Fruiting Bodies: Social Justice-Based Psychedelics Reform

9/14/2021

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When Colorado voted to legalize adult-use cannabis, they became a guiding light for the states that came online next. This is the position that Oregon state is in after passing Ballot Measure 109, which aims to legalize psilocybin services by 2023. Currently, the state is in a two-year waiting period where an established Health Equity Subcommittee will inform the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) “on requirements, specifications, and guidelines for providing psilocybin services in Oregon” alongside four other subcommittees. Oregon-based Fruiting Bodies Collective uplifts marginalized voices in psychedelics and reserves space in the movement to facilitate safe experiences for marginalized people. Founders Elan Hagens and Rebecca Martinez also serve as advocates on the Health Equity Subcommittee while engaging in education and community outreach with Fruiting Bodies.

“We see ourselves as advocates helping make sure that we have a program worth inviting people to participate in. If it’s not a just program, it doesn’t matter how much representation we have later—it’s going to be an uphill climb, much like a lot of the cannabis industry has been in recent years,” said Co-Founder Rebecca Martinez.

One evening after Measure 109 passed, Elan and Rebecca imagined an ideal future with legal psilocybin medicine. After that pivotal conversation, they chose to found Fruiting Bodies. As they imagined what the future could look like, the pair realized that one crucial role of their vision was building a framework that included the communities who have preserved the psychedelic space for generations. There are a few ways that the collective has activated to achieve this goal, and education is one pillar of the work.

The Fruiting Bodies podcast features diverse guests conversing on the psychedelic and healing spaces. They utilize the platform to amplify creatives and community leaders while examining these communities. Additionally, interest in the podcast demonstrated a need for more affordable, digestible education on psilocybin and psychedelics, so Fruiting Bodies released The Complete Guide to Oregon’s Psilocybin Therapy Program and the Complete Guide to Microdosing e-books, available through their website. Fruiting Bodies is also raising money to build an affordable, social justice-informed Psilocybin Facilitator Training & Certification program.

But when it comes to educating people, there are challenges in reaching marginalized communities to educate them on healing possibilities of unregulated drugs like psilocybin. “There’s a lot of risk being a person of color and associating yourself with any type of drug whether it be psychedelics or anything. When you go outside of drugs, even accessing yoga classes and pilates classes in a non-gentrified, stereotypical type of way is hard. So how do you get involved with those types of things? We’re in Oregon where only 4% of the community is Black. So how do you do that educating right now when it’s not yet legal?” said Co-Founder Elan Hagens.

Building policy that breaks down the hurdles of the drug war can help educators like Elan and Rebecca access communities who don’t yet feel the freedom to learn about unregulated drugs after decades of being unjustly targeted by the judicial system. In response to this challenge, another pillar of Fruiting Bodies is retaining space within the Oregon psilocybin therapy regulatory framework for marginalized communities. Ballot Measure 109, passed in 2020, will create a licensing framework for psilocybin services including manufacture, transport, delivery, sale, and use of psilocybin mushrooms at licensed sites in Oregon. The measure directs the OHA to build this system after a two-year development period ending December 2022. As advocates on the subcommittee which is dictating the framework, Elan and Rebecca want to “ensure there is space for grassroots groups like Fruiting Bodies who are devoted to the deep relationship that is medicine with psilocybin mushrooms,” and adorn that space as inviting and safe.

Creating a policy-driven structure around something “so juicy and fluid and alive and ever-changing” is complicated. So complicated that it’s easy for activism-driven advocacy to get lost in the dry space of governmental procedure. We asked both Fruiting Bodies founders how they stay focused on their goals while moving through the rigor of a subcommittee.

Elan credits her ability to set boundaries. She only accepts opportunities and positions where she knows she can do the most good. When she’s feeling creative, honoring that time and giving herself the space to put down distractions and focus solely on that work can replenish her spirit. These tactics help keep her spirit sustained to continue advocating with idealism in the subcommittee.

Rebecca focuses on the immovable goals of their advocacy while understanding that they will have to make concessions. Fruiting Bodies’ foundational goal will always be representation: “What motivates us is making sure there is representation in every corner of this emerging field. So, from the decision-makers to the stakeholders who want to produce, to the people who want to facilitate or have small businesses or be educators. A lot of the phase we’re in right now, because we have a year and a half until the Measure 109 program launches, is laying the groundwork. We’re tilling the soil so that it will be healthy and ready for the things that will want to grow there.”

Fruiting Bodies Collective is an example for psychedelic medicine advocates, just as Oregon is now the example for the legalization of psilocybin. As more cities, counties, and states contemplate legalizing, decriminalizing, or regulating ancient medicines, we must respect those who’ve been working with earth-based entheogens for generations.

As Elan put it, “No matter what we know, this work came from the underground movement, from indigenous people. The people who are the move-makers, the doctors, they don’t give any respect or want to hear from the underground even though that’s where they got their information.”

Through advocacy and education, Elan and Rebecca are working to inform inclusive regulations which respect those who came before. Fruiting Bodies will bring the underground and the “above board” together, building a fruitful future for psilocybin medicine. Learn more about Fruiting Bodies at fruitingbodiescollective.com.

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College Student Cannabis Use Soars While Alcohol and Tobacco Use Decline

9/14/2021

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Cannabis use among college students reached its highest levels in 35 years in 2020 with 44% of college students saying they consumed cannabis over the past year, according to Monitoring the Future data. The National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research has been annually tracking substance use by college students since 1980.

The 2020 cannabis use rate among college students represents an increase from 35% the study found in 2015. For young adults not in college, annual cannabis use remained at 43%—the same all-time high level recorded by the study in 2018 and 2019.

Daily cannabis use among college students last year was recorded at 8%; compared to 13% of same-age individuals not in college. In 2015, daily cannabis use among college students was 5%, according to the study data.

Psychedelic use also increased among college students from 5% in 2019 to 9% last year, according to the researchers. Annual psychedelic use among non-college respondents did not significantly increase in 2020, remaining consistent at around 10% compared to 8% in 2020.

College students did report lower alcohol-use rates in 2020 when 56% of students reported alcohol use within the past 30 days, compared to 62% in 2019, and 28% reported being drunk in the past 30 days—compared to 35% in 2019. Additionally, 24% of college students reported binge drinking—defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a row in the past two weeks—in 2020, compared to 32% in 2019.

Among non-college respondents, alcohol use across all measures was stable over the past five years, with no drop in 2020 when 49% of non-college respondents reported alcohol use in the past 30-days, while 22% reported being drunk in the past 30 days, and 24% reported binge drinking.

John Schulenberg, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and principal investigator of the Monitoring the Future panel study noted that it was the “first year where binge drinking was similar between the two groups.”

The researchers also found that tobacco use among college-aged individuals has fallen to at all-time low rates over the past five years with 4% of college students reporting having smoked in the past month along with 13% of non-college respondents.

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Cannabis Flower Now Available to Virginia Patients

9/14/2021

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Cannabis flower is now available to Virginia patients who can purchase up to four ounces per month, WRIC reports. The new rules took effect September 1. Prior to the reforms, Virginia patients could only access products manufactured from the oils of the plant.

Raymond Hernandez, Columbia Care Virginia pharmacist in charge and market director, called the day a “major milestone” for Virginia medical cannabis patients.

