Social Equity In Cannabis Remains Elusive

One of the best things about the legalization of cannabis has been the accompanying assurance that a portion of cannabis tax and licensing revenue would be allocated for equity programs. These programs are designed to address discrimination against people of color (POC)—from the racist policies that placed the heaviest burden of

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

Cannabis Social Equity Grants Now Available

You have until tomorrow to apply for a Cannabis Social Equity Grant from the City of Portland. Now, this doesn't mean you can get free money to have an ice cream social with your friends, except swapping out the ice cream with cannabis. (But that's a really good idea, right,

Phylos Bioscence CEO Speaks About Recent Upheaval

Cannabis insiders have been reeling in response to recent news about Phylos Bioscience, a Portland-based cannabis science company that has been cultivating a comprehensive genetic database for our favorite plant. Phylos has historically relied on growers to freely submit their crops for DNA testing, so that each can be analyzed and

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

Illegal Cannabis Grows On Federal Lands Down in Oregon, Washington

Among the bad things cannabis prohibition wrought was the environmental damage brought on by illicit growers who secretly set up shop in our big, beautiful national forests. These growers weren't striving for permaculture—no Clean Green organic certification in these operation. In fact, one of the not-so-secret shames of the cannabis industry

Get To Know Nelson and Company Organics

Over the past year, I've steadily increased my use of concentrates.The formats in which they're now available, and the brands that produce them, have exploded like a drunk dude open-blasting butane hash oil in his apartment. The price has also dropped, as Oregon's cannabis oversupply issue has led to increasing

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

How Does Cannabis Fit Into Faith?

I was recently talking with a practicing Muslim friend who eschews all cannabis and alcohol. He asked me about CBD, and the potential value it might have in addressing a condition that he deals with. He told me he could treat it with pharmaceuticals, but that he wanted to avoid their side

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

35 Cannabis Strains for Five Dollars A Gram (or Less)

“I got five on it; grab your 40, let’s get keyed I got five on it; messin’ with that Indo weed I got five on it; it’s got me stuck and I’m tore back I got five on it; partner, let’s go half on a sack” - Luniz, “I Got 5 on It” From local billboards