CALIFORNIA CANNABIS FOR DUMMIES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR TOMORROW

You’ll have to be at least 21 years of age to purchase; it will be illegal to use cannabis in a car; and you can’t light up in places where cigarette smoking is also illegal.

I Microdosed Every 6 Hours for a Month and This is What It Felt Like

I wanted to see if microdosing could also help in these areas as opposed to smoking as much as I could.

The Prohibitionist Of The Year Is…

We're wrapping up 2017 at Civilized by announcing the inaugural winner of the highly un-coveted Prohibitionist of the Year Award. There were a lot of candidates for the dishonour of being the top opponent of cannabis legalization in North America this year, but the clear winner is... Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who spouts anti-cannabis quotes like a talking 'Reefer Madness' doll. Before taking office as Trump's top law enforcer, Sessions gave us many, many memorable…

The Cops and Politicians Joining Canada’s Cannabis Business

As Canada moves towards legalising recreational cannabis, there's a surprising group of entrepreneurs jumping into the market: cops and politicians. In 2015, former Toronto police chief Julian Fantino was "completely opposed" to marijuana legalisation and supported mandatory jail time for minor cannabis offences. Mr Fantino, who was also a Cabinet minister in the former Conservative government, criticised the now governing-Liberals' plan to legalise the drug, saying it would make smoking marijuana "a normal, everyday activity…

Everything You Need to Know About Legal Weed in California

In 2018, weed will become legal in California. In November of 2016 California voters decided by a 15-point margin that they wanted to make it legal to buy, sell, and consume pot recreationally in their state. And starting on Jan. 1, that law goes into effect. But there are catches, and the new law doesn’t mean all pot-related activities are now suddenly legal. Here’s what you need to know about the changes going into effect…

Make This Cannabis-Infused Cannoli Cream

Cannoli are generally recognized as a delicious dessert. They’re as Sicilian as it gets, which is to say originally Arabic, then adopted and perfected by the melodramatic people of that arid paradise. This confection sailed through South Street Seaport (Pre-Ellis Island) and parked on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, where it continues today with a few extant Italian bakeries. Cannolo, as they’re known in Palermo, Sicily, are deep fried pastry piped full of sweetened cheese…

Manitoba Evaluating More Than 100 Marijuana Retail Proposals, Plans to Pick 4

Manitoba is sifting through more than 100 applications from businesses that want to sell recreational marijuana when it become legal next summer. But the government says it plans to only select up to four companies to operate retail outlets in the province. Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba's minister of growth, enterprise and trade, says the successful applicants will know by February if they will get the green light. He says the government's goal is to achieve a…

Grow Guide for the Urban Toker

CANNABIS CULTURE - It is no surprise that enthusiasts across the country are looking for ways to establish their own grow operation. Good news is, you don't need acres of land or a massive warehouse to grow your own crop. Today we’re going to teach you how to establish your own grow operation in your urban dwelling. There are a variety of options for urban residents who are looking to start their own grow. However,…

Cannabis Roots: Humanity’s Ancient Plant Ally

CANNABIS CULTURE - When most people think of the history of cannabis, they generally flash to the “grass” the hippies of the 1960s smoked, or the “reefers” of the Jazz age. However, the fact is, according to current archeological evidence,humanity’s relationship with cannabis goes back tens of thousands of years before even the first words of man were recorded. The role of cannabis in the ancient world was manifold: with its nutritious seeds, an important…

Benefits and Side Effects of Cannabis Edibles

Food products containing cannabis extract (edibles) have emerged as a popular and lucrative facet of the legalized market for both recreational and medicinal cannabis. When you think of cannabis edibles, the staple image of a sketchy, foil-wrapped pot brownie may be the first thing that comes to mind. But the range of cannabis-infused edible products the nascent marijuana industry has to offer is truly impressive. The variety of products includes consumables like cookies, candy, chocolate…

Pot Policies: Everything You Need to Know About Marijuana Legalization

Cannabis curious? Jonesing for your first legal joint? Either way, get ready to roll: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says marijuana will be legal by next summer. Bill C-45, which will legalize cannabis across the country, largely leaves it up to the provinces and territories to determine how marijuana can be sold and used. Below, we take a look at the current state of these pot policies. Some things to consider: - Read the entire article…

