ReportWire

Tag: Marijuana

  • The Best Microdosing Strains For A Rough Week

    [ad_1]

    Is it a Monday of a week you already wish was over? Discover the best microdosing strains for a rough week.

    Life gets messy sometimes. Deadlines pile up, meetings run long, and anxiety seems to lurk around every corner. For many Millennials and Gen Zers, microdosing cannabis has become a go-to strategy for managing stress without the heavy “high” that can derail productivity. But not all strains are created equal. So, what’s the best microdosing strains for a rough week.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    Microdosing is the art of taking small, controlled amounts of cannabis to achieve subtle benefits—think calm focus, creativity, and mood regulation—without intense intoxication. It’s especially appealing for young professionals and students who want stress relief without feeling “out of it.” According to recent wellness studies, microdosing can improve mood, ease tension, and even boost mental clarity when done responsibly.

    Photo by Pharma Hemp Complex via Unsplash

    Top Strains for Microdosing

    Harlequin

    A CBD-dominant strain, Harlequin is famous for delivering clear-headed relief. It’s ideal for microdosing because its balanced 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC allows you to relax without feeling drowsy or overly stoned. Millennials dealing with tight work schedules and Gen Zers balancing side hustles love its subtle calm.

    ACDC

    Another CBD powerhouse, ACDC is perfect for anyone needing a mental reset midweek. Users report reduced anxiety, enhanced focus, and a sense of grounded calm. Microdosing this strain helps you stay functional while keeping stress at bay.

    Jack Herer

    For those who want a slight mood lift alongside focus, Jack Herer is the classic sativa-leaning option. A microdose delivers gentle energy and creativity without the jittery side effects of coffee or high-THC strains. Ideal for brainstorming sessions or powering through challenging workdays.

    Cannatonic

    Known for its medicinal properties, Cannatonic is CBD-rich with just enough THC to soothe without sedation. This strain is particularly good for those with anxiety or tension headaches during rough weeks. A microdose can bring mental clarity while keeping physical stress in check.

    RELATED: TikTok Is Changing the Cannabis Industry

    Tips for Microdosing Success

    • Start small: Begin with just 2–3 mg of THC and adjust slowly.
    • Track your response: Use a journal or app to note effects and optimal dosage.
    • Pair with routine: Microdosing works best when combined with healthy sleep, hydration, and mindful breaks.
    • Choose the right delivery: Sublingual oils, low-dose edibles, or vaping allow precise dosing.

    Microdosing cannabis is more than a trend—it’s a modern wellness strategy for Millennials and Gen Zers navigating high-pressure lives. Strains like Harlequin, ACDC, Jack Herer, and Cannatonic provide stress relief, focus, and calm without the overwhelming effects of a full high. The key? Start small, track your experience, and let microdosing be your subtle secret weapon for surviving even the roughest week.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link

  • Do Public Votes About Cannabis Matter Currently

    [ad_1]

    Do public votes on cannabis matter currently? State lawmakers are rewriting rules despite public support.

    In what increasingly feels like a democratic disconnect, some publican-led state legislatures are quietly rewriting or trimming cannabis laws voters overwhelmingly backed. The question now looms: when citizen ballots say one thing—but elected lawmakers say another. Do public votes about cannabis matter currently? It seems the voting public doesn’t matter much anymore.

    RELATED: Officials Cling To Personal Moral Codes Despite Public Opinion

    Take Ohio. Voters in 2023 went to the polls and approved adult-use cannabis legalization, signalling a clear public mandate. Yet earlier this year, the state’s Senate—under GOP leadership—passed legislation would shrink the home-grow allowance and cap THC content in products, arguing voters “didn’t know what they were voting on.” It is not just a tweaking of policy—it is a direct pushback against the will of the electorate.

    Meanwhile, in Nebraska, citizens voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2024. Yet Republican officials have floated rolling back key access provisions and delaying licensing—an outcome labelled by critics as “targeting voter-approved medical marijuana.” In both states, the message is clear: when public votes favor more liberal cannabis policy, legislative majorities with opposing views are ready to push them aside.

    Photo by Xvision/Getty Image

    This trend raises a larger question for millennials and voters nationwide: Are ballots just theatrical props in the policy theatre? When elected officials override or rewrite voter-backed initiatives, the very idea of representative democracy starts to feel hollow. For younger generations used to digital petitions and civic engagement, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

    Ironically, this political tug-of-war is happening while medical studies continue to show meaningful benefits of cannabis for patient communities. For instance, a study at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine followed nearly 400 medical-cannabis patients and found significant gains in physical functioning, social life and emotional well-being after three months. Similarly, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found medical users reported less pain, better sleep, reduced anxiety—and fewer hospital or ER visits. And the Center for Medical Cannabis Research at the University of Utah is now leading rigorous trials on therapeutic use and safety. If doctors and scientists are increasingly seeing a medical case, why are some legislators throttling access?

    It comes down to control. Many GOP-led legislatures argue that while voters perhaps intended change, they didn’t foresee the consequences—or “the devil in the details,” like THC caps, home grows, advertising, youth access. Ohio’s Senate, for example, claimed voters “didn’t know what they were voting on.” And in Nebraska, the medical-cannabis law’s licensing deadlines were missed and regulatory power handed to a commission criticised for obstructing the popular will.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    or millennials who’ve come of age during legalized cannabis expansion and who expect transparency and inclusion, this feels like a let-down. Yes, your state might vote in favour—but if lawmakers can simply override or dilute the legal decision, the vote becomes symbolic, not consequential.

    So yes: public votes still matter—they show where the people stand. But what matters more is whether lawmakers respect the vote and implement policy accordingly. Otherwise, ballot boxes become placeholders, and legislative bodies the real gatekeepers. Until the law catches up with popular sentiment, many voters will feel they’re speaking into a void.

    Will this dynamic spark a backlash, forcing legislatures to honour public ballots—or will it deepen cynicism among a generation already sceptical of politics? Time, and the next set of votes, will tell.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link

  • Supreme Court to consider whether people who regularly smoke pot can legally own guns

    [ad_1]

    WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will consider whether people who regularly smoke marijuana can legally own guns, the latest firearm case to come before the court since its 2022 decision expanding gun rights.

    President Donald Trump’s administration asked the justices to revive a case against a Texas man charged with a felony because he allegedly had a gun in his home and acknowledged being a regular pot user. The Justice Department appealed after a lower court largely struck down a law that bars people who use any illegal drugs from having guns.

    Arguments probably will take place early in 2026, with a decision likely by early summer.

