news wire services and medical news sites foregrounded the gum disease angle. JAMA Psychiatry put out a press release headlined, “Long-term Marijuana Use Associated with Periodontal Disease.” The Guardian offered a more balanced headline, but defaulted to a classically stupid photo of a person in purple weed glasses.

Curiously, one of the few places we saw even-handed coverage of the study was on the Facebook page of the Jacobs Foundation, the nonprofit Swiss organization that partially funded the study, which said, “Long-Term Study Finds No Ill Effects of Cannabis Smoking on Physical Health, Apart From Gum Disease.”

Well done, Jacobs Foundation. Your Facebook page just became one of the world’s most accurate medical news outlets.

Toronto Update: “More Raids Coming,” but Some Dispensaries Stay Open

At Cannabis Culture, a Toronto dispensary that remains one of the city’s few open cannabis storefronts, the line of customers went out the door and down the block yesterday. One week after Toronto police raided 43 medical marijuana dispensaries and arrested 90 owners and employees, patients are scrambling to find access points—and when they do, they often confront long lines and limited inventory.

The mood at this Queen Street dispensary—which actually had its grand opening the day after the raids—was cordial but grim. Co-owners Jodie Emery and Erin Goodwin, well-known Canadian cannabis activists, greeted customers and encouraged staff members. Raymond Hathaway, a paralegal, sat at a desk near the door, explaining to a patient how his denial of access to cannabis entitled him to file a human rights complaint. “Tell me where else in the world do you need the help of a paralegal just to access your medicine?” he said. Later that day, Hathaway sent a letter to the city announcing his intention to sue over rights infringement.

As patients streamed in to Cannabis Culture, many seemed upset, bewildered, or just plain angry at the situation.

Cannabis Culture in Toronto, after the crowds.

“I came from across town to get my medicine,” said one patient, who had seen local media coverage that Cannabis Culture was serving anyone 19 or older who needed marijuana. “Wow, look at all the people!”

“Thank you, thank you so much” several customers said as they left.

Just yesterday, store staff were rattled when Toronto police came in to investigate the long line down the block. While they left without laying charges, patients are not lingering. They hustle in and out as quickly as they can.

Co-owner Erin Goodwin said she was resolved to stay open as long as possible.

Cannabis Culture co-owner Erin Goodwin: standing firm.

“We have long lineups here at the store, people are thrilled to be getting their medicine, and we’re happy to be helping them,” she told me yesterday. When asked about the prospect of being raided, Goodwin said, “We’ve been told by the police that more raids are coming, but the staff at Cannabis Culture are going to stand firm. Even if we get charged we will keep opening. We’re proud of what we’re doing.”

“We’re demonstrating what legalization should look like,” co-owner Jodie Emery told Leafly. “Peaceful, open, honest transactions between consenting adults. No force, no coercion. Simple supply and demand. And until the government can prove demonstrable harm from these businesses, we deserve to stay open, especially considering dangerous, deadly drugs are sold in bars and restaurants every single day.”

As rumors of another round of raids abound, Toronto’s dispensary community is recovering from last week’s police action and bracing for more. Some dispensaries have shuttered their doors, while others remain defiantly open to serve patients. One week ago Toronto had many well-functioning neighborhood dispensaries. Today the city has an unreliable patchwork of stores with unpredictable medicine supplies and long lineups at the few locations still open. In this tense environment, controversy also swirls around who called for the raids—and why.

Across the city, dispensary owners are trying to understand the rationale for the harsh law enforcement approach instead of civil discourse. Many dispensaries had operated for years without issues with police. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to who got raided and who didn’t. It was initially thought that dispensaries that only served patients registered with the Health Canada’s MMPR (Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations) program would avoid police action, but that wasn’t the case. Whatever the rationale, one common comment about the police who conducted the raids was that they were very polite. Many were even apologetic, saying, “We’re so sorry” over and over.

At last weekend’s Lift Cannabis Expo in Toronto, dispensary owners uneasily mingled with licensed producers.

In Canada, licensed producers like Bedrocan and Tilray operate under Health Canada’s MMPR, and their patients receive medicine through the mail. Storefront dispensaries are not licensed by Health Canada, and their federal legal status remains unclear. Dispensary owners argue that while their operations may be technically illegal, so is the federal government’s MMPR program, which was ruled unconstitutional by Canada’s Supreme Court in February. (Full disclosure: Leafly is owned by Privateer Holdings, which also owns Tilray.)

Among the many conversations, there was much discussion on how the raids came about. The dispensary community initially directed its anger at Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders. Dispensary advocates argued that their response was far too harsh to address a reported 50-60 complaints. Why not, dispensary owners wondered, reach out and talk to the dispensaries the way Victoria and Vancouver city officials had done prior to regulating?

After the passage of a week, though, the focus seems to be shifting towards the role former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair may have had in encouraging the raids. Blair is now a Toronto MP. Five months ago Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Blair as his government’s point man on recreational cannabis legalization.

On Tuesday, May 24, Blair met with a group of licensed producers and financiers at a high-end hotel in Toronto. Blair gave the audience a damning assessment of all the dispensaries. “The current licensed producers are competing with people who don’t care about the law, who don’t care about regulations, don’t care about kids, they don’t care about communities, don’t care about health of Canadians,” he said. “They’re pretty reckless about it. And so they’re selling anything to make a fast buck before we get the regulations put in place.”

Two days later, Toronto police initiated the first raids in “Project Claudia.”

Regardless of how the raids were initiated, the repercussions will be felt more months and years to come. At a meeting earlier this week with a local criminal defense attorney, a group of dispensary owners arrested in the raids worried about the fate of many young staff members who now face criminal charges. “These are just young kids starting their lives, trying to do something positive, looking for their first job,” one said. “They don’t deserve to pay for that with a criminal record.”

State of the Leaf: Illinois Extends MMJ Through 2020, Maine Battle Catches Fire

New this week in cannabis reform: California finds a rising racial disparity in arrests, and Oakland is hoping to make amends. Delaware will be holding an open forum on cannabis, Maine’s legalization opposition just got a new leader of the pack, North Carolina is trying to expand their medical law and Illinois and Ohio MMJ measures are awaiting signatures from their respective governors (but both will become law even if they don’t sign).

On the international scene, Barbados sees an uptick in cannabis decriminalization support, Bulgaria strikes out for medical cannabis, and Israel’s Justice Minister considers decriminalizing soft drugs. Are you in the know?

U.S. News Updates

California

• Despite the relaxing of cannabis laws in California in recent years, new data compiled by the Drug Policy Alliance and the ACLU of California found a disturbing trend in racially motivated arrests, with black citizens four times as likely to be arrested for a marijuana-related offense than white citizens. The racial disparity is actually growing worse. In 2010, blacks were just 2.2 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession.
• The Oakland City Council took measures to ensure that minority-owned businesses are a top priority in the cannabis industry, voting to allot half of all medical marijuana permits to applicants who have either been arrested for cannabis and/or lived two years or more in an area of East Oakland with high marijuana arrest rates. http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2016/06/01/california-marijuana-enforcement-4-times-more-severe-for-black-people-study-finds/

Delaware

• The Coalition to Regulate Cannabis in Delaware will be joining forces with the Marijuana Policy Project, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and the Cannabis Bureau of Delaware for a town hall forum on June 7^th at 7pm to discuss changing the state’s cannabis laws. MPP will hold an open discussion for all members from the community to explore topics related to legalization, such as taxation and regulation for a legal retail marijuana market, the benefits of ending prohibition, infrastructural models from other legal states and how to pass legislation in Delaware. The event will be held at the New Ark United Church of Christ on June 7^th at 7pm. If you’re interested, please find more details here.

Illinois

• After much consideration, Illinois lawmakers voted to extend the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, which was set to expire in 2017. The program will now run through July 2020 and will include two new qualifying conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness. The extension makes a number of significant changes to the law. It will allow authorization cards for patients and caregivers to last three years, rather than just one, and will also excuse repeated fingerprinting for criminal background checks. The bill will speed up the authorization approval process for patients with terminal illnesses, approving within 14 days, rather than the current six to seven weeks. Governor Rauner initially protested that the program needed to sufficient evaluation before being considered for an extension, but his approval on this measure marks an about-face from the usually cannabis-shy politician.
• A bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana passed through the House of Representatives and is now on the desk of Gov. Rauner. Senate Bill 2228 would reduce the penalty for the possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana from an arrestable offense to a ticket with a fine between $100 and $200 per offense. Many advocates have been wondering if the bill will obtain the elusive signature of Gov. Rauner, who has remained lukewarm, at best, on the topic of cannabis in the Land of Lincoln, although he has made statements that he would “probably be comfortable” passing a decriminalization bill. Gov. Rauner has 60 days to sign the bill or veto it before it becomes state law.

Iowa

• The Iowa Court of Appeals just made a major ruling on the classification of cannabis in Iowa. Carl Olsen, a cannabis activist and would-be medical patient, requested in 2013 that the Iowa Board of Pharmacy reclassify cannabis as a controlled substance known to have medicinal benefits. The Appeals Court ruled in favor of the Pharmacy Board, saying that they had the proper authority to deny his request for reclassification. The Iowa Legislature also rejected an earlier attempt to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis oil laws. The failed proposal would have allowed patients to procure medicine from other states.

Maine

• An opposition group has formed a new coalition to defeat Maine’s legalization initiative. Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities is led by Scott Gagnon, chairman of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Maine. Gagnon declined to name any members of the group and said the leadership is still forming. “This initiative to legalize marijuana poses significant threats to our youth and communities,” said Gagnon, citing the “highly addictive and dangerous products” that come with legalization.
• Meanwhile, David Boyer, manager of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Alcohol, wasn’t surprised by Gagnon’s claims. “It’s unfortunate that they’re already bringing out scare tactics and wild exaggerations,” Boyer said. “It’s unfortunate that they’re using Reefer Madness 2.0 to stretch the truth.”

North Carolina

• North Carolina may be getting a chance to expand their limited CBD medical cannabis program. House Bill 983 is cosponsored by Representative Greg Murphy (R-Pitt), a medical doctor who believes that medical cannabis could be used as a tool for physicians to ease the suffering of patients with chronic pain or other diseases and conditions. If the bill passes, it would legalize and tax medical marijuana at $8 per ounce.

Ohio

• The Ohio legislature just approved House Bill 523, which would legalize limited forms of medical cannabis for patients who suffer from one of 20 qualifying conditions. The group Ohioans for Medical Marijuana has been against the bill since it was announced, calling it a “moderately good piece of legislation,” but criticizing it for not containing strong patient protections. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana had collected more than 100,000 signatures for their own campaign, which would have placed a new initiative on the November ballot, but the group has suspended their efforts in lieu of the expected passage of HB 523. The bill is awaiting the signature of Governor John Kasich, but will become law within 10 days with or without his approval.

International News Updates

Barbados

• A new study from the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Research Services found more support for the decriminalization of cannabis than the last public opinion poll taken in 2008, but a majority remains opposed to legalizing cannabis. The poll, conducted on behalf of the Attorney General, found that 30 percent of Barbadians support partial legalization for medicinal and religious purposes, 15 percent support full legalization, and 37 percent think cannabis should remain illegal. This is a significant jump from the 2008 survey, in which 73 percent of Barbadians believed marijuana should remain illegal, with just 9 percent in support of legalization.

Bulgaria

• Bulgarian lawmakers considered legalizing medical marijuana last week, but the proposal was rejected in an overwhelming show of opposition. Only three members out of 240 supported the proposal, which would have allowed the use of oral spray infused with cannabis oil. The bill was proposed by Velizar Enchev, a former intelligence officer and member of the nationalist Patriotic Front coalition. He cited a number of studies and research that shows the medicinal benefits of cannabis as treatment for cancer, multiple sclerosis and to mitigate chemotherapy side effects. About 70 lawmakers voted against the proposal, while 22 abstained from voting entirely.

Israel

• Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announced today that the Justice Ministry will be exploring the possibility of decriminalizing soft drugs such as cannabis. Under the potential changes, those caught using soft substances would be subject to a fine, but would not face criminal charges. Shaked has been considering a change in drug policy since she was elected into office last year, and has already made extensive progress on the issue. The new proposed legislation would decriminalize the possession up to 15 grams of cannabis for anyone over the age of 21, with a charge of NIS 300 ($77 USD) for private possession and a charge of NIS 1,500 ($389 USD) for public possession.

Oregon Cannabis Growers’ Fair Is Coming To The Oregon State Fairgrounds

I have lived my entire life in the mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon. It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth, and home to the Oregon State Fairgrounds. I have gone to the Oregon State Fair, and events at the fairgrounds, as far back as I can remember. My community college graduation was held there,

Poland is Slowly Warming to the Healing Properties of Cannabis

The Polish capital of Warsaw saw as many as 10,000 people turn out over the weekend for the city’s annual cannabis legalization demonstration, a peaceful march called Marsz Wyzwolenia Konopi (Cannabis Liberation March). The turnout, according to one of the organizers, Joanna Rutkowska, proves that more and more Polish people are fed up with prohibition.

