I am convinced that the cannabis community eventually thinks of everything. Don’t believe me, name all of the things that marijuana smokers have used to consume cannabis, homemade or otherwise. You could probably count for days. Also, how many cannabis strains are there? Whether the strain names are accurate in any way, or meaningless, the cannabis community have thought up a lot of various strains.

Literally all forms of art have been enhanced by artists that have consumed cannabis to get the creative juices flowing. Whenever I run into the dying breed of people that think that cannabis consumers should go to prison, I request that they never listen to any of Beatles, or whatever music they may like, or watch any of their favorite movies or TV shows, as it is very likely that those artistic endeavors were aided by marijuana smokers.

Now that we are legalizing and regulating marijuana across the nation, the cannabis community is now more free to use those same creative talents in the business realm. Of course, ganja entrepreneurs will continue to devise the next cannabis extract, infused product or smoking/vaping device, but they will also branch out and combine marijuana with other business ideas.

As Marijuana Politics blogger and cannabis comic extraordinaire Ngaio Bealum often touts, marijuana tends to make everything in life better. Ngaio dreams of opening his Bud and Breakfast because staying at a bed and breakfast can be enjoyable, but if the cannabis community can also utilize marijuana there, they will appreciate the stay even more.

Enterprising Colorado entrepreneurs have taken this cannabis combo idea to the gas station as KOAA in Colorado Springs reports:

A new business model in the marijuana industry is about to open it’s doors. It’s called Gas and Grass and the stores combine a traditional gas station with a marijuana dispensary. Denver based Native Roots will open its first two Gas and Grass locations in Colorado Springs next month, one at West Uintah and 17th Street, the other Academy and Galley.

“It’s really just kind of pairing the convenience in one specific stop,” said company spokesperson Tia Mattson.

She explained the dispensary will have its own separate entrance and must follow all the same rules and restrictions that apply to all other medical marijuana stores in Colorado. The gas station, like all gas stations, will be open to the public.

While I must first offer the disclaimer that no one should drive impaired under any substance or circumstance. Next, I will offer up that I think that this is an ingenious idea. I live in Portland, Oregon, and stereotypically drive a Prius. I hardly ever have to get gas and when I do, a gas station attendant pumps the gas for me, yet I hate getting gas.

Buying gas is an inconvenience and can be time-consuming when you are in a hurry for a meeting or other event and you forgot that you are about out of gas. However, I imagine that being able to purchase some Northern Lights or Blue City Diesel may just take the sting out of the inconvenience. You can fill up, acquire cannabis and know that you aren’t just putting money into the pockets of oil executives, but also into your local economy, including your neighborhood schools. I wonder what the cannabis community and the burgeoning marijuana industry will think of next?

Featured photo credit: KOAA Channel 5

Anthony Johnson

Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.