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We've seen the popularity of craft beer rise across the nation, and according to IBISWorld, "Craft beer industry revenue has increased at an annualized rate of 4.4 percent to $7.6 billion over the five years to 2020, including estimated growth of 2.1 percent in 2020 alone." There always seems to be a unique appeal to any product we deem to be "craft." As many of us predicted, we're starting to see this trend become more evident in the cannabis space.

I sat down with Taig Rehmel, the Co-Founder and Lead Grower of Asheville Craft Cannabis, to dig deeper into the craft cannabis scene. Taig has over two decades of experience in large-scale cannabis research and cultivation, which gives him a unique vantage point into the essence of craft cannabis, sustainable architecture, and regenerative agriculture.

Here's what Taig had to say about craft cannabis being the next potential craze in cannabis, how it relates to craft beer, the difference between craft and average flower, and the future of craft cannabis.

What exactly is craft cannabis?

Taig Rehmel: A critical component of craft cannabis is that it’s consciously cultivated. Unlike “super-market” cannabis, craft is not just consumed, it’s experienced. Craft cannabis is handmade, each step of the process is carried out by artisans, rather than mass-produced. On the micro-level of all of this, there needs to be a relationship between the cultivator and the plants.

What’s the difference between an average quality flower and something that a connoisseur would consider to be craft cannabis?

It can be argued that the high taxes are well-intentioned, signaling support for an inclusive cannabis market.

Due to ongoing federal prohibition, America’s cannabis regulations remain fragmented by state. Until reform occurs, states will continue to set their program frameworks, including how it taxes the supply chain, with consumers feeling the brunt directly by taxes or indirectly by retailers up-charging to offset costs.

Depending on the state, a market’s tax rates could look similar to any other legal product, or the figure could balloon. Examples of the latter can be found in states like Washington (37% sales tax) and Oregon (17%), with several others charging around 15%. States with lower sales tax rates, like Illinois, charge 7%, but rates can swell when considering the various additional taxes applied to flower, infused goods and high potency products. When combined with local taxes, some Illinois citizens can pay over 40% tax on certain products.

The rates have some worried over allegations of greed, while others believe the taxes are part of a bid to create restorative justice. However, even those supporting justice measures worry that high taxes could steer customers away from the market altogether.

Which States Have The Highest Taxes?

The question is nuanced when analyzing the various potential tax layers applied to legal cannabis. A flat sales tax isn’t all that there is to consider. As Illinois demonstrates, what may seem like a 7% to 10% tax rate is just the ground floor of what could become sky high rates.

From Papaya Punch to Sour Diesel Lemon Kush, there is something unique and tasty about all these amazing cannabis varieties. All of them have seriously awesome flavor profiles and are light, fluffy, and downright delicious. Plus they offer some powerful body and head highs and look just as good as they taste. Without further ado, here are some of the strains that not only have memorable effects and overall profiles, they taste great, too. 

1. Sour Diesel Lemon Kush

Diesel is one of the strongest, most flavorful strains out there, but some complain that it’s a bit heady and strong to smoke. The pairing of sour Diesel and Lemon Kush is delightful, as it partners up the strong, heady energy of Sour Diesel with the soft, light, citrus taste of Lemon Kush for a strain that is truly unique. Try it in a bong or bowl, or even infused into cooking oil or butter. Available from Caliva. 

2. GSC

Girl Scout Cookies is everyone’s favorite strain, and there’s a good reason. It’s a hybrid, but indica-leaning. Durban Poison on its own is powerful, sometimes too powerful, and OG Kush is almost too chill. Together, as Girl Scout Cookies, the strain is downright relaxing and euphoric. The sweet taste and high THC count is the icing on the cake—or in this case, the cookies. 

Cannabis concentrates are perhaps the trickiest form you may come across. They are highly potent, and the consumption techniques are also complicated, whether you choose to smoke, vape, or dab. Still, using the right gear can make things a lot simpler for beginners, and you get better with practice and experience. The choice of equipment depends on several factors, so you need to consider them while taking your pick. Here are some helpful tips that you can follow while choosing the right gear for using concentrates.