The relationship between cannabis and Poles — there are 40 million of them — is a complicated one. Poland, by far the biggest and most populous country in Central Europe, is well known for its strong Catholicism and conservative traditions, both of which color attitudes against any illegal drug: In the eyes of most Poles, cannabis is a dangerous drug, like heroin or meth. But the tide might finally be turning as a result of an unprecedented increase in the number of sick people treating themselves with cannabis products, mostly extracts high in THC.

There are more objective media reports on the topic lately, thanks largely to the work of a new generation of Polish cannabis activists. With the influx of reliable information, public opinion on therapeutic use of cannabis seems to be shifting.

In 2011, the Polish government amended the drug law and officially decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis. But offenders are still arrested, and it’s up to the prosecutor alone whether to press charges or dismiss the case.

In March, former President Alexander Kwasniewski came out in favor of decriminalization. He encouraged considering all available options and noted that some jurisdictions have legalized cannabis without international repercussions.

Only a few years ago, if you’d have asked passersby in Warsaw about their views on medical cannabis, the vast majority would have either replied, “I don’t know” or “What are you talking about?” Today the situation is different. Medical professionals are becoming more and more interested in cannabis compounds, and patients are demanding legal access to the promising treatments. Media are not just presenting reefer madness; they’re also highlighting patients’ heartbreaking stories. And politicians are, at last, opening their eyes to possible forms of legalization.

Cannabis is starting to be seen as a medicine first and a drug second. Even some members of the clergy are now defending medical use of cannabis.

The case of Dr. Marek Bachánski, however, shows there’s still a long way to go. Bachánski, a renowned pediatrician, had to quit his position at a Warsaw hospital this past October after admitting he was treating young epileptic patients with cannabis preparations.

Like in most countries, the change has had to come from the bottom up. Just a few years ago, Polish activists repeatedly made dangerous journeys to the Czech Republic to smuggle back kilograms of cannabis extracts intended for seriously sick and dying patients. “Although it didn’t work for everybody, the positive results were overwhelming, and the word started to spread incredibly fast,” said Jakub Gajewski, a prominent Polish activist and the director of NGO Wolne Konopie (Free Cannabis).

Gajewski is currently facing up to fifteen years in prison for bringing “highly dangerous substances” — meaning cannabis extracts — from the Czech Republic to Poland. “I have never made any money on it and only gave it to sick people who needed it,” he said, “so I refuse all the accusations and I will fight our government at the International Court of Justice if necessary.”

Polish police did not take Gajewski into custody after he was arrested last year, and because his trial has not yet started, he and his fellow activists have been able to run a nationwide campaign for liberalization of cannabis laws in the country. They’ve organized dozens of seminars, medical conferences, and marches all around the country, and have even helped open a discussion in the Polish Parliament about legalizing medical cannabis.

Piotr Liroy-Marzec, also known as Liroy, a Polish parliamentarian and former hip-hop artist, earlier this year put forth a bill to legalize medical cannabis. But hopes of a fair law and access to medical cannabis faded in March, when Deputy Health Minister Krzystof Łanda announced the government will only refund payments for prescription cannabinoid spray Sativex and for dried flower from Dutch producer Bedrocan, and only if the doctor confirms that cannabis is the best medical option for a particular patient.

According to Polish journalist Jasiek Bluz, officials introduced the changes mainly to “get the activists off their backs and pretend they are actually doing something positive in this regard.” The reality, Bluz wrote, is that “doctors are scared as hell to prescribe cannabis, and so far there were just about four patients whose medical cannabis was refunded.”

Disappointing? Sure. But the genie of medical cannabis is out of the bottle in Poland, and it looks to be quite impossible to get it back in.

US CA: Column: Cannabis For Life

East Bay Express, 01 Jun 2016 – What Five Years in Prison Taught California Former Dispensary Owner Dale Schafer, and Why He’s Thinking About Getting Back into the Marijuana Biz A judge sentenced Dale Schafer to 60 months federal prison in 2008, but now the attorney and celebrity drug-war is out – and getting back into marijuana.

FDA Approves Candy Amphetamines for Kids, but THC Edibles for Adults Remain Controversial

Cannabis-infused edibles have fought a steep uphill battle against policymakers who claim they appeal to children, but the FDA just approved a candy-flavored amphetamine meant for children with ADHD. The dissolvable orange-flavored medication, called Adzenys, is a slow-release amphetamine similar to Adderall and Ritalin – only this rendition is a tastier formulation for children six years and older.

Sure, the stimulant medication is meant for children while cannabis treats are most definitely not, but there’s still something wrong with this picture.

The latest government statistics show that 75 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD are being treated with amphetamine-based drugs. That figure is already astonishingly high. Now render those drugs into a sweet, easy-to-eat candy and you have to wonder how prescription and overdose rates might change.

Think about it. Cannabis-infused treats have been continually under fire because children might accidentally consume them. Thankfully, there have been no recorded fatal THC overdoses, but this is not the case with stimulants.

Even at low doses, amphetamines can induce the following overdose effects:

• Increased heart rate and irregular heartbeat
• Increased blood flow and unusual blood pressure
• Alter the brain’s dopamine “reward” pathways
• Tremors, shaking, twitching, and spasms
• Rapid breathing
• Aggressive behavior
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Stomach cramping
• Hallucinations

And in rarer instances, amphetamines can induce convulsions, coma, and death. The list of short- and long-term side effects is even longer.

Cannabis consumption can lead to an array of unpleasant effects from paranoia to panic to hallucination, and these products should absolutely be stored securely and packaged in child-proof packaging. But even with these precautions in place, their appeal toward children remains an argument against cannabis legalization.

In legal states, cannabis edibles are sold in child-proof packaging that might as well be a locked iron gate. Adzenys, however, comes in blister packets–just bend along the perforated line and peel the packaging back. You don’t have to be a child prodigy to figure out how to bust into that.

The product is a polarizing force among pediatric psychiatrists. Some insist that a candy formula of an already overprescribed and addicting drug is asking for trouble, while others are of the mind that Adezenys is simply an alternative delivery method for kids who hate swallowing pills.

Despite the controversy, Adzenys’ sales team at Neos Therapeutics is having no problem finding its foothold in the medical market. Physicians are listening and biting the bait. This comes as no surprise when you consider the fact that ADHD medication has boomed into a $12.7 billion industry as of 2015. Compare that to the legal marijuana industry, worth $5.7 billion in the same year.

No doubt the drug is going to hit the market with vigor, but with what consequences?

Hat tip to STAT News and High Times for the story.

5 Ways Runners Can Incorporate Cannabis into Their Training

Despite the impressive progress that’s been made over the past few years to legitimize cannabis as a safe, effective medical option and wellness aid, a few stereotypes persist. One such falsehood is that cannabis consumers are lazy and unmotivated, content to fuse their Taco Bell wrapper-blanketed bodies to their couches while binge-watching Netflix. In reality, consumers are comprised of all different types. Yes, some prefer to shy away from exercise, but others intentionally utilize cannabis as a tool to aid their training efforts, which is what I do with running.

I started running regularly in 2007, slogging through my first half marathon on little training and in horribly inefficient clothing (cotton is not your friend for endurance sport attire). Since then, I’ve completed six marathons, two Ironman triathlons, and countless other races of varying distances. When I joined Leafly in 2013, my cannabis consumption increased (it wasn’t a job requirement, just a personal choice), and at first I was a bit worried that my ability to stay fit and chase personal records would decline. To my surprise, supplementing my run training with cannabis has actually helped both my motivation and my recovery, and I improved my marathon time enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which I ran this year (in Leafly gear, of course).

For all of the runners out there who are curious about cannabis consumption, you’re not alone — I know plenty of runners who are fast, fit, and canna-friendly (I’m pretty sure most elite trail runners are no stranger to the product), and neither their health nor their training has been compromised. Here are some ways you can utilize cannabis while you train.

1. Energetic Strains Pre-Run Can Give You a Little Pick-Me-Up

I’m not much of a joint smoker, as I find that particular consumption method to be too harsh on my lungs (which we need to be nice and healthy while we bust out our aerobic efforts). Instead, I prefer to use a vaporizer, as it heats your flower or concentrate and converts it into vapor at a lower temperature than the material’s combustion rate. The result is a much smoother experience that doesn’t compromise your breathing or lung health.

If you’re looking for a little boost before your run, you can pick up an energetic strain to vape beforehand. While an uplifting sativa will get your mind racing, it may not provide as much of a body boost, so I recommend a balanced hybrid that can bump up your motivation while delivering active body effects as well. Here are some strain recommendations to inspire you to grab your run shoes and head out the door.

2. An Edible Pre- or Mid-Run Can Help You Find Your Rhythm

One of my guilty pleasures is popping a 10mg edible either before my run or during a long run to help me get through a 20-miler I’ve been dreading. I keep the dosage low so I feel enough of the effects to have a pleasant body high without melting into a puddle of goo a block from my house. The sensation is fantastic — it feels like a typical runner’s high, and I often forget that I’m stoned until I stop running and my mind hones in on the waves pulsating through my body. I’m a fan of EdiPure’s dried pineapples and often have a couple in my fuel belt on “standby” in case I need a power up to bail me out of a long run that’s not going well.

3. Infused Topicals are Just What Your Sore Muscles Need

Is your booty aching from hill repeats? Quads burning thanks to those long descents? Calves tight from a high-mileage week? If your legs are begging for mercy after an especially punishing run, a cannabis-infused topical can help soothe your tired muscles. Although you may feel a tingle in the spot where you apply it, topicals are non-psychoactive so you won’t get high from using them. The cannabinoids infused into them are great for easing pain, soreness, and inflammation.

After a run, I’ll typically stretch, roll any tight or sore spots with a dense foam roller or lacrosse ball, and finish my regimen by working an infused topical into the area that needs a little TLC. My favorite is Vida Verde’s sport soothe-ice, although their fire balm is another potent tool you should consider adding to your arsenal. Kush Creams and Cannabis Basics also make some fantastic topicals that I’ve successfully used to subdue my aching legs.

4. Need to Quell Your Post-Run Gut Woes? There’s a Strain for That!

Every runner has experienced the dreaded post-run sour stomach at some point, myself included. Thankfully, there are numerous strains that help remedy stomach pain, and once I’ve showered, eaten, and stretched, I pack my vape to settle any nausea or gut woes that were brought on from a tough run. A good strain helps every time, allowing me to enjoy the rest of my day feeling relaxed and happy instead of hobbling to the toilet every 20 minutes.

5. Soreness Keeping You Up at Night? There’s a Strain for That, Too!

It can be extremely difficult to get a fulfilling night’s sleep after a punishing workout or a race where you gave it your all. Each time you turn in bed can feel like an exhausting effort to shift your aching body into a comfortable position, leaving you tired and cranky in the morning. Thankfully, a potent indica can help you get the sleep your body desperately needs to help rebuild your muscles and recover for your next feat. After a bowl of Northern Lights, I’m ready to face-plant into my pillow and temporarily forget how much pain I inflicted upon my legs (typically 26 miles’ worth).

Do you enjoy running? Share how you supplement your training regimen with cannabis — what’s your favorite consumption method or strain to pair with your runs?

I Spent 3 Hours on Loopr, Denver’s New Dab Bus. Here’s Who I Met.

The bus stopped in front of Little Man, Denver’s wildly popular ice cream shop, at a few minutes past 8 p.m. The door opened and the driver waved me aboard.

“Welcome to Loopr,” he said.

For the next three hours I romped around Denver, rolling joints, taking dabs, making friends, and dancing in a smoked-out club on wheels.

Loopr is a cannabis-friendly bus — BYOC, please — that drives in a continuous loop around Denver on weekends, charging $25 for a 24-hour “membership.” It’s been called the “Uber for Stoners,” but that’s not quite true. Most Uber drivers don’t have an ergonomically designed dab rig built into the center console.

The heavily customized bus (more on that in a minute) winds along a designated route, passing major bar districts, hotels, munchie hotspots, dispensaries, and concert venues. Once you download the app, you can watch the tiny bus move along a map of the city. Owner Bryan Spatz conceived the bus as a way to solve Colorado’s consumption problem: Tourists can legally purchase cannabis, but they have no place to legally consume. Only a handful of hotels advertise as cannabis-friendly, and public consumption is illegal. But a bus is considered a private space, one of the only safe havens available in which cannabis tourists can legally partake.

It’s taken a while to get the service up and running. The app was glitchy in its early days, but by last weekend Loopr seemed to have found its groove.

As you climb aboard, the first thing you notice is the driver, Angel, who’s sort of hermetically sealed off from the rest of the bus. Because contact high. Seated in a plastic bubble, he’s protected further from the secondhand-smoke by a locking door. The door slides open and you walk into a space drenched in bright lights and lasers. TV screens play music videos above booths and tables, where crews of friends roll joints. The classic limousine-style sideways seating fills the rest of the space. Spatz designed the bus to feel as comfortable and club-like as possible.

The interior features glassware that won’t tip over and can be used while the bus is in motion. Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

Spatz was sitting on the bus when we climbed aboard, along with resident glass blower Hal Taback, and Delaney, the evening’s Loopr concierge.

What makes Loopr unique is the bus’s dab rig system; it is the sun around which all riders seem to be drawn. Three glass bongs are anchored using water within weighted glass. The glass goes deep, fitting 6 inches down inside a hole cut in the table. They don’t tip over and can be easily employed when the bus is moving.

