WeedLife News Network

There are nearly 800 strains of cannabis available on the legal market, with more being cultivated all the time. On top of that, there are countless formulations of edibles, tinctures and other cannabis products.

Like the wine industry, cannabis is a complicated market for consumers. In the wine industry, sommeliers guide consumers into making choices based on region, vintage and other attributes. Cannabis is primed for a similar approach, but not nearly enough dispensaries are staffed with the sort of experts to provide it.

For new cannabis consumers, purchasing product can be a daunting experience. Indica, sativa or hybrid? Flower or concentrate? How much of this candy bar are they supposed to eat? The choices can be overwhelming, and they’re compounded by the gnawing fear that getting the answers wrong will lead to money wasted on a bad experience.

Well-intentioned budtenders do their best to guide the shopping experience, but their advice is almost exclusively based on subjective experience and often delivered while simply trying to make a sale (maybe even a sale of a particular product that’s been on the shelf too long) and keep the line moving. It’s not an ideal situation for consumers.

The retail cannabis industry is ripe for customer service and expert advice provided by certified cannabis concierges.

Trying heirloom cannabis strains should definitely be high on the bucket list of every cannabis enthusiast.

In plain terms, an heirloom refers to a valuable item or artifact that has been passed down from one generation to another through decades and centuries. Heirloom cannabis strains have also been passed down through generations, but instead of being items and artifacts, they refer to cultivars of cannabis that have been around for a long while. These strains are revered and prized for their purity and historical value, hence the name.

This definition does not quite capture everything about heirloom cannabis strains, this is why this article will focus on everything you need to know about these strains, how they differ from landrace strains, as well as their benefits.

Photo by Yash Lucid from Pexels

What are Heirloom Cannabis Strains?

Heirloom cannabis strains are strains that have existed for many generations. However, this is not the only thing that makes them unique. Heirloom cannabis strains are distinct from other cannabis strains because of the purity which they offer. Unlike most strains of cannabis, heirloom cannabis strains have never been crossbred with any strain, only existing in their pure, natural form. This unadulterated and unchanged state gives heirloom cannabis its status as a prized strain.

Every cannabis lover has their favorite stash of accouterments, be it books, smoking accessories, or fashion statements. Why should it be any different for marijuana moms? Whether your mom is new to the cannabis game or a seasoned veteran, you’ll find a perfect selection with this Mother’s Day gift guide for cannabis accessories. Or choose from a selection of THC gifts and hemp and CBD selections for Mother’s Day.

'Feminist Weed Farmer' by Madrone Stewart

 PHOTO COURTESY OF MICORCOSM PUBLISHING

Feminist Weed Farmer (Book) Weed is powerful medicine and growing your own is as empowering as it gets. Experienced Humboldt farmer Madrone Stewart shares her hard-won knowledge gained from years of growing cannabis, Zen meditation, and surviving as a woman in a male-dominated industry. She walks you through the big picture and each detail of growing backyard plants, from selecting seeds to harvest and processing. Humorous, sage, and with a big heart, each chapter is infused with what she’s learned about equalizing the weed industry, applying mindfulness to pest management, and the importance of owning each step of the process. If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own pot or make hash or kief at home, this book is your wise guide. Available online from Microcosm Publishing. For an extra special treat, get Mom’s garden started with a pack of quality cannabis seeds from Seed Vault of California.

Mexican Sugar Skull Bong from Mota Glass.

Both tea and cannabis have a rich history dating thousands of years, with their origins tracing back to China and Central Asia, respectively. It was with the help of colonizers that both these cultivable plants spread to different parts of the world and became highly prized commodities.  

Drinking tea has many health benefits thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, many studies have shown cannabis consumption can help relieve chronic pain and manage stress.

Many companies have recently started pairing tea with cannabis to deliver multiple benefits in one approachable product.

CBD is one of the many naturally occurring chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids, contained in the cannabis plant.

