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Author Archives: Hollie Ferguson

• The Emerald Exchange: More Than a Cannabis Farmer’s Market

  July 19, 2017 9:09 am Leave a Comment

   

  Have you ever wandered through your local farmer’s market and thought, “Boy, I wish I could buy weed here.” No? Is that just me? Well, if you have, look no further.

   

  The Emerald Exchange is just what every cannabis enthusiast wants and more. Taking place Saturday and Sunday August 12 & 13 in Malibu, the market combines growers, brands, and cannabis lovers (medical and recreational) with art, food, music and a higher state of wellbeing.

   

  Despite being around for less than a year, it’s gaining popularity fast. Just last March the sold-out event brought together some 500 people to relax, network, shop, promote and learn more about Cali marijuana. Will this August’s fourth installment bring in record crowds? Let’s find out what the Emerald Exchange has to offer!

   

  What you'll learn in this post:

  [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

  • Quality Cannabis for Sale
  • More Than a Fancy Place to Buy Weed
  • Different Activities
  • Cost
  • Should You Attend the Emerald Exchange?

   

  Quality Cannabis for Sale

   

  

   

  Gone are the days of getting a sketchy bag filled with what could possibly be oregano in a dimly lit parking lot. At the Emerald Exchange more sophisticated cannabis connoisseurs like yourself can not only buy sun-grown NorCal weed at a reasonable price, but also meet the source, learn how it’s cultivated, and more.

   

  “The way that people are able to approach the craft of growing their product up there is really special,” said co-founder Micheal Katz.

   

  Interested in more than flower? Check out some of the SoCal brands attending: AbsoluteXtracts, Care by Design, Evox Labs, Foria, Green Goat Family Farms, Jetty Extracts, Redwood Roots, and over 30 others.

   

  More Than a Fancy Place to Buy Weed

   

  

   

  This market isn’t just for buying weed from old hippies. There are non-cannabis products as well if you want to bring a friend or coworker who isn’t into cannabis but loves good food, people, paintings, handmade jewelry and local music.

   

  In addition to edible, drinkable, smokeable and vapable products, you can find an assortment of non-edible cannabis topicals (lotions, tinctures, balms), candles, oils and beauty products.

   

  A major factor that sets this cannabis event apart is the opportunity to network, educate yourself, and have some plain old fun! Get to know the NorCal farmers growing weed and the SoCal companies producing products derived from it.

   

  It’s especially helpful if you’re a fellow grower and/or seller as you can learn how to better your crop, increase your product awareness, gain new customers and meet with potential investors.

   

  You won’t leave this market with a sack of potatoes.

   

  Different Activities

   

  

   

  The event is broken down into eight sections with different things to experience: Farmers Market, Speaker Series, Wellness Village, Food & Beverage, Tribal Village, Dusty Barrel, Emerald Grove, and Featured Activations. 

   

  The speaker series starts at 1pm and continues until around 7pm, ending with a mixer. Some events last as late as midnight on Saturday and about 10pm on Sunday.

   

  Workshops bring together farmers, customers, and companies in an open forum to inform, encourage and entertain. Topics include the state of cannabis legislation, how to keep the green rush moving while bringing the community together, and even “Cannabis and Parenting” if you’d like to learn about raising children in a cannabis friendly household.

   

  Foodwise, there’s two five course pop-up dinners by Chris Sayegh (hosted by HERB), brunches, food trucks, and local kombucha drinks.

   

  The Wellness Village offers a few different exercise options that include canna yoga, meditation, reiki, essential oils and crystals; then chill in the Tribal Village and listen to live music and DJs while sipping wine or tea and get cannasexual advice from Foria; hear local poets and jazz while trying homemade desserts at the Dusty Barrel.

   

  Cost

   

  

   

  Tickets range from $100 to $350, depending on the package and/or day(s) you attend. Choose from a general one-day pass ($100), two-day pass ($175), or passes to Saturday or Sunday’s five course brunch and/or dinner ($150 each).

   

  There are also “Passport Experience” ($250 per day) and “Elevate Experience” ($175 per day) passes that allow you to have a much more intimate and interactive experience, including vendor samples and access to a VIP tent with a charging stations, shaded seating, and refreshments like CBD infused mocktails.

   

  Daily $20 parking passes are available, though the two-day pass is only ten more bucks ($30) and just another incentive to come back.

   

  Should You Attend the Emerald Exchange?