    The Republican administration favors Second Amendment rights, but government attorneys argued that this ban is a justifiable restriction.

    They asked the court to reinstate a case against Ali Danial Hemani. His lawyers got the felony charge tossed out after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the blanket ban is unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s expanded view of gun rights. The appellate judges found it could still be used against people accused of being high and armed at the same time, though.

    Hemani’s attorneys argue the broadly written law puts millions of people at risk of technical violations since at least 20% of Americans have tried pot, according to government health data. About half of states legalized recreational marijuana, but it’s still illegal under federal law.

    The Justice Department argues the law is valid when used against regular drug users because they pose a serious public safety risk. The government said the FBI found Hemani’s gun and cocaine in a search of his home as they probed travel and communications allegedly linked to Iran. The gun charge was the only one filed, however, and his lawyers said the other allegations were irrelevant and were mentioned only to make him seem more dangerous.

    The case marks another flashpoint in the application of the Supreme Court’s new test for firearm restrictions. The conservative majority found in 2022 that the Second Amendment generally gives people the right to carry guns in public for self-defense and any firearm restrictions must have a strong grounding in the nation’s history.

    The landmark 2022 ruling led to a cascade of challenges to firearm laws around the country, though the justices have since upheld a different federal law intended to protect victims of domestic violence by barring guns from people under restraining orders.

    ___

    Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Zohram Mamdani And NYC’s Legal Marijuana

    [ad_1]

    Zohran Mamdani and NYC’s legal marijuana guide the public past rollout chaos toward real, legal access.

    He is the young, unapologetic state assemblymember who’s risen into the national spotlight. But what about Zohram Mamdani and NYC’s legal marijuana?  He has made his pro-legalization stance plain: he supports adult-use access along with social justice, expungement and community reinvestment rather having mom and pop business be part of the development of the rules. He’s even said publicly he’s purchased marijuana at licensed shops, a small detail signaling both personal comfort with regulated access and a political posture aligned with the legalization mainstream.

    RELATED: Gen Z Is Ditching Relationship Labels While Millennials…

    The mayoral race is mess with Mamdani up against current Mayor, Eric Adams, who was pre-pardoned by Trump who now has dropped out and former Mayor Andrew Cuomo who left office under of a cloudy of corruption and creepiness.  Most voters skim the news and lean toward the “doesn’t have a criminal stink on them.

    New York’s path to “legal” has been anything but tidy. The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) finally legalized adult-use cannabis in March 2021, creating a new Office of Cannabis Management and promising regulatory frameworks, licensing, community equity provisions and expungements. The law was a landmark — and also a beginning, not an endpoint — because implementation has been slow, complaints about licensing delays and enforcement inconsistencies have piled up, and neighbor-state competition (like New Jersey’s earlier retail rollout) complicated expectations.

    Photo by Chelsea London Phillips via Unsplash

    Mamdani’s position fits within a broader coalition pushing for access that repairs harms: civil-rights groups, harm-reduction advocates and national organizations such as the Drug Policy Alliance, ACLU and NORML have long argued legalization must be reparative — not just profitable. Those groups stress that simple legalization without aggressive expungement, community reinvestment and small-business access will reproduce the inequities of the old, punitive system. That’s the language Mamdani and like-minded progressives use when they talk about who legalization should benefit.

    But not everyone loves how legalization looks on the ground. Local polls and advocacy pushback — from neighborhood quality-of-life advocates to groups alarmed about public use and smell — have put political pressure on city leaders to tighten rules on public consumption, storefront density and odor mitigation. That tension matters for mayors and councilmembers who must balance reformist ideals with everyday governance.

    RELATED: Gen Z’rs upending things including weed and voting

    For younger voters, Mamdani’s pitch is familiar: legalization to provide access, criminal-justice reform plus sensible regulation. For older, more skeptical New Yorkers, it’s a test of whether lawmakers can turn a symbolic win into tidy, livable reality. The MRTA set the table; Mamdani and other progressive leaders now face the harder work of making sure legalization actually undoes past harms — not just creates new market winners.

    [ad_2]

    Anthony Washington

    Source link

  • Florida Courts Make A Sort Of A Stand For Marijuana

    [ad_1]

    Shaking up Florida’s authoritarian image, Florida’s courts make a sort of stand for marijuana.

    Florida has long carried a reputation for being uniquely authoritarian, a place where bold laws collide with bold personalities. It’s home to the infamous #FloridaMan headlines, often chronicling wild and unpredictable stunts, and also the mecca of spring break chaos, where rowdy college crowds flock each year. Against this backdrop of quirky notoriety and strict law enforcement, Florida’courts make a sort of stand for marijuana. And it marks a striking departure from its “tough on crime” image.

    RELATED: Cannabis Can Help PTSD

    In a landmark ruling on October 1, 2025, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal declared the mere odor of marijuana no longer constitutes probable cause for police to search a vehicle. This decision marks a significant shift in Florida’s approach to cannabis law enforcement, reflecting evolving legal standards and public attitudes toward marijuana.

    For decades, Florida law enforcement relied on the “plain smell” doctrine, which permitted officers to search a vehicle if they detected the odor of marijuana. This practice was grounded in the assumption the smell of marijuana was indicative of illegal activity. However, with the legalization of medical marijuana and hemp, the legal landscape has changed, rendering the smell of cannabis insufficient to establish probable cause.

    The case of Darrielle Ortiz Williams highlighted the limitations of the plain smell doctrine. Officers detected the odor of cannabis during a traffic stop and proceeded to search the vehicle, finding both marijuana and a small bag of white powder. Williams contended the search was unlawful, as the odor alone did not provide probable cause. The appellate court agreed, emphasizing the legalization of medical marijuana and hemp had altered the legal context, making the odor of cannabis unreliable as sole evidence of illegal activity.

    This ruling necessitates a paradigm shift for Florida law enforcement agencies. Officers can no longer rely solely on the smell of marijuana to justify a search. Instead, they must consider the totality of circumstances, including other indicators of illegal activity, to establish probable cause. This change aims to protect citizens’ rights while ensuring searches are based on concrete evidence rather than assumptions.

    Florida’s journey toward cannabis reform has been marked by significant milestones. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2016, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to access cannabis for therapeutic use. However, efforts to legalize recreational marijuana have faced challenges. In November 2024, a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis garnered 55.9% of the vote but fell short of the 60% threshold required for passage.

    Governor Ron DeSantis played a pivotal role in opposing the amendment, arguing legalization would lead to increased crime and negatively impact communities. Despite public support for legalization, the governor’s campaign efforts were instrumental in the amendment’s defeat.