What makes the Loopr experience memorable, though, are the people who ride it.

Two young women caught the Loopr moments after I came aboard. Essence and Carolyn were dressed to impress. They were taking the bus to a nightclub in LoDo. They claimed a booth, rolled a joint, and fired up.

On a nearby couch, a character named Mars introduced himself. “Denver’s awesome. I’m only here for five or six hours then I’m on my way to Vegas,” he said. Mars was a 30 year-old martial arts instructor from California. He wore a ninja headband, a lavish fur coat, and enjoyed hovering and dancing near the bong rig table. “We use weed to channel energy and work out all day.”

“I’ve died 12 times,” Mars proclaimed. The self-described Viking samurai found the Loopr on the street and decided to take a ride. His energy and presence enveloped the bus. “Right before I met y’all, I just saved 27 people,” he told us. “I saved their spirit.”

Mars, a martial arts professor from California who uses cannabis “to channel energy and work out all day.” Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

As the bus passed by City Park in the center of town, large and cloaked in night, the conversation grew more intense.

Victoria hit a joint passed to her by Mars. A former hairstylist from New Jersey, she’s been in Denver for less than a year. Victoria is the whimsical stoner mermaid girl of your dreams. She told me she made her way to Colorado “as soon as possible” to work in the industry. After all, she said, marijuana is her calling.

At another stop, we welcomed Kyle. A three-year dread head from Florissant, Colo., Kyle also happened to be a cannabis grower. He brought with him two friends and the largest dollop of shatter I’d ever seen in one piece. “This is my baby,” Kyle said as he whipped out a mason jar containing about two ounces of his own freshly cured bud.

As the clock struck 9, Natalie hopped aboard. Born in Canada, she spent time living in Ghana before making her way to Colorado six years ago. She’s a gem and mineral curator for natural history museums. Natalie’s not her real name. She has to remain anonymous, she told me, because of the “double life” she leads, being a professional and a cannabis consumer. She talks about the changing face of cannabis culture and what it means to break down the “lazy stoner” stereotype. It’s not just a theory for Natalie. She lives it. “One lady dab, that’s all I can do,” she said.

By 10 p.m., we’d made our way to Emerald Fields, a store open late because of its location in Glendale, a 0.6-square-mile town that acts as the Vegas of Denver. Cannabis stores in Denver have to close by 7 p.m., but Glendale plays by its own rules: Dispensaries in the tiny municipality can stay open until midnight.

Riders replenished their cannabis and wax stock at Emerald Fields, then it was back on the bus.

Around 11 p.m., I decided to call it a night. The elevated cast of characters remained on the bus as I bid adieau, still taking in the night and thankful for a sober ride back to my neighborhood. Loud laughter echoed from the bus as I parted. As I walked home, I realized one of the few drawbacks of a cruise in Loopr: I reeked. I smiled and thought, Small price to pay for a memorable evening.

Cannabis Tourism 101: What to Know and Where to Go

With cannabis reform sweeping the world, canna-friendly vacations are becoming possible in many different scenic and exciting locations. Recreational use is now legal in four different states and the District of Columbia, while at least a half dozen more states will vote on legalization this year. Latin America and the Caribbean is opening up too, with Uruguay, Mexico, Jamaica, and Colombia leading the way toward ending the Drug War completely. Across the pond, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Portugal have joined Holland in decriminalizing personal use, while Germany just legalized medical marijuana – a sign that other major European countries will be falling like dominos soon.

But because cannabis laws are confusing even in the most progressive places, like Colorado (where smoking in public can still land you a $999 fine), cannabis tourism is still far from a free-for-all: there is plenty you need to know before you simply pack and go. Whether you’re looking for canna-friendly accommodations where you can toke to your heart’s delight without getting hassled, or would like advice on how to find bud, edibles, and accessories while on vacay, we hope this basic guide to cannabis travel will inform, educate, and inspire you.

Bud and Breakfasts and Cannabis-Friendly Hotels

One of the easiest ways to ensure that you can enjoy your medicine without worry is to stay in an accommodation that is designated 420-friendly by its owners. Colorado is pioneering this movement with luxury digs like Nativ Hotel downtown, where half the rooms come with balconies where smoking and vaping is allowed, and the B&B Adagio, which offers six historic suites designed specifically with the cannabis connoisseur in mind.

But a Rocky Mountain high is just the tip of the cola for the fast expanding cannabis-friendly accommodation market. Check out the listing site Bud and Breakfast for an Airbnb-style selection of international rooms and properties, including everything from cabanas on the white sand beaches of Ibiza, Spain, to lodges in the temperate rainforests of Homer, Alaska. Every listing is completely cannabis friendly and many come furnished with bongs, vaporizer rigs, or infused welcome mints, so you don’t even have to travel with your paraphernalia.

Buying Cannabis and Edibles Hassle-Free

The current worldwide legal landscape of cannabis is a patchwork quilt of different regulations and laws that is anything but clear and comforting to the casual consumer. The best way to steer clear of problems is to contact local dispensaries and cannabis clubs before leaving home. You should be able to get an authoritative rundown on what the current local rules are and make valuable insider contacts that can put you in touch with quality herb and other products.

In places where cannabis remains illegal, like England for example, organizations like the London Cannabis Club hold meetups and events, including smoke-outs in public locations and private dinner parties where marijuana is cooked right into the main dish. Organizations like this are also intensely active in the fight to legalize cannabis locally, and can both inform and connect you before you arrive in “The Big Smoke” (as London is nicknamed).

Even in countries that do not persecute cannabis, like Spain, where gorgeous Barcelona is earning a reputation as the “New Amsterdam” due to the proliferation of cannabis clubs, connecting before arriving is an intelligent move. Almost all of Barcelona’s 350-plus cannabis clubs are members only, meaning you cannot simply show up and join the party unannounced. However, Cannabis Barcelona can set you up before your trip with everything you’re going to need to smoke out like a local when you arrive.

Buying on the street can be problematic but it can also be the best deal in town, especially in developing countries like Colombia and Mexico where personal possession is decriminalized but there are no dispensaries or formal clubs. Your best insurance is to fully research the particular laws in the places you are visiting before engaging in any street transactions, as prohibitions and punishments vary greatly by location and quantity of possession. The Citizens’ Guide to State by State Marijuana Laws by Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, is a great resource for anyone planning a trip in the U.S. To find individual dispensaries on your travels, use Leafly’s dispensary finder.

Enjoying Cannabis Travel and Tourism Responsibly

Whether sampling cheeses and wines in the finest restaurants in Paris with your taste buds enhanced by a puff of Girl Scout Cookies or taking an introspective stroll through the ancient Redwood Forest of Humboldt County, California under the semi-psychedelic influence of a Jack Flash infused brownie, cannabis can be integrated into almost any travel plan with amazing results. Just be careful to respect local laws and customs, keeping consumption out of the view of families and children in traditionally conservative cultures and passing the joint when among like-minded locals.

In fact, the riskiest part of cannabis tourism is in the travel itself, as cannabis remains illegal at a federal level in the U.S., which unfortunately governs airports, flights, and other forms of transportation like Amtrak (an incredible way to travel while fully loaded, by the way). If you’re going to travel with cannabis, it’s best to have some sort of medical card or official legal documentation ready to show authorities.

As the world embraces cannabis like never before and cannabis travel begins to evolve, there’s no time like the present get out there and enjoy it.

The Shake: This is What 48 Hours on Edibles Feels Like

Edibles legal in Oregon starting tomorrow! Because… nobody… has been able to obtain or consume them… prior to this… at all? Ahem. According to state rules that take effect June 2, licensed dispensaries may now sell edibles that contain up to 15mg of THC. Customers are limited to buying one “unit” — or 15mg of THC — per day. Which is kind of like limiting customers to a single can of Budweiser. But I guess it’s progress. (The state’s also pushing a “Try 5” campaign to encourage novice users to start low and go slow — good advice when it comes to edibles.)

Potlander eats nothing but infused foods for 48 hours. Celebrating the impending legality of edibles in Oregon, Willamette Week writer Tyler Hurst went 48 hours consuming only infused foods. “I came through this fine,” he reports, with an ever-present buzz punctuated now and then by a sugar high.

Ohio MMJ bill sits lonely and ignored on governor’s desk. The bad news: The governor is John Kasich, who spent much of his time as a presidential candidate defending cannabis prohibition. The good news: If Kasich takes no action within 10 days, the bill will automatically become law.

Yes, it’s possible to lose money in the cannabis biz. Just ask the former employees of MediJean, a British Columbia cannabis producer that recently went belly-up. Now the company’s assets, including 350 cannabis grow lights, 50 air ventilators, and two dozen giant fans, are being auctioned at a warehouse in Richmond, B.C.

Mystery in San Jose: What happened to the cannabis czar? Nobody in San Jose, California, knows what happened to Angelique Gaeta, the longtime administrator who ran the city’s medical marijuana program. But apparently she’s gone. “City Hall is mum about why Gaeta, who’s been with the city 15 years, was shown the door,” reports the San Jose Mercury News

Sign o’ the times: Board shop closing, cannabis shop opening. In Anchorage, Alaska, the AK Boardroom on Fourth Avenue is closing because there hasn’t been enough snow in recent years. In its place: a cannabis retail shop called Alaska Fireweed, owned by an oil industry engineer who just got laid off from his job up on the North Slope. Oil prices are falling. Snow isn’t. And cannabis is rising.

NCIA And ArcView Criticize NASDAQ In Letter After MassRoots Rejection

I stand with MassRoots. MassRoots was recently rejected by NASDAQ, and the National Cannabis Industry Association and ArcView Group issued a joint letter criticizing NASDAQ’s decision, and supporting MassRoots’ appeal. I don’t know a lot about the stock market, and all the details of NASDAQ’s application process, but I do know flawed logic based off

'We’re Gonna Poke Everyone with Pitchforks': Dutch ‘Medical Social Club’ Pushes Limits

A social club for medical cannabis patients in the northern region of the Netherlands is about to open its third illegal location in less than a year, a testament to the Dutch demand for quality cannabis.

The club, Medical Social Club Suver Nuver, has more than 1,200 members and supplies cannabis oil to roughly 2,500 people. All this is technically against the law, but founder Rinus Beintema believes he’s come up with a way to align the club’s activities with existing Dutch cannabis policy. “We steer our own course,” he said. “We’re stubborn farmers here in the north, and we’re gonna poke everyone’s ass with our pitchforks.”

Although the Netherlands officially legalized medical cannabis in 2003, a large number of patients do not buy the cannabis available in pharmacies, which is produced by a company called Bedrocan. Patients have complained that the five strains offered by Bedrocan are too limited, that the cannabis is treated with gamma radiation, and that only a few insurance companies will cover the cost. Many Dutch patients simply don’t want to smoke and are looking for cannabis in a different form.

Cannabis oil is available at only one Dutch pharmacy, which produces it in-house from Bedrocan buds. Bedrocan has stated that it’s working on cannabis oil, but it’s not yet available. As a result, the Netherlands, like a lot of European countries, is home to an underground system for producing and distributing medicinal cannabis oil. And it’s growing every day.

It’s important to remember that the cultivation of cannabis is still illegal in the Netherlands. To make matters worse, hash oil, another term for cannabis oil, has been listed as a Class A drug since the ‘70s. Apart from the one pharmacy in The Hague that makes its own oils, any production of cannabis oil also is illegal.

The situation hasn’t stopped Rinus Beintsema, 49, from starting what he calls a “medical social club” to connect patients, growers, and extractors. Beintsema started working in an Amsterdam coffeeshop around 1980, but he said he only discovered the medicinal properties of cannabis oil about three years ago. To his surprise, the father of one of his friends, who was suffering from severe arthritis, asked him to make cannabis oil. Beintsema had been doing it for years, but only for recreational purposes.

The oil had almost instant effect. Within a week, his friend’s father cut his medication in half. “It really opened my eyes,” Beintsema recalls. “I thought, Maybe those Americans are not con men, like I thought. About medical cannabis and dispensaries I used to actually think, They say they’ve hurt their finger so they can smoke a joint, you know? Like a disguised coffeeshop.”

Within weeks, ten more arthritis patients came to his door. So Beintsema started a Facebook group. “Everyone came running towards me. Before I knew it, I was providing 200 people with cannabis oil,” he recalled, “and this was all still from my attic at home.”

With a few friends he started Medical Social Club Friesland. In addition to making great cheese and dairy products, Friesland, a northern Dutch province, has a reputation for independence and stubbornness. In October 2015, the group opened an establishment in the provincial capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden, leading to a further increase in membership. “After three months, we upped the ante and invited local media to explain what we are doing,” Beintsema said. “From that moment on, the snowball really started rolling downhill.”

The club now has a second branch, in the city of Groningen, and a third opening in Zwolle in July. “Every week, about eight kilograms of coconut oil extraction goes out the door,” said Beintsema. His aim is clear: a test trial, leading to full legalization of medical cannabis.

“My strategy in this case is that [of] a bull in a china shop. You stir things up as much as you can and see where the ship will run aground,” he said. “And it’s so far, so good, as they say. We’re moving at top speed, and you have to keep that momentum going so they don’t get a grip on you.

