On Thursday, Steep Hill, the United States' first commercial cannabis testing lab, announced it was expanding into Illinois with a new licensee partner. Illinois was the 11th state to legalize an adult-use cannabis program (in 2019) and the first to legalize adult-use by an act of state legislature, along with the medical program established in 2014. 

You can't buy cannabis without a medical card but you can grow it. One Virginia Beach store is making it easier for you to harvest your own marijuana.

Haverhill’s fourth adult-use cannabis store, Mello, formally opens Saturday morning with a ribbon cutting, appearance by Ethan Zohn of “Survivor: Africa” and music by Inspectah Deck.

One of the founders, Tim Riley, who serves as facilities manager, said the 330 Amesbury Road store represents a $3 million investment, including the cost of the land and extensive rehabilitation of the former Seafood Etc. restaurant. Another founder, Charles Emery, who serves as Mello’s community relations manager, previewed the grand opening for WHAV.

“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to showcase our property to our community, our business partners, vendors. We’re excited to have everyone meet our team and get to know us even better,” he told WHAV.

Emery, Riley and third founder Phil Brown have been joined by Mass Invest Group to open Mello. The store has already been serving customers during its soft opening. Mello joins Stem, Full Harvest Moonz and CNA Stores as the first licensed cannabis retailers in Haverhill. Emery said his team is eager to serve the public.

“It’s been a challenging run, but a very fulfilling one. We’re very, very fortunate to have a strong management team, leadership team and a very committed staff who are very passionate,” he said.

Veterinarians today struggle to discuss cannabis with pet parents, as they either lack the knowledge or want to avoid potential legal implications.

With all the widespread and sometimes conflicting medical news on the use of cannabis for pets, having a trustworthy source of information is important. Thankfully, we now have one.

A website that doubles as an educational portal was launched recently by the Veterinary Cannabis Society (VCS) for veterinarians, as well as pet owners and cannabis businesses. This follows years of the exploding popularity of cannabidiol use for pets, as it’s shown promise in helping treat many ailments naturally from cancer and anxiety, to arthritis and old age. But despite this, there are still many questionable claims, uses, and products out there.

This is especially challenging in certain states where veterinarians aren’t even allowed to legally discuss the use of CBD with pet owners.

“Veterinarians today struggle to discuss cannabis with pet parents, as they either lack the knowledge or want to avoid potential legal implications,” explains Dr. Trina Hazzah, VCS President and Co-Founder.

“No veterinarian should have to risk their license or livelihood simply because they are trying to do what is right for their patient.”

Premium frozen dessert brand, Wonderlab's Doozy Pots, expands its footprint to over 400 grocers nationwide

After launching into much-loved Cleveland grocer Heinen's in 2019, Wonderlab's Doozy Pots has announced a major expansion. Their dairy-free oat and hemp gelatos are now available for the first time nationwide in 371 Sprout's markets, alongside west coast specialty grocers Erewhon and Jimbo's.

The brand was founded by food scientist Kirsten Sutaria, who has extensive ice cream R&D experience, having spent nine years as "Flavor Guru" at Ben & Jerry's, where she led the creation of their vegan range and helped convert their portfolio to Fair Trade and Non-GMO.

Flavors

What makes the brand unique is fourfold: A) made with a proprietary blend of hemp and oat (no CBD or THC), B) ingredients that are organic, regenerative, fair and direct trade, C) a lower saturated fat content and D) a smoother eat and more balanced sweetness compared to ice cream. "Using our versatile hemp and oat blend allows us to make a frozen dessert that is just sweet enough and reminiscent of old-world Italian gelato without the saturated fat from dairy or coconut," states Kirsten.

Co-founder Karl Sutaria adds, "It's important that our core ingredients are grown using practices that consider the health of the planet and the well-being of the people who grow them." The company seeks out growers who use organic and regenerative methods which focus on the soil and ecological health, and all of the brand's cartons are made from a minimum of 35% post-consumer recycled fibers.