The compound has been linked to health benefits such as aiding in managing stress, anxiety, and depression, reducing chronic pain, and as a possible treatment for epilepsy and seizures.

While it’s important to have a fixed standard of intoxication for cannabis, we should not simply put up a number arbitrarily.

Researchers in Australia found that you can be stoned for up to 10 hours depending on the means and the potency of the cannabis you consume.

Impairment is important because it will be the indicator that determine whether people can drive or not. Currently there are no real standards for the duration of intoxication mainly because cannabis impairment differs from person to person.

Photo by Alex Moiseev via Unsplash

For example, depending on your tolerance levels, a high could last you as little as an hour. Yet the prevalence of THC would be high. Therefore, the presence of THC does not indicate intoxication, but due to the lagging nature of law reform, the “presence of THC” could be more than enough to revoke one’s license.

When it comes to the growing cannabis industry, everyone wants the best product. And this means, producers are constantly finding ways to up their game. One of the latest trends in the cannabis world? Fresh frozen cannabis, and using cold to boost cannabis flowers and create concentrates like live resin.

When it comes to cannabis extracts, some of the most popular right now are delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC, two alternate versions of THC that provide users with slightly different benefits. Delta-8 THC actually causes less anxiety, promotes a clear-headed high, and comes with less psychoactive effects than standard delta-9. Interested in trying this alternate version? We’ve got some of the best delta-8 THC deals out there for you to check it out today!

When it comes to new products within a vastly growing industry, rife with massive amounts of competition, it can be expected that different techniques will be developed and used to increase efficacy of products. Sometimes these won’t be more than gimmicks – ways to increase interest from buyers without providing a real benefit. And sometimes, these techniques will truly be beneficial, offering a higher-level product. Such seems to be the case with fresh frozen cannabis.

What is fresh frozen cannabis?

How is a harvest usually done? Ever since cannabis began being planted as a crop, the standard harvesting method has been to air dry the cannabis. The basics involve hanging the plants out after they’ve reached their full potential, and taking off the leaves. Then the plants are put in a dark room, with the right temperature and humidity, for several weeks, or until the plants dry out to a desirable level. Many will then put the plants in a sealable container that can be opened at intervals to let air in and out. As stated, this is a basic process, followed by large-scale farmers, as well as home-cultivators.

If all of that sounds about right, the inclusion of using cold is a slightly different method, that can help boost the overall final product. So, what is it? It’s essentially a different method of harvesting, or rather, a new method to be employed in the harvesting process. In the fresh frozen process, the cannabis plants are cut, and all leaves, branches and stems are removed, but no curing is done.

Gradually and steadily, all cannabinoids like CBD, THC 8, CBG, CBN, etc., are getting the attention they deserve. Though studies are still at the early stages, all of these compounds have shown promising medicinal benefits.

We all know THC 8 has blown the market, and marijuana users turn towards Delta 8 THC. Known as the little sister of THC 9, it is famously known for giving a smooth high.

Some benefits of high quality THC Delta 8 are boosts energy levels, great for appetite, mellow and clear-headed, providing you with high, relieves pain and inflammation.

It does not make you feel overwhelmed, chaotic and paranoid unlike, THC 9. If you are consuming THC 8 for the first time or are just a regular user, you should know the factors that enhance and reduce the longevity of THC 8. It depends on many factors which are different for each person. let us see what those factors are-

 Factors that affect the longevity of delta 8 THC

1.     

More needs to be learned about what drives behavioural strategies used by different cultures to combat cannabis consumption, intoxication and related harms to enhance the protection of those who use the drug, a U.S. study suggests.

Researchers at the University of New Mexico explored the cannabis protective behavioural strategies (PBS) used by five different countries — namely the U.S., Argentina, Uruguay, Spain and the Netherlands — by seeking input from 1,175 colleges students from those jurisdictions who reported past-month weed use.

