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The news Seth Rogen has waited a decade to announce?

He will soon be legally selling weed in the United States. Rogen’s beloved Canadian cannabis brand Houseplant, founded with his creative partner Evan Goldberg, is launching in California. Expect to see Houseplant available initially through a direct-to-consumer ordering platform on the brand’s website beginning Thursday, March 11, 2021.

“If you know anything about me at all, I’m going to assume it’s that I really love weed,” Rogen announced to his Twitter audience of 9.1 million followers on March 1, 2021. The launch traffic was so overwhelming, it crashed the Houseplant’s website servers. Houseplant plans to roll out in select dispensaries across California this Spring.

“We are finally ready to launch in America,” says Rogen. “What we are doing is bringing you the best strains of weed that have been hand-picked, by that I mean hand-smoked, by me. It’s just the weed that I love that I want to be smoking. We have an orange one for sativa, a purple one for indica, and it even stacks.” Green packaging is the Houseplant hybrid strain. Rogen and Goldberg underwent an “extensive process,” testing hundreds of strains before choosing the initial launch strains: two sativas, Diablo Wind and Pancake Ice, and one indica, Pink Moon.

The brand has made waves since its 2019 launch with chic, colorful, and minimalist design. The packaging is recyclable, aiming for an eco-conscious consumer. Houseplant even won a Clio award in 2020 for its unique design. The brand has a partnership with cannabis giant Canopy Growth Corporation in Canada, but will not be working with Canopy stateside. Instead, Houseplant’s California cannabis will be grown by an undisclosed select group of cultivators. Rogen was the talk-of-the-town at Hall of Flowers in 2019 where Rogen appeared in-person to scope out the California competition.

Almost no one used marijuana before it was prohibited. Now, almost 100 years later, it is everywhere.

Disclaimer:The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.

As we used to say, back when we could still go to the movies, “This is where I came in. ”

In 1972, the first thing I ever wrote for publication was in the late William F. Buckley Jr.’s National Review on why conservatives should support the legalization of marijuana. It caused quite a stir. There it was on the cover: THE TIME HAS COME: ABOLISH THE POT LAWS.

The New York Times even wrote about it. So did Time (and again in 2015).

I was down the rabbit hole. So now, 49 years later, when I saw “There’s a Responsible Way to End the Federal Marijuana Ban. The key to any nationwide legalization is to “keep the free market out of it” by Ramesh Ponnuru, a senior editor for National Review, I just had to respond with Conservative Intellectual Wants To Keep Marijuana In The Black Market So “Problem Users” Won’t Be Such A Problem.

They have names like Dream Lotus, Ghost Dawg and Blue Dream — all varieties of the cannabis plant, subsets within the species that in the world of botany would be called a cultivar but in the cannabis world are referred to as strains. Each one is cultivated for its unique properties, including height, color and leaf structure, as well as THC and CBD content, all of which go into variations in effect on mind and body.

The cannabis education website Leafly lists as many as 5,000 distinct cannabis strains, but many of those are not commonly known to the public. Still, it’s estimated that there are at least 800 cannabis strains currently named and consumed by adult-use and medicinal cannabis consumers — the result of experimentation, discovery and advances in seed saving and cultivation. The sheer variety means that dispensary professionals like those at Resinate in Worcester and Northampton, Massachusetts, can help customers find just the right strain for their purpose, goals and lifestyle.

The three basic strains

Each strain falls into one of a few larger categories: sativa, indica and hybrid. While it was commonly believed that sativa strains are more energizing while indica strains are said to make a person sleepier, cannabis consumers and specialists alike now find that each strain effects the consumer differently, making it a personal experience. Hybrids, as the name indicates, are a cross of indica and sativa, usually with one or the other dominant.

CBD and THC are two major chemicals of many that make up a strain. Sativa plants generally are lower in CBD counts and higher in THC, while indica strains go in the opposite direction. Each specific strain will have different levels of each of these chemicals. There are also physical differences in the shape of the leaves and plant height as well as differences in aroma and texture.