“Unfortunately we haven’t seen or heard anything from the Justice Department,” he continued.

“We keep going one step further; I told one newspaper literally that we would like a confrontation, because it’s part of the plan.”

Beintsema has met with the mayor of Leeuwarden, Ferd Crone, once. The mayor liked the concept, Beintsema said, but is worried about the concentrates the club offers.

To stay within the limits of the Dutch cannabis policy, Beintsema has come up with a plan. He will start producing so-called Neder-Marok, a combination of a concentrate, Moroccan hash powder, and oil made of cannabis from Moroccan landrace strains. The finished product will be a piece of hash that can be mailed as long as it weighs no more than 5 grams, the maximum amount tolerated for personal use. After delivery, the hash can easily be turned into oil with the use of some alcohol and a coffee filter. “This is Neder-Marok, a hybrid that’s the fruit of cooperation between Moroccan and Dutch growers,” he said. “We strongly believe that land races in the countries of origin have the highest medicinal value.”

An intervention by the Dutch authorities seems inevitable, but Beintsema and the members of Medical Social Club Suver Nuver are convinced the experiment will eventually lead to a breakthrough. The club will have a booth at Cannabis Liberation Day, the biggest cannabis event in the Netherlands, on June 12 in Amsterdam’s Flevopark.

“We’ve put together a nice team of volunteers and will share our booth with the 710 Crew from Denmark,” Beintsema said. “We’re taking a bunch of e-nails and a big pile of wax. We’ll be making some sweet smoke clouds over the park.”

Vape Coolers and Coloring Books: The Best Cannabis Products of May 2016

Welcome to Leafly’s cannabis products roundup for the month of May, where we take a look at a few of the many different products that are making a splash in the industry. From herb and accessory storage to topicals and vaporizers, we’ve highlighted the interesting, innovative, or just plain fun items that caught our attention. You can find almost all of these products through our own Products section for further information.

StashLogix ProStash Carry Case

First up, we have the StashLogix ProStash carrying case. As a new owner of one, this case has worked wonders for me with organizing my stoner arsenal of various strains, pipes, papers, vape pens, cartridges, and everything in between. The ProStash is the biggest out of three cases from StashLogix, and the numerous pockets, straps, dividers, and outside lock will guarantee to keep your items safe and secured all in one place. It even comes with some stash jars, a pen, and a stash journal for keeping track of your different strain experiences (which you’re totally going to add to Leafly’s strain reviews, right?).

Cost: $80 USD

ZEUS Iceborn Vapor Quality Boost

Next, we have the ZEUS Iceborn Vapor Quality Boost. It’s a really cool (no pun intended) accessory that uses the power of ice to give you a much smoother and substantial vaping experience. Even if you aren’t into blowing big clouds of vapor, the Iceborn will allow you to smoothly experience the full flavor and quality of the buds you are vaping, making this both a fun and useful accessory to your desktop vape.

Cost: $69.99

Toob Loob

Now let’s take a look at Toob Loob from the good people at VapeXhale. If you’ve ever felt the frustration and fear of trying to ease a resin-stuck bowl piece free from the downstem without shattering it, this is the product for you! Toob Loob helps keep your bowl and downstem functional and lubricated from resin buildup between cleanings, and is also non-toxic and odorless.

Cost: $3.95

Mary’s Medicinals Topical Compounds

Mary’s Medicinals Topical Compounds are another great product for those seeking pain relief through topical applications. As someone who deals with chronic knee pain, Mary’s Medicinals Topical Compound has helped bring me quick and tingling relief with its CBD and THC-infused balms. This topical would be a great addition to anyone who’s looking for other ways to deal with physical pain. Please note that Mary’s Medicinals is only currently available in Washington, Colorado, and California, with further expansion into Oregon, Arizona, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine soon.

Cost: Varies; check your local dispensary to see if it’s in stock

The Stoner’s Coloring Book

For some artsy fun after you’re freshly baked, try out The Stoner’s Coloring Book! This book comes packed with 36 trippy patterns and illustrations from nine artists for you to fill with color. It’s sure to provide hours of stoned fun, and you can even easily rip out the pages when you’re done to hang as artwork!

Cost: Varies; currently listed on Amazon for $15.00

Stay tuned next month for a new roundup of cannabis products! Got a suggestion in mind? Send your favorite products to tips@nullleafly.com and we may include them in future roundups!

Delaware: Town Hall Discussing Cannabis Regulation Next Tuesday

If you are in the area, I received the following alert out of Delaware: The Coalition to Regulate Cannabis in Delaware is holding a town hall forum next week onTuesday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m.. Come join MPP and the coalition to hear from: — Neill Franklin: Executive director, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition — Tom

The Shake: Ohio’s MMJ Campaign Shuts Down

Ohio’s MMJ campaign calls it quits. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana announced over the weekend that it’s suspended its effort to put a medical cannabis legalization measure on November’s ballot. Some are greeting the announcement as a sign the campaign’s goal was to put pressure on the state Legislature to pass an MMJ law, as the move came immediately after lawmakers passed a measure of their own. The bill, which the campaign called a “moderately good piece of legislation,” still awaits the signature of Gov. John Kasich. If he doesn’t sign, cannabis legalization efforts in Ohio will (again) have to wait until next year.

Meanwhile, new group — TACO — wants to decriminalize in Ohio. A group of Athens, Ohio, residents are circulating a petition to put a decriminalization measure on November’s ballot. The initiative is calling itself The Athens Cannabis Ordinance, or, more deliciously, TACO. TACO wants to remove the penalty for minor cannabis offenses and lower the fine for felony offenses to a fine of $1. Suddenly we’re craving $1 tacos.

Racial disparities continue, this time in California. Black and Latino people in the state were hit with disproportionately high rates of cannabis-related infractions compared to whites, according to the latest data-crunching by the Drug Policy Alliance and the ACLU of California. Analyzing numbers from the Los Angeles and Fresno police departments, the groups found that police issued infractions to black people at four times the rate of white people. Latinos were cited at 1.5 times the rate of whites. That’s despite the fact that cannabis use is roughly equal across racial and ethnic lines, the groups note. It’s not only California: Racial disparities persist in Oregon, Colorado, and nearly every other legal state that’s released enforcement data. (It’s also an issue in terms of industry representation.) It’s a disillusioning situation for advocates who saw legalization as a way to address the longtime racial inequities of the drug war.

Toronto fallout continues. Last week’s widespread raids by Toronto police led to nearly 90 arrests at dispensaries in the city and stirred up no small amount of controversy among patients and advocates. Mayor John Tory, who had warned of a crackdown on unlicensed dispensaries, said over the weekend he played no role in ordering the raids. The shakeup has also aggravated existing divisions in Canada’s legalization movement, with advocates already arguing over how to respond to the police actions. (Here’s the Toronto PD press release, a map of the dispensaries raided, and how to contact the department.)

Edmonton entrepreneurs are gearing up. “Women Grow Edmonton is already looking at how female entrepreneurs, in particular, can get in on the green,” CBC News reports. The local chapter of the national organization launched last month and is already attracting upward of 100 people to its events. Next meeting: This Friday afternoon at the St. Albert Rugby Club.

Illinois looks to extend MMJ program to 2020. Since its beginnings, the state’s medical marijuana pilot program planned to sunset at the end of 2017. But the Illinois House recently passed a measure that would extend the end date to July 1, 2020. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.

Louisiana fisherman lands unusual catch. Capt. Theophile Bourgeois was fishing with buddies on a Louisiana barrier island when he came across a rectangular brick, wrapped in plastic. The cannabis brick, seeds stems and all, was clearly, in the words of the fisherman, “skunk weed.” The brick was quite old and waterlogged, with no indication of its origin, the fisherman said: “There was no labeling on it like, ‘Uncle Joe’s pot’ or anything.”

“Cannabis damages DNA” study called out as bunk. An Australian study last week claimed that cannabis users are damaging their DNA and passing on altered genes to future generations. Upon closer examination, however, critics found the researchers performed no actual tests to back up their controversial claim. Ethan Russo, a leading cannabinoid researcher, stated that cannabis does not produce DNA mutations, birth defects, or cancer. The study’s claims, Russo said, are unequivocally false.

Anti-legalization group launches in Maine. Scott Gagnon, chairman of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Maine, today announced the creation of prohibitionist organization Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities, which opposes cannabis legalization. Gagnon ticked off a laundry list of common prohibitionist concerns: pot gummy bears, increased hospital admissions, and children, children, children. (All of which legalization advocates are concerned about, too — they just want to address them with a better plan than prohibition.) Centralmaine.com has the story.

NCIA and ArcView urge Nasdaq to reconsider MassRoots listing. The industry group and investor network, respectively, wrote an open letter to Nasdaq CEO Robert Greifeld, urging him to “treat cannabis companies fairly.” They warn that Nasdaq’s precedent set by denying MassRoots stock listing effort “could prevent nearly every business in the regulated cannabis industry from listing on Nasdaq” and other major exchanges.

Will This Report Open the Door to Legal Cannabis Growing in the Netherlands?

A new study by Radboud University in the Netherlands paves the way for legalizing cannabis production to supply the country’s famous coffeeshops. The study, commissioned by 27 Dutch cities that favor legalization and published Monday, concludes that international treaties do not prevent Holland from taking this long-awaited step.

Regulated production will improve health and safety, according to the report. As such, legalization isn’t only justified — it’s obligatory on the part of governments “on the basis of their positive human rights obligations for the protection of individual and public health, the security of citizens and crime control,” the report says.

The title of the 396-page study, authored by professor Piet Hein van Kempen and Masha Fedorova, is a mouthful: International law and cannabis II. Regulation of cannabis cultivation and trade for recreational use: positive human rights obligations versus UN Narcotic Drugs Conventions. But its contents could spur a breakthrough in the political debate around legalization in the Netherlands.

“This report enables us to take a sorely needed step,” Victor Everhardt, alderman of public health for the city of Utrecht, told newspaper De Volkskrant. “Legalization of cannabis will give local governments insight into what is now unseen. With legalization we can combat the excesses of the tolerance policy.”

Dutch ministers of justice have claimed for years that international drug treaties leave no room whatsoever for the regulation of cannabis cultivation. The stubborn opposition has resulted in a stalemate, and it feeds the so-called “backdoor paradox.” Coffeeshops are allowed to sell cannabis under strict conditions, but cultivation and wholesale distribution remain strictly prohibited. Dutch police now spend more than half their time and resources fighting cannabis.

The situation has been compared to legalizing milk while prohibiting cows.

Virtually no one expects current Prime Minister Mark Rutte to take progressive steps on cannabis, but national elections are scheduled for less than a year away, March 2017. Many feel it’s unrealistic for a new government to continue pretending the cannabis sold in the Netherlands’ 582 coffeeshops simply falls from the sky.

The study, including an executive study in English, can be found here as a PDF.

Paraguay Grants Historic Import Permit to CBD Hemp Oil RSHO as Medication for Epilepsy

This article is sponsored by CMW Media, the premier public and media relations agency proudly serving the cannabis industry worldwide.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA) announced today that its flagship product Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ (RSHO™) has been authorized by Paraguay’s government for import into the country as a prescription medication for refractory epilepsy.

“We are extremely proud of the wonderful news that RSHO has been approved for import by the government of Paraguay,” states Dr. Stuart Titus, Ph.D. and Chief Executive Officer of Medical Marijuana, Inc. “In the U.S., we enjoy the ability to easily access RSHO and many other CBD hemp oil products online. However, in other countries, we must respect their regulations and handling of cannabis-based products including hemp.”

Paraguay’s import permit makes it the fourth Latin American nation, after Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, to approve the company’s cannabidiol (CBD) hemp oil for import with a doctor’s prescription.

Making History in Paraguay: The Story of Mathias Alejandro Gonzalez

15-year-old Mathias Alejandro Gonzalez of Paraguay suffers from a rare form of epilepsy that causes severe seizures, which are difficult to treat with pharmaceuticals and lead to physical and cognitive disabilities. Gonzalez is now importing RSHO from the U.S.

This first shipment of RSHO into Paraguay will be used to treat 15-year-old Mathias Alejandro Gonzalez, who was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and suffers from Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a rare type of epilepsy that causes him to have multiple types of seizures. Gonzalez’s tonic and atonic seizures have caused him both physical and cognitive deterioration.

Treatment for Gonzalez’s type of epilepsy is difficult because his seizures don’t respond well to standard medications. The medications his family have been able to procure are extremely cost-prohibitive, and must be ordered and shipped from Spain to Paraguay. The approval of RSHO import by the Paraguayan government will help Gonzalez and his family move away from expensive and ineffective pharmaceutical treatments for his condition.

Medical Marijuana, Inc.: Establishing the World’s First CBD Hemp Oil Supply Chain

“MJNA is a ‘company of firsts’,” says Titus. “It took many years to establish and streamline a standardized commercial system while developing the world’s first CBD hemp oil pipeline. We are extremely grateful to our investors who also saw and continue to see the vision of CBD hemp oil access in the U.S. and around the world. We couldn’t be more excited that South America is requesting our CBD hemp oil brand as the first for government-approved importation. It brings full-circle the efforts of creating [these] systems and infrastructure.”