The name pays tribute to family and magical childhood

The name comes from Kirsten's childhood nickname. Her grandmother used to say she was a "doozy pots" when experimenting messily in her "Wonderlab" (aka the kitchen). The phrase comes (via Long Island) from the Italian "tu sei pazzo", meaning "you're crazy" – crazy enough to make delicious gelato from plants.

On leaving the liquor business for new adventures with Klaus the gnome

Warren Bobrow, known as the Cocktail Whisperer, is an Emerson grad who became a TV engineer in New York City, worked at Danceteria—a famous NYC nightclub—in their video lounge, a dishwasher in York Harbor, Maine, and a certified chef/saucier. After the loss of his fresh pasta business in Hurricane Hugo, he worked in banking for 20 years before reinventing himself—becoming a six-time author, bar back to bartender and master mixologist. He is also a former rum judge for both the Ministry of Rum and the Rum XP.

Warren now works in the cannabis industry full-time as a journalist for Skunk Magazine, Different Leaf Magazine and Cannabis Cactus Magazine. He is the co-founder and master mixologist for Klaus, a Terpene-Forward/THC infused craft cocktail for the California regulated market. No liquor! Warren has enjoyed the bemusing qualities of cannabis since 1972.

We spoke with Warren for our Higher Calling series, where we chat with leaders in the cannabis space.

Warren, tell us ...

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up on my family's biodynamic/organic horse farm in Morris Township, New Jersey. After college and working as a cook around the country, owning and losing my first business during Hurricane Hugo and an ill-fated trip to Arizona to cook at the Scottsdale Princess Hotel, I found myself back in Morristown in 1992. I embarked on an inappropriate but necessary career in banking. Fortunately, I lost that job after almost two decades of pain. I didn't belong there even for one day! Morristown is where I live today.

Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management are pleased to open nominations for the Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards (HILA) class of 2022. Each year, the GIE Horticulture Group, with the support of Syngenta, honors six exceptional leaders from the greenhouse and nursery industries. HILA is the only North American awards program to recognize recipients’ exemplary contributions to the horticulture industry, such as:

 -contributing to its development with their innovation and expertise

- excelling in environmental stewardship

 - enhancing the lives of employees, customers, communities, and the industry at large with their charitable giving

- making a positive impact on the industry

Cannabis, in all its forms, is more prevalent and accessible than ever before in this country. Still, it often seems that much of its story is mysteriously unknown. Health studies are still very new, and it sometimes may seem that the plant had no relevant history before the 1900s.

As cannabis becomes more prevalent, perhaps it’s time to discover the lesser-known facts about this iconic plant to help understand what exactly makes cannabis so interesting and important. Here are eight fun facts you may not have known about this elusive organism we call weed.

Cannabis Dates Back Thousands of Years

It is easy to assume marijuana cultivation began in fairly modern times. However, the first recorded use of cannabis dates back thousands of years before The United States was even an idea. 

Cannabis was mentioned in the sacred Hindu texts known as The Vedas, estimated to have been produced around 2000 to 1400 B.C. Woven hemp fibers were even discovered at a burial site in Taiwan that date back 10,000 years.

As marijuana becomes legal for recreational use, its retail popularity is skyrocketing. In the last few years, marijuana dispensaries have become more plentiful than Starbucks and even McDonalds in some areas.

It’s a dream green building material. Why aren’t farmers interested?

Hemp mixed with a lime binder makes green builders drool. Called hempcrete, this insulation material resists mold, fire and pests. It lasts forever (or close enough). It absorbs carbon. It’s commonly used in construction in Europe and Canada. With sustainable building materials worth billions of dollars, it has the potential to take off here, too.

But few farmers in the US grow hemp for that purpose. They grow hemp for CBD, for bioplastics, for food and for mulch. They’ll grow hemp for cat litter. But not for hempcrete, which uses a different crop, known as fiber, from the more popular CBD cannabinoid variety that yields CBD. There’s no market to speak of for hempcrete, and therein lies a dilemma. 

