PurTec: Consumer Safety-Focused Vape Hardware

10/25/2021

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The vape industry has not stopped its momentum since entering the cannabis space. But after a near-decade of developing hardware and extraction methods that feature the best flavor or vapor, the market is still far behind in consumer safety. That is precisely why Corey Mangold founded PurTec in 2020 — their company mission is focused on consumer safety, specifically when it comes to wholly tested and safely built vape technology. Before PurTec, Corey founded Orchid Essentials in 2017, but since 2020 his focus has been on designing, engineering, and manufacturing PurTec products.

“The reason why consumer safety is so important to me is that it’s the one thing that this industry has not done that is a massive threat to the industry,” said CEO and Founder Corey Mangold. “If we’re putting out products that are unsafe yet people think they are safe, we’re going to have a major issue on our hands.”

PurTec works with manufacturing partners in Shenzhen, China, and testing partners in Switzerland, Canada, and California. PurCore F1 and PurCore R1 are the only vape delivery systems on the market that are emissions-tested and engineered with medical-grade surgical stainless steel. U.S. vape regulations only require heavy metals testing but cannabis labs tend to analyze the oils at room temperature. The issue with this is that consumers heat the oil before inhaling it. Applying heat not only changes the cannabinoids and terpenes, heat can also promote the degradation of cartridge components.

Vape components can contain nickel, cadmium, chromium, and lead. Corey has unpacked low-grade ceramic vape components that came out of their box with a puff of ceramic dust. When vape cartridges use these products, the dust can leach into oils and be inhaled. Unfortunately, inhaling any of these metals or ceramic dust can lead to serious health complications. PurTec’s testing lab partners all apply long-accepted AFNOR standards emissions tests.

“There’s not a single cartridge out there that I will use aside from PurTec and that’s not because it’s my company, it’s because I’ve seen the proof in the science,” said Corey.

PurTec goes out of its way to build safe products that produce a tasty vapor. The company has an exclusive relationship with its manufacturing partner to stay hands-on with product development and quality control. Their manufacturer also owns the only Grade A ceramic plant in the country, has manufacturing sophistication, and has achieved every standards certification available.

The second step to ensuring products are safe for consumers is to send them out for testing. Independent third-party labs test every PurTec component, raw material, and assembled product. After products are approved, they are emissions-tested in Switzerland and Canada. Slowly, U.S. cannabis labs are offering emissions testing but many lack the standard operating procedures.

When testing for harmful emissions, the team also gathers data on the best temperatures and methods to vape individual terpenes and cannabinoids. They use this data to create products programmed to activate specific terpene profiles and guide the consumer experience. Research showed that slowly ramping up the temperature enables the consumer to both vape and inhale each cannabinoid, terpene, and flavonoid at the optimal boiling point. In response to the data, they designed products that reach exact temperatures in a customized time frame to guide the consumer experience.

“We can custom develop a device that’s perfectly tailored to somebody’s cannabinoid profile and terpene profile, and we can ramp up the temperature to fire off the right cannabinoids and the right terpenes at the right time and the right temperature. When it comes to how cannabis oils are being vaporized, I believe we’re years beyond where other people are right now,” said Corey.

PurCore F1 is the first all-ceramic, cotton-free coil that uses a nano fusion film rather than a metal heating element. Nanofilm is printed directly on the ceramic coil and can be controlled down to a degree. They also offer PurCore R1, a familiar 510-threaded form factor that uses 80% fewer heavy metals than other vape tech options. In addition to cutting heavy metals, all products use no adhesives or glues, no cotton, and stainless steel 316L. Additionally, even with high-quality materials and advanced technology, switching to PurTec products can be cost-effective, if not cheaper than alternatives, due to their manufacturing scale.

The company’s mission of public safety doesn’t stop with vape design. Most recently, PurTec launched PurGuard, an age restriction software that can keep vapes out of the hands of minors. In 2022, the team will turn its focus to eco-friendly products, something that has been needed in vape tech.

PurTec technology appears in compliant cannabis products in California, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Canada, and soon, the European Union. To find PurTec powered vapes in your area or learn more about this safety-focused brand, check out their website at purtecdesigns.com.

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Cannabis Brand Faces $100K Fine Over Mislabeled Packaging

10/25/2021

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An Oregon cannabis company must pay a $100,000 fine over a labeling error following a two-year battle with the state Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), Willamette Week reports. Luminous Botanicals maintains that the error was an honest mistake and plans to petition for a judicial review of the fine – which is the maximum penalty – when allowed to do so.

Filing the appeal would send the case to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Kevin Jacoby, the attorney representing Sally Alworth, the owner of Luminous Botanicals, told Willamette Week that the “six-figure penalty for what amounts to an unintentional mistake only serves to discourage people in the illegal industry from going legal.”

“If you can be ruined by an honest mistake, why go legal at all?” – Jacoby to Willamette Week

The violation stems from the company’s labels not being properly wrapped around the vials, which contained a THC tonic. The company distributed 35,000 vials to dispensaries and customers and the OLCC imposed a $400 per day fine violation for each vial. The OLCC said the labels were attached in a way that they could be easily removed, which rendered them dangerous, especially to consumers who did not understand proper dosing.

The OLCC defended the $100,000 fine, arguing that it is “that it is a ‘measured and reasoned application of the authorizing legislation and applicable rule,’ which takes into account matters of deterrence and the ‘significant but largely unmeasurable risk’ posed by improperly labeled (and potentially completely unlabeled) marijuana products to consumers, children, and the public at large.”

In April, the OLCC imposed a $10,000 fine to Cura Partners after it knowingly mislabeled 186,000 vape cartridges, the report says.

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Cannabis Security Firm Seeks Return of $166K in Cash Seized by Police

10/25/2021

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A Pennsylvania company is asking a federal court to return about $166,000 from legal cannabis companies that was seized by law enforcement in Kansas as it was being transported from Missouri to Colorado, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports. Federal prosecutors claim the money is subject to asset forfeiture because cannabis remains federally outlawed.