Californian Growers and Retailers Brace for Cannabis Competition

When he was a child, John Casali used to listen out for federal helicopters hunting the hippie marijuana growers who had migrated to a remote patch of the northern California coast which became known as the Emerald Triangle. “It was kind of disturbing as a kid,” he says, shielded by huge redwoods that surround the small family farm he still runs in the area. That was not his only brush with the law: as a…

Move Over Pot Brownies: California Prepares for Marijuana in Wine, Trail Mixes, Tacos and Other Edibles

The sauvignon blanc boasts brassy, citrus notes, but with one whiff, it's apparent this is no normal Sonoma County wine. It's infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that provides the high. Move over, pot brownies. The world's largest legal recreational marijuana market kicks off Monday in California, and the trendsetting state is set to ignite the cannabis culinary scene. Chefs and investors have been teaming up to offer an eye-boggling array of cannabis-infused…

The Beginner’s Guide to Edibles

You’ve likely heard the “I ate too much of a tasty, chocolatey edible and freaked the eff out” stories, whether from friends, family members, or from New York Times opinion columnist Maureen Dowd’s much-discussed coverage of her Colorado weed-tourist trip. Truth is, as states have been legalizing and then figuring out the business of selling marijuana, proper labeling has been a major issue. While in 2014, Dowd’s caramel-chocolate cannabis-infused candy bar did not provide advice…

Elderly California Couple Arrested With 60 Pounds Of Cannabis While Driving To Vermont

Not just raw pot – they also found several containers of cannabis concentrates. My grandparents were traveling from California to Vermont, acting as Santa’s helpers distributing cannabis for family and friends throughout cities with a stop over in Boston.

Dealing with Dealers – The Good, the Bad the WTF!

Where a hookup typically only sells weed, the dealer has a wider product range. Dealers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are ‘from the street’ while others are just fuckin weird.

Canada May Legalize Recreational Cannabis Before July 1 Now.

Canadians may have the best Christmas gift of all time: news that legalization will be happening before the expected July 1st deadline, says the Prime Minister.

7 Best Marijuana Stocks That Blazed a Trail In 2017

Marijuana as an investment class began to pick up steam in 2014. Interest in the sector continued to increase with the increased possibility of more and more states legalizing the use of medical marijuana. As of now, 29 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., have legitimized the use of medical marijuana, although the federal government has yet to approve its usage, citing limited clinical trials to prove the drug's medicinal value. Washington, D.C. and eight states…

We Need Legal Spaces for People to Use Marijuana

If you’ve been following the plans for cannabis legalization across Canada, one of the key concerns is not just how it will be sold, but where exactly people will be allowed to consume cannabis. Not in parks, or in the streets, certainly not in restaurants or even in places where there are existing tobacco allowances. In Ontario, the proposed legislation boils down to this: the only place we can consume legal cannabis will be in…

Study Shows Legalization of Marijuana Could Reduce Opioid Deaths

Although certain states in America are making advancements when it comes to both recreational and medical marijuana - and the positive effects the drug can have on people ailing from certain diseases such as Alzheimers, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis - there are plenty of people still opposed to legalisation. Mainly out-of-touch politicians, but that's not for us to comment, right? But one of the most telling statistics for its benefits - and the positive impact…

Jack in the Box Flirts with Marijuana Culture, but Don’t Expect Other Big Names to Follow Just Yet

Jack in the Box is flirting with marijuana culture in its latest venture. The fast-food chain is teaming up with Merry Jane, a weed-focused online publication, to launch the Merry Munchie Meal in celebration of recreational pot becoming legal in California come the new year. The bundle includes a curated selection of what the restaurant says are its "most craveable and snackable" products. Jack in the Box already offers Munchie Meals on its late-night menu.…

Pot for Pets: Could Medical Marijuana Help Your Dog?