In essence, cannabis PBS are behaviours used before, during, after, and/or instead of cannabis use to reduce consumption, intoxication and related harms, explains the study published online in pre-proof on Apr. 28.

Cannabis PBS has “been identified to play an important role for harm reduction in adolescent and young adult users,” according to a Swiss study published last month.

This particular strain is very popular, as it is a pure and classic sativa strain. It is sought after in the cannabis market all over the world.

Year in year out, new sativa strains are being developed, while the already existing ones are being improved. Experienced cannabis smokers already know which strains to go for if they want a classical or newly developed strain. Newbie smokers might however be confused on which to go for.

As we all know, the cannabis market is littered with different products. This is why this list has been carefully researched and put together to help everyone know the most potent sativa strains on the market this year.

To curate this list, the energizing, euphoric, and creative effects of several sativa strains were observed, along with their THC level.

Let’s dive in!

Several members of Congress have submitted a formal request that the U.S. Botanic Garden include hemp plants in its display.

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) was established by Congress in 1820 and is the oldest continuously operating botanic garden in the country. Covering 150 acres, it host tens of thousands of plants, some of them rare.

Missing from its collection is hemp. While in the past this may have been due to its previous legal status, hemp was fully legalized for commercial production in the 2018 Farm Bill. While both forms of cannabis, hemp is distinguished from marijuana based on levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with hemp required to contain no more than 0.3% THC.

Given the change in its legal standing, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) recently sent a letter to USBG’s Executive Director requesting the Garden display hemp plants.

Noting that some domestically grown hemp is being utilised for the extraction of cannabidiol (CBD), they have suggested the plants may be ideally located in the Botanic Garden “medicinal plants” section, where more than a hundred species of herbs and plants are on display.

To say 2020 was a wild ride would be an understatement.

Between a global pandemic, renewed calls for civil rights, and a dramatic election season, it was a true roller coaster of emotions.

One thing however remained clear: the cannabis community is one of resilience, inclusion, and humble passion for the plant. 

Cannabis & Tech Today has opted to declare the consumers Innovators of the Year, as they are the true driving force behind everything the industry does — and continues to strive for.

Here’s our love letter to the folks who inspire all of us to raise the bar every day and fight for safe access across the country until full legalization is finally a reality.

The trend on public support for legalization of marijuana in Pennsylvania is clear, with support growing for the eighth year in a row.

Pennsylvania has only legalized medical marijuana, but the numbers make it look as if it is adult use cannabis driving the sales. Cannabis data company Headset recently expanded its reach into Pennsylvania and published its first full market report based on consumer insights and real-time market data.

The report found that over the past twelve months, Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis sales have escalated, and between April 2020 and March 2021, Pennsylvania’s medical markets brought in $909.4 million. Medical sales grew 120% in the first quarter of 2021 to $267.8 million from last year’s $121.5 million for the same time period.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Staff/Getty Images

The report also determined that Pennsylvania stands out among other U.S. markets with the largest average basket sizes so far this year, at $123.88 per basket. In addition, Pennsylvania’s average basket size was two times as high as Michigan’s and one-and-a-half times as high as Oregon’s.

Marijuana legalization has gone mainstream. In November, voters in four states approved recreational cannabis, and legislators in Virginia, New Mexico, and New York followed suit in early 2021, sending bills to all three governors' desks.

But the term legalization obscures vast differences in how states regulate marijuana businesses and consumption. Oklahoma arguably passed the most free market medical marijuana rules among the states. Michigan's recreational marijuana regulations largely embrace free and open markets, while Colorado's have steadily liberalized since legalization. Unfortunately, most other states are choosing highly restrictive market structures that undercut their ability to foster economic growth and quash the black market (we're looking at you, California!).

Wielding statutes such as possession limits, allowance for home growing, tax levels, licensing regimes, and testing and labeling requirements, states are targeting real political problems or imagined market ones. But such wrangling ensures that legal markets lose out to black markets. Even in polite Canada, only 28 percent of cannabis consumers buy legally, possibly beating out some U.S. states. Here are the four biggest mistakes states make, time after time, when creating legal marijuana markets.