The cash was seized by a Dickinson County Sheriff’s Deputy during a May 18 traffic stop. The money was in a van owned by Empyreal Logistics, which transports cash for cannabis dispensaries. The driver indicated she was on her way to Kansas City and collected cash from cannabis companies and was released. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proceeded to surveil the driver picking up cash throughout the day.

On May 19, the same deputy pulled the van over and law enforcement seized five bags of cash. In an affidavit, the DEA agent said a drug dog “alerted to the odor of marijuana coming from the currency [and] marijuana is a controlled substance and illegal under both federal and Kansas state law.”

Empyreal Logistics contends that the government’s claims “should be barred as the conduct which generated the Defendant property was lawful under Missouri state law and tacitly or affirmatively allowed by the action of the United States Federal Government,” according to court documents outlined by the Capital-Journal.

While cannabis remains federally outlawed, in May, Attorney General Merrick Garland told a U.S. House committee that the Justice Department wouldn’t target state-legal cannabis companies. At that time, he said, “the department’s view on marijuana use is that enforcement against use is not a good use of our resources … in states where it is regulated.”

However, the Congressional Research Service wrote in a May 2020 report that “any activity involving marijuana that is not authorized under the [Controlled Substances Act] remains a federal crime anywhere in the United States, including in states that have purported to legalize medical or recreational marijuana.”

A scheduling conference for the case is set for January 4.

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Cannabis Cultivation-Related Seizures and Arrests Down in New York

10/25/2021

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Through the first 10 months of the year, State Police have seized 1,628 cannabis plants in 71 cases with four arrests, down from 4,242 plants seized in 219 cases last year with 152 arrests, the Albany Times-Union reports. In 2019, State Police seized 2,711 plants in 161 cases with 107 arrests.

The decline in seizures and arrests this year comes as lawmakers in March passed legalization legislation, which includes home cultivation; however, those provisions don’t take effect until legal sales commence, which is expected sometime next year.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said his agency stopped doing the cannabis eradication missions “a couple of years back.”

“If somebody calls us we’ll usually send our drone team out to take a peek at it. But I really don’t waste the resources going hunting for it.” – Apple to the Times-Union

State Police said that their “mission has always been to eradicate large, illegal marijuana grows and that work will continue” but those missions cost more than $1,000 per hour in fuel and insurance costs alone, the report says.

Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said his department has worked with the New York State Police on cannabis eradication missions this year, but most were associated with narcotics trafficking cases. He noted that “road patrol arrests are really down” following the passage of the cannabis law and that they most often encounter “just small amounts” of cannabis which fall under the legal limit for adults 21-and-older.

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Ohio Medical Cannabis Patients Dissatisfied with Program

10/25/2021

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According to a report by the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, a little less than half of Ohio’s medical cannabis patients are “extremely dissatisfied” or “somewhat dissatisfied” with the state’s medical cannabis system, the Dayton Daily News reports. The number one reason for their dissatisfaction given by the 1,326 patients who took the survey – or why they didn’t use licensed dispensaries or dropped out of the program altogether – was the continued high prices of medical cannabis in Ohio.

Nearly three years into the program, Ohio medical cannabis is 44% more expensive than cannabis in neighboring Michigan, the report says.

“We follow the economic trends because you don’t want (the price) to be too low or too high, so there’s a median that has been set by the industry,” Ariane Kirkpatrick, CEO of Harvest of Ohio, said in the report. “Everybody’s selling pretty much at the same price, all of the locations. There’s no price-gouging by any individual owners.”

She added that owners have an understanding not to discount prices too much “just so they can get all the sales.”

The report notes that price-per-gram in Ohio fell from $17 in 2019 to $11 or $10 by the end of the year. However, since January 2021 prices have remained stagnant, despite more producers and dispensaries coming online.

Another reason for program dissatisfaction is the lack of medical cannabis homegrows, the report found. Kirkpatrick said a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis and home cultivation will be introduced in the upcoming Ohio legislative session that will address the complaint.

“I don’t see that as a threat (to the industry) at all,” she said. “I see it more as … something that’s needed in terms of accessibility for patients.”

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USPS Says Hemp Vape Products Included in Ban on Mailing E-Cigarettes

10/22/2021

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In guidance released on Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) said that vape devices for products like CBD cannot be shipped through the service, saying that a bill passed by Congress last year to prohibit nicotine vape cartridges from the mail applies to vaping devices for hemp.

Marijuana Moment first reported the publication of the Final Rule on Wednesday.

“It goes without saying that marijuana, hemp, and their derivatives are substances. Hence, to the extent that they may be delivered to an inhaling user through an aerosolized solution, they and the related delivery systems, parts, components, liquids, and accessories clearly fall within the [Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act’s] scope.” – USPS, “Treatments of E-Cigarettes in the Mail,” Oct. 21, 2021

The guidance does allow the mailing of federally legal hemp products – those containing 0.3% THC or less – “to the extent that they are not incorporated into an [electronic nicotine delivery systems] product or function as a component of one.”

Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, told Marijuana Moment that “USPS never asked Congress to hand them a new unfunded mandate.” He anticipates it will take USPS “months or years” to sort through the application process to allow business-to-business sales of vape products through the mail, which is allowed under the law.

“The reality is Congress set the overly expansive language and USPS was and is statutorily obliged to apply the law as they wrote it,” he told Marijuana Moment.

“Of course, there remains an open question around how vigorously the law will be enforced, particularly around products that lack state or federal excise taxes,” he said in the report. “Punishments for violating the law can be swift and severe, so retailers should think carefully about trading a short-term buck for potential legal troubles before a federal judge.”