Farmers need reliable customers and economies of scale. They need to live near a processing center—few facilities exist across the country—or else pay a lot for shipping the product. And few construction professionals have embraced hempcrete because it’s so new to the US and, for now, costs more than traditional products. The rare builders that do work with it generally can’t get enough local hemp. So they import from overseas, especially from Europe, where experience has created consistent quality.

“It’s the chicken and egg,” says Rusty Peterson, a Michigan hemp producer.

“Farmers won’t grow at any volume until they have guaranteed processing and a consistent supply chain.”

If you’re stumped on what to get your canna-buddies, look no further than the dispensary. They’re likely to have everything you need to stuff their stockings (and yours too!). From edibles to dabs, we’ve compiled a list of the top products sold at dispensaries, things you can snag in a hurry when you’re running out of time for the perfect gift.

Edibles

Edibles like THC-infused brownies and gummies make for a fantastic, fun gift. Plus, edible cannabis products are delicious and often used to treat chronic pain and relieve feelings of anxiety or nausea. Just be sure that your giftee lives in a state where marijuana-infused edibles are legal to consume.

Marijuana-infused drinks

If your giftee is cutting back on sugar, they can still enjoy edible cannabis in the form of a beverage. THC-infused beverages are easy to consume, and they’re lower in dietary fat when compared to brownies or gummies (or other canna-sweets). Common cannabis drinks include coffee, carbonated drinks, fruit juices and more.

They’re also becoming increasingly popular amongst cannabis lovers. According to Brightfield Group research agency, cannabis-infused drinks will account for $1 billion in U.S. sales by 2025.

Pre-rolls

Rolling a joint takes talent, and if we’re being honest, many cannabis smokers struggle to do it properly. What’s worse, rolling your own joints wastes time and product (AKA good bud that could be smoked later). Pre-rolls are wrapped and ready to go and contain an exact amount of flower, so you know what you’re getting and how much — perfect for new or occasional smokers. Pre-rolls are also discreet, disposable and cost-effective

Veterinarians are free to discuss the subject with clients barring any restrictions. However, be careful with therapeutic claims.

The veterinary and pet owner communities’ growing interest in cannabinoids builds upon thousands of years of cannabis cultivation and medical applications. Cannabinoids have illustrated their substantial potential to improve the health and well-being of pets and people, but the use of cannabinoid products must be done safely and effectively. To do so, a veterinarian must examine the endocannabinoid system, the many cannabinoids, the available and impending products, the implications for their use, the potential side effects, the regulatory issues, and the scientific literature. This article is intended as a primer for veterinarians.

The Endocannabinoid System

Humans and animals are born with an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps the body maintain homeostasis. The ECS has two key components: neurotransmitters and receptors. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances created by cells to transmit a message. These messenger molecules bind to the second key element of the ECS, the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Endogenous molecules, which occur naturally in the body, and phytocannabinoids or cannabinoids, which are found in hemp plants, can bind to either CB1 or CB2 receptors to regulate the ECS. The ECS requires regulation to combat environmental and internal stressors, and this is where cannabinoids play an essential role. The ECS plays a part in sleep, emotion and mood, appetite, memory, digestion, immune function, reproduction and fertility.

