Know Your Herbs

Month: May 2020

Here are the brands and products supporting LGBTQ organizations for Pride

Herbs

The celebration and support of Pride holds a special place in the cannabis community. Due to the tireless efforts of HIV/AIDS activists who dedicated their lives advocating for the medical potential of cannabis, Proposition 215 was passed in 1996. Also known as the Compassionate Use Act, the California law was the first to permit the use of medical cannabis, making the LGBTQ community directly responsible for the legal weed we enjoy today. 

Each year, Pride week sees cannabis brands partner with LGBTQ organizations, launching promotions such as limited-edition Pride products, charity initiatives or (digital) Pride events. All contribute a portion of proceeds to said organizations, or to the benefit of the the queer community.  

While the weed industry continues to evolve from a legacy-market boys club to the fully inclusive space it will become, as of now, there are only a handful of LGBTQ owned-and-operated brands for consumers to support. This year, instead of spending money on products that only elevate your mind, elevate the community that made it legal to get elevated in the first place. 

Here are the brands and products supporting LGBTQ organizations for Pride 2020. 

Aster Farms x Coolhaus x Sweetflower

Mendocino-based flower brand Aster Farms teamed up with LGBTQ-founded SoCal ice cream brand Coolhaus and popular dispensary chain Sweet Flower [Melrose, Arts District, Studio City], to bring you two limited-edition treats sure to sweeten Los Angeles Pride Week: an Aster Farms Rainbow Chip pre-roll paired with Coolhaus’s “EnjoyMINT for All” frozen dessert pint. 

For Sweet Flower customers, be one of the first 50 people to add the promo in your cart to receive a $5 Rainbow Chip pre-roll — a fruity, herbal hybrid of Sunset Sherbert and Mint Chocolate Chip — and a complimentary pint of EnjoyMint for All, a decadent dairy-free, non-GMO, plant protein peppermint base adorned with a rich trail of chocolate cookie crumbs and a gooey purple marshmallow swirl.

Since so many people are displaced due to current events, Aster Farms, Coolhaus and Sweet Flower will be providing a donation to the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Homeless Youth Initiative. Each company will be matching the $5 consumer purchase with a $5 donation.

Find Aster Farms products

Kiva

Leading edibles brand Kiva will be ringing in Pride 2020 with the re-release of their super popular Proud Camino gummies. Each tropical punch gummy features a mellow serving of 5 milligrams THC, perfect for a novice user or those simply trying to take the edge off spending the once-lavish weekend of Pride bored at home.

In addition, Kiva will be donating $15,000 to GLAAD for Pride month, as well as working with drag queen Jinkx Monsoon to put on a national Virtual Pride Parade on Saturday, June 13th through Instagram. Jinkx will be serving as the Grand Marshall, and with each person joining the virtual parade, Kiva will be donating $5 toward GLAAD.

Find Kiva products

Lowell Herb Co.

For this installment of Lowell Farm Co.’s yearly Pride promotion, the leading cannabis brand has teamed up with two of their LGBTQ owned partner farms, Tuff-n-Tendergrass and Ventoso Farms, to bring you a very special surprise: the Pride 2020 Blend. 

The Pride 2020 Blend is a standout sativa that combines two standout strains, Blue Hawaiian and Magic Melon. Bursting with citrus and fresh fruit, Blue Hawaiian offers an alert head high, while Magic Melon levels you out with its air of euphoria and whimsy. 

If blends aren’t your jam, Lowell will also be releasing 1g pre-rolls of each strain, featuring Blueberry Muffin Indica from Ventoso Farms, and Magic Melon Sativa from Tuff-n-Tendergrass. 

Find Lowell Farms products

Flow Kana 

Flow Kana is teaming up with Earthen Farms, a social and environmentally conscious cultivator in Mendocino County, for a limited edition drop: the Double Chem OG 1/8th. 

This sungrown indica features a gassy, loud aroma and a rich, smooth taste. Placing 4th in the Sun-Grown category at the 2019 Emerald Cup with genetics originally from Rebel Grown, this heavy-hitting strain packs a punch. Featuring terpenes like caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, and humulene, this strain is mentally uplifting, but has a strong relaxing effect on the body. 

Proceeds are going to a national LGBTQIA non-profit organization serving as a lifeline for at risk queer youth.

Find Flow Kana products

Platinum Vape

Platinum Vape” humanitarian efforts go well beyond  supporting the LGBTQ community for the month of June. With the creation of REACT, a full-time social equity program that allocates proceeds of certain products to support LGBTQ organizations (among others), they are able to provide needed financial support to at-risk communities year round. 