    RELATED: Is Cannabis Now The #1 Sleep Aid

    Despite setbacks in the legislative arena, public support for cannabis reform remains robust. Polls indicate a majority of Floridians favor the legalization of recreational marijuana. Legal challenges, such as the recent appellate court ruling, reflect a growing recognition of the need to adapt laws to contemporary realities. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, it is likely future reforms will align more closely with public opinion, paving the way for comprehensive cannabis legislation in Florida.

    In conclusion, the repeal of the plain smell doctrine represents a significant step forward in Florida’s cannabis law reform. While challenges remain, the state’s legal system is increasingly aligning with public sentiment, indicating a potential shift toward broader cannabis legalization in the future.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link

  • Beloved Partner Of Marijuana Faces Recall

    [ad_1]

    Cinnamon’s recall hits cannabis fans hard — the beloved spice enhances marijuana mornings, nights, and everything between

    Cinnamon toast is one of life’s simple pleasures — warm, sweet, and nostalgic. As a good the combination of warm toast, sugar, butter and cinnamon brought smiles on a school morning. But for many cannabis enthusiasts, it has become more than a breakfast comfort; it’s a favorite flavor pairing enhancing both body and mind. So when news hit several this beloved partner of marijuana faces recall, fans of this perfect cannabis companion let out a collective groan: ARGH!

    RELATED: Cannabis Can Help PTSD

    The spice rack staple, prized for its sweet heat and cozy aroma, has long been used alongside marijuana for both culinary and wellness reasons. Whether sprinkled into a morning edible or infused in a nighttime tea, cinnamon doesn’t just taste good — it enhances how people experience cannabis.

    Cinnamon Toast

    Here’s why: cinnamon’s natural compounds, particularly cinnamaldehyde, are known to support metabolism and blood sugar balance, while its scent helps trigger a calm, focused state. When paired with cannabis strains contain mood-lifting terpenes like limonene or pinene, the result can be an energizing and joyful start to the day. Cinnamon-infused cannabis coffees or low-dose edibles are especially popular among millennials looking for a more natural “wake and bake” which doesn’t leave them groggy.

    At night, the combo flips. A cinnamon-chamomile tea blended with a relaxing cannabis strain rich in myrcene or linalool can help calm racing thoughts, ease muscle tension, and support better sleep. It’s a cozy ritual feeling more like self-care than indulgence — a perfect wind-down for the overstimulated generation.

    RELATED: Is Cannabis Now The #1 Sleep Aid

    But with the current recall affecting certain batches of ground cinnamon, many cannabis-friendly kitchens are pressing pause. The recall, linked to potential contamination concerns, is a reminder not all natural products are created equal. Experts recommend checking product labels and buying organic or certified-safe cinnamon when using it in cannabis recipes, tinctures, or infusions.

    While cinnamon might be off the menu temporarily, fans aren’t giving up on this spicy soulmate. After all, few things beat the comfort of a cinnamon-dusted edible or the aroma of cannabis and cinnamon wafting together through a kitchen on a lazy Sunday morning.

    [ad_2]

    Amy Hansen

    Source link

  • Georgia man charged with murder in the death of his 6-month old son after kidnap claim

    [ad_1]

    JONESBORO, Ga. — JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) — A suburban Atlanta man has been charged with murder in the death of his six-month-old son after initially telling police the baby was kidnapped during an armed robbery.

    Antonio Pearce told police on Sunday that his son, Nnakai Pratt, was snatched by robbers. Clayton County Police said Pearce told them two armed men dressed in black stole $6,500 in cash and 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) of marijuana from an apartment he was using as a stash house in Riverdale, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of Atlanta. He told them the men then snatched his son, who was in a car seat, and fled.

    Searchers found Nnakai’s body in nearby woods on Tuesday evening after two days of looking. Police had already arrested Pearce on Sunday, charging him with marijuana possession and traffic offenses. They later added a false statement charge because he kept changing his story.

    Pearce was charged Wednesday with Nnakai’s murder, court records show. He was also charged with concealing a death, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to a child and falsely reporting a crime.

    No lawyer is listed for Pearce in court records.

    A judge denied him bail during a bond hearing Wednesday on the false statements charge.

    “You did provide contradictory statements in an investigation of a missing child, and when witness accounts verified your contradictory statements, you admitted to concealing and falsifying material facts,” Clayton County Magistrate Judge Keisha Hill Wright told Pearce on Wednesday.

    The infant was a twin and his surviving brother is in the care of their mother, who has not been charged.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Cannabis drinks are having a moment even as Americans consume less alcohol

    [ad_1]

    Americans are still cracking open cold ones, but what’s inside their cans is changing.

    More people are now reaching for cannabis beverages, nonalcoholic drinks infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main ingredient in marijuana that makes you feel high. Some varieties also include cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical compound found in marijuana or hemp that proponents say helps relieve pain, anxiety and other health symptoms. The drinks come in different forms including seltzers, juices, sodas and teas. 

    Consumer demand for cannabis beverages is growing as Americans drink less booze. According to a July Gallup survey, the percentage of U.S. adults who say they consume alcohol fell to 54%, the lowest level since 1939, when the polling organization first started tracking people’s drinking behavior. More Americans also believe even moderate alcohol consumption is unhealthy, the poll found. 

    Hundreds of brands small and large now hawk cannabis beverages, many promising to help take the edge off in social settings. 

    “There’s a replacement factor going on between THC beverages and wine and beer and distilled spirits,” said Beau Whitney, chief economist at Whitney Economics, an Oregon-based consultancy focused on the cannabis and hemp industry. 

    THC beverage sales in the U.S. are expected to grow from $1.1 billion last year to nearly $5.6 billion by 2035, according to Whitney Economics.

    “The remarkable growth and innovation we’re seeing in the hemp-derived beverage space is a clear sign of consumer enthusiasm and entrepreneurial success,” Michelle Rutter Friberg, director of government relations at the National Cannabis Industry Association, told CBS News in an email.

    Potential health impacts, side effects 

    Several THC beverage brands market themselves as nonalcoholic alternatives and say their drinks contain zero calories and zero sugar. Doctors, however, warn that cannabis beverages can come with side effects.

    Whether smoked or ingested as an edible or drink, cannabis can affect the brain, heart, lungs and mental health, CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder said, adding that the drug can trigger anxiety, paranoia, elevated heart rate and, in rare cases, psychosis.

    Potential short-term effects of cannabis include issues with memory, focus and coordination, said Gounder. 

    “People may have trouble remembering new information, paying attention or moving smoothly,” she said. “This can slow reaction time, cause slurred speech, and raise the risk of car crashes by 30%-40%. The effects depend on how much cannabis is used, how it’s taken and how used to it someone is.”

    Heavy or long-term intake of the drug, especially in teens, can lead to lasting issues with memory, attention and decision-making, said Gounder. Long-term use, she added, can also lead to cannabis-use disorder, which is a clinical term for addiction, defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as when users are unable to stop using cannabis even though it’s causing them health and social problems.

    Some heavy users may also develop severe nausea and vomiting, Gounder said. Those most at risk are pregnant individuals, teens, and people with mental or heart conditions, she added.

    The potential effects of a cannabis-infused drink can be felt in as little as 15 to 20 minutes, compared with 30 to 90 minutes for an edible, according to Dr. Staci Gruber, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, in a recent article on the school’s website. 

    “If you are interested in trying it and it is legal for you to do so, be mindful about controlling the experience until you know how a particular product affects you,” Gruber said.

    Target eyes THC segment

    The U.S. has a patchwork of regulations governing the sale of cannabis products, with states offering varying degrees of restrictions, including minimum-age requirements. THC beverages can be legally sold in 44 states in total,  37 of which allow sales outside of the marijuana dispensary systems according to Whitney. In those areas, the beverages can commonly be found at restaurants, bars, grocery stores and liquor stores.

    Cannabis beverages have even caught the attention of major retailers like Target. The Minneapolis-based chain confirmed to CBS News that it is testing the sale of THC beverages at certain Target liquor stores in Minnesota. While other retailers, such as Total Wine & More, already sell cannabis beverages, Target is the first big-box player to explore the THC beverage market.  

    “At Target, we’re always exploring new ways to meet our guests’ evolving preferences and needs,” a spokesperson said.

    Whitney Economics estimates there are 500 to 750 brands marketing cannabis drinks. Of those, roughly 30 are sizable labels with national distribution, while the rest are regional and local brands, according to Diana Eberlein, chair of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives Retailers, a group that represents stakeholders in the hemp and alcohol industries.

    Better-known names in the space include Cycling Frog, which makes THC seltzers and edibles; Cann, which markets itself as a “social beverage”; and Nowadays, which employs the motto “the future of drinking is here.”

    Mainstream alcohol brands are also testing the waters. Beer makers Lagunitas Brewing Company and Pabst Blue Ribbon have come up with their own THC-infused beverages.

    Whitney and Eberlein said the cannabis drink sector is growing most rapidly among women in their 30s and early 40s who are looking for more accessible, and less caloric, alternatives to alcoholic beverages.

    “They still want to have a beverage, but they don’t want the high amount of calories. They don’t want the alcohol, they don’t want the sugar, and they don’t want to have a hangover the next morning,” Whitney said. “They’re replacing their evening glass of wine with THC beverages.”

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Officials Cling To Personal Moral Codes Despite Public Opinion

    [ad_1]

    Legal cannabis is booming for fun, medicine, and anxiety relief—yet some elected officials let their moral code override public opinion

    Despite a national surge in support for cannabis legalization, a minority of elected officials cling to personal moral codes despite public opinion. This disconnect between public opinion and political action raises questions about representation and the role of personal beliefs in shaping public policy.

    Recent polls indicate overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 93% of Americans aged 50-64 and 91% of Americans aged 65 and older support medical cannabis, with support reaching 99% among those aged 18-34. Similarly, a University of North Florida poll revealed that 66% of voters supported Florida’s Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize recreational marijuana.

    RELATED: Gen Z Is More Similar To Boomers In A Surprising Way

    Despite this overwhelming public support, some lawmakers persist in blocking reform efforts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for instance, acknowledged that “more people probably agreed” with a marijuana legalization ballot initiative he helped defeat last year. However, he argued that it was the “morally right” choice to prevent the sale of what he termed “dangerous stuff” in the state. Other elected officials, including a handful of state legislators in Oklahoma and Alabama, have cited similar moral objections to block legalization measures, framing their opposition in terms of protecting community values and public health.

    Photo by Xvision/Getty Image

    DeSantis’s stance underscores a broader issue: the influence of personal morality on public policy. While elected officials are entrusted to represent their constituents, some prioritize their own ethical beliefs over the will of the people. This approach can lead to policies that do not align with public opinion, potentially eroding trust in democratic institutions.

    The refusal to legalize cannabis also has economic and social repercussions. Legalization could generate significant revenue through taxation, create jobs, and reduce law enforcement costs associated with cannabis-related offenses. Moreover, regulated cannabis markets have been linked to reductions in alcohol consumption, offering a safer alternative for some adults. Medical research also highlights cannabis’s therapeutic benefits, from pain management to treating certain neurological conditions. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are increasingly embracing cannabis to help manage anxiety and stress, signaling a shift in both social norms and wellness trends.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    The persistent opposition to cannabis reform by a minority of lawmakers highlights the need for a more representative approach to governance. Elected officials should consider the overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization and weigh it against their personal beliefs. While moral considerations are important, they should not override the collective will of the people.

    As public opinion continues to favor cannabis reform, it is imperative that lawmakers reflect the values and desires of their constituents, ensuring that policies are both representative and progressive. If lawmakers continue to allow personal morality to outweigh public support, they risk further eroding trust in the democratic process while denying citizens the economic, social, and medical benefits that responsible cannabis legalization could bring.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link

  • Target Follows Customers Trends But Will The Government Follow

    [ad_1]

    Is the retailer recognizing the future while taking a gamble on the government

    Target follows customers trends but will the government follow? The company has quietly moved into the intoxicating-beverage market, testing THC-infused, hemp-derived drinks at a small number of Minnesota stores — a pilot, if expanded, would mark one of the first times a major U.S. big-box chain has put psychoactive cannabis beverages on its shelves.

    The move fits a familiar Target playbook: for decades the Minneapolis retailer has leaned into cultural trends appeal to younger shoppers – from designer collaborations to small-format urban stores and digitally savvy merchandising. A move and instinct which helped it punch above its weight in fashion and lifestyle categories. Those strategic bets — promoted over years in corporate announcements and trade coverage — helped turn Target into a go-to brand for millennials and Gen Z consumers.

