Know Your Herbs

Month: January 2020

Austin City Council Approves Measure To End Most Marijuana Arrests

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The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday that will largely end arrests and fines for low-level marijuana possession. This comes after Texas’ legalization of hemp last June threw marijuana prosecution into chaos since the plants look and smell identical.

The resolution directing Austin police not to spend city resources on newly necessary lab tests to distinguish marijuana from now-legal hemp passed unanimously with nine votes. Council member Jimmy Flannigan and Mayor Steve Adler were absent. Debate on the measure lasted just under an hour and a half. Of about 20 people who spoke on the resolution, only Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday was against it.

The council’s resolution states that it stems directly from Texas’ new law legalizing hemp. Last summer, following a federal hemp bill, state lawmakers approved a measure to create an agricultural industry for the crop in Texas. But the law also complicated marijuana prosecutions by narrowing the legal definition of the drug from cannabis to cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in the plant.

All of a sudden, some district attorneys were dropping hundreds of low-level pot possession cases and not accepting new ones, arguing they couldn’t tell without lab testing if something was marijuana anymore. New misdemeanor marijuana cases filed by Texas prosecutors have dropped by more than half. And numerous Texas prosecutors, including those in Austin’s Travis County, require police to submit lab reports on a substance’s THC concentration before they will pursue misdemeanor marijuana charges. They argue circumstantial evidence like smell can no longer be used to authoritatively say something is marijuana.

Part of what prompted the Austin resolution — which prohibits spending city funds on such testing except in felony cases — is that public state labs are still working on establishing a way to test for that THC concentration. Right now they can only tell if something is cannabis. For some counties and cities, that has meant putting more money into shipping seized cannabis to private labs that can tell if it’s hemp or marijuana.

Even in places where police don’t have or aren’t spending funds on such testing and new cases aren’t being accepted by prosecutors, people are still being cited or arrested. They are sometimes taken to jail but then released with no charges being pursued. Austin police said this month that they still arrest or cite people who are suspected of possessing marijuana.

This resolution changes that, directing the city to get as close as possible to eliminating enforcement action for low-level cannabis possession.

The measure prohibits spending city funds on testing in low-level possession cases, and it directs police not to arrest or cite people in such cases — unless there is a safety concern — if they know the district attorney will automatically reject the charges or testing won’t be approved. It clarifies that lab testing can be used for suspected felonies or when the cannabis is not for personal use, like trafficking cases. A revised version also specifies that the measure will not affect toxicology testing.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

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 City Council Approves Measure To End Most Marijuana Arrests appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Everything You Should Know About The Utillian 722

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As we continue to acknowledge the unhealthy impacts carcinogens have on us, and in light of the continuing vape crisis of last year to now, the time is right for an affordable vaporizer that allows both flower and concentrate consumers to enjoy their products of choice on the go — without the worry of harmful ingredients clouding the product. 

The Utillian 722 is certainly that vaporizer.

What is the Utillian 722?

The Utillian 722 is the follow-up to the award-winning Utillian 721 that made waves last year in the flower vaporizer market. With this new model, Utillian has added a concentrate canister to take things to the next level. They also tweaked a couple of features, including the angle of the mouthpiece’s point of articulation to make it a bit sturdier, and upgraded the “boost mode” an extra ten degrees to 225°C compared to 215°C on the 721. While seemingly small, that extra  kick certainly helps provide the 722 with a bit more extraction power than its predecessor. 

What’s returning from the 721 is the well-built one-button simplicity. The build quality of the 722 easily rivals that of other dual-purpose vaporizers and clocks in at a cool $149.99. The finish of the 722 is not only a nice visual but also provides a firm grip. The mouthpiece feels a pinch flimsy as you turn it around into the ready position, but it pops right back on if it falls off. 

Also returning from the 721 are the four preset heat settings of 180°C, 190°C, 200°C, and 210°C, but as noted, the 722 will get a bit hotter than the 721 in boost mode. 

Setup

When you first get the Utillian 722, you’ll see a spread of o-rings, screens, and brushes. But fear not, it’s actually quite simple to prepare for use after charging. When you break the magnetic seal and flip over the lid, you’ll see a spot where the provided metal screen lines up. Simply line the screen up on top of the hole and pop on the red rubber ring. That will hold it in place during use. 

The screen can get a pinch crooked (even with the ring on) preventing a perfectly flush magnetic seal for the whole top of the vaporizer. Pinch the sides of the ring and move the screen into proper alignment. 

How to use the Utillian 722

  1. Regardless of whether you’ll be using it for flower or concentrates, pop the magnetic top off. From here you’ll be deciding whether to throw in the concentrate canister or just directly start using flower. 
  2. Fill the chamber of your choosing with flower or concentrate and put the lid back on. Make sure the lid is flush.
  3. To start the actual session on the 722 you’re going to press the power button — located on the right side of the device — five times in two seconds. The unit will begin to flash as it comes up to the desired temperature. 
  4. Confirm the unit heating to your desired temperature by looking at the light color, or adjust it by pressing the button twice as it heats. Green is the coolest setting and red is the hottest. When the light stops flashing you’re good to go. 
  5. Inhale, but after you’ve taken a few rips you might want to try the boost mode. Just hold down the button while you take a pull and it will kick the 722 up to full blast. 

Cleaning

You’re going to need to clean the 722 out with a brush each time you use it. Utillian recommends giving the chamber a deeper clean every three sessions. We suggest using 99% alcohol and q-tips for ease. Don’t cheap out on the alcohol, the lower the percentage, the less effective it is on the first pass and you don’t want any residue to drip down to the heating element. 

After you clean it, dry it out completely with another q-tip. Tip: go light on the alcohol on the swab as not to void the warranty.

You can also clean all the components vapor passes through in the lid. Just remove the red rubber ring, pop off the mouthpiece and toss them in alcohol with the screens for no longer than 20 minutes. While those parts soak, use a q-tip with alcohol to clean out the air pathways in the top part of the vaporizer while it’s disassembled. After everything is clean, use warm water to rinse off, then dry each part. Never submerge the top piece of the vaporizer in alcohol. 

What’s the appeal?

Smoking a joint or bowl every now and then isn’t going to kill you, but for more frequent cannabis users, the main health drawback is the amount of smoke exposure to their respiratory system. With mobile vaporizers like the Utillian 722, you’re not stuck next to a coffee table to get a quality vaping experience with a tabletop vaporizer, the mobile aspect of the 722 allows you to get a good vape session whenever you feel like it.

Featured image courtesy of Utillian.

The post Everything You Should Know About The Utillian 722 appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Weedmaps Buyers' Guide to Rolling Trays and Grinders

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The world of weed is evolving at an extremely rapid pace. From e-rigs and sublinguals to crystalline concentrates and infusing machines, technology is changing the product game faster than most consumers care to keep up. 

As technology makes advancements within the cannabis products themselves, smoking accessories like grinders and rolling trays have followed suit. 

A combination of metal weed grinders and wooden trays, both of which were to be kept hidden at all times, has now advanced to electronic grinders buzzing like tiny blenders, smell-proof trays that fold up to fit in your wallet and uber-chic smoking accessory art objects catering to the high end. 

And since the days of breaking up weed with your hands and rolling a joint on the thigh of your pants are a thing of the past, here’s the Weedmaps Buyers’ Guide to rolling trays and grinders. If you’re reading this, you’re clearly an evolved stoner. Shouldn’t your accouterment be, too?

Santa Cruz Shredder Four Piece Grinder

Round out the look of any stoner who surfs, skates, and has never been east of the Rockies with this sick little four-piece grinder from Santa Cruz Shredder. With its kief catcher and medical-grade aluminum, it’s a one-stop shop for herb preparation. And to top it all off, there’s a rare earth magnetic lid closure system, keeping your shake safe no matter how gnarly you shred.

Price: $54.50

Aux Tools E-Shredder

The fact that it took this long for someone to think of a grinder that works like a little blender is beyond me, but thank the good folks at Aux Tools for their legendary E-Shredder. Simply load nugs into this game-changing device, press a button, and boom, the most perfectly coiffed shake you’ve ever seen, with kief to boot.

Price: $199.99

Tectonic9 Grinder

The Tectonic9 Grinder by Cloudious9 bridges the gap between the future of grinders and their analog past. While not an electronic grinder in the traditional way, it does come with a twist. To use, grind the buds as you would normally, then press a button and it electronically dispenses the flower cleanly and evenly, taking the mess and hassle out of the traditional experience. 

Price: $59.99

Sackville & Co Gilded Grinder

This gorgeous Gilded Grinder from Sackville & Co, a brand leading the wave of super chic stoner accessories, could easily pass as an artsy piece of decor. Now that you don’t have to hide your weed supplies, or the lifestyle they indicate, your grinder should be as stylish as everything else in your home. 

Price: $80

Etsy Customizable Grinder 

Take personalization to the next level with this fully customizable yet traditionally designed metal grinder by HaveFunGifts. Simply enter the words you would like or a link to the image you want to use in the box on the Etsy listing, and you have a one-of-a-kind piece all your own. 

Price: $14.99

Case On It Foldable Rolling Tray 

This ingenious invention combines the key attributes of discretion into one rolling tray. Coming in at a cool $8, the Case On It plastic rolling tray is smell-proof, folds down small enough to fit in a wallet and is inexpensive enough to not make a dent while doing so.

Price: $7.90

OBC Sushi Metal Rolling Tray 

For a quirky twist on a classic, no-frills design, the OBC Sushi Metal Rolling Tray is the move. It’s cheap, it’s cute and if you’re too stoned to do the dishes, it could actually double as a hilarious receptacle for sushi delivery. 

Price: $21.72

Deluxe Acrylic Rolling Tray by The Higher Society

The Deluxe Acrylic Rolling Tray by The Higher Society is extremely cheap and equally practical. This colorful little number features rolling tip holders, joint holders, lighter holders, and a removable mini side tray. 

Price: $6

Verdant Bamboo Rolling Tray

The Verdant Bamboo Rolling Tray is a great stationary tray for the car or to keep around the house. Super simple and straight to the point, it utilizes nature’s #1 renewable resource, bamboo — instead of plastic — a welcome shift in the right direction. 

Price: $17.99

RAW Triple Flip Bamboo Magnet Rolling Foldable Tray 

Albeit a mouthful, the RAW Triple Flip Bamboo Magnet Rolling Foldable Tray is the mac daddy of all rolling trays. This beautiful, sustainable bamboo box locks with a rare earth magnetic system featuring eight combination configurations, and open to more sections to organize your joint rolling materials. It even comes with a built-in ashtray, ESD scoop card, and, of course, the clout of being the world’s most organized stoner. 

Price: $85.99

Featured image by Maik Jonietz/Unsplash

The post Weedmaps Buyers' Guide to Rolling Trays and Grinders appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

New York Governor includes Marijuana Legalization in New Budget Plan

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) included marijuana legalization in his budget proposal on Tuesday, setting the stage for another reform push in the legislature as the 2020 session gets underway. The move comes as a new poll shows that voter support for ending cannabis prohibition is at its highest level ever in the state.

While Cuomo put a similar plan in his budget last year, he ultimately dropped it as it became clear that lawmakers could not come to an agreement on the finer points of legalization ahead of legislative deadlines. His administration is optimistic that this year will be different.

According to the new proposal, New York stands to receive $20 million in revenue for the 2021 fiscal year and $63 million in 2022, according to the governor’s projections.

“Legalize adult use cannabis,” Cuomo said during his budget speech. “I believe it is best done in the budget. I said that last year. I believe the budget is the opportunity, frankly, to make some tough decisions and work through tough issues that without the budget can often languish, and I suggest that we get it done in the budget.”

“This year Governor Cuomo is proposing a comprehensive regulatory approach to legalize cannabis, creating a new Office of Cannabis Management to specialize in cannabis regulation — overseeing the medical, adult-use and hemp programs,” his office said in a press release. “The proposal will administer social equity licensing opportunities, develop an egalitarian adult-use market structure and facilitate market entry through access to capital, technical assistance and incubation of equity entrepreneurs.”

“The proposal will also correct past harms to individuals and communities that have disproportionately been impacted by prohibition. To safeguard public health, the proposal limits the sale of cannabis products to adults 21 and over and establishes stringent quality and safety controls including oversight over the packaging, labeling, advertising and testing of all cannabis products. These efforts will be done in coordination with neighboring states Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Governor will also propose creating a first of its kind Global Cannabis and Hemp Center for Science, Research and Education with SUNY and other expert partners.”

Under the proposal, there would be three levels of taxes. A 20% tax would be imposed on cannabis sold by any entity to a retailer. Cultivators would be taxed at $1 per dry weight gram for flower, trim would be taxed at $0.25 per dry weight gram and wet cannabis would be taxed at $0.14 per gram. Local jurisdictions with a population of at least one million people that allow marijuana businesses to operate would receive revenue from a separate, two percent tax.

“The Budget regulates and controls the production, distribution, transportation, and sale of cannabis, cannabis related products and medical cannabis within the NYS, for the purposes of fostering and promoting temperance in their consumption, to properly protect the public health, safety, and welfare and to promote social equity,” the proposal states.

The budget also calls for workforce increases at certain state agencies, including bolstering resources at the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control “to support the new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).”

OCM will oversee a “first-in-nation comprehensive cannabis regulatory framework” that “centralizes all the licensing, enforcement and economic development functions in one entity.” It will “administer all licensing, production, and distribution of cannabis products in the adult-use, industrial, and medical cannabis markets,” according to the plan.

New York’s hemp regulators would also benefit from the budget proposal, with Cuomo calling for $1.1 million in “resources to support nine additional hemp oversight and inspection related staff.”

Cannabis reform has become a major issue for Cuomo, who only came to embrace legalization at the end of 2018 after he previously described marijuana as a “gateway drug.” Since then, he’s spent months negotiating with lawmakers about the specifics of an adult-use legalization bill, and he’s also helped arrange meetings with governors in the region to develop a plan for coordinated marijuana regulations.

While legalization didn’t come together last year, Cuomo did sign legislation expanding the state’s cannabis decriminalization policy and providing for expungements for those with prior marijuana convictions.

In his State of the State address earlier this month, the governor reiterated his commitment to legalizing marijuana in the Empire State, though he emphasized that the economic benefits “would be a hollow victory” if a legal system didn’t include social equity and restorative justice provisions.

Cuomo’s proposal, or at least the idea of legalization in general, benefits from majority public support in the state, according to a poll that was released on Tuesday. The institute found that 58% of New Yorkers favor the policy change — the highest percentage reported in the state.

New York is one of several states where broad cannabis reform is expected to be taken up this year. In the Northeast alone, Rhode Island’s governor called for a state-run cannabis model in her budget plan, New Hampshire lawmakers plan to pursue non-commercial legalization and in New Jersey, the legislature approved a referendum to put the question of recreational legalization before voters during the November election.

Featured image from Shutterstock. 

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

The post New York Governor includes Marijuana Legalization in New Budget Plan appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm