Tag: All Medical Marijuana News

The Best Cannabis Strains for Insomnia

Insomniacs, this list of sleepy cannabis strains is for you. You’re tired, but your eyes just won’t close. You toss and turn until you’ve tried every humanly possible position. You wake up clouded, lethargic, and irritable. Insomnia is the worst, but luckily cannabis is shown to be an effective and safe sleep aid for many people. It can slow racing thoughts, dissolve pain, relax muscles, and deliver its own sleepy chemicals to help you fall and stay asleep. However, as many have testified, finding the right strain is key.

We put together a list of 10 particularly sedating strains to give you an idea of what to look out for on your next visit to the dispensary. But first, some tips to keep in mind:

• Indicas tend to treat insomnia most effectively. Sativa strains can have an “upper” effect on some, making it more difficult to sleep. Some theories say this is due to differences in chemical makeup.
• Edibles can help you stay asleep longer. Though inhaling cannabis yields faster effects, edibles last a lot longer.
• Aged cannabis can have sleepier effects than fresh flower. It may not sound as appetizing, but older cannabis is shown to contain higher levels of a sedating chemical called cannabinol (CBN).
• Go easy on the high-THC strains if it’s anxiety keeping you up. A light dose of these strains can float you to sleep, but larger doses can worsen anxiety in some. You may also want to try a strain with some CBD in it if you’re sensitive to THC, as it often eases its anxious side effects.

Keep in mind that no strain or product affects everyone the same, and finding the solution for you may require a little trial and error. The below strains were selected based on user-submitted reviews and data, but everyone’s experience is different. We’d love to hear about yours in a strain review or in the comments section below!

Tahoe OG Kush

With effects that tend to be heavier than your average OG Kush hybrid, Tahoe OG is a godsend for insomniacs. Smoking or vaporizing this strain can yield fast-acting effects that let muscles relax, easing that need to roll around in your blankets all night. Tahoe OG is also known to slow racing thoughts so you can float into sleep with a calm and peaceful mind.

“Outstanding for insomnia. Consistently puts me to sleep without a heavy hangover the next morning. A true replacement for prescription sleep meds.” – KookedFish

Granddaddy Purple

It would be a crime to leave this indica classic off any list touting the top sleepy strains. Not only is it fairly easy to find, Granddaddy Purple is shown to exhibit high levels of the sleepy terpene myrcene. A favorite among patients whose pain keeps them up at night, this indica analgesic carries strong flavors of berry and grape that only sweeten the deal.

“This strain is extremely relaxing/sedating. Felt the tension in my body melt away very fast. Back pain vanished into thin air after about 15 minutes. Relaxing, mellow, dreamy.” – Mochii

Skywalker

Skywalker is known to empower the mind with positive thoughts while letting tension free from your body. Multiple Leafly reviewers reported that Skywalker helped loosen the grip of panic and anxiety, allowing them to float restfully into a good night’s sleep. Take caution with its potency, however; a small amount of this high-THC strain may be all you need while large doses can exacerbate anxiety in unaccustomed users.

“A little bit helped put me to sleep even through a really nasty panic attack.” – adjoint

God’s Gift

God’s Gift is indeed a gift to insomnia sufferers. All that stress keeping you up at night feels suddenly overpowered by a surefooted sense of peace. Releasing the exhale with notes of berry and citrus still clinging to your tongue, you’re soon to feel your mood lift as your body sinks.

“I started my session pissed off, stressed, and had the usual insomnia. God’s Gift wiped away all those problems in one fell swoop. I was left feeling happy, euphoric and relaxed. I went to bed with no struggle with a clear mind. I feel great today with no care of what ailed me yesterday.” – Gr8Gage

Afghan Kush

Afghani indicas are famous for their heavy, body-focused effects. Afghan Kush, following in suit, is cherished for its ability to knock out pain, hush anxious thoughts, and anchor the body to one single goal: sleep.

“Imagine a very large, fluffy cloud enveloping your body. Then add weights to your eyelids. Be prepared to feel an undeniable need to eat anything you see…and then somehow find yourself in your bed paralyzed. Do not smoke this if you are not prepared to sleep.” – aschafke

Northern Lights

Imagine yourself on a cold winter night, wrapped in a warm blanket as green lights dance above you. This isn’t altogether unlike the experience provided by the Northern Lights indica, an old-school strain that has been lulling minds to sleep since its inception in the mid-1980s. Commanding sleep with a heavy hand, Northern Lights uses its high-THC content to annihilate pain and insomnia. Cannabis novices should approach this potent strain with extra caution, paying mind to dose low and slow.

“If you have pain that interferes with sleep Northern Lights is for you! Hadn’t slept even half right in a week. I can’t take any prescription pain killers because they cause skin rashes and [make it] hard to sleep. I had 2 hits from NL, a hot shower, and 1 aspirin. I slept 9 hours and felt better than I have felt in a month.” – mickfromkent

Ogre

The sleep-inducing hybrid Ogre stomps out insomnia with a force you’d expect from a pure indica. Sweet citrus flavors dance over the palate on the inhale, giving your senses something to delight in as the sedative effects kick in.

“Indicas usually don’t affect me too much, but this Ogre took about 3 minutes to take my body over and make me ready for a nice nap.” – boddie09

Querkle

A personal favorite nightcap of mine, Querkle seems to attack insomnia at its many sources. Anxiety calms, nausea dulls, and depression evaporates, leaving you in a meditative state as you gently coast into restful sleep. My budtender was surprised to hear this one was an effective sleep remedy for me, as some report uplifting effects from this strain. That being said, I’d say this strain may not be the one you rely on for forcing your brain into sleep; rather, it pre-conditions a tranquil mindset so sleep comes easier when it’s time to shut the lights out.

“Love this strain a couple of hours before bedtime. Very relaxing and euphoric feeling. Body sensations are heightened in a positive way and pain is greatly diminished…Eases you into a nice, deep sleep towards the end.” – razaross

Big Bud

Big Bud is an indica strain named for its megalithic flowers, but these buds are not only impressive in size, they’re also astonishingly potent. This is the strain you want if you’re looking to hit the hay right away – it’s like an “off” switch for the mind.

“I’ve been dealing with insomnia on and off my entire life and I now find myself getting excited to go to bed, and for the first time since I was in my early twenties I am now completely pill free due thanks to great strains like Big Bud.” – sourcheesiel29

9 Pound Hammer

Crushing insomnia like a hammer, this no-nonsense indica strain is perfect for insomniacs who can’t escape the prison of their mind while lying in bed. Its mild CBD content is just enough to pacify the mind and relax the body, like a counterweight to the mental speediness sometimes caused by THC. The loud fruity flavors of ripe berry and grapes are just another reason to love this insomnia-crusher appropriately named 9 Pound Hammer.

“One of my top “go-to” strains for insomnia. Keeps the anxiety away & helps lock me into a sleep pull I can’t think my way out of. Brilliant.” – Bunnyfu42

Mettrum Receives License Amendment for the Sale of Medical Cannabis and Extracts

Mettrum Health Corp. (TSXV:MT) announce that the Company has received an amendment to its license to include both the production and sale of medical cannabis and extracts from Health Canada under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations at its 60,000 square foot production and distribution facility located in Bowmanville, Ontario.

As quoted in the press release:

Under the MMPR, the license was upgraded from production only and provides Mettrum with the ability to produce and sell dried medical cannabis as well as cannabis extracts from the Bowmanville South facility. This provides the company with total licensed production capacity of 3,500 kg and licensed sales capacity of 3,550 kg of dried cannabis and production and sales capacity of 1,906 kg of cannabis extracts. The Bowmanville South facility has total production capacity on a fully built out basis of 8,000 kg of cannabis representing $60 million in sales plus potential extracts.

Mettrum has three fully licensed facilities to produce and sell dried cannabis and cannabis extracts, with a production capacity on a fully built out basis of 12,000 kg per year. As one of Canada’s largest producers and sellers of medical cannabis, Mettrum is exceptionally well-positioned to serve the needs of a growing and regulated market.

Mettrum Health CEO, Michael Haines, stated:

This latest milestone is significant as we can now transition our distribution hub from our original facility at Bennett Road North, to our largest facility down the road. We continue to advance our business plan. These latest amendments will contribute to our continually improving operational efficiency and margins.

The post Mettrum Receives License Amendment for the Sale of Medical Cannabis and Extracts appeared first on Investing News Network.

Will the 9th Circuit Court Stop MMJ Prosecutions in the West?

Rolland Gregg and his family have fought federal cannabis charges for more than three years, arguing that the roughly 70 plants investigators found on their property in Washington state were for their own medicinal use and fully complied with state law.

A federal jury last year convicted Gregg, his mother, and his then-wife of growing 50 to 100 marijuana plants — amounts their attorney said are in compliance with state medical marijuana law. With prison sentences looming, they’re fighting back by pointing to a recent act of Congress—the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment—that they say should have prevented the U.S. Department of Justice from prosecuting them.

The U.S. Department of Justice disagrees with Gregg’s interpretation of the law.

“It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life when you see the government coming down on you for simply trying to be healthy,” Gregg said.

Rolland Gregg

The 9th Circuit Court of appeals, which has jurisdiction over nine western states, is expected to issue a ruling soon on the scope of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment and whether it applies to cases like Gregg’s. That ruling could end or overturn at least six federal cannabis criminal prosecutions and convictions in California and Washington, including Gregg’s. It could also limit future prosecutions of medical marijuana users and dispensaries in eight western states that allow them. (Idaho is the only state within the 9th Circuit that doesn’t.)

“The 9th Circuit is the biggest circuit, one that contains lots of marijuana states. If they were to say, ‘The federal government is prohibited from enforcing medical marijuana law,’ that would be huge,” said Sam Kamin, a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law who studies cannabis regulation.

At issue is a Congressional amendment that said the DOJ could not use Congressionally-allocated funding to prevent states that have legalized medical marijuana from implementing laws that permit its use, distribution and possession.

The amendment’s bipartisan sponsors — California Congressmen Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa,— say it prohibits the DOJ from prosecuting people who are complying with state medical marijuana laws.

California and more than 20 other states have legalized cannabis for medical use. The drug, however, remains illegal under federal law.

The DOJ has interpreted the law more narrowly, claiming it prevents prosecutors from trying to block state medical cannabis laws or charging state officials who implement them, but permits U.S. attorneys to go after cannabis dispensaries and growers.

The 9th Circuit is expected to clarify the amendment in appeals by three sets of defendants, who have cited it as grounds for judges to dismiss their cannabis charges.

Steve McIntosh, a dispensary owner in Los Angeles, had permits from local officials that show him in compliance with state law, according to his attorney, Marc Zilversmit. Under the Congressional amendment, the most the federal government can do is refer him to state authorities for prosecution, Zilversmit said.

Another defendant, cannabis farmer Samuel Doyle, met Washington State’s requirements for collective cannabis grows for medical marijuana patients, his attorney Douglas Hiatt said. “He was growing medical marijuana for people who needed it, whether they could afford it or not,” Hiatt said.

DOJ officials claim McIntosh’s dispensary had ties to a street gang, and Doyle and his co-defendants didn’t meet the legal requirements for medical marijuana in Washington State. Investigators found more than 550 plants growing on the Spokane property Doyle oversaw, and at least one of Doyle’s co-defendants indicated the cannabis was being sold, prosecutors said.

The DOJ did not respond to a request for further comment.

Gregg’s case is not among the ones the 9th Circuit is set to rule on. But he has raised the same argument as the other defendants, and the 9th Circuit has put his appeal on hold pending the outcome of the other appeals, his attorney Phil Telfeyan said.

“The feds think they have the power to override voters of the State of Washington and the will of Congress,” said Telfeyan, co-founder of the nonprofit civil rights group Equal Justice Under Law. “It’s up to the 9th Circuit to tell them, ‘Enough is enough. You can’t keep prosecuting people who are using medical marijuana for their needs.'”

The DOJ cited a county investigator’s testimony that he saw evidence of a for-profit cannabis farming operation on Gregg’s family property. The investigator said he found records that he believed were for drug sales, a scale and packaging material in the house as well as firearms, according to court documents.

Gregg, 34, who owns an alternative energy company, denied he sold cannabis, saying he used the drug to treat pain following a snowboarding accident that left him with a broken back and neck. His mother has rheumatoid arthritis and his then-wife had an eating disorder, he said, adding that all three had medical marijuana authorizations.

But the DOJ argued in his case, and Doyle and McIntosh’s cases, that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment doesn’t bar the federal agency from prosecuting people violating federal drug law, even if they meet state law.

Alex Kreit, a cannabis law expert at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, said the DOJ and cannabis defendants each have strong arguments for their conflicting interpretations of the amendment.

“The (amendment’s) language is not a model of clarity,” he said. “It really is open to a number of different interpretations.”

Image Source: AP

Attend The Free (Yes, FREE!) Virtual Cannabis Entrepreneur Summit

One of the coolest things in the cannabis space that I have seen since co-creating this blog in 2010 was the first ever Virtual Cannabis Health Summit. I have been to events, and have seen a lot of educational material online, but up until the point of that summit I had never seen so many

Reminder: 6th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days May 12-13

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is doing big things to move the cannabis industry and movement forward. If you are in the industry and not a member of NCIA, you should be. Below is an opportunity to make a lot of impact for the cannabis movement (via Facebook). I encourage you to make it

The Leafly Guide to Pairing Cannabis and Chocolate

Cannabis and chocolate: two substances with the power to make people very happy. Few things make for a better pair, and between the thousands of cannabis strains and a similar range of chocolate origins and options, the possibilities are endless. But how to go about pairing your favorite chocolate bars, truffles and desserts with your favorite strains? Don’t be intimidated by pairings – they’re easier than you think.

What Makes Cannabis Go So Well with Chocolate?

“There are so many parallels between chocolate and cannabis,” says Claire McKenzie, a Seattle-based professional chocolatier who offers chocolate and cannabis tasting and truffle-making workshops through her company, E’Claire Chocolates. “Chocolate is a plant just like cannabis, with three types of cacao similar to how there are three types of cannabis,” McKenzie explains. The effects of eating chocolate are in many ways chemically similar to the effects of consuming cannabis. Cacao beans even produce a kind of cannabinoid of their own – anandamide – which binds to the same receptors as THC in the brain, and mimics the pleasant feelings that cannabinoids catalyze.

What happens when you bring chocolate and cannabis together? “When there’s the THC and anandamide and theobromine and CBD coming together…you get that elevated, jazzed-up feeling” as the influences interact with one another, says McKenzie. Since cannabis tends to heighten the enjoyment of taste and texture, it’s especially easy to get excited about chocolate’s flavor profiles when you’re under the influence of cannabis. And the best part is that both chocolate and cannabis are good for you. “If you eat whole chocolate it’s the best food in the world,” McKenzie says, referring not only to chocolate’s natural mood enhancing properties but also to its numerous minerals and antioxidants. “The only thing that can make chocolate better is cannabis.”

The Basics of Chocolate Tasting

Pretty much everyone loves chocolate, but we often eat it without actively thinking about what we’re tasting (beyond “chocolatey” and “delicious”). In fact, chocolate is among the most flavorful foods on Earth, and can display a wide range of nuances depending on the type of bean, growing location, soil, altitude, environmental conditions, when the beans were harvested, how they were processed, and so on. Chocolate from Madagascar can display tart or sour fruit characteristics; Hawaiian chocolate often exhibits nutty and caramelly notes; some Southeast Asian chocolate can reveal earthy, smoky flavors.

Chocolate tasting is about more than just flavor. Before you eat a chocolate, consider its appearance, then bring it to your nose and take a few deep breaths, inhaling its aroma. Pop the chocolate in your mouth and let it melt on your tongue rather than biting it. Evaluate the texture. Think carefully about what you’re tasting, and try to come up with descriptors (you’ll get better at this with practice). Do you detect tobacco? Dried fruit? Butterscotch? Hazelnut? If you’re having a hard time, use a chocolate flavor wheel to get the ideas flowing. Be sure to keep thinking about the taste even after you’ve swallowed the chocolate: unique flavors often show up in the finish. Take notes as you do all this, and think about flavors that might complement what you’re tasting.

The Basics of Cannabis Pairing

No matter what you’re matching it with, the right cannabis pairing starts with an understanding of cannabis terpenes – the compounds that occur in varying concentrations to give individual cannabis strains their unique aromas and flavors. Limonene is what gives Lemon Skunk its distinctive zestiness; a high concentration of pinene imparts a foresty flavor profile to Jack Herer. Matching these aroma and flavor profiles with other aromas and flavors that complement or accentuate them is what makes for a great pairing.

If you’re a beginner, cannabis strains with high terpene levels are a great place to start; they’ll have the most pronounced aromas and flavors, which make them easier to match. Your budtender will be able to guide you toward strains with high levels of terpenes (between 2% and 4% total terpene content is generally considered high).

How best to consume the cannabis? Vaping flower is one of the best options because it lets terpene flavors shine through. Vaping concentrates can be similarly enjoyable, though be aware that concentrated flavor may overwhelm the taste of some chocolates. Smoking a bowl or joint will work too; you’ll get less of the strain flavor, which can make pairing harder, but the smoke adds a flavor element of its own that goes well with certain chocolates, especially dark ones.

Cannabis and Chocolate Pairings to Start With

Ready to pair? We recommend picking out three unique types of chocolate (such as white, milk and dark chocolate, or three dark chocolates from different origins) and three strains with very different flavor profiles (try a bright citrusy strain, a sweet fruity strain, and a pungent skunky strain). When sampling, either take a hit before taking a bite of chocolate, or place a piece of chocolate on your tongue and let it melt for a few seconds before taking the hit as you savor it. Try each strain with each type of chocolate. Which combinations do you like best?

It’s important to remember that there are no right or wrong answers in pairing: if you like the combination, then it’s a good match. Everyone tastes things differently based on past experiences, personal preferences, and even genetics, so what delights one person may seem lackluster to someone else. The more you sample, the better you’ll get at determining what you like.

To get started, try these three combinations:

White Chocolate and Super Lemon Haze: If it sounds like it would make a delectable dessert (think lemon white chocolate cheesecake), chances are it’ll be a solid pairing. That was the case with a rich white chocolate plus a pungent Super Lemon Haze from Rootworx in Shelton, Wash.; the lemon characteristics cut straight through the rich sweetness of the white chocolate.

Milk Chocolate and Marionberry Kush: We matched a 38% milk chocolate with a sweet, juicy Marionberry Kush from Emerald Jane’s in Seattle. Look for a fruity Central American chocolate for this pairing, and pay attention to how it brings out the jammy notes in the strain.

Dark Chocolate and Gorilla Glue #4: The pungent diesel aromas of North Coast Growers’ Gorilla Glue #4 added a surprising degree of complexity to the roasty, bitter dark chocolate we tried. An earthy South American chocolate that clocks in around 70% cacao works beautifully for this pairing.

What are your favorite chocolate and cannabis pairings? Share them in the comments section below!

Image Source: Sara Dilley

How Did Our Moms React When We Came Out of the Cannabis Closet?

The first time you come out to your parents about your cannabis use can be a scary and uncomfortable experience. It’s a big step into the unknown, but can often result in meaningful conversations about how much (or how little) you have in common with the people who raised you. When we’re growing up, our parents, especially our moms, seem infallible, a superhero caliber brand of amazing that you can hardly fathom.

It’s only as you get older that you slowly learn your parents are simply human – they’ve been confronted with same roadblocks and milestones that you’ve encountered along your path to adulthood, and they certainly know about cannabis. Whether they’ve walked the straight and narrow or can toke up with the best of them, your parents definitely have an opinion about our favorite green plant.

In acknowledgement of Mother’s Day, I asked the Leafly staff to share their stories of the first time they broached the topic of cannabis with their moms. The result was a collection of heartwarming and hilarious anecdotes of coming out of the cannabis closet to the person who birthed us, raised us, and changed our diapers. Here’s to the moms – may they love you, accept you, and respect your choices, one way or another.

A Surprising Bonding Experience

“Ahh Mother’s Day.,….I wasn’t there (I went on a guys’ ski trip), but when we were pregnant with my first (13 years ago!) there was a huge baby shower. My pregnant wife was sober, but our friends all got super stoned with the grandmas to be. Apparently both moms bonded over their upcoming transition to being a grandma while super high on the couch late at night.”

–Clay, Account Executive

“[It was the] summer between freshman and sophomore year of college. I’m down at a beach house with friends and family and I sneak off to burn a J. I come back and of course smell like pot. My dad scolds me for smelling like pot in the house, and immediately follows it with ‘…but if you wanna burn another, I’ll meet ya on the back porch in like 20 minutes.” Smoked one down with Pops and it was great. Fast forward nine years, now my parents have their own grow and make edibles.”

–Jordan, Account Manager

Yes, Moms Worry

“My mom found my six Deep Chunk plants in the crawlspace under the house when I was in high school, and instead of scolding me, [she] got really sad like she had failed as a mother. I wish she would have just yelled at me. Little did she know [what] the future [would bring for cannabis]!”

–Fermin, Software Engineer

“My mom got a call from the police department, so the ride home was our first real discussion about cannabis. Her main concern was for my safety and whether there were harder drugs of abuse. She did not condemn cannabis, I had to deal with my disappointed Jewish mother, which is much worse than an angry mom! My dad, on the other hand, basically said, ‘No shit? I was arrested for the same thing when I was your age!’, and thus our bond over shared views towards cannabis commenced.”

–Will, Digital Specialist

“My mom was cleaning my room while I was studying abroad and found rolling papers. Little did she know, I’d actually never used them (I still can’t roll a J), but had them just in case (I’d been vaporizing daily for a year or so at that point). She was more concerned about me going to jail than about any side effects. This was in 2010, so it’s pretty awesome that in a few short years I’m now working on the legal side of the industry!”

–Philip, Software Engineer

“Hey Mom, I Work for Leafly Now”

When they got the coveted job offer from Leafly, many of our esteemed colleagues were forced to come clean with their parents about their new line of work and their support for cannabis. The confessions led to some unexpected results:

“My mom found out that I used cannabis when I got the job [at Leafly], but she was always a bit squirrely about actually trying cannabis. One night, my sister’s friends were over and we all sat around the patio table outside, smoking out of a water pipe. My mom decided to join us and we all giggled, trying to instruct her on how to use a bong. My mom managed a successful hit, complete with coughing. She passed the pipe around the table and my sister’s friend easily maneuvered the pipe, while my mom looked on.

“Suddenly, Mom gasped. ‘Whaaaat? You smoke weed? Does your mother know that?’ My sister’s friend’s eyes widened and she quickly responded, ‘NO! Please don’t tell her.’ The entire table erupted in giggles. Don’t worry. Momma ain’t no narc.”

–Lisa, Associate Editor

“I came out of the cannabis closet to my mom by telling her I took a job at Leafly, at which point she busted out the app and showed me all the strains she’d favorited. Next week I ran into her at Uncle Ike’s, buying rolling papers.”

–Kelly, Senior Developer

“My little Korean mom is both impossible to read and quite intimidating, so when it was time to break the news that her daughter took a job at a cannabis company, I was a little afraid of how she’d react. We live a few thousand miles apart, so I mustered up the courage to ring her up and let her know. I said, ‘I work for a startup that has created a directory for, uh…marijuana’, and was greeted with silence on the other end, then ‘My gahhhh,’ then more silence. I chewed on my lip, waiting for the inevitable rapid-fire interrogation that would eventually spiral into half-English, half-Korean ragerish (rage-gibberish).

“Finally, my mom started back up with ‘So…’, and I braced myself for the verbal abuse that would follow. She said, ‘You get pah-king?’ Bewildered, I uttered, ‘What?’ She repeated, ‘Pah-king. You get pah-king there?’ My mom just asked me about the parking situation at my new cannabis job. Because that’s clearly the first question that springs to mind when someone tells you, ‘I work for a startup in the marijuana industry.’ Confused, I responded in the affirmative, to which my mom replied, ‘Das good. Free?’ I said, ‘Yes, I get free parking’ while my brain struggled to understand what the hell was happening.

“My mom, pleased with my new job’s parking situation, said, ‘Oh, nice!’, and at that point I asked, ‘That’s it?’ To my surprise, she countered with ‘You smart and you know better than Mommy, so you do what’s best.’ That was it. We wrapped up our call and that was that. I have the weirdest yet best mom in the world. (Although we’ve sinced move offices to a less parking-friendly location, so who knows if her opinion will change once I break the news.)”

–Rebecca, Senior Content Manager

“A couple holiday seasons or so ago, my mom made some of the strongest brownies I have ever had in my life. We all ate one and got so stoned. Our family of five could barely function as human beings, and we piled into my sister’s double bed to watch The Interview (that Seth Rogen/James Franco comedy). We were all so uncomfortable, but too high to move to the room with the larger TV. Also, my mom calls cannabis ‘toot-toot’.”

–Sam, Account Executive

What was your experience like when you came clean to your Mom about cannabis? Share your funny and memorable stories below!

Reminder: Cannabis Industry Social With Tobias Read On Monday

To say that Oregon needs a cannabis friendly Oregon State treasurer is an understatement. Below is an event featuring candidate Tobias Reed, via Facebook. I believe his record speaks for itself: Please join us for a social hour with Tobias Read! Tobias has been a major asset in the Oregon House for the cannabis industry

US WA: Legalized Pot Is Becoming Very Inexpensive

Buffalo News, 08 May 2016 – Two years ago, Washington State began an unprecedented policy experiment by allowing large-scale production and sale of recreational marijuana to the public. The effects on public health and safety and on the relationship of law enforcement to minority communities will take years to manifest fully, but one impact has become abundantly clear: Legalized marijuana is getting very cheap very quickly. Marijuana price data from Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board was aggregated by Steve Davenport of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. After a transitory rise in the first few months, which Davenport attributes to supply shortages as the system came online, both retail prices and wholesale prices have plummeted. Davenport said that prices “are now steadily falling at about 2 percent per month. If that trend holds, prices may fall 25 percent each year going forward.”

Can Cannabis Give You Multiple Orgasms?

Recently, Match.com published updates to its Singles in America survey, suggesting that of the 5,500 people surveyed, “single stoners are 109% more likely to have had multiple orgasms.” Does cannabis really help people have multiple orgasms? If so, how?

What, Exactly, is an Orgasm?

Sexuality resource site Scarleteen defines orgasm as “an event typically in response to physical or intellectual sexual stimulation, controlled by the involuntary nervous system. Orgasm often results in muscle contractions in and around the genitals, other muscular spasms throughout the body, and a feeling of sexual and/or tension release.”

So what’s the deal with multiple orgasms?

My colleague Dr. Nadine Thornhill explains, “Different people experience multiple orgasms in different ways. For some folks it’s a rapid series of climaxes, occurring within a few seconds of one another. For others, there may be an individual orgasm, followed by a brief pause, followed by another individual orgasm. For some, it can mean getting aroused, stimulation, followed orgasm, total resolution (that’s M&J [Masters and Johnson] speak for your body going back to its pre-aroused state), followed by renewed arousal, more stimulation, and another orgasm.”

Dr. Thornhill makes some important points. Orgasms feel and manifest differently for different people. Selma Blair’s character in the movie Cruel Intentions, for example, describes her first orgasm by saying, “Then I started getting really hot, and then I started shaking, then I don’t know, it was weird, it just felt like an EXPLOSION…but a good one.” Some folks experience that explosive release of tension. Others feel rapid contracting and release in their pelvic region. Some may experience ejaculation at the point of orgasm, but others may ejaculate before or after the orgasm, or independently of orgasm. Sometimes feelings of intense release can occur without any physical stimulation at all.

How to Create an Orgasm-Friendly Environment

If you want to help create an environment that is conducive to pleasure and orgasm, no matter how many times it manifests (if at all!), here are some suggestions:

Eliminate distractions. Set aside time where you can focus on all the things that make your body feel good. Turn your phone on silent, go somewhere you won’t be interrupted, and enjoy yourself.

Consider orgasm a bonus, not a focus. As I’ve mentioned, focusing too much on orgasm during sex actually makes it more difficult to have an orgasm at all, much less multiple orgasms. Instead, focus on what brings you the most pleasure at any given moment.

Use (and don’t use) your muscles. You can activate your pelvic floor by clenching your core muscles along with the muscles in your butt, thighs, and calves. Many find that this tension makes it easier to orgasm, since an orgasm is simply an involuntary release of muscle tension. For instance, in order to have a stimulation-based orgasm, I need to be lying down with my legs straight out and clenched. I literally cannot get off if my legs are bent or not flexed. Conversely, some find the tension distracting or interfering with their pleasure due to muscle cramps or the position they need to be in to facilitate orgasm. Experiment with muscle use to find out what works best for you.

Breathe deeply. Seriously. You have to be able to breathe. Many find themselves holding their breath at various points during pleasurable sensation. Holding your breath or taking rapid, shallow breaths (just at the top of your chest) can actually induce a stress response, which is the antithesis of pleasure. Keep breathing down into your thoracic diaphragm. Pretend you’re sucking on a vape pen: inhale for four seconds, pause a second, and exhale for eight seconds. This will kick on your parasympathetic nervous system and get your body out of fight/flight/freeze mode.

Does Cannabis Impact Your Orgasms?

The Match.com survey didn’t give any explanation beyond the statistic, so I’m speculating here, but I suspect cannabis is useful because it facilitates relaxation and mindfulness, two key components of pleasurable sensation. If you know that you’re prone to getting stuck in your head, try a high CBD strain for anxiety. For those who want to amplify sensation, try a strain that makes you extra sensitive to tactile stimuli like Key Lime Pie.

How has cannabis impacted your experience of multiple orgasms?

Cannabis Craftsmanship: How to Make a Dab Rig with the Boro School

Dab rigs are practically a necessity for the modern cannabis connoisseur, but a quality hand-blown rig isn’t something you can just whip up with household items. To find out more about the time, care, and artistry needed to create a glass dab rig, we visited the Boro School in Seattle, Washington.

Erin Bourguinon, an instructor at the Boro School, shows us how she builds a dab rig from start to finish. Using a technique known as coil potting, Erin builds her full-color tubes. Once she has her tubes together, she’s able to shape the various pieces and begin assembling them. After the dab rig is assembled, it heads to the kiln for one last cycle to help the glass anneal overnight. Once the glass has settled and cooled, the rig is ready to use.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to blow glass or make your own dab rig? Check out the video for Erin’s step-by-step guide to her process and share your experience in the comments section below. When you’re done watching, don’t forget to subscribe to Leafly’s video channel for the next episode of the Cannabis Craftsmanship series and more!

Reminder – 17th Annual Global Cannabis March Taking Place In Portland Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the Global Cannabis March, taking place in many cities across the world. Portland, Oregon is going to be doing its 17th march. If you are able, get down to Pioneer Courthouse Square and show your support. There’s a lot to celebrate this year, and a lot of work still to do, so get

Keith Stroup Founder Of NORML To Keynote At Cannabis World Congress In New York

“Why We’re Finally Winning After All These Years,” will be the powerful address given by Keith Stroup, Founder of NORML at the Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo), June 15-17, at the Javits Center in New York. Mr. Stroup joins Leonard Marshall, Super Bowl Champion and concussion prevention advocate, as a headlining Keynote Speaker.

The Shake: State Dept. Says DEA is Wrong on Cannabis

State Department says DEA’s cannabis research policy doesn’t add up. You know how legalization opponents sometimes say we “don’t know enough” about cannabis to end prohibition? If you’re a scientist who wants to study cannabis in the U.S., the only way to obtain it legally is through the University of Mississippi, the sole entity with a federal license to operate. Other institutions have applied for licenses, longtime advocate Tom Angell reports, but the DEA has repeatedly stood in their way on the grounds that international treaties prevent the U.S. from granting more licenses. Well, the State Department says that’s hooey. In a letter released Thursday in response to questions from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement says it interprets international law very differently: “Nothing in the text of the Single Convention, nor in the Commentary, suggests that there is a limitation on the number of licenses that can be issued,” the letter says. The limit, sometimes called the “NIDA monopoly” because the National Institute of Drug Abuse administers the licenses, has stymied research since it began in 1968. It feeds prohibitionists’ “not enough research” argument, and it grinds research involving cannabis-based therapies almost to a halt. But as Angell writes, “While the situation has long been referred to by advocates as the ‘NIDA monopoly,’ the blame lies squarely at DEA’s feet.”