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Johns Hopkins Receives $4M From NIH To Study Psilocybin As Tool To Quit Smoking

10/22/2021

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This article was written by Ethan McLeod and originally published by Outlaw Report.

With top medical research institutions now giving regular and serious consideration to the medical utility of psychedelics, the federal government is finally putting some money behind the movement.

Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Medicine announced Monday that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will provide nearly $4 million to help researchers study how psilocybin, known more colloquially as magic mushrooms, can affect tobacco addiction. Hopkins will work with researchers at New York University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham on a three-year study of a wide range of smokers at several sites.

The funding from the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse will help expand on past research by Matthew Johnson, associate director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Hopkins Medicine. Johnson led a study published in 2014 in which 15 longtime smokers — averaging about a pack a day over three decades — took moderate to strong doses of shrooms over two or three sessions within a 15-week period, complemented by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.)

Six months out from the study, 12 of the 15 participants had been nicotine-free for at least a week, showing “promise regarding the safety of psilocybin as an adjunct to smoking cessation treatment,” according to the researchers.

The newly announced funding will help Johnson and colleagues broaden their work suggesting that the combination of shrooms and CBT can help break the thought and behavioral patterns that arise from long-term smoking.

“We knew it was only a matter of time before the NIH would fund this work because the data are so compelling and because this work has demonstrated to be safe,” Johnson said in a statement this week. “Psilocybin does have very real risks, but these risks are squarely mitigated in controlled settings through screening, preparation, monitoring, and follow-up care.”

Hopkins and NYU are among a growing list of institutions that over the last two decades have called attention to the medical and psychological utility of psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin, both classified alongside cannabis as Schedule I drugs under the federal Controlled Substances Act. A Schedule I classification is reserved for substances with “a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use… and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision,” according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Thanks to those restrictions, such research in the U.S. has been strictly privately funded. Hopkins launched its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in 2019 with a $17 million donation from a group of private donors. NYU announced a similar move this past February with the forthcoming NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, funded by $10 million in private support.

Other past studies out of Hopkins have found a combination of high doses of shrooms with psychotherapy can help to treat anxiety and depression among cancer patients, as well as major depression among a wider range of people.

The NIH has historically been uninvolved with research into psychedelics, as noted in a June STAT News op-ed by psychedelics activist Rick Doblin and psychiatrists Brian Barnett and Julie Holland. However, the agency appears to be changing its tune. In addition to the funding for Johnson’s smoking-cessation study, the NIH issued a grant in April to a Yale University researcher studying the neural effects of psilocybin in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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New York Approves Home Grows for Medical Cannabis Patients

10/22/2021

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Medical cannabis patients in New York will soon be allowed to grow their own cannabis under new rules decided during the second meeting of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), WBFO reports. The board members also approved expunging more than 200,000 criminal records for offenses no longer illegal in the state under the adult-use law.

Home cultivation was included in the Legislature-approved bill earlier this year; however, it includes provisions barring home grows until retail sales are launched in the state.

Under the rules – which must still go through a 60-day public comment period which the OCM may adjust prior to them taking effect – registered patients may grow up to three immature and three mature plants per individual or up to six immature and six mature per household.

OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said that the state is already withholding cannabis-related arrest records from background checks and that those charges will ultimately be expunged.

“When completed, the actions of these measures will have expunged the records of over 400,000 New Yorkers, a staggering reminder of the impact that cannabis prohibition had on so many.”—Alexander to WBFO

In 2019, the state had expunged some 198,000 cannabis-related criminal records even prior to the broad legalization reforms.

During their first meeting earlier this month, the board permanently waived the fee for medical cannabis patients and caregivers, made flower an approved form of medical cannabis in the state, and approved allowing patients to obtain a 60-day supply of medical cannabis instead of just one month.

Legal cannabis sales are expected in the Empire State sometime in 2022.

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Luxembourg Legalizes Cannabis Cultivation for Adults

10/22/2021

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Luxembourg’s government has legalized cannabis cultivation for adults 18-and-older making it the first European nation to broadly legalize cannabis cultivation for its citizens, the Guardian reports. Under the law, adults can grow up to four plants in their homes or on other property they own. The trade of cannabis seeds is also allowed under the legislation.

Luxembourg leaders do intend to legalize commercial cannabis sales, but those reforms have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Cannabis consumption in public remains outlawed along with person-to-person sales along with transporting more than 3 grams, the report says.

The government said the law will allow citizens to use and grow cannabis “within one’s own four walls.”

With the reforms, Luxembourg joins Canada, Uruguay, and several U.S. states in flouting the United National convention on the control of narcotic drugs. In the Netherlands, cannabis remains technically illegal, but the nation has a “tolerance policy,” which has allowed recreational use within its borders.

Cannabis liberalization laws are also being considered in Germany following the electoral victories by the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats last month. The Free Democrats estimate that if cannabis was to be taxed similarly to cigarettes, Germany could raise up to €1 billion annually.

Luxembourg government sources told the Guardian that was cannabis legalized for commercials sales, the revenues would be used “primarily in prevention, education, and healthcare in the broad field of addiction.”

The general framework of Luxembourg’s law had been agreed to two years ago by the Liberals, Social Democrats, and Greens.

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Nearing Deal on Cannabis Legalization

10/22/2021

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The executive branch and legislative negotiators in Rhode Island are close to reaching a deal on regulating adult cannabis use, but some sticking points remain, according to a WPRI report. At a “Media and Politics Cafe” on the campus of Johnson & Wales, Sen. Josh Miller, a leading sponsor of an adult-use bill passed by the Senate in June, revealed the 150 retail locations initially proposed had been trimmed down significantly.

“We’re probably down to more in the 30, 40 range,” Miller said, admitting he had to “dodge and weave” around reporters’ questions due to the ongoing negotiations.

