MJBiz Con 2018: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

  In November 2018, I attended the annual MJBizCon in Las Vegas. It’s the largest cannabis convention in the world, featuring 27,000 attendees from 70 countries, with 1,000 exhibitors, three days of speakers, break-out lunches, and afterparties. I didn’t visit all 1,000 booths or meet all 27,000 attendees, although “Hi, I’m

“Beyond Buds: Next Generation” Sets The Bar For Cannabis Books

There’s no shortage of books about cannabis, and the groaning, overstuffed top shelf of my ancient IKEA bookcase speaks to that in... volumes. Grow guides, histories of cannabis, reference sources, cookbooks, cannabis spa guides, how-to-roll-a-joint handbooks—when the Great Cascadia Earthquake hits, I will likely die crushed by a quarter ton

The City of Portland’s Cannabis Program Needs You To Do Your Civic Doobie

The marquee sign for the Portland Center For The Performing Arts is shown on a downtown Main Street in Portland, Oregon

Just because the elections are over doesn't mean your civic duty is done. If you have a strong interest in cannabis policy, your city needs you. Consider this the cannabis equivalent of the Bat Signal. The City of Portland is accepting applications until this Thursday, November 15, 2018 to apply for

Majority of Cannabis Ballot Measures Pass

A scattering of small round stickers reading "I voted" lay on a white table

Last night we saw (thank god) a Blue Wave. And as primary-school finger painting taught me, you can't make green without blue—and there was also a Green Wave last night as well. As I wrote yesterday, four states had cannabis-related measures on the ballot—two with medical programs (Missouri and Utah), and

Is Cannabis In Mexico Now Legal? Kind Of

A close up of the flag of Mexico

Yesterday, social media blew up with news that "cannabis had been made legal in Mexico". Which is kind of, sort of  true, but before you start dusting off your high school Spanish textbook with plans to move to Oaxaca and open a dispensary, slow your roll and take uno momento por

A Program To Target Minneapolis Cannabis Users Of Color Has Been Discontinued

The face of a young black man is shown in a black and white photo

While there are legit issues with cannabis here on the West Coast, overall we have it pretty good. Supplies are plentiful, selection is bountiful, and new strains and products are refined and released regularly. And in cities everywhere along the coast, there continues to be discussion and action around the issues

Cannabis and Race Have an Intertwined History of Imperialism

A black man and woman sit in front of a tree facing the camera

Cannabis history is nearly as long as the history of human civilization, but unlike other agricultural products, the story of this plant has often been shrouded in the dark. This is true especially in America, where cannabis’ legacy has long been connected with our country’s institutionalized racism. It’s time for this to

Cannabuzz: The Week in Cannabis How to Lobby 101

A bored man sits at a desk looking at a laptop

I HAVE GOOD NEWS! Today we're going to explore how you can shatter the myth of the lazy, unmotivated, forgetful stoner and defend cannabis consumers everywhere. And you can do it while stoned and sitting down! Plus, you can sit down! Wait...what? I also have not-so-good news! It's going to involve taking time out

Cannabis News: What Happened While You Were Getting High

Man smokes a joint

    YOU CAN NOW FLY WITH POT FROM PDX As I've written in a previous column, you can fly with up to a pound and a half if you have your Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) card (I have several times). But if you don't have a card, you can still fly with

Three Dispensaries Talk The Coming Of Recreational Cannabis

A close up photo of an immature cannabis plant

THERE IS MUCH confusion, hope, and worry over how recreational cannabis will roll out in Oregon. One option being considered is licensing Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) dispensaries for recreational sales. It's a scenario with many advantages, especially because Portland is already conveniently littered with them. In some cases, there are also hidden

DIY Getting High: Making Cannabis Rosin With John “Green Bodhi” Bayes

A jar of cannabis buds sits next to a hair straightening iron and some parchment paper

(The original title of this piece was "He Hath Rosin", a title I still prefer.) Cannabis concentrates go by many names: shatter, wax, dabs, sweat of Freddie Mercury (no, not really). Oftentimes, concentrates are made by using butane or propane as a solvent to extract THC and terpenes from cannabis, resulting in

When Will Oregon Start Recreational Cannabis Sales?

Mount Hood taken from the air

One of the most vexing questions since Measure 91 passed in November 2014 is the time frame for recreational consumers of cannabis to be able to purchase their newly legal cannabis. The date that's been batted around most often for recreational pot shops to open has been sometime in late 2016—a

Cannabuzz: The Week in Cannabis Cannabis Confusion in the Capital

A yellow highway sign reads "Questions Answers"

This week, I'm going to fail you as a cannabis columnist. This is not to say I have accepted a god that frowns upon using a plant that said deity itself created. Nor does it mean the title of this column has changed to "Cokebuzz, the Week in Cocaine News!" ("As part

Did Cannabis Candies Kill 12 at Coachella? D.A.R.E Got Played And Said So

DARE to resist Drugs and Violence

So, I know a guy who smoked a joint this one time, and it gave him an erection that lasted, like, 26 hours, and then his penis exploded, and then he died. It's true! I also knew this girl who ate a pot cookie, and it made her pregnant, and then she tried

What is “420”, and Why?

The More You Know graphic

Today is April 20th, aka 4/20, aka the Highest of Holy Days for cannabis enthusiasts. Numerous OMMP dispensaries will be running specials all day long, so if you have your card, check out the offerings via such awesome apps as Leafly. It's also a great day to remind people why we choose