This year, PV will be releasing a Pride-themed vape cartridge through REACT, where 25% of proceeds will be donated to the California and Michigan chapters of Equality California & Equality Michigan. 

Platinum Vape’s full gram vape cartridges are available in participating California dispensaries and retail for $60 and half gram vape cartridges retail for $35. Vape cartridges contain 90% THC.

Find Platinum Vape products

SPARC

SPARC, a long-trusted cannabis company based in San Francisco, launched its compassion program in the early 2000s at the Maitri AIDS Hospice. To this day, the company delivers free cannabis products to AIDS patients twice a month. In honor of Pride Month, SPARC will launch its exclusive cartridge called Unicorn OG, donating $1 of each sale to the GLBT Historical Society.

Besito

In many ways, the female-founded LA vape brand Besito embodies the microdosed, design-forward future of the LA cannabis market. Since their golden, hexagon-shaped pens burst onto the scene in 2019, Besito’s chic look, subtle high, and history of LGBTQ rights and criminal justice reform advocacy, has made them a favorite amongst the hip and socially conscious canna-crowd. 

To celebrate Pride, Besito will be building off their partnership with LA’s LGBT Center from last year, again donating 5% of all proceeds for June & July to the Center. Additionally, Besito will be offering 30% off all of their limited-edition merch and artist collaborations during LA Pride Weekend, June 12—14.

Look out for their upcoming social media experience called Puff Puff Pass Pride 2020. This virtual joint chain will feature drag queens and gay icons during LA Pride Week to tease their new (and first!) smokable product launching June 15th. 

Find Besito products

Kush Queen 

Kush Queen, the female-founded topical and wellness brand famous for exploding the cannabis bath bomb trend, refuses to let Pride 2020 pass without a party. This year, turn your tub into a club with their Pride Edition Bath Bombs, complete with THC or CBD, and a heavy dose of eco-friendly glitter. 

Available in 25 milligrams THC x 25 milligrams CBD or just 100 milligrams CBD, the aroma of lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, orange, lemon and chamomile will melt you into euphoria, while the eco-friendly glitter swirls and shimmers in the water. 

Kush Queen will be donating a portion of the proceeds of the Pride Edition Bath Bombs, available exclusively through Sol Distro, to Asylum Connect, a non-profit tech company providing the first and only resource website and mobile app for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and other persecuted LGBTQ+ people. 

Find Kush Queen products

Yummi Karma 

Displaying Rainbow Sherbet Drops YummiK.png

With their flirty aesthetic, dessert flavored tinctures, and topicals catering to the pampered, the women owned-and-operated SoCal brand Yummi Karma is no stranger to the spirit of Pride. This year, they’ll be honoring the LGBTQ community with a special addition to their popular YK Drops tincture line, Rainbow Sherbert Drops. 

The Rainbow Sherbert Drops pack a whopping 600 milligrams of broad-spectrum THC (20 milligrams per dropper), complete with a delicious rainbow sherbert flavor. Great for recreational use and available exclusively through Sol Distro, they’re one of Yummi Karma’s first “Good Karma” products, meaning all purchases of this product will help support the Orange County LGBTQ Center.

Find Yummi Karma products

Generation Pride

Just because the IRL Pride events have been cancelled doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate in style! Generation Pride is a multi-event, monthlong virtual celebration produced by celebrity florist and cannabis advocate, The Flower Daddy, womxn and non-binary creative group, Tree Femme Collective, and nonprofit hub Social Impact Center. 

Hosted on June 27th, the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, “The Summit” will feature a full spectrum of influential speakers, educational programming, and unique performances highlighting the intersections of LGBTQIA+ and minority communities in the cannabis space.

And on June 20th, Generation Pride is bringing Pride Brunch to you with a virtual party featuring performances from an array of entertainers, including cannabis advocate and drag icon LaGanja Estranja. The “Take Your Pride Higher Brunch” will deliver gourmet brunch boxes filled with breakfast treats, plus optional add-ons like a mimosa bar or cannabis product kits, and of course, lots and lots of glitter.

The post Here are the brands and products supporting LGBTQ organizations for Pride appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Massachusetts' adult-use dispensaries have reopened. Here's how to find and use curbside pickup.

Herbs

With coronavirus continuing to affect businesses around the world, the ability to still buy cannabis has been a welcome relief. And in Massachusetts, the Mass Cannabis Control Commission released guidelines allowing adult-use dispensaries to reopen on May 25 via curbside pickup as part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s phased re-opening of the state economy. 

Since the new guidelines are now in effect, find out the best way to order Massachusetts weed online and receive your goods by the curb. 

Who’s open for curbside pickup?

