WeedLife News Network

The coronavirus was good for some industries and ruinous for others. For cannabis, 2020 was a breakout year. Legal sales across the U.S.—15 states allow adult use, 35 allow for medical sales—hit a record of $17.5 billion, a 46% increase from 2019, according to a new report.

Most of the sales growth came from adult-use markets, especially mature markets like Colorado, which grew sales by 26% to reach $2.2 billion, and Oregon, which saw sales hit $1.1 billion, a 29% increase over 2019, according to the report published by BDSA, a cannabis sales data platform.

Emerging markets like Illinois, which expanded its medical cannabis market to include adult-use sales last year, saw the largest dollar gain in 2020, rising by $784 million. (Illinois’ cannabis market is now doing over $1 billion in sales.) California, the country’s largest cannabis economy at $3.5 billion, increased sales by $586 million, while Florida saw a $473 million increase.

“We expected more potential impact from an economic downturn, but the industry has proven to be resilient,” says Kelly Nielsen, who runs BDSA’s insights and analytics department. “It’s potentially recession-proof.”

Nielsen says three things contributed to the industry’s growth last year: the Covid-19 pandemic (many states deemed dispensaries “essential businesses” during lockdown); more customers entered mature markets like California, Colorado and Oregon; and states like Illinois and Arizona have created new adult-use markets.

The news Seth Rogen has waited a decade to announce?

He will soon be legally selling weed in the United States. Rogen’s beloved Canadian cannabis brand Houseplant, founded with his creative partner Evan Goldberg, is launching in California. Expect to see Houseplant available initially through a direct-to-consumer ordering platform on the brand’s website beginning Thursday, March 11, 2021.

“If you know anything about me at all, I’m going to assume it’s that I really love weed,” Rogen announced to his Twitter audience of 9.1 million followers on March 1, 2021. The launch traffic was so overwhelming, it crashed the Houseplant’s website servers. Houseplant plans to roll out in select dispensaries across California this Spring.

“We are finally ready to launch in America,” says Rogen. “What we are doing is bringing you the best strains of weed that have been hand-picked, by that I mean hand-smoked, by me. It’s just the weed that I love that I want to be smoking. We have an orange one for sativa, a purple one for indica, and it even stacks.” Green packaging is the Houseplant hybrid strain. Rogen and Goldberg underwent an “extensive process,” testing hundreds of strains before choosing the initial launch strains: two sativas, Diablo Wind and Pancake Ice, and one indica, Pink Moon.

The brand has made waves since its 2019 launch with chic, colorful, and minimalist design. The packaging is recyclable, aiming for an eco-conscious consumer. Houseplant even won a Clio award in 2020 for its unique design. The brand has a partnership with cannabis giant Canopy Growth Corporation in Canada, but will not be working with Canopy stateside. Instead, Houseplant’s California cannabis will be grown by an undisclosed select group of cultivators. Rogen was the talk-of-the-town at Hall of Flowers in 2019 where Rogen appeared in-person to scope out the California competition.

They have names like Dream Lotus, Ghost Dawg and Blue Dream — all varieties of the cannabis plant, subsets within the species that in the world of botany would be called a cultivar but in the cannabis world are referred to as strains. Each one is cultivated for its unique properties, including height, color and leaf structure, as well as THC and CBD content, all of which go into variations in effect on mind and body.

The cannabis education website Leafly lists as many as 5,000 distinct cannabis strains, but many of those are not commonly known to the public. Still, it’s estimated that there are at least 800 cannabis strains currently named and consumed by adult-use and medicinal cannabis consumers — the result of experimentation, discovery and advances in seed saving and cultivation. The sheer variety means that dispensary professionals like those at Resinate in Worcester and Northampton, Massachusetts, can help customers find just the right strain for their purpose, goals and lifestyle.

The three basic strains

Each strain falls into one of a few larger categories: sativa, indica and hybrid. While it was commonly believed that sativa strains are more energizing while indica strains are said to make a person sleepier, cannabis consumers and specialists alike now find that each strain effects the consumer differently, making it a personal experience. Hybrids, as the name indicates, are a cross of indica and sativa, usually with one or the other dominant.