Size and convenience 

You will want to choose your concentrate gear according to your skill level. For a beginner, the simplest is the best because it will be easy to handle and use. Handling the potency and managing dosages for cannabis concentrates may be hard enough for you. So you will want only the gear that is easy to use. Size also matters because larger pieces can be difficult to operate. Thankfully, there are lots of choices in bongs and bubblers, from large, table-top pieces to small, handheld ones.

Method of consumption

The next factor to consider is the method of consumption and the form of concentrate. When it comes to types of concentrates, you come across a lot, from wax to shatter, resin, rosin, oil, hash, and more. Consumption methods also vary, depending on your preference, and the equipment you use will differ accordingly. For beginners who want to learn how to smoke resin, a bowl gives you a good start. You can graduate to a bong or bubbler as you learn the ropes. Similarly, you will need a vaporizer for vaping a concentrate and a dab rig for dabbing it.  

It wasn’t too long ago that if you asked somebody what CBD was, they would look at you with a puzzled expression on their face. Today, CBD is on everyone’s lips, dominating the conversation on medical cannabis and its therapeutic effects and being touted as a health supplement at nutrition stores. It can also be purchased online and found in department stores, drug stores, grocery stores, gas stations and, of course, dispensaries.

With CBD’s popularity comes a learning curve for the discerning consumer. In order to find the best product for their needs, consumers need to know the terminology around CBD products.

First, What Is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-euphoric cannabinoid found in both hemp and high-THC cannabis. Cannabinoids are a closely related group of chemical compounds, which work synergistically together and with the other chemical compounds that make up the cannabis plant. CBD can be used for symptom management for things such as anxiety, certain types of seizures, inflammation and pain. It also has been found to have value in cosmetic use.

It’s worth noting that much CBD on the market today is derived from hemp, rather than cannabis, because hemp is federally legal. Hemp and cannabis are the same species, cannabis sativa, but they’re separated by an arbitrary legal definition that defines hemp as having less than 0.3% THC when tested.

Understanding CBD

Many people like to say CBD is not psychoactive, but that would be incorrect. “Psychoactive” is a term used to describe a substance that changes a mental state by affecting the brain and nervous system. Though CBD will not cause euphoria or intoxication, it may change a person’s level of anxiety or depression, which in turn would affect their perception of the world around them.

In 2020, Norman’s medical marijuana industry quickly proved to be an emerging market.

The marijuana industry locally and statewide more than doubled its revenue compared to 2019, as the state’s new industry grew to one of the biggest marijuana markets in the country. While some attribute the industry’s success to the COVID-19 pandemic, others suggest medical marijuana would’ve seen continual growth in 2020 regardless.

Below is a summary of the industry’s growth in 2020 in Norman and statewide, its impact on local residents and what experts expect for medical marijuana in 2021.

Local revenue increase

Norman’s industry saw a boom in sales throughout much of 2020, particularly in the summer months.

According to data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Norman dispensaries produced $33.6 million in total revenue in 2020, doubling the $16.1 million dispensaries put out in 2019. Norman dispensaries also remitted more than $2.9 million in city and state sales tax in 2020.

The best thing to do is to start with the basics. Gradually, you can move to more complex gear if you want to take your experience to the next level.

Concentrates are perhaps the trickiest form of cannabis you may come across. They are highly potent, and the consumption techniques are also complicated, whether you choose to smoke, vape, or dab. Still, using the right gear can make things a lot simpler for beginners, and you get better with practice and experience. The choice of equipment depends on several factors, which you need to consider when making your decision. Here are some helpful tips that you can follow while choosing the right gear for using concentrates.

Size and convenience

You will want to choose your concentrate gear according to your skill level. For a beginner, the simplest is the best because it will be easy to handle and use. Handling the potency and managing dosages for cannabis concentrates may be challenging enough for you, so you’ll want gear that is easy to use. Size also matters because larger pieces can be difficult to operate. Thankfully, there are lots of choices in bongs and bubblers, from large, table-top pieces to small, handheld ones.