Oakland wants to be the cannabis capital of California. The City Council voted unanimously this week to expand the number of dispensaries and other cannabusinesses allowed within city limits. The new law adds eight dispensary licenses and lays the groundwork for a projected 30 growers, 12 delivery services, two testing facilities, 28 manufacturing facilities, and more. Oakland also became the first to include a so-called equity amendment in its regulations that requires the city to grant half the new business licenses to applicants who live in areas of Oakland that have traditionally had higher cannabis-related arrests. Councilmember Desley Brooks, who authored the amendment, says it’s aimed at increasing opportunities for people of color to secure a spot in the ballooning market.

A 15-year-old girl was suspended from school for cannabis — even though she passed a drug test. North Carolina student Jakayla Johnson’s suspension, for “drug possession,” was based on the determination that she smelled like the plant. She took a drug test and tested negative, but the school suspended her anyway. Her mother worries the matter will follow Jakayla for the rest of her life.

Want to expand your cannabusiness? We told you a while ago how companies are using licensing deals to build their brands in other states. That can sound a lot like a franchise arrangement — but it’s decidedly not, writes lawyer Alison Malsbury: “Get it right or face the consequences.”

Obama commutes sentences of 58 people in federal prison on drug charges. It adds to a growing list of clemency announcements by the White House as President Obama’s tenure draws to an end. “The president is acting,” said the Drug Policy Alliance. “Congress must step up too.”

Jamaica adopts regulations to guide new ganja industry. The country’s fledgling Cannabis Licensing Authority this week approved regulations to kick off the country’s cannabis market, the Jamaica Gleaner reports. The CLA will now begin accepting applications to license farmers and other businesses.

California and Washington tighten regulations on vape products. A lot of reports so far have focused on the tobacco angle — starting in June, consumers must be 21 or older to buy cigarettes in California — but the changes will affect vaporizers, too. Daniel Shortt at Canna Law Blog has the rundown.

And finally, here’s a headline where “devil weed” doesn’t refer to cannabis. Now that’s progress.

Crash and Burn in Burlington: How Legalization Failed in Vermont

Six weeks ago, cannabis legalization seemed destined to pass in Vermont. With the backing of Gov. Peter Shumlin, the state Senate approved a legalization bill and sent it on to the House. There it slowed, then stalled, and then finally died. Earlier this week the House overwhelmingly voted down the proposal.

What happened?

Matt Simon, political director of the Marijuana Policy Project, paused in the hallway of the Vermont Statehouse last week to consider the difficulty of passing cannabis legalization in New England.

“Getting policy through two houses of the Legislature, there’s always something that can go wrong,” he said. “All it takes is one committee to throw it off the rails.”

While Simon has been trying to pass a marijuana legalization bill through the House and Senate in Burlington, fellow activists in Maine and Massachusetts have been placing legalization measures on November ballot initiatives.

Without question, Simon said, his colleagues have the easier job. With a ballot initiative, “you’re asking a yes or no question,” he said. In the state Legislature, by contrast, there are a million different ways to sidetrack a bill.

January: A strong start

In his State of the State address back in January, Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat who is retiring next year, listed legalization as a top legislative priority. If passed, Vermont’s legalize-and-regulate system would be the first to be adopted through the legislative process. It would also be one of Shumlin’s lasting legacies.

The four legal states and the District of Columbia all legalized through voter initiatives. Vermont law has no provision for citizen-led statewide measures. No matter, said Shumlin. Legalizing cannabis through legislation, he argued, would be better.

“I will work with you to craft the right bill that thoughtfully and carefully eliminates the era of prohibition that is currently failing us so miserably,” Shumlin told legislators.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumin

That he did. The governor enlisted the support of Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Sears. The two had served together in the Senate for 14 years, buddied up at Boston Red Sox games, and had long gone to bat for each other.

Sears crafted a bill that called for a 25-percent tax on marijuana sales at a limited number of state-permitted stores. It would legalize possession of up to an ounce, but wouldn’t allow for home growing.

The bill cruised through the Senate. In late February, Sears wrangled a 17–12 vote that sent the bill to the House. There — where Shumlin had far fewer friends — the path grew rougher.

March: Rough going in the House

The 11-member House Judiciary Committee — seven Democrats and four Republicans — greeted the bill with something akin to dread.

“I’m not clear about why we are doing this,” committee Chair Maxine Grad said. “I have a lot of questions.”

Democratic House Speaker Shap Smith, a shrewd lawyer in his eighth year at the helm of the 150-member chamber, declared himself a legalization supporter. But he questioned whether issues such as highway safety could be sufficiently resolved.

“It just doesn’t feel like it’s ready to go all the way through,” Smith said.

Despite Smith’s reluctance, many thought the politically ambitious Democrat — Smith is a potential candidate for lieutenant governor — would find a way to pass it this session. Smith has earned a reputation as a leader who can muscle through tough legislation when he wants to. In 2009, he mustered just enough votes to make Vermont the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage through legislation.

“This is different,” Smith said of marijuana.

Legalization isn’t a simple yes or no question, Smith said. He saw it more as a series of questions. Should home growing be allowed? Who should be allowed to sell? And how much? And where? “There was never any jelling around a particular proposal,” he said, reflecting on the defeat of legalization earlier this week.

April: Hearing crickets from constituents

Those unresolved questions weren’t the only problems. House Majority Leader Sarah Copeland Hanzas said legislators never heard a groundswell of support for legalization from their constituents. Without that, she said, interest among most members for tackling the topic was lukewarm at best.

Kevin Ellis, a longtime statehouse lobbyist who was working to defeat the bill, said supporters never laid the groundwork to garner public support for legalization. “You’ve got to educate people,” he said. “People aren’t ready.”

Simon speculated that the Senate’s decision to not allow home growing — over fears that home gardens would lead to black market sales — doomed the effort. Many longtime legalization advocates view the issue through the lens of individual freedom and liberty. The idea that licensed, commercialized farmers would be able to grow while backyard plots would be outlawed struck them as offensive and nonsensical. It undercut the entire reason for legalization. As MPP’s Matt Simon put it, “It diminished the enthusiasm of supporters and created opposition.”

House members did not hear their phones ringing in support of legalization.

At the same time, the opioid crisis emerged as a reason for opponents to kill the measure. “The shadow of the heroin epidemic is something that people think about when they think about the legalization, and they ask themselves, ‘Are we sending the right message about legalization?’” House Speaker Smith told the New York Times. “I think in the public’s mind, it’s making passage of this bill more difficult.”

Without grassroots enthusiasm, and with growing concerns — warranted or not — about legalization and the opioid crisis, the bill that emerged from the Senate in robust health began to seriously falter.

Three House committees, including Grad’s, declined to embrace legalization. Weeks passed. The bill stalled completely. It looked as though the full House might never vote on the issue at all.

Finally, in late April, Sears forced the issue. He attached the Senate bill to another piece of legislation.

Shap Smith didn’t become House Speaker by failing math, especially when it comes to counting votes. He warned legalization advocates that an up-or-down vote in the House would fail, and that failure could set back the movement. “What I’m worried about is if we have a vote this year and it’s negative, that people next year will say, ‘Why bother?’” he said.

Some legalization advocates agreed. Others pushed for a vote. They got it on Tuesday.

Members of the Vemont House of Representatives reviewing the legalization bill

Rep. Chris Pearson, the Progressive Party caucus leader, led the way on what would become a seven-hour debate. “Why does the Legislature feel comfortable sitting at dinner, enjoying a glass of wine, and telling us that we may not enjoy cannabis?” he asked. “I think people are ready to take this conversation out of the shadows.”

Grad countered that the Senate legalization bill would open the door for a large-scale, commercial marijuana market. That, she said, is “not the Vermont way.”

As Smith predicted, legalization failed. When the votes were counted, the House had dealt it a resounding 121–28 defeat.

An alternative proposal — to decriminalize home growing of up to two plants — fared better but still failed, 77–70. By day’s end, the House managed to vote only for the creation of a commission to prepare the state for eventual legalization.

Eventually even that failed. At the end of the week, the Senate scuttled the commission. A session that began with a serious chance to legalize and regulate cannabis in Vermont ended with no legalization, no expansion of decriminalization, and not even a commission to study the issue. Lawmakers are expected to adjourn for the year on Saturday.

“Fuck the commission,” Sears said Thursday night. “The commission was unnecessary.”

MPP’s Matt Simon strained to mask his disappointment earlier this week. “This obviously is not what we were asking for,” he said.

Simon insisted, though, that the long, tortured ride had been worthwhile. “I think we made a lot of progress this session,” he said. “People recognize prohibition has failed. It may be that they had to have this first awkward debate.”

Vermont’s next legislative session is scheduled to open on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2017. There will be a new governor, a new House speaker, and a new Senate leader.

Image Source: Terri Hallenbeck

3 Reasons Why Your Next Edibles Should Be Cooked Sous-Vide

With the advent of consumer-grade sous-vide machines from companies like Anova, Sansaire, and Nomiku, getting started with this method of cooking has never been easier or more affordable. If you’re unfamiliar with sous-vide, it’s is a technique where food is sealed in plastic bags or canning jars and cooked in a water bath held to a specific temperature. A precisely heated water bath is wonderful for both decarboxylating your main ingredient and infusing your cooking oil or butter. But why is the sous-vide method so perfect for infusing oils, and why should you consider switching from your classic approach to making edibles?

1. Sous-Vide Offers Precise (and Easy) Temperature Control

One of the biggest concerns while infusing canna-oil is the temperature – If it’s too cool, the THC will bind to the oil at a diminished rate (or not bind at all), and if it’s too hot, you’re vaporizing some of the psychoactive ingredients and losing potency.

As a general rule, a higher temperature leads to a faster reaction rate and therefore requires less cooking time to be activated; it should be noted, however, that temperatures above 140 [degrees] C run the risk of beginning to vaporize compounds out of the mixture and temperatures below 90 [degrees] C may not lead to significant chemical conversion on a time scale of less than 24 hours. (ScienceDirect and Perrotin-Brunel, H, Buijs, W, Spronsen, JV, Roosmalen, MJEV, Peters, CJ, Verpoorte, R, Wikamp, GJ. via Wikipedia)

Unlike a saucepan, slow cooker, or double boiler, with a sous-vide you simply input a temperature on the digital display (or your smartphone!) and rest assured, your oil with remain within +/- 1° of the chosen temperature for the entire cooking duration. No fuss, no muss, and I guarantee you’ll get it right the very first time.

Plus, once you’ve found a recipe that works for you (Sousweed has a lot of great ones) and your material, you’ll be able to reproduce it every time. This is great because you’ll never have to worry about accidentally wasting your top shelf bud or hash in a temperature-related cooking accident.

2. Sous-Vide is Hands-Free and Low Stress

Infusing oil can be an all-day process that requires some amount of attention throughout. With sous-vide, the only thing you have to worry about is water evaporation during the cooking process — but with a good lid, saran-wrap, or ping pong balls, you won’t have to baby-sit the infusion process at all!

Additionally, if you feel comfortable leaving a crockpot unattended in your house, you can also feel comfortable leaving your sous-vide unattended, affording you time to do other more important things.

3. Sous-Vide is Courteous and Covert

Decarbing flower in your oven and infusing oil on your stovetop can make one’s kitchen smell a bit dank, which is less than ideal when you have neighbors with sensitive noses or you want to keep your cannabis use private.

Well, it turns out that when you cook your cannabis in an airtight, sealed container that’s also under water, there’s not a whole lot to smell, which means you can whip up a delicious batch of infused goodies without stinking up your kitchen.

Have you ever made edibles with a sous-vide machine? If so, how’d your infusions turn out? Share your experience in the comments!

6 Cannabis Strains with Mexican Heritage You Need for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with sombreros, tequila, and mariachi music, so why not add cannabis with Mexican history to the mix? Sativa strains have long flourished in Mexico’s hot climate, and these heirlooms have since propagated countless hybrids with their genetics. Here are just six of those descendants. To find out if they’re available at a nearby shop, simply click the strain tile to navigate to its strain page and check its “Availability” tab.

Acapulco Gold

Said to have originated in Acapulco, Mexico, this sativa is a colorful tangle of gold-orange pistils. With a sweet fruity flavor counterbalanced by earthy and spicy notes, Acapulco Gold provides a high-energy cerebral buzz that keeps you feeling stimulated throughout the day’s festivities.

Mexican Sativa

The breeders at Sensi Seeds managed to hunt down a sativa from Oaxaca and cross it with a Pakistani indica and the high-energy African sativa Durban Poison. The result was Mexican Sativa, a robustly uplifting strain with a fresh aroma of sandalwood and pine. The strong cerebral euphoria can verge on too trippy for some, but get to your happy place (at home, out for a hike, a grassy spot in the sun) and you’re more likely to experience the rich sensory experience this sativa has to offer.

Cannalope Haze

Cherished for its weightless euphoria and tropical flavors, Cannalope Haze is the perfect strain for staying social and giggling. With aromas of sweet melon and wildflowers, Cannalope Haze is perfect for pairing with fresh fruits and floral cocktails.

Trainwreck

This hybrid mutt descends from Mexican and Thai sativas as well as Afghani indicas, creating a well-balanced experience that relaxes the body while lifting the mood. High in the citrusy terpene limonene, Trainwreck carries a pronounced lemon aroma with woody, earthy overtones. For those susceptible to social anxiety, this strain might be a better choice than the heady, racy sativas on this list.

Haze

Maybe you’ve never tried the original Haze, but if you’re a fan of sativa strains, you’re likely to have tried one of its hybrid progeny. Developed in the 1960s as a result of crossing Mexican, Thai, Colombian, and South Indian varieties, Haze has since become a cornerstone of sativa breeding. Spicy in flavor and energizing in effect, it’s not hard to see why Haze belongs in your stash jar this Cinco de Mayo.

NYPD

Though in no way Mexican by name, Nirvana Seeds’ NYPD descends from a Mexican landrace strain known as “Eldorado” and Aurora Indica. Funky diesel flavors are made sweet with dominant flavors of sweet lemon, and this sativa-dominant strain is known to provide a cerebral rush to keep your mind humming alive throughout the day’s celebrations.

How Billboards Became the Cannabis Industry’s Ad Darling

In a (successful) effort to stir up media attention for an Arizona legalization initiative, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol this week put up Mothers Day-themed billboards in Phoenix and Tucson.

The ads turn the typical parental cannabis conversation on its head. “Have you talked to your parents about marijuana?” they ask.

As sticky as the slogan might be, the blast is the latest example of a broader trend. And in this case it’s not the message, it’s the medium.

Billboards have fallen out of favor among many in the advertising industry in recent years, largely because digital options offer more flexibility in terms of targeting users and tracking the efficacy of ad campaigns. But because cannabis businesses are excluded from paid advertisements on popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google, billboards offer an actionable alternative.

Not long ago, putting cannabis on such public display raised more than just eyebrows. In 2010, the Drug Policy Alliance tried to use a billboard to criticize a dramatic spike in cannabis arrests under New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The billboard company rejected the ad, initially citing “political circumstances from the Mayor’s office,” then simply arguing the message was “too controversial.”

Even in California, which 20 years ago became the first U.S. state to legalize medical cannabis, a lone billboard that went up earlier this year to advertise a Santa Ana dispensary was billed as “historic” by the local news.

Today cannabis billboards are increasingly common, at least in states where it’s legal. In Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, home to a number of retail shops, you can find a handful within a few blocks. Part of their popularity has its roots in state law: Billboards offer a way for shops to skirt state regulators’ limits on signage at retail locations. So long as the billboard isn’t on the property itself, it doesn’t count against the signage limit.

We rounded up a few of our favorite billboard campaigns to pay homage to the humble billboard’s increasingly important role in cannabis. Which ones did we miss?

Boston: A Safer St. Paddy’s

In Massachusetts, cannabis advocates took a shot at Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration, which typically involves lots of booze. A digital billboard in South Boston showed a green-colored beer, a glass of whiskey, and a cannabis leaf — with the labels “Beer,” “Whiskey,” and “Safer.”

Denver: 4/20 Frozen Pizza Rolls

In case you missed it, Totinos rolled out a whole bunch of cheeky billboards across Colorado on 4/20 to drum up support for their frozen pizza rolls. Is it a money play on traditional stoner stereotypes? Sure. But it’s hard to argue with pizza rolls.

Seattle: Where Cannabusiness Found a Foothold

For a long time, cannabis on billboards appeared primarily as campaign literature, pushing voters to support or oppose legalization. That changed in August 2014, when Seattle-based cannabis producer Dàmà unveiled what was widely billed as the nation’s first-ever billboard campaign by a cannabusiness. More than a dozen ads went up around the city, sporting an aesthetic that was more outdoorsy than traditional stoner.

Scottsdale, Ariz.: Party on Grass

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is a golf tournament laden with revelry — it’s widely known as the PGA Tour’s biggest party. This year a digital billboard went up near the tourney calling out alcohol as more dangerous than cannabis. “If beer and golf make for the ‘greatest party on grass,’” the ad read, “Why can’t adults enjoy a safer party on grass?”

Image Sources: @Ron_White via nymmj.com, MassLive, Gabriel Spitzer via KPLU, and Golf Digest

Calling All Oregonians – We Want You At The 17th Annual Global Cannabis March In Portland!

Portland is having its 17th annual Global Cannabis March this Saturday. This has always been a successful event/protest in the past, and with the way things are in Oregon right now, this march is needed more now than ever before. I want to see as many people attend as possible. I unfortunately will be out

Brazil Approves U.S. Cannabis Product RSHO as Imported Medication to Treat Cancer

This article is sponsored by CMW Media, the premier public and media relations agency proudly serving the cannabis industry worldwide.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. has announced to its shareholders and the public that the Brazilian government has approved its hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) oil product, Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ (RSHO™), to be imported as a prescription medication for cancer, and is subsidizing its cost under the Brazilian federal government’s heath care system.

“We have the utmost respect for the Brazilian government that decided hemp CBD oil should be available to their people, for a variety of reasons. Medical Marijuana, Inc. is actively working with other governments to also make hemp CBD products available. We look forward to more progress on a global scale in the very near future,” states Stuart W. Titus, Ph.D. and Chief Executive Officer of Medical Marijuana, Inc.

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with 14 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths recorded in 2014 alone according to data from the National Institutes of Health. South and Central America, along with Asia and Africa, account for 60 percent of these new cases, and 70 percent of deaths.

Real Scientific Hemp Oil™ [RSHO]™ Blue and Gold Label all-natural CBD hemp oil in oral applicator tubes ship to Brazil with government approved documentation.

Medical Uses for CBD Hemp Oil in Brazil

Until 2015, all cannabis products were illegal in Brazil, regardless of whether they were derived from drug cannabis or from hemp. In May of 2015, Medical Marijuana, Inc. made history as the first cannabis product approved by the Brazilian government for import. Its approval was due in large part to the efforts of Katiele Fischer, whose daughter Anny suffered from CDKL5 epilepsy. Fischer, who had been bringing RSHO into Brazil illegally, sued the federal government for the right to access the product. The government agreed that Fischer had the right to import the medication her daughter needed, and by the end of 2015, three conditions – epilepsy (including CDLK5), Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pain – had been approved for treatment with RSHO. Cancer joins them as the fourth approved condition.

Research has shown that the cannabinoids found naturally in cannabis can lower blood pressure, fight cancer, induce sleep, decrease seizures, relieve nausea, reduce inflammation, stimulate appetite, and far more. This bodes well for the possibility that Brazil may expand the list of qualifying indications for import of RSHO in the future. Meanwhile, the non-psychoactive oil is legal and accessible in all 50 states and more than 40 countries, where purchasers may order RSHO products online without a medical recommendation.

RSHO™ all-natural CBD hemp oil products are available in all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 countries.

The Future of CBD Hemp Oil: “Access for All”

“We are extremely proud to have created a new American export category: CBD hemp oil,” says Titus. “Our focus is ‘access for all’ and what is legally accessible to all, at this time, is hemp CBD in oil, capsules, tinctures, liquids and topicals. We envision our hemp CBD oil brands – including RSHO – becoming household names in 2016.”

Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s CBD hemp oil 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.

Titus explains, “Every country operates under different guidelines; some consider hemp CBD a product that can only be accessed with a medical prescription while others simply consider it a food product or nutritional supplement.”

In Brazil, residents who have a government-recognized medical indication and want access to RSHO hemp oil products may order them with a doctor’s prescription and approved import documentation from ANVISA. The government agency has issued a statement on its website explaining how to apply for an import certificate. HempMeds Brasil has been working for more than a year on its formal product application and regulatory submission. The company expects to continue working on the application through 2016.

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.

About HempMeds^® Brasil™

HempMeds^® Brasil™ currently has three cannabis products approved for importation into Brazil as a prescription medication for epilepsy, Parkinson’s and chronic pain. The company had the first-ever cannabis product allowed for import into Brazil and its products are currently subsidized by the Brazilian government, under their health care system, for all three medical indications listed above. HempMeds Brasil™ is working on additional approvals for multiple indications, including cancer.

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.

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.

LEGAL DISCLOSURE
Medical Marijuana Inc. and HempMeds^® do 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.

Eugene Monroe Has A Bright Future As A Cannabis Reform Advocate

This week ArcView Group held an event for the first time in Portland, Oregon. Portland is home to an amazing cannabis community, and having the ArcView Group in town is a big validation for Portland’s growing cannabis industry. The event had a heavy sports cannabis focus because former NBA All Star Cliff Robinson was presenting

National Cannabis Industry Association And BDS Analytics Partner To Serve Members With Valuable Industry Data

Members of the National Cannabis Industry Association will be getting a valuable new benefit, thanks to a ground-breaking partnership with leading cannabis market intelligence firm BDS Analytics. Beginning in June 2016, NCIA member-businesses will receive free interactive access to crucial market and category-level sales data compiled and contextualized by BDS, the industry’s leading source of

State of the Leaf: Germany Could Legalize Medical Marijuana and Iceland Loves Its Cannabis

Legalization efforts are hurtling towards the November finish line and there’s no looking back at this point. California is on the up and up, winning a major lawsuit for medical cannabis and officially submitting enough signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot, putting the Golden State firmly on the path towards the end of prohibition. Connecticut could open its medical cannabis program to minors, Illinois is considering expanding its qualifying conditions (yet again), Hawaii announced the winners of its coveted dispensary licenses on the islands, and Vermont’s chance for a legalization bid is dead in the water.

Internationally, Germany is looking at a medical push, Iceland has some of the highest cannabis consumption rates in the world, and Scottish leaders are reconsidering medical cannabis. Hold on tight, this ride is just getting started!

U.S. Cannabis News Updates

Alabama

Leni’s Law, a long-embattled bill that would decriminalize the use of cannabis oils with the supervision of a physician, has officially passed through the House and Senate. The bill was amended in the Senate and in the House Judiciary Committee to include changes that some deemed controversial. If passed, Leni’s Law would allow children with a range of ailments to be treated with cannabis oil, including epilepsy and autism. It would also allow the amount of THC to be raised from one percent to three percent.

The biggest challenge for this law is that it does not legalize the production of cannabis oils in the state; rather, it allows patients to bring cannabis oil back from other legal medical states, thus forcing qualified patients to break federal law and risk prosecution. The bill now goes onto the desk of Governor Robert Bentley, who has not yet made the decision as to whether he will sign it into law.

California

One of California’s oldest medical marijuana dispensaries just claimed a major victory. The federal government just agreed to drop charges against Harborside Health Center, one of the oldest and largest dispensaries in the United States. Harborside Health Center services more than 100,000 patients and received a license to operate from the city of Oakland in 2006.

The U.S. Attorney’s office began the process of seizing assets from Harborside in 2012, under the reign of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag. The reasoning behind the attempted closure was the obvious discrepancy between state and federal law, but Harborside has always maintained that it operates with transparency and legitimacy, within the bounds of state law. Defense attorneys also claim that the forfeiture lawsuit violates several federal laws, including the prohibited use of federal funds for lawsuits against cannabis businesses operating in legal states.

In other California news, organizers of the campaign for the Adult Use of Marijuana Act announced that they have gathered more than 600,000 signatures, which should push them over the necessary 365,880 signatures need to qualify for the general election ballot. This ought to earn them a spot on the November 8th ballot, and with the latest polls showing 55 percent of California voters in support of legalization, the act is poised to pass come November.

Connecticut

Connecticut may soon allow qualified minors to access cannabis through the medical marijuana program. The proposed bill produced a heated debate in the Senate, but eventually passed through and now heads to Governor Dannel Malloy for a signature. Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) was the chief opponent of the bill and introduced 25 amendments designed to derail the legislation, all of which were rejected on the floor. If the bill is signed into law by Governor Malloy, who has said that he supports access to medical marijuana for children with critical ailments, it will affect approximately 100 children in Connecticut.

Hawaii

The long wait is over! Hawaii’s medical marijuana program has finally selected eight companies to open medical cannabis dispensaries and cultivate cannabis as part of the long-anticipated renovation to its program, which was revamped last year to allow dispensaries on the islands. There were more than 60 applicants, including actor Woody Harrelson, but only eight companies emerged victorious:

• Hawaiian Ethos, LLC
• Lau Ola, LLC
• Aloha Green Holdings, Inc.
• Manoa Botanicals, LLC
• TCG Retro Market 1, LLC (or Cure Oahu)
• Green Aloha, Ltd.
• Maui Wellness Group, LLC
• Pono Life Sciences Maui, LLC

Hawaii legalized medical marijuana in 2000, but only recently passed a law to allow dispensaries. Up to this point, qualified medical cannabis patients have had the right to home cultivation but no access to purchase cannabis. The dispensaries will alter the law and, additionally, medical cannabis patients from other states will be able to visit Hawaii’s dispensaries with a valid medical recommendation.

Illinois

Illinois’ medical cannabis advisory board is considering whether or not to expand Illinois’ qualifying medical marijuana conditions yet again. As part of the pilot program’s law, the state is required to consider whether or not to expand the qualifying conditions twice a year, but thus far, the director of the state health department, Nirav Shah, has rejected the recommended expansions from the advisory board on multiple occasions. The recommended qualifying conditions would include chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, Lyme disease, autism, osteoarthritis, depression and diabetes.

Many Illinois physicians have been discouraged by the program due to the restrictions and limitations on who is considered a qualifying patient. Initial projections for the program anticipated at least 30,000 patients registered by now, but as of April 6th, there were only 5,600 registered patients. Expanded qualifying conditions could breathe renewed vigor into the program and strengthen its chances of being renewed beyond January 1, 2018, the date when the program is set to expire unless further legislation is introduced.

Ohio

State lawmakers are in the process of revising and amending Ohio’s proposed medical marijuana bill, and the new version of House Bill 523 is expected to be a significant change. The new bill will not allow the smoking of cannabis flower or allow products that could be deemed attractive to children (such as gummy bears or candies). Another controversial stipulation is related to the THC content of cannabis products – between 3 and 35 percent for cannabis flower and no more than 70 percent for cannabis oils and extractions. The bill would also not allow home cultivation, but would create a cannabis commission tasked with oversight and regulatory measures for the program. If the House committee accepts the bill, it will move on to the full House for a floor vote.

Vermont

Alas, despite its best efforts, Vermont will not be legalizing cannabis this year. It seemed all but a sure thing, but never say never. Vermont took a different route than most states; rather than garnering support from a grassroots campaign, gathering signatures and pushing to get an referendum on the general election ballot, the tiny Green Mountain State opted to go through the legislature.

The Vermont House voted 121-28 to reject the comprehensive legalization bill, which had the support of the Governor Peter Shumlin, as well as former and current attorney generals. The bill would have legalized, taxed and regulated cannabis for adults 21 years of age and older, but with some stipulations – edibles were not allowed, nor was home cultivation. Sadly, Vermont will simply have to wait a bit longer before crossing over to greener pastures.

International Cannabis News Updates

Germany

German Health Minister Hermann Groehe will present draft legislation to the German cabinet this week that, if passed, would legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes as soon as next year. The law would allow qualified patients to access cannabis through licensed pharmacies with a prescription only. This bill would establish certain specialized plantations to grow cannabis, but until those are established, cannabis would be imported from other countries in Europe.

“Our goal is that seriously ill patients are treated in the best possible way,” said Groehe. “Without wishing to pre-judge the work of the Bundestag [Germany’s lower house of Parliament], it is likely that the law will come into force in the spring of 2017.”

Iceland

A new report from the World Health Organization found that Icelanders have some of the highest consumption rates of cannabis in the world. According to Þórarinn Tyrfingssonm, the director of Vogur drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the cannabis usage levels were similar to cannabis usage rates in other countries, with about 8 percent of Icelanders admitting to using cannabis. However, Arnar Jan Jónsson, a local doctor, was quick to point out that the data is a bit skewed. “We only have official documentation of cannabis users who seek help for addiction,” said Jónsson, and the numbers indicate a significant rise in the last 20-30 years.

Cannabis is illegal in Iceland, although the penalty for the possession of small amounts is relegated to a simple fine.

Scotland

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon covered a range of topics during a recent press conference and even went so far as to elaborate on her stance and opinion on cannabis. “Cannabis is not a harmless substance,” said Sturgeon, “I am not in favour of general decriminalization, but I do think there is a specific case for medicinal use.” She cited the use of Sativex, a derivative of cannabis that is licensed in the United Kingdom for use in treating multiple sclerosis. Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill spoke last year in favor of relaxing laws around low-level drug possession offenses, but no decisions were made.

US AZ: Column: Keep The Celebrity Cannabis Products Coming

Tucson Weekly, 05 May 2016 – Celebrity endorsements are common. We see and hear them daily. It is part of our culture and does bring some benefits to the consumer. Whoopi Goldberg recently announced the launch of her company. Whoopi & Maya hopes reduce menstrual pain and cramps. The new line will sell in California. Their website advertises their four initial products. “Even Queen Victoria found relief once a month with her favorite THC infused tincture,” the website states.

US CA: Column: Cannabis In The Centennial State

North Coast Journal, 05 May 2016 – The Colorado Department of Public Safety released early findings on the effects cannabis legalization has had on law enforcement, commerce, health and juveniles. The study, mandated as part of the 2014 initiative decriminalizing recreational marijuana use in the state, is bracketed by a series of caveats. It’s not comprehensive; many of its statistics are self-reported. It’s not complete; while the drug was decriminalized in 2014, commercialization only began in 2015 and some information for that year is not yet available. Many results may also be clouded by the “decreasing social stigma” around marijuana use, meaning that rather than interpreting statistical shifts as dramatic changes related to decriminalization, some users may just be more at ease discussing their habits than they once were.

US CO: Column: Dear Stoner: Why Doesn't Colorado Have Cannabis

Westword, 05 May 2016 – Dear Stoner: Why doesn’t Colorado have Amsterdam-style cafes? I remember reading about pot clubs trying to come to Denver. Cole Dear Cole: Colorado doesn’t have cafes like the cannabis coffee shops in Amsterdam because of this state’s stance on public consumption. Although it’s legal to smoke pot in private areas in Colorado, public spots and businesses are still off limits. And while technically it’s also illegal to consume marijuana in public in Amsterdam, Dutch law enforcement looks the other way when it comes to designated coffee shops. Sadly, our local cops aren’t as cool: There are a few pot clubs in the Denver metro area that operate as private establishments and only allow members in to consume, but they still face regular harassment by law enforcement and other officials. Rigs 4 Us, a Denver smoke shop located in a private residence, was shut down on 4/20 when it tried to give out free dabs, and multiple pot clubs in Denver were shut down in 2015.

US OR: Column: Using Weed To Aid Veterans

Portland Mercury, 05 May 2016 – Cannabis Helps with PTSD, and So Can You I’M A BIG SUPPORTER of allowing armed forces veterans access to cannabis-seeing as how I’m a huge wussy who wouldn’t have made it through three hours of basic training, much less full-on combat. I have enough trouble fighting off a cold.

The Shake: California’s Golden Opportunity for Legalization

Get ready, California. Legalization is heading to the November ballot. A voter initiative to (finally) legalize adult use in the state appears to have collected more than enough signatures to qualify. Barring any unforeseen obstacles, it will go before voters in November. The law would allow adults 21 and older to possess, transport, and use up to an ounce of cannabis as well as grow up to six plants. It has the backing of state Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom as well as the financial support of Sean Parker, the former Facebook president and a Napster co-founder. The country’s most dynamic cannabis market might soon be open to all of us.

