When most people imagine marijuana, they imagine a joint or blunt, or else a well-packed bowl. However, cannabis culture has been expanding beyond basic bud for decades now, and the popularity of vaping cannabinoids, especially THC, has become a popular practice. Though the exact number of marijuana vapers is difficult to calculate, recreational and medicinal dispensaries estimate that about 30 percent of their business consists of vaping products.

Yet, the recent epidemic of vaping-related illnesses seems to have turned the vaping industry on its head, and THC vaping products are especially under fire. Some research indicates that vaping marijuana can be dangerous — but it is worth exploring the history of cannabis and vaping to better understand the current situation and how THC vapes could function in the future.

Past

Though vaping has only become popular within the recent decade, the truth is that vaping has been around for almost 100 years. In 1927, as concerns about smoking rose, Joseph Robinson patented an “electric vaporizer,” which he believed would make it easier to inhale medicinal vapors. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, many other inventors experimented with “smokeless” and “electric” cigarettes, but the tools were too clunky, too expensive or otherwise too ahead of their time to catch on.

Perhaps the biggest early innovation in vape tech was tabletop vaporizers, also called Volcanos, which produced a plume of water vapor captured in a plastic bag, from which smokers inhaled — but unlike the other vaping tools of this era, Volcanos were not designed for tobacco. For marijuana users, vaping was a godsend; it allowed people to partake without producing the same noxious cloud of weed skunk, and similar to tobacco cigarettes, joints and pipes were seen as dirty and potentially harmful to smokers’ lungs. Conversely, vaporizers allowed users to enjoy THC through (seemingly) cleaner and safer water vapor.

However, both the Volcano and handheld vaporizers of this time differ fundamentally from vapes of today in how they imbued water vapor with the active compound of THC. Back then, vaporizers super-heated marijuana flower until the THC burned off in water vapor. As vaporizer technology advanced, so did procedures for procuring concentrated cannabinoids like THC and CBD. As a result, most vapes began to rely on cannabis oils — which is where we find ourselves today.

Present

Essentially all vapes on the market today make use of cannabis oils, which are heated and delivered through water vapor. Extracting cannabis oils is an extensive process that should not be performed by the average user. There are two different extraction methods in use today: One relies on ethanol or butane and one on pressurized carbon dioxide.

Even as research on nicotine e-cigarettes increases, revealing that vapes can in fact be safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes, research on marijuana vapes is virtually non-existent. Cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug under federal law, so it is incredibly difficult for laboratories to receive permission to study any cannabis products, and funding can be difficult to acquire, as well.

Worse, there remains a thriving black market for marijuana goods, especially in regions where weed remains thoroughly illegal. It should go without saying that the black market is the worst place to obtain any substance but especially something that can immediately and continuously affect one’s health, like vape oil. Some rudimentary tests on these oils have found them to contain exceedingly toxic substances, like lead, formaldehyde and arsenic. Because so many of the sufferers from the mysterious vaping illness attested to using illicit products, it is likely that both anti-marijuana laws and lack of regulation are a cause for concern.

Future

Fortunately, the future looks much brighter. As more states legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana, access to cannabis products for research is improving. Plus, a market is developing for trustworthy and meticulous cannabis farmers and manufacturers. Weed users can already find reliable brands available from online and local dispensaries; brands like Trulieve are reputed for offering high-quality flower, oils and more. As long as retailers and users research brands before buying, they should be able to avoid shoddy vape tools.

It is impossible to predict the future, but the likelihood of improved standards and regulations for the marijuana industry as a whole is great. Vaping isn’t new, but it is more popular than ever. As long as we work together to prioritize the quality of vape goods, we should see the rise of vaping as a positive development to cannabis culture.

Cannabis comes from the hemp plant, and it could be Indica or Sativa. The herb has two main chemicals that determine how the use of the drug will affect you. First, THC, which is the primary psychoactive element and CBD, which is responsible for the healing and medicinal properties. Other jargons used to refer to Cannabis are; skunk, dope, pot, ganja, herb, hash, reefer, among others. The plant can be vaped, smoked, or added to edibles or food.

As Cannabis use becomes legal, new ways have come up to make the plant better, beneficial, and available. The future of Cannabis retail is inclusive, and many companies and labs alike are extensive, and one has to be careful when purchasing. The government and public have received legalization well due to the numerous.  From healing with chronic muscle pains, migraines, insomnia, and cancer treatment, the cannabinoid element in the plant possesses many benefits. Studies are still going on about how it can aid in treating and controlling glaucoma and Alzheimer’s.

There are numerous ways to rip the many advantages of the hemp plant’ whether you prefer a pre-rolled joint, vaping, an edible, tinctures, topicals, or just the cured bud. Sweet Flower is a retail company based in Los Angeles. The team is very experienced and equipped to provide customers with the best Cannabis in LA. There is something for someone in the stores.

Sweet Flower is a very cultured and advanced cannabis retail capability all about making the customer feel buoyant and relaxed. The stores are very inviting and have high-shelf selections that are certified and curated under the best professionals and tech.

The dispensary offers a limited series of the ocean grown flower blossoms at the coast of Carpinteria. The environment there is suitable for growth and nutrients. The process the skilled staff use to cure Cannabis is advanced and leaves no room for dissatisfaction.

As most people start exploring this new floral limit, they ask themselves too many questions that are best answered by the Sweet florists. The customer care is impeccable and helpful to the Cannabis curious to the Cannabis conscious. Subsequently, the Melrose dispensary and City dispensary have gained mass popularity and plans for new store locations are underway. These locations include; Westwood and Arts District DTLA.