Narrow down your search by using the filters “Order online,” “Open now,” and “Curbside pickup.” Here is an example with “Open Now” and “Curbside pickup.”

With our maps filters for curbside pickup, you can explore which dispensaries are open for business. Check out our easy step-by-step guide to getting your favorite weed:

  1. Click on “Massachusetts” in the maps tool.
  2. Click on your region of choice. Are you lighting up in Boston? What about Holyoke?
  3. Narrow down your search by using the filters “Order online,” “Open now,” and “Curbside pickup.” Here is an example with “Open Now” and “Curbside pickup.”
  4. Start your online order and checkout when satisfied. You will get either a call or text confirming your order, then an additional call or text letting you know that your order is ready for pickup. 
  5. When your order is ready, head to the dispensary and park in any of the designated pickup parking spots.
  6. A budtender will come out to your car to verify your order, check your ID, take your cash, and bring out your purchase. All set!

Extra tips for picking up your stash safely

What’s the best etiquette when picking up your stoney goods? Since the coronavirus is still at large, you should be practicing safe social distancing measures — even when behind the wheel. This includes wearing a mask and gloves when receiving your order (you can put these on once you park) and possibly keeping hand sanitizer in the glove compartment for when the transaction is over. 

Also, keep in mind that dispensaries will be extra busy during this time, especially the first couple of weeks following re-opening. If no designated parking spots are available, follow the direction of parking lot attendants or budtenders. 

The post Massachusetts' adult-use dispensaries have reopened. Here's how to find and use curbside pickup. appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Everything you need to know about the KandyPens Rubi Vaporizer

Herbs

California vape brand KandyPens is known for creating well-made, affordable alternatives to some of the hottest vaporizers on the market. With an attention to detail informing their designs, KandyPens maintain their reputation as a leading vape brand by consistently producing devices that are simple, sleek, and tech-forward. Their recently released oil and e-liquid vape, the Rubi vaporizer, is no exception. 

Standing at a mere 4 inches tall, and coming in at just under $50, this chic little vape offers an alternative to the expensive pod systems utilized by similar brands. Whereas Pax offers expensive pods that come prefilled with oil from big canna-brands, KandyPens’ Rubi vaporizer is an open system, meaning the pods come empty, ready to be filled with whatever oil or liquid you want. 

In the e-cig world, the practice of breaking open pods to refill with your own oil is called “Juul Hacking,” and is common among the techie vapers that frequent online message boards. By formalizing this kind of anarchist approach to hacking the pod system in a cannabis vape, KandyPens carved out an untouched niche in the pod system matrix. And when it comes to cost-effectiveness, it’s a DIY system that can’t be beaten.

Whether you’re in the market for a new vape pen or are just curious as to what all the buzz is about, here’s our take on the KandyPens’ Rubi vaporizer. 

What is the Rubi? 

The open system design of the Rubi vape riffs on pod vaping platforms like Pax pods. By allowing users to fill an empty cartridge with the oil or e-liquid of their choosing, instead of being forced to purchase expensive pre-filled pods, they’ve created a much more affordable way to enjoy the convenience of pod vape products. 

Complete with OCELL Ceramic Coil Technology and a 280mAh battery, one of the strongest e-cig batteries on the market, the Rubi is good for about 50 draws per charge. Strong and simple, the Rubi vaporizer is also temperature regulated and air-powered (no power button), meaning all you need to do is load the refillable 1ML capacity pod, and inhale. KandyPens even offers a lifetime warranty on the device.

How do you use the Rubi vaporizer?

Now that we’ve been over what the Rubi vaporizer is, why it’s cool, and what it can do, here’s how it works. 

How to charge the Rubi vaporizer

To charge the Rubi, simply use the micro-USB port with any USB cable, no proprietary charger necessary. The LED indicator light will turn from red to green when the device has charged completely. While the battery lasts a while, it also charges extremely fast, about 30 minutes for a full charge. 

Loading the Rubi Pod

This is far and away the most complicated step to using the Rubi, but it’s still pretty simple. For this device, you’re going to want to think thin when it comes to oils, like distillates sold in syringes at the dispensary. Each pod holds about a half gram of liquid, and you’re going to want the liquid to be at least body temperature to make dispensing it into the cartridge as seamless as possible. 

Steps to load the Rubi vaporizer:

  1. Remove the mouthpiece from the Rubi.
  2. Remove pod.
  3. Open the pod and press the syringe into the opening, filling the pod with oil. Start by filling the tank halfway, as not to overfill it. Replace rubber pod stopper.
  4. “Prime” the Rubi pod by inhaling from the mouthpiece 3—5 times (only needed upon first use of Rubi pod).
  5. Replace mouthpiece into the Rubi.
  6. Take a draw and enjoy.