Alison Ettel, MBA, has never got high for fun, but she'd like to feed your dog cannabis. Why? Alison is the CEO of TreatWell Health, a Californian firm making medical marijuana products for people - and their canines. Her rivals include Treatibles, which sells a hemp oil "for animals of all kinds", and Pet Releaf, whose hemp dog treats look like fancy vegan snack-food. It may sound mad, but as more US states legalise recreational…

Grandmother Throws Out ‘All Her Pills’ and Says Cannabis is the Key

Ever sat and wondered what the secret to a long and healthy life is? Well wonder no more, because one grandmother reckons that she has the answer… cannabis. Yes, Carol Francey, 70, said she has been smoking weed for five decades and ‘feels as fit as a fiddle’. In fact, she loves the plant so much, she made the decision to throw away all of her medication, and grow cannabis in her garden instead. Carol,…

MedReleaf Signs Agreement to Supply Marijuana to Shoppers Drug Mart

Medical marijuana producer MedReleaf says it has signed an agreement to become a medical cannabis supplier to Shoppers Drug Mart. The company says it will supply Canada's largest pharmacy retailer with MedReleaf branded medical cannabis products, subject to Health Canada approving Shoppers Drug Mart's application to dispense medical marijuana. MedReleaf says it expects that its products will be sold online, as Canadian regulations do not currently allow for the sale of medical cannabis in retail…

Health Canada Nearly Doubles Number of Marijuana Production Licences in Second Half of 2017

A Health Canada spokesperson said that as of Dec. 1, 208 applicants were in the final stages of the approval process. Health Canada has nearly doubled the number of licensed cannabis producers in the country over the past six months and new numbers show hundreds more applicants are in the final stages of approval as the government rushes toward national marijuana legalization by next July. The dramatic surge in approved and aspiring producers comes in…

Charges Pending Against Edmonton Marijuana Dispensaries

An Edmonton man awaiting drug charges says a police raid of his south Edmonton store was “a waste of time.” David Tiefenbach owns The Medi Joint, a cannabis dispensary located on 109 Street, just south of Whyte Avenue. The store sold cannabis products only to patients with prescriptions from a doctor. The practice won’t be legal until Canada legalizes marijuana, next summer. However, in British Columbia, police don’t crack down on people offering the service.…

Justin Trudeau Says Legal Marijuana is Happening Sooner Than We All Think

Or, you know, a bit later. Get that “July 1” deadline-date for marijuana legalization out of your head, because Justin Trudeau wants you to know that timeline is wrong. According to the Prime Minister, cannabis will be legal across the nation of Canada by “next summer.” Trudeau touched upon the topic of marijuana legalization during an interview with TVA. Excerpts of the interview were sent out yesterday, and the full interview is being aired later…

Canadians are Already Spending Almost as Much on Marijuana as Wine

The $6.2 billion in weed Canadians consume a year is about two-thirds the $9.2 billion beer market and close to wine’s $7 billion tally. Canadians consumed as much as $6.2 billion of marijuana in 2015, almost as much as they spent on wine, the federal statistics agency said Monday as it gears up to officially track weed when it becomes legal next year. The agency calculated the value by estimating 4.9 million people consumed 698…

Project Gator at the End of the Day

On Monday morning the Cannabis Culture crew sat in the docket awaiting the outcome of a trial that started nine months earlier. Marc Emery, Jodie Emery, Chris Goodwin, Erin Goodwin and Britney Guerra helped pave the way to Canadian marijuana legalization through dispensaries, courts, jails and demonstrations. As a reward for being first through the green doors of Canadian perception, Cannabis Culture was rewarded with a very special undercover operation, sponsored by the Pot Czars…

Calgary-Based Cannabis Company has Plans for 180,000 sq.-ft. Greenhouse in Lethbridge

A Calgary-based company is set to build a massive greenhouse dedicated to growth, cultivation and production of recreational cannabis in Lethbridge. Fifty First Parallel purchased five acres of land in the Sherring Business and Industrial Park where a 180,000 sq.-ft. greenhouse is to be built in three phases. Sonny Mottahed, the company’s CEO, says choosing Lethbridge to grow pot was an easy decision. “We needed to find a jurisdiction that one, was receptive to the…