    RELATED: The VFW Stands Up For Marijuana

    But the rollout also comes at a fragile moment for Target. Industry coverage and analysts have argued the chain’s momentum with younger, more affluent shoppers has slipped in recent years as competition from discounters and changing shopper habits accelerated. Critics say testing hemp-derived THC beverages may be an attempt to reclaim cultural relevance and traffic, even as the brand recalibrates its core value proposition.

    Target’s pilot highlights how mainstream commerce is normalizing cannabis-adjacent products while policymaking remains fractured. On the one hand, retailers are responding to consumer demand for low-alcohol, experiential and wellness alternatives — categories  which appeal to younger buyers and dovetail with Target’s historic strengths. On the other, some political currents push a very different agenda.

    While Target’s move reflects where the market and the culture are heading, the federal government remains stuck in neutral. Despite overwhelming public support for legalization and the endorsement of more access from major medical organizations — including the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association — there is still no clear national pathway for cannabis regulation or commerce.

    RELATED: TikTok Is Changing the Cannabis Industry

    This regulatory limbo has left states to craft their own patchwork laws while companies like Target cautiously experiment in compliant markets. The disconnect is stark: public opinion has moved on, the private sector is innovating, and yet Washington continues to debate how (or if) cannabis should be treated like alcohol.

    Target’s test isn’t just about drinks — it’s about the mainstreaming of cannabis culture in everyday retail. As consumers sip low-dose THC seltzers instead of cocktails, big retailers are quietly normalizing what federal law still treats as a gray zone. The question now isn’t whether cannabis will become part of mainstream commerce — it’s how long the government can afford to ignore the will of hte public.

    [ad_2]

    Sarah Johns

    Source link

  • Over 200 pounds of cannabis found in traffic stop on I-80 in Berkeley, CHP says

    [ad_1]

    More than 200 pounds of cannabis was seized and a driver was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Berkeley during the Monday evening commute, authorities said.

    Around 5:30 p.m., officers from the Oakland Area office pulled over a Chrysler SUV traveling westbound near Gilman Avenue after the driver was allegedly on their cellphone.

    During the traffic stop, officers said they detected a “strong odor of cannabis” coming from the vehicle. In addition, multiple large trash bags were seen in the rear cargo area of the SUV.

    Officers conducted a probable cause search. According to the CHP, 218 pounds of cannabis was seized and booked into evidence.

    More than 200 pounds of cannabis that CHP officers said they seized during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Berkeley on Oct. 6, 2025.

    CHP Oakland Area Office


    “While personal cannabis use and possession are legal in California, strict regulations apply to its commercial cultivation, transportation, and distribution,” the agency said in a statement. “Individuals engaged in these activities must possess proper licensing and documentation in compliance with the law.”

    The driver was arrested on suspicion of unlawful transportation of cannabis for sale without a license, the CHP said.

    Authorities did not release the driver’s name.

    [ad_2]

    Tim Fang

    Source link

  • Study Reveals Stance By Physicians And Public About Cannabis

    [ad_1]

    New research has been done on support for marijuana legalization – and it is surprising

    The numbers are in, and they tell a story America’s been building toward for decades. A new study reveals stance by physicians and the public about cannabis. The MRI-Simmons 2025 National Cannabis Study reveals use, interest, and acceptance are now part of everyday American life. What began as a counterculture experiment has matured into a mainstream market—and a movement reshaping everything from medicine to espresso martinis.

    RELATED: 5 Ways Microdosing Cannabis Can Boost Work Performance

    Once seen as taboo, cannabis is now embraced by a broad cross-section of the country. Millennials and Gen Z lead the charge, but even boomers are catching up. The study shows a steep climb in the number of Americans who say they’ve tried or regularly use cannabis products, with sharp rises in interest in CBD, microdosing, and low-dose edibles designed for relaxation and wellness.

    The shift in attitude coincides with a historic change in federal policy. After more than fifty years as a Schedule I drug—a category reserved for substances with “no accepted medical use”—cannabis is finally on track for rescheduling. Federal agencies under the Biden administration have proposed moving it to Schedule III, recognizing its legitimate medical potential and easing research and tax barriers.  The industry is waiting for the federal government to make a move as the have suggested.

    The decision is backed by a growing chorus in the medical community. The American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and American Public Health Association all support more research access and medically guided legalization. For the first time, major medical institutions are signaling prohibition is outdated, unscientific, and harmful to patients.

    Polls now show nearly nine out of ten Americans support legal cannabis in some form. Even in conservative regions, medical use enjoys overwhelming approval. MRI-Simmons data finds public curiosity has evolved into cultural adoption—especially among wellness-oriented consumers who see cannabis as part of a balanced lifestyle rather than a rebellious act.

    The change is having ripple effects across industries, especially in alcohol. Beer sales have flattened as younger drinkers swap bar nights for low-dose cannabis drinks or CBD-infused mocktails. Wine and spirits are pivoting fast—introducing zero-proof lines and “cannabis-inspired” beverages to stay relevant. The alcohol industry, once a distant observer, is now studying the cannabis consumer closely.

    RELATED: Boomer And Gen Z Consume Marijuana For Similar Reasons

    As cannabis moves from stigmatized to standardized, the conversation has matured. It’s less about getting high and more about how people choose to relax, recover, and reconnect.

    The MRI-Simmons 2025 study doesn’t just track consumer data—it captures a cultural turning point. Cannabis is now part of the American mainstream, supported by science, normalized by policy, and embraced by the public.

    The only question left is how fast the rest of the system will catch up.

    [ad_2]

    Amy Hansen

    Source link

  • How Marijuana Can Make a Special Pumpkin Spice

    [ad_1]

    It is the taste of autumn….but maybe it can be even better with cannabis?

    Pumpkin spice season is here — that cinnamon-swirled, nutmeg-scented stretch of the year when every café, candle, and cookie seems dipped in orange nostalgia. From Starbucks to the grocery aisle, it is everyone. But while the once-beloved latte may have lost some of its original sparkle, a new ingredient is giving the fall favorite a modern refresh.  Here is how marijuana can make a special pumpkin spice.

    RELATED: The History Of The Cocktail Party

    As cannabis legalization continues to expand, creative home mixologists and craft brands are adding THC- or CBD-infused oils into their autumn drinks and desserts, giving pumpkin spice a calming, mood-boosting makeover. For millennials, who grew up with both Starbucks and social change, it’s the perfect marriage of comfort and consciousness — a familiar flavor with a fresh, functional edge.

