Know Your Herbs

Governors, Graded on Weed

As public support for marijuana reform continues to grow, more governors seem to be taking notice and adopting pro-legalization platforms, according to a gubernatorial scorecard released by the advocacy group NORML on Wednesday.

That said, while recent polling shows majority support for legalization among both Democratic and Republican voters, the issue remains deeply partisan at the gubernatorial level.

NORML’s annual scorecard grades governors based on comments they’ve made about cannabis issues as well as their policy records. The group identified several key takeaways from this year’s report, such as an increased number of top state officials who received a passing grade of “C” or higher.

Here are some highlights from the scorecard: 

  • Thirty-two governors (22 Democrats, 10 Republicans) earned a “C” or higher, compared to 27 governors last year.
  • Only nine governors received an “A,” all of whom are Democrats.
  • Twelve governors (11 Democrats, 1 Republican) received a “B.”
  • Eleven governors (9 Republicans, 2 Democrats) earned a “C.”
  • Ten governors (9 Republicans, 1 Democrat) received a “D.”
  • Eight governors, all of whom are Republicans received an “F.”

As NORML noted, this partisan divide around cannabis reform isn’t totally consistent with polling of the general public. A Gallup survey released last year showed that 66 percent of Americans favor legalization. Although Democratic voters are significantly more likely to back legalization than are those who identify with the GOP, there is majority support across party lines.

“It is imperative that constituents know where their governor stands on marijuana law reform. Some can be pushed to be better and others will need to be voted out of office for being a roadblock to progress,” Altieri said. “We hope this scorecard serves as a tool for Americans to directly engage in the political process and put pressure on the leader of their state to join us on the right side of history.”

You can use NORML’s scorecard to see where your governor stands on cannabis here

Another signal that marijuana reform is gaining popularity among governors is the frequency of cannabis policy mentions in their annual speeches and official legislative agendas.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) included legalization in his budget plan this month. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) called for a state-run cannabis model in her budget plan. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) said it’s “high time” to legalize in her State of the State address and put ending prohibition on the agenda for the short 2020 session.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said he wants to decriminalize cannabis possession and create a pathway for expungements in his annual address. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) blasted lawmakers in his State of the State address for failing to pass medical cannabis legalization despite strong voter support. And on Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D) touted his state’s cannabis program and said Illinois stands to generate revenue from marijuana tourists of neighboring states that don’t provide legal access.

Featured image from Nam Hoang/Unsplash


This article has been republished from Marijuana Moment under a content-sharing agreement. Read the original article here.

The post Governors, Graded on Weed appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Everything You Should Know About The Rosinbomb Rocket

In the modern age of weed, few things are as exciting as making your own dabs, and the Rosinbomb Rocket gives the ever-growing concentrate community the opportunity to do just that. 

In 2014, Rosinbomb entered the cannabis space after Ryan Mayer, president and founder of Maverick Technologies, switched from pressing fruits and vegetables to pressing dabs. At the time that rosin started making waves, Mayer threw some heat plates on his juice press and Rosinbomb was born. 

What is the Rosinbomb Rocket?

Rosinbomb released the Rocket in November 2017. This tabletop press is still considered one of the best personal use rosin presses on the market. One standout selling point is that it can reach up to 1,500 pounds of pressure without a bulky and loud air compressor, which makes it fine to put on a coffee table or kitchen counter. Mayer wants people, whether medical or recreational, to have complete control over what they are putting into their bodies. “That’s where the Rocket was born,” Mayer said, “We just keep trying to nip at our own heels and create, and innovate.” An electric actuator, which controls the presses movement mechanism, allows the Rocket to operate smoothly without an air compressor

The Rocket is meant to feel like a home appliance.

Setup

For a surprising amount of innovation and structure, the Rosinbomb is extremely simple to set up. “There’s not a lot to do. When you take it out of the box, you plug it into the wall, wait five minutes for it to heat up and you’re pushing the “up” button to smash.” 

At full pressure, the Rocket will be pulling three amps of electricity. You’ll also have to take into account the ten inches of clearance it will need from the surface you’re putting it on to the top of the device, but the setup is minimal. 

How to use the Rosinbomb Rocket

Mayer explains that there are lots of little things you can do to increase the yield, as well as temperature adjustments to get the product exactly how you like. But the most important thing for the best end product is the quality of the material used. That can range from shake or trim material to best-case-scenario fresh frozen flowers.

