Now that weed has been deemed socially acceptable by pop culture and society at large, celebrity involvement in the cannabis industry is at an all time high. As this burgeoning new market continues to evolve, serious ventures from passionate celebrity stoners are beginning to eclipse brands or collabs where a celebrity (who may not even smoke) simply slaps their name on a preexisting strain and calls it a day. 

Currently, here are the ways celebrities are involving themselves in the cannabis industry. From celebrity-owned canna-brands to celeb-branded weed products, check out the current state of this sparkly new intersection where weed meets the stars. 

Tommy Chong’s Cannabis

One of a few weed endeavours the world’s first cannabis celebrity is currently working on, Tommy Chong’s Cannabis (formerly Chong’s Choice) features products like sublingual THC strips, CBD energy shots, sleep tinctures and more. His products are available in all legal states, and the brand is in the middle of an expansion, so stay tuned for new — and smokable — products to come. 

22Red by Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down

22Red produces the hottest fire of any celebrity weed brand I’ve ever encountered, due to the fact that the celebrity in question, Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down, cares more about the weed itself than selling it through his image. 

Currently available in eighths of flower, prerolls, carts and disposable vapes, 22Red has plans to expand into more strains with rare genetics. 

“It’s just crazy,” said Odadjian. “The stuff we’re coming up with lately. We’ve been hunting privately for genetics and strains, and keeping the best ones, bringing them into our growth and seeing what happens. We’re just about to have a new batch of stuff, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with the world.” 

Forbidden Flowers by Bella Thorne and Glass House Farms

Forbidden Flowers, a new brand consisting of Bella Thorne approved strains from Glass House Farms, is as glittery, girly, and seductive as the Gen Z icon herself. For those of you who are old (like myself), Bella Thorne is an outspoken stoner, popstar, actress, and all around social media star who recently made headlines for making $2,000,000 in two days off her OnlyFans account. 

In collaboration with Santa Barabara cannabis brand Glass House Farms, Forbidden Flower strains come in Indica, Sativa, Hybrid in eighths of flower and prerolls. With colored rolling papers and gradient toned glass jars with big glitter lids, the branding is, well, on brand. The flower itself is impressive, too. I tried both the sativa and hybrid varieties, and they were excellent, smoking even better than they looked. 

JAY-Z: Chief Brand Strategist at Caliva

Caliva, a popular California cannabis brand complete with its own dispensaries, delivery services, and a multitude of house brands, entered a multi-year partnership in 2019 with none other than rap mogul demi-god Jay-Z. 

Dennis O’Malley, CEO of Caliva, told Weedmaps, “We were thrilled to bring Mr. Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ Carter on board last year as Caliva’s Chief Brand Strategist. Mr. Carter has been very generous with his time since joining the company and his input has been incredibly valuable. We are excited to be able to reveal some of the projects that we’ve been working on over the course of the next few months.” 

Viola by Al Harrington

NBA legend Al Harrington has moved his passion from the basketball court to the weed world with Viola, his social equity minded, proudly Black cannabis brand. In addition to producing high-quality flower, vapes, and extracts, Viola’s mission is focused on empowering others. 

Not only does Viola empower minority ownership in the brand by creating a coalition of minority investors who own and operate Viola, they’ve created social equity programs to help cannabis entrepreneurs get into the industry. To date, they’ve committed over 500k to partner with six applicants through Phase 1, as well as 20 applicants through Phase 2 of their Social Equity Program in Los Angeles.

Marley Natural

Celebrity involvement in the cannabis industry can even be posthumous. Such is the case with Marley Natural, the official cannabis brand for the god of weed himself, Bob Marley. 

Marley Natural is a product line that includes flower, topicals, and smoking accessories. According to their website, products “offer a direct reflection of the Marley ethos that integrates nature’s goodness with a belief in the positive potential of herb.” 

In addition to super nice flower —their uber whimsical Sundae Driver strain is particularly fun — they also have a charity arm called Rise Up, which works to enact positive change in social and environmental issues.