    When pumpkin spice first appeared in the early 2000s, it was a cozy novelty that symbolized sweater weather and self-care. Two decades later, the craze has cooled. Over-saturation — from pumpkin-flavored dog treats to room sprays — has dulled the magic. According to recent consumer surveys, younger buyers say pumpkin spice feels “overdone,” while nearly half of Gen Z and millennials prefer “new flavor experiences” inspired by wellness and botanicals.

    Enter cannabis. With its herbal notes, stress-reducing benefits, and growing mainstream acceptance, marijuana oil offers a sophisticated upgrade to the tired latte routine. Brands like Kiva, CANN, and Good Day Farm are experimenting with infused fall chocolates, gummies, and seasonal beverages promising calm rather than caffeine jitters.

    RELATED: Why Mangoes And Marijuana Are A Match Made In Heaven

    Want to give your cup a little lift? Try this simple cannabis twist on the classic PSL.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup oat or almond milk
    • 2 tbsp pumpkin purée
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar
    • ¼ tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove
    • 1 shot espresso (or strong coffee)
    • 1–2 drops of cannabis oil (start small and adjust for tolerance)

    Create

    1. Heat the milk, pumpkin, and spices in a saucepan over medium heat until warm
    2. Stir in espresso and sweetener
    3. Remove from heat and whisk in cannabis oil
    4. Pour into a mug, top with frothed milk or whipped cream, and sprinkle a little cinnamon

    The result? A soothing, aromatic drink that captures the cozy essence of fall — with a mellow, modern buzz. Forget the sugar rush and seasonal hype: this year, let your pumpkin spice chill you out instead of just waking you up.

    [ad_2]

    Anthony Washington

    Source link

  • The Exotic, International History of Hash

    [ad_1]

    Seen as vintage cool with an international air of mystery – hash has been making smiles for centuries

    Cannabis is becoming mainstream with over 88% of the public believing it should be legal in some fun.  Used for medicine, anxiety or in weight loss, it becoming the norm.  But it still has a hint of forbidden allure – and here is hte exotic, international history of hash. From smoky Middle Eastern dens to European cafés and California lounges, this concentrated form of cannabis resin has been whispered about, smuggled, and celebrated for centuries. Its story is part adventure tale, part counterculture chronicle — and fully global.

    RELATED: New Data About Cancer And Cannabis

    The earliest traces of hashish stretch back more than a thousand years to Persia, India, and the Arab world. Traders along the Silk Road carried it from mountain villages to major cities, spreading not just a product but a ritual. In medieval Islamic culture, where alcohol was forbidden, hashish became the alternative indulgence — a smoky, mystical way to reach euphoria. Stories of 11th-century assassins supposedly fueled by hashish gave rise to the word “hashashin,” the rumored origin of “assassin.”

    By the 18th and 19th centuries, hashish was captivating Europe’s artists and intellectuals. In Paris, literary figures like Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and Charles Baudelaire gathered at the Club des Hashischins — the “Hashish Eaters Club” — where they experimented with exotic pastes imported from Egypt and Morocco. These elite salons turned hash into a cultural symbol of rebellion, creativity, and mystery.

    The 20th century transformed hash from a colonial curiosity into a countercultural icon. Soldiers and travelers returning from North Africa and the Middle East after World War II brought stories — and sometimes samples — of the potent resin. By the 1960s and ’70s, Western youth chasing spiritual freedom along the “Hippie Trail” discovered Afghan and Nepalese hashish, pressed by hand into fragrant golden slabs.

    Its cinematic debut followed soon after. Films like Midnight Express (1978), Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978), and later Traffic (2000) and Pineapple Express (2008) captured its allure, danger, and enduring cool. Whether as contraband or cultural commentary, hash became the stuff of film legend — equal parts outlaw and mystic.

    RELATED: Forget Ozempic Cannabis Can Help You Get a Summer Body

    Today, hash is making a refined comeback. Legal markets from California to Amsterdam are celebrating it once again — now reimagined as a boutique, artisanal product. Cold-water hash, rosin, and traditional pressed styles offer connoisseurs an international passport of flavor and craft.

    From ancient rituals to modern lounges, hash remains one of cannabis’s most exotic ambassadors — proof that adventure, art, and indulgence can all share the same spark.

    [ad_2]

    Anthony Washington

    Source link

  • Cannabis trade group sues Michigan over new 24% wholesale tax – Detroit Metro Times

    [ad_1]

    The state’s largest cannabis trade group has filed a lawsuit against Michigan, arguing that a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana is unconstitutional and will devastate a legal market already struggling from plummeting prices and numerous closures.

    The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MCIA) filed the complaint Tuesday in the Michigan Court of Claims, just hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the tax into law as part of the new state budget. The Senate approved the measure 19-17 last week after it passed the House 78-21.

    The lawsuit argues lawmakers lacked the three-quarters supermajority required to change voter-approved cannabis laws under the Michigan Constitution. When voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, they approved a 10% excise tax and 6% sales tax on retail cannabis sales. Any new or higher tax, the MCIA contends, amounts to an amendment of that ballot measure and therefore needs a supermajority vote.

    The lawsuit argues that lawmakers violated the constitutional protections that voters included in the 2018 ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana. The complaint adds that the new wholesale tax amounts to an additional excise tax under a different name. 

    “Legislative authority over marihuana excise taxes is exclusive to MRTMA; no other statute may intrude upon or duplicate the marihuana excise tax,” the lawsuit states. “Thus, additional excise taxes require a direct amendment to MRTMA itself.”

    Under the new law, the 24% tax will be levied on all marijuana sold or transferred to retailers beginning Jan. 1. The Whitmer administration projects it will raise roughly $420 million a year to fund road repairs.

    Cannabis businesses say the tax will drive up prices, fuel the illicit market, and force more licensed operators out of business.

    “This is going to be a nail in the coffin, especially for mom and pops,” said Tom Farrell, owner of the Refinery dispensaries in New Buffalo and Kalamazoo and Growing Pains, a cultivator. “The industry is in turmoil right now.”

    At Farrell’s Kalamazoo location, sales have dropped 70% in the past 18 months. 

    “It has been horrendous,” he said. “We had to lay off employees.”

    The MCIA’s lawsuit also accuses lawmakers of misleading the public by inserting the tax into a road-funding bill at the last minute. In addition the complaint alleges the measure unconstitutionally interferes with existing contracts between cannabis suppliers and retailers by taxing discounts and rebates that are already part of negotiated agreements.

    State leaders, including Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall, maintain that the tax is legal because it does not alter the existing excise tax structure approved by voters.

    Cannabis business owners and advocates strongly disagree. They argue the new tax undermines the intent of the 2018 legalization measure, which was designed to keep taxes low enough to compete with the unregulated market.

