WeedLife News Network

The new campaign celebrates "queer joy, inclusivity and cannabis"

Cannabis beverage brand Cann and Weedmaps have partnered on a new Pride campaign that features Patricia Arquette and a host of stars celebrating “queer joy, inclusivity and cannabis.”

Arquette joins Gus Kenworthy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kornbread, Kerri Colby, Jorgeous and more in the original song and music video, dubbed “Taste So Good.”

Arquette is also the co-founder of the Los Angeles-based cannabis consumption lounge Fantom Flower, which is set to open next year. Arquette told Vanity Fair that her work in cannabis is about highlighting how “cannabis has been an element of cultures, throughout time.”

For herself, growing up in California, cannabis was often front and centre, even at home.

“I have an interesting history with cannabis, I guess, in that my dad was a real stoner growing up,” Arquette told Vanity Fair. 

Armed with a new album and with touring back in motion, Sean Paul is staying busy this year.

Jamaica’s Sean Paul returns to the dancehall throne, and expectations are high with A-list featured guests on the album representing various facets of the music industry. Paul dropped his eighth full-length studio album and Island Records debut, Scorcha, on May 27.

Scorcha provides a party blueprint for the weekend, led by the single “Light My Fire” with Gwen Stefani and Shenseea. The new album also includes previously released songs “Scorcha,” “Only Fanz” (ft. Ty Dolla $ign), “Dynamite” (ft. Sia), “How We Do It” (ft. Pia Mia), and “No Fear” (ft. Damian Marley and Nicky Jam).

Paul recently earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album for his seventh studio album Live N Livin, which was released last year, after winning a Grammy Award for Dutty Rock in 2013. While Live N Livin was more of straight heavy dancehall, he’s honing in on a club vibe this time around.

High Times caught up with Paul inside Fingerprints Music, located on 420 East 4th Street in Long Beach, California, before his performance later that night at The Novo in downtown Los Angeles.

“It’s not really a formula,” Paul told High Times, referring to his methods in the studio. “It’s just what feels good at the time. Last year was more hardcore danchall feeling, and this year’s more of a scotch feeling, you know what I mean. I’m feeling to touch the clubs with it, but also there is some growth on the album on some introspective songs. I think people should enjoy it, bro.”

During a recent interview with Wrestling Inc. WWE Hall Of Famer Teddy Long revealed how he had to stop smoking marijuana for a while as General Manager of SmackDown due to the WWE Wellness Policy. Below are some highlights: Teddy Long on how he quit smoking marijuana for a while out of respect for Vince McMahon: 

“I said, ‘Hey man, my job is more important so I don’t want to let Vince down. That man gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and the reason I am where I am today is because of Vince. So, I quit, maybe about a year. I quit for a real long time. What made me start back, man, I think I just got kind of burnt out. I had been on the road for over 25 years of my life … I think I just kind of got stressed, then me and Chioda kind of started riding again.”

From the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment.

Plenty of celebrities have dipped their toes in the cannabis industry. Usually, they'll do a licensing deal that allows cannabis brands to make a product and use that celeb's name, image, and likeness for marketing. Because of this, you will often see limited-edition drops where they release a product once — then you never see it again.

To spare you the heartbreak of a limited-edition drop, consider some celebrity cannabis brands with products you can try again and again.

Sports

Ricky Williams: Highsman

Highsman is football legend Ricky Williams' brand. It offers flower and infused pre-rolls. Highsman markets its strains as Pregame (sativa), Halftime (hybrid), and Postgame (indica). The Jesus Zkittlezworth and Ken Jiffy Jr. strains ain't half bad. The Berry Bonds strain is the champion though.

Available: California and Oregon

Al Harrington: Viola

Viola is former NBA player Al Harrington's brand. It also produces Allen Iverson's line of weed: Iverson. Viola has flower, pre-rolls, and concentrate — the concentrates are pretty fire, especially in Oregon.

Creating a new legal market will take time to build and to earn the trust of new shoppers.

Legal cannabis is becoming more and more accessible. Still, in countries such as the U.S. and Canada, where there are legal markets in place, black market marijuana sales remain consistent.

According to a new survey, the largest determining factor is price.