“A lot of the products we do make by extracting the oil of the plant, are highly effective but you do lose some of those minor cannabinoids and terpenes … This is a big day for all of us in the Commonwealth but most importantly for the medical patients who have been asking for this and seeking this form of medication.”—Hernandez to WRIC

The Virginia Board of Pharmacy reviewed the first whole flower cannabis batch at Colombia Care and gLeaf Medical with the companies receiving full approval within the last 48 hours.

Earlier this year, Virginia lawmakers approved broad cannabis legalization reforms—making it the first state in the South to approve adult-use cannabis laws. While the legalization law took effect on July 1, adult-use cannabis sales are not expected until sometime in 2023. Currently, cannabis home grows are defelonized but not necessarily legal as that part of the legalization bill will take effect in 2023. Currently, cannabis possession of up to one ounce of flower is allowed for adults 21-and-older and cannabis sharing and consumption is legal in private spaces.

The reforms have led to a 90% reduction in cannabis-related arrests in the Richmond area and surrounding counties.

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Montana Loosens Proposed Cannabis Advertising Restrictions

9/14/2021

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Montana’s Department of Revenue (DOR) has revised the state’s regulations for cannabis advertising, according to the Montana Free Press. The restrictions previously proposed over the summer, which caught many in the Montana cannabis industry by surprise, included strict sign size limits and required placards to include a warning about the plant’s habit-forming potential and other concerns. Another proposal had sought to ban dispensary advertising altogether, according to the report.

The Montana Cannabis Guild’s President and CEO Pepper Petersen said in August that the now-scrapped rules were a “radically conservative interpretation of the law.” He said the Guild had been prepared to sue the DOR to block the restrictions.

Under the new rules, dispensaries can advertise and market their brand but can only specifically advertise cannabis products in online ads. The warnings on the signs are no longer required. However, dispensaries will have to comply with local sign ordinances. Finally, cannabis-related websites must have a “Are you 21 and older?” question to enter and social media accounts must be private and display a note that only those 21 and older may follow the account.

“These are a lot more reasonable. They have addressed a lot of our concerns.” — Petersen, via the Montana Free Press

The public has until September 20 at 5:00 pm to comment on the new guidelines.

Montana is still “on track” to open its adult-use cannabis system by the January 1, 2022 launch date, according to the report.

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Cannabis-Related Arrests in Richmond, Virginia Area Fall 90% After Legalization

9/14/2021

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Cannabis arrests have fallen more than 90% in the Richmond, Virginia area since the state’s cannabis law took effect on July 1, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. Since the law took effect, there were just 25 arrests in Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico; over the same seven-week period last year, there were 257 cannabis-related arrests.

Jenn Michelle Pedini, development director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the executive director of the state chapter, told the Times-Dispatch that the reduction in arrests “indicates that the public policy is performing as intended and in a manner that is consistent with post-legalization observations from other states.”

The majority of the arrests—10—were simple possession charges by individuals under 21-years-old for whom it is still illegal to possess any amount of cannabis under the Legislature-approved law. The charges for underage possession are a civil violation.

Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey Katz told the Times-Dispatch that his department has “not shied away from enforcing any laws that are on the books.”

“We believe that arrests or prosecutions is advantageous for public safety. So that’s kind of the philosophy that we operate under. I mean we’re not out actively looking for [cannabis] arrests. But if we see violations of the law, and we feel it appropriate, we make the charge.”—Katz to the Times-Dispatch

Katz described lawmakers’ process in legalizing cannabis in the state as “poor public policy.”

“There’s no public marketplace for anyone to go purchase what they made legal, and that means that in order for someone to possess marijuana, they either have to grow it themselves or purchase it from a street-level drug dealer,” he said in the report, “and that’s what we’re seeing.”

Hanover Sheriff David Hines said in a statement that “if a violation is observed, the appropriate charges are placed”; however, Hanover had not recorded a single cannabis arrest from July 1 to August 20.

Cannabis sales are expected to commence in Virginia in 2024.

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New York State Fair Reconsiders Cannabis Smoking Policy

9/14/2021

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The New York State Fair (NYSF) is reconsidering its policy of generally allowing the smoking of cannabis on Fairgrounds during the annual event, according to The Citizen.

Responding to complaints, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has called for a review of the cannabis smoking policy implemented by the Fair this year after New York passed its adult-use cannabis bill, which allows cannabis to be smoked anywhere that tobacco smoking is allowed. This year, the NYSF banned smoking in buildings, at picnic areas, on the midway, and in kiddieland. The ban also applied to Chevy Court, the 9/11 and veterans memorials, and the state park at the Fair. But smoking (of cannabis and tobacco) was otherwise permitted “in other general areas that are not prohibited by New York State Law,” according to the report.

“That was an issue this year,” State Fair Director Troy Waffner told The Citizen, referring to the lax cannabis smoking policy.

Moving forward, the Fair’s organizers are considering a few options including designed smoking areas, drafting an outright smoking ban, or doing nothing at all — but Waffner said the third option is not “realistic.”

“I do agree with everybody who said we have to do something to try to control the smoking of marijuana around kids and families because this is a family event.” — Waffner, via The Citizen

The timeline for the Governor’s review is unknown. The 2022 New York State Fair will be held next year from August 24 to Labor Day September 5, returning to its 13-day schedule after an 18-day run this year.

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Anti-Cannabis Republican May Be Largest Holder of Cannabis Stocks in Congress

9/13/2021

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Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC) has made six investments in Altria Group Inc., one of the world’s largest tobacco companies—which is positioning itself in the cannabis space—despite spending much of her career advocating against cannabis legalization, Salon reports. Foxx has made at least six investments into the firm since September of last year, according to financial disclosure reports outlined by Salon.

In 2018, Altria—the parent company for Marlboro cigarettes—invested $1.8 billion into Canadian licensed producer Cronos Group, giving the firm a 45% stake in the company that is expected to grow to 55% over the next five years. In February, the company retained Williams Mullen’s Elizabeth Rafferty to lobby on issues related to the responsible and equitable regulation of cannabis sales in Virginia.

The investments into Altria likely make Foxx the largest holder of cannabis-related stocks in Congress, the report says, but it is impossible to know for sure as members of Congress are not required to disclose the exact amounts of their investments.

In December 2020, Foxx voted against the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment & Expungement Act (MORE), which would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level. The measure was approved by the House of Representatives in a mostly partisan 228-164 vote. Two months after the vote, it was reported that Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth (D) bought between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stocks in three major cannabis companies—Canopy Growth Corporation, Aurora Cannabis, and Tilray—before announcing his co-sponsorship of the reform package.

Richard Painter, a former White House ethics attorney under President George W. Bush and University of Minnesota law professor, told Salon that the investments are “so obviously a conflict of interest” which “brings into question [Foxx’s] credibility as a lawmaker.”

Foxx’s office declined to comment to Salon but tweeted in December 2020 that “Democrats can’t get their minds off pot bills, and they think it’s more important than: Supporting small businesses, Safely reopening schools, Protecting the livelihoods of Americans.”

“No wonder their majority is shrinking,” she wrote. “They’re so far removed from reality.”