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids refer to any naturally occurring, biologically active chemical constituents of the flowers, leaves and stalks of cannabis plants. The cannabinoids found in plants, called phytocannabinoids, mimic endogenous neurotransmitters to exert their effects on the ECS. While CBD is best known, it is one of 120 identified cannabinoids, each with unique properties and effects within the ECS. This fact opens a world of targeted cannabinoid applications for animal and human use. The number and actions of individual cannabinoids underscore the importance of being certain about which cannabis product is selected and for what purpose. All hemp/cannabis products are not the same. The plants yield different concentrations of the various cannabinoids based on the breeding and selection of cannabis varieties, growth conditions, harvesting practices and extraction processes. Most broad- and full-spectrum CBD products are formulated by processing the hemp such that the cannabinoid content is whatever cannabinoids happened to be in the harvested plants. The resulting varied concentration of cannabinoids is one explanation for the inconsistent responses among animals. Other bioactive compounds in cannabis plants can influence bioactivity, and the method of administration affects a body’s response. One company (Chou2 Pharma), which the authors advise, employs a proprietary technology known as the cannulation purification system to separate individual cannabinoids. The process allows the intentional formulations of known quantities of preferred cannabinoids for various targeted uses, with greater bioavailability and the likelihood of surviving the upper gastrointestinal tract. Here are examples of cannabinoids and their functions:

Cannabinoids, because of their many positive physiologic properties, have numerous applications in enhancing the health and well-being of pets and humans. In the face of the opioid crisis in veterinary and human health care, cannabinoids offer an attractive alternative in managing pain and inflammation. In addition, cannabinoids might be used for their anxiolytic properties, such as for separation anxiety, avoiding the oversedation and tranquilization of pets. Hospice care offers an appealing application as well.

Legal and Regulatory Issues

The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill legalized hemp extracts, including CBD. In September 2018, California became the first state to legally protect veterinarians who discuss the use of medicinal cannabis for their animal patients. Legally speaking, cannabis plants that naturally produce greater than 0.3% THC are labeled marijuana and considered illegal drugs under federal law. Plants producing less than 0.3% THC are considered hemp, and the Farm Bill classified them as legal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains the authority to regulate food and drug products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, including cannabinoids. To date, the FDA has approved only one drug derived from the cannabis plant: Epidiolex, from Greenwich Biosciences Inc., for the treatment of certain epileptic conditions. Chou2 Pharma is beginning the multiyear process of pursuing FDA approval for prescribed pet cannabinoid products. Oregon, Florida and California legalized the sale of hemp and CBD pet food for intrastate commerce. Oregon authorizes the manufacture, distribution and sale of hemp-CBD pet food if it contains no more than 0.3% THC. Such pet food is limited to dogs and cats. Florida allows pet food and treats to contain hemp extract of less than 0.3% THC. California is the latest state to allow the sale of hemp-derived ingredients in pet food. The FDA recognizes the potential opportunities of cannabis and supports the rigorous scientific testing of cannabis-derived drugs. The agency looks more favorably on companies whose products are produced by good manufacturing practice (GMP) and come with pharmacokinetic data, safety and efficacy studies, full traceability and a certificate of analysis.

Bobby Shultz, owner of the CBD American Shaman in Warren, explains why pet owners are turning to CBD for their pets

While many people use CBD products for personal reasons, CBD pet products are starting to become more and more common. According to Bobby Shultz, manager and owner of the CBD American Shaman in Warren, their pet products are quite popular.

“People love their pets so they are purchasing products they think their pets will benefit from,” he says.

Before jumping in, pet owners should follow a few steps to find the right product and serving size for their furry friends.

First Step: Consult with a vet

Before pet owners introduce CBD products to their cats and/or dogs, it is important that they speak with their pet’s veterinarian. The pet’s doctor will be able to offer advice based on each pet’s own specific medical history. They can also recommend an appropriate serving size to start with and the best product types to try.

We’re now armed with more facts about marijuana than ever before, but a lot of misinformation continues to circulate. Here are some untruths you should be aware of.

As marijuana becomes more mainstream, so do   myriad myths and legends. Fallacies and untruths about marijuana have existed as long as its opponents have. The main difference between then and now, however, is legalization and popularity.

Increased data and newly-funded research have given birth to scientific findings that help shed light on how marijuana actually affects people and society. As weed becomes legal and the states that legalize it continue to operate normally, many skeptics are starting to realize some of the great myths of marijuana are just that — myths.

Marijuana Use Causes Cancer

The research and study of how marijuana affects or contributes to cancer is still very new and inconclusive overall. Although marijuana has proven to be a helpful therapy for those undergoing cancer treatment, whether or not marijuana causes cancer is still up in the air.