If you’re handling flower and you want rosin that is a bit more buttery and tasty, Mayer recommends setting the temperature between 175°— 220°F. For flowers, you’ll want to be on the higher range of the heat setting. When pressing dry sift, the temperature should be below 190°F.

  1. Set the Rocket to your preferred temperature.
  2. Whether you’re using a micron screen bag or just a giant pretty bud, load it between two pieces of parchment paper and place it in the press. 
  3. Press for 30 seconds and release the press. Note: If you continue to press after 30 seconds, the material will start moving around, and the rosin will be displaced as it’s coming out. 
  4. Activate the press again and wait for 60 — 90 seconds for everything to squish out. 
  5. Remove the parchment paper from the press and remove the micron bag or any spent material from the center of the sheet.

If you’re pressing flowers, the results should have a more butter-like consistency. When pressing high-end dry sift, the resulting rosin can have the appearance of yellow-stained sea glass. 

Cleaning

All you need for cleaning this device is 91% isotropic alcohol and cotton swabs. Mayer suggests doing the first cleaning when the plates are still lukewarm — it makes the process a lot easier since the rosin hasn’t hardened. You can also set the temperature to 120°F as it’s cooling and clean from there.  

“After that, just grab the paper towel, cotton swab, whatever you’d like, add the alcohol and just clean it like a normal appliance,” Mayer advised. 

What’s the appeal?

Using a personal press to create rosin and concentrates has many plus sides — especially for those who grow their own flower. Hate pesticides and unknown chemicals in your cannabis concentrate? The Rosinbomb offers a clean approach — simply use your own homegrown flower or dry sift and skip the butane or propane solvents commonly used in other extraction methods. You’ll know exactly what’s going into the end product and won’t have to worry about inorganic substances leaching into your fresh dabs. 

If you’re looking to save a little cash, the Rosinbomb also appeals to the frugal spender. Concentrates can be an expensive hobby, especially for dab enthusiasts. A gram of concentrate can cost anywhere between $30 to $50, give or take a few extra depending on your state and favorite brand. When you have your own press, the machine eventually pays for itself (and then some). 

And since a press only requires pressure and heat to deliver a delicious product, it’s one of the safest options — there’s zero risks of explosion or chemical leakage from the contraption itself. You also don’t have to worry about breathing in unwanted solvent chemicals when the extraction process is in full swing. 

If you’re curious about making your own dabs and cutting out the middleman, consider getting your own Rosinbomb and indulge in homemade, fresh concentrates.  

Photos courtesy of Maverick Technology Solutions

The post Everything You Should Know About The Rosinbomb Rocket appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Our Cheap Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Grinder

If you’re like me, you typically clean your smoking accessories only when it’s absolutely necessary. Pipes and bongs are usually the first on the list — when your friend comes by for a smoke sesh and looks at your bong with disgust, you know it’s time to whip out the glass cleaning solution. Yet grinders tend to slip through the cracks despite weeks of gummy resin build-up which make them basically unusable. 

It takes true, admirable dedication to keep a grinder clean.

But hey, new year new me, right? This is the year I stop mistreating my grinder (which has been nothing but kind to me and deserves way better). And if money is tight or you just prefer a good deal, no need to splurge on fancy cleaning supplies — sparkling accessories will never break the bank with our cheap and easy guide to a well-scrubbed grinder. 

Why clean your grinder? 

While cleaning your grinder might be low on your to-do list, you’d be surprised by how much it can improve your smoking experience. For starters, a clean grinder is a more efficient grinder, which can produce more usable weed and more kief. When a grinder is full of gunk, it’s much more difficult to achieve a fine grind and thus, very little magical fairy dust will accumulate at the bottom. 

You can also extend the life of your smoking accessories with a little TLC. If you’re guilty of never cleaning your grinder, you’ve probably had to throw one away because of damage caused by frequent use. Over time, too much stickiness will cause the teeth to become dull or snap off, or worse — you can end up with metal shavings mixed in with your flower. Too much strain on the teeth of a metal grinder can cause it to deteriorate without you noticing right away. 