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Former Fall River Mayor Facing 11-Year Sentence for Cannabis Extortion

9/13/2021

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Federal prosecutors are seeking an 11-year sentence for the former mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts after he was found guilty in May of extorting cannabis businesses, the Associated Press reports. Jasiel Correia, 29, was arrested in 2019 on charges of extortion and fraud and was ultimately found guilty on all of the 21 charges levied against him.

In court documents filed last week, prosecutors also asked a judge to order the former mayor to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution to investors and more than $20,000 to the IRS, and forfeit more than $560,000, the report says.

Correia has appealed the conviction and, following the May verdict, was confident he would win the challenge.

“There were no facts that were brought forward, there was no overwhelming evidence. Unfortunately, there was a couple things that didn’t go our way that were technical today and that’s where we’ll be on grounds for appeal and we’ll win that appeal and I will be vindicated, and my future will be very long and great.”—Correia, following his conviction on May 16, 2020, via the New York Times

In the sentencing documents, prosecutors argued that Correia is “remorseless and without empathy for his victims.”

“The betrayal of people who considered him like family, the pervasive lying, cheating, stealing, and blame-shifting, and the egregious breaches of the public trust must be met with a sentence that thoroughly repudiates the defendant’s abhorrent conduct and deters both this defendant and others like him from doing it again,” prosecutors wrote in the documents.

Correia solicited bribes ranging from $75,000 to $250,000 in cash, campaign contributions, and other payments from cannabis industry operators. He also bilked investors in his app, SnoOwl, out of at least $360,000. He was first elected in 2015 at just 23-years-old. In 2019 he was both removed from his Massachusetts office and voted back in during a special election in March. He would ultimately lose his re-election bid in November 2019 to Paul Coogan.

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Minnesota Dispensaries Hosting Cannabis Expungement Clinics

9/13/2021

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Medical cannabis dispensaries in Minnesota are partnering with volunteer attorneys from St. Paul’s Mitchell Hamline School of Law to host expungement clinics to help people clear their records of nonviolent cannabis charges, the Star-Tribune reports. The first clinic was held over the weekend at downtown Minneapolis’ Green Goods.

Mayor Jacob Frey tweeted Friday in support of the effort.

“We need to continue pressing for legalization and expungement under State law. Until then, efforts like these are laying important groundwork.”—Frey via Twitter

In May, the Democratically-led state House approved a cannabis legalization bill but the effort was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate. It was the first time a broad cannabis legalization bill had been considered on either chamber of the state Legislature.

The reforms are supported by Gov. Tim Walz (D) who said in 2019 that he had directed all relevant state agencies to “put all of the building blocks in place” for legalization that would allow the state to implement the rules and regulations “the minute” the Legislature approved the reforms. Minnesota decriminalized cannabis possession in 1976, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which also found that Black people in the state are 5.4 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people—the eighth-worst state in the nation of racial disparities in cannabis arrests.

In Hennepin County, where Minneapolis is located, Black people are seven times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white people, according to the ACLU report.

Nationally, a Black person is 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than a white person.

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Chicago City Council Eases Cannabis Zoning Rules

9/10/2021

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The Chicago, Illinois City Council Zoning Committee has approved a plan by Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) to eliminate the city’s cannabis zones and allow more retail cannabis dispensaries in downtown Chicago, the Real Deal reports. The move comes as Lightfoot seeks to bring more businesses to the area.

In all, there are 110 licensed retail cannabis dispensaries in Illinois but just 18 of them are in Chicago, which has cost the city an estimated $13 million in revenue, the report says.

The previous zoning law created seven so-called cannabis zones in Chicago and placed limits on the number of dispensaries allowed in each zone. The goal was to ensure dispensaries would be evenly spread out across the city. The law designated downtown—from Division Street in the north, Van Buren Street in the south, from State Street in the west, and down to the Chicago River in the loop—as an “exclusion zone” where dispensaries could not operate due to the area’s density and the number of tourists.

Under the plan, the revised exclusion zone will shrink, with Division and Van Buren streets still serving as the northern and southern borders, but Michigan and State streets will become the east and west boundaries, the report says.

The full City Council is expected to take up the proposal next week.

Applicants had to participate in a zoning lottery to potentially be approved to open in the city—180 dispensary licenses are still waiting to be issued but have been delayed due to a lawsuit in Cook County.

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Federal Government to Take Control of Wisconsin Hemp Program

9/10/2021

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The Wisconsin hemp program transitions to federal control next year, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take over on January 1, 2022, replacing the state’s four-year pilot program. The change is expected to save farmers money through lower application fees and allow them to use private testing laboratories.

The change was announced last week by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), according to the report.

“There’s so many factors that go into it, but our thought on this whole process was we wanted to put the industry in the best opportunity to produce hemp in Wisconsin. Right now this transition is the best option.” — DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski, via Wisconsin State Journal

Because hemp farmers in Wisconsin already follow federal regulations, the change is not expected to disrupt hemp farming in the state, according to the report.

“We are collaborating with USDA for a smooth transition and providing hemp growers with the resources they need to understand any changes,” said DATCP’s Division of Agriculture Resource Management administrator Sara Walling in a statement.

Lastly, the state will continue to work with hemp farmers this season for testing. Processors—though they will no longer need a processing license from the state—will remain under state authority for consumer and food products.

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Connecticut Cannabis Regulator Predicts Adult-Use Delays

9/10/2021

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The Connecticut Commissioner for the Department of Consumer Protection said that the state’s timeline for adult-use cannabis sales may take longer than legislators first thought, according to The Connecticut Examiner. Commissioner Michelle Seagull made the comments to an audience at a breakfast hosted by the CT Chamber of Commerce. She told the Examiner at the event the anticipated timeline may be delayed.

“We’ve been suggesting that there will likely be sales by the end of 2022, and we’re still aspiring for that. Obviously, we have to see how things play out in the next few months.” — Michelle Seagull, via the CT Examiner

Seagull said unknowns like who will qualify for a social equity license could contribute to the hold-up—these decisions are yet to be made by the Social Equity Council, a 15-member group recently appointed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) and state legislators tasked with developing a social equity application criteria.

In response to an audience question about how the state will weed out “large corporations trying to circumvent rules,” Seagull told the group the Council needs to “take a look at ownership and corporate documents to understand who truly controls the business.”

Attendee Kurt Smith, who owns a Massachusetts cannabis producer and works for Fuss and Neil, a grow-site designing firm, said the “capital-intensive nature of this business makes it difficult for these companies to start up.” Consequently, “the ancillary business market is going to see … a lot of opportunity here,”

Smith, a Connecticut medical cannabis patient himself, backed up Seagull’s predictions, telling the gathering, “It’s going to take longer than everybody thinks.”

“It’s not going to happen on that timetable,” he said, “because it always takes extra time to get these things right.”

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High-Powered New York Lobby Firm Launches Cannabis Practice Group

9/10/2021

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A New York-based lobbying firm is launching a division to focus on cannabis legalization and other issues related to cannabis industry and policy, Syracuse.com reports. Park Strategies, which bills itself as a “strategic advisory and government relations firm” specializing in “highly regulated industries” such as energy, healthcare, casinos and gaming, and entertainment.

Park Strategies already represents the New York State Cannabis Growers Association—which it worked with in 2019 to pass the state’s Hemp Extracts law which governs the cultivation, processing and sales of non-THC hemp and cannabis products.