The survey, conducted between 2019 and 2020 and published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, polled 12,000 cannabis users in Canada and the U.S. and found that price outranked convenience, which is the second main reason people continue to opt for illegal weed.

The reasons behind why consumers still shop the illicit market was dependent on the year and the country.

Survey authors write: In both years, there were two most commonly reported barriers to legal purchasing. In all, about a third of Canadian repondents and 27 per cent of U.S. respondents citing price, while about a fifth of Canadian respondents and slightly less than U.S. respondents pointed to inconvenience.

Over recent years, the UK has been awash with cannabis events. Usually packed to the brim with smart-looking businessmen in crisp white shirts, the UK, and London in particular, has become something of a hub for corporate cannabis.

On Thursday 16th June 2022, creative cannabis agency Rounders, and drug policy think tank Volteface will aim to change this narrative when they host the first Cannapedia event at Huckletree West in White City.  Cannapedia is the brainchild of Akeem Babalola, Founder and Director at Rounders and Eleanor Phee, the Creative Director at Rounders. Eleanor’s journey into cannabis is as whimsical as the photography in the brand’s tri-annual magazine. At a photo shoot in 2020, she found a stranger searching her bag for a grinder, that stranger happened to be the founder of Rounders. As cannabis enthusiasts, the pair struck up a conversation, which led to Eleanor joining the company as well as the pair falling in love. Shortly after, the couple moved to the US, where Eleanor now spends much of her time absorbing and learning US cannabis culture, gaining inspiration and understanding she hopes can help can guide the UK.

“I’ve met an incredible array of people in the US cannabis industry doing incredible work in medical treatment, equity, wellness, branding, cultivation,” Eleanor tells us.

“What struck a chord within me is that London really lacks opportunities within cannabis, not just because it isn’t legal, but because people aren’t educated enough on the topic.”

Sensing the opportunity to drive change, the Rounders team started to connect with UK advocacy groups, think tanks and companies that shared similar values on cannabis. Through these connections, they have built a community of people with common goals around public opinion, medical access and social justice, and its this community which inspired Cannapedia.

“Our motivation for Cannapedia is to address the current state of cannabis in the UK, the lack of minority opinion and employment in cannabis and create a space for information to be delivered in a friendlier, receivable manner,” Eleanor says.

“All of a sudden, I start seeing all of my money flying away, and my house is flying away and my career is gone away."

Will Smith in an interview with David Letterman confessed to having a premonition that his career would implode while tripping on ayahuasca.

“Once you drink it, you’re going to see yourself in a way you’ve never seen yourself,” the Academy Award winner for King Richard told Letterman during an episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. The episode was taped in advance of the Oscars on March 27.

Ayahuasca is a brew made from the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub and the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, according to HealthLine.

Originally used for religious purposes by ancient Amazonian tribes, ayahuasca is still regarded as a sacred beverage by some religious communities. Its medicinal options are now being explored.

Rather than a religious experience, though, Smith recounted how one ayahuasca sesh turned nightmarish.

Hemp Seed Oil is the perfect ingredient in skincare products.

“HSO moisturizes, reduces inflammation, and provides high levels of antioxidants,” said Iva Plummer, one of the co-founders of Vido’s Health & Beauty USA. “HSO’s anti-inflammatory properties allow it to treat skincare issues.”

Inflammation is a common cause of a variety of skin conditions.

“There are several symptoms of skincare inflammation, such as itching, burning, redness, blisters or pimples, and cracked skin,” Plummer said. “HSO is great for the skin because it has anti-inflammatory properties.”

Vido’s Health & Beauty USA products contain Hemp Seed Oil and are packed with vitamins A, C, and E, and other natural essential oils to create herbal elixirs that enhance the skin’s appearance.

The pigeon has been sent to an animal shelter to help it “resocialize” and leave behind its delivery days.

The noble, albeit now often-maligned, pigeon has been used as a message carrier during chariot races to times of war. That may be why someone in Peru tried using the bird’s impressive homing abilities to fly weed into a prison.

Perhaps parched, the cannabis-carrying bird was spotted this week when it touched down on the grounds of the Huancayo Penitentiary near the administrative building to drink some water from a puddle there.