South California natives love some excellent, pure herb for the great outdoor activities. CBD is very incredible for soothing after a work-out or during a massage. Recreational marijuana users also get the most potent Cannabis from these stores. Sweet Flower is obsessed with setting a new and higher standard for their Cannabis.

Lastly, the company offers employment opportunities for training. It gives potential employees to share why and how vital the cannabis journey is and will keep being. It is important to note that prolonged or abuse of any drug is unadvised. This is because it might cause addiction or long-term effects.

It is therefore essential to choose a trustworthy dispensary that has expert employees. Cannabis is a plant meant for mature recreation or medicinal purposes. If you are using medicinal marijuana, ensure you have a prescription from your doctor.

By Annie Loupy

If you are a medical marijuana patient in Florida, you are familiar with the long and complicated history of cannabis legalization. The law is vague and restrictive causing backups, delays and inconvenient challenges.

In 2016, Florida voters flooded the polls to allow legal medicinal use of marijuana. With one step in the right direction, the government shot back with regulations like making the act of smoking cannabis illegal and only offering medicinal marijuana relief to patients with “debilitating conditions.” Thankfully, due to John Morgan’s successful advocacy, smoking herb is now legal. This marks one more victory for one of the largest potential markets in America, though patients are far from liberation of government restriction.

Recently, the topic of debate raised by 77-year-old patient Joe Redner diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer advocates for the right to grow his own marijuana. According to his doctor’s recommendation, Redner needs immediate access to a generous amount of his herbal prescription which would be more convenient if accessed from his backyard. Redner, a strip club owner, can afford his own weed but he knows many patients that are unable to fork over the unbelievably high prices of $9.27 per gram.

The Verdict
On the 11th of April,, judge Gievers ruled in Redner’s favor. And for a few weeks, Redner had the right to grow his own weed until the Health Department fired back with an appeal, putting Redner’s recent right on hold. The appeal was held up in court and Redner now seeks to take his case to the Supreme Court. So, what’s the hold up?

It’s no secret that the Florida government is resisting the integration of medicinal marijuana into the culture of the sunny state. With each progressive small step toward legalization, the government has created hurdles almost impossible to tackle. Even with growing knowledge of its medical benefits from the science community and the ever-growing popularity around the nation, Florida seems to have an agenda with cannabis consumption and even how you consume it. The good smoking people of Florida and its advocates like Morgan and Redner are making strides in their fight to legalization but it hasn’t been easy.

The ambiguity of the law surrounding medical marijuana makes it easy for the government to slow progression down. The reason Redner was stripped of his right to grow is because Florida law does not allow the legal sale of seeds or plants. Redner’s lawyer, Luke Lirot, argued that Redner was immune to criminal penalty because the law states that legal cannabis is defined as “all parts of any plant of the genus of cannabis” which includes seeds and resin or any compound or preparation of the plant. Judge Gievers saw it Lirot’s way, however, the law has one more loophole: access. How is someone legally allowed to grow without legal access to seeds?

Challenges Persist
The Florida government now has patients in a predicament agreeing with yes, you can legally grow marijuana, but no, you cannot legally buy seeds or plants. With Redner’s life depending on this ruling, he and Lirot await a Supreme Court hearing to plead their case. Amidst the war of growing an herbal plant lawfully, the state of Florida persists to create complications which makes issuing licenses for potential facilities to be put on hold.

A convoluted point system has been appointed in order to award the best applicants a license. Higher points are awarded to old citrus facilities. But it’s never that easy. Even if the best applicants prevail through this process, the proposed rules on providing licenses are vague making it easier for delayed decisions and unknown requirements held by the administration. Without a tightly sealed application process, the committee has more room to question an application or find complaints that will further delay progression.

Optimistic Future
Even if there are no hiccups, Florida won’t see its first accepted applicant until the end of July – but that’s an optimistic prediction. With each step forward, the state of Florida pushes two steps sideways and somewhat derails the project towards natural treatment and relief to its more than 100,000 patients. At least it isn’t going backwards during this fight. And with Morgan’s recent win, Florida medical patients have hope for continuous progress moving forward and await Redner’s case to seek approval from the Supreme Court.

Leading social networks like Facebook have drawn their fair share of criticism over the past couple of years, with allegations of interfering with presidential elections through to poisoning the minds of our youths. But the rampant power of large social media companies goes further than that.

If there’s one thing that anyone who owns a cannabis related social media page on Facebook or Instagram will tell you, it’s that you never know when you just might be banned or censored. Reports constantly surface of legal cannabis businesses having their pages banned overnight with no explanation. Many cannabis based business have had their page closed even more than once, sometimes several times in a single year.

One blockchain based startup believe that the future of social media for cannabis users lies in something completely different. After having the social media page of a popular online community 420Smokers closed on multiple occasions the team behind Smoke Network decided that something needed to be done.

They now claim to be building the world’s first decentralized social network for cannabis users. While this might sound like a mouthful, there are many benefits that the idea of using blockchain brings to the cannabis social media conundrum.

Large centralized companies who control social media may have their own anti-marijuana rhetoric. Worse than that, these large companies can easily be pressured by the federal government, who still views cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, to spread their own anti-cannabis agenda. Social media companies may even have no control over this process at all.