Joe Rossi, a managing director of the firm who will lead its Cannabis Practice Group, said that “there are still more questions than answers” on how the state’s cannabis industry regulations will work, and the group will “be on top of that.”

Alfonse D’Amato, Park Strategies founder and a former U.S. senator, added that the firm’s decision to launch the cannabis division was driven, in part, by the recent appointment of officials to the Office of Cannabis Management.

“With Governor Kathy Hochul’s prioritizing the cannabis law by making appointments to the cannabis office and governing board so quickly after having taken office tells us New York is serious about growing the cannabis industry in the state, and we are happy to be making our own investment to assure that success.”—D’Amato, in a statement, via Syracuse.com

Late last month, state lawmakers approved former Democratic Assemblywoman Termaine Wright was as chair of the Cannabis Control Board along with criminal justice reform advocate Christopher Alexander as the Office of Cannabis Management executive director.

The state is still in the process of setting up agencies and rules for legal cannabis sales—which is expected to commence in 2022 or early 2023.

 

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Alabama Cannabis Commissioners Asking Lawmakers to License Cannabis Cultivators Sooner

9/10/2021

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The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is asking state lawmakers to revise the medical cannabis law passed earlier this year to allow cultivators to get licensed sooner, AL.com reports. The law set the date the state can begin accepting medical cannabis cultivation applications at Sept. 1, 2022, but commission Vice Chair Rex Vaughn said he has been in discussions with lawmakers about changing that date to allow cultivators to be licensed by no later than early 2022.

Commission Chair Dr. Steven Stokes said the commission’s “goal” is to have products available to patients by the fall of next year.

Lawmakers are not currently in session but are expected to meet in a special session later this month or next month when they could consider the commission’s request. If the September date remains unchanged, medical cannabis patients won’t be available to Alabama patients until some time in 2023.

The chairman of the commission’s dispensary subcommittee, Dr. Sam Blakemore, recommended last week that dispensaries in the state “resemble a pharmacy.”

During its meeting Thursday, the Medical Cannabis Commission also voted to offer State Treasurer John McMillan the commission’s executive director job. McMillan and is a former state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources commissioner and served two terms as state agriculture commissioner. He said he expects to take the job which would require that he step down as treasurer.

 

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How to Harvest Indoor-Grown Cannabis

9/09/2021

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By Kyle Kushman and the Homegrown Cannabis Co.

I’m often asked about the best way to harvest indoor cannabis, especially by beginners. What I tell them, and what I am about to explain here, is this. The harvesting itself is nowhere near as important as the two weeks leading to the day you take down the plants. The work you do pre-harvest is VITAL. From flushing the excess nutrients, to tweaking the light cycle to getting the exact day (and time of day) just right.

I can easily show you how to cut and hang a plant, don’t worry – I will, but do not ignore the final two weeks. They can make the difference between dry, insipid, lifeless buds and fat, juicy, super-potent colas. Colas you can be proud of.

The key to a good harvest? Preparation.

There are four major elements of preparation you should NEVER neglect.

  • Your drying room.
  • The date you flipped into flower.
  • Flushing.
  • Environment.

The drying room.

It might sound crazy, but the next step after buying your cannabis seeds should be to organize your drying room. Or at least have your location evaluated and secured. You’ll have plenty of other things to occupy your mind pretty soon, believe me. I never start an indoor cannabis grow without knowing how and where the plants will be dried. I repeat, get this taken care of as early as you can, it’s far too easy to see the harvest date as something to ‘worry about later on’. How many times have you said these words: That’s next week? Seriously??? That came out of nowhere! Major events, birthdays, anniversaries (just ask my wife) and indoor harvests all fall under this category.

What makes a good drying room? In brief, you’ll want the drying room close to the grow, easily accessible, and with as much control over the environment as possible. I pretty much always use my tent. As I’ll explain later, everything you need to control the environment will already be in place – and it’s fully lightproof, perfect for drying plants.

First off, space. Is there room to hang ALL your plants? Your drying room needs to be at least as big as the space you grew in, with plenty of room to walk around and inspect each plant. It also needs to be completely dark, at least for the first three days. Your plant will continue to respond to the environment as if it were standing in soil, growing happily. This means it will continue to produce chlorophyll and other harsh-tasting chemicals when exposed to light. Make like Metallica, fade to black. Pitch black.

Your drying room should be able to house your dehumidifier, fans and drying lines, air-con (if needed), which is why I like drying in my tent. Make sure the lines are taut and secure, with enough space for multiple rows (depending on the number of plants). Turning your grow tent into a drying tent is easy, but if you have a better spot, go for it.

Environment. 

You should aim to keep the temp below 70F (65 – 68 is optimum). Judging the correct levels of humidity can be tricky, and you’ll have to be responsive. For the first day or two in the drying room, your plants won’t do too much off gassing. Your dehumidifier should be set to 60% from the outset, being lowered to 55, then 50% over the next few days. You want to stop excess humidity from building up in the room, as this will prevent the plants from drying naturally.

Dry environments may need to humidify rather than dehumidify to the same levels. 

If you can’t stick to these numbers, you might need to improve your equipment or relocate to another space. Talking of equipment, you really shouldn’t need anything more than a dehumidifier and a fan (or two). You might also need air-con, depending on your climate.

If you need to dehumidify, do it as passively as possible. You want to draw moisture from the air, not from the plants – there is a difference. Same for your fans. Use them to create a nice, gentle, passive airflow, not to blow-dry the hanging plants.

Don’t blow-dry your plants!

Flipping into flower.

Knowing how to harvest is knowing exactly WHEN to harvest. Now, if you buy seeds from a reputable online store, they’ll give you the flowering time of the cultivar. It could be anything from 6 to 14 weeks. Not many modern hybrids have a longer flowering period than 14 weeks, it’s only really your old-school Hazes and big, pure sativas that can take longer. 

The flowering time will tell you (roughly) when to harvest your plants, but only if you’ve noted the date you changed your light cycle to 12/12, flipping your plants into flower.

Mark the date you flipped onto your calendar, or into your Homegrown Diary (I will talk more about your Diary later). Then add the minimum number of flowering weeks to your calendar (if the plant has an 8-10 week flowering time, add 8 weeks). Let me give you an example. You’re growing a bunch of Kyle’s Skywalker OG Feminized from the Homegrown Cannabis Co. The Cultivar Profile gives you a flowering time of 8-10 weeks. You flip them on 11th June, when do you expect them to be harvest-ready? Add 8 weeks, that takes you to 23rd July.

Now, this is not an exact, sure-fire, chop-em-down harvest date. It’s up to you to determine whether your plants are ready. They might need the full ten weeks, they might need longer. The bigger the buds, the longer they take to mature. I’ll show you exactly when to harvest, but you NEED to note the date you flipped. This date will help keep you prepared and organized. It will at least tell you not to book two weeks in Cancun when you should be chopping down your plants!

Autoflowering plants flip themselves into flower (automatically), and their listed flowering times are actually their total life cycle, from seed to harvest. Say you pop a bunch of Homegrown’s Electric Blue Autos, they also show a flowering time of 8-10 weeks. Being autos, you’ll know that these are the weeks from pop to crop. If you plant your germinated seeds on 11th June, you’ll probably be harvesting them late July / early August.

