Dipstick Vapes Unveils ‘Ocean Blue’ Dipper to Benefit Oceana

As we head into springtime and with Earth Day on the horizon, companies are stepping up with donations to help benefit global charitable organizations, the latest of which is Dipstick Vapes. The popular vaporizer company that’s made waves in the industry with their Dipper vaporizer, is now making waves of a different kind. They’ve unveiled a special ‘Ocean Blue’ edition of the Dipper, of which 5 percent of sales proceeds will be donated to oceanic conservancy charity, OceanaContinue reading Dipstick Vapes Unveils ‘Ocean Blue’ Dipper to Benefit Oceana

Herban Planet Launches Marijuana Into Space (Because They Can)

Winning the “Most Interesting Weed News” Award today, Herban Planet has successfully launched Space Weed Bro marijuana into space. Why? Because they can, and to promote the launch of their new products, which will be available for purchase exclusively at Level Up dispensary in Phoenix. Continue reading Herban Planet Launches Marijuana Into Space (Because They Can)

Fall Harvest Means Cannabis Testing Laboratories Running at Full Capacity

This guest article was provided by Kaylei Conor, a writer on the legal cannabis landscape.

EVIO Labs across the country prepare for farmers bounty.

Author – Kaylei Conor (@kayleiconor)

September means football season for fans who love the NFL and NCAA, and it also means back to school for millions of college students. In recent years, September has also come to mean that it’s harvest season for the nation’s newest legal cash crops: Cannabis.

It wasn’t that long ago that the only data generated from the annual fall cannabis harvest was that of arrest records published by law enforcement and photo-ops of thousands of cannabis plants seized by the DEA.  This year, Wall Street research analysts will have their eyes glued on the results of this year’s coast-to-coast cannabis harvest like never before, as more and more cannabis and cannabis-related deals are trading on public exchanges for investors to take advantage of what is arguably the fastest growing agricultural sector in the world. Continue reading Fall Harvest Means Cannabis Testing Laboratories Running at Full Capacity

First Ever African-American Owned Cannabis Grow Opens in Nevada

As Nevada’s recreational marijuana market begins to mature, the state is seeing a massive amount of demand for weed – they are even struggling to keep it on the pot shop shelves! One new enterprise is in the “City of Lights” is GFive Cultivation, the first ever African-American owned and operated cannabis cultivation operation licensed in Nevada. It’s breaking new ground in the industry and officially starting their first harvest.

Created by childhood friends Larry Smith and Shawn Holman, GFive Cultivation is a family-owned and operated lifestyle brand that specializes in providing ethically grown premium grade medical marijuana. The “green” product will sell in licensed dispensaries and production facilities in the Las Vegas area. Additionally, mogul Damon Dash joined the company to provide strategic marketing initiatives to promote growth and build visibility.

“Although new and emerging, we’re entering the Green Rush, not for us, but for our community,” states Founder and CEO, Larry Smith. “GFive is not only a company but a family building a business enterprise and creating a lasting legacy for the next generation. For our community far and near, we want to provide a positive outlook to the community and exercise financial freedom, legally.”

Officially growing now, GFive Cultivation will produce more than 20 strains including Gorilla Glue Gelato, Platinum Girl Scout Cookies, Kimber Kosher and Panama Red in customized packages to all licensed dispensaries.

Learn more about their operations here.

Photos: G Five Cultivation

Edibles, Made with Love [Spotlight on Love’s Oven]

It’s all about connection.

Edibles are hot in the cannabis market right now, since they provide endless ways to get high without smoking. From beverages like High Tea to even chocolate bars, it seems like the sky really is the limit! In this article, we share Love’s Oven’s unique story, as told by one who knows it best, Peggy Moore.

What is your name and title?

Peggy Moore, Partner at Love’s Oven

How / Why did you get into the cannabis industry?

My father-in-law suffered from Alzheimer’s and my Mom has epilepsy.   Seeing the amazing relief and effects this plant can have on people is what initially got me interested in the industry.  Then in 2011 an opportunity became available to be part of Love’s Oven and I decided that this industry could be an opportunity for me to help others as well as to put to use my 33 years of health insurance experience in a small business environment.

What do you like most about cannabis?

The thing that I enjoy the most about cannabis is how it brings people together.  It’s an industry and culture that connects passionate people.  What’s beautiful is when you’re at a cannabis related event and seeing people from all different backgrounds coming together in one space.  It’s all about connection.

What sets Love’s Oven apart from its competitors?

At this point I believe all of our competitors are making great products.  What we really strive for is making sure that we consistently are above the bar when it comes to quality assurance and compliance.  We have an entire Quality Assurance team in place at Love’s Oven who have developed and implement our Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety programs as well as other programs such as HACCP and OSHA.

How do you ensure that your products are the best they can be?

At Love’s Oven we are hyper critical of the quality of product that is shipped from our facility.  Every individual product is physically and visually inspected by one of our employees before it is packaged.  In addition to these inspection points every individual piece is placed into its own sealed wrapper to ensure freshness and combat any outside elements from reaching the product before the consumer opens it.  We also have a program where we “secret shop” our own products at the store level and buy them back and we conduct additional quality assurance tests on those products to make sure they meet our standards even after they leave our facility.

Do you have any customers who want to try edibles for the first time?

We’ve been fortunate to have some pretty good local and national media exposure over the years and it’s inevitable whenever a story runs about us we always receive calls from customers who want to try our products for various reasons.  Our biggest thing with first time edible users is know your limits…  The tagline we created at Cannabis Business Alliance during an educational campaign we were running for edibles is Start Low – Go Slow.  That means start out with a very low dosage of THC and wait to feel the effects (up to two hours) before you take anymore!

What is the Cannabis Business Alliance and what role do you play in it?

I am the Executive Chair for the Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA) which is an industry leading resource and trade association for business owners. We advocate for sensible and collaborative public policy that protects employees, patients, and clients of the medical and retail marijuana industry. We promote values that enhance the emerging cannabis industry’s role in the state’s business economy, build respect for the industry in the communities we serve, and support client and patient access, education, and safety.

Do you enjoy using cannabis? If so, what is your favorite strain?

I’ve been known to use our products on occasion!  It’s a great alternative to a couple glasses of wine after a long day of work as well as a fun addition to anything adventurous.  As far as strains go I’m a big fan of the indica strains for relaxing and I’d have to say my favorite at the moment is Northern Lights.

How do you like to customize your marijuana experience?

When I use cannabis it’s usually to relax.  Typically, that involves shutting out all distractions (no screens of any kind…phone, computer, iPad, TV, etc.) and enjoying the company I am with.

What is your favorite of Love’s Oven products?

Our Rosemary Cheddar Crackers are absolutely my favorite.  They are amazing as a snack on their own or mixed in your favorite soup.

How has marijuana helped define who you are?

Cannabis has really given me that opportunity to go after that “second career” that I’ve always wanted.  My first career was very rewarding and successful but this allows me to really pursue my passions and be a creator and innovator.

Additionally, Love’s Oven is a true family business.  My partners in the company are two of my sons, Joshua and Walter and my sister, Teresa.  I never dreamed that I would own a marijuana business with my boys and sister but it’s really brought an already strong family bond even closer together.

How have you dealt with canna-bias throughout the years?

I’d say the best way to deal with “canna-bias” is communication.  The biggest part of that communication is listening and being open to why someone might be biased.  You never know what kind of story they may have but be willing to listen and really care about what they have to say.

What products have you most recently released?

Love’s Oven has recently gone through a full re-branding exercise with new logo and packaging graphics.  With that we “revamped” some of our product offerings by adding on a couple of new high CBD products on both the medical and adult use side.  We also launched our concentrate company called Concentrated Love which produces shatter, wax, CBD sap, rosin, live resin, etc…  In the very near future be on the lookout for a line of Love’s Oven “Sweets” (gummies and confections) and “Chocolates”.

Where can people find your products?

Love’s Oven is fortunate enough to be distributed throughout Colorado through both medical and adult use stores.  Without our great customers we wouldn’t be here so a big shout out and thank you to everyone who stocks Love’s Oven.  And…if you don’t have Love’s Oven on the shelves yet give us a shout and we’ll show you some Love!

In your opinion, what is the biggest benefit to legalized marijuana?

I’d like to comment on two of the biggest benefits.  Legalized marijuana has, as reports show, greatly reduced the black market which has a whole host of benefits.  Additionally, the other big benefit is quality.  Consumers are getting a much better product nowadays…and who doesn’t love that!?

What do you believe the future of marijuana holds?

Expansion and acceptance.  I think we need to keep our lines of communication with our community, city, state and federal leaders and work with them to show that legalized marijuana is an amazing thing.  With that, as we saw in the past November elections, we will continue to see states and municipalities legalizing marijuana.

What are you working on next?

Love’s Oven is working on expanding into other markets.  We’re working on expanding (cautiously) into Oregon, California and Nevada…hope to see you out there!

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Maybe just our new tagline…which we think is appropriate when making any decisions (especially what kind of edible to try): Choose Wisely – Choose Love

Learn more about Love’s Oven here on their website.

 

Photos: Toke Tank, Love’s Oven

MMJ: Precision Dosing with Ardent

I love that we are finally beginning to see mainstream patients turn to cannabis a legitimate option.

Cooking with cannabis is fun, enjoyable and many times, medically necessary, but how do you know you are doing it correctly? With weed science being something that not everyone is an expert in, we’re glad to see companies like Ardent filling the void. Keep reading to learn more about Shanel Lindsay, Founder and President of Ardent, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Northeast Cannabis Coalition.

What is your name and title?

Shanel Lindsay, Esq., Founder and President of Ardent

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How / Why did you get into the cannabis industry?

I’ve been a medical marijuana patient for more than 15 years, and consistently struggled to dose accurately with my medicine. I eventually began testing my material in the laboratory, and was amazed to discover the loss that occurs when using kitchen tools to make cannabis medicine. I realized I could develop a technology to help any patients to consume cannabis in the right dosage and form they were seeking. That’s when I created the decarboxylator. It allows patients to transform the plant into an accurate therapy at the touch of a button. With a streamlined, precision device, the patient gets peace of mind knowing that this important has been done correctly and the ability to make any cannabis product at a fraction of the cost.

What do you like most about cannabis?

The positive health benefits of course; the fact that consuming cannabis helps people with both chronic and short term illnesses. I also love that we are finally beginning to see mainstream patients turn to cannabis a legitimate option.

We’ve heard great things about Ardent and your new decarboxylator. Can you tell us more about it? How does it work? Why is decarboxylation important for cannabis consumers?

Decarboxylation refers to the process of converting raw cannabis into its active bioavailable form, and it’s a critical step for administration.  Done with imprecise tools (like the oven or the crockpot) wastes around 30% of the available medicine, costing patients a ton of money and making accurate dosing impossible. Our decarboxylator uses dual precision sensors, a fully encapsulating heating core and decarb algorithm to deliver precise, permeating heating cycles that perfectly activate flower, kief, trim, or concentrate. Patients save money and have a simple, discreet way to make any cannabis product, including edibles, topicals, and sublingual therapies.

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Do you enjoy using cannabis? If so, what is your favorite strain?

Absolutely. On the uplifting, energetic side my favorites are Sour Tangie, Dream Queen, Clementine, Stardawg.  For pain and inflammation I steer towards Kosher Kush, OG Kush and Cookies strains.

How do you like to customize your marijuana experience?

I like to incorporate my cannabis therapy into an overall health and wellness plan. I pair my medicine with different dietary elements in order to enhance the effects. I like fresh made edibles, so I often decarb flower or kief in the morning so I can blend mix it in with my meals throughout the day.

How has marijuana helped define who you are?

Cannabis, and really the fact that it has been illegal and so stigmatized has for sure shaped who I am.  I saw early on that I was going to have to develop a thick skin and fighting spirit to defend my own freedom and push to change the perceptions around this amazing plant.  Becoming a professional and parent, it was hurtful not only to be judged for cannabis use, but to see the devastating effects of the racially and socioeconomically biased war on drugs. But there is an overwhelming joy in this struggle, when that change is made, and you can see firsthand people taking control of their health, and for some, finding relief when there was no hope left. In a deeper sense, it has shown me the fallacy in judging or condemning things before fully understanding them.

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What is the Northeast Cannabis Coalition? What part do you take in the group?

I am Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Northeast Cannabis Coalition, and we are a group of cannabis business owners who are dedicated to ensuring that cannabis legalization rolls out the right way, both in Massachusetts and as adult use spreads across the Northeast. We are focused on empowering small business owners and entrepreneurs, providing them opportunities to network, expand their businesses, and connect with funding sources.  Our Startup High entrepreneur and investor showcase was the first of its kind in Massachusetts and we are excited for this year’s event as well as focused development sessions we are hosting for entrepreneurs in the space.

How have you dealt with canna-bias throughout the years?