CBD and THC are two major chemicals of many that make up a strain. Sativa plants generally are lower in CBD counts and higher in THC, while indica strains go in the opposite direction. Each specific strain will have different levels of each of these chemicals. There are also physical differences in the shape of the leaves and plant height as well as differences in aroma and texture.

The emerging legal cannabis industry is going global, with a growing list of countries that have legalized cannabis for adult and/or medical use, and even more countries exploring a similar move. At the same time, the world’s climate is changing, with extreme weather patterns picking up in frequency and severity all over the world.

Climate change is affecting virtually every aspect and sector of the agriculture industry, and that is likely to be the case for cannabis too as outdoor cultivation is permitted in more areas. As the global cannabis industry continues to expand across the planet, and climate change, unfortunately, marches on, the problem for cannabis entrepreneurs is going to be more pronounced.

Extreme Weather

Every agricultural crop has a preferred climate, and the cannabis plant is no exception. Cannabis obviously has certain parts of the world where it prefers to grow compared. For example, it grows very well in tropical climates but not at the North Pole. Historically, it thrived in Jamaica and while that is still true, something troubling is going on.

As recently reported by Cannabis & Tech Today, Jamaica has been hit hard by natural disasters and is currently experiencing a cannabis shortage. As climate change continues to negatively impact our planet and extreme weather patterns become more common, what is going on in Jamaica right now could prove to be a foreshadowing of what is to come. It could be something that other historically popular cannabis cultivation countries experience, making it hard to know where the ‘best’ places to cultivate cannabis will be in the future.

Shifting Cultivation Zones

Many scientists are pointing to data that suggests agricultural zones for many crops will be shifting in the future as the world gets warmer at the macro level, and extreme weather patterns pick up at the micro-level. The wine industry is often used as an example, with areas historically known for being optimal for growing wine grapes being less so as the years go by.

Hopefully, in time, these cities will reevaluate the deleterious effects these ordinances have on sales taxes and consumer choice.

Arizonans knew zoning issues could cause headaches for dispensary owners. However, what was unanticipated are the new bans by some of the Arizona cities for recreational marijuana establishments.

Shortly after the passage of Proposition 207, otherwise known as the Smart and Safe Arizona Act (the “Act”), several Arizona cities moved to ban recreational marijuana sales, unless the dispensary is a “dual licensee”. A dual licensee means an establishment that is licensed both as a medical marijuana establishment and an adult use (or recreational) establishment.

The Act specifically allows dispensary owners to hold both licenses (medical and recreational) and to sell both types of products from the same dispensary location. The cities in Arizona, like Mesa, found a way to end run the Act by prohibiting, among other things, recreational only marijuana dispensaries. While Mesa and the other Arizona cities are certainly allowed to pass such ordinances, it certainly appears to frustrate the purpose of the Act, even though apparently lawful to do so.

Why did these cities seek a ban of recreational-only establishments? There have been several theories espoused by others. As the Phoenix New Times reported:

The cannabis community is certainly pleased to see that the state of Virginia has legalized adult-use cannabis, but it will be some time before sales can begin. Still, despite support for the legislation it looked to be a nail-biter to the end. The Virginia House and Senate lawmakers were in agreement on passing the law, but they differed on just exactly what it would look like.

The two sides have been working over the past few weeks to reach a compromise, which was beginning to look less possible. Then on Saturday, it seemed the law just managed to squeak through. Marijuana Moment reported, “The Senate voted 20-19 to approve the conference committee report on its bill as well as the identical version for the House legislation. The House voted to approve the conference report on its bill, 48-43, with two abstentions. When considering the Senate version, the House voted 47-44, with one abstention.”

The next stop for the legislation goes to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who supports legalization. However, it will be some time before Virginians will actually be able to purchase adult-use cannabis in the state.

Sales Begin January 1, 2024

Part of the compromise included a compromise towards having enough time to create the program’s regulations. Marijuana Moment reported that “The Senate has pushed for a reenactment clause to be included which would extend the process into next session, whereas the House side wanted to complete legislative work during the current session, arguing that enough research has already been done to effectively decide the issue. But Senate negotiators won out, meaning that the legislature will revisit cannabis regulations and post-legalization penalty structures next session.