Non-autos: mark the date you flipped.

Autos: mark the date you planted.

Flushing.

The final few weeks before harvest is the time to get rid of all the nutrients in the soil (beginners should always start off with soil grows). This process is called flushing, as it flushes any chemicals, fertilizers, excess starch and sugars from the plant, using pure-water feeds. Why do we flush? Because these extra ‘ingredients’ can ruin the flavor, aroma and smokability of the finished bud.

If you start flushing two weeks from harvest, your plant will use all its own stores of nutes, leaving a clean, tasty, pure jar of weed, in theory. If you’re going to flush, do it right. I’ll bullet it out for you here…

  • Week six of flowering: Cut out nitrogen from the feeds.
  • Three weeks to harvest: Stop feeding micronutes, including cal-mag. Cut your phosphorus by half.
  • Two weeks to harvest: Flood the soil with plain water and allow it to drain, dissolving the excess nutes, salts and starches as it goes. Follow this about ten minutes later with a second flush of plain water. All feeds from now on should be water and enzymes only.
  • Two days after initial flush: Look out for signs of nitrogen deficiency, green leaves fading to yellow and a reddening of the leaf stems. These are good signs! If you want to get serious, snap off a leaf and taste the juice that runs from the stem. Still bitter? There’s still nutes in the system. These should clear closer to harvest. Think of it like a roast chicken, when the juices run clear, the bird is cooked and ready to be enjoyed.

Draining run off water

  • One week to harvest: Feed only water from this point on.
  • Three days before harvest: Lights, out! This isn’t strictly to do with flushing, but I’ve mentioned it here because you can include it in the process. The darkness spikes resin production and the cooler air helps kick-start the drying process, pushing the moisture down into the root zone.
  • Two days before harvest: Give your plants a final watering. The final 24 hours pre-harvest should be nice and dry. Ideally, you want the last drops of moisture evaporating from the pots just as you cut down the plants – good luck timing that to perfection. Best to get it as close as possible – you don’t want to harvest a wilted plant! When the plants start to dehydrate during the last few hours in the soil, the resin production jumps. This isn’t because the soil is dry – it’s because the air is dry. Your plants equate dry air to hot sun, and they pump out resin to prevent sunburn. The more you discover about your weed, by the way, the more you’ll love growing it!

Okay, so when do you know it’s time to harvest?

Your plants should be cut down at the apex of resin production. Too early and you’ll lose out on potency, flavor and smokability. Too late, and the THC levels will drop as the resin glands begin to degrade. This can be manipulated in your favor, as I’ll explain later…

The first thing to be aware of is the aforementioned flowering time. As you reach the end of the set flowering period, you’ll notice the once-white pistils turn orange, red or even brown, depending on the cultivar. The pistils, like the flowering time, are a general guide only, helping you to predict a rough harvest date.

It’s far more accurate to examine the trichomes under a microscope (a handheld jeweler’s loupe will do). Trichomes are the tiny, mushroom-shaped resin glands that start life as crystal-clear growths. As the plant reaches maturity, they’ll turn opaque, and, just like the pistils, will eventually turn orangey-red or brown. When around 5 – 10% of the trichomes have turned orange/brown (around 98% of the remaining trichomes will be cloudy, with a small percentage remaining clear), it’s time to cut down the plants.

When examining the trichomes, be sure to check the interior of the plant. Trichomes near the exterior of the plant can be affected by contact from the grower. Simply brushing past with your sleeve can cause discoloration. 

You’ll want to examine your plants regularly once they’re in full flower mode. It’s only by noting the date you flipped PLUS regular examination that you’ll be able to time your harvest date to perfection. Only plants harvested at the optimum time will reach their FULL potential in the jars.

Notes on getting high.

I’ve talked about the optimum time for harvesting cannabis, but what happens if you decide to take down the plants earlier or later? It’s an interesting question. I’ve always compared ripening cannabis to ripening fruit. If you pluck too early you’ll likely end up with a sour, super-tangy piece of fruit. Too late, and you’ll be biting into soft, mushy flesh. You can expect a similar situation with the high… harvesting when 5 – 10% of the trichomes are amber should deliver an upbeat, euphoric high with minimal couch-locking effects.

Now, if you allow a little more time for 10 – 15% of the trichomes to brown, you’re likely to produce weed with a more balanced mind/body high. You can push it even further, letting up to 40% of the trichomes brown. This process reflects the degradation of THC into CBN. Although CBN isn’t nearly as psychoactive as THC, it’s a powerful sedative. If you’re suffering from insomnia (and growing medicinal cannabis as a treatment), you might want to try a late harvest.

Harvesting a little earlier will produce more of a sativa-style high (clear-headed, energetic, cerebral), but you should make sure at least 5% of the trichomes are brown. Anything less will be detrimental to your flavors AND the high.

The big day: harvest time!

As promised, here’s how to cut down your plants and hang them to dry. Your lights should be off and the pots should be mostly dry. You’ll want to trim the larger fan leaves before progressing to the smaller, sugar leaves (you can keep them and make a nice hash). The plants are now ready to be taken down. I like to cut my plants down whole, cutting at the base of the stem where it meets the root ball. If your plants are huge, as in, over six feet, you can cut off a few larger branches until you’ve a manageable plant.

Take them directly to your drying room and hang them upside down on the drying lines. You can let them lightly touch each other as they’ll shrink pretty quickly. Leaving them whole slows down the drying process, which is great news for the finished bud. If they dry too quickly you’ll trap unwanted chemicals in the nugs – starches and nitrates that could ruin the smoke.

Let them hang for five to seven days, but start checking them after three (if your plants are super-small). Depending on the progress they make, you might need to leave them up to two weeks (MAX). If you’ve optimized temperature and humidity, you’re looking good. If your fans and dehumidifier are targeting the air as opposed to the plants, you’re looking great. The key is to dry the plants as evenly as possible, at a nice, chilled-out pace.

Note: if you opted not to give your plants 72 hours of darkness before harvest, you need to take the plants down around an hour before the lights are due to come on. This is peak time for terpene and cannabinoid production, and the plants will be storing the remaining nutes way down in the roots.

When can you trim them into jars?

If you manage to harvest at the optimum time AND dry your buds to perfection, they’ll taste great even without a super-long cure. But how do you know when they’re dried to perfection? The first thing you should do is give your buds a little squeeze. Now, it’s going to be difficult to explain exactly how they should feel, this will be something you’ll pick up with practice, but there should be some spring left in them. You want to feel there’s some moisture left. If they crumble into dust, you’ll know you left them WAY too long.

Next up comes the snap test. Take one of the stems and try to break it. If it bends without snapping, it could do with a little more drying. If it bends and breaks, with a satisfying crack, you can move on to the next test. Take a bud and pull it gently from the stem, it should pull a little strip of the stem off with it. If it does, jackpot. This means there’s still a little moisture in the stem. These last remnants of moisture make for a much better cure, and if you’ve got everything right so far, that cure need only last a week or two.

The last test to perform is the smoke test. Grind up a little bud and roll it up into a joint. If it stays lit, your buds are most likely ready for the next stage of their life.

Your next job is to buck and trim and get those buds jarred up. It’s curing time!

Notes on curing cannabis.