Miller did mention a social equity component would be included in any licensing agreement. Additionally, all sides have agreed to include expungement provisions in any proposed legislation. Lastly, the negotiators have agreed to put a temporary moratorium on new cultivation sites, bowing to pressure from producers, who say they already do not have enough legal retail locations to sell their crops, the report says.

“As you know the governor supports recreational cannabis and his team has been actively working with our partners in the General Assembly on a bill that is equitable and benefits Rhode Island,” said Gov. Dan McKee’s press secretary, Alana O’Hare, in an email to WPRI.  “The conversations are ongoing, and we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached.”

Miller says the two sides are mostly split on who will oversee adult-use cannabis licensing and regulation. Miller’s bill calls for the formation of an entirely new regulatory body, while another proposal puts the program in the hands of the Department of Business. McKee, House, and Senate representatives have all put forward different retail shop numbers throughout the negotiations. Taxation numbers hover around 20%, but some work remains to decide how tax dollars are split between localities and the state. Finally, after their efforts failed in the regular session, leaders hinted at a possible special session in the Fall, although this is unlikely, but not off the table, the report says.

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Dab Pens vs Dab Rigs: The Complete Guide

10/21/2021

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Vaping is becoming ever more popular, especially when it comes to cannabis. Now legal in plenty of states – some even let individuals grow their own – cannabis and vaping go together. Smoking can be dangerous and is also banned in many places, which increases vaping’s popularity.

As the market develops, so new devices have become available. Fresh brands enter the vape market regularly, which leads to greater innovation. For newcomers to the world of vaping, there is plenty of jargon to come to grips with.

This article is about the art of dabbing and in particular the dab pen and dab rig – what are they, and what is dabbing? Let’s not waste any more time!

What is dabbing?

There are several forms in which cannabis can be used in a vape device. It can be vaped as a dry herb, as cannabis oil, or as a wax concentrate. The latter is known as ‘dabbing’ and the devices that enable this method are the dab pen and the dab rig.

But what is cannabis wax concentrate? The cannabis plant contains many compounds available for extraction. The two most popular and available compounds in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) but THC is the substance in which we are most interested with regard to dabbing.

THC is the main psychoactive element in the cannabis plant, the one that causes the ‘high’ sensation we enjoy. Buy a top-quality dry herb to vape and you will find around 20% THC content. Buy wax concentrate and the content can be as high as 80%. This is because wax concentrate is created using extraction methods that isolate the THC from most of the other compounds in the plant.

Dabbing usually offers the highest concentration of THC of all consumption methods, hence its popularity (cannabis oil – also known as hash oil – offers around 50% THC content). With the explosive growth of vaping devices in the world in recent years, there is more innovation in this sector, and dab pens have also benefited.

Wayne Chen, the CEO of Vape4Ever, told us that they have become popular through selling concentrate vape pen products.

Now we will explain how a dab pen and dab rig works, and why you may want to buy one.

How does a dab pen work?

Vaping is a relatively young and rapidly evolving market. While the concept has been around since the first quarter of the 20th century, it was not until the early part of this century that the first commercially available vape devices hit the market. The introduction of the e-cigarette – as the first examples were marketed – coincided with many countries banning tobacco smoking in public places. Vaping was – and still is – seen as a safer and more socially acceptable alternative.

Rapid evolution comes with increasing demand. Soon, the market was full of new brands offering vape mods – larger devices with greater power – and then the more discreet vape pen. These resembled a typical pen being long and thin and while many of today’s vape pens are not shaped thus, the name stuck.

Essentially, a standard vape pen and a dab pen are the same thing but for reasons we will explain now, it is unwise to use a dab pen to vape dry herbs, and vice versa. The dab pen is a relatively simple device, so let us walk you through how to use a typical example.

A dab pen’s most important components are the heating chamber, the coil – or atomizer – and the battery. These are contained in an outer shell that has a mouthpiece attached and a clear airway to the chamber.

The dab – the wax concentrate – is put into the chamber. The user performs the procedure to begin the vaping routine. This usually involves pressing a button a certain number of times (although there are some models that are activated by taking a draw). The battery heats the coil to a prescribed temperature at which the wax concentrate is vaporized. The result is a cloud of cannabis vapor that can be inhaled.

Here is the important bit: unlike a cigarette, there is no combustion. This eliminates the problem of tar and certain elements created by the act of burning, elements that we now know have been responsible for lung diseases and may even cause cancer.

There is one further important factor that we need to mention, and that is why you need a dedicated dab pen for wax concentrate. Concentrate, oil and dry herbs all vaporize at different temperatures with different results. The material that the coil in a dab pen is made of will most likely be quartz or ceramic. That in a pen for dry herbs may be stainless steel. The efficiency of the pen depends on the right materials and the right temperatures being used.

Now let’s look at the dab rig.

How does a dab rig work?

A dab rig can be described as the wax concentrate version of a traditional bong. Mostly glass, this simple and yet surprisingly effective device is designed for use in the home rather than as a portable vaping device. The dab rig consists of the following: a mouthpiece, a chamber for water, and a bowl or ‘nail’. The dab – the wax concentrate – is put into the nail. It is then heated, usually with a blowtorch, to the point at which the cannabis concentrate vaporizes.

There is no electrical control with a dab rig, and they are operated as described above entirely manually. Naturally this can be a bit hit and miss but there is one major advantage to the dab rig over the dab pen: the massively stronger and more potent vape cloud.

Just as a bong will produce the best hit for dry herb – better and more powerful than any joint – there is no vape device, no matter how advanced, that can match the dab rig for sheer potency. Dab rigs make a great addition to a pot party. Let’s have a quick look at the pros and cons of the dab rig and the dab pen.

Pros and cons of dab rigs and dab pens

Dab Rig:

The advantages of the dab rig include:

  • Most powerful hit of any dabbing device.
  • No electricity needed.
  • Produces a large vapor cloud.
  • Water filter.