How to clean the Rubi 

Because there are so few pieces to disassemble, cleaning the Rubi itself is easy. Just remove the pod, and use toothpicks or q-tips to clean in and around the mouthpiece. 

Due to the Japanese cotton around the ceramic coil, the pods can’t be soaked and are thus kind of difficult to clean. According to message board research, some users use white vinegar to clean the pods. While most seem to agree that each pod can last for weeks to months, and three pods only set you back $20, it makes more sense to toss an old one if it’s gross or starts acting funky.

What’s the appeal?

The appeal of KandyPens’ Rubi vaporizer comes down to three factors: discretion, affordability, and versatility. This device could easily pass as a flash drive or Juul and is small enough to hide in a pocket undetected. Its affordability is two-fold: The device only costs $50 and comes with a lifetime warranty. Because of the open pod system, users will save countless dollars on expensive prefilled cartridges over the years. The vape can become whatever you want based on what oil you put on it, even an e-cig.

Bottom line: If you’re into filling your own cartridges to save money, this is the pen for you. If you’re a more casual user, someone new to cannabis, or someone with access to expendable income, I would go with the pre-filled set up as it’s an overall more streamlined product. You can find the KandyPens Rubi vaporizer on their website.

The post Everything you need to know about the KandyPens Rubi Vaporizer appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm

Meet Dennis Peron, the father of medical marijuana

Herbs

If you can consume legal cannabis, there is a small group of dedicated and passionate cannabis activists to thank, one of whom is Dennis Peron. Widely credited as the “Father of Medical Marijuana” in California, he was an activist who worked tirelessly for access to medical use cannabis, beginning with the San Francisco gay community at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and ’90s. His partner, Jonathan West, died of AIDS in 1990. 

Peron kept charismatic company, befriending politicians and activists like Harvey Milk, the first openly gay — and subsequently assassinated — politician in California, and Mary Jane Rathbun, aka Brownie Mary, who became well-known for baking and giving pot brownies to San Francisco’s AIDS patients. He later married another activist in the medical marijuana movement, John Entwistle.

Peron was born in the Bronx and grew up in Long Island, New York. After a stint in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, Peron returned to the U.S. with two pounds of smuggled weed. Soon thereafter, he moved to San Francisco’s Castro District and joined Abbie Hoffman’s Youth International Party (Yippies), and in 1991, he organized the passage of San Francisco’s Proposition P, a resolution that allowed San Francisco residents to consume medical cannabis without being criminalized.

Cannabis, violence, and the road to legalization

In 1994, Peron co-founded, along with Brownie Mary and several others, San Francisco’s Cannabis Buyers Club, the first public medical cannabis dispensary in the U.S. But the Cannabis Buyers Club was nothing like the clean, curated and state-legal dispensaries consumers know today. Essentially selling illegal cannabis out in the open, the collective was under constant threat of harassment, arrest — which happened many times — and even violence (Peron was shot in the leg by a San Francisco police officer). 

Perhaps Peron’s most well-known contribution to the current cannabis landscape is his work on California’s Proposition 215, thought to have blazed a direct path to the passage of Prop 64 in 2016 that legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older in the Golden State. 

However, he did not support Prop 64 or Prop 19 before it, either literally or figuratively. Peron believed that there was no such thing as “recreational” cannabis and that all people who consume cannabis are doing it for medicinal purposes, whether they know it or not. 

“There is no recreational marijuana. They made it up. What they’re trying to do is separate us by saying there’s people having fun and there’s people medicating,” Peron told Merry Jane in 2016. “But people who use marijuana don’t get ‘high,’ they get normal. The government is trying to say that people are getting high. They’re trying to demonize these people because they’re having fun.

He was also strongly opposed to taxing cannabis, saying in the “Time for Hemp” podcast in 2010, “In California and other states, medicine is not taxed. Now all of a sudden our medicine has to be taxed. And I don’t get this tax … And I know it sounds good to say, ‘let’s just tax our way out of this thing. But you can’t. This is a moral crusade.”

In his later years, Peron ran a cannabis farm in northern California and received formal recognition from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for his activism. In 2018, at the age of 72, Peron passed away from lung cancer. He is survived by his husband, John Entwistle, another important activist in the gay rights and cannabis legalization movements. Peron has left behind an important and groundbreaking legacy.

Featured image by Eddie Hernandez Photos/Shutterstock

The post Meet Dennis Peron, the father of medical marijuana appeared first on Weedmaps News.

Source: wm