I like to get my harvest and drying just right, but I also like to cure a little longer than most growers, especially impatient beginners! I know you want your buds right now, but cured buds are WAY better than buds straight off the drying lines. Follow my advice, you’ll thank me for it! Here’s what you do…

Buck and trim your buds into mason jars, leaving a little room for air in each jar. Don’t stuff the buds and don’t half-fill. Put the jars in a cool, dark and dry place, somewhere easily accessible but out of the way. After a couple of days, you can open the jars to check your cure. If you can smell candy, well done! You can close up the jar and leave your buds as long as you like.

If you smell ammonia, this tells you that you jarred your flowers a little too soon. Best to empty the jars and dry it all out. It’s the end of the cure – this time. Don’t be disheartened, curing is an art form and you’ll improve each time.

Make sure you use common sense and observation during the curing process. My advice is just a guide. Every plant and every bud and every grow is different. Don’t be afraid to follow your gut!

Homegrown Diary

Homegrown Diaries is a completely free platform recently launched by the Homegrown Cannabis Co. You can create a grow journal and input a huge range of information. Everything from feeding times, wattage, light cycles to height and width. It will even let you know how much yield you achieved per watt of light!

I always advise beginners to take lots of notes, keep a record of everything you do and how your plants react. This is EASY with a Homegrown Diary. You’ll find 100s of fellow growers (diarists) more than willing to help, share and chat about your grow, and the mods are experienced cultivators always ready with advice.

I’m going to be using Homegrown Diaries for my next grow – it would be AWESOME to see you there, too.

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California Cannabis Regulators Release New Industry Draft Rules

9/09/2021

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Regulators with the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) released new draft rules for the industry on Wednesday that would loosen some restrictions and consolidate the responsibilities of cannabis operators.

The draft rules, first reported by Marijuana Business Daily, will next undergo a five-day public comment period before they are expected to formally take effect later this month.

Some of the proposed changes include letting certain operators (growers, manufacturers, and distributors) share product samples with other licensed cannabis companies—other operators including retailers, testing labs, and event hosts will still be banned from offering product samples. Additionally, the draft rules would narrow the definition of cannabis business owners in the state and allow for the sale of branded merchandise by non-vertically integrated cannabis companies.

DCC spokesperson Christina Dempsey told MJBizDaily that the product sample changes would better enable small businesses to compete in the industry by showcasing their products to other operators. Meanwhile, expanding merchandise sales is expected to level the playing field for non-vertically integrated companies.

She also suggested the updates were only the beginning of the agency’s upcoming regulatory adjustments:

“The intention of the DCC is to have more efforts at regulation, through the regular rulemaking process, to continue to streamline this. This is not the end.” — Dempsey, via MJBizDaily

The DCC was formed in July when California consolidated its three agencies with cannabis regulatory responsibilities into a single body under the state’s Department of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing.

 

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Arkansas Medical Cannabis Market Generates $33M in Six Weeks

9/09/2021

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Over six weeks, Arkansas spent $33 million on medical cannabis, according to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) data outlined by KTLO. The state’s first dispensary opened in mid-2019 and total sales through Labor Day are expected to cross the $400 million mark.

From mid-July through August, Arkansans spent $33 million to purchase 5,038 pounds of cannabis at dispensaries in the state—an increase of $6.5 million in sales compared to figures from mid-July, when Arkansas patients spent $26.5 million on 3,924 pounds of medical cannabis.

There are currently 36 dispensaries operating throughout Arkansas, with two more working toward opening, the report says.

The Releaf Center in Bentonville was the first dispensary in the state to reach 6,000 pounds of medical cannabis sales, reporting 6,256 pounds of medical cannabis sales since opening in August 2019. In all, 17 of the state’s dispensaries have sold at least 1,000 pounds of cannabis.

In July, cannabis advocates in the state began gathering signatures to put an adult-use legalization question to voters during next year’s midterm election. The proposal would allow cannabis use and possession by adults 21-and-older, allow sales through licensed retailers, allow for expungement of all cannabis crimes that would be legal under the amendment, and permits adults to cultivate up to 12 plants in their homes.

In a July interview with 40/29 News, Jesse Raphael, a representative for Arkansas True Grass, noted that “while Arkansas does have a great medical marijuana program, it does have shortcomings.”

“It doesn’t allow for the patients to grow and the medicine itself is very expensive,” she said at the time.

The campaign faces a deadline of July 2022 to get the issue on next year’s ballots.

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South Dakota Ruling Lets Lawyers Work with Cannabis Industry Clients

9/09/2021

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The South Dakota Supreme Court has issued updated professional conduct rules allowing attorneys to advise cannabis industry clients, KELO reports. State courts and Bar Associations have often issued rules clarifications for lawyers following medical or adult-use cannabis legalization due to federal law.

“(A) lawyer may counsel or assist a client regarding conduct expressly permitted by South Dakota Cannabis laws, even if the same conduct violates federal law, but the lawyer must inform the client that the conduct violates federal law and advise the client about the legal consequences under federal law of the client’s proposed course of conduct.”—South Dakota Supreme Court rule via KELO

The state Supreme Court follows a decision by the State Bar of South Dakota during its June convention where the bar’s Ethics Committee Chair Sander Morehead called for the endorsement.

Previously, the official conduct rule prevented attorneys from engaging or assisting clients “in conduct that the lawyers know is criminal or fraudulent.”

Last November, South Dakota voters approved both medical and adult-use cannabis legalization; however, a circuit court judge ruled the adult-use law invalid saying that it violated state rules prohibiting ballot questions from covering more than one subject. The state Supreme Court is currently considering the legality of the initiative.

Prior to the 2020 election, the Ethics Committee had determined that lawyers couldn’t assist a client in establishing, licensing, or otherwise operating a cannabis business in the state while cannabis remains federally outlawed.

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Iowa State University NORML Collects Signatures to Support Cannabis Law Reforms

9/09/2021

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The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Chapter at Iowa State University (ISU) is collecting signatures for a letter supporting adult-use cannabis legalization in the state, Iowa State Daily reports. The group has already collected more than 3,700 signatures and hopes to collect 10,000 signatures for the letter, which would be sent to state lawmakers.

Blake Clark, president of NORML ISU, said the letter campaign is open to all state residents who “can share their voice quickly and easily” through the organization’s “simple website.”

“Most importantly,” Clark said, “voting for state legislators who support this cause will lead to the cannabis law reform we need.”

The letter calls on lawmakers to enact cannabis reforms. It cites a 2014 National Institute on Drug Abuse study that showed that 34% of 10th graders had used cannabis—despite it being illegal federally—making the substance more prevalent among this age group than the highly regulated and legal tobacco industry (23%). “However,” the letter adds, “a 2019 Center for Disease Control study showed that youth marijuana use decreased in states that legalized recreational marijuana.”

“The war on marijuana has failed. This racist drug war did not, and will not, keep marijuana out of kids’ hands.”— NORML ISU in the letter

The group has also sponsored a billboard along the I-234 highway in Des Moines to promote the petition. The billboard will be displayed until Sunday.

A March 2020 Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found majority support— – 53%—for the reforms for the first time.