Photo by Bill Oxford/Getty Images

Method of consumption

The next factor to consider is the method of consumption and the form of concentrate. When it comes to types of concentrates, there are many, from wax to shatter, resin, rosin, oil, hash, and more. Consumption methods also vary depending on your preference, and the equipment you use will differ accordingly.Alzheimer's Disease And Marijuana: What You Need To Know

By building a positive presence on social media, stock traders may unwittingly become attracted to a company.

Can a social media profile improve a company’s stock performance? The market saw what happened on Reddit boards with GameStop stock as traders chatted with each other about shorting the stock. Could a company that is active on social media, without any specific call to action regarding the stock, influence the interest in the company’s stock?

“If investors are looking to determine the popularity of a company or demand for its product, they can analyze the brand’s social media. If they see great engagement on posts, high account following, or virality, high re-share of a brand’s content, they may make an assumption that this company will be even a greater hit with consumers in the future,” said mega influencer Amra Beganovich.

“Investors can use software to track social media performance and reveal organic growth giving them greater confidence to invest in an expanding brand visibility and product popularity.” Beganovich has built from scratch over two million followers on social and is one of the founders of A&E, a digital agency ranking #1 on Google for competitive keywords like “top 100 tech influencers.”

Awesomepova recently issued a social media traction report that specifically looked at cannabis companies. Four companies were listed as top performers in December and they were Trulieve (OTC:TCNNF), Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC), Charlotte’s Web (OTC: CWBHF) and cbdMD (NYSE: YCBD). Two companies were listed as having an honorable mention and they were Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) and Harvest Health & Recreation (OTC: HRVSF).

This Valentine’s Day, expensive dinners at fancy restaurants are out, and sexy, stoned nights at home are in—and that’s fine with us. For couples who enjoy using cannabis together, the possibilities are endless. Plus, let’s be real: plenty of us would rather receive something weed-related instead of a cliché heart shaped box of chocolates from the drug store.

Whether you’re planning on indulging in some serious self-love on Valentine’s Day or looking to spoil your lover, we’ve got you covered with gift ideas ranging from tame to…definitely not so tame.

Kush Queen Love Potion No. 9 CBD Bath Bomb, $20.00

The Kush Queen bath bomb is jam-packed with 200mg of CBD, sure to melt any aches and pains away to gear you up for sexy time. The aromas will get you in the mood, too. It contains a range of essential oils for the perfect scent: Bergamont, sweet orange, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, patchouli, and lavender. If you want to take your gift to the next level, you can get The CBD Love Kit, which includes the bath bomb along with CBD lube and massage oil.

Valentine’s Day is upon us. Here are some gift ideas, from chocolate boxes to fun and relaxing cannabis products.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and while you won’t be able to comfortably dine out in a restaurant along with other mushy couples, you may still be able to get something good out of Cupid’s day.

February 14 is not really a holiday; it’s more of a glorified occasion where you can have a high stakes date, eat good food, go HAM on a lot of chocolate and spend some time with your partner. Recently, Valentine’s Day has expanded itself; it’s now nice to give gifts to friends and family members, who may be feeling especially more lonely this year. While presents aren’t expected, they’re a thoughtful gesture that can range in price and functionality since V-Day is pretty loose in terms of expectations.

You could go the traditional route with chocolates and flowers, or you could try something new. Here are just a few ideas.

For those who want something relaxing

Everyone wants to relax right now, but sadly it’s becoming increasingly difficult, so we need all the help we can get. There’s tons of stuff that can help you feel relaxed, at least, momentarily. You can gift some regular bath bombs or some with CBD if you want your gift to be extra relaxing, like Vertly’s bath salts. Nourish Mantra makes some great mud masks that contain different products and that feel thick and pleasant on your skin, resulting in a face that feels and looks smooth and clear. Products like Saint Jane look and feel fancy, and can help treat eye bags and while reviving your skin. Before you use, remember to test the product in a small patch of skin.

For those who are all about food

Valentine’s Day is a great day to indulge in your oral senses, whether someone’s cooking for you, take-out is ordered in, or chocolates is consumed. Cookbooks make for great gifts, provided that you don’t imply that your significant other should cook more or cook better, because then you’re just asking for a fight. If you’re interested in wine pairings and food recipes, you can try Washington Wine + Food. If you want something sweeter, you can try Dessert Person. You can also try meal prep kits, such as Hello Fresh and Blue Apron.