Chris Christie throws another cannabis tantrum. The New Jersey governor, who dropped out of the GOP presidential race in February, said he would’ve arrested NFL rookie Laremy Tunsil over cannabis use. Tunsil found himself in the spotlight last week after video, taken years ago but leaked right before the NFL draft, showed him hitting a gas-mask bong.

Federal rescheduling isn’t good enough. Oregon attorney Vince Sliwoski explains why moving cannabis to Schedule II — on par with opioids and cocaine, and the move Hillary Clinton supports — is basically public policy purgatory.

There are now three songs about Seattle’s largest cannabis retailer. The owner of Uncle Ike’s says he’s especially fond of one, which he described as “old-school wiki wiki hip hop.”

Vancouver launches crackdown on medical dispensaries. The city has issued 44 tickets and shuttered 22 stores, according to CTV News. B.C. advocate Jodie Emery says many owners have refused to close down and are considering legal action to keep their dispensaries open.

Toronto’s taking aim at dispensaries, too. City official Mark Sraga says Toronto’s medical dispensaries, which have been popping up across the city, are illegal and could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines. He pledged to step up enforcement in the coming months. Meanwhile, a new poll indicates that a majority of Ontario voters are in favor of the dispensary model, though support for home cultivation is down slightly.

Cannabis prices in Colorado are tumbling. We already told you what’s up with those $6 grams. Now here’s Denver alt weekly Westword with a closer look at market forces in the Rocky Mountain State.

Washington targets teens with anti-cannabis ads. The “Listen2YourSelfie” tagline already sounds a little stale — selfie was Oxford’s word of the year way back in 2013, people — but the intentions are good: The little evidence we have suggests that teen’s developing brains and cannabis don’t mix. (Hey, at least the state didn’t pull a Stoner Sloth.)

Canada may spend $25 million on medical cannabis for veterans this year. A government auditor is calling for Veterans Affairs to rein in the program and find a way to cut costs. Commercial suppliers were charging up to $14 per gram, the audit found.

Cannabis meets fine dining meets $500-per-person price tag. Chef Chris Sayegh is offering cannabis-infused private-dining menus at a premium price. Can’t swing it? Keep your eyes peeled for pop-ups around Los Angeles for a more reasonable cost of $20 to $200 a head.

You know the smell. Now Denver’s doing something about it. The City Council on Monday unanimously approved a strengthened odor-control ordinance aimed at cannabis cultivation facilities and other smelly businesses.

What’s up Wiz Khalifa’s sleeve? The 28-year-old rapper hopes to launch a line of beer, juice, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and non-alcoholic cocktails infused with hemp. He intends to sell the merch under the Khalifa Kush name, already a namesake strain.

It’s time for an informed debate amongst the Kiwis. Psychiatrists in the latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal say the country needs to have a real conversation about cannabis. Only a single product — a medicated mouth spray — is approved for use by MMJ patients in the country.

A cannabis-focused credit union will continue its legal fight. Colorado-based Fourth Corner, which we’ve told you about before, is appealing a federal judge’s decision in an effort to provide financial services to cannabis clients.

California’s anti-tax watchdog takes stand against cannabis. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is representing the Southern California city of Upland in its effort to fend off the California Cannabis Coalition, which wants to introduce a ballot measure challenging the city’s current ban on dispensaries.

And finally, it’s still not a tampon. Alternet says Foria Relief “has come to be known as the ‘weed tampon,’” which is unfortunate because that’s not what it is. As we told you a while ago, it’s a suppository aimed at easing menstrual cramps. And apparently, it’s lovely.

A Twist on 'Craft' Cocktails: Drink Recipes with Cannabis Cocktail Syrups

If you’re like me, you love cannabis and you love cocktails. What could be better than bringing the two together? I got inspired by Seattle-based Craft Elixirs’ small-batch cannabis syrups, which you’ll find on the shelves at recreational stores throughout Washington state. They incorporate locally seasonal flavoring agents, natural sweetener, and of course, cannabis. (You can also purchase the non-infused syrups wherever you live and pair the virgin versions of the cocktails below with your favorite strain for similar results.)

I got in touch with local bartender Nick McCleery to develop four creative recipes using three of Craft Elixirs’ syrups: the strawberry-peppercorn Wallingford Wanderlust, ginger root-flavored Ginger Grass, and smoky habanero-infused Capitol Hill Heat. As you gear up for summer, kick back and wet your whistle with one of these refreshing cannabis-infused sippers.

Thai High

1 ½ oz Bacardi light rum

½ oz Capitol Hill Heat habanero-smoke cannabis syrup (approx. 10 mg THC)*

½ oz fresh-squeezed lime juice

2 oz pineapple juice

Soda water

Thai basil to garnish

Combine rum, syrup, lime and pineapple juice, and shake well with ice until thoroughly chilled. Double-strain into a collins glass over fresh ice, top with soda water, stir and garnish with a sprig of Thai basil (for best results, slap the sprig lightly on the palm of your hand to open up its aromas).

Zip It

2 oz bourbon

½ oz Ginger Grass ginger cannabis syrup (approx. 10mg THC)*

½ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

½ oz honey syrup

4 slices fresh peeled ginger

Lemon peel to garnish

Muddle ginger slices in shaker, then add ice and remaining ingredients and shake well until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Smoke & Spice

1 ½ oz tequila reposado

¾ oz Cointreau

1 oz Capitol Hill Heat habanero-smoke cannabis syrup (approx. 20mg THC)*

1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice

1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1 dash Tabasco (optional)

Lime wedge to garnish

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice and serve.

The Lusty Wanderer

1 ½ oz vodka

1 oz Wallingford Wanderlust strawberry-peppercorn cannabis syrup (approx. 20mg THC)*

1 ½ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

2-3 slices cucumber

Soda water

Lemon slice and cucumber slice to garnish

Muddle cucumber in shaker. Add ice, vodka, syrup, lemon and simple, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Pour over fresh ice in a highball glass, top with soda water, and garnish with lemon and cucumber slices.

*Important: If you don’t know your tolerance, start with smaller amounts of cannabis syrup. Remember that cannabis and alcohol together can affect you differently than either on its own. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or of cannabis.

Have you tried making your own cannabis-infused cocktails? Share your favorite recipes in the comments!

German Medical Legalization Would Curb Home Grows, Keep Cannabis in Pharmacies

BERLIN — Europe is opening the floodgates to a new era of herbal therapy.

Earlier today Germany’s health minister, Hermann Gröhe, introduced a proposal to establish a state cannabis agency to supervise domestic cannabis cultivation, distribution, and sales in pharmacies.

Gröhe was quick to note that this isn’t full legalization. But it does mark a new era in European drug policy. Germany, Europe’s most populous state and an affluent country, will allow much wider access to medical cannabis use. The country’s health insurers are likely to foot the bill, provided patients participate in data-collection studies.

Currently, Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) must approve every patient who seeks treatment with herbal cannabis. Patients must first exhaust all other options before applying for access to cannabis in a complicated procedure that takes up to nine months. As a result, Germany has only 647 patients receiving herbal cannabis today, according to BfArM numbers from April, the latest available.

The German government’s proposal comes after a recent court ruling forced its hand. That ruling allowed patients to grow medical cannabis at home. The new proposal is seen as a way to prevent a tsunami of home cultivation, instead keeping cannabis production and sale within an institutionalized system.

That court decision came after a 12-year battle by multiple sclerosis patient Michael F., who fought for the right to cultivate at home to ease his painful condition with herbal cannabis. Courts ruled in April that BfArM must issue him a license to grow his own medical supply due to his inability to pay for medical cannabis from a pharmacy.

Germany’s proposed law explicitly excludes patients from growing their personal supply or even the individual strain needed. Gröhe, of the conservative Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU), said that “Private cannabis cultivation by patients is out of the question.”

No Sudden Sympathy, but Cold Calculation

Up until early 2016, the country’s health ministry had insisted there was no need for such an institution. Germany chose the special tool of “exceptional permission for the import of medical cannabis” from the Dutch Office for Medical Cannabis (OMC) after the first court defeats dating back to 2005. Since then, cannabis has been imported from the Netherlands — but the Dutch say they can’t meet skyrocketing European demand.

“At this moment there is enough medicinal cannabis in stock to cover Dutch demand and demand in other countries. We already export much more to Germany than last year but as you know the number of German patients is growing quickly and so is the demand.” the Dutch OMC said in March.

Registered cannabis patients in Germany complain about regular supply shortages, and many can’t afford the price of imported cannabis.

The German bill aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs, control production, and create a database on the efficacy of cannabis as treatment.

Perhaps the largest gap in the current system is a lack of sufficient cannabinoid profiles. The Dutch OMC sells only five strains, a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds of medical cannabis varieties available in Canada, Israel, and the United States. Advocates note that such a small selection won’t satisfy patients’ needs and will force them to grow illegally or turn to the black market.

Without question the new law is a milestone for German cannabis patients, but it still leaves out important details, ignoring the need for a wider range of medical strains and the general scheduling of the substance.

Local advocates say that just as cannabis should be removed from Schedule I in the United States, it should be removed from Attachment 1 of the German Narcotic Drugs Act as well. The rescheduling was originally planned in the draft version of the bill from January 2016 but was removed on its way to the cabinet

Germany is not alone. Several other European Union states, such as Croatia, Italy, and the Czech Republic, are acting to get legal cannabis markets off the ground in hopes of improving patients’ quality of life while enabling scientific research.

Germany Will Legalize Medical Cannabis Next Year, Health Minister Says

Germany’s health minister, Hermann Groehe, is expected to present draft legislation to the German cabinet tomorrow that would legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes as soon as 2017. According to news agency AFP, the law would allow patients with valid prescriptions to access cannabis through licensed pharmacies.

The bill would also establish specialized plantations to grow cannabis. Until those are established, Germany would import cannabis from other countries in Europe, mostly likely the Netherlands or Italy.

German laws on cannabis are murky at best. In 2005, a Supreme Court decision ruled in favor of doctor-supervised medical use. The experiment began with just seven German patients, who were allowed to procure dronabinol, a derivative of cannabis, from a pharmacy after the German Narcotics Law was altered to remove dronabinol from Annex II to Annex III. Since then, 424 licensed have been issued to patients, though 42 of those license-holders have died. Currently a total of 382 German patients are allowed access to limited forms of cannabis.

Tetrahydrocannabinol remains listed as Annex I under German law, although the law is deliberately vague and enforcement varies by jurisdiction. The German Narcotics Law (Betäubungsmittelgesetz) states that authorities are not required to prosecute those in the possession of “minor amounts” of cannabis, except in cases where public safety is concerned.

Each German state, however, defines a “minor amount” differently. For example, possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis carries no consequences in Berlin, but Bavarian law considers just two or three grams a “minor amount.”

“Our goal is that seriously ill patients are treated in the best possible way,” said Groehe, the country’s health minister. “Without wishing to pre-judge the work of the Bundestag [Germany’s lower house of parliament], it is likely that the law will come into force in the spring of 2017.”

How to Find the Best Cannabis Stocks to Invest in

Things have started to turn around for the cannabis market since the 2014 pot bubble, but it can still be difficult for investors to know how to find the best cannabis stocks to invest in.

For starters, marijuana isn’t yet legal for recreational use in Canada and in many states across the US. Furthermore, a number of states and provinces are looking at legalization for both medical and recreational marijuana use, making it difficult to keep track of what licensing requirements to look for when doing one’s due diligence.

To help investors and market watchers find the best cannabis stocks to invest in, former Wall Street attorney Chris Milenkevich started Gotham Cannabis Associates, a firm that specializes in due diligence on publicly traded cannabis companies. After 11 years as an attorney with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, Milenkevich started looking at whether he might be able to apply his skills in a different environment, and the cannabis industry looked like the place to be.

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“The cannabis industry is obviously a very new industry and one that was very exciting,” he said. “It’s very rare that you have a brand new industry arise.”

However, he also noted that the cannabis industry is currently characterized by a lack of information, despite there being no shortage of people looking to get involved in the space. “I really realized there was just such a need for quality, sophisticated diligence of the kind that I was used to doing for so many years Wall Street,” he said.

Certainly, Milenkevich has a stronger grasp of the legal landscape in relation to cannabis than most, making his insight extremely helpful when conducting due diligence on cannabis companies.  The Investing News Network spoke with him about what investors should keep an eye out for when looking for the best cannabis stocks to invest in.

Legal considerations: Can the best cannabis stocks to invest in cross state lines?

As mentioned above, cannabis is legal in 24 states in the US, but it is not legal at the federal level. That can lead to some complicated legal issues.

For example, Milenkevich pointed out that cannabis companies cannot use water from a federal aquifer. “If they’re drawing water to use in their cultivation, or to use in their extracting processes, and the water they’re using comes from a federally owned aquifer, they could actually get into a lot of trouble,” he explained.

“There are cannabis companies out there who have realized this is an issue, and they now have to contract private supply water companies to make sure they don’t run into a ton of mess.”

Another, perhaps more interesting point, is that cannabis companies cannot file for federal bankruptcy protection, which Milenkevich says is something that most investors don’t realize at all. “Bankruptcy in the United States is largely a matter of federal jurisdiction and bankruptcy court has rejected cases filed by cannabis companies,” he stated.

Finally, though you might find one of the best cannabis stocks to invest in in Washington, Oregon or Colorado, it’s worth keeping in mind that those companies cannot cross state lines. That makes it difficult to scale and grow a company effectively.

“People get very excited the idea of building a nationwide empire, forgetting that you can’t manufacture a cannabis product in one state and start selling it in another state,” Milenkevich said. For example, a growing cannabis company couldn’t simply expand its operations in Oregon and ship product to Washington.

Would legalization at the federal level be a game changer?

Certainly, there are plenty of challenges due to the fact that cannabis use hasn’t yet been legalized at the federal level. However, Milenkevich was hesitant that federal cannabis legalization would solve all of the industry’s problems.

“If it was legalized on the federal level it would certainly make life a lot easier for cannabis companies and therefore for investors,” he said, “but it’s not a panacea. There are still tons of state restrictions, and regulations vary greatly from state to state.”

For example, advertising rules for cannabis companies differ from state to state, making it difficult to launch a nationwide advertising campaign. Lifting the federal prohibition on marijuana wouldn’t change restrictions at the state and local level.

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Will federal legalization ever happen?

For his part, Milenkevich believes that federal cannabis legalization will happen eventually, but that it won’t be anytime soon.

“I think it’s ultimately an inevitability, but there are a lot of people who are acting like it’s going to happen at the end of this year,” he said, “ and I don’t think there is enough [to back that up].There are still a lot of people who are wary of the products and wary of the social implications.”

For example, he noted that legalization efforts in New England have been hitting obstacles to cannabis legalization due to concerns over an opioid epidemic currently taking place. Overall, he thinks that legalization will happen within the next ten years, but he wouldn’t be confident capping that prediction at five years.

What should US cannabis investors look for?

For now, investors looking for the best cannabis stocks to invest in will have to conduct their due diligence carefully. Here are a few things Milenkevich says investors should look for:

• Licensing; “You need to make sure that the company has every license that it needs, from every jurisdiction that it needs, and that could be state, county and local,” he said. Just because a company has a state license, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s up to snuff for a specific county, and investors should pay attention.

• Staying in line; Milenkevich stated that there are over 600 pages of regulations in Colorado alone. “They cover everything, from literally, what kind of font you can use on your packaging to whether or not the car that you are using to transport your products must be registered in Colorado or not,” he said. The best cannabis stocks to invest in will be aware of and compliant with all relevant regulations.

• Cash considerations; It’s sometimes said that cash is king, but for US cannabis companies, cash is a whole different issue. “Another result of the federal prohibition is that there are very, very few banks that are willing to work with the cannabis industry or credit card companies, because there’s a very real [risk] that they will be shut out of the federal banking system, if the federal government finds that they are … processing money for illegal operations,” he said. “A lot of cannabis companies are dealing entirely with cash. So, if you’re an investor, you need to think about how that is working, how is the cannabis company dealing with these, literally, bags of money.”

• Community relationships; Finally, Milenkevich stressed that it’s essential for cannabis companies to have a good relationship with their local communities, both in terms of corporate citizenship, and for liability reasons. “If you don’t have a good relationship with local authorities, they’re going to be looking for reasons to shut you down,” he said. “And when there are 600 pages of regulations, it’s not that hard to find a reason, no matter how careful you are.”

That’s a lot to consider, and some of that information may be difficult to come by. However, Milenkevich stated that by finding people who know the company, asking the right questions and making sure to get accurate industry intelligence, cannabis investors will be well on their way to finding the best cannabis stocks to invest in.

Cannabis companies

Milenkevich couldn’t mention any cannabis companies that Gotham has done due diligence on thus far for confidentiality reasons.

However, there’s no shortage of cannabis companies out there for interested investors to start looking in to. For a start, here are a few examples of cannabis companies that Alan Brochstein mentioned he’s keeping an eye on in a recent interview:

• Indoor Harvest (OTCMKTS:INQD)

• MassRoots (OTCMKTS:MSRT)

• Medicine Man Technologies (OTCBB:MDCL)

And for those north of the border, there are plenty of Canadian cannabis stocks to check out as well, such as:

• Canopy Growth (TSXV:CGC)

• Naturally Splendid (TSXV:NSP)

• Mettrum Health (TSXV:MT)

Wherever you’re looking, always be sure to keep Milenkevich’s points in mind, and to do your own due diligence.

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.

Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

Naturally Splendid is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid for content.

The post How to Find the Best Cannabis Stocks to Invest in appeared first on Investing News Network.

US: Walgreens Cannabis Post Creates Buzz

Chicago Tribune, 03 May 2016 – Pharmacy Chain Says Info on Blog Not Endorsement A recent post on Walgreens’ blog raised eyebrows in the medical marijuana community. Titled “Clarifying Clinical Cannabis,” the post, written by a resident pharmacist at Walgreens and the University of Illinois at Chicago, isn’t an endorsement.

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Bargain Cannabis

April 20th is officially behind us, leaving fond memories of blissful celebration and cannabis consumption in its wake. Although the holiday has come and gone, there’s still one thing you can enjoy post-4/20: bargain cannabis deals.

Dispensaries make sure to stock their shelves with lots of extra inventory during the month of April in anticipation of the 4/20 rush. Many of them turn their unsold product into bargain cannabis deals. From shake ounce specials to top shelf BOGOS’s (buy one get one free), there’s bound to be an enticing deal at a dispensary near you.

So what are we to do with all of our newfound loot? Whether you’re looking to get the most out of your cannabis or create a product that will last much longer than its current shelf life, here are five ways you can transform your bargain cannabis purchase into something great.

1. Make Butter for Edibles

What better way to make use of that big bag of bargain cannabis than to throw it into a batch of butter? Even if the quality of your product is second-rate, the butter you make is bound to saturate whatever cannabinoids are present. Butter is an easy way to get started with edibles as it gives you a pre-infused base ingredient to work with. It’s also relatively easy to measure, making it a preferable option for dosing recipes. Making edibles requires a good amount of starting material, so bulk deals are perfect for this one. Even a good deal on a 1/4 ounce will land you with enough to infuse a recipe or two.

2. Make Rosin

Many dispensaries offer specials on shake or popcorn nugs. These slightly less aesthetically desirable products are still packed with flavor and can make a great solventless hash oil. Using the rosin technique is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to turn cannabis and hash into a dabbable full melt hash oil. You can get started with a basic hair straightener and some parchment paper. Lots of dispensaries offer bargain deals on hash products that can also be pressed into rosin. The versatility of this method makes it a great tool to keep in mind when shopping for deals.

3. Make Cannabis Capsules

Like butter for edibles, canna caps do not require superior quality cannabis flowers, but they do require quantity. Canna caps are a fun project to utilize when you have an extra inventory and want to get the most out of the cannabinoids while leaving the less desirable plant material behind. Coconut oil is a fantastic agent for making cannabis capsules and this DIY project doesn’t cost much.

If you go the extra mile and buy a capsule making kit, you may have to shell out a bit more up front. But all you really need to get started with this project is some coconut oil, a package of 00 gelatin capsules, and a double boiler or slow cooker. A bit of lecithin doesn’t hurt. The whole project takes just a few hours and leaves you with a handful of potent caps to be ingested after they’ve cooled or stored for later.

4. Make a Tincture

This is another terrific way to utilize bulk cannabis deals without having to worry about the quality compromise. Tinctures have a long history of being a highly preferable method of ingesting cannabinoids, though their popularity took a steep decline with prohibition. With the rise of cannabis legalization, tincture enthusiasm has made a vigorous comeback. Tinctures can be as easy or as complex to prepare as you want them to be. In the most basic concoction, tinctures can be made with nothing more than some cannabis and a strong drinking alcohol. If made correctly and stored properly, quality tinctures can last for years. Whenever “too good to miss” deals pop up on bulk cannabis, think tinctures for the long run.

5. Make Joint Art

Never has there been a better way to utilize a solid bag of shake than to twist up a few joints to enjoy. The great thing about having extra inventory is that you can afford to let your creative side take the wheel with some joint art. Something as simple as trying to roll a cross joint is a great way to use a bargain bag of shake. Get creative and experiment with different styles of rolling. Grind it up and roll away!

Image Sources: Patrick Bennett and Mr. Smoke n’ Toke via Flickr Creative Commons

Harborside Prevails in Courtroom Fight With Feds

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have agreed to drop a nearly four-year effort to seize the property of a California medical marijuana dispensary billed as the nation’s largest, the dispensary’s attorney said Tuesday.

Henry Wykowski, the attorney for Harborside Health Center in Oakland, said prosecutors did not explain why they were dropping their civil forfeiture case against Harborside. He said the paperwork still has to be filed with the court, which he expected would happen this week.

“It’s a wonderful victory for the patients,” Wykowski said at a news conference. “It’s a wonderful victory for the industry.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Northern California had no comment, spokesman Abraham Simmons said. Former U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said at the time she began the process to seize Harborside’s property in 2012 that it violated federal law by selling cannabis, even though medical marijuana was legal in California.

The federal government’s decision to end the case against Harborside would be the second time in recent months it has backed off a California medical marijuana dispensary. Prosecutors dropped their appeal of a judge’s October ruling in a similar case against the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer said a recent federal law limited the U.S. Department of Justice’s ability to enforce an injunction against the Marin Alliance. That law says the Department of Justice cannot use funds to prevent states that allow medical marijuana from implementing their own laws that allow its use, distribution and possession.

Prosecutors can only enforce a permanent injunction against the Marin Alliance to the extent it is not complying with California law, Breyer said.

The Department of Justice has also recently said it won’t interfere with state marijuana laws as long as the states tightly regulate the drug and make efforts to keep it from children, criminal drug cartels and other states.

“We are beginning to see the beginning of the end of federal prohibition,” Harborside’s executive director, Steve DeAngelo, said.

The City of Oakland filed a lawsuit trying to block the Harborside seizure in what was thought to be the first such lawsuit brought by a local government on behalf of a cannabis shop. The city argued that Harborside’s closure would deprive it of much-needed tax revenue and increase crime by creating a black market for marijuana.

City officials, including Mayor Libby Schaaf, joined DeAngelo and Wykowski at Tuesday’s news conference.

The Shake: America’s Most Famous Dispensary Wins Fight Against Feds

Harborside Health Center beats back the feds. One of the country’s most famous cannabis establishments has won the dismissal of a federal enforcement action that would’ve shuttered the shop and seized buildings that house dispensaries in Oakland and San Jose. The historic victory was the product of unprecedented cooperation between the dispensary and Oakland city officials, who stood together against U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag’s forfeiture actions. The federal government has just agreed to dismiss the case, according to a press release, bringing to an end nearly four years of legal wrangling.

So your adorable little pet ate an edible. Here’s what to do, according to Foodbeast. (TLDR: Go to the vet, tell the truth, don’t let it happen again.)

Hey, other states: Colorado’s governor has come around on cannabis. Gov. John Hickenlooper opposed the state’s adult-use legalization measure in 2012. But thanks to administrators’ “excellent job” of creating a safe, legal framework — and thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue, he’s changed his tune.

More on cannabis and the NFL. “Athletes are embracing the medicinal and financial benefits of marijuana,” asks the International Business Times, “so why can’t the league play nice?”

Stop calling synthetic cannabis “synthetic cannabis.” It’s not related to cannabis at all, and it’s a terrible association. U.K. prisons are overrun with the stuff, which corrections officers say has led to deaths, serious illness, and self-harm in both male and female blocks. Twenty quid says the corrections officers would rather the prisoners use real cannabis.

Cannabis arrests in New Jersey are at an all-time high. They also make up more than half of all drug enforcement policing, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

A news outlet did a story on “black cannabis entrepreneurs.” Sadly, it could only come up with five — and one was Snoop Dogg.

Here’s one thing we learned from UNGASS. That big U.N. summit about the global drug war? It didn’t lead to the reforms cannabis advocates had hoped for, but Vice says it underscored an important point: “America has basically resigned as the world’s lead narcotics cops.”

Colorado lawmakers took aim at pesticides, but they missed. A failed bill would have treated cannabis grown with unapproved pesticides as a threat to public safety and required its destruction, the Denver Post reports. The measure died in the House over concerns about the government destroying personal property.

Cannabis in Colorado schools, though? That’ll go forward. The Legislature approved a bill that would make Colorado the second state to require schools to accommodate medical cannabis use by students. The bill would require cannabis be in non-smokeable form, the Associated Press reports, and it would need to be administered by a parent or adult caregiver. It awaits Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature.

California is finally fixing its patchy, inconsistent MMJ system. And as the Orange County Register reports, the process can be a bureaucratic headache.

Here’s today’s reminder that medical cannabis is a real thing. Meet an Iowa family working to change Iowa’s cannabis oil law. Sally and Steve Gaer say they’re forced to break the law to obtain cannabis oil — so far the only medicine to successfully treat their daughter’s epilepsy.

And finally, from the Tabloid Desk: Franklin Graham, Christian evangelist and son of Billy Graham, railed against cannabis on Facebook this weekend. As support, he posted a link to an anti-cannabis page. The catch? It was written by Scientology’s Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Sweet Xenu, that’s a lot of propaganda. Somebody get me a free stress test.

Image Source: Harborside Health Center via Facebook

Electrum Partners Announces Business Protection Services Group For The Cannabis Industry

Electrum Partners, the leading cannabisbusiness advisory services company founded by Leslie Bocskor, announces its new Business Protection Services Group at The ArcView Investor Forum, Portland Oregon, May 2016, adding to the company’s existing business advisory and business growth services. Electrum Partners Managing Partner, Leslie Bocskor, voted Most Valuable ArcView Member for 2015, will be onstage

Cannabis Legalization in Vermont is Dead

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House has voted overwhelmingly against a Senate-passed plan to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.

The 121-to-28 vote appears to kill any chance this year that Vermont will become the first state to legislate legalization. Four other states and the District of Columbia have legalized by referendum.

Some House members said they support legalization, but opposed the Senate language. They argued that the Senate-proposed system of licensing and taxing growers and retailers — and banning homegrown — was too commercial an approach for Vermont.

The House continued to work on a stripped down proposal to step up anti-substance-abuse education, create a commission to study legalization, and to expand the list of marijuana offenses that are subject to civil, rather than criminal, penalties.

‘Sports Cannabis’ Shines At ArcView Event In Portland, Oregon

I have been waiting for many weeks for today to get here, ever since I heard that there would be an ArcView Group event in Portland. I got especially excited when I heard that there would be a big sports cannabis presence at the event. ArcView has never put on an event in Oregon (my

Another Study Shows Cannabis Legalization Does Not Increase Underage Access

A few months ago, we wrote about why cannabis legalization doesn’t lead to higher teen use rates. A recent Washington study from the American Academy of Pediatrics bolsters that claim with new evidence showing that minors do not feel cannabis has been any easier to obtain since the state legalized recreational use in 2012. This data comes from the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey which polls tens of thousands of students each year across hundreds of schools.

In 2010 (two years before Washington legalized), 55 percent of teens surveyed reported it was “easy” to get their hands on cannabis. Fast forward to 2014 – two years deep into Washington’s legal cannabis industry – and you’ll notice that things haven’t really changed at all. In fact, 54 percent of teens reported cannabis being easy for them to obtain – a slight but meaningful decrease.

One of the arguments hanging over cannabis initiatives is the prevailing belief that legalization increases access to kids. We feel like we’ve beat this dead horse to a pulp, but allow us to remind you of all the evidence stacking against this claim:

• Since Colorado legalized in 2012, monthly teenage cannabis use dropped from 22% in 2011 to 20% in 2013. The percentage of teens who had used cannabis at all in that time frame also dropped substantially from 45% to 39%.
• According to both the 2014 Monitoring the Youth survey and the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use, nationwide underage cannabis use has dropped slightly. Mind you, this decrease occurred as multiple states adopted recreational legalization measures and increased nationwide conversations about legalization.
• A national analysis of teen approval ratings of cannabis between 2002 and 2013 showed that legalization did not cause increases in underage approval.
• An NIH-funded study looking at data from 1991 to 2014 concluded that “passage of state medical marijuana laws does not increase adolescent use of marijuana.”
• A couple months ago, a new study debunked a 2015 report that indicated medical marijuana laws caused increases in underage consumption.

Just last week, we touched on a dispute in Massachusetts in which the state’s Association of School Superintendents claimed that legal marijuana equates to “increased use and abuse by young people.” The Massachusetts Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’s spokesperson Jim Borghesani promptly argued that adolescent use in Colorado decreased post-legalization, adding, “The more dangerous market is the one that exists today — where drug dealers don’t ask for IDs.”

Washington, Colorado, and the many other states with legalized cannabis provide an important experimental site from which we can mine data. We’re now able to see the actual impact cannabis has on our minors and use that to adjust and inform policy going forward. And at this point, it appears to be beyond the realm of wishful thinking as we realize that smart drug policy is not about prohibition: it’s about education.

‘NJWeedman’ is No Joke. He’s New Jersey’s Cannabis Pioneer.

TRENTON, N.J. – A surprise police raid of NJWeedman’s Joint in downtown Trenton, and the arrest of the Weedman himself, caused a minor media stir last week, inspiring questions among the cannabis curious around the country. Namely: Who is this odd character who calls himself NJWeedman?

As a longtime medical marijuana advocate and cannabis chronicler, I can tell you he’s no stranger to those of us here in the Garden State. Allow me to fill you in.

Ed Forchion, a.k.a. NJWeedman, is the seminal cannabis reformer on the East Coast. I know that’s saying a lot. But NJWeedman is no joke. He’s spent too much time in jail for what many of us do every day to be laughed off.

His own story of personal transformation, from Ed Forchion to NJ Weedman, makes for a fascinating tale. My NJ.com colleague Kevin Shea chronicled that history in a nice piece posted a couple days ago. I’ll nutshell it for you: A recreational cannabis user since his teens, Forchion began using medical marijuana in 2001 after a cancer diagnosis. Forchion emerged as an activist in the late 1990s, and has since run for local, county, and congressional offices. He’s aiming for Congress again this year to represent Trenton, Princeton, and the rest of New Jersey’s 12th District. Between tilts at elected office, NJWeedman also spent a lot of time in jail and defending himself in court.

Last year Forchion opened his eatery, NJWeedman’s Joint. Trenton is, putting it kindly, a culinary wasteland. Having a place with fruit smoothies and decent food was a welcome addition to the neighborhood. For $9, you might try the Chris Christie Burger, “sliced glazed doughnut w/mac & cheese served between two turkey burgers.”

Why turkey burgers?

“Because Chris Christie is a turkey,” customers were told.

NJWeedman is a large, outspoken, dreadlocked African-American activist whose flair for civil disobedience has now and then made many in the reform movement uncomfortable. But Forchion’s unwavering commitment to drug reform — on his own terms — has earned him the sometimes grudging respect of allies and detractors alike.

I once invited NJWeedman to speak at a State House press conference in Trenton. I hoped to communicate a clear message about a component of the state’s medical marijuana program. When NJWeedman took the microphone, he promptly wandered off message with a thoughtful but winding soliloquy about medical cannabis and where it fits into the larger constellation of reform efforts. I felt like he crashed my press conference. And I was pissed that he had the temerity to point out that not everyone has the luxury of a small-steps approach. Looking back, NJWeedman was right. It’s easy to be pragmatic in the leafy suburbs. And in retrospect, nothing about his message undermined my goal of getting medical marijuana into the hands of sick people.

Recently, Trenton’s all-Democratic City Council tabled a cannabis reform resolution. Instead of having the guts to vote no, the council simply wished the issue into purgatory. After the non-vote, Forchion lit up a joint right there in council chambers, thus bringing maximum media attention to the council’s act of cowardice.

There is Method to His Oddness

Last week’s police action actually almost fits into NJWeedman’s long game.

Forchion’s restaurant and “cannabis church” wasn’t quietly closed down by local authorities. It was raided by a narcotics squad clad in full tactical gear. Police came in as if they were expecting the climactic shootout in The Departed. That in itself garnered the kind of media scrutiny that rarely happens when a person of color is arrested for cannabis. Officers with assault rifles took ten people into custody, including several patients registered with New Jersey’s medical marijuana program.

East Coast Cannabis Coalition’s Vanessa Maria told Leafly the police lacked the tools to properly verify state medical marijuana ID cards, which those patients had in their possession. That’s news that might send shivers down the spines of the 6,126 MMJ patients registered in New Jersey. It also gives the public some insight into the mindset of the police conducting the raid. They went in expecting to fight it out with hardened criminals. They did not expect to open the doors and find law-abiding, state-registered medical marijuana patients.

In addition to the ten people arrested, the police also walked away with two automobiles, surveillance gear, computer equipment, and — according to the prosecutor’s math — cannabis worth $19,000.

NJWeedman was out of jail 30 hours later, defiantly smoking a joint on camera while vowing to keep fighting his fight his way.

“It may have been worth a few hundred dollars, but $19,000 … are they crazy?” Forchion told the Trentonian. “Just about everyone here is a smoker. So yes, there’s weed here. But there’s no distribution going on. They exaggerated big-time.”

“Sharing is part of the culture,” Forchion added. “I share because I care, and it’s wrong for them to criminalize that. A lot of people come in here and we share. Sharing is not selling. We’re not running any kind of illegal enterprise out of here.”

The gross disparities in the application of our cannabis laws is hardly a secret. Nationally, people of color are four times more likely be arrested for cannabis than white people. Ed Forchion brings those racial and class contrasts into sharp, sobering relief.

The Enemy of Prohibition is My Friend

If the police raid was intended to discourage New Jersey’s cannabis movement, it achieved just the opposite effect. NJWeedman can be a controversial, contentious figure within the state’s advocacy community. But the raid has — at least for the time being —rallied the community around his cause.

“The raid was an intentional attack on the cannabis movement in New Jersey,” Kyle Moore told Leafly. Moore is a candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, who, like Forchion, is running under the banner of the Legalize Marijuana Party. “Sending dozens of police officers with semi-machine guns is just another way of sending a message. The drug war has relied on brute oppression for the last several decades, and will continue to do so until we as a society say ‘enough is enough!'”

“Edward Forchion’s multiple arrests for cannabis [typically] result in jail time, fines, unemployment, civil asset forfeiture, surveillance, profiling, harassment, loss of child custody, and housing issues,” Maria, of the East Coast Cannabis Coalition, told Leafly. “These injustices are typical in communities of color, which are disproportionately targeted for drug arrests and police harassment. This is a stark contrast to the white ganjapreneurs who are enjoying the vast profits being made from cannabis legalization.”

She’s right. Instead of celebrating and rewarding Forchion’s entrepreneurial, civic-minded spirit, we send him to jail.

Bill Wolfe, who runs a government watchdog website, echoed the sentiment: “The Weedman’s Joint is pioneering exactly the kind of community places we need to restore democracy, create space for the artistic community and alternative ways of life.”

“If I could describe NJWeedman in one word, it’s resilient. I have never seen anyone take a beating and get right back up like NJWeedman,” said Moore, the congressional candidate.

“Every time the authorities punish him, he comes back stronger and more dedicated,” Moore added. “I think the Trenton police raid just opened up Pandora’s box. The last time the state arrested NJWeedman for cannabis was in 2010. He’s attempting to appeal that case all the way to the Supreme Court.

“When will New Jersey authorities learn to just leave this man alone?”

Moore tells Leafly his run for Congress was inspired by Forchion, who also also ran for office several times, including once in 2005 for New Jersey governor, on a “Legalize Marijuana” ticket. Forchion nabbed 9,138 votes in that election.

”Me running for office is just giving other people the opportunity to participate in my protest,” he said at the time. ”I would love to get 5,000 or 10,000 people to vote for me. It would be a symbolic thing.”

For years he’s been dismissed as a fringe outlier. But with each passing year, NJWeedman becomes increasingly mainstream.

One of Trenton’s top lobbyists, Bill Caruso, shared this anecdote with Leafly: “I first met Ed when he came into [then-Congressman Rob Andrews’] district office in the late 1990s to light a joint in protest of marijuana laws. Our 70-something receptionist, who had respiratory problems, asked him to take it outside. When he did not comply with her request, I convinced him to wait on the sidewalk. But prior to walking out, he took a long drag off the joint and blew it in my face. The police arrested him. The officer asked if I wanted to press charges against him for blowing smoke at me.

“I grinned and told him ‘No, but I would love a cheeseburger!’”

Caruso, the consummate New Jersey political insider, now serves on the board of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform.

Will These Charges Stick?

“I’m a proponent of jury nullification, and I’m going to take this to trial,” Forchion said late last week. “Once again I get to publicly argue my case in court and be David fighting the Goliath of government.”

NJWeedman has lived on the tip of the spear of New Jersey’s cannabis reform movement for more than 20 years. He’d probably tell you he hasn’t changed much in the last couple decades. The rest of the world is simply catching up to him.

But as last week’s police raid shows, there’s still quite a long way to go.

Image Source: Erica Brown

Cannabis Evolution: What Do We Know About the Plant's Earliest Origins?

Cannabis is one of the earliest crops cultivated by humans, and as such, there’s abundant information available on its use by various cultures and peoples throughout history. Thanks to historical documents and archeological findings, we can decipher when and how cannabis was introduced to specific areas of the world and for what purpose. When it comes to the evolutionary origins of the plant, however, things become murkier.

Currently, we have no fossil record of the earliest cannabis plants. Because it has been dispersed far and wide through human migration and trade, it’s difficult to determine the natural range of cannabis. This lack of concrete evidence has forced scientists and researchers to use deductive reasoning and knowledge of related plant families to form a viable theory as to its true origins.

What Conditions Does a Cannabis Plant Need to Thrive?

When determining the likely evolutionary origins of cannabis, our first order of business is understanding its ecological requirements, such as the ideal temperature, soil conditions, and amounts of sunlight and moisture needed for it to thrive. We know that cannabis plants are heliotropic (sun-loving) and thermophilic (warmth-loving). Although they are tolerant of shaded environments, they produce far less seed and pollen when deprived of direct sunlight. This means we can safely assume that cannabis evolved in an open environment lacking concentrations of taller plant species.

We also know that cannabis responds to changes in photoperiod, exhibiting vigorous vegetative growth during the longer days of spring and summer, and not flowering until the nightly period of darkness reaches 10 to 12 hours. Additionally, cannabis is not tolerant of cold conditions, but can survive extreme heat with sufficient water and nutrients.

While cannabis is highly adaptable to various levels of moisture, it does not produce well in drought conditions. Conversely, cannabis is very susceptible to fungi and other pathogens when excess moisture is present in the root zone, so it requires well-drained soil to thrive.

When we take all these factors into consideration, we get a good idea of the type of environment the cannabis plant evolved in: a temperate northern climate featuring warm, wet summers, where it can complete its 4 to 6 month life-cycle between killing frosts, and in sandy, loamy alluvial soils, e.g., along river valleys.

When Did Cannabis Evolve?

Now that we’ve established the likely environmental conditions under which cannabis evolved, we turn to the question of when it evolved. Given the lack of fossil evidence, we must examine our knowledge of plants that are closely related. Even here, we find some controversy: throughout history, cannabis has been given different taxonomic designations by various botanists.

In 1837, Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher gave cannabis and its sister plant, humulus, their own family, Cannabaceae, under the (no longer existing) order Urticales. Other botanists later placed cannabis in the Urticaceae (nettle family) then Moraceae (fig family), before a 2002 molecular phylogenetic study determined that the Cannabaceae was a distinct family that also included those species classified under the genus Celtis (formerly known as the Celtidaceae, or hackberry family).

A 2003 article exploring the relationship between parasites and plants by Drs. John McPartland and Judith Nicholson for the New Zealand Journal of Botany noted that cannabis hosts seven parasites that are also found on plants in the Urticaceae and none that are hosted by the Moraceae. Using Fahrenholz’s Rule, we can then postulate that the Cannabaceae evolved either from or alongside the Urticaceae.

The earliest convincing fossil records indicate that Urticaceae emerged during the Oligocene epoch, which began about 34 million years ago. Humulus lupulus (hops), the closest relative of the cannabis plant, was fully speciated by 6.38 million years ago. Therefore, the cannabis plant evolved sometime between 34 million years ago and 6.38 million years ago.

Where Did Cannabis Originate?

Next we look to historical and archeological evidence of the earliest uses of cannabis by humans to provide clues as where cannabis originated. A Neolithic site dating back 12,000 years recently uncovered on the island of Taiwan produced pottery shards with impressions of hemp rope on them. In 2003, the 2700-year-old tomb of a mummified shaman was discovered in northwest Xinjiang, China, and was found to contain fragments of cannabis leaves and seeds.

Cannabis use is well-documented in the sacred Hindu texts known as the Atharva Veda, which are thought to have been compiled 2000-1400 years BCE. There is evidence that the ancient Yamnaya culture of what is now Northern Europe used cannabis both for cordage and for its psychoactive properties, perhaps as early as the third millennia BCE. While there is some evidence that hemp was utilized by ancient Egyptians as early as 1550 BCE, cannabis was introduced to the rest of Africa at a much later date. Cannabis was not present in the New World until it was introduced by European colonists.

All of these findings indicate that cannabis is indigenous to the Eurasian land mass. Furthermore, the early development of two distinct varieties of cannabis, the low THC hemp type in Europe and the more psychoactive drug variety in southern and eastern Asia, suggests that the plant first emerged somewhere in Central Asia and diverged from there.

The natural range of cannabis would have changed repeatedly since it first evolved due to climatic fluctuation and encroaching glaciers, so pinpointing the exact area in which it evolved is difficult. Some theories posit that the upland valleys of the Tian Shan or Altai Mountains, with their frequent landslides and rich alluvial soil, could have been the specific locus of origin. Given what we know about the age and ecological requirements of cannabis, along with the earliest known distribution patterns of the plant, Central Asia certainly offers the most plausible, if not overly specific, area of origin. From there it would have been spread by early humans, who possibly first encountered cannabis as early as 120,000 ago after they migrated out of Africa.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The Shake: Turns Out Baby Boomers Love Cannabis. Vermont, Not So Much.

Cannabis use among boomers is booming. More and more Americans age 55 and older are using cannabis — and using more of it — as their home states legalize. CBS News says this comes as a surprise (and then puts “MARIJUANA” in all caps for shock value), but the uptick also makes sense: Cannabis can address the aches and pains of aging, promote a solid night’s sleep, and even make seniors feel young again. There’s still a lot of stigma among groups that came to age during the war on drugs, but that’s slowly fading — and it could make a difference at the ballot box come November.

It’s right to worry about underage use —but evidence says it’s not spreading. A new study out of Washington state found that adult-use legalization had no effect on teen access. Tell your friends.

Vermont now looks like a long shot. Key leaders in the state House say they don’t think there are enough votes to pass the state’s long-awaited adult-use legalization bill this year, according to the Associated Press.

Nobody said the green rush would be easy. “There’s this misconception that everyone is rolling in the money here,” a Colorado cannabis expert tells CNBC in a piece about the startup hustle.

Related: Lots of people want to work in cannabis. Lots of people.

Canadian legalization task force won’t include cannabis advocates. Forward-thinking folks such as Jodie Emery had applied, but Justice Minister Bill Blair says they’re not invited.

Woody gets axed. Hawaii rejected actor and NORML board member Woody Harrelson’s application to operate a medical cannabis license in the state. Read the full story here.

Oregon issues first adult-use cannabis licenses. The state expects to issue about 850 licenses this year. A full list of the eight recipients can be found here, and Noelle Crombie at the Oregonian has more.

Make London great again? Mayoral candidate and self-professed hippie Lee Harris, 79, says that “London would be a happier place if cannabis was legalized.” Right-o, mate.

New Zealand radio host visits Colorado, backs legalization. “Tax the stuff, build more schools and watch crime go down,” Matt Heath writes in the New Zealand Herald.

Colorado tourists could soon buy like locals. A bill in the Legislature would repeal a law that currently prevents out-of-state visitors from buying more than a quarter-ounce of cannabis per day.

Illinois is weighing 15 new qualifying conditions. But the doctor who leads the Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory board isn’t optimistic the new qualifying conditions will be adopted given Gov. Bruce Rauner’s past statements, says the AP.

The National Cannabis Industry Association announced candidates for its board of directors. You’ll notice some familiar faces.

Colorado’s cannabis doctor will make a pretty penny. The state’s “marijuana health effects and research manager” gig pays between $137,000 and $215,000, according to an open job listing. The Denver Post says it could be one of the highest salaries in state government.

Also in Colorado: another recall. Concentrate maker Avicenna Products is recalling 123 individually packaged grams of Super Silver Diesel shatter, which is contaminated with the banned pesticide myclobutanil. The voluntary recall is the latest of dozens to have hit the state, the Cannabist reports.

And finally, New York is having a cannabis parade! It’s this Saturday, May 7, and you can get all the details right here.

Hawaii Rejects Woody Harrelson’s Dispensary Bid, Grants 8 Others

HONOLULU — Hawaii selected eight businesses Friday to open medical cannabis dispensaries — but not one owned by Woody Harrelson.

The actor was among nearly 60 Hawaii residents who applied in January to open the state’s first dispensaries, which can open as soon as July 15.

Ina Treciokas, a spokesperson for Harrelson, said there was no comment on the selection announcement.

A four-member panel reviewed nearly 66 applications to open dispensaries based on criteria including companies’ proof of financial stability, ability to comply with security requirements and being able to meet patient needs.

The panel wouldn’t discuss Friday why it selected and rejected particular dispensaries, but the health department said it expects to release the scores of each applicant in the next two weeks. The scores will be available on the state’s medical cannabis website.

Here’s a full list of applicants selected to receive state licenses:

County of Hawaii

• Hawaiian Ethos LLC
• Lau Ola LLC

City and County of Honolulu

• Aloha Green Holdings Inc.
• Manoa Botanicals LLC
• TCG Retro Market 1 LLC (d.b.a. Cure Oahu)

County of Kauai

• Green Aloha Ltd.

County of Maui

• Maui Wellness Group LLC
• Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC

“It’s a feeling of huge responsibility and potential for doing good, so it’s lots of emotions,” said Richard Ha of Lau Ola, one of the companies selected for the Big Island. “We’re really happy to participate in this, but we got to do this right and we fully intend to do that.”

Ha said his company already has a lease on a property and building plans for facilities, but he expects that the dispensary won’t be up and running until at least after July.

Harrelson, a NORML board member and a longtime advocate of cannabis use, had applied for a license to open a medical dispensary under the name Simple Organic Living LLC. He would’ve been the latest in a long list of celebrity brands — such as Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, Whoopi Goldberg, and others.

Video game entrepreneur Henk Rogers of Blue Planet Healing was among dozens of applicants who weren’t selected for a license. Rogers is famous for designing the video game “Tetris” more than 20 years ago, and lives in Hawaii in an entirely solar-powered home.

“We look forward to applying for a medical marijuana dispensary license in the future should the Department of Health decide that the granting of additional licenses to operate a medical marijuana dispensary is in the best interest of the people of the state of Hawaii,” Blue Planet Healing said in a statement.

Dispensary applicants are required to pay a $75,000 licensing fee to the Department of Health within seven days of receiving written notice of their selection.

Applicants were required to have $1 million cash, plus $100,000 for each dispensary location. The Hawaii Department of Health, which awarded the licenses, must inspect facilities before they can open.

The law allows medical marijuana businesses to have two production centers and two retail dispensaries, for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide.

Six are allowed on Oahu, four on Hawaii Island, four on Maui and two on Kauai.

Hawaii became the first state to legalize medical marijuana through the legislative process 16 years ago. Under a law passed in 2015, the state could grant eight licenses.

Industry experts say Hawaii’s medical marijuana businesses could be confronted with challenges unlike those in other states, such as navigating rules that ban inter-island transport and limit the number of growers.

They say the new Hawaii industry could also face problems such as the nation’s highest electricity costs for indoor growing and a thriving underground market.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

How the NFL Enabled the 'Gas Mask' Fiasco

Two members of Japan’s junior national snowboarding team are alleged to have gotten stoned while visiting Colorado last December. You might have missed this story when it broke last week. Because it wasn’t much of a story at all.

The zany thing is what happened when the snowboarders got home. First, these amateur athletes had to submit to hair testing, which I am ashamed to admit I didn’t know was a thing. The results gave away their partying, and last Wednesday they were suspended from the national team. The Snowboarding Association of Japan (SAJ) also announced that the athletes’ hopes for participating in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are now in jeopardy. Fumikazu Hagiwara, the head of SAJ snowboarding, resigned. Presumably in disgrace.

Learning of the Japanese suspensions turned me into one smug African-American. To paraphrase a colleague, if you send a team of snowboarders to Colorado, what do you think is going to happen? But sport allowed me just 48 hours to enjoy those feelings of superiority. After two days of condescending looks to The East, toward a nation whose reluctance to pair cannabis with reason felt almost embarrassing, the National Football League hit me up with some good old-fashioned American shame.

By now you’ve heard plenty about the gas mask bong kid. If you spent last week in the South Pacific, here’s the deal. University of Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil had been projected as a top selection in the NFL draft—possibly as high as No. 3. On Thursday night, minutes before the former SEC standout was expected to be chosen, a 30-second video of him smoking weed out of a gas mask bong appeared on his Twitter account. Tunsil’s draft stock crashed. The news broke live on ESPN. The Chargers, who had the No. 3 pick, passed on Tunsil in favor of a defensive end from Ohio State. Pick No. 4 came and went. And No. 5. Tunsil remained untaken. Other digital shenanigans ensued, and Tunsil tumbled to the Miami Dolphins, who took him with the 13th overall pick.

How much did that hacked video cost Tunsil? Consider this. In 2015, the third overall pick walked away with a $38.8 million contract. The No. 13 pick got a package worth $18 million. So those 30 seconds may have cost Tunsil $20 million.

The Japanese come off as naïve. The NFL just seems downright mean.

At least Japan can fall back on the excuse of cultural ignorance. Ain’t no legal dispensaries on the entire continent of Asia. The overreaction is almost adorable. Almost.

What happened to Tunsil — a college freshman when the stoner video was taken — is a whole different level of transgression.

Over the weekend, news came out that the football player was the target of hangers-on aiming to drain him. Like so many of the young people who make up the NFL’s workforce, Tunsil came from a hardscrabble background. One of the people suspected of hacking Tunsil’s Twitter is an actual relative. The leading theory is that Tunsil was hacked in order to damage his market value. But that couldn’t have been done without the assistance of the NFL, a league whose misguided and yes, downright mean policies left Tunsil vulnerable to this attack.

The most powerful league on the planet has a habit of dealing harshly with cannabis users. See Josh Gordon, the best wide receiver you probably haven’t actually seen. (Because he’s been on perpetual pot suspension for the past few seasons.) Some of you remember the great Ricky Williams, and the character assassination that accompanied his cannabis kinship. The street criminals who went after Tunsil, a rookie, could not have accomplished their $20 million heist without being enabled by the NFL’s outdated and draconian cannabis policy.

The hypocrisy of pro football in America is almost too deep to dive into. How it uses colleges as unpaid minor leagues — leagues that happen to earn billions, but not for the players — in itself puts the NFL in a morally compromised position. For now, let’s skip the bodily harm and the brain damage. For a league to be doling out heavy pot punishments (fines, multi-game suspensions, and draft shunnings) when old pros have been dying from the pharmaceuticals all but poured down players’ throats, is beyond despicable. At this point the league isn’t just tone-deaf to the world’s changing attitude about cannabis. Commissioner Roger Goodell and the team owners are actively resisting all positive change.

It’s my belief that the NFL comes down so hard on pot because of worries that an enlightened workforce — i.e., the players — would start to question the league’s longstanding and lucrative relationships with both military displays and shitty beer.

Maybe, as it once did, sport can lead to understanding and acceptance. Both of the amateur Japanese snowboarders are minors, so some, non-hysterical punishment ought to be meted out. Pro football is trickier, but it shouldn’t be impervious to change. NFL fans love nothing more than a winner. How ironic would it be if Laremy Tunsil proved to be the missing piece for the Miami Dolphins? What if he helped that team make a championship run? Why, fans might actually start yelling at their teams for not choosing the young prospect with a minor youthful indiscretion in his past. The NFL could play the part of accidental progressive.

As it stands now, the Laremy Tunsil saga is a minor tragedy. But it may well play out as the upset of the century.

Image Source: Thomas Graning for Ole Miss via Flickr Creative Commons

Why I’m So Excited For Uncle Spliffy And The Sports Cannabis Movement

I have been writing more and more lately about sports and cannabis. I will always be quick to point out that while I’m a chubby Hobbit blogger, I am also a big sports fan. I play in fantasy football leagues with my friends and family, and have played a lot of basketball over the years.

The Top 10 Cannabis Strains in Massachusetts

Cannabis strains vary from region to region, but some fan favorites like Blue Dream, Gorilla Glue #4, and Girl Scout Cookies have permeated almost every state’s border. These ten strains – most of which might look familiar – are the most commonly searched varieties among Massachusetts residents according to Leafly data. Dispensaries, keep in mind that these are the strains your customers and patients are showing interest in!

1. Blue Dream

Blue Dream’s market domination is no exception in Massachusetts. Cherished for its sweet berry flavor and mellow, blissful effects loved by newbies and veterans alike, we don’t expect Blue Dream to fall from its #1 spot anytime soon. Its gentle effects make this hybrid a top choice for anxiety disorders and depression.

2. Headband

Known for its hugging cerebral “halo effect,” the complex hybrid Headband is known to promote a balance of relaxation, creativity, and mood enhancement. With a rich terpene (aromatic oils secreted in cannabis resin) profile dominated by myrcene, pinene, and limonene, this strain’s aroma is as much a draw as its effects.

3. Gorilla Glue #4

Blowing up all over the U.S. is Gorilla Glue #4, the strain that makes its presence known with a pungently sweet aroma soured by funky fuel notes. This masterpiece from GG Strains lives up to its name as it produces copious amounts of resin so sticky, the buds seem to almost resist your fingers breaking them apart. Preferred by patients for stress, pain, insomnia and appetite loss, Gorilla Glue #4 is basically a condensed medicine cabinet as it relieves a spectrum of different symptoms.

4. Green Crack

If you’re susceptible to fatigue and lethargy when using cannabis, consider Green Crack. It may not have the most therapeutic (or even tasteful) name, but this sativa is perfect for fighting depression and motivating activity and creativity with it stimulating and revitalizing effects.

5. Cheese

The Cheese hybrid, first conceived in the 1980s, has survived the test of time for a reason. Announcing itself with sharp sour notes reminiscent of cheese, this strain delivers a tranquil high that can loosen anxiety’s grip as tension dissolves from muscles.

6. White Widow

Obscured under a storm of snow-like crystal resin, White Widow is a classic Dutch strain long coveted for its potency. Offering an escape from pain and stress with a sweet and earthy flavor, this resin queen has secured her supremacy in markets worldwide.

7. Blueberry

Another classic that can’t be budged off the top ten list in most markets, Blueberry offers one of the most flavorful indica experiences alongside heavy, full-body effects. Blueberry is perfect for relaxing in the sun or with a movie, or consider this indica for stressful days and sleepless nights.

8. Girl Scout Cookies

From West Coast to East, Girl Scout Cookies has traveled far to make it into the hands of Massachusetts cannabis consumers. Typically used to nudge stubborn cases of depression, pain, appetite loss, and insomnia by patients, this sweet-tasting hybrid can be used to enhance creativity and introspection.

9. Strawberry Cough

With pronounced flavors of strawberry and an expansive smoke that can leave one coughing the exhale, this sativa is the perfect companion for creatives, hikers, or anyone looking to lift their energy and mood. Strawberry Cough encourages you to get up and out, easing tension and pain so you can stay active longer.

10. White Russian

White Russian is a hybrid strain that uses its commanding THC content to keep stress, pain, and nausea at bay. A cross between White Widow and AK-47, White Russian inherits famed genetics from all over the world including South America, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mexico, and India.

Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board To Consider Adding More Qualifying Conditions, Again

Illinois has tried multiple times to add more qualifying conditions to the Illinois medical marijuana program. Twice the Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board has approved adding new conditions to the list, and both times the recommendation from the Board was shut downby the Governor of Illinois. The Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board is taking up

What is Decarboxylation, and Why Does Your Cannabis Need It?

Here’s a scenario we have all seen in film before: Somebody consumes an entire bag of raw cannabis in order to avoid getting caught with it. Eyes pop wide open and gasps ensue. “You just ate that whole bag!” somebody shouts. However, the aftermath of this scene usually involves a very different representation of what actually happens when you consume raw cannabis. Spoiler alert: The effects will be lackluster at best. Why is this the case?

The answer to this mystery lies in a process called decarboxylation, one that is necessary for us to enjoy the psychoactive effects of the cannabinoids we consume.

Decarboxylation Explained

All cannabinoids contained within the trichomes of raw cannabis flowers have an extra carboxyl ring or group (COOH) attached to their chain. For example, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is synthesized in prevalence within the trichome heads of freshly harvested cannabis flowers. In most regulated markets, cannabis distributed in dispensaries contains labels detailing the product’s cannabinoid contents. THCA, in many cases, prevails as the highest cannabinoid present in items that have not been decarboxylated (e.g., cannabis flowers and concentrates).

THCA has a number of known benefits when consumed, including having anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective qualities. But THCA is not psychoactive, and must be converted into THC through decarboxylation before any effects can be felt.

What Causes Decarboxylation?

The two main catalysts for decarboxylation to occur are heat and time. Drying and curing cannabis over time will cause a partial decarboxylation to occur. This is why some cannabis flowers also test for a presence of small amounts of THC along with THCA. Smoking and vaporizing will instantaneously decarboxylate cannabinoids due to the extremely high temperatures present, making them instantly available for absorption through inhalation.

While decarboxylated cannabinoids in vapor form can be easily absorbed in our lungs, edibles require these cannabinoids present in what we consume in order for our bodies to absorb them throughout digestion. Heating cannabinoids at a lower temperature over time allows us to decarboxylate the cannabinoids while preserving the integrity of the material we use so that we may infuse it into what we consume.

At What Temperature Does Decarboxylation Occur?

The THCA in cannabis begins to decarboxylate at approximately 220 degrees Fahrenheit after around 30-45 minutes of exposure. Full decarboxylation may require more time to occur. Many people choose to decarboxylate their cannabis at slightly lower temperatures for a much longer period of time in attempts to preserve terpenes. Many mono and sesquiterpenes are volatile and will evaporate at higher temperatures, leaving potentially undesirable flavors and aromas behind. The integrity of both cannabinoids and terpenoids are compromised by using temperatures that exceed 300 degrees F, which is why temperatures in the 200’s are recommended.

Heat and time can also cause other forms of cannabinoid degradation to occur. For example, CBN (cannabinol) is formed through the degradation and oxidization of THC, a process that can occur alongside decarboxylation. CBN accounts for a much more sedative and less directly psychoactive experience.

How to Decarboxylate Cannabis at Home

In order to decarboxylate cannabis at home, all you need is some starting material, an oven set to 220-235 degrees F (depending on your location and oven model), some parchment paper, and a baking tray. Finely grind your cannabis until the material can be spread thin over parchment and placed on your baking sheet. Allow the cannabis to bake for 30-45 minutes, or longer if desired.

Cannabis can also be decarboxylated in a slow cooker by introducing solvents such as cooking oils or lecithin.These methods create infusions that can be used in a variety of cooking recipes, topicals, and even cannabis capsules. Since they contain decarboxylated cannabinoids, they will be effective any way you choose to consume them.

Now that you know how decarboxylation works, the next time you see somebody on television falling over onto the ground after eating an entire bag of shake, you’ll be able to laugh it off over a batch of your very own freshly baked and infused, fully decarboxylated cannabis cookies. Bon appetit!

Image Source: Patrick Bennett

Dispensary Showcase: Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, D.C.

Religious clergy are known for offering guidance through life’s struggles, but have you ever had a rabbi recommend cannabis? At Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, D.C., Rabbi Jeffery Kahn and his family are dedicated to forwarding the idea of cannabis as medicine. After seeing a family member struggle with multiple sclerosis for years with cannabis being the only form of relief, Rabbi Kahn and his family felt compelled to share the the power of medical marijuana with their community.

Where to Find Them

Takoma Wellness Center sits just north of the heart of the District of Columbia along the Maryland border. Its convenient location is less than a block from the Takoma Metro Stop, easily accessed by the Red Line.

Their Philosophy

Takoma Wellness Center has established itself as a neighborhood business and an active member of the local community.

“We’ve seen a lot of dispensaries, and a lot of them wouldn’t be the kind of places that people in their 70s, one of them in a wheelchair, would necessarily feel comfortable coming [to]. We wanted to have a place [where] people like them would feel very comfortable. [They] would know that they are coming to a place where we took seriously the issue of cannabis being medicine and that we could help find the way that it could help them.” – Rabbi Jeffery Kahn, Owner

Why We Love Them

Aside from its family and community values, Takoma Wellness Center is pushing forward the constructs of legal cannabis throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The location offers friendly, comfortable access to medicinal cannabis and looks to educate all of its patient and arm them with the ability to make informed decisions about the ways to incorporate cannabis into their wellness routine.

Learn More About Cannabis Dispensaries Near You

Looking to find out more about the dispensaries near you? Check out the Leafly List to find some of the best places to access medical and recreational cannabis.

Image Source: Takoma Wellness Center via Facebook

Leading Medical Cannabis Expert To Present The Facts Behind A Solution To The Opioid Epidemic

I received the following press release today. Dr. Dustin Sulak is a very talented, knowledgeable expert. I strongly urge you to check out the event, which is free to all: One of the world’s leading medical cannabis experts, Dr. Dustin Sulak, will on May 10th, present a free to attend and view seminar that addresses

Want to Try Cannabis Juicing? Check Out These Recipes and Guidelines

Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to shed our winter skin, get out into the sunshine, and burst forth with a clean, healthy body. If you want to give your body a spring cleaning, I recommend trying a 7-day “green” cannabis juice supplement.

In many different cultures, juicing has been used for centuries as a holistic method for supporting overall health and wellness. It’s only in recent years that the idea of juice “cleansing” or “detoxing” has been considered somewhat controversial in the medical community. Our body has five major organ systems in place that are naturally “detoxifying” all the time (skin, liver, kidneys, colon, and lungs). Over time, several factors can overload these systems (such as poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and environmental pollutants), leaving them working at less-than-optimal capacity.

If you’re feeling fatigued, sluggish, or backed up, incorporating seven days of green juice into your diet can be a simple way to nourish, cleanse, and reset your systems. And if you have access to fresh cannabis leaves, you can implement them in your recipes as well!

What is Green Juice?

Fresh green juice is the extracts of fluid and nutrients from the solid flesh of (primarily) vegetables and some fruits. True green juice does not contain any added sugar, chemicals, or preservatives. The nutrients provided from fresh green juice are quickly digested and readily absorbed by the body. Depending on the variety of the ingredients, green juices will be loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants.

What are the Health Benefits of Green Juice?

In addition to helping cleanse your body, the vitamins and minerals in green juice provide natural energy, boost your immune system, and have anti-inflammatory effects. Fresh green juice is also an easy way to meet the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables.

The Benefits of Cannabis Juicing

There’s no debate that more is better when it comes to eating your veggies (especially leafy greens!), so why not add fresh cannabis leaves into the nutrient-rich mix? While the exact nutrient profile of fresh cannabis will vary from plant to plant, organically grown fresh cannabis, like other leafy greens, is sure to be full of health-boosting goodness, delivering vitamins and minerals as well as anti-inflammatory benefits.