CBD capsules are often marketed as being a modern and simplistic alternative to traditional CBD oil tinctures. CBD capsules remove many of the factors that can put people off trying CBD supplements. As a result, they have quickly become one of the fastest-growing niches within the CBD industry.

There are many reasons why people are increasingly looking for products like CBD capsules. There have been a number of studies focusing on how regular use of CBD can help to improve both general health and even manage specific health issues.

With an ever growing number of people turning to CBD supplements – including capsules – the industry has responded. Now, one can find a variety of CBD capsule options available across a range of online and retail markets.

Knowing where to find the best CBD capsules and soft gels can feel a little daunting at first. We have put together a guide to some of the best CBD capsules on the market to help you discover the benefits of CBD supplements.

#1 PureKana – Best for targeted effects 

With the cannabis world trending in the direction of CBD, strains with high CBD content are taking center stage.

The result to be expected from using cannabis depends on cannabis strains and their cannabinoid profile. Cannabis has two major strains namely Sativa and Indica species. Both species have differences in terms of cannabinoid profile and ultimately effects. Different combinations of both species have now been used to artificially produce hybrid strains that are more unique and well suited to meet most of the needs of cannabis users. Due to their versatility, most cannabis users often prefer to go for hybrid strains and there are quite a number of them available presently.

It should be noted that a major change in trend has been ongoing in the cannabis industry. Unlike before, the majority of cannabis users now want more CBD strains and less euphoric dominant strains. This trend is expected to continue into 2021 as the prominence of CBD strains continues to grow due to their relaxing and medicinal benefits.

Different cannabis strains, when properly used, can help with a good number of ailments and conditions. Early research conducted on CBD already shows positive results on some unique conditions, and with more works of research, a lot more will be understood about its degree of effectiveness.

Examples of the unique conditions these strains can be used for include social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. With the cannabis world trending in the direction of CBD, strains with high CBD content are taking center stage.

The law also includes several provisions aimed at promoting social equity in the cannabis industry and repairing damage caused by prohibition.

On Monday, New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that legalizes adult-use marijuana possession and licenses retail marijuana sales.

“The enactment of these laws is long overdue,” said NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf — whoemphasized that state and local police have made over 6,000 arrests for marijuana-related violations in the months since NewJersey voters overwhelmingly decided at the ballot box. “Now, going forward, tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding New Jerseyans will no longer be subject to arrest and a criminal record for their personal use of marijuana, and the commercial market will be regulated in a fair and inclusive manner.”

Photo by omersukrugoksu/Getty Images

NORML stated that three bills were signed by the Governor. A21/S21 licenses the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis to adults. Under the new law, adults may legally purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. Retail sales are subject to state sales tax. Seventy percent of the revenue derived from sales taxes on retail marijuana purchases will be directed toward reinvestment in designated, lower-income communities. Sales are expected to begin this summer.

Cannabis legitimization has demonstrated several advantages for some reasons – pot’s remedial worth improves lives and decreases compulsion and the business development and potential is useful for the economy. However, there are as yet the individuals who demand that ongoing cannabis utilization, such as using phoenix tears Canada, simply makes individuals more dumb.

To exacerbate the situation, a recent report has as far as anyone knows discovered confirmation that pot use diminishes an individual’s IQ after some time. This deception has fanned out quickly among against pot distributions throughout the previous five years, prompting expanded disarray on the issue. 

There are a ton of elements that go into play when considering these patterns – and making these cases – and considerably more that specialists deliberately forget about. In this way, before you experience another enemy of pot crusaders wanting to act wonderful about the hazards of cannabis and knowledge, we should investigate what these examinations truly propose. 

The Science Behind Cannabis and IQ 

There is next to no exploration contemplating the drawn out impacts of cannabis and the data that is out there is very restricted. You can also choose the CBD version of cannabis, where there will be THC effects of weed. These can be bought at places like CBD Oil Canada. This makes it hard to think of exact ends and considerably more hard to induce with conviction that patterns in some random examination address precise relationships among cannabis and (fill in the clear). 