Plus, keeping your grinder clean prevents the plant matter inside from breaking down and growing mold or bacteria. While I’ve never noticed anything funky happen to my grinder, this is a genuine fear of mine now that I’ve learned that it’s possible. So to help you help yourself, follow our step-by-step guide below on how to properly clean a grinder. 

How to clean your grinder 

Depending on whether you have a metal or plastic grinder, you’ll need some items to aid in the cleaning process. 

What you’ll need: 

  • Hot water 
  • Paper towels
  • Small towel
  • Toothbrush or paintbrush 
  • Plastic bag or container
  • Isopropyl alcohol (metal grinders)
  • Dish soap (plastic grinders) 
  • Cotton swabs (optional)

Step 1

Empty the bud and kief from your grinder before you begin cleaning. Place the pieces in the freezer for 30 minutes. Note: You don’t have to freeze the grinder, but this step is very helpful in loosening the remaining plant matter.

Then, separate all the pieces and stash the contents in a bag or jar.

Step 2

This next step will vary for metal and plastic grinders.

Metal grinders: Place the pieces of your grinder in a plastic bag and fill with isopropyl alcohol — enough to cover all pieces. Soak until the liquid turns muddy, usually about 20 minutes. A higher strength of isopropyl alcohol will typically work faster. 

Plastic grinders: Place the pieces of your grinder in a plastic container and fill completely with hot water and dish soap. Let soak for about 20 minutes until particles are floating in the water.

Step 3

Remove your grinder from the soaking solution and rinse with warm water to remove alcohol or soap residue. Scrub excess debris with a brush. Use a cotton swab to make sure to get every nook and cranny. If your grinder was really old and full of gunk, you may need to repeat steps 2 and 3 to achieve ultimate cleanliness. 

For grinders with a kief catcher, make sure to pay special attention to brushing the screen.

Step 4 

Once you’ve brushed all the debris and gunk, use your small towell to dry off each piece.

Step 5

Lay all pieces on a paper towel or dishtowel to dry. Once fully dry, put your grinder back together.

Now you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Grind up some fresh bud and toke up because you deserve it. 

The post Our Cheap Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Grinder appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Austin Police Chief Says Marijuana Arrests Will Continue Despite City Council Vote

The day after the Austin City Council approved a resolution to stop arresting or ticketing people for most low-level marijuana possession offenses, the police chief made clear he had no plans to do so.

“[Marijuana] is still illegal, and we will still enforce marijuana law if we come across people smoking in the community,” Chief Brian Manley said during a news conference Friday afternoon.

Though cracking down on those in possession of small amounts of marijuana has never been a priority for the department, he said, police will continue to either issue tickets under the city’s “cite-and-release” policy or arrest people if officers “come across it.”

The difference, according to City Council member and resolution sponsor Greg Casar, is that the council’s move now guarantees those actions will come with no penalty. Tickets will be meaningless pieces of paper and any arrests will result in a quick release with no charges accepted from prosecutors, he told The Texas Tribune after the news conference.

“What has changed since yesterday is that enforcement, almost in virtually all cases, is now handing someone a piece of paper with no penalty or no court date,” Casar said.

The move by the City Council came as a direct result from Texas’ new hemp law which complicated marijuana prosecution across the state. Last summer, when lawmakers legalized hemp, they also changed the definition of marijuana from cannabis to cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in the plant.

Many prosecutors, including those in Austin’s Travis County, now won’t accept pot cases based on look and smell alone, requiring lab testing to determine THC levels before accepting a case. Such testing is not yet available in public crime labs, though some counties and cities have spent money to obtain test results from private labs.

The council’s resolution prohibited using city funds or personnel to conduct such testing in non-felony marijuana cases. It also directed the elimination, to the furthest extent possible, of arrests or citations for cannabis possession. As Manley also noted, the resolution clarifies it can’t technically decriminalize marijuana, since that is state law.

The resolution gave the city manager until May 1 to report back to the council on how police were trained in this new resolution, and Casar said he hopes Manley reviews his policies before then.

Manley said in the news conference that he would continue to review the resolution, as well as police policies.

But, he assured, “a City Council does not have the authority to tell a police department not to enforce a state law.”

Featured image from Shutterstock.


By Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. This article has been republished from Marijuana Moment under a content-sharing agreement. Read the original article here.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

The post Austin Police Chief Says Marijuana Arrests Will Continue Despite City Council Vote appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm