LA Has So, So Many Illegal Dispensaries

I visit LA regularly, but I struggle to adequately explain the differences that city's cannabis scene has with Oregon's, or even the Bay Area. In October 2017, I wrote a column about shopping at LA dispensaries shortly before California instituted their legalized recreational program. Even then, I wasn't able to get

On January 1, 2020, Cannabis Becomes Legal In Illinois

Last week, the Illinois Senate passed a bill to establish a recreational cannabis program, and Gov. Pritzker has announced he will sign it, having run on a platform supporting such action. Illinois' cannabis law goes in effect on January 1, 2020, making it the 11th state to offer a recreational program,

An Exclusive Interview with Phylos Bioscience CEO Mowgli Holmes

On May 10, 2019 I sat down with Phylos Bioscience CEO Mowgli Holmes and Phylos Director of Marketing Paige Hewlett for an interview. I wanted to talk about the negative response from the cannabis community to Phylos' announcement that they would be entering the cannabis breeding business. You can read more about

Mickey Hart “Mind Your Head” Cannabis Line Launches For Grateful Fans

Celebrity endorsements of cannabis may be irritating (looking at you, then quickly looking away, Post Malone) or deeply offensive (Hell will see you soon enough, John Boehner). Sometimes the relationship between cannabis and public figures seems tenuous at best, leaving consumers to question if the endorser is truly a joker, a

Las Vegas To Open Cannabis Lounges

Las Vegas has always had a lot to offer, and now Sin City also has the welcome recent addition of access to legal recreational cannabis. But, just like Oregon, there aren't many legal options for consumption of cannabis after it's been acquired. Homeowners may consume in their abode, but with Vegas

The Open Cannabis Project Is Shutting Down

The last couple of weeks in the Oregon cannabis industry have been filled with confusion, accusations, and pain over announcements made by Phylos Bioscience. Last night, news broke that in relation to the still-developing situation, the Open Cannabis Project (OCP) is shutting down on May 31, 2019. The Open Cannabis Project

Dr. Bronner’s Hopes To Clean Up In Cannabis

Dr. Bronner's, the largest natural soap-maker in the world with the smallest label font known to exist, has always seemed like a product used by people who also use cannabis. Call it a hunch. CEO David Bronner has done quite well for himself making a soap with 101 uses, and the

Permits For California Cannabis Growers In Limbo

California has a cannabis problem, in that the state is behind—waaaaay behind—in getting cannabis growers the licenses they need to grow legally. As Marijuana Business Daily explains, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issues these grower permits. As of April 16, the CDFA had issued 62 annual permits, and 564

No Citizenship For Immigrants Working In Cannabis

Last year, I wrote a piece that looked at the perils of working in the cannabis industry, or using cannabis, for undocumented individuals, and even had in translated into several languages in the hope that it would reach the largest intended audience. Last week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Biggie Smalls Estate Entering The Cannabis Industry

I've written (okay, fine, bitched) about the number of celebrities entering the cannabis space, and while it may be well intentioned, it doesn't always sit well with consumers who want their weed brands to have a legitimate connection to the industry. A celebrity brand that gives back something to the community

Cannabis Growing Spaces in Washington State Are Underutilized

The growing pains of Oregon's cannabis industry have been well documented, but to help us not feel quite so alone as the price of flower continues its decline, let us cast our gaze across the mighty Columbia—to Washington, which first passed a legal cannabis program (along with Colorado) back in

Cannabis News Catch Up

Here’s some news you may have missed while you were doing your “pot weed.” New Jersey Tokers Are Paying Way Too Much On March 7, authorities at a Philadelphia shipping port discovered 614 pounds of cannabis hidden in a shipping container originating from Puerto Rico and bound for New Jersey. While it was

Fentanyl in Cannabis? That’s Not A Thing.

Kellyanne Conway lied about something! Again! This week, the White House counselor and opioid crisis czar falsely stated during a news conference, yet again, that cannabis is being laced with fentanyl, bringing her blatant-lie tally to roughly 218,738. The story is likely to gain traction with outlets such as Fox News, but

Seniors Chronic Pain Can Be Treated With Cannabis

Many of us have a grandparent or elderly family member who, under doctors' orders, are taking more pharmaceuticals than they would like for chronic pain, side effects and all. But with more states allowing cannabis access through medical and recreational adult-use programs, some seniors are coming around to the idea that

Alcohol Is More Dangerous Than Other Drugs: Study

There 's no shortage of news reports regarding the many dangers cannabis poses to our society. So very many horrible, terrible, very bad, godless, irreversible dangers. And while some of them have merit—i.e., cannabis edibles should always, always, ALWAYS be secured somewhere where children and pets have no opportunity to consume