For instance, since cannabis stays illicit, it very well may be hard to track down guinea pigs in any case not to mention ones who will stay for the long stretch. Utilization patterns are additionally difficult to screen due partially in view of its illicit status and to a limited extent due to the numerous factors that go into item power or individual resilience levels. Yet, maybe the most factor of all, the one that will decide if an examination produces positive outcomes or negative ones, are analyst inclinations. 

Cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN, THC) are known to provide all sorts of benefits for seniors, from relieving arthritis pain and inflammation to strengthening and improving brain function. But there is another critical benefit that cannabinoids offer seniors, and it has a lot to do with the aging process. Let's explore.

The human body has an Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which means that we naturally produce cannabinoids (this is why they are called Endocannabinoids as in "within" ). Cannabinoids are also found in hemp and marijuana plants (called Phytocannabinoids).  Most importantly, both types of cannabinoids function the same way and provide similar health benefits in the body.

The ECS is responsible for keeping our body in balance (called "homeostasis") with the help of the cannabinoids. Think of it as the body's command center that keeps us humming along like a well-oiled machine. It controls all of our physiological systems - the nervous system, digestive tract, brain, hormones, immune system, bones & skin, liver, and heart. 

As the body ages, the ability to produce cannabinoids declines and causes an unbalanced endocannabinoid system (ECS). It becomes unhealthy and susceptible to illness and disease. The more severe the condition, the higher the level of ECS dysfunction.

Stress, environmental toxins, prescription drugs, and unhealthy foods also disrupt homeostasis. Foods high in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are also necessary for our body to produce cannabinoids.

“Because I would like to see my people liberated,” entrepreneur Al Harrington recently replied pointedly when asked why he chose the cannabis industry after retiring from professional basketball.

Harrington – CEO of Los Angeles-based canabis company Viola Brands – was also clear about his entrepreneurial focus. “Black people who suffered a lot,” he said.

“When you think about the cannabis plant and what it has done to my community, 85 percent of all drug arrests are cannabis-related,” Harrington explained. “Our [white] counterparts are bragging on panels that they paid their way through college by selling weed on campuses, and that they never had any interruptions or issues.

“I’m fighting for the people that are still locked up.”

During this current Black History Month – indeed, year round – black leaders of legal cannabis/CBD organizations are expressing frustration over the numbers of minority men arrested and imprisoned for even minor cannabis offenses. The American Civil Liberties Union in 2020 reported that African Americans were 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana.

Cannabis is a big business. Consumer spending in the US is set to rise by $13bn in the four years from 2018, as legalization hits more states and the medical cannabis sector continues to thrive. Analysis of this booming trade indicates that medical marijuana dispensaries are turning over more money per square foot of retail space than Apple Stores and Tiffany’s.

One consequence of this incredible increase in activity is the innovations and advancements in how marijuana is consumed. These new consumption methods have opened the doors of the marijuana world to a whole new audience, especially those who are consuming cannabis for medicinal purposes. 

For those new to cannabis, and even for seasoned veterans, these new methods can be confusing. As a whole new host of devices and modes of delivery hit the market, they bring new questions. So read on as we breakdown some of the most popular ways to introduce THC into your system.

Vaping

You may already be familiar with vaping and e-cigarettes from the craze that took hold a few years ago touted as a healthy alternative to smoking tobacco and a stepping stone to quitting nicotine altogether. 

Hot on the heels of nicotine vapes are cannabis vaporizers. There are many different ways to vape cannabis and a whole host of devices to match. One of the most popular is the dry herb vaporizer, a device that heats cannabis flower just enough to release THC but not so much that the bud combusts and releases toxin-filled smoke. Brands like Pax continue to push the boundaries of the dry herb vaporizer technology, such is the case with their new Pax 3 which can be seen here. This dry herb vaporizer allows the marijuana to be heated up in just 15 seconds and is roughly the same size as an average cigarette lighter.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a formula that would help you feel full longer, after you ate? Studies have shown repeatedly that people who expose themselves to CBD and other formulas of cannabidiols over their lifetime don’t gain weight like other people over the years.