Cannabis Juicing Tips

If you’re planning on throwing some cannabis leaves into the mix, here are a few recommendations:

• Keep It Raw! The same amount of raw cannabis that provides 500-1000 milligrams of THC-A will only provide about 10mg of THC if heated.
• Choose Organic! Always choose organically grown plants that are well flushed. Any nutrients in the plant will also be in your juice extract!
• Fresh is Best! Use a combination of 15-20 large fresh fan leaves, 30-40 fresh small sugar leaves, or 2 large fresh buds.
• Blend It Together! For best results and taste, blend your cannabis with other fresh juiced greens and vegetables.

Recipe Suggestions for 7 Days of Green Cannabis Juices

You’ll need a juicer for the following cannabis green juice recipes. Try to purchase organic produce if you can, and wash your produce thoroughly before juicing. Make sure you clean your juicer as soon as possible after using it (before the pulp starts to dry and stick to the insides of your juicer). Lastly, cold-pressed juice is the best method to maintain the integrity of the plant and retain the most nutritional benefits.

1. Basic Green Juice

• 5 handfuls of spinach
• 3 kale leaves
• 7 large cannabis fan leaves
• ½ cucumber
• ½ lemon
• 1 Fuji apple

2. Spicy & Sweet Greens

• 3 handfuls of spinach 5 kale leaves
• 10 large cannabis fan leaves
• 20 small sugar leaves
• 1 large cannabis bud
• 1 cup pineapple
• ½ jalapeño
• 1 cucumber

3. Super Greens

• ½ head Romaine lettuce
• 1 handful spinach leaves
• 10 sprigs cilantro
• 1 green apple
• ½ lime
• 1-inch fresh ginger root
• 1-inch fresh turmeric root
• 2 large fresh cannabis buds

4. Green Goddess

• 6 Swiss or rainbow chard leaves
• 2 handfuls spinach
• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 cucumber
• ½ green apple
• 1-inch fresh ginger root
• 20 fresh cannabis fan leaves

5. Unbeetable Green Goodness

• 1 large red or golden beet
• 1 bunch beet greens
• 1 cucumber
• 1 green apple
• 3 Swiss chard leaves
• 10 sprigs parsley
• 2 large fresh cannabis buds

6. Minty Green Juice

• 1 cucumber
• 1 green apple
• 15 large fresh cannabis fan leaves
• 15 sprigs of fresh mint
• ½ head Romaine lettuce

7. Green Green Grass

• 2 cups dinosaur kale
• 1 cup curly kale
• 5 sprigs parsley
• 2 handfuls spinach
• ½ cup wheat grass
• ½ cucumber
• ½ green apple
• 30 fresh cannabis sugar leaves

Image Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture via Flickr Creative Commons

The Shake: Gas Mask Bong Video Crashes All NFL Draft Boards

Laremy Tunsil gas mask bong video eats NFL draft, crashes internet. The former Ole Miss offensive tackle, projected to go as early as No. 3 in yesterday’s NFL draft, dropped to No. 13 after somebody hacked his Twitter account and posted a video of Tunsil smoking cannabis from a gas mask bong. The episode led to hours of uninterrupted finger-wagging from ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jon Gruden, and other morality cops, even as a nation of bored NFL fans googled “where to purchase gas mask bong.” Our sympathies go out to Mr. Tunsil, 21, whose late-night lark would have been completely legal in four of these United States (but not in Mississippi, of course). As it is, the leaked video probably cost him somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million in signing bonus money. NFL commish Roger Goodell was “unaware of video until after pick,” says ESPN, which we’d expect from a leader who continues to be so steadfastly ignorant about the use and changing attitudes of NFL players and fans on the subject of cannabis.

Calling out Obama on MMJ prosecutions. That’s what lawyer Marc Zilversmit did yesterday on Slate: “The president is spending money [on federal cannabis prosecutions] that Congress has explicitly told him he can’t spend.”

John Hudak hips federal lawmakers to the racist roots of prohibition. Hudak, our favorite Brookings Institution policy analyst, pens a piece for the Washington Post about “How racism and bias criminalized marijuana.” Great stuff.

Medical marijuana demand surges in Massachusetts. In March, 2,680 new patients registered with the state, bringing Massachusetts’ total to more than 22,500.

California lawmaker wants to let landlords ban medical cannabis use. The bill would permit property owners to prohibit all cannabis smoking on their premises, regardless of medical necessity.

A Harvard psychobiology prof says “marijuana is not medicine.” Bertha Madras, formerly a federal anti-drug propagandist, cites the American Medical Association in her Washington Post op-ed against rescheudling cannabis. The only problem? As advocate Tom Angell points out: the AMA actually supports rescheduling.

No happy hour for you, Alaskans! The state’s Marijuana Control Board agreed on draft regs that would allow cannabis clubs to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages but would ban happy hours. (Of course, in a cannabis club, every hour is happy.)

Whoops! Denver Public Schools forgot to apply for that state cannabis-tax school money. So the district put out a video telling voters it’s not as flush with money as they might think. (And please vote for our upcoming school bond!)

Texans want cannabis reform. And in San Antonio, they’ll be marching on May 7 to demand it. Fortunately, the Spurs aren’t playing that day.

Illinois considering expanded conditions for MMJ. This coming Monday’s meeting of the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will look over petitions for expanded coverage, including PTSD, Lyme disease, autism, and chronic low-level depression.

NJ Weedman’s joint raided in Trenton. The larger-than-life New Jersey character, who runs a “cannabis church” across from City Hall, faces ten charges of possession, distribution, and other things that are against the law in Chris Christie’s domain.

And finally, curious about gas mask bongs? Here’s a fellow explaining the finer points of the product:

Watch This: Conan O'Brien Hits the Vape and Plays Mario Kart with Seth Rogen and Zac Efron

To promote the upcoming release of Neighbors 2 on May 20th, patron saint of cannabis Seth Rogen teamed up with his costar Zac Efron to challenge Conan O’Brien to a rousing game of Mario Kart 8 with some frat boy stakes. Armed with a keg of green tea kombucha (because Conan is “wheat-free” right now) and a vape pen, Conan channels his inner frat boy and suffers the phallic consequences every time he loses.

Image Source: Team Coco via YouTube

Jane’s Domain: A Visit to the Future of Drug Policy Reform  

I’m often asked to speak on the future of cannabis. It’s not an easy subject to grasp. Change is so fast and relentless in the cannabis industry, it’s hard to know what’s going to happen next month, let alone next year.

This coming weekend I’ll be pondering the path ahead at Further Future, a music, lifestyle, and ideas festival that blooms for just one weekend in the desert outside Las Vegas.

To prepare for the weekend, I spent a couple days earlier this month at the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) annual conference in Washington, D.C. If you want to know the future of drug policy reform, there is no better place to go.

SSDP got its start 17 years ago, when Rochester Institute of Technology student Shea Gunther asked the university if he could start a student organization dedicated to fighting back against the war on drugs. RIT said no, and ultimately the school expelled Shea for his activism. Not long after, Shea and others organized themselves and chose a name that was purposefully positive. They weren’t against. They were Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Years later, SSDP has chapters on nearly 300 college campuses, more than 4,000 active members, and many alumni who lead history-changing drug policy campaigns around the world. (You can hear Shea tell the story himself in this presentation at the Women Grow Summit earlier this year.)

The students who came together in D.C. are our future drug policy reformers, and the issues they chose to address offer a clear view into the subjects that will shape their generation’s work.

The panel topics included:

• Immigration Reform Isn’t the Only Latino Issue
• The War on Drugs Goes Digital
• Environmental Consequences of the Drug War
• Ballot Initiative and Campaign Basics
• How Advocacy Organizations Stay Accountable as the Industry Takes Shape
• #Adulting: How to Get and Keep the Job You Want

I was honored to speak on a panel called “The War on Drugs: Women on the Frontlines” along with reform superstars Kat Murti of SSDP and the Cato Institute; Caroline Naughton, SSDP’s leader at Northwestern University; and Molly Gill, Families Against Mandatory Minimums’ director of federal legislative affairs.

Molly’s organization has spent the past 25 years fighting mandatory minimum sentencing. Like many of the SSDP conference speakers, she taught me how changing my word choice can change the dialogue. Our panel was the first time I heard someone say the phrase, “those who have lost a loved one to incarceration.” By describing the drug war’s front-line victims as casualties, Molly completely reframed the issue. She put the collateral damage to families and communities of color front and center, and in a far more emotional and powerful light.

Molly’s contributions made me reflect on how our verbal frameworks are created, and how they’ve affected my own assumptions and beliefs. I grew up in the 1980s. In high school I was taught that a single hit of marijuana would start me on a rapid downward spiral that ended in an alleyway with a heroin needle in my arm. That was a time when Americans gathered around the tube to catch the latest episode of COPS, the longest running show in the history of FOX. At the time, we thought we were witnessing justice in action.

Looking back on it now, I’m stunned to realize that we were actually watching the racist war on drugs unfold in prime time. And we were enjoying it as entertainment.

At the SSDP conference, the debates and discussions began early every morning and ran late into the night. I heard students talk about prohibition as a tool of political oppression. I heard them talk about combating sexual assault on campus by challenging the longstanding ban on sorority house parties. By shutting off the taps and replacing alcohol with a safer substance, we can make college campuses safer for women. I heard them talk about forcing change now, not ten years down the road, because drug war prisoners like Lee Carroll Brooker — the 75-year-old disabled veteran now serving life without parole for growing his own medical marijuana in Alabama — can’t wait.

When I heard that SSDP is having a hard time starting chapters in California, it left me puzzled. California? America’s laboratory of progressive change, the birthplace of legal medical marijuana? It’s true. Decriminalization and medical marijuana laws have created the illusion that the war on drugs is over in the Golden State. That leaves too many students wondering what’s left to be done.

The answer is plenty.

Frances Fu is just one of many inspiring staffers at SSDP. Working with the SSDP Peer Education program, she helps students analyze the relationship between drug policy and drug use. The program provides evidence-based drug information and teaches students to recognize and address dangerous behaviors and unhealthy attitudes, while promoting prosocial and harm reduction behaviors and attitudes. The group’s “Just Say Know” program is a series of drug education modules aimed at promoting open and honest dialogue around commonly used substances. SSDP is empowering effective peer educators who will lead the conversation around drug policy for years to come.

By the time I left the SSDP gathering, I was completely inspired. Society changes so quickly from generation to generation. The students I spent time with were so much smarter, more thoughtful, and more open-minded than my classmates.

A week later, when I sat down to prepare my Further Future presentation, I couldn’t help but smile. I found myself not just optimistic, but excited. The future is in excellent hands. I can’t wait to be there as it unfolds.

Find your local SSDP chapter here.

Seattle Entrepreneurs Waiting for Patent on Powdered THC

Two Seattle-based entrepreneurs expect to receive approval this spring on a patent for a product that the cannabis industry has been lacking for years: powdered THC. And though cyclodextrins were originally thought to be the most promising means of achieving this dream, these two twenty-somethings have figured out a different way to do it.

When asked how long he’s been working to make powdered THC a reality, Oleo co-founder and CEO Russell Stebbins laughed. “Should I tell you about the first time I tried to freeze smoke in my parents’ freezer?” he asked in return. “I’ve been looking for the patent on this [for years]. I just wanted to know how to do it…and I couldn’t believe that process wasn’t out there.”

“[Russell is] the yes guy. I’m the no guy,” added co-founder and COO Derick Anderson. “I tried to say no, we shouldn’t file a patent, it’s too expensive.” But Stebbins was adamant, and his confidence led the pair to file in March of 2014.

It was Anderson who determined how to bind THC particulates to a carbohydrate base that dissolves in cold water – something chemists and would-be entrepreneurs had failed to do for years. Anderson, an aspiring neuropharmacologist, said that once discovered, the process is simple to follow, but getting there took a mental leap – he borrowed a basic idea from a very different industry, and couldn’t believe it when the process worked. The co-founders plan to work with producers in each cannabis market they enter, allowing these businesses to license their process, create the powdered THC and use the Oleo brand, which will be sold in turn to distributors and retailers.

Why was it so hard to create a seemingly simple product? THC itself is not water-soluble, so it needs to be “trapped” in something with dual polarity – that is, a compound that reconciles the fact that water is polar and THC is not. Once trapped in this compound, the THC has new de facto properties, like the ability to dissolve in cold water, distribute itself evenly, and stay suspended in the solution. It also displays increased bioavailability: while the same amount of THC in an edible can take up to two hours to reach the bloodstream, the effects of powdered THC dissolved in water can be felt more acutely, in as little as 10 minutes.

With flavor and color added, Oleo’s powdered THC is packaged into measured plastic tubes that can be opened and eaten plain (much like Pixy Stix) or added to any beverage or food. What’s in the name? “Oleo comes from oleoresin…which is derived from the Latin root word oleum, which means oil. Also, it’s the kind of thing you can just yell,” Stebbins laughed. “We want people to share Oleo,” added Anderson, explaining that each Oleo pack of six 10-milligram servings will include three flavors they guarantee purchasers will love (lime, mango and watermelon are particularly popular), and three more eccentric flavors (think blueberry, grape or blackberry) that people might like to give away to friends.

Both Anderson and Stebbins have been working full-time on Oleo since September 2015, and though the brand has found its way into six Seattle-area medical dispensaries in recent months, the team is currently focused on refining its process and readying its product for the Washington recreational market. The duo say that moving slowly has allowed them to create a better final product, and they already have a long list of people interested in being processors. Currently, the build-out of the first processing facility (at Western Cultured in Arlington, Wash.) is scheduled to be completed in the next two months. Meanwhile, Anderson and Stebbins continue to manage everything, from branding and marketing to proprietary packaging design, in-house.

As they wait for their patent, Stebbins and Anderson are already working on several new products using Oleo, which they prefer to keep secret for the time being. In the meantime, keep an eye out for Oleo in Washington state rec stores as early as this summer.

Image Source: Sara Dilley

The Definitive Cannabis Travel Guide to Oakland

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

Oakland, California is one of the most vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich cities in America. Often overshadowed by its sparkly sister across the Bay, Oakland offers a kind of cultural freedom, pugnacious spirit, and economic diversity that San Francisco long ago lost. The weird, the hip, the punk, the blue collar, the quirky, the hard-working, the straight, the queer—all are welcome in The Town. And as Oakland solidifies its place at the cutting edge of the California cannabis movement, cannabis enthusiasts of all stripes are warmly welcomed here, too.

Oakland Vitals

Cannabis legality: Medical (18+, med card and ID required)

Nicknames: Oaktown, The Town, Bump City

Population: 406,253

Claims to fame: Jack London, Angela Davis, The Raiders, Green Day, Steph Curry

For the record: Oakland has more artists per capita than any city in the nation.

Day One

At 4:20 p.m., you are: Ordering an Uber X after checking into your room at the Inn at Temescal, a newly redone hipster motel in the city’s up-and-coming Temescal district. Point your driver to 1840 Embarcadero, home to Harborside Health Center, California’s most iconic medical marijuana dispensary. Founded by MMJ pioneer Steve DeAngelo, Harborside remains the gold standard for dispensaries nationwide. Some flower strains sell out, but they’re followed by others that hit the dispensary floor soon after they’re purchased from local farmers. The selection is wide – edibles, concentrates, dozens of flower strains – so you’ll have no trouble finding plenty to purchase.

Head’s up: California is a medical state, not recreational. So if you want to get past the door at Harborside Health, you’ll need a California med card. (You will get carded.) Also, Harborside can be tricky to find, so don’t exit the Uber until you lock eyes on the “1840 Embarcadero” sign. Trust me. You’ll need a cab or Uber to get back downtown, too.

At 5:40 p.m., you are: Getting your game face on at Beast Mode, the athletic apparel boutique owned by former Seattle Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch. Oakland born and raised, Lynch is a proud local booster, and his store is a great place to kick off a walking tour of downtown.

At 6:00 p.m., you: Start walking north up Telegraph Avenue. Starting at 12th and Broadway, serpentine your way up to the Fox Theatre at 19th and Telegraph. If you’ve timed it right, you’re entering Oakland’s arts district on the first Friday of the month, when Oakland Art Murmur goes off. Take a few hits of a pre-roll or vape, then pop into local galleries that cluster near the Broadway and Telegraph, like Betti Ono, Oakstop, Joyce Gordon Gallery, and Pro Arts. Keep your eyes out for storefronts that host art happenings on First Friday, like SoleSpace: by day a sneaker boutique with sweet red Pumas, by night a hot cultural venue with local musicians and poets.

At 7:25 p.m., you’re: Scanning the menu at Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe, the bustling joint named for the Clash song and co-owned by Green Day bass player Mike Dirnt. We recommend the chupacabra burger. End your meal with a cup of hot black from Oakland Coffee Works, the sustainable bean company recently founded by Dirnt and bandmate Billie Joe.

At 8:45 p.m., you’re: Rolling a bocce ball at Make Westing, a cocktail bar across the street from Rudy’s. Voted Oakland’s friendliest bar and “best place to meet members of the opposite sex,” Make Westing features two full-length indoor bocce courts and a bar menu that runs from cheap tallboys to craft cocktails.

At 9:25 p.m., you’re: Climbing the stairs to Feelmore Adult Gallery, a progressive sex-positive boutique run by Neena, a local businesswoman who put up a courageous fight to get her store permitted in famously liberal Oakland. (Check out the story here.) Neena will dialogue with you about kindness, safe words, and respect, or she’ll leave you alone to browse; your choice. She’s open until midnight on Fridays.

At 10:05 p.m., you’re: Hanging in one of two bars. First: Jack London frequented Heinold’s First And Last Chance Saloon, the city’s oldest watering hole, and the place still has a slanted floor, which happened when the pilings beneath shifted during the 1906 earthquake. Second: The White Horse is America’s oldest continuously operating LGBT bar, and today it’s full of EDM parties, karaoke nights, queer comedy, and general fun-having.

Day Two

At 10:05 a.m., you’re: Strolling seven blocks from the Inn at Temescal, south on Telegraph Ave, to pick up a few extra supplies at Telegraph Health Center. We recommend the Gold Drop medicated honey. Go easy, though.

At 10:30 a.m., you’re: Deciding between Popeye eggs or the Liège waffle (so divine it wants neither butter nor syrup) at Blue Bottle Coffee, the Oakland-born boutique coffee house. There are ten Blue Bottle locations in the Bay Area, but we recommend the one in Oakland’s historic W.C. Morse building. High ceilings, enormous windows, and a chatty clientele give this place the feel of a bustling European plaza. For entertainment, watch the mechanics work over espresso machines in the shop behind the seating area. Don’t miss Blue Bottle’s New Orleans-style iced coffee, a sweet and shockingly delicious energy jolt.

Word to the wise: Blue Bottle hosts free public coffee tastings at its Webster Street roastery every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and a “How to Brew” series Sundays at 1:00 p.m.

At 11:30 a.m., you’re: Rifling the racks of Roxy Music, Screaming Trees, and classic DEVO LPs at 1-2-3-4-Go Records, Oakland’s coolest vinyl shop. The classic stock turns over constantly, and limited-edition releases by rising local bands show up here first. Shoot some old-school selfies in the in-store photo booth and discover new grooves at the listening station in the back room. Look for live performances on weekends and some weekday evenings. Don’t miss the sidewalk library next door, a public micro-plaza stocked with yesterday’s freshest newspapers and magazines.

At 1:00 p.m., you’re: Digging the sculpture garden at the Oakland Museum of California, one of the Bay Area’s can’t-miss art stops. The garden includes Tony Labat’s Big Peace IV, a massive canary-yellow steel peace sign, and our fave, John Mason’s Yellow Cross Form, which the years have turned yellow-green so it now looks like a massive 3-D dispensary sign. The museum currently features “Altered State: Marijuana in California,” the first-ever museum exhibition to focus on cannabis in the Golden State, on view through September 25, so see it before it leaves.

What you’re skipping: An Oakland A’s game at the O.Co Coliseum, major league baseball’s most notoriously shoddy ballpark.

At 3:20 p.m., you’re: Lying in a grove of redwoods at Redwood Regional Park, which actually lies within the city limits of Oakland. These aren’t the old growth ancients with rings older than Columbus – those you’ll find 300 miles north in Redwood National Park. The redwoods here are second growth, raised up after ye olde pioneers sawed down the originals. But they’re still impressive, organic skyscrapers that are really cool to stand or lie under and gaze skyward (especially when medicated, though we recommend consuming before you reach the park in the interest of being respectful to others). Take a moment to touch the tree’s soft, thick bark, which feels like furry leather.

Head’s up: While it’s technically in the city, the state park does take a few minutes to reach by vehicle. Uber or a cab will get you there, as will the AC Transit #39 or #339 from the Fruitvale BART Station.

At 4:20 p.m., you’re: Leaving town via public transit and heading to the airport or your next destination, wherever that may be. BART is the best way to get from Oakland to San Francisco or SFO – and from there, the world is your oyster.

Image Sources: Inn at Temescal, Betti Ono, Rudy’s Can’t Fail, and Blue Bottle Coffee via Facebook, Beast Mode via Instagram, Make Westing, Calibas via Wikimedia Commons, Bruce Barcott, Oakland Museum of California, and Michael McAreavy and Ed McGowen via Flickr Creative Commons

National Medical Cannabis Advocacy Group Partners with Leading Global Law Firm

Orrick, a leading global law firm, is partnering with Americans for Safe Access’ Patients’ Rights Project to provide pro bono support to medical cannabis patients, many if not most of whom are low-income, to navigate the often confusing legal landscape of medical cannabis laws. Forty-one states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam all have some type

The Shake: Walgreens Acknowledges the Reality of Medical Cannabis

Give it up for… Walgreens? Last week the pharmacy chain quietly put up a web page discussing how medical cannabis is used. The drug store (which, its page notes, “is not a licensed medical marijuana provider”) includes a simple description of cannabis, how it’s administered, its physiological effects, ailments it’s commonly used to treat, and an even encouragement for patients to discuss cannabis with their doctors. It’s a very boring deal, sure, but it’s also a very big deal. Have you been to Walgreens? Have you heard the music they play? This is a clear step forward in the societal acceptance of cannabis.

QUICK HITS:

• And you thought Donald Trump was brash. The presidential frontrunner in the Philippines, asked what he would do if one of his children were involved in drugs, replied: “I will kill him.” That’ll learn ‘em.
• A very smart lawyer says legalization will be harder than you think. It may be just a question of when, not whether, cannabis becomes legal in the United States, but Erwin Chemerinsky warns to expect plenty of arrests in the meantime.
• Good work, everyone. You spent more than $37.5 million on legal cannabis on 4/20. That’s according to a new report released by data firm MJ Freeway.

• You’ve heard it before, you’ll hear it again, and you should probably tell your friends: States that allow medical cannabis access have significantly lower rates of prescription opioid abuse. Legalization really can save lives.
• Shopping mall magnate pledges gobs of cash to fight medical legalization in Florida. “It’s not a medicine,” said Mel Sembler, falling victim to the classic blunder of thinking money makes you right. (Can someone send him the Walgreens link?)
• San Diego is threatening criminal charges over the city’s illegal dispensaries. Only 14 operating dispensaries have city-issued licenses, and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith says he’s ready to bring down the hammer on those that don’t. (Here’s what a lawyer has to say.)

• A nug by any other name would smell as sweet. Alaska businesses are trying to figure out whether they want to sell marijuana, pot, ganja, cannabis…
• Massachusetts school superintendents oppose legalization. They’re worried it would make cannabis more accessible to kids. It’s the right worry but the wrong conclusion: Most studies so far have found that teen use doesn’t increase after legalization.
• The ban on Colorado Springs cannabis clubs is all but certain. Opponents missed a key deadline (on April 20, which seems like kind of a mean-spirited deadline to have set) to submit a petition against the ban.
• Wyoming lawmakers reveal cannabis ignorance. They’re debating edibles and whether they should be limited by weight or potency. It’s easy to poke fun — should a cake that contains just 5 mg of total THC be outlawed because the cake itself weighs a couple pounds? — but it’s also an important reminder: Many fair-minded officials still know much less about cannabis than they should.

• Here’s how to deal with finding your parents’ stash. Resist the urge to be self-righteous, and instead try a bit of humor, writes advice columnist Harriette Cole. People change. Let them.
• And finally, anyone engaging in some “certain defined conduct” later? That’s how Pittsburgh will classify possession of small amounts of cannabis under a new city ordinance. Offenders will be ticketed up to $100 for the offense, and the citation won’t even mention cannabis. It’s a big improvement over misdemeanor possession charges that previously saddled casual consumers with criminal arrest records.

‘Sports Cannabis’ To Take Center Stage At ArcView Event In Portland Next Week

I know a lot of people that play sports and/or exercise regularly. I used to play sports quite a bit before I was diagnosed with arthritis in my foot. I still exercise though, as should everyone. It’s estimated that over 125 million adults play some type of sport and/or exercise regularly. That number just includes

The Shake: Why Cops Love the HighThere App, and a Stash Clash in Oregon

An emergency moratorium on cannabis businesses in King County, Wash., takes the industry by surprise. The County Council voted 8–1 for a moratorium on legal cannabis growers, processors, and retailers without ever accepting input from the community. The emergency proposal came from Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who represents rural areas of the county. Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, a longtime legalization supporter, cast the sole vote against the measure, saying she opposed it for the lack of input from the public. “I’m not comfortable with what’s happening,” she said. By law, the county must hold a hearing within 60 days to accept feedback from the public. It wasn’t immediately clear what prompted the moratorium. Dunn cited crime as a problem but didn’t support that statement with any examples or data. Councilmember Kathy Lambert complained about the smell of cannabis, although her reference was to an illegal grow that operated years ago, prior to the 2012 passage of statewide legalization.

Wither cannabis cultivation and the environment. “How does marijuana cultivation impact the environment?” was the question on Quora, the knowledge sharing network. The response came from Dean Croshere, Director of Operations for MedMen. Indoor grows, he said, require careful control of the environment, which means artificial lights, an automated irrigation system for watering, and filtration and dehumidifiers to recirculate the water during the drying the process. Outdoor grows require more water, as it cannot be recirculated and often becomes runoff which has the potential to damage streams. Greenhouse grows capture many advantages of both indoor and outdoor technology — harnessing the sun’s power cuts down on power use, but it also requires a water pump to keep the greenhouse at the ideal growing temperature. It’s a fascinating look at the ins and outs of growing from an expert in the biz.

Downloading the app HighThere could make you a law enforcement target. HighThere has been billed as Tinder for cannabis users, hooking up 420-friendly consumers looking for smoking buddies. But it’s location-based, and according to one cybersecurity firm, that could put your personal information at risk. Hacking firm Synack found that information on a user’s location, down to the foot, was unencrypted and could easily be used by an outside source — say, law enforcement for the purposes of arresting cannabis consumers. Mind your cybersecurity, everyone!

QUICK HITS:

• Hillary Clinton looks to be the official Democratic candidate, but her tepid leadership on drug policy reform leaves voters unenthused. An appearance on Good Morning America has her seeking more medical marijuana research, but without addressing the reason for the lack of research — the status of cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act. Don’t play dumb, Hilldawg. You’re better than that.

• Stash Tea is suing Stash Cannabis Co. for trademark infringement. The tea company is based out of Tigard, Ore., but operates internationally. It wants Beaverton’s Stash Cannabis Co. to stop using the “Stash” name on the basis it might confuse potential tea customers. However, the Beaverton company isn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last cannabusiness with the word “stash” in its name. Is this a losing battle?
• One BBC reporter got the dank treatment while staying at a bud and breakfast in Denver. BBC correspondent Peter Day seemed surprised that the B&B retained “much of its original Victorian elegance” and he acknowledged he enjoyed the atmosphere. But he declined to partake of Colorado’s canna-treats. Next up from the intrepid Mr. Day: A tour of Napa Valley wineries. Naught but water for you, Peter!
• And finally, here’s the best thing on the internet today: I’ll believe it when dogs fly!

State of the Leaf: Maine Legalization Not Dead Yet. Quite Alive, in Fact.

Big news explodes out of Maine, with a 180-degree flip from imminent legalization to not a chance thanks to the Secretary of State to officially landing a spot on the November ballot! Alaska’s looking at the logistics of allowing cannabis consumption in retail shops, Colorado refuses to allow cannabis-infused gummy bears and raspberries and Iowa’s chances for a medical expansion are dwindling. Internationally, Canada made the official announcement as to when the legalization process will occur, and the Netherlands examines official policies for canna-cafés. Here’s the state of legalization:

U.S. Cannabis News Updates

Alabama

The state Senate on Wednesday voted 29–3 in favor of a bill that would legalize the possession of CBD oils. “Leni’s Law,” named after a young girl with severe epilepsy who moved to Oregon in order to legally obtain cannabis oil, will now return to the House for a vote. A previous version of the bill won House support earlier this month. Bill sponsor Rep. Paul Sanford says access to cannabidiol will provide a little “sunlight” to families struggling with medical conditions, but opponents say there’s not enough evidence to support using cannabis as a medical treatment.

Alaska

The state’s rules around consuming cannabis in authorized retail shops are slowly coming into focus, moving Alaska toward becoming the first state to legalize public consumption of any kind. State regulators will meet in Anchorage to discuss how to best implement plans for on-site consumption. They’re considering how to separate the consumption area from the retail side, and whether cannabis must be consumed within the premises or be allowed out the door. The Alaska Marijuana Board began accepting applications for cannabis retailers in February and expects to begin issuing licenses for cultivation and testing facilities in June, with retail licenses coming later in the year.

Arkansas

After month upon month of rejection, the Arkansas Cannabis Amendment got the OK from state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. The amendment would allow adults 21 and older to cultivate limited amounts of cannabis for personal use, so long as it’s out of public view. The ballot measure would permit licensed individuals to cultivate up to 36 plants and would enact a 5-percent excise tax, on top of the standard state sales tax, on retail cannabis sales. It will need 84,859 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Colorado

A House committee voted to advance a bill that would prohibit all cannabis-infused edibles in the shape of fruit, animals, or people. House Bill 1436 is aimed at reducing the likelihood that children and adolescents will accidentally ingest edibles. There are already new regulations for edibles in the pipeline that will require each edible to carry a clearly marked symbol to indicate the presence of cannabis. The bill to limit edibles quickly won initial approval by the full House of Representatives, 50–14, without so much as a debate. It now awaits a final vote in the House before moving on to the Senate for consideration.

Iowa

Time is running out for a push to expand Iowa’s limited medical cannabis program. The Iowa House of Representatives voted to reject a bill that would have allowed qualified patients to access cannabis oils and products from other states such as Minnesota and bring it back to Iowa for legal use. After the rejection, Iowans 4 Medical Cannabis held a news conference at the Capitol, during which supporters issued an emotional plea for access to medical marijuana. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) said the door will remain open for medical cannabis legislation, adding that “hope springs eternal” for future proposals.

Maine

After much turmoil and nail-biting, Maine’s cannabis legalization is on the November ballot. “An Act to Legalize Marijuana” has the potential to be enacted even before the 2016 general election. Last month, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap deemed 21,797 signatures invalid based on inconsistencies in the signature of the notary who verified them, Stavros Mendos. Mendos subsequently submitted a sworn affidavit testifying that the signatures were, indeed, his own. That led to a legal challenge from the petitioners, which led a judge to order the secretary of state to go back and take another look at the signatures. Dunlap ultimately issued an amended determination that 11,305 of the signatures may be considered valid, putting the total number of signatures at 62,848 — just barely over the 61,123 signatures required to make it on the ballot. Congrats, Maine! Onward to November.

International Cannabis News Updates

Canada

Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced that the country will introduce comprehensive legislation to legalize cannabis in spring of 2017, answering the question that’s been on everyone’s mind since Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister: When will Canada legalize cannabis as promised? Philpott introduced the plans on April 20 at the United Nations General Assembly’s special session on international drug policy. “We cannot arrest our way out of this problem,” said Philpott. Next spring can’t come soon enough!

Netherlands

The Dutch Supreme Court has ordered a retrial for the owner of what was once the biggest cannabis café in the Netherlands. The Checkpoint Café in Terneuzen served up to 3,000 clients and processed 10 kilograms of cannabis per day at its height, before the city shut it down in 2007 for keeping too much product on hand. Coffeeshops in the Netherlands with more than 500 grams of cannabis on the premises aren’t protected by the government’s unofficial policy of ignoring so-called soft drugs.

5 Things That are Chemically Similar to a Cannabis High

Cannabis contains numerous cannabinoids that interact with your body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Some of them, such as THC, induce euphoric effects in your brain and body. But cannabis isn’t the only thing that brings about the “high” sensation with which we’re so familiar. In fact, everything from exercise to guilty pleasure foods can deliver chemically similar sensations. We’ve previously written about how truffles contain a “bliss molecule” similar to THC, but here are five other things that can mimic your favorite bud to varying degrees.

Catnip

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria from the genus Nepeta, is a species of plant that’s commonly used in cooking and brewing herbal teas. Oh, and about 66% of cats go crazy for it.

An essential oil called nepetalactone that’s found in the stems and leaves of the Nepeta plant can have powerful effects on kitties (and not just domesticated cats, but other species such as tigers, panthers, and leopards). Sniffing the plant is thought to stimulate the receptors in a cat’s brain that respond to “happy” or pleasurable pheromones, while eating it can bring about mellow effects.

Fun fact: catnip is related to the cannabis plant; in fact, author Michael Pollan wonders if both cannabis and Nepeta cataria both use their respective chemicals to “confuse” their pests as part of an evolutionary strategy:

“Killing pests can be counterproductive, because they breed or select for resistance very quickly. This happens with a lot of poisonous types of plants, as it does with pesticides. But if the plant merely confuses the pests or disables their memory, it can defend itself against them overindulging. Pure speculation, as I say in the book. It occurred to me that it might help explain what’s happening with cannabis, which of course also disables memory.”

(And to answer your inevitable follow up question, no, humans can’t get high on catnip — for reasons yet unclear to researchers, nepetalactone doesn’t affect us the way it does our feline friends. Also, don’t feed cannabis to your cat for the lulz. That’s not cool.)

Running

The “runner’s high” is an actual thing, and until recently it was commonly associated with the release of endorphins, hormones that essentially function as “pleasant painkillers.” But scientists from the Central Institute of Mental Health at the University of Heidelberg medical school in Germany have linked the runner’s high to the endocannabinoid system.

Researchers had some lab mice run on a wheel (hopefully outfitting them in tiny adorable run shoes and shorts) and noticed elevated levels of both endorphins and endocannabinoids after their run. The mice acted less anxious and were better able to tolerate pain. Blocking endorphin receptors didn’t change their behavior, and the mice still experienced the runner’s high.

However, when the scientists blocked the mice’s endocannabinoid systems, the little Pre-furr-taines were just as anxious after their runs as they were before running, and they were also more sensitive to pain. Additionally, the feeling of the runner’s high only kicked in after a certain amount of mileage. Mice who ran more than three miles a day exhibited less anxious behavior. (I’m not sure what that equates to in human miles, but as someone who’s run a number of marathons and half marathons, I can tell you it definitely kicks in during longer distance races.)

Theoretical physicist and cosmologist Marcelo Gleiser opines that this study makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint:

“We evolved to hunt fast moving animals and to escape from equally-fast predators. Such prolonged runs are tiring and painful. If we get a reward from working hard, our chances of running longer and faster are increased. And, with them, our chances of survival. As Christopher McDougall pointed out in Born to Run, his inspiring book about long-distance running, running is in our DNA, in how our bodies evolved to have an Achilles tendon and sweat glands and a series of other adaptations that make us all into potential marathoners.”

That’s right, your body has actually evolved into an efficient running machine. And not only does running mimic the high you get from your favorite strain, it’s healthy for you. Talk about a win-win!

Love

Apparently when love is in the air, it can make you feel pretty friggin’ high. Scientists recently found that higher levels of oxytocin can release anandamide, an endocannabinoid that plays a role in the neural generation of motivation and pleasure, among other behaviors. Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in social bonding, sexual attraction and reproduction, childbirth, and mother-baby bonding. These feelings of “love” ratchet up your oxytocin levels, which in turn dial up your body’s anandamide effects.

Anandamide is internally similar to THC in that THC can attach to cannabinoid receptors on neurons in the brain and activate them in a manner similar to anandamide. Thus, scoring a hug from that cutie you’ve been crushing on will produce similar chemical effects to a nice euphoria-inducing OG Kush.

Speaking of anandamide…

Chocolate

In 1996, researchers discovered that chocolate contains anandamide, as well as two substances that could mimic anandamide’s effects, N-oleoylethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine (yes, those are all actual words). That’s right, chocolate, the delectable treat that’s allowed people to eat their feelings since 1900 BC. According to researcher Daniele Piomelli of the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, the old wives’ tale that chocolate is an aphrodisiac may have stemmed from the blissful effects it can deliver thanks to anandamide.

However, don’t rampage through the Hershey factory like Augustus Gloop and expect to feel as blitzed as you would from an evening of Bruce Banner consumption. Said Piomelli, “We are talking about something much, much, much, much milder than a high.”

Cheese

If you’re more of a fromagerie fan than a chocolate addict, I have good news for you (or bad, depending on the severity of your affinity). Researchers from the University of Michigan have found that cheese contains a chemical that’s also present in drugs. Well, actually a lot of processed food is associated with addictive-like eating behavior, but cheese in particular contains casein, a protein commonly found in mammal milk. Casein provides your body with amino acids, carbohydrates, calcium, and phosphorus, and it can also trigger your brain’s opioid receptors and deliver feelings of euphoria similar to those delivered by cannabis.

Although casein in milk provides only a tiny dose of the drug-like effects, to make a pound of cheese you need about 10 pounds of milk. The casein separates from liquids and coagulates solid milk fats, resulting in a higher concentration of it in cheese and the potential for addictive eating. So the next time you exclaim, “Man, I can’t get enough of this cheese!”, you could actually be talking about both the hybrid strain Cheese and the delicious cheese and charcuterie spread in front of you, but either way, you’re probably experiencing similar feelings of happiness and euphoria.

Image Source: Sara Dilley

Indica vs. Sativa Cannabis Edibles: Will They Affect You Differently?

At Leafly, we’re always comparing cannabis strains and appreciating the nuanced effects each has to offer, from the soaring cerebral stimulation offered by many sativas to the profound, relaxing effects indicas tend to bring to our bodies. But when I saw sativa- and indica-specific edibles line the shelves of my nearby shop, I wondered: can an edible preserve those nuances that have led us to treat indicas and sativas so differently?

A series of interviews and experiments led us to conclude that it depends. Though initially disappointed that these trials couldn’t yield a straightforward yes-or-no answer, I found that the exploration of why it depends is a much more fascinating road of thought.

With the help of Seattle edible producers Botanica and Goodship, we took a deep dive into all the factors that shape our edibles experiences – because it certainly isn’t solely governed by strain type.

Sativa vs. Indica: What Creates the Difference?

There’s widespread consumer consensus around the idea that sativa strains tend to be uplifting while indicas are more often sedating. This effect-based classification has been challenged by taxonomists and scientists alike, but still, many feel that there’s a stark difference between the two that can’t be brushed off as psychosomatic. What then drives the perceived difference?

Botanica’s flagship line of edibles, Spot, is one of few brands to advertise its infused products with indica- or sativa-specific labels. Its production facility is a meticulous warehouse of mixers and machinery, an industrial kitchen pumping out edibles to the beat of music like XXYYXX and Muse. Guiding our hair-netted heads through the facility and between engaged bakers, Lena and Nico of Botanica explained the difference between their sativa and indica products.

“There are 150-ish molecules that are interacting with our bodies when we intake cannabis,” Lena told us. “It can’t just be THC. CBN acts as an analgesic, CBD is an anti-inflammatory, THCV in different ratios and potencies can either make you more paranoid or less paranoid. It’s alchemy of plant matter.”

Knowing the importance of these different compounds called cannabinoids, the infusion artists at Botanica aimed to maintain these chemical profiles by processing their starting strains gently, cooking slowly at low temperatures to ensure that all the plant’s important constituents were preserved – not just its THC.

Another factor at play is terpenes, the aromatic oils that give cannabis its smell. Terpenes also modify the effects of THC and other cannabinoids, which is why more attention is being given to these fragrant compounds when it comes to strain-specific effects. The thing is, there isn’t exactly consensus over what gives indicas and sativas their polarized effects.

“In our extraction method, the cannabinoid profiles are maintained but the terpene profiles are lost,” Eileen Namanny of Goodship explained. “So if the effect is based more on terpenes than on cannabinoids, then you’re going to lose that unless you introduce terpenes later. Or if it really is those cannabinoid profile ratios, and those are what’s really driving the effect, then I think that could be maintained.”

Whether it’s the terpenes, the cannabinoids, or a combination of the two, the next step was to find out whether or not those nuances can be captured in the process of baking.

Experiment: Could We Tell the Difference Between Homemade Sativa and Indica Edibles?

Curious to see if I could harness indica- and sativa-specific effects in my own homemade edibles, I baked with two strains I knew had polar opposite effects: the heavy indica Skywalker and the cerebral sativa known as Timewreck. Using the same heat and cooking duration for each, I made an indica and a sativa butter and made two separate batches. They were put in bags marked only with a number, and in a double-blind test, my team at Leafly took the brownies over the weekend and reported back with their assumptions as to which was the indica and which the sativa.

The not-so conclusive results showed that 5 out of 8 testers guessed correctly, noting that one was more sedating than the other. The intensity of experiences reported differed wildly, thank to my inability to “homogenize” homemade butter. In other words, the butter was distributed unevenly, leaving our most seasoned cannabis veteran with a non-psychoactive piece and one of our lighter consumers with the most THC-packed square of them all (sorry, Kelly).

Because the batch was non-homogenized, it’s impossible to say what role tolerance may have played in that scenario. Without a doubt, people’s bodies absorb and metabolize cannabis differently, and this is definitely something to consider when approaching edibles.

“There’s no control for different people’s endocannabinoid systems,” Will Ritthaler from Goodship explained. “The tests in the labs will give you [potency] results, but you’re always going to back to somewhat of a subjective filter.”

That subjective filter can also influence our expectations and interpretations of the indica and sativa experience. A low-tolerance, anxiety-prone individual could have a terrible experience with a 30mg edible while a THC heavyweight barely feels much at all. The intensity or nature of those experiences – and how our bodies respond to them – has great bearing on what we interpret as a sativa or indica effect.

This was particularly true when I next tried Spot’s indica and sativa edibles in a blind test.

Experiment: Is There a Distinction Between Professionally-Crafted Sativa and Indica Edibles?

Scanning Spot’s labels, you won’t find any advertising of “uplifting” or “relaxing” effects anywhere. Just a simple demarcation of “Sativa” or “Indica.” I had expectations for both, so without telling me which I was taking, my partner gave me one type of Spot brownie one day, and I ate the other brownie type a day later.

The first unmarked brownie was taken in the evening as I settled down to play video games, wrapped in blankets. Within 20 minutes, I was in a catatonic state muttering, “This has to be the indica,” until I conked out. Around lunchtime the following day, I took the second brownie and felt a dense euphoria gather in my head, but nothing that could be described as “sedating.” “Relaxing,” sure – I was in fact attached to my couch playing video games for the next several hours, and no part of me wanted to be active or out at any time during that edible’s duration. It was a blissful, functional high that did feel beautifully nuanced as my tension eased, my mood lifted, and my focus fixated.

Either could have been an indica based solely on perceived effects, but I knew one had to be the sativa product, so of course I chose the first one I tried (the one that shut off my brain within a half hour of ingesting it) as the indica brownie. Shocker: I was wrong. And when I gave some thought to it, of course I was. As someone who has long been affected by chronic fatigue, cannabis of any variety (with a few exceptions) tends to pacify me, and it’s only early in the day that my body can detect any sort of “uplifting” qualities a strain has to offer.

And what if I had known in advance that one was the sativa and the other indica? Would that psychosomatically change my experience? Or what if I’d taken them both in the evening, or in the morning? All are questions to consider for future studies.

Whether or not everyone’s bodies respond as expected, the concept of customizing edibles based on strains is a fascinating one. If producers can harness the complex nuances found in indica and sativa flowers, consumers would be able to make smarter purchases based on their needs.

“We want a product that’s going to get consumers out of this THC-focused mentality,” Lena from Botanica explained. “We wanted to create a brand that allows you to emotionally relate to the experience. You might say, ‘I like the concept of a sativa edible,’ or ‘I like the concept of an indica edible.’ But it had to be deeper than a concept. It had to be proven in your body’s experience.”

Our limited experimentation may have had mixed and inconclusive results, but in the spirit of science, we were able to bring to light the following variables and considerations that could be useful to edible enthusiasts:

• Be conscientious of your tolerance. A 10mg edible will likely not feel at all the same to a newbie and a heavyweight.
• Consider the time of day. Energy levels can greatly influence how uplifting/sedating an edible might feel.
• Homemade edibles may not be very homogenous. Different parts of the batch may deliver more intense effects.
• Expectations guide your experience. If you expect an energizing sativa effect or a calming indica effect, your experience will likely gravitate toward those associations.

We want to hear your anecdotal evidence. Have you experienced differences in indica and sativa edibles? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments section!

Image Source: Spot

Vice President Carly Fiorina Would Be a Cannabis Catastrophe

Usually Presidential candidates announce running mates after clinching their party’s nomination. According to the L.A. Times, Ted Cruz is expected to name Carly Fiorina as his would-be vice president later this afternoon, an effort to gain political momentum in his battle against Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.

What would Vice President Fiorina mean for cannabis? Nothing good.

Fiorina has, like every Republican candidate still in the race, paid lip service to states that have chosen to legalize medical or adult-use cannabis. But she’s also been among the most outspoken in her personal condemnation of the plant and its use.

“I don’t support legalized marijuana for a whole host of reasons, including the fact that this is a very complex chemical substance,” she said late last year.

“But I think Colorado voters made a choice,” she continued. “I don’t support their choice, but I do support their right to make that choice.”

It’s an open question whether she would continue to hold to that opinion once in office.

In past campaigns, Fiorina has opposed both cannabis and the potential tax revenue from legal cannabis. Years ago, when California’s budget was a mess, the state had the chance to legalize and tax adult-use consumption. Fiorina opposed the idea.

“Sending billions of dollars in new tax revenues to Sacramento is exactly the problem,” she said, “because Sacramento has a spending problem and will continue to spend the money we send them.”

When Fiorina does get something right about cannabis, it’s usually by accident: “We are misleading young people when we tell them that marijuana is just like having a beer. It’s not,” she said in September. Science backs up that statement, but not in the way she meant.

Fiorina’s opposition to legal, regulated cannabis comes from losing a daughter to substance abuse. “My husband and I buried a child to drug addiction,” she said at a Republican debate last year. “We must invest in the treatment of drugs.”

It’s a terrible, heartbreaking story — but there’s a bit of a catch. According to Fiorina’s autobiography, her daughter Lori died in 2009 after “drinking too much in college” and abusing prescription drugs.

As cannabis advocate Russ Belville put it in a column addressed to Fiorina, “You are misleading young people, ma’am, when you equate your step-daughter’s death from highly addictive substances and mental illness to an herb that is incapable of producing fatal overdose, even in the tiny minority of its consumers who develop psychological dependence on it.”

The sad fact is, none of the candidates with a strong chance at making it to the White House is likely to be a friend to cannabis. But Fiorina would be one of the worst.

Image Source: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Creative Commons

Shocking Turnabout in Maine: Legalization is on the November Ballot

Maine’s legalization initiative just made a 180 degree turn. Earlier this morning Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap declared that the citizens’ initiative petition for “An Act to Legalize Marijuana” has officially qualified for the November ballot. That means Maine citizens will vote on full adult-use legalization this fall.

That chance seemed lost last month, when the Secretary of State deemed 21,797 submitted signatures invalid due to a variance in the signature of notaries.

Notary Stavros Mendos was found to have inconsistent signatures on many of the submitted petitions. Mends later submitted an affidavit swearing under oath that he did in fact sign the challenged petitions. Advocates for the legalization measure challenged Secretary Dunlap’s ruling in court. A judge ruled in their favor and sent the case back to Dunlap’s office for reconsideration.

Secretary Dunlap agreed to certify 11,305 signatures of the contested 21,797, for a grand total of 62,848 certified signatures—just above the legal minimum of 61,123.

“An Act to Legalize Marijuana” will now go before the Maine Legislature, whose members will have the option to enact it as it stands. If the Legislature declines to do so, the measure will be presented to voters during this November’s general election.

“We are thrilled to finally start transitioning into the more substantive phase of this campaign,” legalization campaign manager David Boyer said in a statement earlier today. “It has been a longer wait than expected, but nothing compared to how long the people of Maine have been waiting to end the failed policy of marijuana prohibition.”

According to a poll released this week by the Maine People’s Resource Center, nearly 54% of likely voters would approve the initiative if the election were held today. Only about 42% said they would oppose it. The full results are available here.

Maine Court Removes Hurdle to Review of Legalization Petitions

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The state’s top court on Wednesday removed a hurdle to the completion of a review of petitions supporting a referendum proposal to legalize marijuana in Maine.

Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Leigh Saufley denied an individual’s request to intervene that had put the review on hold, allowing Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap to move forward with a review that he hoped to have completed before lawmakers reconvene Friday.

The additional review was ordered after a judge rejected Dunlap’s decision to reject thousands of signatures because of problems with notary’s signatures.

Those who support legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes in Maine need at least 61,123 valid signatures for the proposal to appear on the November ballot.

If activists reach the threshold, then the proposal would be considered by lawmakers and likely sent to the ballot. If not, there would likely be further legal action.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 99,229 signatures on Feb. 1, but only 51,543 of the signatures were deemed to be valid.

The secretary of state rejected more than 26,000 signatures because the signature of the notary didn’t match the signature on file. More than 17,000 of the rejected signatures were linked to Stavros Mendros, a Lewiston-based political consultant and former state lawmaker, who personally notarized more than 5,000 petitions.

A Superior Court judge said it was unreasonable to expect the signatures to be exact matches, and sent it back to the secretary of state for another review.

Dunlap said Wednesday that he’s been keeping the presiding officers of the Legislature updated on the situation. Failure to complete the review by Friday could necessitate a special session of the Legislature to deal with the matter.

CannaGrow Holdings Signs Sublease With Colorado Grower

CannaGrow Holdings (OTC Pink:CGRW) has negotiated and signed a long term lease agreement with Category One Botanicals, a state-licensed grower in Colorado.

As quoted in the press release:

CannaGrow Holdings has negotiated and signed a long-term sublease agreement with state- licensed grower Category One Botanicals, LLC, for the five-phase Cannabis cultivation facility on property located at the Colorado Buffalo Ranch Filing No. 5-Lot 61. The five-phase build out encompasses the entire facility now being constructed on five (5) of the twenty (20) acres currently controlled by Cannagrow Holdings under a five-year master lease agreement with three (3) multi-year options for renewal.

CannaGrow CEO, Delmar Janovec, said:

With a target of early June for the completion of the 3200-sq. ft. Head House, the 3300-sq. ft. Nexus Greenhouse, and three (3) of the six (6) planned 2880-sq. ft. Hoop Houses, we are prepared to accommodate our new tenant. With the entire 5-acre facility now under a sublease contract, the company can now focus on one or more of the recent inquiries about the development of an additional facility on an adjacent footprint.

Click here for the full press release.

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Self-Funded Michigan Legalization Campaign Adds $150K

In what must seem like the loneliest political campaign in history, the Republican duo of Marsden and Darnoi have dumped another $150,000 into the long-dormant Michigan Cannabis Coalition petition drive. A campaign finance statement filed by the MCC for April 2016 reveals the twosome, once again, are the only people spending money in support of

Cannabis Industry Social W/ Tobias Read May 9

Members of Oregon’s cannabis industry will meet with Oregon Treasurer candidate Tobias Read on May 9th in Portland. Two of the biggest issues facing Oregon’s cannabis industry today (and America’s industry for that matter) are lack of banking access and the need for tax reform (280e). That’s why it’s important that Oregon voters choose the

Hawaii Lawmakers Mull Bill to Clarify Medical Cannabis Rules

HONOLULU (AP) — With less than a week to go before Hawaii is scheduled to announce the names of the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary owners, lawmakers are considering a bill to clarify gaps in the dispensary law passed last year.

Hawaii lawmakers discussed a bill during a hearing Monday that would clear up tax problems and give certain nurses the ability to recommend medical marijuana for patients. It would also allow for inter-island transport of medical marijuana for laboratory testing and make rules for what kind of marijuana products could be sold in dispensaries.

Marijuana business owners can open retail shops as soon as July 15, but industry experts say they could be confronted with unique challenges in a state comprising eight separate islands.

Right now, there’s currently a shortage of physicians willing to prescribe medical marijuana, so the component of the bill allowing highly-trained nurses could help increase patient access, said Wendy Gibson of the Medical Cannabis Coalition of Hawaii. Only 10 physicians have given her permission to share their contact information with patients, she said.

“This provider shortage is impeding patient access to this relatively safe and effective medicine,” Gibson said.

The proposed bill would also allow for inter-island transport for laboratory testing. Under the law passed in 2015, inter-island transport was banned, but all medical marijuana is required to be tested in a state-approved laboratory before it’s sold. Right now, there are no laboratories open in the state, and some worry that high startup costs and low patient numbers will prevent laboratories from opening on rural islands.

“It is extremely important that patients ingest their medicine free from contaminants,” said Andrea Tischler, of Americans for Safe Access Big Island Chapter. “Without labs to test the product, small samples need to be sent to other islands where there is a testing laboratory.”

The bill would also clear up a tax loophole that currently makes dispensaries eligible for tax breaks if they set up in enterprise zones, which were intended to incentivize business investment in areas with low income or high unemployment.

The Hawaii Department of Health is currently reviewing dispensary applications and plans to award licenses on April 29. Actor and marijuana advocate Woody Harrelson and video game designer Henk Rogers are among 59 Hawaii residents who have applied for licenses.

Cannabis, Sleep and Nutrition: How the Endocannabinoid System Affects Our Circadian Rhythm

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.

Our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, helps to control much more than just our “sleep-wake” cycles. In fact, many tissues and cells throughout the body operate around this biological clock that changes how they metabolize glucose, amino acids, fats and other fuels. Moreover, most cells in the body also change how they respond to various hormonal and environmental signals based on where they are in the clock. These very signals of light, food intake, hormones and sleep also alter the body’s biorhythm in turn. Essentially, it is a two-way street where the existing rhythm of the body’s clock alters whole-body metabolism and physiology on the one hand, and environmental cues exert influence to regulate and help “set the time” on these biological clocks on the other hand.

Sleep Deprivation’s Impact on Endocannabinoids and Weight Gain

Based on this backdrop, it’s no surprise that people who don’t get enough sleep find themselves gaining more body fat and having a more difficult time losing weight or controlling their blood sugar levels. This happens, in part, because sleep deprivation amplifies certain aspects of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that increase appetite and cravings for energy-dense foods. Results from a recent study published in the journal Sleep suggests that a poor night’s sleep leads to an increase in the body’s cannabis-like chemical compounds (including the endocannabinoid 2-AG, or 2-Arachidonoylglycerol), and activates many of the same pathways as a THC-dominant, CB1-receptor-weighted cannabis that makes food more appealing and rewarding.

Hanlon et al. found that when a group of 14 volunteers was sleep-deprived to 4.5 hours of sleep over a four-day period in the sleep lab, their 2-AG levels rose to higher concentrations and remained elevated longer, leading them to snack on unhealthy foods as compared with the control group that slept for 9 hours. During the four-day stay in the sleep center all the light and sound was controlled, while all food intake and meals were carefully monitored. Blood plasma levels of 2-AG typically peak in the mid-to-late afternoon, and drop to lowest levels in the middle of the night while fasting, yet in this study subjects’ levels remained higher for longer periods of time. These elevated levels of 2-AG corresponded to when the research subjects were overeating snack foods.

We know that sleep loss leads to a drop in cognitive performance and increase in impulsivity. There are also other appetite and energy balance hormones, such as ghrelin and leptin, that are modulated by sleep deprivation. Data along with other research suggests that sleep deprivation is amplifying the hedonic food-seeking drive, while impairing ability to resist temptation and make better decisions regarding food intake. This coupled with dysfunctional insulin sensitivity and partitioning of liver, muscle and fat tissue provides the perfect storm for weight gain and expanding waistlines.

Using CBD to Optimize the Circadian Rhythm

This emerging scientific evidence outlines some potential targets for optimizing weight management and metabolic health. One strategy is to improve sleep hygiene by getting plenty of natural light, eating meals early in the day, and making more time for shuteye. Unfortunately, artificial light, smartphones, TVs, stress, late nights, excess social media use and shift-work have all made it challenging to meet sleep needs.

Another strategy may be to bring the endocannabinoid system into balance (i.e., away from CB1-receptor preference like 2-AG endocannabinoids or a THC phytocannabinoid-dominant cannabis) via use of hemp-derived phytocannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol), which tend to be more weighted toward a CB2-receptor mediated response as opposed to a CB1-receptor pathway. By keeping our endocannabinoid system in balance, we pave the way for our circadian biorhythm to encourage optimal health and wellness.

References:

Hanlon EC, Tasali E, Leproult R, Stuhr KL, Doncheck E, de Wit H, Hillard CJ, Van Cauter E. Circadian rhythm of circulating levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jan;100(1):220-6.

Hanlon EC, Tasali E, Leproult R, Stuhr KL, Doncheck E, de Wit H, Hillard CJ, Van Cauter E. Sleep Restriction Enhances the Daily Rhythm of Circulating Levels of Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol. Sleep. 2016 Mar 1;39(3):653-64.

Van Cauter E, Holmback U, Knutson K, Leproult R, Miller A, Nedeltcheva A, Pannain S, Penev P, Tasali E, Spiegel K. Impact of sleep and sleep loss on neuroendocrine and metabolic function. Horm Res. 2007;67 Suppl 1:2-9.

Knutson KL, Van Cauter E. Associations between sleep loss and increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1129:287-304.

Alaska to Weigh Rules for On-Site Consumption at Retail Stores

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Marijuana regulators in Alaska plan to consider rules this week for consuming marijuana products at authorized retail cannabis stores — a first among states that have legalized adult use.

Late last year, the Marijuana Control Board voted to allow people to use marijuana at certain stores that will sell it. But rules surrounding in-store use still need to be ironed out.

No licenses have been issued yet.

At its meeting in Anchorage on Wednesday, the board plans to consider three sets of proposed rules for onsite consumption. Whatever is settled on is expected to be put out for public comment.

Board staff, board chair Bruce Schulte and board member Peter Mlynarik each proposed a set of draft rules to be discussed. Schulte said each is conservative in its approach and it will be up to the board to pull something together from the proposals.

All three call for separation between consumption and non-consumption areas, with varying details for how that would look. Two, for example, propose a separation by a securable door.

Differences between the drafts crop up in areas such as quantities and whether to allow for marijuana purchased for in-store use to be taken off site if not fully consumed.

Schulte said he expects some discussion Wednesday about the timeline for approval of applications. He said concerns have been raised about the schedule.

The board began accepting applications in February. A tentative timeline has suggested the first licenses for cultivation and testing could be approved in June, with the first retail and product manufacturing facility licenses approved later in the year.

State lawmakers last week approved legislation allowing for national criminal history checks for license applicants. That bill will go to Gov. Bill Walker for consideration. Cynthia Franklin, director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, said the impact of waiting for that language has been “very minimal to none” because few applications have gotten to that point.

One of her more immediate concerns is the level of office staffing to handle the workload. She said the office doesn’t have enough staff and the idea of doing more with less is a fallacy.

“You cannot have a highly regulated industry where people are carefully examining documents and then skimp on the number of people that are available to do that and have the expectation that that is going to have no effect on the time that it takes to process the application,” she said.

The Shake: Richard Nixon Gets His Own Strain, and Is Cannabis a Gateway Drug?

Is cannabis a gateway drug? As East Coast states mull legalization amid an ongoing opioid epidemic, a number of politicians have warned that legal, regulated cannabis markets could lead to an uptick in heroin and prescription painkiller abuse. (The numbers don’t back this up, but politics, right?) Today the New York Times posted a number of policy papers on the issue of whether or not cannabis is indeed a gateway drug. The conclusion? There is none — like many NYT “Room for Debate” topics, it’s less debate than it is different advocates talking past each other. If you want something more substantial, check out some of our past coverage or read these pieces in the Atlantic, Vice, Newsweek — heck, even Factcheck.org. The upshot: Cannabis probably is not a gateway drug relative to other substances, and it’s certainly nowhere near as bad as politicians and anti-drug groups want you to believe. The scientist who came up with the “gateway” term even came out recently to say that nicotine, not cannabis, is the gateway substance we should be worried about. (More fun with double-standards: A growing body of research indicates that giving children tastes of alcohol correlates — beware correlations! — with them developing drinking problems later in life.)

California grower trolls Richard Nixon, sort of. You remember Nixon, right? That guy who started the drug war because he didn’t like black people or hippies? Well, now Roger Stone, a notorious political consultant and former Donald Trump adviser who worked on Nixon’s campaign, is growing a strain of cannabis dubbed Tricky Dick in the president’s hometown of Yorba Linda. It’s not clear whether it’s an homage or an insult, but Stone describes the strain with a wink, calling it a “very unique blend” of cannabis: “You smoke it, you become very paranoid, and you want to go to a Chinese restaurant.” America.

Forget 420. The magic number in Denver is 421. The City Council there voted Monday to cap the number of cannabis businesses, grandfathering in 421 existing retail shops and grow sites, the Associated Press reports. The existing businesses joined with parents’ groups and neighborhood organizations to support the limit, saying the city has enough shops as it is. The measure allows pending license applications to go through before the limit takes effect, meaning Denver could see up to 45 more cannabusinesses. Another provision, however, calls for the eventual reduction of 15 grow sites.

QUICK HITS:

• A Canadian cannabis advocate is gunning for a spot on a federal task force. Jodie Emery, whom we like a lot and who basically won at 4/20, worries the panel will be stacked with prohibitionists intent on passing overly restrictive rules as the country moves toward adult-use legalization next year. Emery is no prohibitionist.
• Are monthly subscriptions really “the future of cannabis”? I admit I’m tempted by those clothes-in-a-box thingies, but I really don’t mind picking up cannabis in person. Green Rush Daily disagrees. What do you think?

• Have your cannabis and smoke it, too. Alaska regulators are planning to consider rules for onsite consumption at authorized adult-use retail stores, the AP reports.
• A mother and son are going to jail for running a Michigan dispensary. Ellen Dee Shaw was sentenced to 290 days for running dispensaries Kent County. Under a 2013 state Supreme Court ruling, storefront dispensaries aren’t protected under the state’s medical cannabis law. Shaw’s 26-year-old son was sentenced to 90 days.

• Clarkston could be the first Georgia city to decriminalize cannabis. Despite warnings from Gov. Nathan Deal (who’s kind of a prig about cannabis in general), Clarkston could vote as early as next week to make possession of less than an ounce a ticket-only offense.
• That plan for Iowa patients to get medical cannabis from Minnesota? It’s probably dead. The measure failed a recent Iowa House vote, 31–63, according to the AP. Sorry, Iowans, looks like you’ll have to keep getting your kids’ epilepsy medicine illegally.
• And finally, need a break? Check out Carrot Facts and learn something useful.

How to Make Your Own Cannabis-Infused Capsules

If you’re looking for an effective and efficient way to orally dose your cannabinoids in a manner that’s free of unwanted calories and unnecessary ingredients, then cannabis capsules may just be your answer. Canna caps, as they are often referred to, have become a staple across the cannabis industry as they offer a safe and effective oral delivery method that can be easily dosed and optimally metabolized. Most dispensaries carry some variation of the canna cap, and depending on where you purchase them, they may differ in their potency and ingredients.

Cannabis-infused capsules are also a perfect DIY project for anybody looking for a safe, inexpensive, and relatively simple at-home infusion. The required materials can be procured inexpensively, either online or at your local health food and/or drug store. This at-home project takes just a few hours and can be accomplished several different ways, depending on what ingredients and equipment are available to you.

Our recipe utilizes an infusion derived from coconut oil and soy lecithin. Combined, these two act as a terrific metabolizing agent for the cannabinoids as they pass through our digestive systems, enabling us to get more bang for our buck when dosing orally.

Keep in mind that dosing will vary considerably depending on a number of factors, such as the potency of your starting material and the ratio of the ingredients used. There is no standard ratio, but you can use our ratio(s) as a rough guideline and experiment to find what is right for you. The only way to fully know how potent your capsules are is to take them to a lab for testing, so don’t be afraid to use this option if it is available to you.

Ingredients and Materials Required

• 7-14 grams of cannabis (ground flowers are preferred for this recipe, though you can use kief and/or ground trim if you desire)
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup of organic extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp soy lecithin
• Oven or slow cooker
• 45 to 50 empty gelatin capsules (preferably size 00)
• Capsule Filling machine
• Syringe: 10mm oral irrigators with tapered deep reach tips
• 1 cooking pot with lid
• 1 glass bowl
• 1 baking tray
• 1 sheet of parchment paper
• 1 piece of cheese cloth
• 1 small bowl
• 1 rubber band
• 1 spatula

Instructions

STEP 1: DECARBOXYLATION

Preheat your oven to 220 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your material by grinding it finely with your grinder and spreading the grounds across a sheet of parchment paper that has been placed over a baking tray. Ovens tend to fluctuate in temperature, so it’s important to note that you do not want the oven hotter than 250 degrees. Any hotter and you begin to risk cooking off valuable cannabinoids. The material will need to bake for about 30-45 minutes before you can achieve a proper decarboxylation, though you can continue this process for longer if you prefer. Once finished, pull the tray from the oven and proceed to step 2.

If you plan on using your oven for the remainder of the process, keep the temperature at 220 degrees.

STEP 2: INFUSION

1. OVEN- Begin by filling your cooking pot 3/4 of the way full with water and bringing it to a soft boil. Add your coconut oil and soy lecithin to your glass cooking bowl and place it within the rim of your cooking pot so that the bowl sits about 1-2 inches above the soft boiling water. After several minutes, your coconut oil and soy lecithin will melt down and you can add your finely ground and decarboxylated cannabis. Mix the material together until everything is homogenous. Empty the hot water out of your cooking pot and then add the oil mixture. Place the pot back in the oven (still at 220 degrees) for an additional 30-45 minutes. Check in a few times to stir, if necessary. You may cook the mix for longer if desired. This may affect the potency of your end product because it will allow for a further degradation of THC to CBN, a conversion known to add a more sedating effect to your finished capsule.

2.SLOW COOKER- Add your decarboxylated starting material, coconut oil, and soy lecithin to your slow cooker and turn the unit to LOW HEAT. Allow the material to cook for 2 hours (longer if desired) to achieve as proper decarboxylation, stirring several times per hour. Slow cookers tend to cook around 200 degrees on the low setting, so make sure you check beforehand to get a better estimate of how much time you will need.

STEP 3: FILLING CAPS

While your oil is finishing in the oven, prepare the size 00 empty gelatin capsules and capsule filling machine by following the instructions on the package. These devices are designed to make capsule filling a much easier, more streamlined process, though the machine is not required — you can always poke some holes in a cardboard box with a pen to help hold the capsules in place while you fill them. (In my opinion, the small amount you will pay for the machine is worth the convenience.)

Now take your cheese cloth and secure it over the rim of your small bowl using the rubber band. When the oil is finally finished, remove it from the oven and strain the oil through your cheese cloth and into the small bowl, catching the unnecessary particulates along the way. Afterwards, be sure to let the oil cool to a temperature less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit before proceeding with filling your syringe. Gelatin capsules tend to melt over 100 degrees, so make sure that your oil is as cool as you can get it before letting it solidify.

Once the oil has cooled to your desired temperature, it’s time to fill the syringe. Do so by following your syringe’s instructions, and make sure the oil remains warm enough to stay liquid. Use the syringe’s tapered deep reach tip to feed the oil into the gelatin capsules, one at a time, until you run out of oil; repeat this process accordingly. Once finished, use the instructions on your filling machine to close each capsule. During this process, you may find that you have over filled a few caps. Use a hand towels or tissue to wipe the remaining residue. The finished caps can be store in a cool, dark place (like a refrigerator) until you are ready to use them. If done properly, this recipe will produce around 45-50 capsules (this amount is only an estimate and will depend on the ratios of starting material and oil you used).

DOSING:

Dosing will depend on 3 variables:

The easiest and most accurate way to test the strength of your caps is to take them to a lab for testing. If you’re looking for a rough estimate of how strong your caps are, take the potency of your starting material and convert it to milligrams. Once you have this figure, divide it by the net weight of your final yield and shave off 10% or so to account for decarboxylation. This should land you in the ball park of how potent your whole batch will be. Take this figure and divide it once more by the number of capsules you filled and that will leave you will an estimate to work with.

Can Cannabis Help Treat Painkiller and Heroin Addiction?

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The growing number of patients who claim marijuana helped them drop their painkiller habit has intrigued lawmakers and emboldened advocates, who are pushing for cannabis as a treatment for the abuse of opioids and illegal narcotics like heroin, as well as an alternative to painkillers.

It’s a tempting sell in New England, hard hit by the painkiller and heroin crisis, with a problem: There is very little research showing marijuana works as a treatment for the addiction.

Advocates argue a growing body of scientific literature supports the idea, pointing to a study in the Journal of Pain this year that found chronic pain sufferers significantly reduced their opioid use when taking medical cannabis. And a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found cannabis can be effective in treating chronic pain and other ailments.

But the research falls short of concluding marijuana helps wean people off opioids — Vicodin, Oxycontin and related painkillers — and heroin, and many medical professionals say it’s not enough for them to confidently prescribe it.

In Maine, which is considering adding opioid and heroin addiction to the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana, Michelle Ham said marijuana helped her end a yearslong addiction to painkillers she took for a bad back and neck.

Tired of feeling “like a zombie,” the 37-year-old mother of two decided to quit cold turkey, which she said brought on convulsions and other withdrawal symptoms.

Then, a friend mentioned marijuana, which Maine had legalized in 1999 for chronic pain and scores of other medical conditions. She gave it a try in 2013 and said the pain is under control. And she hasn’t gone back on the opioids.

“Before, I couldn’t even function. I couldn’t get anything done,” Ham said. “Now, I actually organize volunteers, and we have a donations center to help the needy.”

Bolstered by stories like Ham’s, doctors are experimenting with marijuana as an addiction treatment in Massachusetts and California. Supporters in Maine are pushing for its inclusion in qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, and Vermonters are making the case for addiction treatment in their push to legalize cannabis.

Authorities are also desperate to curb a sharp rise in overdoses; Maine saw a 31 percent increase last year, and drug-related deaths in Vermont have jumped 44 percent since 2010. Vermont officials also blame opioid abuse for a 40 percent increase over the past two years of children in state custody.

“I don’t think it’s a cure for everybody,” said Maine Rep. Diane Russell, a Portland Democrat and a leader in the state effort to legalize marijuana. “But why take a solution off the table when people are telling us and physicians are telling us that it’s working?”

Most states with medical marijuana allow it for a list of qualifying conditions. Getting on that list is crucial and has resulted in a tug of war in many states, including several in which veterans have been unsuccessful in getting post-traumatic stress disorder approved for marijuana treatment.

“It’s hard to argue against anecdotal evidence when you are in the middle of a crisis,” said Patricia Hymanson, a York, Maine, neurologist who has taken a leave of absence to serve in the state House. “But if you do too many things too fast, you are sometimes left with problems on the other end.”

In New Hampshire, where drug deaths more than doubled last year from 2011 levels, the Senate last week rejected efforts to decriminalize marijuana.

There are some promising findings involving rats and one 2014 JAMA study showing that states with medical marijuana laws had nearly 25 percent fewer opioid-related overdose deaths than those without, but even a co-author on that study said it would be wrong to use the findings to make the case for cannabis as a treatment option.

“We are in the midst of a serious problem. People are dying and, as a result, we ought to use things that are proven to be effective,” said Dr. Richard Saitz, chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health.

Cannabis could have limited benefits as a treatment alternative, said Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Kevin Hill, who last year authored the JAMA study that found benefits in using medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, neuropathic pain and spasticity related to multiple sclerosis. But he urged caution.

“If you are thinking about using cannabis as opposed to using opioids for chronic pain, then I do think the evidence does support it,” he said. “However, I think one place where sometimes cannabis advocates go too far is when they talk about using cannabis to treat opioid addiction.”

The findings in the Journal of Pain study that found chronic pain sufferers reduced their opioid use when using medical cannabis were limited because participants self-reported the data.

Substance abuse experts argue there are already approved medications. It would also be wrong to portray marijuana as completely safe, they say, because it can also be addictive.

But supporters point to doctors like Dr. Gary Witman, of Canna Care Docs, who has treated addicts with cannabis at his offices in Fall River, Stoughton and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Since introducing the treatment in September, Witman said, 15 patients have successfully weened themselves off opioids. None have relapsed.

“When I see them in a six-month follow up, they are much more focused,” Witman said. “They have greater respect. They feel better about themselves. Most importantly, I’m able to get them back to gainful employment.”

Tomorrow At Interphex – From Seed To Solution With Leaps In Cannabis Progress

The largest pharmaceutical manufacturing conference is taking place this week in New York. The conference is called Interphex. I am not a fan of the pharmaceutical industry, which I have made clear over the years. That is largely due to the fact that the pharmaceutical industry pushes harmful substances, and historically ignores the medical properties

Montana Supreme Court Delays Enforcement of Dispensary Ruling

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The state Supreme Court will delay enforcement of the severe medical marijuana restrictions it upheld until Aug. 31.

In February, the court upheld provisions of a 2011 state law that limited medical marijuana providers to selling the drug to a maximum of three patients. The Montana Cannabis Industry Association, which had challenged the legislation, has said the rollbacks would force the closure of dispensaries and leave patients without a legal way to obtain the drug.

The group sought a delay in implementing the ruling until after the 2017 legislative session. State health officials also argued for a delay, saying it would take them at least four months to notify patients and update the registry.

Chief Justice Mike McGrath wrote in Monday’s ruling that “immediate implementation of the court’s opinion will cause serious disruption in a program.”

US DC: At Cannabis Festival, Tokin' Appreciation For Pot

Washington Post, 24 Apr 2016 – The National Cannabis Festival at the RFK Stadium grounds Saturday afternoon seemingly offered so much: rolling papers of all sizes; neon-pink bongs; “Hydroponics for Everybody” books; free issues of Dope magazine; several odor-protecting clutches from the Annabis purse collection; and an “Educational Pavilion” for yoga techniques or lessons on entrepreneurship and local “Potlitics.” One thing at the National Cannabis Festival not technically allowed: the consumption or sale of cannabis. Although it’s been legal since Feb. 26, 2015, for people in the District to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, it’s still illegal for ordinary citizens to sell it to one another or smoke it in a public place.

‘Cheap Pot!’: What’s the Deal With the $6 Gram?

Forget that nonsense you’ve heard about cannabis being so much more expensive in legal states than the black market: Grams for just $6, and sometimes less, are increasingly common at state-licensed shops.

Low prices haven’t come to every shop, but they’re out there — and spreading. At least two stores I spoke with, Uncle Ike’s in Seattle and the Attis Trading Co. line of dispensaries in Oregon, reported grams for $5-6. Given what we know about the costs of growing, processing, packaging, distributing, stocking, advertising, selling, and paying taxes on legal cannabis, how is that even possible?

Many view the move as the old “half-price sushi” gimmick: Get you in the door with some cheap fish that the restaurant makes no money on, sell you three bottles of Kirin at a high margin, then laugh all the way to the bank. At Uncle Ike’s, where they proudly advertise “Cheap Pot!” at $6 a gram and $99 an ounce, store manager April Roth freely acknowledged the use of bargain-basement deals as a lure.

“There are always loss leaders in retail!” she said.

Attis owner Eli Bilton agreed. He said he absolutely used rock-bottom prices to build his customer base.

“We put anywhere from five to ten strains on our shelf at $5 to $6 a gram, just to gain the customer and create a larger market share for ourselves and to get people through the door,” he said. “It definitely helps.”

Don’t assume cheap cannabis is inherently bad fish. Black market loyalists might argue their cheap cannabis is of better quality than retail’s inexpensive stuff, but they’re beginning to lose that battle, as well.

Down the street from Uncle Ike’s, Ponder sells only Clean Green-certified cannabis, and it still has grams for as low as $7. Store manager Lauren Downes said Ponder is willing to pay a little more and make a little less because, essentially, they’re idealists.

“Cost of production is non-negotiable, and profit and viability are essential for a business to grow,” Downes said. “I won’t turn a vendor away based on their asking price. Quality is more important. Cannabis is the fruit of someone’s labor, and we value cannabis produced by the labor of love, not for the love of money.”

That said, cost is no joke for retailers — it’s one reason those $6 grams are still relatively rare. In addition to the obvious expenses of rent, labor, and utilities, there’s a whole host of hidden costs. Chris Francy, chief operating officer for California-based CalCann Holdings, said advertising costs, for one, are a major component of the out-the-door cost to consumers. “It’s way more than our payroll,” he said.

Derek Peterson, who owns Terra Tech, another dispensary company with stores in Nevada and California, said the monthly ad budget at his Oakland dispensary often runs tens of thousands of dollars.

If that weren’t enough, none of that spending is deductible under the federal tax code that applies to cannabis, 280E. The only write-off available to retailers is “cost of goods sold,” which basically means what they pay the grower. All other business expenses are off-limits thanks to federal prohibition.

“When you try to sell cheap, and you have 5,000 square feet of floor space and 20 employees, and you can’t deduct your rent,” said Steven North, a Washington accountant who specializes in cannabis, “you could end up owing more [in taxes] than you made.”

Pressure on growers to cut production costs is one thing helping to make the low prices possible. The average wholesale price in Washington in 2015 was $3.76 a gram, according to a report from analytics firm Signal Bay. But that’s expected to fall considerably, said Danielle Rosellison, owner of Bellingham, Wash.-based grower Trail Blazin’ Productions.

“We are actively trying to get under a dollar a gram by the end of 2017,” she said. Another grower told her, “If you’re not trying to get to get to that point, you’re going to get left in the dust.”

“We don’t have a clue how we’re going to do that, by the way,” Rosellison added. While it might be possible to grow lower-quality cannabis at that price, she said higher-tier flower is likely to cost more.

“Is premium product ever going to be less than $1 a gram to produce? Can you do pesticide-free? Can you do sustainably grown?”

With current wholesale prices, it’s generally the retailer taking the hit. Vito Perillo, a Washington-based cannabis consultant, estimated that even if retailers use a 300-percent markup from wholesale, they’re left with a smaller operating budget than restaurants, perhaps the most famously low-margin industry. (In Washington, a rule prevents retailers from selling cannabis products below acquisition cost.)

Bilton, owner of Attis, in Oregon, said he took home only about a 2-percent return on his $6 grams after tax and expenses. When I asked Roth of Uncle Ike’s whether her store was making anything off that “Cheap Pot!” she demurred, saying only that she couldn’t share the recipe for Ike’s “secret sauce.”

She did, however, say cheap cannabis isn’t just a ploy to get people through the doors. It’s also, she said, about making safe, legal cannabis accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

“We have people come in every day and buy one $5 joint,” Roth said. “We have people who will spend over $400 on an ounce of truly special unicorn weed. My goal is for both of those people to find something that speaks to them.”

“If it’s lower prices that keep people going to unregulated, untested, and untaxed black and gray markets, then I want to do what I can to erase that as a factor,” she added.

“Not to sound pompous, but what we’re doing right now in Washington state is important, and it’s not about money.”

Bilton, in Oregon, concurred. “We’re trying to do good for the people that can’t afford it,” he said. “There’s a large portion of our patient base that are veterans or elderly people, so we try to provide something for everybody. It’s good business, but it also makes you feel good.”

Cannabis Makes You Watch Cat Videos (According to Google Trends)

I’m sure you’ve come across a number of headlines touting studies that “prove” findings like “cannabis makes you dumber” or heavy cannabis users are “more likely to die by the age of 60.” The problem with these limited studies is that people often associate a correlation with causation. A correlation between, say, heavy cannabis use during late teenage years and the death of 8.9% of those subjects by age 60 does not mean that the former directly caused the latter, it means “While we were studying X, we noticed Y occurring in a small percentage, but that by itself doesn’t mean anything without more research to isolate as many variables as possible.”

But that narrative isn’t fun for news publications and blogs hoping to attract clicks, is it? To help out the brands hoping to churn out some sensationalized cannabis headlines, I turned to Google Trends, which highlights trending stories and search terms, and played around with its Correlate tool. Google Correlate takes a query and compares it to other searches with similar patterns. And what better term to compare than cannabis?

Here are five headlines you should expect to see over the next few weeks. The data speaks for itself — with search trends this closely aligned, it’s impossible to claim that cannabis isn’t the cause for the following queries:

The Legalization Movement is All Thanks to Panda Express

Notice the coincidence between increased searches for “cannabis” and people looking for the “panda express menu”? That’s no coincidence, my friend — there’s a reason why Panda Express is the dominant fast casual Chinese chain in the country, and it’s because founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng realized that nothing pairs better with orange chicken and honey walnut shrimp than Tangerine Haze and Lifesaver.

Cannabis Causes Age Blindness

Another hidden danger of cannabis: it causes age blindness, the all-too-awful affliction where you can’t approximate how old someone is. It’s true — one time I vaped a bowl of Maui Waui and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening trying to figure out why Helen Mirren was on the cover of my father-in-law’s AARP magazine. Isn’t she, like, 34?

Cannabis Users, Like Jon Snow, Know Nothing

Cannabis is like a natural form of Lacuna Inc., the memory wiping company from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Accidentally spot your naked old Uncle Clarence on the toilet? Nothing some Death Star can’t erase! Wish you could undo all of season 2 of True Detective? A little Red Dragon should do the trick!

Small Talk Was Invented Because of Cannabis

“Nice weather we’re having!” “Where are you from?” “Do you know how to get to 6th Street from here?” Yep, you have cannabis to thank for all that. You’re welcome.

Cannabis Makes You Want to Watch Cat Videos

Okay, that one’s probably true.

The Shake: Denver Has Growhouse Brokers, and Miami Cops Bust Man With Majestic Half-Beard

D.C. activists meet with White House officials. On the heels of the first National Cannabis Festival in the Washington, D.C., this past weekend, one of the city’s largest cannabis advocacy groups, DCMJ, has a meeting with White House officials today. The festival brought together a mix of cannabis activists and recreational enthusiasts, as the grounds outside RFK Stadium were buzzing with conversations, soapbox speeches, and musicians, including De La Soul. No telling what will come out of the White House meeting, but we’ll keep you updated as we hear more.

A Denver company will connect landlords with tenants who want to grow. Housing Guru acts as a property manager and a go-between for tenants who want to grow marijuana plants, evaluating properties, making repairs, and keeping an eye on issues that come up along the way. The new service could be particularly helpful to wary landlords who might otherwise be reluctant to allow legal cultivation on their leased or rented property. Housing Guru currently manages a number of properties along Colorado’s Front Range, renting to tenants young and old, from accountants to scientists. Tenants are required to stick to Colorado’s legal limit of six plants per household, with no more than three ready for harvest at any given time.

Utah study shows improvement in children with epilepsy. The research, sponsored by the University of Utah’s Pediatric Division of Pediatric Neurology and Primary Children’s Medical Center, began nearly two years ago and has already produced promising results. Neurologist Francis Filloux reported that participants experienced a 40 percent reduction in the frequency and severity of seizures while under the effects of Epidiolex, a drug containing CBD extracted from cannabis. Made by U.K.-based GW Pharma, Epidiolex has not yet been approved for use in the United States but is currently undergoing Phase 3 FDA trials. There are currently 113 Utah residents who qualify to possess whole-plant CBD extracts as part of the limited medical CBD program in the state, and results from the state-commissioned study could be used as evidence in a possible push to expand the program.

Boston Globe columnist argues against legalization. Renee Loth points out that Massachusetts’ medical marijuana law has been fraught with corruption and lawsuits, and it took nearly three years for the first dispensary to open. She argues that a legalization push would be similarly bumpy and difficult to enact. We at Leafly are dubious. The transition in Colorado and Washington hasn’t necessarily been smooth, but the results are fantastic: In both states the economy is thriving, thanks in no small part to new jobs and revenue from cannabis excise taxes, and the system is steadily improving.

QUICK HITS:

• Real nun is displeased with the Sisters of the Valley. Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble, a Catholic nun with the Daughters of Saint Paul, took to a Catholic news site to protest the Sisters of the Valley, telling them to give up the “schtick.” The criticism sparked a plethora of responses, both positive and negative, on the topic of cannabis and Catholicism — a fascinating combo.

• A study on the long-term effects of cannabis use jumps to unfounded conclusions. Again. A study of 45,000 men and found that those who used cannabis heavily at ages 18 and 19 were more likely to die by age 60 compared to those who had never used it. We invite you to read the study for yourself and ask questions about correlation and causation.
• And finally, a man with half a beard (but one HELL of a half-beard) gets arrested in Miami, on 4/20, for selling cannabis. How does one maintain such a glorious mane? We may never know.

White House to Meet Today With D.C. Legalization Advocates

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaders of a successful initiative to legalize marijuana in the District of Columbia will be meeting with White House officials to argue that marijuana shouldn’t be classified as a dangerous drug.

Adam Eidinger and Nikolas Schiller will argue during the meeting on Monday that the Obama administration should remove cannabis from a list of dangerous substances that includes heroin and cocaine. The designation prevents any federal spending on the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Eidinger and other activists recently participated in a protest in which they smoked joints in front of the White House.

Possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana for personal use is legal in the District of Columbia thanks to a ballot initiative pushed by Eidinger and Schiller. It was approved by two-thirds of city voters.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Medical Cannabis Can Pass in Florida. Here’s How.

Two years ago, Florida voters rejected a push to legalize medical marijuana. Well, they did and they didn’t. A sizeable majority of voters — 58 percent — agreed to legalize. But back in 2006, the state changed the rules on constitutional amendments, increasing the percentage required for passage from a simple majority to 60 percent. By failing to reach that supermajority, 2014’s medical marijuana amendment failed.

The issue is back on the statewide ballot this November, as Amendment 2, and its passage would make Florida the first Southern state to legalize marijuana in any form. Breaking that barrier in the conservative South could be a major momentum boost for the legalization movement. Will it happen? It has an excellent chance. Why now and not in 2014? It’s all a matter of timing.

Why Medical Marijuana Failed in 2014

Two years ago, Florida saw a contested race for the governor’s mansion. Rick Scott, the Republican incumbent, faced Charlie Crist, one of the state’s most eccentric politicians.

Unpopular Rick Scott and more unpopular Charlie Crist

Crist had previously served as governor from 2007 to 2011. He was a Republican when in office, but after a stint at a personal injury law firm and an endorsement of Barack Obama for president, he decided to switch over and become a Democrat. Though Scott was fairly unpopular, Crist found a way to lose to him. The unloved eccentric lost to the disliked conservative by a single point, 48.1 percent to 47.1 percent. You might think a race with such colorful characters and relatively high stakes would drive significant voter turnout. You would be wrong. While Florida’s voter participation for the presidential election in 2012 crossed 70 percent, the numbers in the 2014 elections hovered in the low 40s. It turns out that when you run two unpopular politicians against each other, the whole election turns into a no-show. Or at least a low-show.

What did low voter turnout for the gubernatorial race have to do with Amendment 2? A lot. Typically, a low turnout means only the most consistent voters make up the electorate. In Florida those voters are typically older, more conservative, and far less receptive to marijuana legalization. In presidential years, the electorate is significantly younger and more liberal, meaning marijuana legalization would presumably stand a better chance of passing. Even in a low-turnout year, as 2014 was, Amendment 2 only missed the threshold for passage in Florida by 2 percent. If the electorate had been younger, the amendment likely would have reached a supermajority and passed.

Why Medical Can Pass in 2016

In 2016, Florida will likely have voter turnout rates closer to 2012’s 71 percent than 2014’s 43 percent. High voter turnout would likely result in Florida legalizing medical marijuana, and becoming the first Southern state to do so.

It’s not just about the under-30 voter, either. Young voters are a driving force behind marijuana legalization, but they aren’t the only force. Cannabis use has become normalized across much of the nation, and local decriminalization movements have made real progress in Florida. Miami Beach, Miami–Dade County, Hallandale Beach, Key West, Volusia County, and Broward County are just a few of the Floridia localities that have moved to decriminalize possession of 20 grams or less. In most cases, such possession carries only a $100 civil fine, not an arrest or jail time. Decriminalization has helped to normalize marijuana and make its usage more mainstream and less taboo.

Words also matter. Florida’s 2016 medical marijuana measure contains some critical language that differs from that of its 2014 predecessor. The 2016 amendment clarifies that legalization is for “debilitating” illnesses, and that minors would not be able to obtain medical marijuana without parental consent. It contains limits on how many patients a caregiver can treat, and it says doctors would not be immune from marijuana-related malpractice claims. While these clarifications might seem minor, they could serve to alleviate the fears of moderate Floridians who are on the fence about medical marijuana legalization.

Is There a Next Step? From Medical to Recreational

Passing Amendment 2 would be a significant win for legalization advocates. But for some it won’t be enough. There will continue to be a push to legalize for everyone 21 and older. Can Florida go from legalizing medical to legalizing recreational?

Possibly — if the state follows the road maps established by Washington, Colorado, and Oregon. A medical marijuana win in 2016 could help normalize marijuana use and eventually bring decriminalization to the central and northern parts of Florida, which are much more conservative than southern counties such as Broward and Miami–Dade. Legalization advocates should continue to use presidential elections as springboards. In Florida, that likely means avoiding 2018 and 2022, focusing instead on 2020 and 2024.

For now, medical marijuana has a good chance at becoming legal in Florida in the 2016 election. Washington and Colorado waited 14 and 12 years, respectively, between the adoption of medical marijuana and the passage of full adult use. As the nation normalizes its relationship with cannabis, maybe Florida won’t have to wait that long.

Image Sources: Joe Skipper via Reuters and Wikimedia Commons

Recent Study Shows That Cannabis Fights Osteoarthritis Related Cartilage Breakdown

One of my favorite things to do in life is play basketball. I’m not the best at it, and definitely don’t possess the genetics and talent that I wish I had in order to have pursued my dreams as a basketball player growing up, but it’s something that I’ve always enjoyed. It was the only

US MA: Column: Legalized Marijuana Is Too Much, Too Soon

Boston Globe, 25 Apr 2016 – When I think about the prospect of legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts, I surprise myself by sounding like my father. Cannabis tourism? THC-infused lip balm? “Budz and sudz” crawls? What is the world coming to? The combination of vice and capitalism is a powerful one, so it might be expected that entrepreneurs are rushing to market these artisanal highs. In Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, cannabis concierge services are thriving, from ganja yoga retreats to weed weddings. Sales nearly hit $1 billion last year, with the state raking in tax and licensing fees of $135 million.

US OR: Christen Ties Cannabis To Economic Development

Grants Pass Daily Courier, 23 Apr 2016 – Shayne Christen is a man of few words. Asked what he would do about economic development, if he were elected to the Josephine County Board of Commissioners, he replied, “We need to do something about more jobs. There’s a lot of possibilities.”

US GA: Medical Cannabis Resolution Overwhelmingly Approved

Times-Herald, 24 Apr 2016 – Delegates at the Third District Republican Convention last weekend overwhelmingly voiced their support for the expansion of Georgia’s laws on cannabis/marijuana-derived medicine, and for allowing the medicine to be produced in Georgia. A resolution supporting expanding the number of conditions that can be treated with oil containing cannabidiol (CBD), a component of marijuana, and in-state cultivation of cannabis used to make the oil, passed with very little opposition at the convention, held April 16 in Newnan.

Is Cannabis a Friend to the Flaccid or the Enemy of Erections?

A common question I get asked when talking about sex and cannabis is whether cannabis has an effect on erections. It’s a somewhat common concern, but don’t let it get inside your head (so to speak). The science around cannabis and erections is inconclusive at best, with one study suggesting the following finding:

“…frequency of cannabis use was unrelated to sexual problems in women but daily use vs. no use was associated with increased reporting among men of an inability to reach orgasm…reaching orgasm too quickly…and too slowly.”

The study concluded, “frequent cannabis use is associated with…difficulties in men’s ability to orgasm as desired.” Interestingly, another study suggested that cannabis could be used to treat erectile difficulties in people with high cholesterol.

In short? The jury is still out, so your mileage may vary.

Think Outside the Erection

As my friend and colleague Dr. Hernando Chaves points out, “Men typically view sex as goal-oriented, performance-driven, orgasm-centric, and erection focused.” Friendly reminder: not all penis owners identify as men, but the point remains. Many people with “outies” are socialized to believe that sex involves penetration of an erect penis into some sort of opening (mouth, vagina, or anus). This limiting belief can severely impact people’s ability to enjoy the sex they’re having because they get stuck trying to have the sex they see in porn or movies.

Our society places a great deal of emphasis on erections and attaches a lot of shame to difficulty achieving or maintaining one. If we let go of those narratives, it gives us permission to be present with the sexual space we’re creating. Exploring the body with toys, hands, fingers, and tongues, can allow us to see penises (and, more broadly, the genitals) as just another pleasurable place to explore, rather than focusing on them as the main event.

Can Cannabis-Infused Lubricants Help Maintain Erections?

“Does Foria work for penises too?” someone inevitably asks whenever I talk about the mind-blowing effects of the THC-infused coconut oil spray. The answer, like most things, requires some nuance. Strictly speaking, Foria absorbs into mucous membranes–the kind of skin that’s found inside your mouth, in a vulva, or inside the rectum. However an oft-forgotten mucous membrane exists within the foreskin of uncircumcised or intact penises, which does make them susceptible to the sexually enhancing effects of the spray. For those who are circumcised, sadly you are out of luck for mucous-targeted topicals.

Tools, Tips, and Toys That Can Help When Things Go South (and Soft)

If you find yourself preoccupied with the erectile implications of cannabis, I suggest adding a cock ring to your sexual toolbox, like this one from Tantus. Cock rings are applied (with lube!) when the penis is flaccid. As the blood starts to flow in, the ring prevents it from flowing back out, facilitating an erection. Many seasoned cock ring users report that having blood concentrated in the area enhances sensation. (Pro tip: The cock ring should go around the shaft and behind the testicles, so that the scrotum and penis are both pulled through it. This ensures pressure is placed on the artery that allows blood to flow back out of the penis.)

You should also consider the merits of flaccid fun. Soft penises get a bad rap, and I’m tired of it. The shaft and scrotum are just as sensitive when not erect, and can be sucked, massaged, and teased to the delight of the recipient. Get some lube and rub it all over their bits, and just explore. Try putting the entire thing in your mouth, or cupping it in your hands and nuzzling it. Experiment with pressure and movement. Pull (gently!) and stretch the skin of the scrotum between your fingers. Take a vibrator like the We-Vibe Touch or Tango and rub it all over the shaft, over the frenulum (the super sensitive triangular area under the head of the penis where the foreskin connects), and behind the balls on the perineum. There are lots of things to do in that area that are entirely unrelated to penetration!

If you’re concerned about how cannabis may be affecting your bedroom performance, experiment with different strains and consumption methods. See which ones affect you in ways you like vs. experiences you’d rather avoid.

Remember, according to Dr. Emily Nagoski, “Penises are like puppies. They respond poorly to commands. They don’t understand. And the more aggressive you get with your commands, the more they’ll just cower and duck and wait for you to calm down. But boy are they glad to see you, as long as nothing is telling them NOT to be glad to see you.”

If you’ve always wanted a primer on penises, here’s a YouTube video I made with famed adult performer and sex educator Nina Hartley. Now go forth and experiment!

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.)

Image Source: Foria via Instagram

The Best Cannabis Strains for Hiking, Camping and Backpacking (As Told by Leafly Reviews)

There’s no question that the Leafly community is an active one: Leafly reviewers love enhancing their outdoor activities and experiences with cannabis, as evidenced by the hundreds of nature-centric strain reviews we receive every year. We combed through them and pulled out a few gems to create this list of Leafly reviewers’ recommended outdoorsy strains. This spring and summer, let them serve as your inspiration to head out for hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring the great outdoors in any way you please.