Science and data.  People fear or ridicule cannabis most often because they are uninformed. You’d be surprised how quickly just one data point or study can begin to open a skeptic’s mind to the possibilities.

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In your opinion, what is the biggest benefit to legalized marijuana?

Safety, access and equity. When cannabis is illegal, there are no protections for patients, many of whom are often already very sick.  With legal cannabis comes standards and the ability to access the variety necessary to determine the right material and administration method for the patient or the person using for wellness. Legalizing cannabis begins to dismantle the biased enforcement mechanism, an important step toward true equality in civil rights.

Tell us a little about the Massachusetts Patients Advocacy Alliance.

MPAA is the primary stakeholder for the Massachusetts medical cannabis program. The MPAA represents a coalition of cannabis patients, providers, and organizations that worked to pass Question 3 to legalize medical marijuana in 2012. MPAA fights for implementation of MA’s medical marijuana program, and is on the front lines advocating for patient access both at the state and level. The executive leadership and our advisory board works with a base of over 15,000 supporters to impact safe access through educational endeavors and direct advocacy with elected officials and in cities and towns across the state.

In your opinion, how has the recent trends in the recreational cannabis industry affected medical marijuana patients?

We bear the huge responsibility of protecting medical patients and the medical program as we move towards adult use. The two programs (medical vs. adult use for health and wellness) absolutely need to remain separate.  For patients, accessing tax-free medicine is critical, and there are certain strains and products that medical patients need that aren’t commercially popular. A safe space for patients will always be crucial, and we as an industry need to advocate for those protections.

What do you believe the future of marijuana holds?

While it’s tough to say what will happen on the federal level, there was an overwhelming and very public acceptance of cannabis last election day.  More people are understanding the hypocrisy of prohibition and realizing the potential of cannabis and hemp.  There is no going back once a person is personally impacted, so I expect we will continue to see a strong focus and interest on cannabis legalization and advocacy efforts throughout the nation.

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What are you working on next?

We are expanding to better serve demand, both in the U.S. and abroad. Launching our line of consumables is also top priority. Patients are constantly contacting us, especially requesting the sublingual administration methods, which to me are one of our most exciting developments.

Learn more about Ardent here on their website.

 

Photos: Courtesy of Ardent

Lighting the Cannabis Industry Afire – Spotlight on Joshua Haupt

[The cannabis industry] is going to be massive; a major game changer.

Medical cannabis has been transforming people’s lives for longer than we can count; the history of marijuana use goes as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, possibly even earlier. We know you love hearing about the journeys of successful cannabis industry players, so read on for a look into the story of Joshua de Best Haupt, author of Three A Light, to learn why he got started in the world of weed, hear about his products and find out how it’s transformed his life so far. Continue reading Lighting the Cannabis Industry Afire – Spotlight on Joshua Haupt

Toke Tank’s 3rd Annual Green Gold 420 Awards

Happy Holi-BLAZE! Can you believe it’s already 4/20 again?!

The holiday of choice for pot smokers has arrived and with it comes Toke Tank’s 3rd annual Green Gold 420 Awards. We are so excited to be continuing this award and honoring not only the fine growers of Washington’s legal marijuana under I-502, but also throwing kudos to the amazing strains we’ve smoked and reviewed in the past year. Continue reading Toke Tank’s 3rd Annual Green Gold 420 Awards

What Does 4/20 Mean To You?

4/20: A Time for Celebration and Reflection

Tomorrow the marijuana world will be celebrating a holiday that’s been around for decades, but has only recently become mainstream acceptable since the advent of legalization. Now that eight states and counting have ended marijuana prohibition, 4/20 is a day celebrated with even more pride. We asked several cannabis business owners why they celebrate the holiday and what it means to them; here’s what they had to say. Continue reading What Does 4/20 Mean To You?

How to Keep Edibles Safe at Your Next Party

Most parties these days feature marijuana, either in the form of edibles or flowers, in addition to alcohol and banging music. Thanks to the recent passage of legalization in several new states, this will be an increasingly common occurrence at gatherings.

Marijuana helps people unwind, relax and have more fun than usual, but if you aren’t aware that you are partaking in an edible, the experience may not be so positive.

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Toke Tank’s The Queen of Clovers (Beth) recently shared some advice with Men’s Journal about keeping edibles safe at a party; click this link to read the article!

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Photo: Unsplash