    “It’s a slap in the face to the cannabis industry and voters,” said Nick Hannawa, partner and chief legal counsel of Puff Cannabis, which operates 11 dispensaries. “It’s totally unfair to a struggling industry. We are already taxed more harshly than any other industry in the country.”

    Michigan’s cannabis market has already been reeling from oversupply, falling prices, and shrinking profit margins. In August, the average retail price of recreational flower dropped to a record low of $61.79 an ounce, which is down from $512 when legal sales began in 2020.

    Industry leaders warn that adding a 24% wholesale tax will push Michigan’s legal cannabis prices close to those in California, where high taxes eroded parts of the legal market and drove consumers back underground.

    In the same week the Michigan House approved the wholesale tax, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to roll back a 25% tax increase on recreational cannabis. He approved the measure because the state’s high tax rates have forced thousands of legal businesses to shut down and drove residents to the unregulated market.

    The MCIA is seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the tax while the case moves forward.


    [ad_2]

    Steve Neavling

    Source link

  • Tennessee alcohol wholesalers are grabbing control of the state’s hemp market

    [ad_1]

    Few things are more difficult to eradicate in our system of modern governance than a government-sanctioned monopoly or oligopoly. A recently passed bill in Tennessee, which will allow the state’s alcohol wholesalers to take over hemp distribution in the state, shows that these monopolies are not only difficult to eliminate but also often attempt to expand their reach.    

    The new law sets up a distribution system for hemp—which was legalized at the federal level in the 2018 Farm Bill—that mirrors the notorious three-tier system for alcohol distribution, which requires producers, wholesalers, and retailers to be legally separate entities. The three-tier system restricts producers and suppliers from selling directly to their customers and mandates that they work through a wholesaler to reach the market. This allows wholesalers to operate as functional monopolies or oligopolies in certain parts of states where only one or two wholesalers operate.

    The law, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, also requires all wholesalers and retailers of hemp products to maintain a physical presence within the state. Out-of-state hemp suppliers will be prohibited from engaging in direct-to-consumer shipping to customers in Tennessee, and instead will be forced to work through the state’s wholesaler and retailer tiers. While in-state Tennessee hemp suppliers cannot ship their products to Tennesseans either, they are able to sell on-site directly to their customers, providing a workaround to avoid the three-tier system.

    Cornbread Hemp, a Kentucky hemp supplier that recorded $1 million in Tennessee-based sales last year, is challenging the new law in federal court. Cornbread Hemp argues that Tennessee’s law unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state competitors in favor of in-state businesses, which is a violation of the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause.

    Supreme Court observers will recognize how closely the case mirrors Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas (2019). In the case, the majority struck down Tennessee’s requirement that applicants for alcohol wholesaling or retailing licenses must have resided in the state for over two years, finding it to be unconstitutional discrimination against out-of-state economic interests.

    Tennessee’s constitutional rationale for residency requirements in the hemp context is even weaker than with alcohol. The main constitutional defense in support of residency requirements for alcohol is that the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition, devolved alcohol regulation back down to the state and local level. States, therefore, argue that the Constitution’s recognition of state power in the alcohol arena should inoculate residency clauses from Dormant Commerce Clause challenges. While some lower courts have continued to buy this argument, the Supreme Court has refused to go along in recent decades.

    As liquor attorney Sean O’Leary notes, the 21st Amendment allows a discriminatory state law in the alcohol context to face a lower level of constitutional scrutiny than a non-alcohol law. The argument essentially boils down to: Alcohol is uniquely treated under the U.S. Constitution. Hemp has no corollary to the 21st Amendment, meaning a discriminatory hemp law will face a higher level of constitutional scrutiny.

    Now alcohol wholesalers—already a government-sanctioned oligopoly or monopoly in many locales—are trying to expand their control beyond alcohol. The new law makes this power grab particularly blatant, since it moves hemp from under the purview of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

    In fact, this change was made “at the behest of the wholesaler lobby,” O’Leary notes. “The wholesaler’s goal is to mandate a three-tier system where they get a piece of the action.” He predicts that, given the power of the alcohol wholesaler lobby in state capitals across America, more state legislatures will be following Tennessee’s lead.

    [ad_2]

    C. Jarrett Dieterle

    Source link

  • Navajo man pleads guilty for illegal marijuana grow operations

    [ad_1]

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Navajo man has pleaded guilty to 15 charges stemming from allegations that he ran illegal marijuana growing operations in New Mexico and on the Navajo Nation, smuggled pesticides into the U.S. and employed workers who were in the country illegally.

    Federal prosecutors announced the plea agreement Tuesday, saying Dineh Benally admitted to leading what they described as a vast cultivation and distribution ring that spanned several years, exploited workers and polluted the San Juan River on tribal lands.

    An indictment naming Benally, his father and a business partner was unsealed earlier this year after authorities raided farms in a rural area east of Albuquerque. The document said the enterprise involved the construction of more than 1,100 cannabis greenhouses, the solicitation of Chinese investors to bankroll the effort and the recruitment of Chinese workers to cultivate the crops.

    Benally, 48, first made headlines when his operations in northwestern New Mexico were raided by federal authorities in 2020. The Navajo Department of Justice sued him, leading to a court order halting those operations.

    A group of Chinese workers also sued Benally and his associates. The workers claimed they were lured to New Mexico and forced to work long hours trimming marijuana on the Navajo Nation, where growing the plant is illegal.

    Federal authorities said about 260,000 marijuana plants and 60,000 pounds of processed marijuana were confiscated from the operation in northern New Mexico while the subsequent raid at farms near Estancia uncovered about 8,500 pounds (3,855 kilograms) of marijuana, $35,000 in cash, illegal pesticides, methamphetamine, firearms and a bulletproof vest.

    Federal prosecutors said Benally faces a mandatory 15 years and up to life in prison when he’s sentenced.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Recreational cannabis now sold at non-tribal dispensaries in Twin Cities

    [ad_1]

    After years of waiting, Twin Cities residents can now buy recreational cannabis in the metro area. 

    RISE Dispensaries opened seven stores Wednesday, including in Brooklyn Park, New Hope and Eagan. Recreational cannabis was legalized more than two years ago in Minnesota, but before Wednesday, RISE only sold medical marijuana.

    The Office of Cannabis Management in Minneapolis on Monday issued licenses to RISE and another medical cannabis provider, Green Goods.