In February of 2015, HempMeds® received official authorization to export Real Scientific Hemp Oil-X™ (RSHO-X™) to individuals in Mexico with government-issued import permits. Raul and Mayela Elizalde from the Por Grace Foundation, based in Mexico, helped explain their daughter Grace’s need for the cannabidiol (CBD) hemp oil product in a case similar to that of Mathias Gonzalez’s family in Paraguay — and were instrumental in the process of securing the permit. Since 2014, the government of Brazil has also continued to issue import permits for RSHO, as well as waive import taxes and subsidize payments for the product under the federal government’s healthcare system.

The Future of CBD Hemp Oil in Latin America and Beyond

The fact that indications including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and cancer have all been approved for treatment with RSHO in different Latin American nations marks a step in the right direction for Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s vision of “access for all” as the future for the company’s CBD hemp oil.

RSHO is derived from the mature stalk of the hemp plant and is considered a food nutrient delivering the benefits of cannabinoids without the psychotropic effects of THC. It contains no pesticides, herbicides, genetic modifications, or heavy metals. Before becoming a finished product, it goes through multiple quality tests by top cannabis industry and food laboratories.

About Medical Marijuana, Inc.

The mission of Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC Pink: MJNA) is to be the premier hemp industry innovator, leveraging its team of professionals to source, evaluate, and purchase value-added companies and products while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. It strives to create awareness within the industry and develop environmentally-friendly, economically sustainable businesses while increasing shareholder value. For more information on Medical Marijuana, Inc. and the portfolio company brands that it promotes, please visit the company website.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) DISCLOSURE
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

LEGAL DISCLOSURE
Medical Marijuana Inc. does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA). These companies do grow, sell, and distribute hemp-based products and are involved with the federally legal distribution of medical marijuana-based products within certain international markets. Cannabidiol is a natural constituent of hemp oil.

Why Cannabis-Growing Techniques Differ So Much Between the U.S. and Europe

The exact origins of the cultivation of cannabis under artificial light are hard to pinpoint. But it’s sure that the United States, especially California, and the Netherlands were the indoor culture’s nurseries in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Breeders like Old Ed Holloway, Dave Watson (aka Sam the Skunkman), Wernard Bruining, Nevil Schoenmakers, Robert C. Clarke and Ben Dronkers as well as a few other pioneers met and worked in Amsterdam to create the basis for the thousands of strains that cannabis patients and recreational users enjoy worldwide today.

Because the main players—except the Australian Schoenmakers—were all either Dutch or American, the first steps to grow potent plants under artificial light developed almost simultaneously in both countries. But the legal part of the business took place in Amsterdam. While in the Netherlands it was still almost legal to grow cannabis on a large scale, even liberal U.S. states had draconian penalties for cultivation at this time. And while in the U.S., the triumph of the indoor culture in California started with the first law legitimizing medical cannabis in 1996, Dutch wholesalers were already exporting equipment and knowledge to neighboring countries in the early ’90s.

But due to differences in laws, electricity prices, suitable climate and some other factors, the European and the U.S. indoor culture developed on separate tracks.

Here are the main differences between U.S. and European growers:

Seeds or clones?

In most EU countries, seeds are legal. Even in countries where there are laws against cannabis seeds, they’re still easily available due to the Schengen Agreement. Professional and 100 percent legal seed banks, most of them by now breeding in Spain, are responsible for the development of new varieties since more than three decades.

In the U.S., most varieties are of illegal origin, selected by private breeders or medical collectives that tend to guard their seeds. In Europe, growers may take advantage of the feminized or even “Auto-Fem” (autoflowering and feminized) strains. In U.S. states where cannabis is legal, most plants are bred from clones and seed banks are rare. Where cannabis is still prohibited, clones and pollen are exchanged on a private basis to produce mini-batches of illegal private seed and/or select new strains.

This kind of “guerrilla breeding” culture is rare among European growers. In the EU, many growers work from feminized seeds, which saves them the trouble of maintaining a vegetative chamber. Only large producers or ambitious amateur gardeners grow mother plants from regular seeds to populate their grow rooms with cuttings. A large part of the final product in Europe comes from feminized seeds.

Lighting

In North America, energy is cheaper than in Europe. Cars have larger engines and cannabis growers use larger lamps. While cannabis is mostly grown under 400 or 600 watts in Europe, 1,000 watt-bulbs are the first choice in North America. LED technology is on the rise on both sides of the pond.

Tents

Although white reflects better than silver, American growers use growboxes with a silver inner layer almost exclusively. In Europe, white boxes are common. The reason: the first white replicas of the German original, which appeared on the U.S. market in 2007, were coated with PVC instead of food-safe and heat-resistant PE (polyethylene). The softener in the PVC led to plants dying inside these tents in some cases—and, consequently, a bad reputation for white-coated growboxes on the U.S. market. According to Jorge Cervantes’ “growers bible,”’ first published back in 1998, white reflects the light inside the tent a lot better than silver. Recent new measurements in the Czech Republic have confirmed this.

Units

For hoses, fittings and pots, different measuring units are used in North America and Europe. Also, all electronic devices in Europe run on 230 volts, instead of the 120 volts used in the U.S. The electrical conductivity is not specified in PPM (parts per million) in Europe, but in mS /cm, or micro Siemens per square centimeter.

Harvesting

In the U.S. and Canada, trimming machines do not have a good reputation among patients and consumers. Even large-scale producers have their buds trimmed by hand. Many growers in Europe even trim their mini-grow setups with harvesting equipment, and large harvests are almost always trimmed with the aid of machines.

When it comes to processing the crop and trichomes, the U.S. and Canada are years ahead of Europe. In Europe, the first silicone mats and accessories for extraction just appeared in the shops and many people still use denatured lighter gas and cheap plastic tubes to make extracts, while a manifold dabbing culture has developed overseas.

Despite these minor differences, European and North American indoor experts have quite a lot in common. In the end, they’re dealing with the same plant and similar problems on both sides of the Atlantic.

Oregon: It’s Getting Much Harder For Marijuana Entertainment Events And Venues

One of my favorite niches or sectors of the marijuana industry in Oregon is the marijuana entertainment sector. The first one that I had ever heard of was the World Famous Cannabis Cafe (WFCC). It has since been shutdown due to new indoor air rules, but at one point in time it was thehotspot destination

Are White Cheddar Cheez-Its the Perfect High Snack? We Debated the Best Munchies Ever

Just as the journey is more important than the destination, sometimes the discussion is more important than the conclusion. As such, we’re kicking off a series of informal Leafly chats published largely unabridged. Viewpoints expressed are the participants’ own. Enjoy!

Pretty much every cannabis consumer has eaten something while high and thought, “This is literally the best munchie the world has ever seen.” But really, with such a subjective topic, who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong?

In the interest of fostering intellectual discussion, we took to the office Slack channels to debate the issue – because these are the pressing sorts of questions we’re here to help answer. Our discussion transcript is below. (Spoiler alert: cheese figures heavily.)

Header image source: Mike Mozart via Flickr

Why New York’s Top Cop is as Phony as a Stoned Welsh Sheep

Two curious stories came across the news desk here at Leafly World Headquarters last week.

The first had to do with a herd of stoned sheep going on a psychotic rampage in a Welsh village. I know you are thinking Oh come on, but here is the actual headline in The Telegraph, which is an actual respected newspaper in London:

‘Stoned’ sheep go on ‘psychotic rampage’ after eating cannabis plants dumped in Welsh village

So I exaggerate not.

The Telegraph piece even had a photo of one of the sheep in question, wagging its tongue in a pose that indicated both wacked-out stoniness and a cheeky stick-it-to-the-man attitude.

Image via The Telegraph

Because we all know what tongue-wagging means about a person’s consumption preferences.

A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Mar 19, 2016 at 7:34am PDT

‘Nuff said.

The second story had to do with the leader of the New York City Police Department, Bill Bratton, who — well, read the New York Post headline yourself:

Bill Bratton blames drug violence in NYC on pot

Follow his reasoning if you can.

“Here in New York, the violence we see associated with drugs, the vast majority of it, is around the issue of marijuana, which is ironic considering the explosion in use of heroin now in the city,” the chief said Sunday on a local New York City radio show. “Interestingly enough, here in New York City most of the violence we see — violence around drug trafficking — is involving marijuana, and I have to scratch my head as we are seeing many states wanting to legalize marijuana, and more liberalization of policies,” he added.

This is nonsense.

Two years ago New York Mayor Bill de Blasio instituted a policy mandating that people possessing less than 25 grams (just under one ounce) of cannabis be given a ticket rather than arrested. Since then, cannabis arrests have plummeted. The effect on violent crime in the city has been zero. In 2015, NYC police recorded 1.2 percent fewer felony offenses than the previous year, a statistically insignificant change. There is no crime spike. In fact, violent crime in New York City has fallen by 35 percent since 2001, and by 80 percent since 1990. Where am I sourcing my data? The NYC Police Department. In Seattle and Denver, police data are showing that the only connection between cannabis legalization and crime is that many fewer people get arrested for possessing it. Crime rises or falls regardless of whether cops are arresting people for marijuana.

Blaming cannabis for a rise in crime — even one that the chief’s own data show doesn’t exist — is a time-honored ruse that dates back to New Orleans in the 1930s. Back then, voters were up in arms over a wave of vice sweeping the city. New Orleans District Attorney Eugene Stanley blamed cannabis. It wasn’t merely a mild intoxicant, he claimed; it actually caused crime. “Its use sweeps away all restraint, and to its influence may be attributed many of our present-day crimes,” he wrote. You can read Stanley’s insights for yourself here.

Which brings me back to the stoned sheep.

Kudos to the Telegraph copy desk. Killer headline. But when you read the story you discover that the suspect sheep have actually been roaming the village of Rhydypandy, in South Wales, for quite some time. Years, perhaps. They might’ve gotten lost since it’s Wales and the signs out of Rhydypandy probably say something like “Yr Wyddgrug y ffordd hon.”

For that or perhaps other reasons, the sheep are in foul temper. “They are getting in people’s gardens and one even entered a bungalow and left a mess in the bedroom,” moaned County Councillor Ioan Richard.

Whence the cannabis? Apparently somebody “fly-tipped” (illegally dumped) the remains of an illegal grow on the village outskirts. “I dread to think what will happen if they eat what could well be cannabis plants,” Richard warned. “We could have an outbreak of psychotic sheep rampaging through the village.”

Wait a minute. So you’re telling me that no sheep in Rhydypandy have consumed cannabis. And you’re not even certain it’s cannabis. It could be a rogue gang of kale for all you know, Ioan.

Oh, you’ve got a photo? Let’s have a look.

Image via The Telegraph

THAT’S. NOT. CANNABIS.

Come on, Ioan. That’s a load of cracked stones mixed with elm prunings.

At the end of the day, we’ve got a cranky sheep (singular) pooping in somebody’s parlor, and a load of harmless junk left by the side of the road. No cannabis. No psychosis. In fact, if it had been cannabis, Coucillor, you might have been better off, as the ruminates probably would have enjoyed the leaves and then had themselves a nice long nap.

In fact, I’ll bet that’s not even a genuine Rhydypandy sheep. Hang on. (Googling.) Ah. There she is. Getty Images, photo taken by Chris Jackson, March 11, 2010, in Brecon, Wales, a solid 44 miles north of Rhydypandy.

Image via Getty Images

Actually, I’m kind of impressed that you found a Welsh sheep for the image slot, Telegraph. Well done.

This is where we are in 2016. Local politicians, be they from towns large or small, are still relying on the boogeyman of cannabis to sow fear among their constituents, just as they have for decades. Only now it doesn’t work so well. Because we have this thing called the internet, which we can use to look up crime statistics, scientific research, and the Getty Images search engine.

So to Police Commissioner Bratton, and County Councillor Richard, we say:

Image via Getty Images

How to Pair Fresh Spring and Summer Produce with Cannabis

Enjoying seasonal produce can be a joyous sensory overload. Not only do we nourish ourselves with every bite, we’re offered a cerebral indulgence at the same time: we taste the abundant flavor, we touch each item as we hand-pick what’s in season, we smell what’s ripe, and we spot the perfect selections by their vibrant colors. Each selection ends with the sound of satisfaction as we consume the produce, so what better way to heighten the entire sensory and cerebral experience than through cannabis strain pairings?

We invite you to take your dining to the next level and savor what’s in season with the following pairing suggestions, which match seasonally fresh fruits and veggies with the perfect strains to complement them. The terpenes that give these strains their unique aroma and flavor profiles accentuate flavor nuances in late spring and early summer produce, while cannabinoids augment your enjoyment of flavors and textures. Suddenly, getting the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies doesn’t seem like such a chore, does it?

Mangoes

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Myrcene, Limonene

Strain Flavors: citrus, earthy, sweet

Whether you enjoy your mangoes fresh, in a salsa poured over fish, or stirred into your gelato, the flavor will almost certainly meet your lips at some point this season. This exotic fruit needs something that can keep up, so we’ve paired it with Green Crack. The sativa keeps you alert and the citrus notes of the strain coincide beautifully with the sweet notes of the mango.