In a tweet, the Peruvian National Police reported officers found the bird, which had a “circular package containing marijuana tied around its neck,” near the prison’s main door. The incident reportedly occurred at about 4:00 p.m. outside the prison’s administrative office.

“The little bird was put in a safe place,” a translation of the tweet assures.

Upon catching the bird, agents saw that the delivery package was made of a light blue fabric that had been wrapped in duct tape, according to Newsbeezer. To the surprise of all involved, the package held “dry green seeds, stems and leaves with a characteristic marijuana smell,” the publication reports.

Fun, Safe and elevated tourism experience deeply rooted in the town's history

Visit Oakland launches the Oakland Cannabis Trail – a historical, colorful travel adventure with unique retail and cannabis centric experiences for the cannasseur (a well-informed cannabis enthusiast) and canna-curious (one who is discovering the world of cannabis) alike.

Developed by Visit Oakland in collaboration with cannabis travel enthusiasts and Oakland’s leading retailers, the Oakland Cannabis Trail offers a curated, immersive trip through The Town’s diverse, amazing neighborhoods. Shared information highlights cannabis travel facts and tips for a safe, memorable experience.

The trail provides visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to immerse themselves in Oakland history as they explore premium cannabis retail shops, an array of restaurants, local attractions, and sensory activities including hand selected art exhibits and the great outdoors. Featured on the trail are eight cannabis shops that represent the deeply rooted past and innovative future of cannabis in Oakland.

Pioneering legacy

From Harborside that was established in 2006 and is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected cannabis retailers in the world to Root’d in the 510 – Oakland’s newest cannabis retailer that opened on 4/20 in 2022 – the trail offers numerous exploration options. Honoring Oakland’s pioneering legacy, three destinations on the trail are Cultural Landmarks – the Oaksterdam Uptown District, Blunts and Moore, and Harborside.

Evolution of emerging travel trend

Oakland has a rich, significant history with safe cannabis access and has played a prominent role in legalization. The Town continues to be at the forefront of progress with some of the best shops and most compelling cannabis offerings in the state. Visit Oakland is leading the evolution of the emerging travel trend. The Cannabis Trail is the visitors trusted guide to enjoying safe, curated cannabis experiences while spending time in Oakland.

The admittedly high Brooklyn Nets star tells David Letterman that cannabis “clears the distractions” and is like “having a glass of wine"

National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Kevin Durant isn’t shy when it comes to cannabis. Indeed, Durant was high while telling David Letterman all about it.

As part of an upcoming interview with Letterman on Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Durant, 33, was asked when he first smoked cannabis.

He was no kid; he was 22. “To me, it clears the distractions out your brain a little bit, settles you down. It’s like having a glass of wine,” responded the two-time champion and 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player.

“So, did you smoke today?” Letterman, who hosted late-night television talk shows for over three decades, asks in a clip of the new episode, released this week by Netflix.

Durant says yes before adding nonchalantly, “I’m actually high right now,” causing him to smile and Letterman to laugh.

The hemp body lotion is an essential addition to your natural skincare routine. Hemp is a fantastic ingredient that naturally moisturizes skin while also providing it with a host of other benefits. Hemp body lotions are a great way to incorporate hemp into your daily skincare routine and useful for those who want to use natural skincare products. Here are the reasons you need to use hemp body lotion and incorporate it into your natural skincare routine.

It's Naturally Moisturizing

Hemp oil contains fatty acids that are great for dry skin and Eczema. Our skin needs essential fatty acids to stay hydrated and healthy, such as linoleic acid and oleic acid. When you use hemp lotion, you provide your skin with these nutrients. Hemp lotions are also vegan, cruelty-free, and have an all-natural coconut scent that leaves your skin smelling pleasant.

It Has Anti-Aging Properties

CBD oil has anti-aging properties. The AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) found in hemp oil can fight wrinkles, prevent skin from becoming prematurely aged, and keep it from getting sun-damaged. Ragweed pollen allergy and Eczema have also been reduced after using a hemp body lotion. The anti-inflammatory properties in hemp oil help reduce redness caused by rheumatic and allergic reactions, like the common cold.

It Has Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Hemp oil is an effective anti-inflammatory. Several studies have even proven that it can reduce the symptoms of Eczema. While several natural ingredients effectively treat Eczema, hemp oil is one of the most effective.

It Contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids

It has Omega-3 fatty acids and is great for your skin. Our skin constantly needs these fatty acids responsible for keeping it hydrated and healthy. The anti-inflammatory properties in hemp oil make this an ideal ingredient for battling Eczema.

Oscar-winner reports he consumed cannabis in the past and still does

The eminently talented and endlessly impersonated Christopher Walken recently handled a question about his possible cannabis use with the same style he’s known for: straight-faced, he just admitted it.

Per El Planteo, his response was simple:

“Sure.”

Apparently hoping to delve deeper, journalist David Marchese then asked:

“Do you still smoke?” Again, the response was short and sweet:

Seth Rogen recently invited Architectural Digest to present a tour of the Houseplant headquarters’ interior décor and operations. Architectural Digest often explores the personal living spaces of celebrities, such as Cara Delevingne, Serena Williams, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, and Binging with Babish, to name a few.

Architectural Digest’s tour of Houseplant, which went live on April 27, is a little different. It explores the décor both as a home, as well as a business space. Houseplant was founded in 2019 by Rogen and his business partner, Evan Goldberg. Originally they partnered with Canopy Growth Corp. to operate exclusively in Canada, but have since moved to operate out of California instead, as of 2021.

The brand sells a line of cannabis that is currently only available in California, but also offers a variety of unique and modern home décor items such as ashtrays, lighters, and even a lighter caddy in the shape of Rogen’s dog, a Cavalier King Charles named Zelda.

Houseplant’s headquarters is located in a 1918 bungalow in Los Angeles. Architectural Digest describes it as “Mid-century-modern-inspired furniture creates a cozy but streamlined aesthetic.”

Whether you need to twist a cartridge on or grind up some flower first, vaping eliminates the need for sometimes messy joint rolling, cleaning glass pipes, etc.

Vaporizing cannabis has quickly become the preferred consumption method for many. Also known as vaping, it’s easy to see why people like it compared to smoking.

Both vaporizers are:

Discreet and portable: Vape pens are discreet compared to using bowls or even a joint. The smoke produced is minimal and smaller, allowing individuals to vape even indoors without having to worry about the smell. The exception here are desktop vaporizers, which are meant to be used the way its name sounds: on desks or tables.

Rechargeable: Except for disposable vape pens, other vaporizers are rechargeable. This is beneficial for heavy consumers who want to have peace of mind that you’ll never run out of juice when you need it.

Easy to use: Vape pens are designed to be easy to use. Some may be more complex in design, but you can easily learn how to use them after a few tries. There are also some models on the market that have more options to learn such as the temperature controls, though they are still fairly easy to learn. Meanwhile, others simply require clicking a button a few times to smoke, while some will automatically shut off to save battery.

Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Boomers all noted they think cannabis is less risky than alcohol.

A new poll shows just how much Americans have stopped fearing weed. The majority of those surveyed reported they consider alcohol to be more harmful than cannabis, indicating just how much perceptions around the plant have evolved. The poll, conducted by market research company SSRS, showed that more than half of respondents (58 per cent) of respondents believe cannabis is safer than alcohol. Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Boomers, in that order, all noted they think cannabis is less risky than alcohol.

A deeper look into the results shows these are in line with what previous cannabis polls have demonstrated: the vast majority of Americans believe in legal medical marijuana (92 per cent), a smaller yet still large percentage believe in recreational marijuana (69 per cent) and Democrats (78 per cent) and Independents (74 per cent) are more likely to support legal marijuana than Republicans (54 per cent).

While national policies remain slow to embrace change, with every passing year people in the U.S. continue to warm to cannabis.

Comment on the poll’s results, Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws noted in a statement that :voters support legalizing marijuana regardless of political party affiliation.”

Armentano went on to say:

A super-majority of Americans say that the use of marijuana should be made legal for adults, and most respondents agree that it is less harmful to health than drinking alcohol, according to national survey data compiled by the market research firm SSRS.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents – including 78 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Independents, and 54 percent of Republicans – support legalization. When asked whether cannabis ought to be permitted for therapeutic purposes, support rises to 92 percent.