Black Dahlia

“You simply can’t be uptight or in a bad mood with this… Body felt stoned but kept my mental faculties intact. Used this first time while camping in Oregon…and this strain was my lifesaver on keeping me pain free.” –JanetA

Willie Nelson

“I smoked it right before going hiking with my friend and the euphoric/relaxing/joyous feelings that this strain gave me were just the perfect mix to make that hike one of my most memorable and enjoyable hikes…it helped me connect and understand some lingering thoughts that were roaming through my mind at the time.” –Oman2525

Cheese Quake

“Perfect for slaying dragons of all sizes, climbing all castles for fair maidens, and all things in between. This includes hiking.” –lofulofu

Cinderella 99

“Cinderella 99 is great for the active individual. As an avid mountain biker I have found this to be a great high when riding. On a recent night ride up at Galbraith I felt like I could have ridden forever, damn batteries! And yes the house is clean and those leather hiking boots are clean and water-tight.” ­–elevenmilesoneway

Redwood Kush

“John Muir, while discussing the redwood forests of Northern California, remarked, “Going to the woods is going home.” The comforting, warming high of Redwood Kush is reminiscent of sitting by a campfire, surrounded by friends and the company of looming sugar pines.” –OCWeedReview

Alaskan Thunder Fuck

“I could run around all day on this stuff and feel amazing. I would DEFINITELY suggest doing something outdoors like hiking, fishing, swimming, etc. It’s perfect for just having a good time during the summer.” –MrZefaulka

Blue Dream

“I had three puffs before taking the dog for a nice walk…The landscape turned into a candy land. If you want to experience the candy land, then Blue Dream will be your pick.” –Puffalo

Orange Crush

“Not only does it work like a sweet orange battery in the morning, but is OUTSTANDING for hiking or other outdoor activities in the afternoon. Absolutely cannot recommend higher.” –SirBronn

Afghan Kush

“Smoked while camping with some friends…Really brought out our creative sides as we jammed on guitars by the fire. The lake at sunset looked like a mural on a wall.” –SpraynardKruger1

Golden Goat

“Golden Goat is not to be smoked indoors–at least for Ignatius. When Ignatius smokes Golden Goat, it causes Ignatius to speak in the third person and open all doors and windows. Golden Goat should be smoked, ingested, or vaped outdoors, where there is little made-made interaction. A hiking trail in a narrow canyon is where Ignatius prefers to consume Golden Goat.” –Ignatius

Critical Mass

“Threw a small amount into a clean glass piece, three lungfulls later I knew this was something special. Taking this on a one week backpacking trip for fireside good times.” –DrStrange

Cookie Wreck

“Went looking for pain relief and freedom in my movement and I’ve got it! Hello hiking again!” –Nevra79

Exodus Cheese

“You’re hiking up a mountain. Things start to look cooler as you continue to ascend since you can see further than you’ve ever before…when you finally reach the top, an indescribable, awe-inspiring view smacks you in the face. You sit down to bask in and respect its glory. You look upon the skyline seeing trees and mountains as far as the I can see. You are in this. You aren’t seeing this in a picture in a magazine or from a picture uploaded by some dude on Reddit. No, you are really here. You really climbed a mountain, and you are really looking at the beauty that the Earth has to offer. You have done it. You have actually accomplished something. So, you let yourself be drenched with the force of 10 Newton fucktons of euphoric bliss, and it radiates throughout your mind and body. And all you want to do is scream, “I AM A GOLDEN GOD!” at the top of your lungs, but you don’t because there are other people around and that would be weird. So, you sit in peace, taking in as much of it as you can because even though you will be up here for a long time, you can’t stay this high forever. Or can you…” –i_miss_u_cupcake

Reviews edited for length and clarity.

Image Source: Joshua Earle via Unsplash

5 Cannabis “Holidays” to Celebrate Besides 4/20

April 20th has long been accepted as the de facto cannabis holiday. The symbolism behind 4/20 has been a powerful ally and war cry for activists and supporters of cannabis reform. During times of prohibition, it has given the community cause to come together make some noise.

Now that cannabis reform is beginning to make headway across the nation, we have even more reason to celebrate. If you don’t want to wait until next year to rally behind a significant cannabis “holiday,” here are five other days throughout the year when you can light up in celebration of cannabis and how far our community has come.

February 1st: CBD Day

February 1st should serve as a celebration of cannabidiol, the cannabinoid also known as CBD. CBD holds great promise for advancing cannabis as medicine. Specially bred strains with a CBD:THC ratio of 2:1 or higher are sought after for their medicinal properties, with some strains reaching upwards of 25:1. To appropriately pay tribute to the benefits of CBD, we’d recommend vaporizing high-CBD strains like ACDC or Harlequin. Afterwards, spend your day resting, relaxing, and focusing on personal wellness through meditation, yoga, and other restorative activities.

June 18th: Jack Herer’s Birthday

In commemoration for all of the energy and effort put in by cannabis activists throughout the decades, we propose observing the birthday of Jack Herer. Affectionately named “The Hemperor,” Jack was a devoted marijuana activist and author. He fought tirelessly to emphasize cannabis as one of our most valuable resources and reinforce the ways in which our earth and society can benefit from hemp. To honor Jack and all of the others who have pushed the plant forward, we suggest smoking some Jack Herer, the sativa-dominant strain bred by Sensi Seed and named for the man himself.

July 10th: Oils and Concentrates Day

Everybody knows about 420 but in recent years concentrates, cartridges, and dabs have taken center stage. “OIL” flipped upside-down reads “710,” so July 10th is quickly becoming the connoisseur’s ceremony to honor oil. The day is a great excuse to dab your favorite concentrates with your friends, but it’s also an opportunity to commemorate the advancements in hash making technologies that modern cannabis laws are encouraging.

October 5th: Commemorating the Victims of Prohibition

On October 2nd, 1937, the United States enacted the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act which effectively outlawed cannabis. Three days later, on October 5th, the FBI and the Denver police raided the Lexington Hotel and arrested Samuel R. Caldwell and Moses Baca. Caldwell and Bacca are recognized as the first citizens convicted of selling and possessing cannabis. Both men served the entirety of their sentences, with Caldwell dying shortly after his release from four years of hard labor. In respect to those who have risked their freedoms fighting for the personal right to grow and consume cannabis, we should all roll one up to remember the lives and families distressed by prohibition.

November 6th: Legalization Day

Without a doubt we should be celebrating the momentous first doors that opened for legal, adult access to cannabis in the United States. On November 6th, 2012, Colorado and Washington both passed recreational cannabis laws establishing and recognizing cannabis as a regulated industry in America that has gone on to spark an international debate on drug reform. To memorialize the shift towards legitimizing marijuana, 11/6 should be celebrated by visiting your local dispensary or traveling to a state with legal access in an effort to support the businesses that help us enjoy our right to consume cannabis.

These are just a handful of days to celebrate the cannabis plant (as if you needed any more), but really any day that cannabis can increase your quality of life should feel like a win. We hope you had a happy and safe 4/20 holiday. If you’re looking for more cannabis-friendly events, visit the Leafly Events Calendar to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood.

Alaska Passes Law to Peek into Retailers’ Pasts

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Legislature passed a bill Friday allowing national criminal history checks on people applying for licenses to open legal marijuana businesses.

The provisions, sought by marijuana regulators, were tucked into a broader bill dealing with state alcohol laws that had gotten tangled up in the Senate after the House attached provisions related to the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers.

The Marijuana Control Board has begun accepting business license applications. State law prohibits the issuance of licenses to individuals who have had felony convictions within five years of their application or are on probation or parole for that felony.

The House tweak caused the bill to stall in the Senate early Monday during the final throes of a marathon floor session. At the time, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Peter Micciche, suggested there could be an issue with attaching the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers’ provisions to it.

On the Senate floor Friday, Micciche, R-Soldotna, said he spent some time with legislative counsel evaluating whether the add-on would compromise the bill. The conclusion was that the House change was unlikely to do so, he said.

The underlying bill addresses the makeup of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, so adding another board to the bill appeared to be OK, he said in an interview. With the Senate’s actions Friday, the bill passed the Legislature and now goes to Gov. Bill Walker for consideration.

Background check provisions for marijuana business applicants also were included in a Senate rewrite of a marijuana bill on which House and Senate negotiators so far have been unable to reach a compromise. The main sticking point has been a proposal to bar legal marijuana operations in unincorporated areas outside organized boroughs but allow communities in those areas to hold local elections to allow cannabis businesses.

New Strains Alert: Butter OG, Blackberry Pie, Khufu, Mammoth, and More

The Leafly database was just updated with some new strains, and we’re curious to hear if you’ve tried any of them! New varieties are born every day, so we’d like to hear from you — which strains should we add next? Let us know in the comments below!

1. Blackberry Pie

Blackberry Pie is a hybrid cross of Jojorizo’s Blackberry Widow and a Crystal Locomotive created by Gage Green Genetics. This hybrid is easy to grow and all phenotypes present the potency and high resin content you would expect given its White Widow and Trainwreck heritage. A beautiful and aromatic plant featuring flowers with deep purple hues and ample trichomes, Blackberry Pie offers a nice blend of heady euphoria with a medicinal body high.

2. Butter OG

While there is not much information available on the origins of Butter OG, it is generally thought to be an indica-dominant strain as it gives users a very relaxing, giggly high that gradually fades to sleepiness. Its dense, sparkly buds give off a fruity scent with slight undertones of ammonia. The smoke is very light and smooth, with sweet flavors on the inhale and, like its name suggests, a buttery aftertaste. Butter OG is potentially beneficial for treating pain, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

3. Blueberry Blast

A mostly sativa hybrid from Snow High Seeds, Blueberry Blast is a the result of the famous Blueberry-Haze genetics of Blue Dream being pollinated by a Johnny Blaze male. These flowers smell strongly of blueberry, musk, and sweet candy, and taste like cedar and berries when smoked or vaped. A definite sativa effect is to be expected, with soaring, trippy highs that gradually fade into relaxation.

4. Mammoth

This hybrid from The Bank Cannabis Genetics is a cross between the sativa-dominant Snowcap and indica-dominant LA Confidential. There isn’t a lot of information available on Mammoth, but the breeder suggests that growers should look for phenotypes featuring the enormous yields of Snowcap, the shorter flowering time and manageable height of LA Confidential, and the dense buds, high potency, resin production, and disease resistance of both parents.

5. Khufu

Khufu is an indica-dominant hybrid from The Devil’s Harvest Seed Company that combines Cheese, Afghani #1, and SFV OG genetics to excellent effect. Growers can expect extremely high yields of potent Kush-type flowers, with giant calyxes and very little leaf. The effects of Khufu will leave you wanting nothing more than to gorge on snacks while glued to your favorite chair. Patients treating pain, anxiety, nausea, and insomnia may benefit from Khufu’s therapeutic effects.

6. OG Skunk

A cross between OG #18 and Skunk #1, OG Skunk is a 60% sativa-dominant hybrid from DNA Genetics. Flavors of sour fuel and skunky citrus are sure to please fans of both parent strains, while the high offers a nice uplifting head effect along with a relaxing body buzz. Its THC levels have been measured between 16% and 22%.

7. Merlot OG

SoCal cannabis breeders Ocean Grown Seeds originally designed the Merlot OG in 2006 as an attempt to create an OG Kush-type plant with deep purple colors by crossing Larry OG and Grape Ape. The resulting plant was then crossed with Blackberry Rhino x SFV OG and then backcrossed to stabilize its OG characteristics. Merlot OG produces large, dense indica-type buds that are blanketed in white trichomes and will often turn dark purple, especially in cooler conditions.

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

The Shake: Kosher Cannabis for Passover, and the Lucas Bros Do a Dowd

Rabbi declares medical cannabis kosher for Passover. Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a prominent orthodox leader in Israel, recently gave the nod to the medicinal plant, which he found had a “healing smell.” Cannabis has been forbidden among some Jewish groups during Passover, but the rabbi gave permission for people with a medical need for it to consume during the seven-day holiday. Special note to Washington, D.C., residents: Takoma Wellness Center, the dispensary run by Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn and his family, will be closing at 5 p.m. today. Chag Pesach sameach, Rabbi Jeff!

Somebody out there is still buying Mexican brickweed. That’s one of the sad takeaways from news that border officials discovered another Tijuana-to-San Diego smuggling tunnel this week. This one ran from a Tijuana house equipped with an elevator to a San Diego business that sold wooden pallets for suspiciously low, low prices. [Editor’s note: This story on pallets is too good not to share.] Local police stopped a truck leaving the pallet “business” loaded with 2,240 pounds of cocaine and 11,030 pounds of crappy cannabis. Not to belabor the obvious, but these tunnels are created to supply illegal cannabis to all those states that choose to keep cannabis illegal. Out here in the legal future our cannabis is supplied by farmers, not smugglers.

Lucas Brothers pull a Maureen Dowd on 4/20. Say it with us: Start low, go slow. Seriously. Keith and Kenny Lucas, “comedy duo and noted weed enthusiasts,” were scheduled to headline a comedy show in Denver on 4/20. The show was sponsored by Incredibles, which makes some mighty tasty 100-mg THC chocolate bars. A little too tasty, apparently. After chowing down pre-show, and maybe adding a dab or two, the brothers never made it to the venue, let alone the stage. Kenny hunkered down in his hotel room, Keith wandered around downtown Denver looking for a cheeseburger, while the audience (at 30 bucks a throw) was left wondering WTF. Jake Browne at the Cannabist reports that comedian Billy Wayne Davis saved the show with a heroic 45-minute set. Tolerance. Know it. Respect it. (Don’t Dowd it.)

Iowa knows a guy. It’s Minnesota. A 2014 Iowa law legalized cannabis oil for seizure patients in the state, but it failed to provide them any legal way to obtain the medicine. Now lawmakers are exploring an arrangement that would allow Iowa patients to purchase cannabis from Minnesota, the AP reports. Minnesota launched its own medical marijuana program last year. The proposed setup would be unwieldy, in both practical terms and legal ones. Residents of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and largest city, would need to make a three-hour drive to get to the nearest dispensary, in Rochester, Minn. And with cannabis crossing state lines (Pennsylvania is mulling a similar option), the plan would almost certainly draw the scrutiny of federal authorities. Unless there’s a big DEA announcement right around the corner, that is.

Cannabis club takes out the trash in Colorado Springs. Kudos to Gabriel Pieper, owner of the Pothole, a cannabis club in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Pieper celebrated 4/20 by giving away free joints in exchange for trash picked up around town. Result? “Bags stuffed with trash were piled high next to the front door,” reports local station KRDO. The Colorado Springs City Council recently voted to ban new clubs and gradually shut down existing ones. Pieper said he hoped the 4/20 program would show locals that cannabis clubs contribute in positive ways to the community.

QUICK HITS:

• L.A. Times, fooled by fake press release, wrongly reports that U.N. drug chief is way groovy. Reporters and editors relayed that the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime announced a major shift in drug policy, pushing for the “the decriminalization of marijuana, universal access to controlled medicines, criminal justice system reforms including elimination of mandatory minimum sentences and abolition of the death penalty and acknowledging marijuana’s medical use.” That would be big news. But as cannabis advocate Tom Angell points out, it’s not true.

• We all know there’s a diversity problem in the cannabis industry. (And if you didn’t, now you do.) Here’s a piece looking at the small steps — still too small, unfortunately — that some are taking to address it.
• Five percent of New Zealanders use cannabis medically. That’s according to a study in the New Zealand Medical Journal. Much of that use is still happening underground, as the only legal cannabis product in the country is a prescription mouth spray.
• Is the cannabis business really just the real estate business? It’s more complicated than that, of course, but don’t sleep on the land grab.
• Epileptic children in Connecticut are one step closer to medical cannabis. The state House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to expand the state’s four-year-old medical marijuana program to include children.
• And finally, here’s some late-breaking 4/20 news: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, from what we can tell, had a real nice nap at work.

look at this drawing from SCOTUS oral arguments yesterday pic.twitter.com/eSTR9IiEfN

— sarah jeong (@sarahjeong) April 22, 2016

The Best Things to Do While High in D.C.: Leafly’s 4:20 to 4:20 Cannabis Travel Guide

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

Walking through the nation’s capital is a beautiful experience no matter what. You’re surrounded by history and monuments and incredible architecture, and it can be overwhelming to even know where to start. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got you covered. Since the District of Columbia legalized the possession and personal use of cannabis in 2015, the Capital seems to glow brighter than ever, and the options for a fantastic 420-friendly experience are nigh endless.

D.C. Vitals

Cannabis legality: Recreational (personal growing & possession of up to two ounces allowed; no legal sales permitted). Caveat: Cannabis’s continued federal illegality means you can technically be arrested for possession on federal lands, which make up a good portion of Washington, D.C., so be smart about what you bring to places like the National Mall.

Nicknames: The District, The Beltway, DMV

Population: 658,893

Pop culture claim to fame: House of Cards

For the record: Dancing is not permitted at the Jefferson Memorial (save it for the 9:30 Club).

Day One

At 4:20 p.m., you are: Walking out of Takoma Wellness Center, having procured an oil cartridge for your portable vape pen, a Blue Cheese pre-roll for sleepy indica times later on, and a bottle of sativa tincture to keep you energized throughout your journey. Hop on the Metro and head for the U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo station.

Take note: Cannabis laws in D.C. permit possession, but don’t account for a legal system of cannabis sales, so businesses like Takoma operate in limbo. Alternate options include ordering from similarly gray-area delivery services like High Speed (where a side of cannabis may accompany an order of cold-pressed juice depending on your optional donation), and making friends with a local home grower.

By 5:30 p.m., you are: At 14th and V Street in the historic U Street Corridor exiting Busboys and Poets, a community gathering place where “racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted…[and] art, culture and politics intentionally collide.” You’re holding a fresh new book that’s just dying for a read. Hop back on the Metro, crack the spine on your new novel, and ride on down to Chinatown.

By 6:15 p.m., you are: Sitting in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery beneath a glass canopy. You can sit and relax without any of that pesky D.C. weather making you shiver or sweat, and it’s a great little spot to take a breather between stops. The first two floors are filled with gorgeous historical portraits and are worth checking out, but if you’re looking for something trippy that’ll blow your mind, the Contemporary Art Exhibit on the third floor is a must-see. It includes a map of the United States made entirely out of old television sets and neon lights: known as the Electronic Superhighway, it is truly a sight to behold.

By 7:30 p.m.: At this point, the munchies will be hitting you if they haven’t already. We suggest heading over to the District Chophouse & Brewery for a beer sampler (if you’re feeling so inclined) and the best dang onion rings you’ve ever tasted. Whether you’re craving an upscale, gourmet meal, or something as simply delicious as chicken fingers, the Chophouse has an extensive menu to suit your needs.

At 9:30 p.m., you can: Head to the aptly-named 9:30 Club for drinks and dancing. This club has been a concert and dance venue on the D.C. scene for more than 30 years, with good reason. The venue hosts a plethora of artists, from big-name acts like the Dandy Warhols and Animal Collective to small, unknown local bands trying to make it big. Tickets are reasonably priced and it’s one of the hottest spots for D.C. nightlife.

At 11:30 p.m., you are: Done dancing? Still got energy to spare and don’t want to waste a beautiful night? Grab an Uber over to the Jefferson Memorial and do yourself a solid by walking along the Potomac River to visit the memorials at night. You’ll beat the heat and the crowds while still soaking up the majesty of our historic capital. The path from Jefferson to Lincoln provides a clear line of memorials to hit, including some of the lesser-known statues like FDR and MLK.

Head’s up: Even at dead midnight, there will always be tourists at spots like the Lincoln Memorial, but it still remains significantly less crowded during the witching hours.

At 1:00 a.m., you are: Exhausted and ready to call it a night. Hotels are plentiful in D.C., but we recommend steering clear of the corporate-minded chain properties and staying somewhere quirky like Adam’s Inn, a B&B-style guest house a few miles off the main drag in the fun, funky Adams Morgan neighborhood. It features 27 affordable rooms plus big windows, a comfy common room, a picturesque front porch, and a little certified wildlife garden perfect for relaxing out back.

Head’s up: If it’s a weekend, the Metro is open until 2:30 a.m., but if you’re out on a weeknight, be prepared to call a rideshare or taxi back to your hotel. Now is the perfect time to bust out that Blue Cheese pre-roll to send you on your way to Sleepyville.

Day Two

At 10:15 a.m., you are: Brunching with the best of ‘em. Brunch is a huge part of D.C.’s culture and if you’re going to do this right, you’re going to want mimosas and the classic chicken and waffle combo. Our vote for best brunch in D.C. goes to Ben’s Next Door – this joint (a derivative of the landmark Ben’s Chili Bowl next to it) will not disappoint, and is a must-do for any visitor to the Capital. Situated just steps away from the U Street Metro stop, Ben’s Next Door offers “U” Street Bottomless Mimosas, yummy fried chicken and waffles, and a slice of local culture to go with your ambiance.

By 12:00 noon, you are: Filled with deliciousness and ready for the next adventure. We recommend downing a bit of your tincture, grabbing a water bottle, tying on some comfortable walking shoes, and heading over to the Smithsonian National Zoo off the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park Metro stops. This excursion is absolutely FREE and can be as short or as long as you like. For best results, stroll at a leisurely pace for at least a couple of hours – and for the love of adorableness, do yourself a favor and visit the giant panda exhibit! You can visit Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, Bao Bao, and the new baby panda (squeeeee), Bei Bei.

By 3:25 p.m., you are: Leaving the zoo and heading to the Tidal Basin to walk along the waterfront and soak in the scenery. This time of year, you might catch a few straggling cherry blossoms (the awe-inspiring beauty of D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms lasts just two weeks in early April), but the area is beautiful no matter when you go.

Word to the wise: Puffing discreetly on your vape pen will only enhance the experience, but be respectful and remember that although possession is legal in the District, public partaking is not.

By 4:20 p.m., you are: Bathing in the sunlight and enjoying the view of the Washington Monument on one side and the Capitol Building on the other. Sitting on the National Mall provides you with a nice spot to relax, and with museums dotting the paths on either side of the grassy knoll, the possibilities for adventure are pretty much unlimited. Happy travels!

Image Sources: Busboys and Poets, District Chophouse and Brewery, 9:30 Club, Ben’s Next Door, Smithsonian National Zoo, and Adam’s Inn via Facebook, and Angela N. via Flickr Creative Commons.

Sports And Exercise Could Become The Biggest Sector Of The Cannabis Industry

According toNORML, there are about 25 million cannabis consumers in America (consumed marijuana at least once within the last year). Those 25 million consumers are spread out across the country, with some living in states where medical and/or recreational marijuana is legal, and sadly, the rest living in states where marijuana is fully prohibited. Some

Mexico Proposes Upping Limit on Allowed Cannabis

MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Enrique Pena Nieto said Thursday that he will ask Mexico’s Congress to raise the limit on decriminalized marijuana for personal use to 28 grams, or about one ounce.

Currently, only possession of five grams, or less than a fifth of an ounce, is exempt from prosecution.

“This means that consumption would no longer be criminalized,” Pena Nieto said.

Possession of larger amounts would still be punishable under drug trafficking laws.

“We Mexicans know all too well the range and the defects of prohibitionist and punitive policies, and of the so-called war on drugs that has prevailed for 40 years,” Pena Nieto said. “Our country has suffered, as few have, the ill effects of organized crime tied to drug trafficking.”

“Fortunately, a new consensus is gradually emerging worldwide in favor of reforming drug policies,” he said. “A growing number of countries are strenuously combating criminals, but instead of criminalizing consumers, they offer them alternatives and opportunities.”

Pena Nieto’s proposal also would allow the use and importation of cannabis-based medications and it would free people who are on trial or serving time for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

The move comes after Mexico’s Supreme Court approved an appeal by four people to allow them to grow and possess marijuana for personal use. That helped launch a national debate on marijuana policy. However, it appeared to bear no relation to the legal measure announced Thursday.

An ounce is equivalent to about 20 to 25 joints.

The plan would put Mexico in the middle range of marijuana regulation policies in Latin America.

In Cuba and Venezuela, possession of any quantity of marijuana is a criminal offense. On the other extreme, Uruguay passed a law in 2013 that not only legalized limited cannabis consumption and production, but also set up a regulated market of producers who can sell through a network of pharmacies. Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized amounts up to 20 grams, and Paraguay considers up to 10 grams as possession for personal use.

While legalization advocates are vocal in Mexico, recent polls suggest a majority of Mexicans oppose legalizing marijuana. Pena Nieto had earlier said he opposed legalization.

Neither side got all it wanted.

“Without doubt, we set aside the ‘all or nothing’ approach, in favor of one that put the public health aspect first,” said Jose Narro Robles, rector of Mexico’s National University. “It is a process we can all feel satisfied with.”

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the U.S. Drug Policy Alliance, called the measure “a modest but important step in the right direction. … The problem, of course, is that this falls so far short of what other countries are already doing successfully in Europe and the Americas, and so far short of what’s needed in Mexico.”

The Shake: Hillary Clinton’s Latest Position and Tweaking the Cannabis Genome

Hillary Clinton’s stance on cannabis is radically progressive for the mid-‘90s. The presidential frontrunner, speaking to voters at an ABC-organized town hall, said she wants to “move marijuana off Schedule I” of the federal Controlled Substances Act, which would mean admitting both that its less dangerous than cocaine and that it offers at least some medical benefit — which is, for some reason, notoriously difficult for federal politicians to do. Clinton’s approach might poll well with voters in swing states, but cannabis advocates say it’s too little too late at a time when a majority of Americans support adult-use legalization. As for adult-use, Clinton says she wants to “wait and see what we learn from Colorado and the other states.” How does this compare to Republican candidates, you ask? It puts her “in lockstep” with Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. In other words, Secretary Clinton, you’re no Justin Trudeau.

Professionalism, scientific objectivity, and a whole lot of cannabis. That, according Katie M. Palmer at Wired, is what’s afoot at Berkeley, Calif.-based cannabis testing laboratory Steep Hill, one of many companies unraveling cannabis DNA. Palmer’s deep dive reveals that cannabis DNA is especially challenging to manipulate. But that hasn’t stopped Steep Hill and others from trying. “Someone, somewhere, is going to do this work — to figure out how to modify weed with the same ease that Monsanto tweaks corn,” Palmer writes. Buckle your seatbelts.

Who won 4/20? It was almost like New Year’s Eve watching 4:20 p.m. sweep across the globe yesterday, with a number of cities hosting public celebrations. Denver, hobbled by the early loss of the Cannabis Cup, roared back with a Civic Center rally that produced a visible cloud of smoke over the Voorhies Memorial. Londoners gathered by the thousands in Hyde Park, risking drug-sniffing dogs and arrest — 20 were hauled away by the bobbies — to celebrate and push for U.K. legalization. In Chicago, crowds queued for four blocks to get into Leafly’s comedy show with Chris D’Elia and Ron Funches. In Seattle, the 4/20 event at the Egyptian Theater delighted ears and eyeballs, and Anchorage, Alaska, pulled off a dab bar extravaganza. Perhaps most deserving of a nod is Vancouver, B.C., where thousands of cannabis celebrants streamed onto Sunset Beach to enjoy a day of sunshine, music, advocacy, and gorgeous-sunset fun. Check out this video, posted by 4/20 hero Jodie Emery, and join us in wishing we’d been there.

HOLY SMOKES! This is what 4/20 Vancouver is like at Sunset Beach! http://t.co/xqxNLxCPxb #420Vancouver #freedom pic.twitter.com/6cI3kNWMHy

— Jodie Emery (@JodieEmery) April 20, 2016

QUICK HITS:

• Mexicans are taking secret classes on how to use medical cannabis. Vice has the story, which, as you’d expect from Vice, involves encrypted messages and a mysterious car ride to a secret destination — all to make medicine for cancer and epilepsy patients.
• Meet five of the most powerful women in cannabis. Fortune put together a 4/20 roundup of some of the savviest in the industry.
• For the first time in four years, the University of Colorado Boulder didn’t shut down on 4/20. Here’s how the school managed to embrace the annual bacchanal instead of trying to snuff it out.
• Want chips with that? Oregon is working to train businesses on how to use technology that tracks cannabis using microchips and RFID scanners. It’s an effort to prevent legal cannabis from entering the black market (and vice-versa).
• D.C. cannabis advocate says he’ll meet with White House advisers. Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ, which helped legalize adult-use cannabis in the District in 2015, says the group will meet with the Obama administration next Monday. The lame-duck president has been cagey about his plans for cannabis. This could be a good sign.

• Brookings asks experts about policy blind spots. Brookings fellow John Hudak polled some of the top minds in cannabis about what policy issues are being overlooked. Here’s what they said.
• A social media consultant wrote an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg about cannabis. Facebook has been inhospitable, to say the least, to many cannabusiness accounts. Lauren Gibbs reminds Zuckerberg that the approach serves to reinforce the failed war on drugs instead of helping to end it.
• Did you have a ticket to the 420 Rally in Denver? A blizzard hit, and organizers were late to announce that the event had been canceled. Now they’re offering refunds.
• And finally, how do we feel about this 4/20 police tweet? It went viral yesterday, but it’s tough to laugh after hearing so many stereotypical stoner jokes from prohibitionist cops. Respect is a two-way street, officers.

Undercover #420 stings are underway. pic.twitter.com/uFsN27Cn1c

— Wyoming, MN Police (@wyomingpd) April 20, 2016

DEA Finally Approves Study on Cannabis and PTSD

One of the first federally approved studies on the effects of cannabis on veterans with PTSD received final approval from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this week. The DEA’s approval means the research, which has been stalled for five years, can finally move forward. “We could start working with study candidates as early as June,” researcher Sue Sisley told Leafly on Thursday.

Sisley, a psychiatrist and former clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, has been fighting to carry out the study since 2011, when it was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since then, Sisley and colleagues have been struggling to overcome the federal roadblocks that prevent most cannabis research. In 2014, the University of Arizona terminated her contract after conservative state politicians raised objections over the use of cannabis in the study.

Sisley later teamed up with Ryan Vandrey of Johns Hopkins University, and Marcel Bonn-Miller of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Bonn-Miller is now overseeing the research; Sisley and Vandrey will carry out the clinical studies in Phoenix and Baltimore, respectively.

“Now our challenge will be to find identify 40 veterans in Phoenix and 40 in Baltimore who meet the study’s criteria,” Sisley said.

It’s not as easy as you might think. Participants will need to be veterans diagnosed with PTSD who have found their condition resistant to conventional treatments. They don’t need to be current medical marijuana patients, but those who are will have to abstain for a period of weeks prior to the study, in order to validate the results. “We’ll need to randomize the participants,” Sisley explained, which means half will receive cannabis and half will receive a placebo. “For those who are relying on medical marijuana to currently treat their PTSD, receiving a placebo could be challenging.”

Once enrolled in the study, subjects will receive either federally-approved medical marijuana or a cannabis placebo. They’ll appear weekly for a thorough evaluation, “which means they need to live somewhere near Phoenix or Baltimore,” said Sisley. “I’ve heard from a number of veterans who’ve told me they’re willing to move temporarily to be in the study, but they still may not qualify. The inclusion criteria are pretty strict.”

One further obstacle: The researchers aren’t able to speak directly to Veteran’s Administration doctors at the Phoenix VA. Sisley spoke to a group of doctors and staff at the Phoenix veterans hospital in 2013, “and I told them I’d be back when we received final approval for the study.” But in 2014, a scandal over the deaths of up to 40 patients who died while waiting for care at the Phoenix VA resulted in the ouster of VA leaders, from those at the Phoenix hospital up to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. Phoenix VA hospital administrators are now skittish about anything with the scent of controversy, so they’ve withdrawn the offer to have Sisley give a follow-up presentation. “Which is a shame,” she said, “because those doctors may know of a number of good candidates for the study.”

Sisley said she and her colleagues hope to establish a toll-free number for interested veterans to inquire about entering the study. In the meantime, interested veterans should continue to check the MAPS website for updates on the study.

US NY: Illicit Drugs Pose Global Problem

Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr 2016 – Consumers Number About 246 Million, With the U.S. Leading the Way and Cannabis the Top Narcotic. As leaders from around the world gather in New York for what many are calling the most important summit on illegal drugs in two decades, one thing is clear: The world has a serious drug problem.