Cannabis Culture Owners Plead Guilty, Charges Dropped Against 17 Staff Members

CANNABIS CULTURE - Five owners of Cannabis Culture stores pleaded guilty today to marijuana charges in Ottawa court. In exchange, over 180 charges were dropped against 17 CC staff members, who will walk free. Marc Emery, Jodie Emery, Erin Goodwin, Chris Goodwin and Britney Guerra – known as the CC 5 – all accepted guilt for charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime, after being arrested and charged in Toronto…

Where Does Sask.’s Future Premier Stand on Legal Cannabis, the GTH?

CBC is compiling a list of where each Sask. Party leadership candidate stands on important issues. As the race to fill Brad Wall's shoes as the leader of the Saskatchewan Party, and premier of the province, approaches its final month, CBC is compiling a roundup of where candidates stand on key issues. Here's what the five candidates in the race — one of whom will lead the province after Jan. 27 — think about legalization…

For Some Local Mothers, Medical Cannabis is Key to Their Children’s Survival

Raina Tilghman had her first seizure when she was just weeks old, on the day of her two-month check-up with the family pediatrician. The night before, the little girl had been up for hours with the hiccups, said her mother, Carey, who lives with Raina, her husband, Matt, and their two other children at her parents’ home in Jefferson. Raina’s eyes were wide when she arrived at the doctor’s office, and the physician initially diagnosed…

World Health Organization: CBD Has No Health Risks

The United Nations’ health agency, the World Health Organization, has just given CBD the green light by officially saying that it shouldn’t be internationally controlled.

Bitcoin Offers the Cannabis Industry an Alternative to Banks

The cannabis industry may offer clues to the future of bitcoin. Although medical use marijuana is now legal in more than half the states and recreational use is in some others, the drug is still illegal on the federal level. As a result, most major banks shun the marijuana business. The cannabis industry, projected to grow to $50 billion from $6 billion by 2026, has long been in need of a financial solution. Many in…

Cannabis Shops in Vancouver I Would Send My Mother to

If you’ve ventured into any of Vancouver’s many cannabis stores you’ll know already that standards vary. The ones that have got it right are like a glimpse into the future of cannabis legalization, from the innovative products, educated staff, evening events, classes and more. Below are my go-to recommendations and the cannabis stores I regularly and confidently send my friends and their mothers to, based on atmosphere, location, cleanliness, service, staff knowledge, product variety and…

Cannabis Culture dispensaries: What I did, and why

CANNABIS CULTURE - Cannabis Culture is a 24-year-old name and brand recognized worldwide for many reasons, all related to cannabis advocacy and activism. While my husband Marc Emery was the founder, owner and operator beginning in 1994, I was the owner and operator from late 2009 onward. My involvement in Cannabis Culture officially began in February 2005, when I was hired as the assistant editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine by Marc Emery, who would become…

Soccer Mom Caught With Multimillion Dollar Cannabis Grow - No Charges Filed, No Arrest Made

A San Bernardino mother was taken into custody by authorities after cops discovered a massive unlicensed cannabis grow in her home with more than 24,000 plants.

How To Make Your Own Cannabis Moonrocks

By definition, moon rocks are basically nuggets of weed that have been drenched in hash oil, followed by a generous sprinkling of kief.

Best Marijuana Products of 2017: Top Cannabis Strains, Edibles and More.

Adults in legal marijuana states exercised their rights in 2017 and indulged in a variety of products. Despite a wave of new customers entering the landscape after five states legalized recreational pot in the 2016 election, experts found many old-time cannabis favorites are still the most popular with consumers. “I’m seeing some of the same strains like Blue Dream and Gorilla Glue turn up year after year on [Cannacopia’s] most-searched list,” Mike Weiss, founder and…

Jeff Sessions Accidentally Leaked the Agenda From His Anti-Marijuana Meeting

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not in the habit of hiding his true feelings about marijuana. In the past, he's said that good people don't use cannabis and said there's absolutely no benefits to the drug. But even for a guy who loves to publicly denounce marijuana, leaking the agenda for his own secret meeting about cannabis is still a little surprising. Last week, Sessions held a behind-closed-doors meeting about drug policy with a handful…