Commenting on the polling data, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: “Voters support legalizing marijuana regardless of political party affiliation. At a time when national politics remain acutely polarized, elected officials ought to come together in a bipartisan manner to repeal the failed policy of cannabis prohibition. It is one of the few policy reforms that voters on the right and on the left can all agree upon.”

Fifty-eight percent of respondents, including 71 percent of millennials, said that “alcohol is more harmful to a person’s health than marijuana.” Only four percent of respondents perceive marijuana to be more harmful. Prior surveys have similarly reported that most Americans say that cannabis is far less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco.

Sixty-five percent of respondents, including 72 percent of ‘Baby Boomers,’ acknowledge having tried cannabis at least once during their lifetime. That percentage is significantly higher than has been reported in other national surveys. Members of ‘Gen Z’ and the ‘Silent Generation’ are least likely to report having ever used cannabis.

The poll possesses a margin of error of +/– 3.5 percentage points.

Cannabis advocates in Missouri who want the state to become the next to legalize cannabis for adult use have reached a new milestone in their ballot drive with two weeks to spare.

Legal Missouri 2022, a group petitioning to put recreational cannabis on the ballot, announced that it collected more than 200,000 voter signatures to date as outreach efforts escalate ahead of the May 8 signature submission deadline. 

John Payne, Legal Missouri’s campaign manager, said that the efforts are going well and are getting around 9,000 new signatures per day with the aim to collect even more before the deadline. The ballot initiative has raised $1,433,927.10 in total since its launch in 2021 with the vast majority of funds coming from Missouri cannabis companies. New Approach Advocacy Fund is the largest contributor so far, donating $300,000 in total, with BD Ventures, which owns Flora Farms, New Growth Horizon, and the Proper brand, all donating $215,000 each in total coming in second.

“I think this will help the industry grow and give great opportunities in Missouri in many ways,” Payne said. “1 out of 10 new jobs since 2020 were in the medical [cannabis] industry. There’s gonna be thousands of new jobs through legalization.”

Besides contributions, Legal Missouri 2022 is tightly connected to the state’s cannabis inidstry through personnel. The chief strategist of Legal Missouri is Alan Zagier, a principal of Democratic political consulting firm Tightlight Public Affairs. The president of Tightline is Jack Cardetti, director of communications for the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association.

The ballot drive was drafted in 2020 and signatures were collected beginning in October 2021. Payne said that efforts slowed down as the omicron variant of COVID-19 began to surge. 

Where else would you expect a 420 party celebrating marijuana but in the Northern California city named Weed?

The Siskiyou County festival will be centered at a dispensary where you can rent a bong in its "consumption lounge" and there are shops on either side of Weed Boulevard that offer souvenir T-shirts and mugs that proclaim "I (heart) Weed."

The La Florista Cannabis dispensary at 242 Main St. once again will host a cannabis festival on Wednesday, April 20, that promises to attract hundreds of out-of-towners.

"We're going to have the whole street shut down," said La Florista's Jackie Jones, one of the dispensary's inventory managers.

"It's going to be a party. We're so excited."

Last year's 420 festival included the Perfect Union dispensary across the street, but Jones said that cannabis outlet shut down a month ago.

The Florida Groves Festival is going all out in celebration of music, art and cannabis.  

Organizers released the full line-up for the festival’s first year, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at The Orlando Amphitheater. This event, centered around cannabis culture, will take place from 1 to 11 p.m. The music, which will be performed on the Trulieve stage, is primarily reggae with about 5 bands, from Julian Marley – the son of reggae legend Bob Marley – and The Uprising, The Expendables, Kash’d Out, Roots of Creation and Honey Hounds to DJ Lance-O. 

According to Cody Edwards of Dab Day Productions, the event will have a huge field for people to chill and watch live music from.   A few of Florida’s finest artists, including Miami’s Atomik known for his mischievous oranges, will paint live for attendees to appreciate. Additionally, Swamp City Gallery Lounge has curated a live glassblowing demo for the festival. 

There will even be a tattoo booth for those that have the itch to get inked. Pre-picked “420” designs will be available, with prices ranging from $50 to $75. 

In the same area, an interactive hemp farm, courtesy of Treadwell Farms, will educate interested individuals on best practices from the growers themselves. 

“We’ve learned that while what we farm may change, our agricultural traditions, passion and experience remain steadfast,” according to their About Us page.