1. Caps on Licenses

Most states where marijuana has been legalized arbitrarily cap how many businesses can be licensed to grow, manufacture, or sell. Advocates justify these caps to limit excess supply from bleeding into black markets, despite every recreational marijuana program's extensive state-monitored inventory tracking, which uses radio frequency identification on every plant or package and mandatory continuous video surveillance. If each product from every licensed facility is tracked, why cap licenses? 

A more pernicious motivation may lurk under the surface: excluding aspiring competitors. In Nevada, which permits only 120 dispensaries statewide, regulators accepted bribes from applicants, then manipulated the application process in those applicants' favor. In Illinois, which permits only 30 cultivators in a state with more than 11 million residents, license caps created systemic shortages, raising prices well beyond those found on the black market.

Whether you’re looking to treat a specific skin condition, or simply want to improve your health regime, there’s a lot that hemp seed oil can do!

This article is sponsored by Real Tested CBD.

How old are you?

The number of years you’ve been alive doesn’t necessarily tell how old you are on a biological level. An international study found that some people age up to three times faster than others.

Some of the participants in the study were 38-years-old but had a biological age of close to 60! The results prove that age-related decline is already happening in young adults who haven’t even begun to encounter age-related diseases.

Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/Getty Images

Due to the months spent indoors due to the pandemic, a lot of people can relate to new habits brought on by loneliness or stress.

For some, it has been eating more or drinking more alcohol, and others have begun trying out substances such as marijuana.

A provider of addiction recovery resources and information, Recovery.org, polled 3,000 respondents and found that over 1 in 5 Texans, 22%, say they now have a more relaxed view towards recreational marijuana use after experiencing a year of lockdowns.

Being stuck inside has also resulted in many celebrities sharing their substance use during the pandemic: as a virtual guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2020, Seth Rogen said he was smoking cannabis and doing pottery to get through lockdown days.

Although many activities were limited during lockdowns, some states such as California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, New Jersey, and New York deemed cannabis dispensaries an essential service.

Montana moved a step closer to implementing its voter-approved recreational marijuana program last week.

On Friday, lawmakers in the Montana Senate passed a bill establishing a framework for the nascent program, including a provision that “would reserve tax revenue from sales for addiction treatment and statewide conservation efforts,” according to the Associated Press.

The bill, which passed the Montana Senate by a vote of 34-16, now heads back to the state House, where lawmakers will vote on the state Senate’s amendments. Lawmakers in the state House passed legislation to implement the new legal pot program earlier this month.

Voters in Montana passed the legalization ballot measure in November, one of four states to pass legal weed proposals in last year’s elections. Shortly after the election, Montana officials announced that they anticipate licenses being available in the fall of this year.

“There’s a lot of work ahead before the first legal sale of non-medical marijuana in Montana, and before the first license is issued,” said Gene Walborn, director of Montana’s Department of Revenue, which is overseeing parts of the new cannabis program. “We look forward to working with the public and all interested parties as we develop guidelines around this new industry to move it forward, while also protecting public safety and raising revenue for the state of Montana.”

1.What are CBD Gummies?

CBD has grown to be the talk of the town in recent years. According to a study, approximately 64 million Americans have tried it in the last 24 months. Among the 64 million Americans, 64% used it as pain relief, 49% used it for coping-up with anxiety, and 42% found it helpful for insomnia. Sunday Scaries CBD gummies come under the list of products that contain Cannabidiol oil. They are edible candies that come in varieties of colors and sizes. They are available in many flavors and offer an easy way to intake Cannabidiol. It is an effective way of marketing it among its users. However, the strength and purity of these gummies vary between different brands. As far as FDA approvals are concerned, it approved a CBD product named Epidiolex. It is helpful for the treatment of epilepsy. Companies developing such products claim that they can help with depression, anxiety, pain. They even help in improving sleep. But there is not strong evidence that CBD gummies work like that. Numerous users have claimed that consuming gummies make you feel relaxed and lend a sense of comfort. It is a non-psychotropic substance because it is devoid of THC. Therefore, the usage of these gummies is increasing daily because of their positive effects. Studies also confirm that consumption of CBD ensures health benefits to the individual.