    “What a relief. You know, long time coming. It’s been a couple of years since the law changed and we’re ready for day one,” said Ben Kovler, CEO of Green Thumb Industries, which operates RISE. “Very exciting, team’s prepared and really good vibe inside.”

    Ribbon cuttings marked the occasion at RISE Dispensaries in cities like Brooklyn Park and Eagan.

    “I think we’ve seen 100 people here in the first hour,” said Kovler.

    Gary Clum came to the Eagan location from Minneapolis.

    “I’m a little disappointed that it took so long. I don’t know why it would have, but I’m glad that it’s starting to happen now,” said Clum.

    Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries operates more than 100 RISE Dispensaries across the country. All their product at their Minnesota locations is grown in state. In fact, they’ve been growing medical cannabis in Cottage Grove since 2021, Kovler said.

    “We have enough to meet demand at all the stores and that’s great, but we think over time, the state and all the microbusinesses are going to want more product,” said Kovler.

    On Tuesday, the first recreational marijuana dispensary not owned by a tribe opened for business in downtown Duluth.

    Jason Rantala

    Jason Rantala joined WCCO as a reporter in June 2023. He’s a Minnesota native and is thrilled to be telling the stories of those in his hometown.

    [ad_2]

    Jason Rantala

    Source link

  • Zalympix crowns Michigan’s best cannabis flower, rosin

    [ad_1]

    Hytek’s Lantz and Rkive’s Banana Peelz took top honors at Michigan’s Zalympix, a high-profile competition often dubbed the “Grammys of Cannabis.”

    The winners of the fourth-annual event were announced Saturday night at the Crofoot in Pontiac. 

    People who bought a Zalympix box judged most categories. Organizers offered 200 flower and 200 rosin boxes for $260 each, and buyers received an exclusive invite to the awards party. 

    Hytek’s Lantz, a hybrid cross of Ridgeline Runtz and Green Lantern, won best overall flower and best tasting. The strain is layered with very different and bright flavors, including candy, tang, pine, and floral.

    Rkive’s Banana Peelz, a hybrid combination of Honey Banana and Papaya, dominated the rosin contest, winning best overall, best tasting, and best looking.

    Growing Pains, a popular cultivator, also did well in the flower contest with its Honey Banana strain. Honey Banana won best terps, most unique, and second-best flower overall. 

    In the rosin field, Organic Mechanic’s White Gummy Bears took home three awards – most unique, best terps, and second best overall. Mi Loud, one of the top growers in the state, won cups for gassiest and heaviest hitting strains. 

    Zalympix began in California in 2021, created by the Los Angeles dispensary Greenwolf. The competition has since expanded to Michigan and New York. 

    In Michigan, Exotic Matter, another top cultivator in the state, organizes the event and supplies the kits, which this year featured about two dozen strains for each flower and rosin, a solventless concentrate known for its purity, potency, and flavor. 

    Exotic Matter offers some of the best flower and rosin in the state but doesn’t include its products because it’s organizing the event. 

    Flower winners

    • Best overall: Lantz by Hytek
    • Second best overall: Honey Banana by Growing Pains
    • Third best overall: Rainbow Beltz 3.0 by Great Lakes Kush
    • Best terps: Honey Banana by Growing Pains
    • Best tasting: Lantz by Hytek
    • Best looking: Candy Blues 4 by Mitten Canna
    • Gassiest: 517 Headband by Premier 517
    • Heaviest hitting: Gorilla Glue #4 by Freshy Fine
    • Best Candy: Cosmic Runtz by Tip Top Crop
    • Most unique: Honey Banana by Growing Pains

    Rosin categories:

    • Best overall: Banana Peelz by Rkive
    • Second best overall: White Gummy Bears by Organic Mechanic
    • Third best overall: Plan Z by Peninsula Gardens
    • Best terps: White Gummy Bears by Organic Mechanic
    • Best tasting: Banana Peelz by Rkive
    • Best looking: Banana Peelz by Rkive
    • Gassiest: Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud
    • Heaviest: Kota’s Kush by Mi Loud
    • Best Candy: Plan Z by Peninsula Gardens
    • Most unique: White Gummy Bears by Organic Mechanic 


    [ad_2]

    Steve Neavling

    Source link

  • Meth burn by FBI smokes out Montana animal shelter

    [ad_1]

    BILLINGS, Mont. — A cloud of smoke from two pounds of methamphetamine seized by the FBI and incinerated inside a Montana animal shelter sent its workers to the hospital, city officials in Billings said.

    The smoke started to fill the building during a drug burn on Wednesday, apparently because of negative pressure that sucked it back inside, Billings Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland said Friday. A fan was supposed to be on hand in such situations to reverse the pressure so smoke would flow out of the building, but Iffland said it wasn’t readily available.

    The incinerator is used primarily to burn carcasses of animals euthanized or collected by the city’s animal control division. But every couple of months local law enforcement or FBI agents use it to burn seized narcotics, Iffland said.

    Fourteen workers from the nonprofit Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter evacuated and went to the hospital. The shelter’s 75 dogs and cats were relocated or put into foster homes, said Iffland and shelter director Triniti Halverson.

    The shelter shares space with Billings’ animal control division. When smoke started filling parts of the building, Halverson assumed it was from burning carcasses because she said they had never known about the drug burns.

    Halverson said she had a very intense headache and sore throat, and others had dizziness, sweating and coughing.

    “Not a party,” she said.

    The workers found out it was methamphetamine smoke through a call from a city official while they were the hospital, Halverson said. Most of the staff spent several hours in an oxygen chamber for treatment.

    Symptoms have lingered for some workers, Halverson said.

    They also were closely monitoring four litters of kittens that got more heavily exposed because they were in a closed room with lots of smoke, she said.

    The FBI routinely uses outside facilities to conduct controlled drug evidence burns, agency spokesperson Sandra Barker said. She referred further questions to Billings officials.

    A city animal control supervisor who was present for Wednesday’s burn declined to go the hospital, Iffland said. The FBI agents were told to go to the hospital by their supervisor.

    The incinerator is meant to operate at a certain temperature so it doesn’t emit toxins. Iffland said officials were trying to determine if it was at the appropriate temperature Wednesday.

    The shelter will remain closed until it can be tested for contamination. Shelter workers were tested for potential exposure, and Iffland said he did not know the results.

    Billings resident Jay Ettlemen went to the shelter on Friday to donate dog food and said he was angry when he found out about the drug burns.

    “Why the hell are they destroying drugs inside the city limits?” Ettlemen asked. “There’s so many other places in the middle of nowhere.”

    [ad_2]

    Source link