Tomatoes

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene

Strain Flavors: sweet, earthy, pungent

Juicy plump tomatoes are in abundance this season, and we can’t get enough of them. Girl Scout Cookies fits right in with tomato dishes: the acid from the tomatoes cuts those potent notes of pepper, wood, and spice in the strain.

Blueberries

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Myrcene

Strain Flavors: grape, sweet, berry

Blueberries are bountiful during this time of year. The purple-black pigment always stains your hands in a satisfying moment of tasty tart deliciousness. Enjoy them fresh, or nestled inside a decadent pastry, and consume with Grape Ape for the ultimate cerebral experience.

Peaches

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Linalool, Limonene

Strain Flavors: mango, tropical, sweet

Peaches are one of the best stone fruits on the market, and we can’t get enough of these furry, succulent gems. Whether you eat them fresh or incorporate them into a recipe, they’re best enjoyed with summer just around the corner. Connect those sweet flavors with a tropical finish characteristic of Mango Kush.

Lemons

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Limonene, Linalool

Strain Flavors: earthy, sweet, honey

Lemons are bright and bursting with acidity. They’re tart to the taste and begging to be paired with something sweet. As such, they’re best enjoyed by making fresh-squeezed lemonade. Pair your beverage with Willy’s Wonder: this indica strain offers a sweet, honeyed flavor to balance everything out.

Avocados

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Linalool, Pinene

Strain Flavors: butter, flowery, sweet

Bumpy creamy avocados pair perfectly with Liquid Butter (or anything else, for that matter). You can taste the sweet buttery notes in the cannabis right alongside the healthy fats in this rich green fruit. The strain’s indica effects keep you mellow, but its pinene-laden terpene profile ensures continued alertness as you savor this moment.

Cherries

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Limonene, Pinene

Strain Flavors: citrus, lemon, sweet

Pairing cherries with the Cherry Pie strain was too easy, so we thought outside the box. Naturally, Lemon Pie brings a sweet lemon taste to the table, playing in the cherries’ juicy sweetness. This pairing offers a strong limonene terpene presence, relieving your stress and naturally making you happy. And really, who wouldn’t be happy consuming cannabis with fresh seasonal cherries?

Cucumbers

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Limonene

Strain Flavors: lemon, citrus, sweet

Cucumbers are invariably refreshing: you can slice them up and infuse your water, sneak them into a salad, or use them to accent fresh ceviche dishes. My favorite way to take advantage of this seasonal favorite is to place chilled slices over my eyelids and spark up a joint loaded with Super Lemon Haze. As the citrus notes of the strain burst into a sweet lemon taste and mingle with the cucumber aromas, your mood is guaranteed to be elevated.

Oranges

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Limonene

Strain Flavors: diesel, pungent, earthy

We’re sure this isn’t the first time you’ve been told to eat an orange while consuming cannabis. One moment with this pairing and you’ll understand why. The sweetness of the orange balances out the Sour Diesel as the pungent, earthy flavors of this strain work in sync with the citrus.

Beet Greens

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene, Myrcene

Strain Flavors: earthy, diesel, pungent

Beet greens plus roasted beets, goat cheese, and candied walnuts make for a delicious summer-ready salad, and the hybrid strain Chemdawg is the perfect companion to these greens. The earthiness of the bud plays into the peppery notes of the greens, and it all finishes with a little spice. The combo creates a pungent, woodsy aroma that is simply intoxicating.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Cannabis Growing: 3 Key Differences

Cannabis has long been cultivated outdoors and is one of the oldest agricultural crops in existence. Growing indoors, however, has been around for less than a century and came about as a result of prohibition. Most advancements in cannabis production have occurred during the era of indoor cultivation; staying out of sight was initially a way to protect the grower from the laws against cannabis. As technology advanced, the industry was able to expand its knowledge of the plant by leaps and bounds, and this was also true for areas where outdoor farming managed to succeed like Southern Oregon and Northern California.

The differences are not only important to aspiring cannabis farmers, but to the consumer comparing outdoor and indoor grown products at the dispensary counter. How does the environment affect the outcome of a strain, and what considerations must a grower make when choosing between the two?

Controlled vs. Natural Climates

There are many reasons to grow indoors over outdoors. The freedom to choose your location with minimal constraints and the ability control of your environment are just a few. Indoor farming allows for complete control of your environment. Controlling temperature, light source, CO2 production, and humidity creates a stable habitat to optimize your plants’ growth without having to risk outdoor elements. The indoor grower typically finds cosmetically pristine flowers with higher THC percentages. On the other hand, no bulb can produce the same spectrum of light unique to the sun which, in turn, limits indoor gardens with smaller yields and less vigorous plants. Outdoor farming, however, requires a climate suitable for cannabis production – good sun exposure, hot days, warm nights, and low humidity.

Nevertheless, growing indoors has complications as well. When the grower tries to create a natural environment indoors, there are factors in the natural process that cannot be replicated. For example, plants grown outside have substantial help against mites from natural predators who share the habitat. Wasps, ants, and ladybugs are some of “nature’s helpers” that keep mite populations at bay. Indoors, the grower cannot hope to completely mimic the incredibly complicated natural environment. If mites appear in an indoor grow space, they can be a challenge to control. With the ever-increasing consumer concerns about the overuse of pesticides and insecticides, some cultivators might find the trade-offs of growing outdoors worth investigating.

Cost Comparison of Indoor and Outdoor Gardens

Both indoor and outdoor grows demand substantial up-front costs, but the difference becomes apparent long-term. Indoor climate control systems can cost a small fortune to operate, whereas a majority of the costs associated with outdoor grows are in the startup of the operation.

Labor costs for indoor and outdoor gardens also varies drastically. With continual turnover in an indoor garden, there’s always work to be done. Pruning, trellising, watering, feeding, and harvest work are ongoing and more demanding for smaller yields. Outdoors, the grower is working one crop throughout the season. Many outdoor farms with large outputs can operate with up to four employees full-time until harvest, when additional workers need to be brought in.

The high costs of indoor farming may be recouped through breeding projects, year-round harvests, and potent products that have higher selling points. Furthermore, manufactured indoor environments allow growers to cultivate strains that would otherwise be unsuitable for their local outdoor environment and climate. However, with the rising cost of energy and an increasing demand for more flower in the marketplace, outdoor farming may be able supply the market with quality products at a more reasonable price.

Quality of Cannabis Grown Indoors vs. Outdoors

Indoor flower has long been recognized as the top-of-the-line product. Being able to control your environment and expedite breeding has resulted in aesthetically beautiful strains with magnificent flavor profiles. Introducing higher CO2 levels than in the natural environment increases bud growth and produces THC levels that are difficult to obtain outdoors. Additionally, indoor cannabis does not have to deal with rain, wind, or any of the other natural elements that can damage an outdoor crop. The buds remain in pristine condition and only start to degrade once handling begins. The scale of most indoor operations generally allows for crops to be harvested in peak conditions and for the product to be cured in a controlled climate.

Outdoor flower is, of course, subject to the whims of the natural environment. Though the end product may not look as perfect, the taste, effects, and aroma should still be there. Some consumers find sun-grown organic cannabis to be preferable to the cosmetically pristine indoor alternative. Many stereotypes about outdoor cannabis exist for one key reason: legality. A large majority of outdoor cannabis seen by consumers has gone through a gauntlet of post-harvest abuse. Partly due to conflicts between state and federal law, many outdoor cannabis farms have to take risks to cultivate their product. As a result, oftentimes the harvest is rapid, curing is nearly non-existent, and aggressive handling is necessary to get it to market. As the laws change and outdoor facilities are able to take their time in processing, the market should see an increase in quality from outdoor grows.

Recently there has been an emergence of commercial greenhouse farming that strikes a balance between the two methods. This style of farming is producing quality results, which is exciting to see in this emerging industry. As we have seen, all styles of farming offer positives and negatives, and as a consumer or a producer, it’s always important to continually educate yourself. Step outside of your routine to try something new, and keep an open mind.

US CA: Pot Growers Leery Of Big Alcohol Takeover

Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2016 – North Coast Cannabis Cultivators Fear the Moneyed Establishment Shouldering into Their Scruffy Livelihood REDCREST, Calif. – For the Humboldt farmers, Sonoma County’s subterranean tasting rooms and Tuscan affectations offered a glimpse into a rarefied realm of legal intoxicants.

How Does Cannabis Consumption Affect Insomnia?

There’s a reason more insomnia sufferers are turning to cannabis. You toss and turn, count sheep, and negotiate (“If I can fall asleep by 3 a.m., I’ll at least get four hours of sleep”). Ten minutes becomes a half hour. A half hour becomes an hour. Before you know it, the sun is coming up. Insomnia is its own unique agony, but now that the stigma of cannabis is slowly lifting, more people are seeking out its therapeutic sedating properties.

Acute insomnia — which usually only lasts a night or two — happens to nearly all of us. It’s usually triggered by a stressful external event. But, chronic insomnia — regularly having three or more restless nights per week over the course of the month — affects a billion people worldwide.

Interestingly, insomnia affects women at twice the rate as men. And, it doesn’t get better with age. Half of all seniors are regularly affected by insomnia. Beyond feeling sleepy and irritable the next day, chronic insomnia is associated with some serious long-term health issues: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

So what causes insomnia, what are the traditional treatment options, and in what ways might cannabis be a healthier, viable alternative?

Causes of Insomnia

Insomniacs can have either primary or secondary insomnia.

• Primary insomnia is a standalone condition — it wasn’t caused by another health condition.
• Secondary insomnia is associated with a secondary health condition or substance (for example, depression, pain, alcohol, or a prescription medication).

The number one cause of insomnia is stress. While we can’t control every stressful external factor in our lives, there are healthy ways to deal with the stress. Dr. Rachna Patel, a physician from Walnut Creek, California, who has personally dealt with years of insomnia, notes, “Anything you can do to reduce stress will also help you sleep better. Get out for a jog. Swim. Eat better. Do relaxation exercises or meditate. Even if you still need a sleep aid like cannabis, lifestyle changes will improve your overall health!”

Traditional Treatment Options for Insomnia

Dr. Patel suggests, “Before trying medication, consider making lifestyle changes including setting a regular sleep schedule, getting more exercise, [and] eating healthier.” Nonetheless, Patel has observed that “some patients have so much difficulty sleeping that they just need a medication to help them.”

Prescription medications such as Zolpidem (Ambien) and Zaleplon (Sonata) have grown in popularity over the years, but they may not be that effective. One study by the National Institutes of Health found that sleeping pills, on average, only add 11 minutes of sleep time and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep by a mere 13 minutes.

Worse, they can come with serious adverse side effects and health consequences. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, over the last two decades there’s been a dramatic increase in prescription sleep aid-related emergency room visits.

Likewise, benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium, which are approved for sleep, are highly addictive and potentially dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 benzos were involved in 30% of lethal drug overdoses, second only to opioids.

Some also claim that natural supplements, such as melatonin, valerian root, lemon balm, or chamomile are helpful in falling asleep.

Can Cannabis Treat Insomnia?

Dr. Patel turned to cannabis after being prescribed Ambien. Afraid of the potential side effects, she found research validates what cannabis users have long suspected: cannabis helps people sleep.

Strangely, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Big Pharma’s Sanofi-Aventis may agree. They funded a study that showed consuming THC enabled subjects to fall asleep easier and more quickly.

Here’s more of the evidence:

• Easier time falling asleep. As far back as 1973, research has documented subjects falling asleep quicker after ingesting THC. More recently, a 2013 study of healthy subjects validated earlier findings.
• Sleep longer and better. Early studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in aiding sleep. One study of THC found that subjects experienced fewer interruptions over the night and some decrease in awakenings during the first half of the night.
• Enjoy deeper sleep. Cannabis can positively impact the sleep cycle. Studies prove THC can increase deep sleep. Why is this important? Because scientists believe deep sleep plays a vital role in our body’s natural restoration process.
• Better breathing while sleeping. Roughly 17% of men and 9% of women regularly have breathing problems when they sleep – a condition called sleep apnea – and most are never diagnosed. However, early research published in January 2013 by Frontiers in Psychology shows cannabis may help people breathe easier when they sleep. Who knows? Maybe someday sleep apnea sufferers can swap out their CPAP mask for a THC-infused brownie (but don’t count on Medicare to cover the cost yet).

How Does Cannabidiol (CBD) Affect Sleep?

Evidence of cannabidiol, or CBD, as a sleep aid has been contradictory. In one study, CBD – which is non-psychoactive – seemed to be effective as a “wake-inducing agent,” meaning it can make you feel more alert, the opposite effect of what an insomniac wants.

However, others who participated in the study reported that ingesting CBD-rich extracts or tinctures a few hours prior to bed had a relaxing effect that allowed them to sleep better at night. According to Project CBD, some patients with sleep issues report that “ingesting a CBD-rich tincture or extract a few hours before bedtime has a balancing effect that facilitates a good night’s sleep.”

The key is finding the right strain, blend, product, and dose for you. Everyone’s body responds to cannabis differently, so it may take a little trial-and-error before finding the perfect fit. Try a heavy indica or an edible. Consider something with a little CBD. See what happens when you dose a little instead of a lot. You might be surprised to find that your ultimate sleep remedy isn’t what you thought it would be.