Here are six tips highlighting the benefits of CBD consumption.

1.1 Can Reduce Anxiety and Depression 

Studies have shown that high consumption of CBD may reduce anxiety and depression. There are two types of receptors present in the human body. The adenosine receptors are responsible for anxiety and uneasiness, while the serotonin receptors are accountable for depression. Cannabidiol interacts with these two receptors to help patients cope-up with anxiety and depression. The lack of efficiency in these two receptors might result in anxiety and depression in an individual. Consuming it helps both the receptors achieve an efficiency of 100 percent, thus reducing anxiety and depression. They can help induce a calm mindset.

420 was predicted to be a huge day for cannabis sales and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Akerna said that by the time Tuesday hit, the daily retail sale of legal cannabis was expected to gross $95 million nationally, bringing total 4/20-related sales to $370 million in the U.S. if Akerna’s data proves accurate.

Planet 13

Nevada-based Planet 13 Holdings Inc.(OTCQB:PLNHF)  a leading vertically-integrated Nevada cannabis company, announces record sales day on April 20, 2021 (“420”). The Company generated $543,000 in single-day sales with gross margins during the month in excess of 50%.

“The demand and acceptance for cannabis is growing across the country, and nowhere is that more evident than in Las Vegas. For tourists returning to Vegas, Planet 13 is synonymous with cannabis and an incredible entertainment experience,” said Larry Scheffler, Co-CEO of Planet 13. “The demand is so overwhelming that even with the many improvements we have made to streamline throughput, we still can’t capture all of the demand. I’m excited for the relaxing of COVID restrictions on May 1st and our expansion which doubles our sales floor and points of sale to handle the unprecedented surge in customer traffic.”

Planet 13 said it is also hiring over 300 workers to staff its Vegas dispensary expansion (doubling points-of-sale/registers to 85) and to staff its new California SuperStore.

During a year that saw hundreds of thousands of American deaths and widespread suffering, so-called vice industries thrived. Whether for mental health needs, self-medication, or pure recreation, the consuming public hoarded alcohol and other substances in an apparent effort to cope with the outbreak and social isolation over the past 12 months. And one of the biggest beneficiaries was the cannabis industry, which saw explosive growth in 2020 that’s expected to continue into the next decade and beyond as an increasing number of states legalize recreational marijuana use.

On weed enthusiasts’ high holiday of 4/20, cannabis analytics and tech provider Akerna projects that legal cannabis sales will cross $95 million on that day alone. Perhaps that’s not surprising on a day that encourages excess. But it’s also representative of a larger trend.

“Americans purchased $18.3 billion in cannabis products over the past calendar year, $7.6 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales the previous year,” writes the cannabis-focused Leafly in a report compiled from marijuana state tax and revenue records.

Some of that is clearly linked to the increasing number of states that have legalized marijuana, either recreationally or for medical use, in the past few years. New York this year became one of the largest states in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana. Of all 50 states, 48 allow for some form of medical marijuana; 16 states have legalized it recreationally, including the entire West Coast.

But the pandemic clearly had an effect on marijuana sales that may persist into the future. Americans may have been stocking up to limit interactions with dispensaries that may have closed down, and an influx of new customers in states legalizing the drug affected the revenue growth. “New consumers and patients, and newly legal states, played a role in 2020’s cannabis boom. But the main driver was an increase in the average purchase size of established consumers, who increased their average monthly spends by 33%,” according to Leafly.