There’s a number of different researchers looking at exactly why this isn’t happening, and how this benefit could be applied to a broader population. One way it appears is that CBD and other formulas help people control their weight is simply by making you feel fuller for longer.

There are CB1 receptors aligning the gut that help with managing inflammation that can cause problems like diarrhea or constipation. But there are also CB2 receptors that impact the smooth muscle around the colon.

The food moving through the colon is very responsive to the stimulation from this smooth muscle, where it sort of squeezes in a stable pattern and helps to move food through the intestinal system. But the smooth muscle can be relaxed a little bit with CB receptor stimulation and that can help to slow the transit of food from the mouth all the way to the anus.

If you’re chronically constipated, that’s not great news because you don’t want to be even more constipated by exposure to CBD or other cannabidiols. However, if you’re trying to lose weight and you want to feel fuller longer after you eat food, slowing the transit of the food and making it sit in the stomach or in the intestines for longer, will make you feel fuller. It will give you a sense of fullness after eating food for longer than if you didn’t have that stimulation.

Responsible cannabis consumers refrains from driving while impaired from significant cannabis use, nobody wants a DUI.

That point is apparently lost on cannabis opponents, who argue cannabis reform will inevitably and immediately be followed by a ‘stoned driver’ epidemic.

The ‘terror on the roadways’ argument is one of the most popular talking points for cannabis opponents, even though it is not well-founded.

No state or country on the planet that has legalized cannabis for adult use has also legalized impaired driving, nor is that expected to ever happen.

Impaired driving due to cannabis use was, is, and likely always will be illegal and related laws will be enforced against those that violate the law.

We've seen the popularity of craft beer rise across the nation, and according to IBISWorld, "Craft beer industry revenue has increased at an annualized rate of 4.4 percent to $7.6 billion over the five years to 2020, including estimated growth of 2.1 percent in 2020 alone." There always seems to be a unique appeal to any product we deem to be "craft." As many of us predicted, we're starting to see this trend become more evident in the cannabis space.

I sat down with Taig Rehmel, the Co-Founder and Lead Grower of Asheville Craft Cannabis, to dig deeper into the craft cannabis scene. Taig has over two decades of experience in large-scale cannabis research and cultivation, which gives him a unique vantage point into the essence of craft cannabis, sustainable architecture, and regenerative agriculture.

Here's what Taig had to say about craft cannabis being the next potential craze in cannabis, how it relates to craft beer, the difference between craft and average flower, and the future of craft cannabis.

What exactly is craft cannabis?

Taig Rehmel: A critical component of craft cannabis is that it’s consciously cultivated. Unlike “super-market” cannabis, craft is not just consumed, it’s experienced. Craft cannabis is handmade, each step of the process is carried out by artisans, rather than mass-produced. On the micro-level of all of this, there needs to be a relationship between the cultivator and the plants.

What’s the difference between an average quality flower and something that a connoisseur would consider to be craft cannabis?

It can be argued that the high taxes are well-intentioned, signaling support for an inclusive cannabis market.

Due to ongoing federal prohibition, America’s cannabis regulations remain fragmented by state. Until reform occurs, states will continue to set their program frameworks, including how it taxes the supply chain, with consumers feeling the brunt directly by taxes or indirectly by retailers up-charging to offset costs.

Depending on the state, a market’s tax rates could look similar to any other legal product, or the figure could balloon. Examples of the latter can be found in states like Washington (37% sales tax) and Oregon (17%), with several others charging around 15%. States with lower sales tax rates, like Illinois, charge 7%, but rates can swell when considering the various additional taxes applied to flower, infused goods and high potency products. When combined with local taxes, some Illinois citizens can pay over 40% tax on certain products.

The rates have some worried over allegations of greed, while others believe the taxes are part of a bid to create restorative justice. However, even those supporting justice measures worry that high taxes could steer customers away from the market altogether.

Which States Have The Highest Taxes?