Marijuana’s slow but steady movement towards federal legalization has been heavily documented, gaining support across the nation and with more and more medical and recreational programs gaining approval. But there remains a lot of mystery in the purchase process, with many turning to black market marijuana because it seems simpler and less intimidating than legal weed.

Legal marijuana still has some growing pains, but it has slowly become a simple and more intuitive process. Now, depending on the state where you live, you’re able to purchase marijuana online, at times having it delivered or scheduled for pick-up. Here’s how to buy weed on the web.

Do Your Research

When ordering marijuana flower and marijuana products, it’s important to account for where you live, since you won’t have access to these services if you live in an illegal state.

Your second step is to get very informed and to be sure that you’re not falling for any scams or sketchy websites. The website you’re ordering from should look legitimate, like it was designed in this century, and should also have recommendations from publications and reviews from different customers. When scrolling through these reviews, make sure they use different words and ways of expressing themselves; this suggests they’re not a bot.

While there are websites out there where you can purchase marijuana products directly, there are others that can connect you with dispensaries. This latter option might be better for someone who wants to talk to a budtender regarding their marijuana purchase, who can make recommendations on the types of products that work best for them.

The last few years have been a wild ride for the United States’ hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) industry. Ever since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took the position that CBD is unlawful in many consumer products, the industry has faced many questions about what it can and cannot do. To add fuel to this fire, many states have adopted laws and regulations that are different from, more complicated than, and/or inconsistent with the FDA’s position. To say the least, things are complex.

Life is particularly challenging for smokable CBD products. The FDA’s initial positions on CBD failed to address smokable products, and as we noted a few years ago and again last year, it didn’t appear that the FDA would expressly try to regulate smokable products.

Many states nevertheless decided to ban smokable hemp and even smokable products like CBD vapes. For example, last year, Iowa made the sale of smokable hemp products a serious offense. As another example, a ban on smokable hemp was upheld by a federal appellate court for the state of Indiana last year.

On top of that, during the vape crisis over the last few years, many states and municipalities began proposing and even passing laws that restrict flavored vape products. While many of these efforts were limited to nicotine-bearing products, not all were, further restricting how CBD vapes could be sold in some cases.

Recently, there have been a few developments that place the smokable hemp industry in even more jeopardy. First, the FDA issued warning letters to CBD product sellers, including the seller of an inhalable product. While, to be fair, it wasn’t a smokable product, the FDA in 2019 issued a warning letter for the seller of CBD vapes. So even though the agency hasn’t taken the most clear position on smokable CBD in its policy documents, it has taken action against sellers of inhalable products and it appears that will continue.

Cannabis legitimization has demonstrated several advantages for some reasons – pot’s remedial worth improves lives and decreases compulsion and the business development and potential is useful for the economy.

However, there are as yet the individuals who demand that ongoing cannabis utilization, such as using phoenix tears Canada, simply makes individuals more dumb.

To exacerbate the situation, a recent report has as far as anyone knows discovered confirmation that pot use diminishes an individual’s IQ after some time. 

This deception has fanned out quickly among against pot distributions throughout the previous five years, prompting expanded disarray on the issue. 

There are a ton of elements that go into play when considering these patterns – and making these cases – and considerably more that specialists deliberately forget about. 

Mexico is one of the most exciting emerging cannabis markets in the world and we expect to see increased interest in the market from leading cannabis companies. A few months ago, we published an article on the Mexican cannabis market and received a lot of positive feedback from our readers.

After noticing the amount of interest in the Mexican cannabis market, we conducted due diligence on the operators that are focused on the emerging market. Based on our analysis, we determined that the market is wide open for companies to come in and grab market share and will monitor how the industry evolves over the next year.

Many analysts expected the Mexican cannabis industry to be a major market after former President Enrique Peña Nieto signed legislation to legalize medical cannabis in 2017. Since then, the government has failed to advance the industry and medical cannabis remains out of reach for many patients.

Although we are surprised with the amount of time it has taken for the Mexican cannabis market to advance, we believe the industry is reaching an inflection point. Last year, legislation was introduced that would allow private companies to sell cannabis to the public and the bill is expected to be implemented in the near future.