This year's 60-day legislative session has 20 days left, and lawmakers in the Senate have four proposals to consider.

On Saturday, members of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee hashed out those initiatives with the bills' sponsors for nearly four hours. It was the first time the bills received a hearing in the Senate — a point brought up by Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho.

"This was supposed to be a priority issue and yet we have 20 days left and we’re just hearing it," he said, urging his fellow members on the committee to move at least one of the four bills forward to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration to get the ball rolling. 

But in the end, the sponsors of the four proposals — House Bill 12 and Senate bills 13, 288 and 363 — were told to get together over the next week and come up with just one proposal for the committee to vote on March 6. 

That will leave lawmakers just two weeks to move the chosen initiative through the Senate Judiciary Committee and then to the Senate floor for a final vote. 

The emerging legal cannabis industry is going global, with a growing list of countries that have legalized cannabis for adult and/or medical use, and even more countries exploring a similar move. At the same time, the world’s climate is changing, with extreme weather patterns picking up in frequency and severity all over the world.

Climate change is affecting virtually every aspect and sector of the agriculture industry, and that is likely to be the case for cannabis too as outdoor cultivation is permitted in more areas. As the global cannabis industry continues to expand across the planet, and climate change, unfortunately, marches on, the problem for cannabis entrepreneurs is going to be more pronounced.

Extreme Weather

Every agricultural crop has a preferred climate, and the cannabis plant is no exception. Cannabis obviously has certain parts of the world where it prefers to grow compared. For example, it grows very well in tropical climates but not at the North Pole. Historically, it thrived in Jamaica and while that is still true, something troubling is going on.

As recently reported by Cannabis & Tech Today, Jamaica has been hit hard by natural disasters and is currently experiencing a cannabis shortage. As climate change continues to negatively impact our planet and extreme weather patterns become more common, what is going on in Jamaica right now could prove to be a foreshadowing of what is to come. It could be something that other historically popular cannabis cultivation countries experience, making it hard to know where the ‘best’ places to cultivate cannabis will be in the future.

Shifting Cultivation Zones

Many scientists are pointing to data that suggests agricultural zones for many crops will be shifting in the future as the world gets warmer at the macro level, and extreme weather patterns pick up at the micro-level. The wine industry is often used as an example, with areas historically known for being optimal for growing wine grapes being less so as the years go by.

Hopefully, in time, these cities will reevaluate the deleterious effects these ordinances have on sales taxes and consumer choice.

Arizonans knew zoning issues could cause headaches for dispensary owners. However, what was unanticipated are the new bans by some of the Arizona cities for recreational marijuana establishments.

Shortly after the passage of Proposition 207, otherwise known as the Smart and Safe Arizona Act (the “Act”), several Arizona cities moved to ban recreational marijuana sales, unless the dispensary is a “dual licensee”. A dual licensee means an establishment that is licensed both as a medical marijuana establishment and an adult use (or recreational) establishment.

The Act specifically allows dispensary owners to hold both licenses (medical and recreational) and to sell both types of products from the same dispensary location. The cities in Arizona, like Mesa, found a way to end run the Act by prohibiting, among other things, recreational only marijuana dispensaries. While Mesa and the other Arizona cities are certainly allowed to pass such ordinances, it certainly appears to frustrate the purpose of the Act, even though apparently lawful to do so.

Why did these cities seek a ban of recreational-only establishments? There have been several theories espoused by others. As the Phoenix New Times reported:

Cannabis may be one of the hottest investments of the year.

The origin story for Mothers Mary, an online community of mothers who consume cannabis, begins on Facebook.

CBD capsules are often marketed as being a modern and simplistic alternative to traditional CBD oil tinctures. CBD capsules remove many of the factors that can put people off trying CBD supplements. As a result, they have quickly become one of the fastest-growing niches within the CBD industry.

There are many reasons why people are increasingly looking for products like CBD capsules. There have been a number of studies focusing on how regular use of CBD can help to improve both general health and even manage specific health issues.

With an ever growing number of people turning to CBD supplements – including capsules – the industry has responded. Now, one can find a variety of CBD capsule options available across a range of online and retail markets.