   

  Absolutely! Whether you’re in the cannabis industry or just a fan, the the Emerald Exchange offers a classy and enlightening experience to satisfy your senses. With all the talks, food and activities,  it feels more like a festival allowing you to discover different cannabis aspects that appeal to you,  leaving little to be desired.

   

  Just remember, when you’re there take some time to stop and smoke or vape as you admire Malibu’s picturesque landscape. What more could you ask for from a farmer?

• Should Cannabis Replace Opioids? A New Survey Says Yes

  July 13, 2017 10:30 am Leave a Comment

   

  Despite being legal, opioids have created a nationwide epidemic of addicts and fatal overdoses. Why? These pills are easy to transport, easy to sell, and even easier to obtain with a doctor’s prescription. 

   

  But a new study shows what cannabis experts have been saying all along: marijuana is a safe medical alternative to opioids.

   

  Will this data and more like it be enough to push federal legalization and make cannabis an official opioid substitute? 

   

  What you'll learn in this post:

  [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

  • A Promising Study on Cannabis & Opioids
  • What's the Hold Up?
  • Inching Closer Towards Legalization

   

  A Promising Study on Cannabis & Opioids

   

  

   

  A team of researchers, led by Amanda Reiman and Mark A. Welty of the University of California Berkeley, conducted a survey of about 3,000 patients in pain currently undergoing medical cannabis treatment. Their research found an overwhelming number of them preferred using medical marijuana to opioids and other addictive medications. Reiman notes:

   

  “Patients have been telling us for decades that this practice is producing better outcomes than the use of opioid-based medicationsIt’s past time for the medical profession to get over their reefer madness and start working with the medical cannabis movement and industry to slow down the destruction being caused by the over prescribing and overuse of opioids.”

   

  The study found that 81% of these patients agreed cannabis was far more effective in helping reduce their pain than a cannabis treatment combined with opioids; 97% agreed medical cannabis could help them lower their opioid intake; and 92% said medical cannabis is their preferred treatment method.

   

  According to Reiman, multiple patients have professed their preference for cannabis-based treatments over opioids.

   

  “The treatment of pain has become a politicized business in the United States. The result has been the rapidly rising rate of opioid related overdoses and dependence…Cannabis has been used throughout the world for thousands of years to treat pain and other physical and mental health conditions.”

   

  U.S. opioid use has risen sharply over the past few years, partly due to the increase in opioid-based prescriptions like oxycodone, codeine and morphine.

   

  National databases on fatal overdoses report that from 2002 to 2015 there was a 2.8-fold increase in opioid related deaths. In 2002, there were nearly 12,000 opioid overdoses; in 2015, that number had risen to almost 35,000. Nearly 18,000 of those deaths were due to prescription overdoses.

   

  Reiman is certain these tragedies could be avoided if health care professionals and legislators would simply seriously consider using medical cannabis as an alternative. According to the CDC, in 2015 alone opioids accounted for more American deaths than gun-related homicides.

   

  This study and more like it continually prove medical marijuana is a safe alternative to potentially lethal, legal opioids that should be taken seriously. If accepted, it could alleviate aches and pains, help addicts get clean, and allow people to live healthier and more productive lives, creating a better America. So why isn’t this happening?

   

  What’s the Hold Up?

   

  

   

  As more and more studies come out revealing medical marijuana’s benefits, many patients are wondering, why is legalization taking so long?

   

  Presently eight states (California will be early next year) and the District of Columbia have recreational cannabis while 28 states have legalized medical cannabis. These more progressive states are coming to the conclusion that not only is it the best choice for their residents, but taxing marijuana is the best way to improve their economy.

   

  While some states have pushed against the federal government’s stance on cannabis, recreational or medical, others have yet to exercise that right.

   

  Mason Tvert, Communications Director for pro-cannabis advocacy group the Marijuana Policy Project, expects more states to rebuke the federal laws making legalization difficult.

   

  “State legislatures have reformed marijuana laws in the face of federal government opposition in the past…We would expect them to continue doing so in the future if the administration turns out to be hostile on this issue. As of now, the administration has not indicated whether it intends to respect or interfere with state marijuana laws.”

   

  Even with the increase in legalization among the states, Washington still isn’t budging. Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions and the Trump Administration’s crackdown on marijuana continues to make using the drug a federal offense—but hope isn’t lost as states still fight for their mmj independence.

   

  Is this lack of progress justified, or just an excuse to distract the public from noticing politicians like Sessions are in bed with Big Pharma?