By ‘decentralized’, Smoke Network really mean free from interference from outside parties . On a blockchain, the same technology powering the ever-popular Bitcoin, all data stored is immutable and hosted safely across a number of ‘nodes’ across the world.

This puts the network outside of the control or influence of any particular government, making censorship or loss of data next to impossible.

Smoke Network will also one other trick their sleeve that turns traditional social media on its head – the ability for content creators and content viewers to be rewarded automatically by the network for their work. This will be handled via Smoke Networks native currency, Smoke coin.

The amount one can earn will be calculated by the number of upvotes their own posts get on the network. Content curators will also have the ability to earn for finding and promoting high quality content before anyone else.

One thing is for certain: the future of social media won’t always be the one we take for granted today. To find out more about Smoke Network visit their website.

In our endless quest to stay up to date with the best products out there, we have decided to ‘focus’ on a handy dual purpose unit from Focusvape, The Tourist.

Immediately upon assembling the parts in the sturdy packaging we see that indeed the Tourist is small enough to travel with although not as small as other similar devices. What sets it apart though is the solidness and quick interchangeability of its core parts to transform it from a dabbing unit to a flower burning unit.

To switch from flower to dab is equally easy as changing the top burners and then the topical switch from Herb to Wax. The base is solid as well because you never want your unit to fall over, unless that was your purpose!

To test out the flower portion, we used some Oregon garden homegrown Girl Scout Cookies grinded in the best grinder we have tried to date – the Zeus Bolt 2. The flower was heated up nice enough to really bring out the chocolate notes in the GSC herb.

Cleaning the unit was simple enough, albeit like just about all units produced today for vaping, the enclosed glass makes it just that much more difficult. For situations like this, we used 99% alcohol and some long included cleaners.

If you are looking for a good dual purpose unit for dabbing and flowers, The Tourist makes a sweet travel companion and the Zeus Bolt 2 is a welcome grinder in a world of cheap ones.

Much of public perception about cannabis is based on misinformation. Whether it is a blatant denial of science, or just a misunderstanding of what it is all about, to make progress towards societal acceptance of cannabis, it is important to bust these four common myths.

Marijuana Is a Highly Addictive Substance

Dependence is one thing, addiction is another. While there are some people who have come to rely on marijuana to live their daily lives, this is more of a psychological dependence than a physical one. Additionally, the withdrawal effects are negligible when compared to those of alcohol or nearly any other hard drug, and the rate of addiction is much lower.

Marijuana Is a Gateway Drug

While many people who use drugs such as heroin and cocaine will often use marijuana, this doesn’t mean that the two are linked. In truth, a poor social environment is a more significant gateway to drugs, and association with drug users is a more reliable indicator of future drug use. Most of the evidence of this myth comes from correlation, and that simply does not mean causation. Anti-drug advocates would be better off trying to improve conditions in poor neighborhoods.

Talking About Marijuana Online Is a Risk

There are so many people talking about marijuana online (even fully admitting use) that the police couldn’t possibly attempt even a token arrest effort from online information. Additionally, any evidence provided online would be flimsy at best, and there are far more heinous (and legitimately threatening) crimes happening online that require police resources.

Using the internet to spread awareness and garner public support is important in the struggle to end the war on drugs and to develop fairer and more effective drug policies, so it is important to not shy away from speaking out. However, if you still think you’re being watched online as you discuss the benefits of marijuana, you can always utilize a proxy to keep anyone from discovering your identity.

Marijuana Makes One Susceptible to Commit Crime

There is no legitimate evidence whatsoever linking marijuana use with violent crime. The only way marijuana will make anyone more of a criminal is the criminal penalties attached to it in the first place, which is a direct result of the war on drugs.

The war’s propaganda is likely the source of this myth, as early on (and even now) every effort was made to demonize marijuana users. Since there was no restraint shown in the propaganda of the time, marijuana users still suffer from the stereotype of being out to ruin lives, rob stores and steal dreams. This has been shown to be a massive exaggeration.

What are some other common myths about cannabis you would like to see dispelled?

About the Author: Carla is a blogger and writer who regularly discusses political issues ranging from the war on drugs to the ways technology is growing more intertwined in politics. She hopes misinformation is removed as quickly as possible from the public consciousness so that there can be a real debate about medical marijuana and drug legalization.

Marijuana continues to be deemed illegal and dangerous to our health, even today, when many countries have legalized it. What can you do when it’s hard to shake off old beliefs? There are always (at least) two sides to every story when you consider the people who don’t find consuming marijuana unethical, but use is for inspiration, relaxation, and social bonding. Some bodybuilders use it as an aid, claiming that marijuana and training provides added force and focus to their lifting routines, while others avoid it because they believe it’s detrimental to their training.

What is the relationship between marijuana and training and the reasons behind it becoming a popular trend among athletes? Cannabis is used as an anti-inflammatory and pain-relief aid, as well as for avoiding anxiety, boredom, and fatigue during their recovery periods and exercises.

Marijuana and Training: Feelings of Bliss After A Workout

The THC in marijuana, the element that delivers the psychoactive effect, is received by the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system has an important role in the regulation of memory, emotions, pain-sensations, and appetite. A research was conducted at the University Medical Center of Hamburg-Eppendorf by Dr Johannes Fuss, who investigated “runner’s high,” the neurobiological mechanism that mediates the emotional benefits after exercise. He has concluded that the endocannabinoid system plays a critical role when it comes to the emotional aspects of training.

Cannabis – a performance enhancing substance?

Does marijuana make you feel stronger and help you endure intense workouts, or does it turn you into a couch potato? Whatever the general effects of THC may be, it all depends on your body’s chemical reactions. The effects vary from one individual to another.

In spite of being prohibited in the world of athletics, cannabis is at times found in athletes of all levels of performance, as revealed by doping control tests. It leads others to believe that it may enhance performance, but that is only partially true. Smoking too much marijuana will definitely decrease your performance and expose you to a greater risk of injury, caused by psychomotor alterations.

However, athletes, like runners, climbers, skiers, and snowboarders have praised cannabis for the benefits it provides their performance. Clifford Drusinsky, a Colorado gym owner, has told Men’s Journal in 2014 that marijuana relaxes him, allowing him to “go to a controlled, meditational place.” Some skiers said that, when skiing after the weed kicks in, they experience a slight, but very functional high that simply makes them a bit more fearless (however, while this may be good for an experienced skier, it can be a dangerous move for a novice). This can be explained this way: when the THC hits our cannabinoid receptors, it leads to an anxiety decrease, making an athlete feel somewhat more aggressive, which is a natural reaction to the drug.

Aids recovery

Now, this is the effect of marijuana that every athlete can benefit from, regardless of the sport. Marijuana has been recognized as a substance with great anti-inflammatory effects. Smoking moderate amounts of weed or consuming quality medical marijuana concentrates can help people deal with inflammation and pain, while improving their mood and decreasing anxiety levels, because the chemical compounds from the cannabis can mimic endorphins produced by the body. This can make it easier to go through a hard workout by increasing the pain threshold and make marijuana and training perhaps a viable path.

Marijuana also helps us mentally, by helping us deal with negative experiences and memories that may bring us into a state that prevents us from reaching our maximum. It also promotes muscle relaxation and improves sleep time (the importance of sleep for an athlete can’t be stressed enough).

Marijuana and Training – Couch Potatoes?

There is a stereotype concerning people who smoke weed – they are all couch potatoes and can’t be athletic. However, it is just because these athletes aren’t often outspoken about their experience. There is enough evidence that cannabis can help people deal with inflammation and pain, increase appetite, regulate sleep, improve mood, and reduce anxiety. On the other hand, it also has bad side effects in the form of decreased psychomotor functioning, which could lead to injuries and accidents. Some people simply get high and their muscle memory locks in, having them feel like they can’t miss. On the other hand, some people take a few puffs or bites and fall apart.

If you’re interested in trying cannabis as a form of aid in exercise, make sure you do you research on types of cannabis in order to find the one right for you. In case you have taken too much, it would perhaps be better to give up on going to the gym, at least until the high subsides because the relationship between marijuana and training is still up for debate.

For those tilting their heads, not knowing what Marijuana Crypto coins are, it is possibly the one meme that can change the way cannabis businesses conduct business. You’ve probably hear of Bitcoin and perhaps Ethereum coins, but what about marijuana crypto coins?  Imagine being able to pay for your legal pot with a crypto coin and all the privacy that brings?

It’s no secret that the industry is being held down by draconian banking regulations that force cannabis businesses into a cash only ghetto.  There has been lots of talk about how to get marijuana into the credit and fiat system with some pushing banking updates and others credit card to banking solutions, but up till now no real-world solutions and certainly no forward looking ones.  Enter Marijuana crypto coins which are all vying to be the cannabis business dealing crypto coin.  Some feel that the hurdle will still be to convert these coins into fiat (like US Dollar), but many others see it as a solution while others a number game and just the amount of Bitcoin ATMs in California should give rise to the notion of a successful movement of crypto to fiat.

So what are these non-fiat coins that we talk about?  Here’s a small guide for those wishing an entry into Marijuana crypto coins before 420 comes around and the expected rise in the coins’ values to come.

POT Coin – This Marijuana Crypto Coin which has been around since January 2014 is a favorite on one of the most popular Crypto Coin trading sites Poloniex. and even with the recent rise it is still considered to be heavily undervalued seeing as how it’s still under 10 cents a coin.

DOPE Coin Gold – Possibly the most promising marijuana crypto coin in the filed with strong community support and a fervent base of support.  Available on Bittrex, many dispensaries are using and are slated to add it.  They’ve also gotten lots of main stream press.

HEMP Coin (THC) – available on Bittrex, another popular trading platform, THC has recently been showing some support for moving beyond its all time high and many consider it undervalued at under a penny.

CANNA Coin (CCN) – Available on Bittrex and Cryptopia

MARIJUANA Coin (MAR) – Available on Cyptopia, another smaller exchange with endless amounts of coins. Even as 420 approaches, this coin has not seen the movement expected and is charting at under 2 cents a coin.

CANNABIS Coin (CANN) – Available on Bittrex, Cryptopia and yobit

HEMP Coin (HMP) – Available on a smaller exchange Yobit, this coin has not quite taken off yet

*Please note, we do not endorse any coin and we are not responsible for any trades you may make.  Like any other investment, you should look into the market and seek out professional advice before jumping in.

When you hear people forecast the cannabis industry being worth $35 billion by 2020, people become interested. When you realize this would mean it being worth more than the NFL and at a similar level to the confectionery industry, people become very interested. So what is the intersection of Better off Bowling and marijuana?

What makes the industry so attractive? Yes, many people love to smoke cannabis, but that isn’t the main reason. Whole communities are being created behind this industry and although the growth of these communities has not always been in the public eye, we need to remember that prohibition didn’t stop Americans drinking behind closed doors, and cannabis laws have not stopped them smoking either. Even with President Trump’s latest announcement that states where recreational marijuana is legal will be subject to “greater enforcement”, these ‘budding’ communities are likely to continue to grow – and companies will grow with them.