Knowing where to find the best CBD capsules and soft gels can feel a little daunting at first. We have put together a guide to some of the best CBD capsules on the market to help you discover the benefits of CBD supplements.

#1 PureKana – Best for targeted effects 

CBD capsules are often marketed as being a modern and simplistic alternative to traditional CBD oil tinctures. CBD capsules remove many of the factors that can put people off trying CBD supplements. As a result, they have quickly become one of the fastest-growing niches within the CBD industry.

There are many reasons why people are increasingly looking for products like CBD capsules. There have been a number of studies focusing on how regular use of CBD can help to improve both general health and even manage specific health issues.

With an ever growing number of people turning to CBD supplements – including capsules – the industry has responded. Now, one can find a variety of CBD capsule options available across a range of online and retail markets.

Knowing where to find the best CBD capsules and soft gels can feel a little daunting at first. We have put together a guide to some of the best CBD capsules on the market to help you discover the benefits of CBD supplements.

#1 PureKana – Best for targeted effects 

Hopefully, in time, these cities will reevaluate the deleterious effects these ordinances have on sales taxes and consumer choice.

Arizonans knew zoning issues could cause headaches for dispensary owners. However, what was unanticipated are the new bans by some of the Arizona cities for recreational marijuana establishments.

Shortly after the passage of Proposition 207, otherwise known as the Smart and Safe Arizona Act (the “Act”), several Arizona cities moved to ban recreational marijuana sales, unless the dispensary is a “dual licensee”. A dual licensee means an establishment that is licensed both as a medical marijuana establishment and an adult use (or recreational) establishment.

With the cannabis world trending in the direction of CBD, strains with high CBD content are taking center stage.

The result to be expected from using cannabis depends on cannabis strains and their cannabinoid profile. Cannabis has two major strains namely Sativa and Indica species. Both species have differences in terms of cannabinoid profile and ultimately effects. Different combinations of both species have now been used to artificially produce hybrid strains that are more unique and well suited to meet most of the needs of cannabis users. Due to their versatility, most cannabis users often prefer to go for hybrid strains and there are quite a number of them available presently.

It should be noted that a major change in trend has been ongoing in the cannabis industry. Unlike before, the majority of cannabis users now want more CBD strains and less euphoric dominant strains. This trend is expected to continue into 2021 as the prominence of CBD strains continues to grow due to their relaxing and medicinal benefits.

Different cannabis strains, when properly used, can help with a good number of ailments and conditions. Early research conducted on CBD already shows positive results on some unique conditions, and with more works of research, a lot more will be understood about its degree of effectiveness.

Examples of the unique conditions these strains can be used for include social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. With the cannabis world trending in the direction of CBD, strains with high CBD content are taking center stage.

Australia’s national science agency has been granted a manufacturing licence to develop medicinal cannabis products by the Australian Office of Drug Control.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) says it will work to bridge the gap between cannabis cultivation and medicine manufacture, developing protocols and the first prototype products before transferring the technology to manufacturers.

“We had been able to do early-stage work with cannabis, but the new licence will enable us to develop cannabis-derived cannabinoid medicines using innovative extraction, refinement and formulation techniques,” said CSIRO Scientist, Adjunct Professor Peter Duggan.

The news was welcomed by ASX-listed Cann Group, which  has worked closely with CSIRO for more than three years.

“With this independent license CSIRO will be able to play a key role in helping establish a vibrant industry in Australia,” said Cann Group CEO Peter Crock.

Rhode Island is looking for an experienced person or a firm to create and run a lottery in May to decide who operates six proposed new medical marijuana dispensaries.

On Friday the state posted online a request for proposals to “design and develop the methodology for the random selection process,” that would be held, in public, around May 14.

“The firm or individual will be primarily responsible for securing all equipment, technology, or other necessary mediums to run the process.”

Lotteries have been used in other jurisdictions around the country to decide who wins the often lucrative licenses, but the practice hasn’t been universally endorsed here.