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The Expert Smoker’s Guide to the Top Rolling Paper Brands

9/08/2021

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Throughout the years, cannabis has gone through many different phases, from how people smoke to how people feel about the plant in its entirety. What’s stayed consistent is the classic weed rolling paper that every consumer knows and loves. Whether it was Snoop Dogg or Wiz Khalifa rapping about how much weed they smoke and what the best rolling papers are, hip-hop culture has helped inspire several generations of smokers — but while your favorite rapper might know their favorite rolling papers, we know how hard it can be to find the ones that best suit you.

So if you’re looking to change things up, stick around and we just may point you towards a dope new weed rolling paper!

Previously, joint wraps were only being used as cigarette paper. But now, they’ve taken the marijuana community by storm. Today, there are so many different brands and types of papers that it can leave you discombobulated at the smoke shop. The best rolling papers are not the same for everyone — some people like RAWs, while others prefer Zig-Zags — and there are a plethora of different papers to choose from. Whether you’re smoking rice paper or bleached white hemp paper, the last thing we want is for you to be searching “rolling papers near me” by the end of this list.

By the time you finish this list, you’ll be smoking only the top rolling papers.

There are so many upsides to not only smoking joints but also using rolling papers — Wiz Khalifa would be the first to tell you that. Unlike blunt wraps, joint paper is made with thin paper so that you can taste the terpenes and natural flavors in your joint. We’ll make sure to go over all the dos and don’ts when it comes to choosing the top rolling papers in the game. There are a ton of great joint paper brands that are beloved by newcomers and seasoned vets alike.

1. OCB, the best organic joint papers in the business

OCB Rolling Papers

OCB rolling papers are some of the best rolling papers in the game right now. With these rolling papers, you’re able to enjoy all the terpenes from your bud. Any marijuana toker will tell you, rolling your ganja with these papers will elevate your smoking experience. OCB meaning “Odet, Cascedec, Bolloré” is one of the best types of hemp paper out there, attracting older and newer smokers alike. You can’t go wrong buying their assortment of papers as well, their OCB long papers are great. OCB rolling papers are approachable to anyone: they’re organic, new to the industry, and they have pre-roll cones for beginners. They may be new to the game but people are catching on quickly and we want to make sure you’re not out of the loop, which is why we had to throw it on the list.

While there may be a myriad of different rolling paper brands to choose from, why not choose one of the best and go with OCB.

2. RAW Papers, the classic rolling papers since the ‘90s

RAW Rolling Papers

RAW Papers have been a staple within the cannabis community for a few decades. Some things just never go out of style and RAW products are one of them. They are regarded as some of the top rolling papers in the game and have yet to disappoint. Owned by Josh Kesselman, one of the early pioneers of the rolling paper industry who prides himself on producing a joint paper that is unrefined, all-natural, and vegan! This type of weed rolling paper is legendary amongst many rappers and entertainers, from the likes of Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa, and Pete Davidson. RAW is marked as a household name. RAW joint papers changed the entire scope of a smoke session, providing a smooth, slow burn, while still being untainted by any pesticides or bleach. These are the best joint papers for novices and vets, as they appeal to both demographics. With RAW rolling papers, you’re not only elevating your smoking experience, you’re also taking a more health-conscious approach to smoking herb.

If you dream of smoking like a rap star, make sure to roll up in a RAW rolling paper.

3. Test the elements with Elements Rolling Papers

Elements Rice Rolling Papers

Elements rolling papers are some of the best rolling papers for weed in the industry. They provide a slow, even burn that allows tokers to not only take a healthier approach to smoking marijuana, but it also enables the terps to be the first thing you taste after that first hit. Made from the finest rice paper, with zero chemicals or burning agents, Elements rice paper is perfect for rolling some stellar joints. What sets these rolling papers apart from the rest is how they leave absolutely no ash as they burn once sparked. The only residue produced from Elements papers is from the gum lining. They also carry an assortment of ultra-thin pre-roll rice rolling papers that are perfect for beginners as well as the stoner that just wants to save time. These are some of the top rolling papers that anyone can appreciate and smoke with.

4. You can’t go wrong smoking Rizla papers

Rizla Rolling Papers

Rizla rolling papers is a world-renowned rolling paper brand that has an extremely rich history. Sold in over 120 countries around the globe, the Rizla brand is held in high regard for its rolling paper. With a myriad of papers to choose from that all burn at different rates, whether you like a slow-burn or a nice quick sesh, you won’t be sorry rolling up with a Rizla paper. The papers, outside of the natural hemp paper, are all made from rice paper, untainted by unnecessary additives. These are top rolling papers to smoke if you like a lot of different varieties in terms of how your paper burns and how thin you want the joint wrap to be.

5. Zig-Zag Rolling Papers, the 140-year-old staple in the smoking industry

Zig-Zag Rolling Papers

Zig-Zag rolling papers have been a heavy hitter within the cannabis community for many decades. As one of the top rolling papers throughout the smoker community, they are held in very high regard as a legendary rolling paper amongst your favorite rappers and entertainers. From Dr. Dre using the Zig-Zag papers logo as the cover of his debut classic album “The Chronic,” to Ice Cube using the brand in his famed pot-head film “Friday,” this rolling paper brand is one of the best in the business. Aside from all the clout across the stoner community, these papers are ideal for the vets that miss rolling with thick paper and want to take a walk down memory lane with a nice smoke. Zig-Zag also carries an assortment of Zig-Zag hemp papers for the cannabis fanatic that wants a healthier smoke and wishes to taste their bud when they start cheefin’.

6. Toke in the lap of luxury with Shine papers

Shine 24K Gold Rolling Papers

Shine rolling papers are some of the most luxurious and indulgent rolling papers on the market right now. Made from 24 karat gold edible paper, even the snobbiest of weed snobs would line up to snag a pack of these. These gold rolling papers are perfect for when you’re celebrating or when you want to feel fancy on special occasions. As anyone would imagine, these 24k gold rolling papers do come at a higher price than regular rolling papers, but that’s the price for the finer things! Now one might be a tad skeptical about smoking gold, but rest assured Shine papers are 100% safe to smoke. Whether you want to feel like you’re living in the lap of luxury, or just want to splurge a little bit for a special occasion, you can’t go wrong choosing Shine 24k gold rolling papers.

7. Juicy Jay has the best flavored rolling papers in the game

Juicy Jay’s Rolling Papers

Not to be confused with the rapper, Juicy Jay rolling papers have been a staple in the industry amongst stoners everywhere. Known for their flavored joint papers, with the flavors perforated all over the paper, this brand has stood the test of time and is still seen as one of the best rolling papers by old and new stoners. Smoking with Juicy Jay papers changes the smoking experience through their quality flavors and papers, allowing tokers to enjoy their bud after each and every puff. If you like a little flavor to your papers whenever you’re rolling up, then these flavored rolling papers are the perfect brand to choose. With Juicy Jay papers you’re getting a quality and flavorful smoke with each and every hit that’ll leave you feeling elevated and relaxed afterward.

8. Have a clean smoke with Pure Hemp papers

Pure Hemp Rolling Papers

Pure Hemp is a 100% eco-friendly and tree-free rolling paper, made from the finest hemp pulp complimented with an all-natural gum lining from the African-Acacia tree. These hemp rolling papers are like none other, providing a more health-conscious smoke that started as a niche but expanded to achieve global acclaim. These are some of the best rolling papers to use if you want a paper that contains zero bleach or isn’t made from rice paper. Unlike blunt wraps, Pure Hemp rolling papers are nowhere near as harsh and can be a better alternative to smoking a blunt. For the stoner that wants to put their respiratory health first or the smoker that wants to try something new, Pure Hemp paper is the rolling paper for you!