During the last two years, we have noticed a substantial increase in the number of companies that are focused on the Mexican cannabis market. A few years ago, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB.TO) (ACB) announced plans to enter the Mexican cannabis market and this aspect of the business seems to have stalled. We do not blame Aurora Cannabis for the lack of execution and believe that the Mexican government is making the legalization of cannabis more challenging than it needs to be.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued its end-of-year report for 2020, and to the surprise of virtually no one, medical marijuana sales increased year-over-year, for the eighth year in a row.

Arizonans purchased 106 tons of cannabis products from dispensaries in 2020, according to the report, and all signs point to much higher numbers in 2021.

That's due largely to the fact that recreational cannabis is now legal for adults to buy as of January 22, 2021. 

Between MMJ and recreational pot, dispensary companies in the state are planning to grow two-to-three times as much marijuana in 2021, but the reality of recreational in the state remains to be seen, said Sam Richard, executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association. Some of the revenue growth will be due to higher prices in the initial months of recreational sales, he added.

"Largely, the trajectory of the growth in medical sales will likely taper off" while the new combined industry reaches new frontiers, he said. Last year's 106 tons in sales is close to the weight of a fully loaded space shuttle on its way to the space station, and while the medical program is "approaching cruising altitude," the industry as a whole is set to travel much further.

In a move that gave local cannabis watchers—and many dispensary owners—a serious case of whiplash, the Arizona Department of Health Services gave the green-light to recreational pot sales late last month, catching a lot of people in the industry off guard.

Harvest Enterprises, Inc., founded by CEO and Tempe native Steve White, had the first-ever Arizona adult use sale in its Scottsdale location and Harvest became the first Tucson-area dispensary to sell recreational marijuana, with patients waiting in line for hours outside the midtown outlet at 2734 E. Grant Road, on opening weekend.

Harvest’s opening came after the AZDHS allowed recreational cannabis sales to begin, letting dispensary owners know adult-use recreational sales can move forward as soon as licenses are approved and dispensaries are set up to handle both aspects of the market.

“This has been really surprising and gives an opportunity for us to have a conversation about how we don’t say a lot of good things about government,” White said. “But this is really a bang-up job by the

department.”

It's funny to think back on the "reefer madness" era in the United States in the 1930s, a time when political leaders demonized cannabis and planted the seeds for the War on Drugs. After all, the U.S. had not yet existed even 200 years. Compare that to ancient Egypt, a weed-friendly civilization that flourished and dominated the known world for about 3,000 years.

Lawmakers in the United States and most of the western world are just now catching up with what leaders in that long-ago civilization knew to be true: medical marijuana has the potential for treating a variety of conditions. They also found uses for hemp that included making fabric, rope, and ship sails. 

And discoveries in burial chambers have led researchers to believe that Egyptians used cannabis during burial ceremonies, much like they did in ancient China. Reefer madness, indeed.

Ancient texts tell the tale

Ancient Egypt lasted for about 30 centuries. It started about 3,100 BCE when the different factions in Egypt united, ending when Alexander the Great conquered it around 332 BCE. During those thousands of years, Egypt reigned as the most powerful and influential civilization in the known world. 

During that time, they learned a thing or two. Some of those things involved marijuana. 

Every year, we all look ahead and try to guess what might become the biggest weed strains for the next 365 days. It's just the natural thing to do since we — as fellow consumers — are determined to stay on top of the freshest and hottest trends. For 2021, we scoped out which strains are sure to continue the momentum built in previous years, as well as some strains that are showing blow-up potential.

Here are 9 weed strains to look forward to in 2021.

Wedding Cake

In 2021, Wedding Cake is sure to remain one of the most popular strains in the world. 

Wedding Cake, also known as Pink Cookies, is an indica-dominant hybrid that was bred by Seed Junky Genetics. It's a phenotype of a cross between Triangle Kush and Animal Mints that produces a sweet, dougy, vanilla-like strain — and it's absolutely swept the cannabis world by storm over the past couple of years. 

It's showing the same potential as OG Kush and GSC, in terms of becoming the hybrid of its generation. Look out for it, and the many other strains that come from its genetics.