Weed Is Not as Potent as It Used to Be

There is a common rumor, sometimes spoken among more senior generations, many of whom are reformed marijuana users, claiming the potency of marijuana has decreased. There is no denying the way cannabis is grown in this country has changed a great deal. 

Marijuana was illegal and often farm-grown in the 1960s, and today it is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States.

In hopes that it clears up inconsistencies across the board

In an attempt to deal with cannabis testing issues and laboratory inconsistencies, California is standardizing the process throughout the state's approximately 40 active weed testing facilities.

The initiative comes under the new state law – Senate Bill 544, signed in October by Governor Gavin Newsom, which demanded that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) create strict criteria and guidelines for testing a plethora of microbiological contaminants, pesticides, residual solvents and cannabis compounds, reported Marijuana Business Daily.

Why this matters

Cannabis advocates praise the move saying that it will help raise the quality and reliability standards in the industry, protect consumers and also minimize  false test results.

 “This will bring additional consistency and accountability among licensed cannabis testing laboratories,” DCC spokeswoman Christina Dempsey said.

“With a standardized method, laboratories can more easily identify and correct problems, and it will serve as an additional mechanism to ensure integrity.”

Newly identified sulfur compounds in cannabis flowers give the plant its telltale funky odor

Scientists have finally sniffed out the molecules behind marijuana’s skunky aroma.

The heady bouquet that wafts off of fresh weed is actually a cocktail of hundreds of fragrant compounds. The most prominent floral, citrusy and piney overtones come from a common class of molecules called terpenes, says analytical chemist Iain Oswald of Abstrax Tech, a private company in Tustin, Calif., that develops terpenes for cannabis products. But the source of that funky ganja note has been hard to pin down.

Now, an analysis is the first to identify a group of sulfur compounds in cannabis that account for the skunklike scent, researchers report November 12 in ACS Omega.

Oswald and colleagues had a hunch that the culprit may contain sulfur, a stinky element found in hops and skunk spray. So the team started by rating the skunk factor of flowers harvested from more than a dozen varieties of Cannabis sativa on a scale from zero to 10, with 10 being the most pungent. Next, the team created a “chemical fingerprint” of the airborne components that contributed to each cultivar’s unique scent using gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy and a sulfur chemiluminescence detector.  

As suspected, the researchers found small amounts of several fragrant sulfur compounds lurking in the olfactory profiles of the smelliest cultivars. The most dominant was a molecule called prenylthiol, or 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, that gives “skunked beer” its notorious flavor.

Getting stoned before hitting the gym may not sound like the most sensible idea, although a number of recent surveys have revealed that many people actually prefer to work out while high. Among the supposed benefits are improved focus, greater enjoyment, and enhanced recovery – although, with no major studies on the subject, it’s hard to say with any certainty how smoking weed influences exercise.What we can say for sure, however, is that it’s a good idea to be cautious when mixing cannabis with gym equipment. A number of studies have revealed that getting high impairs coordination and decision-making while also increasing reaction times, and it goes without saying that lifting heavy weights while intoxicated can be highly dangerous. Plus, research has indicated that cannabis influences the cardiovascular system, for example dilating blood vessels and increasing heart rate. While these effects are usually harmless, they can pose problems to those who have heart conditions – especially if weed is mixed with exercise. Nevertheless, it appears that getting stoned while getting toned is gaining popularity. A survey of over 600 people in US states where recreational cannabis is legal revealed that 81.7 percent endorsed using cannabis while working out, with young men being particularly fond of this combination.

“The majority of participants who endorsed using cannabis shortly before/after exercise reported that doing so enhances their enjoyment of and recovery from exercise, and approximately half reported that it increases their motivation to exercise,” wrote the study authors.

They also noted that those who worked out while stoned tend to engage in more minutes of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise per week than those who prefer not to use cannabis at the gym.