The disadvantages of the dab rig include:

  • Needs external heat source.
  • Results can be variable.
  • Fragile construction.
  • Not portable or discreet.
  • Needs regular cleaning.

Dab Pen:

The advantages of the dab pen are:

  • Compact and discreet.
  • Easy to use.
  • Short heating time.
  • Adjustable temperature settings.
  • Low maintenance.

The disadvantages of the dab pen are:

  • Battery needs regular charging.
  • Not as powerful as a dab rig.
  • Flavor not as rich.

Before we move on to look at which one you should be buying it’s important that we check out the alternatives to dabbing cannabis.

What are the alternatives to dabbing?

We’ve explained that dabbing is using cannabis wax concentrate and gives the highest level of THC content. There are other methods of using cannabis, so we’ve put together a few words about the most popular.

The traditional joint is still popular with many users who not only enjoy it more than vaping but also recognise the culture that surrounds smoking marijuana. The dangers, however, are well known. If this is your preferred method then that’s up to you, and we suggest you check out some of the reputable weed retailers for quality product.

Vaping dry herb cannabis has been mentioned already. You can buy quality vape pens that are designed for this purpose and come fitted with the ideal type of heating coil. Look for one that has a variable voltage option as that allows you to select the temperature and which the device vaporizes the cannabis. Different temperatures affect the taste and the harshness of the cloud, enabling you to select a point at which you are happiest.

Vaping cannabis oil is another popular method. Cannabis oil is extracted from the plant along with compounds additional to THC. These include cannabidiol and various terpenes – the elements that lend the plant flavor – which many users enjoy. The THC content in this method will be lower than wax concentrate but higher than dry herb.

We’re almost the end as we have covered the important distinctions between the dab rig and the dab pen, so to finish we’ll look at which one you should buy.

Which one should I buy?

Dab rig or dab pen – which is for you? Both have their place in the modern world of vaping cannabis, and the simple answer is to buy one of each. The dab pen you will use when you’re out and about. It fits neatly in a purse or pocket, is discreet and simple to use, and can be switched on and ready for a draw in matter of a few seconds.

The dab rig you can set up at home and enjoy the most impressive and powerful cannabis cloud with your friends. So, have a good look at the reputable online retailers and choose your dab pen and rig, and enjoy vaping cannabis.

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AROYA Enhances Cannabis Production Platform with New Mobile Dashboard

10/21/2021

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Tablet-based ‘Kiosk’ provides growers with a holistic view of room-by-room daily operations, specific environmental conditions, and product yields

Pullman, WA (October 21, 2021) —  AROYA, a METER Group company, today introduced AROYA Kiosk, a new cultivation dashboard for tablets, further adding precision, speed, and accuracy to cannabis cultivation.

AROYA is the preferred cannabis production platform (CPP) of top cannabis operators across the country, combining innovative hardware and software to deliver actionable insights that help improve their yield in grams, per square foot, per year – predictably, profitably, and at scale. AROYA’s cannabis cultivation solutions foster data-driven decision-making, improving yields and operational efficiency while normalizing product quality.

Kiosk provides cultivators with unfettered, real-time visibility of all production activity from every grow room or site, simultaneously. End-to-end encryption enhances security and pin-protected access lets growers control access to sensitive information and review upcoming tasks for themselves or by room.

The new mobile dashboard provides hyper-accurate readouts of measurements in both the substrate and the environment. It also gives a populated task schedule, as well as real-time alerts that allow Master Growers to monitor and adapt every aspect of the production process.

AROYA’s already robust cannabis production platform offering helps stakeholders understand and improve cannabis production processes from seed to sale while driving consistent, scalable success with features like harvest group planning, tasks, alerts, a digital grow journal, recipes – and much more.

Demand for cultivation and production platforms like AROYA that utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, artificial intelligence, and data analytics is spiking. Analysts from AheadInsight project that the cannabis technology industry will continue to grow exponentially at a CAGR of 33.17 percent and attain a market value of $107.67 billion by 2025.

“Our goal is to empower cannabis growers and cultivators with the competitive advantage that comes from end-to-end visibility and real-time access to data that drives actionable insights,” said Philip Malmquist, General Manager of AROYA. “Putting it together on a single dashboard gives growers all the information they need to make informed decisions that help them cultivate consistently higher quality cannabis and improved grams per square foot per year.”

ABOUT AROYA

AROYA is a cannabis production platform that combines industry-leading hardware and software to help cultivators increase yield, scale operations, and achieve consistent quality. Based in Pullman, Washington, and a division of METER Group, Inc., AROYA optimizes and demystifies the entire cannabis production process from seed to package.

For additional information, please visit www.AROYA.io

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Owner of Massachusetts Cannabis Delivery Company Sentenced in Federal Drug Case

10/21/2021

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The owner of a Massachusetts cannabis delivery company on Tuesday was sentenced in federal court to four years in prison for tax evasion, money laundering, and cannabis distribution and possession. Deana Martin owned and managed Northern Herb and pleaded guilty to the charges in May.

Northern Herb purported to provide medical cannabis to registered patients, who placed their orders online, but the company didn’t ask those it delivered to for proof that they were registered with the Massachusetts medical cannabis program.

Martin’s co-defendant, Tatiana Fridkes, was sentenced in September to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cannabis. Fridkes was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $82,000. Martin was also ordered to pay $528,146 in restitution and three years of supervised release once freed from prison.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, from May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb’s revenue exceeded $14 million, and the company did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in cannabis sales and did not pay taxes on its profits. Much of the cash collected by Northern Herb from customers was used to pay its suppliers and its workers and in paying cash wages, Northern Herb did not withhold, remit, or pay any payroll or income taxes, including not reporting worker wages to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), nor issuing W-2s or 1099s to its workers. The company employed at least 25 people.

Federal Authorities also said Northern Herb delivered cannabis to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties could have accessed it.

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Costa Rica Congress Passes Medical Cannabis Legalization

10/21/2021

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Costa Rica’s Congress on Tuesday voted to legalize cannabis for medical use despite opposition from President Carlos Alvarado, Reuters reports. Independent lawmaker Zoila Volio told Reuters that she trusts Alvarado understands the reforms will not increase cannabis use in the nation and will not veto the law.

The law also includes hemp law reforms, which would allow the plant to be cultivated in Costa Rica, according to a QCostaRica report.

Under the law, the Ministry of Agriculture is charged with regulating the hemp industry, while the Ministry of Health will be in charge of medical cannabis. Producers of both hemp and medical cannabis will have to register and provide information to the authorities about their activities with the Health and Agriculture agencies and the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs having inspection and industry control powers.

The plan also authorizes the sale of raw materials for medical and therapeutic cannabis to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), along with authorized laboratories, for the development of drugs that require it, according to QCostaRica.

According to the Costa Rican News, the bill calls for a 1% tax on income obtained from the sale of medical cannabis. Hemp cultivation licenses will be free with 30% of those licenses earmarked for small farms and cooperatives. Both medical cannabis and hemp producers may set up their operations in the nation’s so-called Free Zones, which offer some economic benefits.

Individuals will also be permitted to cultivate their own cannabis as long as they can prove it is for medical or therapeutic use.

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South Dakota Subcommittee Votes to Advance Adult-Use Cannabis Bill

10/21/2021

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The South Dakota Legislature’s subcommittee on adult-use cannabis on Tuesday voted 8-2 to move forward with a proposal to enact the reforms, KELO reports. The bill moves next to the Legislature’s full cannabis study committee before it heads to the Legislature’s Executive Board, which would decide whether to introduce the bill next session.

South Dakota voters in 2020 approved both adult-use and medical cannabis legalization bills but the initiative is being challenged by two law enforcement officers – at the behest of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem – who argue that the amendment violated the one-subject rule for ballot questions. The court is still considering the case.

If the measure is approved by the cannabis study committee and the Executive Board, it will be introduced in the 2022 session which opens in January, the report says. It would then go through the normal committee process and, if approved, would be voted on in the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Noem continues to oppose the reforms, despite lawmakers moving forward with possibly introducing the bill. Noem’s spokesman, Ian Fury, told Kelo that the governor remains “not supportive of legalizing recreational marijuana.”

In the Supreme Court rules in favor of the initiative, the bill would be moot and adult-use cannabis would be legalized in South Dakota – as voters intended in November.

Two of the key differences between the lawmaker-backed legislation and the voter-approved constitutional amendment are that home-grown cannabis would not be legal and cannabis couldn’t be grown outdoors. The subcommittee decided to put tax provisions into a separate bill so that lawmakers would have clearer choices on legalizing adult-use cannabis and taxing it as a tax increase or as a new tax, which requires a two-thirds majority.

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Former New Jersey Cannabis Company Employee Files Lawsuit Claiming Discrimination

10/21/2021

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A former compliance officer for a New Jersey cannabis business is suing his former employer claiming he was demoted because he is Black, according to an NJ.com report. Shelby Brown, who served as a compliance officer for MPX NJ, filed the lawsuit last week against iAnthus in Superior Court in Monmouth County.

Matthew Sheppe, an attorney with Reiss Sheppe LLP, who is representing Brown, said in a statement that his client believes that “iAnthus’s actions created working conditions so intolerable” that Brown was “compelled to resign, as any reasonable person in his position would have done.”

“I’m a disabled veteran. There was a lot of stress, a lot of exacerbation of my service-related conditions. I had to go, I just couldn’t take it anymore. … I am a highly experienced, highly educated individual, but the issue is that I’m Black. I just need people to see that this is happening in 2021.” – Brown to NJ.com

Brown was named MPX’s national compliance director in 2018 and when iAnthus took over MPX’s operations in 2018, Brown was required to interview for his job, while the white compliance officers were not required to do the same, the lawsuit contends. Brown alleges that iAnthus demoted him to a regional compliance officer role and promoted a white man to take over the national job, the report says. Moreover, Brown said that budget or personnel requests he submitted went ignored, but such requests submitted by white compliance officers were approved and that he was left to do the jobs of several people and duties that fell outside of his job description, the report says.

NJ.com first reported on Brown’s claims in July. At that time, iAnthus CEO Randy Maslow called the claims “inaccurate, deliberately false and frankly defamatory.”

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Bank of America Closes DEA-Approved Cannabis Researcher’s Account

10/21/2021

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Bank of America last week suddenly canceled the bank accounts of Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), a Scottsdale, Arizona-based research institute that studies the medical efficacy of cannabis and certain psychedelics under a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“[Scottsdale Research Institute] conducts FDA approved controlled trials evaluating cannabis as medicine for treating pain/PTSD in military veterans & terminally ill patients [and] this TRAGICALLY shuts down our research,” Dr. Sue Sisley, Scottsdale Research Institute’s President, said on Twitter.

Dr. Sisley has spent years navigating federal drug laws in the pursuit of expanded research. In 2019, she sued the DEA over its many hurdles to cannabis research, specifically for the limitations of government-sourced cannabis which is nothing like the products being used en masse throughout legal states.

But earlier this year, SRI received preliminary approval from the DEA to become one of the first new cultivators of research-grade cannabis in the country, Marijuana Moment reported.

“We have a contract with DEA. We are growing cannabis for FDA clinical trials and selling it to the DEA. It’s unconscionable the way [Bank of America is] behaving — and further proof that the word ‘cannabis’ continues to be completely radioactive even though this is a 100 percent federally legal operation.” — Dr. Sisley, via Marijuana Moment

SRI had openly worked with Bank of America for 10 years without issue, Dr. Sisley said, and the bank provided zero context or reasoning for the sudden cancellation.

