California

(Aneese/iStock) So-Cal rocks its own personal style, and nowhere is that more apparent than the sunshine-soaked art walks through its biggest cities. Check out the best of San Diego and LA below. Los Angeles Ahhh, the City of Angels. Creative minds flock here to express their innovative talents and show off their hard work to the masses. If you’re a local, you’ll want to arrive early for the laid-back vibes and a chance to hit every gallery before closing time—and don’t skip on a chance to see the Sokamba Performing Arts Company put on live performances throughout the walk. Nibble on a decadent California-based infused chocolate bar like a sweet Satori as you wander on a self-guided tour chock full …

In an effort to prevent California from experiencing the same kind of shortage of recreational marijuana as Nevada, the state’s marijuana czar is working to issue early cultivation licenses to ensure the state’s dispensaries are fully stocked when the fully legal sector finally gets underway sometime next year. The Los Angeles Times reports that Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, told the state legislature earlier this week that it was necessary for the state to issue “temporary, four month licenses” to cannabis farmers in order to prevent “a break in the supply chain.” The majority of production licenses are expected to be granted at the beginning of 2018, but the goal now is to “make sure” …

Water in California is a notoriously hot commodity. As a state that’s spent more time in a drought than out of it during the past five years, legalizing a new, water-intensive agricultural crop—especially when that crop has the historical baggage that cannabis does—is a complicated process. Done carelessly, cannabis grows can have profoundly negative impacts on nature, polluting waterways with pesticides and clearing trees and shrubs that help support a healthy ecosystem. This is especially true of illegal cultivation, which has bled into national forests and other protected land in recent years. On the flipside, when done thoughtfully, cannabis uses a lot less water than California’s other agricultural staples, such as almonds, said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California …

California communities have begun laying the groundwork for the rollout of the recreational cannabis industry as San Francisco and Sonoma County take steps to create cannabis advisory panels within the government. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to create an Office of Cannabis to oversee the permit process in the city, while Sonoma County’s Board of Supervisors appointed 20 people to advise the board on rules to govern the program. The members of the Sonoma County Cannabis Advisory Group come from the cannabis and real estate industries, schools, law enforcement, and rural neighborhoods, according to a Press Democrat report. They will serve two-year terms. County Supervisor Susan Gorin said the board “could have used the advisory group a …

A Minority Female CEO is among the final pool of applicants being considered for one of the coveted marijuana licenses in Los Angeles. If selected, Priscilla Vilchis would receive some of the first-ever cannabis business licenses in Los Angeles. The City of Lynwood received and reviewed more than 40 applications, including 15 cultivation applications, 17 manufacturing applications, at least seven distribution and transportation applications, and two testing applications. Each applicant has submitted all necessary information for background checks but the results aren’t yet available. In efforts to prevent delays in the approval process the city will present the most qualified applicants this week. Premium Produce is one of just 13 applicants being recognized as the most qualified to receive the …

(photo by Colin M Day) Marijuana concentrates can now be vaporized with ultimate style thanks to iconic San Francisco artist Jeremy Fish. The North Beach native’s art is prominently featured on his own line of vaporizers and oil cartridges appropriately titled ‘Fish Tanks,’ reports Green State. The reputable Bay Area company AbsoluteXtracts has teamed up with Fish to create these custom tanks pre-filled with high-quality cannabis oil derived from the “Tangie” strain — a bright, flavorful sativa perfect for daytime activities. The packaging and cartridge itself will feature artwork created exclusively by Fish. “I am a fan, an aficionado of sorts, and I have had my medical cannabis card since the first year they were allowed in California as a …

You might not consider “smoking a joint with friends” being on most Baby Boomers’ to-do list this summer, but you’d be surprised how open minded the 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 are when it comes to cannabis these days. As we enter the smack-dab middle of July, here are the seven offbeat cannabis products that keep the greatest generation glowing all summer long. Who couldn’t use a little stardust? Stardust Instant THC is a fascinating instant tea crafted by Ed Rosenthal; this powder infusion agent offers 15mg of THC per single serve packet. A comfortable potency for marijuana newbies and just enough of a kick for seasoned enthusiasts. Refreshingly elegant Keef Cola’s Lemon Sparkling Water presents a …

NORML | July 18, 2017 Over the first six months of 2017, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has been spreading misinformation and propaganda in a lobbying effort to defeat marijuana legalization legislative efforts in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and other states. As reported by Leafly.com, AAA representatives have recently preyed upon unsubstantiated fears regarding the alleged “increased plague of drugged driving” and the claim that “more babies will be born high” on marijuana in their lobbying efforts against adult use regulatory reforms. The distortions do nothing to advance the public debate surrounding legalization, but they do tarnish the organization’s reputation. Send a message to AAA telling them to put the brakes on lobbying against legalization efforts According to federal data, auto accident …

In what appears to be a first-of-its-kind ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Monday said that employees can’t be fired simply for using medical cannabis. Such terminations, the court said, violate state antidiscrimination rules. “I can’t stress this enough, it’s the first case of its kind in the country.” Dale Deitchler, employment lawyer The opinion came as a shock to many, as every other state to consider the issue has decided that employers may indeed fire workers who test positive for cannabis—even if those employees are abiding by state law. In Colorado, for example, the state Supreme Court in 2015 held that a state law barring employers from firing workers for legal, off-duty behavior didn’t apply because cannabis is …

CLEVELAND (AP) — Long-time natives and carpetbaggers. Construction magnates, toy tycoons, an Olympian and an heir to the Jim Bean whiskey fortune. These are some of investors vying to win approval to grow medical marijuana in Ohio. The state accepted 185 applications in June and now has to decide who gets the 24 cultivator licenses available. Ohio’s medical marijuana law, passed last year, allows people with 21 medical conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and epilepsy, to purchase and use cannabis after getting a doctor’s recommendation. The law doesn’t allow smoking. Ohio has some of the country’s highest licensing fees. Small growers pay $2,000 to apply and $18,000 in licensing fees, while large growers pay $20,000 to apply and $180,000 in licensing. …