Colombia Close to Legalizing Medical Cannabis

Latin America is taking bold steps to break free of the failed war on drugs, and Colombia is leading the way. With an overwhelming majority of 84 lawmakers in favor and just four against, Colombia’s Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that will legalize cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes.

The bill still needs the signature of President Juan Manuel Santos to become the law of the land.

The road to medical cannabis legalization has been long and winding in Colombia. It took Congress almost two years to pass all seven voting rounds needed to approve the new law. President Santos, a proponent of more lenient drug laws to reduce crime, stabilize the economy, and bring peace to the country, had decreed medical marijuana legal in December. That decree will now be replaced by the new law.

Colombia is ahead of the Latin American pack in the effort to institute a well defined system to regulate medical cannabis.

In an interview with El Tiempo newspaper, Liberal Party senator Juan Manuel Galan, who sponsored the bill, explained why it was necessary to replace the decree with a proper law. “The government decree refers to a law that is quite old, the Statute of Narcotics or Law 30 of 1986, which in many respects had completed its life cycle,” he said. “Also the regulator of the licenses would be the Narcotics Council, which is a consultative entity and does not have regulatory or technical capacity.”

Under the new law, three ministries will monitor the issuing of licenses for cultivation: justice, health, and agriculture. The real work starts now, Galan said: “After this comes a huge effort to train doctors. Ninety-eight percent of all doctors in Colombia have not investigated the issue of medical marijuana, are not familiar with it. So it’s a huge challenge to work with them and with the pharmaceutical guilds.”

The law requires the state to protect and strengthen small- and medium-size cannabis producers and retailers. But some in the Colombian cannabis scene have little trust that the system will work out fairly, especially for former underground producers.

Jorge Montoya is CEO of Cannalivio, a local company that’s been producing cannabis in a legal gray area since 2005. Montoya welcomes the changes, but stresses that many things are still unclear. “Local producers are confused, as it is unclear how this will be implemented,” Montoya said. “Seeing how the process has evolved up till now, unpleasant surprises can be expected by the hands of politicians and their hidden interests.”

Ahead of the vote, the government of the central Boyaca province announced it wants to become the first legal producer of medical marijuana, the website Colombia Reports recounted this week. The Boyaca government, Canadian laboratory Canavida, and the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC) have been promoting the project that seeks to grow cannabis in greenhouses across the province.

Until now, cultivation in Colombia took place in a legal gray area, as a 1986 law allowed medical and scientific use of marijuana, but this was never formally regulated until December 2015. The old law set a maximum of 20 plants as a legal amount for personal use. Using this limit, recreational and therapeutic users and underground medical growers produced their cannabinoids. The big question is what will happen to them now.

The bill was discussed in four debates in the House of Representatives and authorizes export and import of cannabis for medical and scientific uses. To legally cultivate, candidates must apply for a license and meet requirements for security protocols, legal representation, and insurance. During the debates, the number of different licenses grew from four to 11 and now include: cultivation, production, manufacture, purchase, import, export, storage, transport, marketing, distribution, and possession and use of the seeds of the cannabis plant, its derivatives, and products containing active compounds — for scientific and medicinal use only.

The Shake: Toronto Expo Kicks Off Under Crackdown Cloud, Legalization Foes Forget the Children

Canada’s largest cannabis conference starts off in solemnity. The Lift Cannabis Expo will kick off Saturday at the Metro Toronto Convention Center with more than 130 exhibitors. The weekend’s festivities, however, will proceed in a somber manner, after the largest targeted mass crackdown on cannabis in Toronto in more than 20 years, with raids on more than 40 dispensaries, arrests of more than 90 dispensary employees and owners, and more than 200 charges laid out for the possession and trafficking of medicinal marijuana. The raids, dubbed “Project Claudia,” have drawn the ire of cannabis advocates across Canada, who descended upon Toronto police headquarters this morning in protest.

Federal cannabis smuggling hits an all-time low. The United States Sentencing Commission released data on the latest drug-trafficking statistics, which showed a remarkable decline in federal trafficking offenses. The sharp decline begins in 2012, when Colorado and Washington legalized cannabis, and continued on a steady downward trend.

A new study shows that those who protest legalization the loudest are worried about money, not children. A study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that opponents of cannabis policy reform, particularly those who tend to spout rhetoric about “saving the children” are actually far more concerned about their own paychecks and contributions from lobbying groups dedicated to prohibition. “Think of the children?” More like “Think of my wallet!”

Ricky Williams of NFL fame joins the ganja-gym. Ricky Williams has had a storied past with cannabis use, having received multiple suspensions for it during his time as a star running back with the Miami Dolphins, but now he’s putting his sports and cannabis knowledge to good use. Williams is partnering with Power Plant Fitness, the new 420-friendly gym, and will be the official spokesman when the gym opens this fall.

Trans veteran credits cannabis for saving her life and helping her transition. Transgender Iraq War veteran Zooey Zachow suffered from PTSD upon returning from Iraq, but discovered that cannabis not only relieved symptoms of anxiety, but also helped with her “gender and sexual awakening.”

Swiss scientists jump on the vape train. Swiss chemists have formulated a cannabis e-cigarette for “therapeutic cannavaping,” using butane hash oil mixed with commercially available e-cigarette liquid at varying concentrations to deliver microdoses of cannabinoids as an alternative method for smoking medical cannabis. Vape contest on the Alps, anyone?

Sign in Maine stirs up controversy with cannabis slogans. An electronic sign outside the Frosty Delite ice cream shop in Mexico, Maine, startled ice cream patrons with some outspoken opinions in flashing fluorescent yellow: “WeedThePeople.com,” “Cannabis oil cures cancer” and “Natural cures.” The sign has been alight for months, but the proximity to the ice cream shop has sparked a debate amongst the townspeople.

And finally, a Texas toker gets his butt bit by a thunder-spooked pup. A Groesbeck man was smoking cannabis on his porch when a loud thunderclap spooked his dog so severely that the dog latched onto the owner’s left buttock, leading the man believed he’d been shot by a firearm. The man felt compelled to call police (who were likely doubled over laughing upon leaving the scene). He was treated and released by EMS, but not without one hell of a headline.

Cannabis Road Trip Tips: See Sights and Stay Safe with These 7 Rules

Cannabis tends to spark a desire for adventure, and with recreational and medicinal cannabis legal in more locations than ever, this summer is a perfect time to combine your love of the open road with your love of America’s favorite herb.

While pairing any type of travel with cannabis can be a little tricky, trips that require driving present a unique set of challenges. However, following a few simple rules makes it easy to stay safe and compliant with local laws as you take the high road, and incorporating cannabis can make for a wonderful trip if you do things right. Let the following tips guide you as you gather your crew, pack up the car, and head out on your next great adventure.

Rule #1: Trade Off Being the Designated Driver

For every day you’re on the road, you’ll want at least one person to stay completely sober, so the more buddies you bring, the more people in the car will have the option of being high for the ride. For the lucky passengers, riding high has many benefits. The hours will fly by; the scenery will be especially beautiful; you’ll laugh at pretty much everything along the way; you’ll jam out to music; and some strains even quell nausea in passengers prone to carsickness.

If you’re planning on riding solo you don’t have to take cannabis out of the picture completely, but it’s never okay to drive under the influence (no matter how deserted the lonely desert roads may seem), so plan your consumption for when you arrive at each day’s destination. Bonus: it gives you something to look forward to as the miles slip away beneath your tires.

Rule #2: Don’t Bring It Across State or Country Lines

Bringing cannabis across any state lines is illegal federally – even if you’re driving across the bridge from legal Washington to legal Oregon, it’s technically a no-no. Are you likely to get stopped if you’re driving safely? Nope, but just be aware of what’s officially acceptable and what’s not. It’s especially unwise to cross international borders with cannabis, even on accident. If you’re driving from Washington state to British Columbia, for instance, be sure you triple-check your purse or suitcase for wayward joints you might have forgotten about before you arrive at the border.

Don’t lament the fact that you can’t bring your homegrown bud along for the whole trip; use it as an excuse to check out the local selection in the cannabis-friendly places you visit.

Rule #3: Keep It in the Trunk

If you’re driving with cannabis – especially pungent raw flower – keep it in the trunk while you’re moving. That way, if you get pulled over because your tail light is out, it’s best not to raise any questions with a skunky car, even if cannabis is completely legal where you are. Police officers don’t have a good way of testing whether a driver is high, so a mere whiff could be enough to raise suspicions and cause trouble. No one should be smoking in the car while it’s moving: if you want to re-up on the go, pack some edibles for passengers to munch on.

Rule #4: Brush Up on Local Stores, Strains, and Regulations

It’s always best to know before you go – before you set off on your journey, determine where cannabis is legal and where it’s not, whether you’ll need a medical card to procure some, and what any local penalties entail. If you have a medical card, figure out which other states will accept your out-of-state authorization. Are you looking to stop at a rec store while you’re in, for instance, Colorado? Keep in mind that even where cannabis is legal state-wide, some cities have banned local sales, so use our dispensary finder to pinpoint the places you’d like to visit.

Once there, use our strain explorer to figure out which strains are available nearby, or ask your budtender to recommend local favorites that you can’t get anywhere else.

Rule #5: Plan Around the Scenery

Road trips were made for getting away from your day-to-day routine, and perhaps more than any other form of travel, they’re about the journey over the destination. Pick a drive with beautiful foliage, ocean views, mountainous elevation gains, or unique geographical formations, sit back in the passenger seat, and enjoy the view out the windows. The more unique, peaceful or colorful the scenery, the better. Roadside points of interest or elevated vantage points make for great places to stop, stretch, and smoke, too.

Rule #6: Bring Good Music, Podcasts, and Snacks

Good things to eat and listen to are a must for any road trip, and for a cannabis-centric road trip that’s especially true. Download all the new albums you’ve been meaning to get through, and stock up on podcasts from the likes of This American Life, Radiolab, On Being, and TED Radio Hour on topics such as “what is beauty,” “the unknown brain,” “how it all began,” and “are you sure?” – you’ll be transfixed and amazed at how fast the miles pass. As you listen, chow down on everything from white cheddar popcorn to apple slices to those tasty peanut butter pretzels – and be sure to stop at fun, funky restaurants that you come across off the beaten path.

Rule #7: Choose the Perfect Destination

If you live in a state where cannabis is illegal, a road trip is the perfect excuse to visit a legal state and shop for edibles, concentrates and strains to your heart’s content. Just remember to consume them without breaking any rules. To that end, there are numerous canna-friendly bed and breakfasts popping up in legal states, and if you’re bringing a camper van or plan to pitch your own tent, so much the better for enjoying your freshly purchased herb.

If cannabis is already plentiful where you’re living or traveling, other great destinations include awe-inspiring natural wonders (think Redwoods, Niagara Falls, or the Grand Canyon), secluded campgrounds where you can enjoy your cannabis meditatively, hot springs where you can stargaze with your sweetheart and let the world slip away, or fantastic restaurants where the meal will be better than ever when you’re medicated. Wherever you go, whether on a day trip or a cross-country drive, remember to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Signal Bay Acquires Cannabis Testing Facility

Signal Bay (OTCMKTS:SGBY) has completed its acquisition of Oregon analytical services, a full services cannabis testing facility.

As quoted in the press release:

Oregon Analytical Services has been providing full service analytical cannabis testing lab services in the greater Eugene area since 2014.  With a perpetual client base of over 500 cultivators, extractors, processors, edible manufacturers, and dispensaries, OAS has positioned itself as one of the dominant testing companies in Western Oregon.   Offering full compliance analytical testing services, including residual solvent and pesticide testing, OAS is centrally located to expand the service offering of EVIO Labs existing and proposed expansion labs within Oregon.

Signal Bay CEO William Waldrop said:

We are very proud to have achieved our goal of acquiring OAS in Eugene, Oregon, extending our cannabis lab footprint throughout Southern Oregon.  This acquisition complements our acquisition last year of Cannalytical Research in Bend, Oregon and our pending acquisition of Kenevir Research, another full-service cannabis test lab in Medford.  The acquisition Oregon puts EVIO Labs in a strong revenue position in the burgeoning Oregon cannabis marketplace. The next steps in the continued growth of EVIO Labs is to complete our acquisition of Kenevir Research, identify a prospective location in the Portland metropolitan area and open our previously announced lab testing facility in the Emerald Triangle of Northern California.

Click here for the full press release.

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Toronto Totals: 43 Dispensaries Raided, 90 Arrested Over 'Quality Control'

Toronto woke up to the aftermath of “Project Claudia” this morning to find more than 250 criminal charges leveled against 90 people arrested at 43 medical marijuana dispensaries across the city yesterday.

In a news conference at Toronto police headquarters earlier this morning, Police Chief Mark Saunders said the operation came about as the result of “significant community concern and public complaints” regarding the drastic increase of “unlawful storefronts selling marijuana” in recent months. City officials, he said, had “a genuine health concern” over the “quality control” of the products sold in the dispensaries.

In a protest outside police headquarters prior to the news conference, members of Toronto’s cannabis community denounced the citywide crackdown. “It’s unfathomable because marijuana is a very safe substance,” longtime cannabis activist Marc Emery told the Toronto Sun. “These dispensaries meet the demand of citizens who are there voting with their dollars and their feet to buy. There’s no harm going on, there’s no coercion.”