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Telemedicine for Medical Cannabis Bills Introduced in Florida

10/21/2021

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A pair of bills introduced in the Florida Senate and House would permit telemedicine for medical cannabis patients starting July 1, 2022, according to a Florida Politics report.

Introduced by Republicans Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Jayer Williamson, the two pieces of legislation would put into statute a practice already proven successful during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical cannabis telemedicine was allowed on an emergency basis by former Surgeon General Scott Rivkees but is not officially enshrined in Florida law, according to the report.

“For purposes of preparing for, responding to, and mitigating any effect of COVID-19, qualified physicians under section 381.986, Florida Statutes, may issue a physician certification only for an existing qualified patient with an existing certification that was issued by that qualified physician without the need to conduct a physical examination while physically present in the same room as the patient.” – Scott Rivkees in an emergency declaration, via Florida Politics

Senate Bill 164 and its House companion will still require patients to see a doctor in person for an initial visit, but subsequent visits could be conducted via a telemedicine portal. Florida requires yearly recertification for medical cannabis patients but an additional doctor’s visit for re-assessment is required at the seven months point.

Although telemedicine has worked during the pandemic, both the Senate and House bills have an uphill climb before they are signed into law. The Senate version has three committees to work through while the House version faces similar challenges.

These are not the only telemedicine bills in the Florida legislature but the conditions have medical cannabis lobbyist Ron Watson worried. He told Florida Politics that he thinks it will take “some work to get it passed.”

“A stand-alone bill has a long way to go in this environment,” he said in the report.

It is unclear where Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) stands on the issue — however, he has done little to hamper the industry, allowing smokable cannabis early in his term and later not signing on to a bill that sought to limit THC levels.

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Widely Counterfeited Muha Meds Vape Brand Now Licensed In Michigan

10/20/2021

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The self-described “street cannabis brand” Muha Meds has been awarded a cannabis processor license in Michigan. The license — which was first reported in a Fake Cart Detective report by DabConnection earlier this month — may surprise people who are familiar with the Muha Meds name as the vape brand has seen infamously widespread copycats, counterfeit products, and online sales of unregulated, THC-rich cannabis vape carts.

In a press release this week, Muha Meds said it “selected Michigan for the location of its first licensed manufacturing operation due to its welcoming retail climate and business-friendly tax policies.”

The development also comes a few short years after a nationwide vape crisis saw thousands of hospitalizations and dozens of deaths that the CDC tied to vitamin E acetate, a cutting agent found in cannabis vape cartridges that were being bought and sold on the unregulated marketplace. Throughout that crisis, and in the years since, Muha Meds has been among the most widely circulated counterfeit/unregulated vape carts and has been a frequent topic for investigation by vape safety enthusiasts. The aforementioned Fake Cart Detective series by DabConnection, for example, has run several pieces highlighting issues with the brand, although it appears that Muha Meds — or at least the Michigan-based entity — has taken steps toward becoming a legitimate cannabis brand with a trademark application filed in June accompanying its licensure.

In a phone interview with Ganjapreneur, Ali Garawi, the CEO of Michigan-based Muha Meds, said the brand is preparing cease and desist notices against its many impersonators. Garawi also confirmed the location of the brand’s processing facility in Pinconning, Michigan through a video posted to the company’s Instagram story on October 19.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Garawi declined to comment on whether the Michigan brand has ties to the California-based black market brand, so it remains unclear whether the licensed Muha Meds has directly grown from its unregulated roots or is merely an attempt to absorb a well-established brand identity that would be unlikely to sue for intellectual property infringement.

Today, there are still multiple online retailers selling unfilled Muha Meds-branded vape carts and other packaging materials, many through Muha Meds-branded websites like MuhaMedsOfficial.com. There is also a host of Instagram accounts claiming to be the official Muha Meds although only one of them — @muhameds.live — appears to be tied to the now-licensed, Michigan-based operation.

Notably, the packaging for Muha Meds’ products in Michigan also includes a QR code linking to a tool on their official website for distinguishing licensed Muha Meds products from counterfeits or knock-offs. DabConnection reported in January that the tool would approve any code that was input, although this no longer appears to be the case and could not be confirmed by Ganjapreneur.

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Most New York Businesses Can No Longer Test for Cannabis

10/20/2021

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Most New York businesses can no longer test employees for cannabis, according to guidance released earlier this month by the state Department of Labor. The policy change comes seven months after lawmakers approved broad cannabis legalization in the state.

A limited number of businesses, including those with federal mandates or contracts, may still test employees for cannabis and may still terminate employees for failing a drug test. All employers may still fire employees for using cannabis on the job or coming into work under the influence.

According to the guidance, employers also cannot hide behind federal cannabis prohibition as a reason to drug test employees for cannabis; however, employers may still require drug testing for those considered in safety-sensitive positions under both federal and state law. Employees under 21 are also excluded from the protections provided by the state’s adult-use cannabis law.

The agency notes that employers are also barred from prohibiting employees from consuming cannabis outside of work hours or forcing employees to waive their protection rights under the law as a condition of hire or continued employment. Employers do have the right to prohibit cannabis consumption at work or during work hours, including breaks.

The guidance also states that employers do not have to fire an employee for using cannabis while on the clock but “are permitted to take action” if they choose to do so.

Under the rules, drug testing is also not permitted to determine whether an employee is impaired, “since such tests do not currently demonstrate impairment.”

Federal agencies in New York are excluded from the updated drug testing policy.

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Senate Democrats Remove ‘Harris Rider’ from Appropriations Bill

10/20/2021

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Senate Democrats have removed a provision from a proposed appropriations bill that has prevented Washington, D.C. from allowing cannabis sales to adults, the Washington Post reports. The move comes as the City Council is poised to hear from the public next month about allowing cannabis sales in the District.