Several local marijuana business owners have said operating licenses should be based on merit, with those companies with proven track-records better positioned to run new dispensaries than newcomers.

The law also includes several provisions aimed at promoting social equity in the cannabis industry and repairing damage caused by prohibition.

On Monday, New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that legalizes adult-use marijuana possession and licenses retail marijuana sales.

“The enactment of these laws is long overdue,” said NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf — whoemphasized that state and local police have made over 6,000 arrests for marijuana-related violations in the months since NewJersey voters overwhelmingly decided at the ballot box. “Now, going forward, tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding New Jerseyans will no longer be subject to arrest and a criminal record for their personal use of marijuana, and the commercial market will be regulated in a fair and inclusive manner.”

Photo by omersukrugoksu/Getty Images

NORML stated that three bills were signed by the Governor. A21/S21 licenses the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis to adults. Under the new law, adults may legally purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis. Retail sales are subject to state sales tax. Seventy percent of the revenue derived from sales taxes on retail marijuana purchases will be directed toward reinvestment in designated, lower-income communities. Sales are expected to begin this summer.

The cannabis community is certainly pleased to see that the state of Virginia has legalized adult-use cannabis, but it will be some time before sales can begin. Still, despite support for the legislation it looked to be a nail-biter to the end. The Virginia House and Senate lawmakers were in agreement on passing the law, but they differed on just exactly what it would look like.

The two sides have been working over the past few weeks to reach a compromise, which was beginning to look less possible. Then on Saturday, it seemed the law just managed to squeak through. Marijuana Moment reported, “The Senate voted 20-19 to approve the conference committee report on its bill as well as the identical version for the House legislation. The House voted to approve the conference report on its bill, 48-43, with two abstentions. When considering the Senate version, the House voted 47-44, with one abstention.”

The next stop for the legislation goes to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who supports legalization. However, it will be some time before Virginians will actually be able to purchase adult-use cannabis in the state.

Sales Begin January 1, 2024

Part of the compromise included a compromise towards having enough time to create the program’s regulations. Marijuana Moment reported that “The Senate has pushed for a reenactment clause to be included which would extend the process into next session, whereas the House side wanted to complete legislative work during the current session, arguing that enough research has already been done to effectively decide the issue. But Senate negotiators won out, meaning that the legislature will revisit cannabis regulations and post-legalization penalty structures next session.

Are These Cannabis Stocks On Your March Watchlist?

On February 23rd the entire stock market was down. This presented a good chance to find top marijuana stocks to buy at lower prices. Moments like this can be a good opportunity for investors as prices start to dip. Now just because you buy the dip does not always mean that a particular cannabis stock will immediately recover. Sometimes it may take a bit to see some momentum pick back up.

The CBD industry has attracted a great deal of attention over the last few years. A combination of high profile cases in the media and an investment in research has led to an increasing number of people showing interest in the potential benefits of CBD.

Research into the varying benefits of CBD has shown that it can be an extremely versatile supplement affecting health in a number of positive ways. A large number of studies have focused on the benefits of using CBD as a general wellness supplement.

There have also been more focused research projects that have found CBD possesses powerful anti-inflammatory capabilities and has led CBD to become a common natural remedy for treating related inflammatory conditions.

The effect of CBD on mental health and, in particular, anxiety and stress is another popular area of research and one that has attracted a great deal of interest. Early studies have yielded positive results, causing a rise in CBD products and PureKana CBD gummies focused on managing mental health.

Research into CBD and mental health

Cultivation, one of humanity’s oldest crafts, is undergoing radical transformation. And it has cannabis grows to thank for it.  

The roots of farming go back more than 12,000 years as hunter-gatherers established agrarian communities to centralize food production, sharing the work and harvest.

Naturally, these early societies recognized that certain crops grew in abundance in certain climates and cultivated those crops that allowed their civilizations to thrive. 

With trade, commodity crops grown in one area became highly prized and profitable elsewhere – from the Far East spice trade to finding fresh papaya in a New York City bodega.  

The cannabis industry can’t follow this simple, ancient calculus.