   

  Inching Closer Towards Legalization

   

  

   

  Over the past few years, the federal budget has been amended to prevent the Justice Department’s federal funds from being used to interfere with state laws concerning cannabis. This has allowed representatives to craft cannabis bills that would benefit their home states.

   

  Though the topic of cannabis is usually connected to the left, conservative states may be its saving grace. With many republican lawmakers standing behind medical marijuana and states rights to make their own laws, the road to legalization is getting shorter.

   

  Republican Steven Dickerson of Tennessee recently brought a bill to the floor that would allow 50 mmj grow centers to open in his home state.

   

  This year 12 more states—Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming—wish to join those that have passed laws to decriminalize marijuana.

   

  If marijuana remains a federal offense, it’ll be up to each state to decide whether their residents will reap its medical benefits.

   

  Democratic Senator Irene Aguilar of Colorado insists that her state will continue to resist any federal interference with state cannabis laws. And not unlike her Republican counterpart, she introduced a bill that would include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition under Colorado’s medical marijuana law, helping traumatized, and sometimes suicidal (22 commit suicide per day) veterans find relief where they couldn’t before.

   

  Despite this overwhelmingly positive study, it doesn’t look like Washington will be pushing for cannabis instead of opioids anytime soon.

   

  We’ll have to wait until next year’s midterm elections to find out if mmj really has a chance of replacing opium-based medications as a viable alternative. And considering the current political climate, it seems very hopeful.

• Smoking Cannabis While Driving: Is It Really Dangerous?

  July 12, 2017 7:15 pm Leave a Comment

   

  One important question surrounding cannabis legalization may remain a mystery: is driving high on cannabis dangerous?

   

  Even if you can handle your THC dosage and multitask, being under the influence of any controlled substance is a risk. You might think driving high or while getting high isn’t nearly as risky as driving buzzed or drunk, though it’s still dangerous—but how dangerous?

   

  What you'll learn in this post:

  [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

  • Differing Conclusions on Driving High
  • An Obvious & Surprising Study
  • Will These & Future Studies Affect Cannabis Laws?

   

  Differing Conclusions on Driving High

   

  

   

  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) recently performed two studies that reached two shockingly opposite conclusions about marijuana’s impact, or lack thereof, on collision rates and fatalities in legal states.

   

  The AJPH’s study analyzed the amount of post-legalization fatal car crashes in Washington and Colorado to see if there was an increase. They concluded there was no rise in fatalities since legalization passed compared to neighboring states.

   

  “We found no significant association between recreational marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado and subsequent changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates in the first 3 years after recreational marijuana legalization,” said the authors of the study.

   

  Despite the positive news, the investigation doesn’t mention anything about non-deadly injuries sustained. This lack of further, broader study leaves other key factors murky and provides little context into the real outcomes of driving high.

   

  IIHS’s study, on the other hand, is more illuminating. They took insurance claims from Colorado, Washington and Oregon made between 2012 and 2016 and compared them with those of states where cannabis remains illegal. Their findings discovered a  3% increase in collisions in states where marijuana is legal compared to the states with no legal cannabis laws.

   

  “The combined-state analysis shows that the first three states to legalize recreational marijuana have experienced more crashes,” said Matt Moore, Senior Vice President of the IIHS’s Highway Loss Data Institute.

   

  While 3% is a small jump, researchers insist it’s nonetheless significant. The rise in post-legalization collisions proves that consuming cannabis while driving poses a threat.

   

  An Obvious & Surprising Study

   

  In a less recent but still telling investigation done by Drs. Andrew Sewell, James Poling, and Mehmet Sofuoglu shows driver impairment after smoking just one-third of a joint.

   

  “It appears that cannabis use may impair some driving skills (automatic functions such as tracking) at smoked doses as low as 6.25 mg (a third of a joint), but different skills (complex functions that require conscious control) are not impaired until higher doses.”

   

  The examination also found that high drivers are less capable of staying in their lane, a problem that only increased with higher levels of THC in the drivers’ system.

   

  “Other studies have found poorer monitoring of the speedometer under the influence of marijuana, increased decision time when passing, increased time needed to brake when a light suddenly changes,and increased time to respond to a changing light or sudden sound…Drivers also crashed more frequently into a sudden obstacle on a high dose of marijuana, although this did not happen at a low dose.”