D.C. voters approved broad cannabis legalization reform in 2014 but a rider by Republican Rep. Andy Harris (Md.) has prevented the city from allowing cannabis sales and the rider has been included in every appropriations bill since then and Congress has oversight over all of the District’s laws. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) called the situation “illogical.”

“The Harris rider has been a real disservice to the District. What Congress has done is create a wild wild west where there is no ability to have meaningful, constructive regulation.”—Mendelson to the Post

Mendelson said that if the rider is removed, then the council would “move quickly” on legislation to allow adult-use sales. In his budget proposal in May, President Joe Biden (D) also kept the rider in place.

The bill before the City Council would also expand medical cannabis dispensaries in D.C.

A separate bill to legalize sales was also introduced by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) but that legislation is not on the agenda for next month’s public hearing.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), D.C.’s nonvoting delegate in the House, told the Post that “with Democrats controlling the White House, House, and Senate, we have the best opportunity in over a decade to enact a spending bill with no anti-democratic riders.”

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Texas Dispensary on Bus Tour to Promote Program Enrollment

10/20/2021

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Texas medical cannabis dispensary Goodblend is going on a bus tour to promote medical cannabis enrollment, according to the San Antonio Current. Using a 36-foot bus as a mobile dispensary and doctor’s clinic, Goodblend began the tour in Austin on October 14, moving on to Houston, San Antonio, and Sugar Land.

Prospective patients can make appointments online and then visit with a doctor one-on-one to determine their eligibility for medical cannabis. Staff will have on-hand educational materials for people without an appointment who want to know more about Texas medical cannabis, the report says.

“It’s starting as an education and awareness tour, but our intent is for it to turn into something more regular,” said Marcus Ruark, president of Goodblend.

The effort comes on the heels of an update to Texas’ medical cannabis law that added post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer to the program. Ruark believes that many Texans may not be aware of the changes and may think a recommendation hard to obtain.

“It’s actually simple to participate in the program, but it may not appear so at first glance,” he said. “That’s one of the things we’re trying to change with this tour.” He added that Goodblend may take the tour to smaller cities or offer deliveries going forward.

The Current reported the following dates and locations for the tour:

  • Thursday, Oct. 14, 3-7 p.m. — 1205 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin
  • Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston
  • Saturday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — 1002 N. Flores St., San Antonio
  • Sunday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Do512 Clubhouse, 2208 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin
  • Saturday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land

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Heisman Trophy Winner Ricky Williams Launches ‘Highsman’ Cannabis Brand

10/19/2021

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Former National Football League (NFL) running back Ricky Williams on Monday launched his cannabis brand Highsman. In addition to the cannabis products, the brand will also include apparel and a functional accessories line, which will include rolling trays, cases, and water bottles.

“It is time we change the way we talk about cannabis. Highsman is about an appreciation for greatness. There is a passionate and dedicated team behind the brand, and together we want to help all people inspire greatness in themselves.” — Williams in a press release

The flower products are football-themed — the sativa strain is called “Pregame,” the hybrid strain is “Halftime,” and the indica strain is named “Postgame.” The strains will be released in eighths and pre-rolls. The brand name itself is a spinoff of the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best all-around player in college football. Williams won the Heisman as a member of the Texas Longhorns in 1998.

Williams was suspended five times during his NFL career for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, missing two full seasons. In March, the NFL announced it would end suspensions for positive cannabis tests and raised the threshold for a failed test from 30 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood to 150 nanograms.

Highsman CEO Eric Hammond noted that the brand has been “years in the making.”

“Highsman is at the intersection of sports and cannabis and was created for fans and aficionados of both,” Hammond said in a statement. “Highsman launches at a tipping point where sports and cannabis collide, and we are excited to continue to break boundaries between the two.”

Several other former NFL players have either launched cannabis brands or invested in the industry, including former running back Marshawn Lynch.

Highsman will be available first in California, Nevada, and Oregon.

William launched his first brand, Real Wellness, in 2018.

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The Outlaw Report Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Virginia Governor

10/19/2021

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McAuliffe is the only Candidate to Embrace Full legalization for State
First-Ever Endorsement by Virginia’s Influential Cannabis News Outlet

ACROSS VIRGINIA — The Outlaw Report, the only daily regional cannabis news and information source serving Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, today endorsed Terry McAuliffe for governor of Virginia, calling him “the best candidate to ensure a rapid rollout of regulated adult-use sales; that the commonwealth’s cannabis market will grow equitably; and that Virginians incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses will be granted clemency without further delay. McAuliffe’s position on cannabis also respects the will of Virginians, who time and time again have expressed strong support for legalization.”

In choosing McAuliffe over Glenn Youngkin, the editorial endorsement stated, “The former governor’s views stand in stark contrast with those of Glenn Youngkin, who has expressed disdain for cannabis and a profound ignorance of legalization’s intended purpose. At a campaign event in April, Youngkin said he had “never met anybody who habitually used marijuana and was successful.” He doubled down in an appearance on CNBC in May, describing cannabis legalization as “another problem that’s going to be dumped at my feet.” The businessman has also falsely claimed that “every single state” that has legalized cannabis has seen disappointing revenue, earning him three Pinocchios from The Washington Post.”

The editorial endorsement concluded, “We are confident cannabis laws will continue to be amended in Richmond over the next few years. At this critical juncture, we believe Virginians need and deserve a governor who will speak honestly and authoritatively about legalization while continuing the legacy of the hard-fought cannabis reforms enacted by the General Assembly this year.”

The full editorial endorsement can be read here.

The Outlaw Report is run by established journalists with a traditional background in the news business and is operated by lawyers whose practice specialize in cannabis law and regulation. Covering the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, The Outlaw Report is the first comprehensive regional daily news site in the country dedicated to providing consumers and voters with state, local and relevant national news and information on cannabis policy, business, law, health, and lifestyle.

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