This idea of ‘community’ has aided the increased widespread acceptance of cannabis as a recreational and medicinal drug and consequently, companies focused on social networking and community building have jumped at the opportunity. Take for example, Better off Bowling. Better off Bowling run social coed bowling leagues across the country and market themselves as a fun, casual bowling league where the emphasis is placed upon socializing and meeting new people as opposed to competition. What relevance does this have to the cannabis industry? BOB recently set up the first cannabis industry bowling league in Denver, Colorado where teams in the league are formed with local cannabis dispensary staff, and serves as a means of networking and coming together to share ideas.

But this is the digital age, and networking and sharing ideas don’t always happen in person. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the platforms that the masses use to share pictures, thoughts and ideas with their social circles, but do these people want to share photos of themselves smoking cannabis on these same sites? Unlikely. Although recreational and medical marijuana continues to be legalized, people still feel uneasy about posting their smoking activities on social media for the world to see in case of repercussions. This is where MassRoots steps in. MassRoots allows users to share their cannabis experiences, meet like-minded people in their area, and stay up to date with local dispensaries and businesses while avoiding the awkward conversations on Facebook chat with disapproving family members, which is likely to happen on other social media platforms.

At the end of the day, whether we’re talking about Cannabis, or any product or service that serves as a means of bringing people together, the emphasis is always on creating a bond between members of that group. This is what companies like Better off Bowling and Massroots are trying to do and more companies are certainly destined to follow as these cannabis communities establish their roots and flourish.

Florida Amendment 2 marijuana legislation is in the news and some cities and counties are taking a Well, ‘Not Yet,’ Anyway attitude as they wait to see what happens in the state of Florida.

Since the late twentieth century, over half of the states in the U.S. passed initiatives that either decriminalized or legalized marijuana for various purposes.  With each election, more and more voters head to the polls to vote upon marijuana measures.  In fact during the 2016 election, 9 states considered proposals for expanded access to marijuana, both for recreational and medical use.  Florida, one of these 9 states, voted upon broadening access to medical marijuana through an amendment to their state constitution, known as Florida Amendment 2.  Florida’s citizens overwhelmingly supported the measure with 71% of the vote.  So now that Floridians enacted Amendment 2, what happens next?  Florida’s state and local governments must get to work.

Prior to the November election, a limited medical marijuana law existed in the state of Florida.  Essentially patients with extreme medical conditions could purchase and use either the weakest (low THC level) or non-smoked forms of marijuana through a prescription from their doctors.  Conditions covered by the 2014 law included cancer, epilepsy, chronic seizures, and chronic muscle spasms.  The law then expanded earlier in 2016 to include the treatment of patients suffering from terminal conditions with stronger (higher THC level) marijuana.

Florida Amendment 2 passage

With the passage of Amendment 2, access to medical marijuana for Floridians broadened even further.  Individuals suffering from “debilitating medical conditions” can now take medical marijuana if it has been proven to help alleviate symptoms and their physician believes the benefits outweigh the risks of beginning a marijuana regimen.  This means that Florida will need more dispensaries for marijuana, as the number of patients using the drug for medical purposes is expected to dramatically increase.  The amendment tasks the state’s Department of Health and the legislature with developing rules and regulations for ensuring that marijuana is only given to patients with a proven need, and not end up in the hands of individuals without approved medical conditions.  The amendment provides 6 months for the development of regulations and procedures, and asks that prescription identification cards for accessing medical marijuana be available within 9 months of the November election.

The necessary processes and regulations for medical marijuana distribution vary.  The legislature must consider how to regulate who receives medical marijuana identification cards, how to ensure that those cards come from licensed, trained physicians, and how to conduct background checks to make sure that people buying marijuana are actual patients or their identified caregivers.  Additionally, the amendment requires the regulation of new dispensaries throughout the state, including the proper location of such businesses and the security required for them.  This aspect is the primary place where local governments come in.  They must determine how and where the new dispensaries will be located within their districts so as to effectively provide medical marijuana, but also limit the risk of marijuana being sold to the wrong people.

Local Governments React to Florida Amendment 2

So how have local governments addressed these considerations so far?  Many cities and counties decided to place temporary moratoriums on the development of medical marijuana facilities in their areas.  Isn’t that going against the amendment, you might ask?  Well considering the fact that the amendment did not provide specifics on actually offering medical marijuana to a broader section of the public, many local governments feel they must wait to see what the state does first before trying to establish medical marijuana dispensaries in their districts.  Thus the moratoriums represent no more than a holding position for local entities as they figure out the best way to implement the new law.

Pulling records from the local governments covered in the Voterheads database, a wide variety of cities and counties considered motions in relation to medical marijuana since the November 8th election.  Thirty-seven local governments from our database reviewed proposals related to expanded use of medical marijuana.  Of these, 31 local governments debated whether or not to have a moratorium.  Of those entities considering a moratorium, 20 governments already passed a temporary moratorium, while the other 11 moratoriums remain under consideration.  The temporary moratoriums vary in length, with half of the moratoriums lasting for 6 months, 5 for a year, and 2 for 8 and 9 months, respectively.  Three local governments opted for the opposite approach and put shorter moratoriums in place, lasting 2-4 months, with the option to extend those as needed.  Most of the ordinances include provisions allowing the commission or council to shorten the moratoriums as needed.