The question is nuanced when analyzing the various potential tax layers applied to legal cannabis. A flat sales tax isn’t all that there is to consider. As Illinois demonstrates, what may seem like a 7% to 10% tax rate is just the ground floor of what could become sky high rates.

From Papaya Punch to Sour Diesel Lemon Kush, there is something unique and tasty about all these amazing cannabis varieties. All of them have seriously awesome flavor profiles and are light, fluffy, and downright delicious. Plus they offer some powerful body and head highs and look just as good as they taste. Without further ado, here are some of the strains that not only have memorable effects and overall profiles, they taste great, too. 

1. Sour Diesel Lemon Kush

Diesel is one of the strongest, most flavorful strains out there, but some complain that it’s a bit heady and strong to smoke. The pairing of sour Diesel and Lemon Kush is delightful, as it partners up the strong, heady energy of Sour Diesel with the soft, light, citrus taste of Lemon Kush for a strain that is truly unique. Try it in a bong or bowl, or even infused into cooking oil or butter. Available from Caliva. 

2. GSC

Girl Scout Cookies is everyone’s favorite strain, and there’s a good reason. It’s a hybrid, but indica-leaning. Durban Poison on its own is powerful, sometimes too powerful, and OG Kush is almost too chill. Together, as Girl Scout Cookies, the strain is downright relaxing and euphoric. The sweet taste and high THC count is the icing on the cake—or in this case, the cookies. 

Cannabis concentrates are perhaps the trickiest form you may come across. They are highly potent, and the consumption techniques are also complicated, whether you choose to smoke, vape, or dab. Still, using the right gear can make things a lot simpler for beginners, and you get better with practice and experience. The choice of equipment depends on several factors, so you need to consider them while taking your pick. Here are some helpful tips that you can follow while choosing the right gear for using concentrates.

Size and convenience 

You will want to choose your concentrate gear according to your skill level. For a beginner, the simplest is the best because it will be easy to handle and use. Handling the potency and managing dosages for cannabis concentrates may be hard enough for you. So you will want only the gear that is easy to use. Size also matters because larger pieces can be difficult to operate. Thankfully, there are lots of choices in bongs and bubblers, from large, table-top pieces to small, handheld ones.

Method of consumption

The next factor to consider is the method of consumption and the form of concentrate. When it comes to types of concentrates, you come across a lot, from wax to shatter, resin, rosin, oil, hash, and more. Consumption methods also vary, depending on your preference, and the equipment you use will differ accordingly. For beginners who want to learn how to smoke resin, a bowl gives you a good start. You can graduate to a bong or bubbler as you learn the ropes. Similarly, you will need a vaporizer for vaping a concentrate and a dab rig for dabbing it.  

It wasn’t too long ago that if you asked somebody what CBD was, they would look at you with a puzzled expression on their face. Today, CBD is on everyone’s lips, dominating the conversation on medical cannabis and its therapeutic effects and being touted as a health supplement at nutrition stores. It can also be purchased online and found in department stores, drug stores, grocery stores, gas stations and, of course, dispensaries.

With CBD’s popularity comes a learning curve for the discerning consumer. In order to find the best product for their needs, consumers need to know the terminology around CBD products.

First, What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-euphoric cannabinoid found in both hemp and high-THC cannabis. Cannabinoids are a closely related group of chemical compounds, which work synergistically together and with the other chemical compounds that make up the cannabis plant. CBD can be used for symptom management for things such as anxiety, certain types of seizures, inflammation and pain. It also has been found to have value in cosmetic use.

It’s worth noting that much CBD on the market today is derived from hemp, rather than cannabis, because hemp is federally legal. Hemp and cannabis are the same species, cannabis sativa, but they’re separated by an arbitrary legal definition that defines hemp as having less than 0.3% THC when tested.

Understanding CBD

Many people like to say CBD is not psychoactive, but that would be incorrect. “Psychoactive” is a term used to describe a substance that changes a mental state by affecting the brain and nervous system. Though CBD will not cause euphoria or intoxication, it may change a person’s level of anxiety or depression, which in turn would affect their perception of the world around them.