9. Indulge in the ultra-fine texture of Canna Wraps

Canna Wraps Rolling Papers

Canna Wraps are regarded as one of the most popular, sought-after joint rolling papers in the industry right now. You won’t be dissatisfied with these papers, they provide a nice even smoke that burns slow, allowing you to enjoy your buds with each and every puff. This joint paper is second to none with quality at the forefront of this brand, any toker would love to have these joint wraps in their possession. Canna Wraps are the way to go if you want to go outside of the norm and try one of the best joint rolling papers in the smoking industry.

10. See what’s inside your joint with Aleda transparent papers

If you ever wondered what your weed looks like as it’s being burned in a joint, then prepare for your questions to be answered. With Aleda transparent papers you can watch your kush burn inside the paper. These see-through rolling papers are great at parties —you’ll be the life of the party showing people your see-through joints. Made from 100% cellulose, which creates transparency, these clear rolling papers are biodegradable and provide a natural smoke every time. Even though these papers may come off as a novelty due to their transparency, they are a great alternative to what’s already out there. Transparent rolling papers are great for those that not only want to show up to the party with a few party favors but also those who want a nice clean smoke with zero additives. With Aleda, you’re getting a clean smoke and a visual look at nature going through a chemical change as the herb is being burned in the joint, it can’t get much better than that!

If you’ve made it all the way to the conclusion of this list, you’re definitely a true rolling paper lover — a real connoisseur on the hunt for the best rolling papers, or even the best blunt wraps if that’s your style. Well-refined, cultured smokers interested in learning more about the newest products to try out are typically also lovers of cannabis culture. For more lists and other articles about cannabis, be sure to head over to The Cansumer for the latest and greatest marijuana news.

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Cannabis-Related Arrests in New York City Fall 95% After Legalization

9/08/2021

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There were just eight cannabis-related arrests in New York City during the second quarter of 2021, according to a report from Filter. In the first quarter of the year—prior to the state’s legalization bill taking effect—there were 163 cannabis possession arrests in the Big Apple.

The eight arrests in the city were for a newly-created legal category created under the legalization law that includes “unlawful possession” violations—possessing more than the three-ounce legal limit—to “criminal sale” felonies.

Criminal court summonses in the city also fell from 3,700 in the first quarter to, again, just eight. Summonses are issued when someone is issued a ticket for cannabis possession but don’t pay them, which can result in arrest warrants if the offender doesn’t appear in court.

The sharp decline may also be due to provisions in the state’s adult-use law that specifically allows cannabis consumption wherever cigarette smoking is allowed; most state legalization laws still prohibit public consumption of cannabis.

Following the approval of the legalization law, district attorneys throughout New York City dismissed cannabis cases and expunged records as allowed under the bill.

The rollout of New York’s cannabis industry has been delayed following the approval of the reforms earlier this year, partly due to the numerous scandals of former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo which led to his resignation last month. Late last month, New York lawmakers finally began approving cannabis industry regulators who were nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) who took over following Cuomo’s departure.

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Cresco Acquires Massachusetts Cannabis Producer for $90M

9/08/2021

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Chicago, Illinois-based Cresco Labs last week completed its $90 million takeover of Massachusetts’ Cultivate. Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco said the deal “constitutes another important step” for the company as it deepens its “presence in large, attractive states like Massachusetts.”

“Expanding operations in the most strategic U.S. cannabis markets is at the heart of our growth strategy and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to show what can be achieved through a maximized footprint in Massachusetts. We have been thoroughly impressed with the Cultivate team and the quality of their operations. We look forward to a productive and efficient integration process to carry their historical strong momentum into the fourth quarter and beyond.”—Bachtell in a press release

The acquisition gives Cresco approximately 42,000 square feet of flowering canopy, bringing its combined canopy in-state to about 64,000 square feet, the company said. Cresco also adds three operational dispensaries in Leicester, Framingham, and Worcester, bringing its combined retail storefronts in the state to four. Concurrent with closing, the company’s Fall River retail location has transitioned to medical sales only.

The deal was first announced in March. In addition to the $90 million price tag, the transaction includes an earnout up to $68 million. At that time, Bachtell said the industry was “at the precipice of a transformational moment” and that, once the deal was completed, Cresco would “immediately vault to a top 3 share position in Massachusetts,” adding that it is “the third $1B-plus cannabis market” where Cresco has achieved such a status.

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Maine Cannabis Sales Hit $10M+ for the First Time

9/08/2021

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Cannabis sales in Maine set yet another record in August, topping $10 million in one month for the first time, according to a WMTW report citing Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) figures. The previous record of $9.43 million was set in July.

According to the OMP statistics, there were about 134,000 cannabis transactions at cannabis retailers, which totaled $10,220,445 and generated $1,022,175 in tax revenues for the state.

From June to August, Maine cannabis sales topped $26.1 million; sales in June were $6.5 million.

At the end of August, there were 53 active retail store licenses with 185 others in the application process, the report says.

The state has set successive monthly sales records since the launch of adult-use sales in October 2020—almost four years after the reforms were approved by voters. The rollout of the market was delayed first by staunch opposition by former Republican Gov. Paul LePage and then by the coronavirus pandemic.

When adult-use cannabis sales were launched, there were just six active licenses in the state. The first month included 21,194 transactions for a total of about $1.4 million in revenue.

No municipality in Maine has completely opted out of the adult-use market, with some allowing only retail sales, cultivation, manufacturing, testing, or a combination.

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Missouri Opens 142 Dispensaries in Less Than a Year

9/08/2021

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Less than a year after opening its first dispensary in October 2020, Missouri has opened 142 medical cannabis retailers, according to a Fox 2 report.

Lyndall Fraker, head of the medical cannabis office in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, believes the remaining 50 stores will open by the end of the year for a total of 192.

“The amendment that was voted on said that we should open the minimum number at least, which was 192 dispensaries. As of today, we have 142 open. We’ve done the math and based on the number of quantities that each patient can purchase each month, how much product it would take to serve the patient base and we think we are going to be good for five or six years.” — Fraker, via Fox 2

The state saw significant windfall from medical cannabis sales this year. In August 2021 alone, Missouri dispensed $110 million worth of medical cannabis. The industry is subject to a 4% sales tax by the state and all revenue left over after covering the expenses of the program goes toward helping veterans in the state, Fox 2 reports.

“We have transferred $2.1 million over to the veterans,” Fraker said. “We did that last year and we are getting ready to make a transfer, much bigger than that one.”

Meanwhile, the state has opened just 29 of its planned 63 medical cannabis production facilities. Fraker said many sites waiting to open will be opened in the next three months and contributed the delays to the pandemic. He also said that nearly half (40) of the state’s 86 processors are open for business.

“There’s not any place in the state that’s not accessible within 50 minutes to a dispensary from anywhere in the state,” Fraker said in the report. “We have 348 facilities that we have licensed. Our first goal is to get all 348 of those operating.”

In total, there are 248 facilities serving Missouri‘s approximately 134,000 medical cannabis patients.

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