The Intent of Florida Amendment 2

The intent of Florida Amendment 2 is clear: expand access to medical marijuana for debilitating medical conditions in a safe and efficient way.  Due to the fact that the amendment passed with a strong majority, the legislature and Department of Health appear to be moving quickly to develop the necessary regulations and processes needed to put the law into practice.  Many local governments will enact their own ordinances once they know the nature of these regulations, and the combined efforts of state and local governments will hopefully provide relief to many of Florida’s medically ill constituents.

Want to keep tabs on marijuana legislation and other topics you’re passionate about in your community?  Sign up for a free account at www.Voterheads.com.
Author Karl McCollester

The ballots are in and Massachusetts, California, Maine, and Nevada all voted in favor of recreational marijuana. Several other states made provisions for or expanded current provisions for medical marijuana. With pot on its way to being legalized in all 50 states, there is the hope that marijuana innovations in the industry keep on coming. From new edibles, drinkables, and topical solutions to innovative vaporizers and trimmers, there’s always something new for the casual or the regular smoker, or for the hemp product entrepreneur.

Marijuana Innovations – Edibles

High Times Magazine does a good job of ranking all things marijuana. And if you thought that edibles were limited to brownies and cookies, think again. It is a good idea to know your tolerance and match it up with the product’s dosage. That said, there are too many products to list in this article, but here are a few:

• Cheba Chews Deca Dose
  If you’re fond of taffy, then this a product you can enjoy. Packing a 175mg dose of the green in every chew, Cheba Chews come on strong and fast. The taste is a bit grassy, due mostly to the high dose.
• Purple Star Gummies
  If gummy bears are more your thing, then you’re covered there, too. With 200mg of THC per gummy, one gummy should have you buzzing for a good while.

Marijuana Innovations – Drinkables

If you’d rather drink your cannabis, well, you can do that, too. There’s also a website that ranks the best tasting marijuana drinks out there.

• Catapult Coffee Pod
  Want your THC buzz but still need to get up and go to work? Well, there’s now marijuana-infused coffee. Unfortunately, they’re currently only available in Washington State. It’s also a fairly expensive cup of coffee, at $10 per pod.
• Canna Cola
  Like soda? Canna Cola is probably the best known in the marijuana industry offering drinks. With soda named things like Doc Weed and Orange Kush, you can see why. Canna Cola is sold in states that offer medical marijuana.

Marijuana Innovations – Vaporizers

Marijuana Vaporizers have come a long way since the desktop models that offered little in the way of temperature control. Now, there are portable vaporizers that act as an all-in-one, allowing you to burn concentrates, e-liquid, and dry herb. Recently an abrupt popularity is detected among electronic cigarettes. Those are considered an alternative to regular cigarettes with less harmful effects and a higher cost effectiveness. Vaporization industry shows a lot of perspective and has many opportunities to evolve in the future.

Marijuana Innovations – Hemp Airlines

Okay, so it’s not an actual airline… yet. But the world’s first hemp-based and hemp-fueled airplane is underway. Canadian-based Hempearth Group, Ltd. It will consist of no less than 75% hemp, which helps to reduce the plane’s carbon footprint. Unfortunately, no, you won’t be able to smoke it. It hopes to take flight in 2017.

Marijuana Innovations – Hemp Adobe Homes

Want a house that’s eco-friendly, inexpensive, and will help you keep energy expenses low? Try a hemp adobe home. This home can be erected in a manner of days instead of months, is sound-insulating, and heats and cools through convection. Entrepreneur Kevin Hodge is looking to change the way people think of and build homes with this idea.

Marijuana Innovations – Green Broz Marijuana Trimmer

If you cultivate, especially on a larger scale, hand-trimming your buds can be a pain in the you-know-what. Enter Green Broz, who hope to help you with that problem. They have developed a dry-marijuana trimmer to get your bud trimmed and trimmed perfectly. The size of an old desktop computer, the trimmer is a top-loader style with slowly rotating blades and gently rolling to ensure the quality of the cut. Capable of handling up to ¾ a pound (more for commercial models), it can finish a load in 10-15 minutes, depending on the flower.

Undoubtedly, more and more states will continue to legalize recreational cannabis consumption and make provisions for medical consumption of marijuana. As it becomes more legal and acceptable, the industry will continue to produce innovations. The future of the marijuana industry is looking bright. Here’s to the innovators and entrepreneurs who have come before and will come in the future.

Author

Michael is a marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com with primary focus on customer satisfaction. Technology and fitness combined healthy lifestyle obsession are his main talking points

Water Pipes for the health and taste

When smoking your herb, you want to ensure that you get the best possible outcome every time. You want a big hit, a smooth taste and all the flavours of your weed. The best way to ensure that all these factors are met and more is to smoke using bongs & water pipes. Believe it or not, there are so many benefits that using a bong has as opposed to using another smoking method. Bongs or a water pipe will include limited negative effects to your health and provide quick and easy operation when compared to a joint.

Firstly, stoners may favor using a bong as it delivers a much bigger hit than any other smoking method. With masses of space between the mouth piece and bowl you can pack every inch with clean, filtered smoke. Joints on the other hand deliver an often unexpected amount of hot smoke that can easily send new users into coughing fits, putting them off the herb for good!