   

  Their study also found that drivers under the influence of cannabis are less likely to drive recklessly, have an increased following distance, and a lower than average speed. That’s not to say it’s totally safe, though the same isn’t true if you’re driving drunk, which typically involves less thinking, faster speeds, and the abandonment of caution.

   

  So the dangers of driving high aren’t definitive, but dependent on several factors like dosage, tolerance, environment, smoking method and THC absorption. Still, there’s concrete evidence to prove that driving under the influence of cannabis can impair your skills.

   

  Will These & Future Studies Affect Cannabis Laws?

   

  

   

  While these studies have reached different conclusions about said dangers, they and more driving high research will help to refine current laws and determine new ones in states across the country, especially here in California with approaching recreational legalization, to craft their own fair laws to protect drivers and others sharing the road.

   

  According to the DMV, the penalties for driving under the influence of cannabis are just as severe as driving under the influence of alcohol: jail time, license suspension, fines, reinstatement fees, mandatory driver’s training programs, alcohol and drug treatment programs, and DUI attorney fees. 

   

  While driving drunk will probably get you more time in the slammer than driving after your bedtime joint, if you get caught possessing cannabis in states where it remains illegal you can land just as much jail time.

   

  Most studies have found that dangers of driving high vary per person, so it’d behoove you to play it safe and just not do it. But if you’re insistent, know the risks, how much you consume, the THC levels you’re smoking, vaping or eating, and your tolerance beforehand.

   

  Avid cannabis consumers may believe the only unintentional effect of driving while high may be one too many stops at McDonalds, but in truth it may pose a threat to your life, your car, and others. Smoke smart; don’t drive high.

• Can Harnessing Cannabis’ Energy Fuel the World, and Save It?

  June 29, 2017 5:16 am Leave a Comment

   

  We’ve known cannabis has a multitude of uses for decades. While many center around healing and curing medical conditions like cancer, chronic pain and mental health, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

   

  It may be hard to believe that a plant rapped about by every MC ever could power your lights, but—hold on to your bong—it’s true!

   

  Many people don’t know that cannabis can be used as fuel. In 2004, the United States used nearly 20.5 million barrels of oil a day, accounting for approximately 25% of the world’s total oil use. As a result, using this and other fossil fuels has emitted over 7 billion tons of carbon into our environment—and that was thirteen years ago.

   

  What you'll learn in this post:

  [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

  • Fossil Fuel Replacement
  • How It Works
  • The Results

   

  Fossil Fuel Replacement?

   

  

   

  Carbon dioxide is the main reason for the greenhouse effect, which occurs when Earth gases absorb heat that would ordinarily radiate out into space. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, one of the gases that retain heat, causing above average temperatures and now global warming. If their use persists, the physical, ecological, and social impacts could be irreversible.  

   

  The danger that fossil fuels pose to our Earth’s future is clear, but what isn’t clear is the solution. Some suggest more wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Others who think outside of the box and inside the grinder suggest cannabis.

   

  Because cannabis can be cultivated, it, unlike fossil fuels, won’t run out anytime soon; plus it’s one of the most reliable options to meet our energy needs. Not only could it produce the energy needed to survive, it’s also a clean, cheap and renewable power source.

   

  How It Works

  

   

  Cannabis’ biomass, the amount of material a plant can convert into fuel, is about 146 billion tons a year. This is a huge development as up to 90% of the energy that comes from fossil fuels could be replaced with biomass from cannabis.

   

  Pyrolysis, the process (pictured above) used to convert cannabis’ organic plant material into fuel, chemically decomposes organic materials using high temperatures without oxygen. It handles the production of gasses, methanol, charcoal and other fossil fuels.

   

  The Results

   

  What’s even more promising is that the biomass converted into fuel doesn’t produce any dangerous byproducts and pollution is non-existent. Without the toxins created by carbon fossil fuels emitted into the atmosphere, it’s believed that the greenhouse effect could be significantly reversed and help fight global warming.

   

  The use of other pollution-causing fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas and coal could also be eliminated by switching to cannabis energy. Dangerous side effects like acid rain, smog (we’re looking at you, L.A.) and ozone deterioration could begin to stop. Not only will it clean our atmosphere and stifle pollution, but it’ll also lend a helping hand to the legalization of medical cannabis for patients who need it.

   

  With global warming, a (debatable) foregone conclusion, fuel produced from cannabis biomass could become the future energy that solves all our needs while saving the planet in the process. If its current stigma can be removed by bettering the environment, maybe cannabis can finally be deemed useful to improve several other issues, and lives, as well.