Marc Emery outside Toronto police headquarters. Photo by Richard Sharp

Steve Watts, acting inspector with the Toronto Police’s drug unit, laid out the amount of inventory seized yesterday from the 43 dispensaries. It included:

• Just under $160,000 in cash
• 269 kilos of dried cannabis
• 30 kilos of resin
• 24 kilos of hash
• 27 kilos of THC pills
• 72 kilos of chocolate
• 142 kilos of cookies
• 129 kilos of candies
• 64 kilos of sodas and liquids
• 126 kilos of oils and spreads

Twenty-three grams of powdered cocaine were also seized at one location, Watts said.

There’s an unusual scent inside police hq today. Police setting up display for “project Claudia” pot raid newser. pic.twitter.com/zT0SNFRez9

— Linda Ward (@LindaWardCBC) May 27, 2016

At this morning’s news conference, police officials displayed a monumental amount of merchandise seized at local dispensaries, as law enforcement agencies often do in the aftermath of a gang or illegal gun raid. The items on display are all commonly found in medical marijuana dispensaries in other Canadian cities and throughout the 24 legal medical marijuana states in the U.S.

Where the busts were pic.twitter.com/lOBvvo103e

— Jeff Gray (@jeffreybgray) May 27, 2016

At the news conference, several members of the audience pressed Chief Saunders on the police action. “No harm is being done,” one said. “Where are the victims?” another asked. “You have fifty-some complaints, yet you have tens of thousands of people feeling better.”

“I knew this was going to be a hard decision,” Saunders said, and added that he was not pressured politically to carry out the raids. “I do not want to impede on anyone that wants medical marijuana, but there’s an avenue through which you have to go to do that,” he added, referring to the Health Canada medical marijuana program, which requires patients to purchase only from federally licensed providers. Most storefront dispensaries in Toronto operate without a Health Canada license.

Saunders said he justified the raids based on public health concerns. “You don’t know if you go into one store and you purchase one brownie, muffin or cupcake, how much THC is in this one or that one. You don’t know. You don’t know what the quality control is in the place that made it.” Quality control and proper labeling, he said, were nonexistent.

Enforcing the law and addressing issues of community safety and quality of life is never a waste of time or resources.

— Mark Saunders (@marksaunderstps) May 26, 2016

Those arrested for selling the products without quality control and labeling will face charges — the kinds of charges that traditionally accompany drug crimes, not product labeling errors — that could result in significant jail time. Their first court appearances will be on June 19. Property owners involved in yesterday’s actions could face fines from $25,000 to $50,000.

Tania Cyalume, co-owner of Toronto’s Queens of Cannabis dispensary, protested outside police headquarters this morning. Photo by Richard Sharp

As the morning’s news conference unfolded, there was no shortage of outcry by observers, including Toronto residents and cannabis advocates.

Someone please explain how #ProjectClaudia ISN’T a huge waste of @TorontoPolice resources. Serious problems in TO & this isn’t one of them

— Arisa Cox (@arisacox) May 26, 2016

“Raids were done to protect children.” -TPS
“Have any kids been found to ingest weed.”-Media
“We have no data on that.” -TPS#ProjectClaudia

— Jamie MacKinnon (@MacKinnon08) May 27, 2016

Oh my. @Jeffreybgray found out why police called the pot-shop raids “Project Claudia.” pic.twitter.com/SpNKV49muZ

— Selena Ross (@seleross) May 27, 2016

project Claudia went off.. i’m vexed. dealers are rejoicing though http://t.co/1y629De1ed

— Deej (@deejdesign) May 27, 2016

My pal @johnsemley3000 wrote his councillor a pretty kickass letter about #ProjectClaudia: pic.twitter.com/0BwgH43o56

— Jonathan Goldsbie (@goldsbie) May 27, 2016

Image via Women Grow Toronto on Facebook

BREAKING NEWS: Toronto Police Raiding Dispensaries in Citywide Crackdown

UPDATE (5/26/16 3:25 p.m. PST):

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. EDT at police headquarters, news sources reported on Thursday evening, when he will reveal the names and locations of the dispensaries raided today, the charges, and the material seized. Earlier this month, The Star reported, the city’s licensing department issued warning notices to 78 of 83 known dispensaries operating in Toronto.

Also, Canadian cannabis activist Marc Emery has called on members of the community to gather at police headquarters (40 College Street) at 10:00 a.m., thirty minutes prior to Saunders’ news conference, to protest the raids.

PROTEST POLICE RAIDS ON DISPENSARIES at TORONTO POLICE HQ @ 40 COLLEGE ST. 10 am FRIDAY. pic.twitter.com/1TgBHgkvMS

— Marc Emery (@MarcScottEmery) May 26, 2016

Toronto Mayor John Tory had no comment about the raids, but the previous night, on CP24’s “The Mayor,” a call-in show, he called the storefronts “these so-called dispensaries, which are bogus.”

“You know what they are? They are the people who were chased out of Vancouver when they brought in a licensing system and they all said that’s no problem we’ll go down to Toronto,” Tory said.

“They’re conducting activities that are not within the law and I just think we can’t have them popping up on every street corner and near schools and messing up the livelihood trying to be earned by small business.”

You can watch Tory’s segment on CP24 here; the dispensaries bit starts at 2:12.

ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES BELOW:

Toronto police raided a number of dispensaries around the city this morning as part of an investigation known as “Project Claudia.”

Police are targeting 45 dispensaries, according to The Globe and Mail. Owners are being charged with municipal infractions and could face fines up to $50,000. “They targeted various locations that have been identified as trafficking in marijuana outside of marijuana for medical purposes regulations,” Toronto Police Cons. Caroline de Kloet said.

#Toronto police raiding Eden on Queen St. West. Staff are in handcuffs. Reports say cops are raiding 40 pot shops pic.twitter.com/dcfuQkNIOW

— Cannabis Culture (@CannabisCulture) May 26, 2016

Here are some of the dispensaries that have been raided:

• Eden Medicinal Society
• Canna-Connoisseurs
• The Green Room
• Weeds Glass & Gifts
• Toronto Holistic Cannabinoids (THC)
• BC CannaMed
• Kind Supply Dispensary
• Toronto Cannabis Dispensary
• Cannawide

Toronto police launch massive raids on pot shops in Toronto http://t.co/EPFP6rWko9 pic.twitter.com/J6RA3ciQvD

— Tubeline News (@aenewsline) May 26, 2016

Images have been posted on social media of dispensary employees in handcuffs while police officers confiscate cannabis and cash, and there have been reports that dispensary owners and employees are being arrested and charged with cannabis trafficking.

Soooo…. Uhhh ….. Where’s all this stuff goin? #projectclaudia #crackdown

A photo posted by Jesse Ship (@shipdip) on May 26, 2016 at 12:32pm PDT

Jodie and Marc Emery, noted cannabis advocates, have come forward to support their fellow cannabis business owners and to condemn the actions of Saunders, Toronto Mayor John Tory, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for allowing the raids and arrests to take place under an administration that promised federal legalization.

SHAME on the @TorontoPolice for raiding & arresting PEACEFUL people at various dispensaries in #Toronto #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Q7VCmM6rdu

— Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) May 26, 2016

Reports say dispensary employees are ALL being arrested AND charged, too @weedporndaily @JohnTory @BillBlair @TorontoPolice @TorontoTaxpayer

— Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) May 26, 2016

The Emerys’ own Cannabis Culture, a cannabis franchise based out of Vancouver, had plans to oversee the opening of two dispensaries in Toronto.

Reactions around the internet came fast and fierce:

The city must stop the crackdown on marijuana dispensaries. Waste of taxpayer money. Our statement: http://t.co/kgZyDX4v7Y #TOpoli

— TO Taxpayers (@TorontoTaxpayer) May 26, 2016

@JohnTory is wasting money on raiding dispensaries instead of lookin into all the missing Indigenous peoples.#ProjectClaudia @TorontoPolice

— Charlotte Higgins (@eirelandlily) May 26, 2016

Extremely regretful I support @JustinTrudeau legalization around the corner n thousands still getting marijuana charges #projectclaudia

— I AM THE NORTH (@JustMac11) May 26, 2016

Toronto police attempting to make criminals out of entrepreneurs . news at 11 #cdnpoli #projectclaudia

— Kim May (@ugottabekiddin) May 26, 2016

I can’t be the first to say this, but it feels like someone really dropped the ball not calling it Project Mary-Jane #ProjectClaudia

— claudia sanchez (@claudvandamn) May 26, 2016

Cannabis Craftsmanship: How to Make Infused Chocolate Truffles

Few things go together better than chocolate and cannabis. Cacao beans are even known to produce similar feelings to the pleasant effects of cannabis. That’s why we were so excited to learn more about the many ways the two can be combined when we were invited to the E’Claire Chocolates kitchen in Seattle, Washington.

Claire McKenzie, a professional chocolatier and cannabis aficionado, shows us how she infuses her gourmet chocolate truffles with cannabis oil. The combination creates a deliciously potent treat that’s as much fun to make as it is to eat! Using high-quality chocolate and heavy cream, Claire creates a chocolate ganache that can be used in a variety of ways. In the video she uses the ganache as the base of her chocolate truffles, which can then be rolled and coated with any number of toppings.

Have you ever wanted to make your own chocolate-cannabis infusions? Watch the video for Claire’s step-by-step guide to her process and share your own experiences in the comments section below. When you’re done, don’t forget to subscribe to Leafly’s video channel for the next episode of the Cannabis Craftsmanship series and more!

Cannabis and Impulsive Behavior: How CB1 and CB2 Receptors Regulate Our Animal Instincts

This article is sponsored by PlusCBD Oil, a product line from CV Sciences (formerly CannaVest). CV Sciences is one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of agricultural hemp-derived CBD bulk and finished products.

Impulsive behaviors are commonly associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders. For example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorders are all associated with maladaptive levels of impulsivity.

Even those of us without a documented psychiatric or neurological disorder can be negatively affected by impulsive behaviors. Compulsive gambling and shopping, overeating, and regular participation in high-risk activities can lead to serious financial loss, legal difficulties, excessive weight gain, and even physical injury. It stands to reason that impulse control leads to improved executive planning, letting us evaluate alternative actions, anticipate negative consequences from poor choices, and ultimately direct our attention to achieve an ideal outcome.

CB1 and CB2 Receptors’ Role in Moderating Impulsivity

Broadly speaking, the endocannabinoid system comprises two receptors (CB1 and CB2), two endogenous compounds that activate these receptors (endocannabinoids N-arachidonoylethanolamide [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG]), and two metabolic enzymes (fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase) that control the synthesis and breakdown of these endocannabinoids. Over the past decade, research in rats and mice along with supportive evidence in cannabis users has shown that CB1 and CB receptors located in the prefrontal cortex or the ventral tegmental area play key roles in regulating impulsive behaviors.

As noted by Wiskerke and Pattij, cannabinoid signaling in these areas of the brain can modify the activity of several neurotransmitter systems, including the dopamine, glutamate, and GABA systems. In one study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, Spanish scientists examined the actions of two cannabinoid drugs that affect the CB2 receptor in a particular mouse breed that displays high levels of impulsivity. Their results indicated that modulating the CB2 receptor reduced impulsive behavior in the mice. In addition, chronic administration of the drug tended to modify the genetic expression of CB2 levels such that they resembled breeds that had normal levels of impulsivity.

Conversely, activation and overexpression of CB1 receptors have been linked to increased impulse control problems, including eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Animal studies have also demonstrated that blocking CB1 receptor signaling leads to improvements in impulse control and nicotine- or alcohol-seeking behavior.

Potential Effects of CBD on Impulsive Behaviors

So, can manipulating the ECS with cannabidiol (CBD) and other phytocannabinoids reduce the severity of impulsive behaviors? Given the known polymorphisms in cannabinoid-related genes that affect impulsivity and impulse control disorders, as well as inter-individual differences in responses to phytocannabinoid administration, time and more research will tell. That said, to say we are cautiously optimistic would be an understatement. Modulating the endocannabinoid system’s tone via lifestyle change, nutrition, exercise, and use of phytocannabinoid CBD-rich hemp extract could all be potential tools in the wellness toolbox used to address impulsive behavior.

Resources:

Wiskerke and Pattij (2015). The cannabinoid system and impulsive behavior (pp. 343-364). In Cannabinoids in Neurologic and Mental Disease. Elsevier Inc.

Francisco Navarrete, José M, Pérez-Ortiz y Jorge Manzanares. “Regulación de la conducta de tipo impulsivo mediada por el receptor cannabinoide CB2 en ratones DBA/2”. British Journal of Pharmacology 165:260-273, Jan 2012.

Frieling H, Albrecht H, Jedtberg S, Gozner A, et al. Elevated cannabinoid 1 receptor mRNA is linked to eating disorder related behavior and attitudes in females with eating disorders. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 May;34(4):620-4.

de Bruin NM, Lange JH, Kruse CG, Herremans AH, Schoffelmeer AN, van Drimmelen M, De Vries TJ. SLV330, a cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, attenuates ethanol and nicotine seeking and improves inhibitory response control in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2011 Mar 1;217(2):408-15.