Using a bong or water pipe is a far healthier method of smoking than the joint. This is due to the fact that as the smoke is filtered through the water, it does not reach as high a combustion level as it would of inside a joint. The effect of the smoke being forced through the water acts as both a cooler and a filter. The cooler the smoke the less scratchy and harsh it is when inhaled. As you can imagine, the smoke inside the joint is only centimeters away from a red hot ash volcano! Would you rather inhale a frosty cool breeze or a hot fiery one?

Water Pipe and Bongs

When you have smoked using your water pipe or bong a few times, you may get a yellowish tint on the inside of the tubing. This is a build-up of toxins that have stuck to the glass after every hit you have taken. The water inside the chamber can also start to turn a brownish color after a lot of smoking, you can see how this has prevented even more toxins from entering your body when you’ve taken a hit. Up to 40% of harmful toxins are prevented from entering your body thanks to the water filtration!

Bongs come in many different shapes and sizes – you can even choose from a range of different materials you want! Some examples of these include metal, glass, ceramic, plastic and even bamboo.

Joints always look like joints, but with bongs you can accessorize and mod! This could be done by purchasing a bong with a percolator for example. A percolator works by taking the smoke into a separate chamber and then dissecting the smoke hundreds of times within small glass piping, this makes your smoke smoother and tastier. Percolators can come in many different shapes and sizes. You can also customise your bong with different utensils. Some examples of these are precoolers, different bowls, diffusers and even ash catchers.

There are so many hidden bonuses that smoking using a bong or water pipe has. They are healthier, tastier, attractive and offer you a bigger hit – what more could you want? You can find these incredible smoking tools  online at shops such as herbtools.co.uk/bongs.html with prices starting as low as $10! At Herbtools you can find all types of smoking accessories and headshop goodies.

Nine years ago, Alex Rogers, co-owner of Marijuana Politics, was released from a German prison, where he had finished serving a six-month sentence for cannabis related offenses. He was 35 years old and completely broke. He had been living in Europe for seven years and upon his release from prison, decided to move back to the United States, to, as he puts it, “get my shit together”. And, get his shit together he did. A year and a half after returning to the states, Rogers graduated magna cum laude in Political Science from Southern Oregon University.

Not long after graduating college, he started one of Oregon’s most successful medical marijuana clinic businesses. “Though my degree was not in business, because of the politically charged cannabis industry, my degree has helped me with my business endeavors more than I could have ever imagined”.

After building his clinic business, Rogers started the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) and the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC), two of the preeminent cannabis business conferences in the country. One of his proudest achievements is the OMMBC because he has gotten such positive feedback from attendees and colleagues that are now thriving in the burgeoning Oregon marijuana market.

Rogers stated that, “The OMMBC was our first conference, our baby, and we have worked diligently to build the OMMBC brand and improve upon previous events.” Rogers is not just a businessman, he is also one of Oregon’s top cannabis activists, organizing thousands of emails and phone calls to Oregon legislators last spring.

Rogers attributes much of his success to his activist ideology. “I have a tremendous amount of encouragement and help from many good people. Being a good business person starts with being a good member of the community at large.” Rogers describes the current cannabis industry landscape in Oregon as “Booming”. “I have lived in California, Amsterdam, and Switzerland (1999 when weed was virtually legal in the country), and I have never seen anything like what is currently happening in Oregon. It is inspiring”.

Currently, Rogers is starting up two new cannabis businesses, and with his Midas touch, I for one, am not betting against him. Rogers is also currently in negotiations with a venue in Berlin to produce the first European ICBC next summer. Rags to riches stories, like Rogers, are becoming less uncommon in the cannabis industry, as many newbie canna-millionaires had the misfortune of spending time in prison for activities they now conduct legally.

If you are interested in learning more about the Oregon cannabis industry from Alex and other industry experts by attending the upcoming Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference on September 12-13 in Portland, please visit www.ommbc.com.

The firing of Oregon’s Marijuana Czar, Tom Burns, understandably rocked the Oregon cannabis community and everyone involved with developing prospective legislation and regulation that would implement marijuana legalization in the Beaver State. At first, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) was silent about why their Director of Marijuana Programs was fired, but as Marijuana Politics scooped first, it was eventually announced that Burns was fired for leaking an internal OLCC document, lying about leaking it and trying to cover his tracks by deleting the emails proving that he was the leak. I have coined this scandal “Burnsgate” and  like Watergate and many other scandals, the coverup was what led to a government official’s downfall.

The OLCC stated that the recipient of the leak, Portland attorney Amy Margolis, Director of the Oregon Cannabis PAC (formerly knows as the Oregon Growers PAC), had no culpability in the leak from their point of view. I have learned that Ms. Margolis curiously shared a picture of a computer screen (not a screen shot, but an actual picture) with the leaked document on it with at least one person and she didn’t just forward the email from Burns, showing that he sent the document to her. As members of the media inevitably start looking over all of Mr. Burns’ emails, it will be very interesting to see what more details emerge. It is certain that many questions remain regarding both Mr. Burns and Ms. Margolis, including these 13:

1. Why did Tom Burns leak the document to Amy Margolis in the first place? (Was it a policy decision or a personal decision or another reason?)

2. Why did Tom Burns lie about being the source of the leak? (Was it just a heat of the moment lapse or was there some thought behind it?)

3. Why would Tom Burns be willing to risk a prominent government job, paying him more than $100,000 a year, to leak an internal document to a lobbyist and then lie about leaking it?