Make Cannabis-Infused Chocolate Gelt for an Adult Game of Dreidel This Hanukkah

Dreidel is the kiddo’s version of gambling, or so I grew up thinking! As history would have it, it came all the way across Europe from Ireland before becoming a Yiddish and then Hebrew favorite. A spinning top with four rules is chill, but playing with a little enhanced chocolate could help you take it to the savage—read: fun—quadrant. Making your own cannabis chocolate coins is much easier than it sounds, and doesn’t require any…

The 3 States Best Positioned to Legalize Marijuana in 2018

Election Day 2016 was a big day for marijuana. Voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada all supported successful legalization initiatives, doubling the number of states to have done so since 2012 and more than quadrupling the percentage of the national population that now lives in legal marijuana states. Marijuana momentum was high, national polling kept seeing support go up and up, and 2017 was expected to see even more states jump on the weed…

Vermont Will Legalize Marijuana Within Weeks, Officials Indicate

Vermont appears poised to become the next state to legalize marijuana. And, according to top elected officials, it is likely to do so within a matter of weeks. Last week, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, a Democrat, said she expects "it likely will pass in early January.” Days earlier, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, said he is "comfortable" signing a cannabis legalization bill into law in early 2018. And on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Tim…

Overseers of Ohio’s marijuana Industry Defend Farm Selection: ‘Wouldn’t Have Done Anything Any Differently’

Overseers of Ohio's new medical marijuana industry defended how they picked 24 businesses to run the state's marijuana farms, including the hiring of a convicted felon. Ohio paid Trevor C. Bozeman to score the applicants for marijuana farms – a highly competitive process where winners will benefit from the new industry's substantial profits. But Bozeman was convicted in 2005 of possession with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance in Pennsylvania and was sentenced…

Unlock the Endocannabinoid System (What it is, what it does & How you can Benefit)

CANNABIS CULTURE - The ultimate goal of the endocannabinoid system ECS is homeostasis - the maintenance of a constant internal environment. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that send instructions to cells. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and cognitive processes, including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, memory, fertility, pre- and postnatal development, immune system function, motivation (especially voluntary exercise and exercise-induced euphoria), body temperature and, of course, mediating…

Marijuana Compound is Harmless and Should Be Available, WHO says

CBD gets approval from expert body A compound derived from marijuana has health benefits and should not be subject to government restrictions, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. “Recent evidence from animal and human studies shows that its use could have some therapeutic value for seizures due to epilepsy and related conditions and that it “is not likely to be abused or create dependence as for other cannabinoids,” it added. The decision was not an…

Sweet Irony: Jeff Sessions Gave His Senate Seat to a Pro-Cannabis Democrat

Last night, liberals and progressives throughout America celebrated when Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a special election to replace a Senate seat in Alabama.Besides the allegations against Moore of racism and inappropriate relationships with underage women, it was also a victory because it cut the Republicans majority in the senate from three to two. But turns out there's another reason to celebrate Jones' victory: He's an ally of marijuana. Jones came out…

Medical Marijuana For Children with Cancer Broadly Supported by Doctor

An overwhelming majority of health care professionals who care for children with cancer would be willing to help those children get medical marijuana—though less enthusiastically if they happen to be among the providers who are actually eligible to provide it, found a new study. In a survey of pediatric oncology providers published in Pediatrics, 85% of providers who were certified to provide access to medical marijuana would be willing to help children with cancer access…

Hydropothecary Expansion Vaults Gatineau Firm into Medical Marijuana’s Big Leagues

Hydropothecary’s announcement that it will build a giant new greenhouse vaults the Gatineau company into the ranks of Canada’s largest medical cannabis growers. It also means two of the top producers in the emerging industry are located within an hour’s drive of Parliament Hill. Canopy Growth Corp. headquartered in Smiths Falls is the world’s largest medical marijuana company. Its fast-growing empire stretches into seven provinces as well as a handful of countries overseas. But little…