Another recent survey involving 231 online respondents found that 45 percent of participants smoke weed before working out for psychological reasons, while only 14 percent claimed to gain a physical boost from cannabis. Of those who prefer to spark up after the gym, 36 percent said that doing so provided psychological benefits, with 28 percent saying it aided their recovery.

While observational studies like these provide food for thought, a lack of proper trials makes it difficult to say whether cannabis really does enhance exercise, and what mechanisms may underly this effect. It is possible to speculate, however, that cannabinoids like CBD and THC may aid with recovery from exercise due to their ability to reduce inflammation and dampen pain, although such a theory would need to be studied in depth before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

Over the course of the past decade, the public perception of adult recreational cannabis use has shifted dramatically.

Ever since Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use back in 2012, it’s been no secret that it could create a financial windfall for both cannabis businesses and the state itself.

A decade later, multiple other U.S. states have followed in the footsteps of the Centennial State in allowing their citizens to purchase cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol or liquor.

People are seeking new alternatives to alcohol

No one has been caught more off guard by the high demand for cannabis products than beer, wine and liquor companies. Sales tax revenue for alcohol has been surpassed by those of recreational marijuana.

According to David Feldman, CEO of Skip Intro Advisors, a strategic consulting firm for up-and-coming cannabis brands, there are numerous reasons why tax revenue for cannabis has surpassed alcohol.

The deadline is today for anyone who wants to grow hemp legally in Alabama. The plant was decriminalized in Alabama back in 2016. It has to have less than 0.3% of the marijuana-type chemical that makes you high in order to be legal. All hemp growers must apply annually to receive a hemp license. Hassey Brooks is the Deputy Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry. His department collects and reviews all hemp grower applications.

“Since we started the program in 2019, year one we had about 140 growers. That number drastically increased in 2020," he said. "We had over 400 licensed growers, and then in 2021 we have had less than 200.”

Brooks said industrial hemp is an effective alternative crop.

“At the end of the day, hemp is now considered an agricultural commodity. But this is a decision based upon the grower if they want to use hemp in their operation.”

Just over 110 applications have been submitted so far.

Concentrates should certainly be handled carefully. Just like with any form of THC, one should carefully research and monitor their consumption.

As marijuana business continues to explode in its growth, the methods of its consumption seem to evolve just as quickly. Flower cannabis represents only a small portion of most dispensary retail operations. And as time goes on, concentrates are becoming more popular and diverse.

As this niche market begins to outsell other marijuana products, it is important to understand exactly what marijuana concentrates are.

What Are Marijuana Concentrates?

Concentrates are just that, concentrated forms. There are several methods, but every form of concentrate represents much more potent THC or CBD content than its flower predecessor. Flower normally has a THC content that ranges from 10% to 25%, but concentrated products can exceed 80%. 

Common Forms of Concentrates

There is a long list of concentrates on the market currently, and the list will likely continue to grow as other niche markets continue to form.  There are several concentrate varieties that are popular and worth noting as a starting point of knowledge for those who want to learn more.

Happy Marijuanukah! (Yes, we just wrote that.)

Believe it or not, weed and Chanukah are a great fit together. Cannabis sales soar over the holiday season, and reports show an increasing number of Jewish cannabis enthusiasts are lighting up more than just menorahs during their celebrations.

Plus, cannabis is Kosher, and it seems the Jewish forefathers knew it. According to Smithsonian Magazine, archeologists discovered traces of burnt cannabis in an ancient Jewish shrine. They later deduced that it was used for ceremonial purposes in the ancient kingdom of Judah.

Whether you’re looking to honor this ancient… erm… ceremony, or just want to add something different to this years’ festivities, we rounded up a few ways to keep your Chanukah celebrations “lit.”

1. Smoke a Shofar Pipe

If you’re Jewish, you’re likely familiar with the Shofar, the ritual musical instrument made from a ram’s horn used for religious purposes by the Jewish people for centuries.