4. Did Burns tell Ms. Margolis that she needed to keep the document, or source of the document, secret?

5. Did Burns tell Ms. Margolis that this was just a working, unfinished document?

6. If Burns did tell Margolis that it was a working document, how did she characterize the document when she shared it? Margolis’ characterization of the letter to other parties could potentially bring up ethical issues for her as an attorney and possibly as a lobbyist.

7. Was it Burns’ decision to lie about the leak his alone, or were he and Margolis in contact after the leak, strategizing together?

8. Will Burns speak publicly about this leak and his motive for leaking it and then lying about leaking it?

9. Does Amy Margolis agree with Geoff Sugerman, another lobbyist for the Oregon Cannabis PAC,  when he stated to the Willamette Week that the leaked document was not meant to be a confidential, internal document and that the leaked document had been floating around the capitol for “at least a week, if not more”?

10. If this document wasn’t meant to be confidential and had been floating around the capitol for “at least a week, if not more” why would Amy Margolis take a photo of her computer screen when sharing the document? Why not just forward the email from Tom Burns?

11. Did Amy Margolis register as a lobbyist in accordance with the law? As of March 2nd, she was not registered as a lobbyist and the Russ Belvile Show broke on Twitter that an ethics complaint has been levied against Ms. Margolis. (Russ Belville does contribute blogs for Marijuana Politics.)

12. Has Amy Margolis registered as a lobbyist? And if so, did she do so before legally obligated?

13. Will Amy Margolis suffer any punishment from the Oregon State Bar or the Oregon Government Ethics Commission because of her role in this leak or if it is found that she didn’t legally register as a lobbyist?

14. What will this scandal do to legislation favored by Amy Margolis and her PAC, such as Senate Bill 936 and House Bill 2676?

15. Will this scandal impact Ms. Margolis, or other members of her PAC, if they submitted applications to sit on the OLCC Measure 91 Rules Advisory Committee?

16. What was Ms. Margolis’ motivation in sharing the leaked document?

17. Will this scandal hinder Margolis and her PAC in their efforts to lobby for SB 936, HB 2676 or other reforms that they support?

18. What do members of the Oregon Cannabis PAC (again, formerly the Oregon Growers PAC) think about Margolis’ role in this leak and the firing of Tom Burns?

19. Will this scandal hinder Margolis’ ability to recruit new members to her PAC, that costs $10,000 to join this legislative session?

20. Will this scandal hurt Margolis’ law firm, the Emerge Law Group, especially if she is sanctioned by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission or the Oregon State Bar?

21. Will Amy Margolis speak publicly on the record to discuss this leak and her role in it?

As you can see, many questions remain, as my 21 questions are really even more than 21 and answers to these questions will likely lead to even more questions. Following the fall from grace of Governor John Kitzhaber, it is amazing that Tom Burns felt that he could leak this document, lie about it and that hitting “delete” would adequately cover his tracks. It seems clear that the coverup was worse than the leak as leaking the document may not have led to his firing.

Instead of coming clean, one of Oregon’s most prominent state officials was willing to throw away a six-figure salary with great state benefits as well as his legacy. Regardless of how these 21+ questions get answered, I am willing to bet that this is a story that won’t simply go away as it seems that there must be more to this story as it really baffles the mind as to why a high-ranking government official would be willing to put his career in such danger over a rather trivial matter. Stay tuned to Marijuana Politics as we continue our coverage and breaking news.

MARIJUANA POLITICS BROKE THE NEWS FIRST

I have learned from an anonymous source with intimate details of the ouster of Tom Burns, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s Director of Marijuana Programs for the past three months, was partly due to an improper leak of a work-in-progress internal document that was being reviewed by OLCC staff. Tom Burns leaked the working document to Oregon attorney Amy Margolis who then shared the document with others. The release of the working document caused headaches for the OLCC and complicated the process of reaching a consensus on important issues regarding the regulation of marijuana in Oregon. Apparently, Burns lied about the leak and tried to cover his tracks.

It has been common knowledge among the marijuana community that Ms. Margolis and Mr. Burns were very close allies. Margolis, in addition to being an attorney, is the Director and founder of the Oregon Cannabis PAC, formerly knows as the Oregon Growers PAC. The PAC has hired lobbyist (and dispensary owner and grower) Geoff Sugerman as well as the firm State Street Solutions. It is unclear if the leaking of this document has any confidentiality or ethical concerns for Ms. Margolis and her PAC. While the OLCC is claiming that she has no culpability in the matter,  I am curious as to how the Oregon Ethics Commission or the Oregon State Bar will feel about Amy Margolis’ role if Burns told Margolis that it was a working policy document and she characterized it differently to whoever she showed the document to, for instance. Additionally, if reporters get a hold of his emails (as I imagine they will), will there be more damaging information released, for both Burns and Margolis?

The Oregon cannabis world, both stakeholders and politicians working on the issue, were left in shock over the firing of Tom Burns, who had become one of the most prominent Oregon state officials in recent months. First tasked with overseeing the implementation of state-licensed medical marijuana facilities by the Oregon Health Authority, Burns was a natural choice to lead the OLCC’s recreational marijuana program. Unfortunately for Mr. Burns, he apparently trusted Ms. Margolis to either not share the document or he thought that the leak couldn’t be traced back to him. There have been reports that Burns had clashed with OLCC Commissioner Rob Patridge, but the leak was apparently the final straw.

This will likely be a very big story in Oregon, not just for the marijuana angle, but for the state government transparency issue as the state is still recovering from the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber and his alleged unethical behavior. It will be interesting to watch this story unfold. Check back to Marijuana Politics for more details as the story develops.