Cookies Collaborations with Rick Ross, Run the Jewels, and Gary Payton

Bay area rapper Berner, whose megabrand Cookies runs the hype-beast corner of cannabis, is without a doubt the most successful rap/weed crossover mogul of all time. In addition to being a massive cannabis celebrity in his own right, he’s made a fortune off collaborations with his friends in the sports and entertainment industry. 

Recent notables include Collins Ave, a brand in collaboration with Rick Ross, Ooh La La, a strain released with Run the Jewels, and the now iconic Gary Payton strain, a collab with, who else, NBA icon Gary Payton. 

Mind Your Head by Mickey Hart

Attention Dead Heads and Lot Freaks: Mickey Hart has a weed brand.

In a move that excites but does not surprise, Micky Hart, a legendary drummer for the Grateful Dead, has launched Mind Your Head, a cannabis brand specializing in two kinds of prerolls: Magic Minis and Space Tickets.

The Magic Minis stand out as the packaging and branding are both particularly cool. The psychedelic engraved tin full of ten super small, super potent Chem Dawg mini joints is tough to beat. 

Tyson Ranch

Mike Tyson has come a long way from his beginnings in the ring with an ultimately successful journey that culminated in 2016 when he launched Tyson Holistic Holdings, a parent brand that sells weed merch, Tyson Ranch branded cannabis products, and was recently on track to open a 420 acre marijuana playground in the California Desert under the Tyson Ranch name. 

Plans include a luxury hotel, weed attractions, and an amphitheater for music festivals, along with a slew of other wildly exorbitant features, like a lazy river that will supposedly take over an hour to cross. Another sort of bizarre twist to the story, Tyson Ranch doesn’t grow their own flower, and has no plans to ever grow weed on its premises. But hey, that’s the celebrity weed world for you. 

Featured image: Shutterstock/Weedmaps illustration

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How To Ensure A Safe Cannabis Vaping Experience

How can consumers who enjoy vaping cannabis be sure they are purchasing pure cannabis? Two pros weigh in.  

The post How To Ensure A Safe Cannabis Vaping Experience appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The development is disappointing to say the least.

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Whether it’s weed purchased on the street or cannabis bought at a licensed dispensary, we generally weigh small amounts of cannabis in grams, especially when it comes to amounts less than an ounce. In the US, we typically weigh commercial goods in ounces or pounds, so why are grams the universal measurement for smaller amounts? 

To understand this, we first need to distinguish two common systems of measurement: the SI, or international system of measurements, and the English or imperial system. 

The King’s Foot

Although today we tend to take measurements for granted as fixed, universal units (1 inch is always exactly 1 inch, right?), historically, this wasn’t always the case. The British or imperial system traces its roots back to ancient Rome, with measurements based on commonly traded goods. For instance, in the 1300s, an “inch” was defined as the length of three “average” or “ideal” barleycorns set side-by-side. Of course, no such “ideal” seed exists.

Over the centuries, various imperialist measurements for volume, weight, and distance changed as new kings assumed control of their kingdoms. This led to a lot of headache. For example, if imperial distances were redefined, farmers had to change the boundaries of their lands by literally moving all of their fence posts. (To be fair, SI unit definitions have also changed over the centuries, but these changes are relatively tiny and largely insignificant for most practical, everyday cases.)

By the 1960s, both SI and imperial units became completely standardized (so, no more shifting fences with each new king), though most developed nations adopted the SI system. Today, even Britain relies on the SI system. The US remains one of the only developed nations that still relies on imperial units. 

So, why did most of the world go with the SI system? SI measurements hinge on factors of “10” for determining how units are categorized, which the French dubbed a “decimal system.” For instance, a kilogram is “1,000 grams” or, “three factors of 10 greater than 1 gram.” In the imperial system, however, there are few “neat” conversions as you see in the SI system. For instance, an imperial ounce equals 437.5 imperial grains — not exactly the neatest conversion. On the other hand, to convert “kilograms” to “grams,” a person simply divides kilograms by 1,000. Or, for the less mathematically inclined, one simply “moves the decimal” three places to the right — no calculators necessary. 

Alright, So What About Weed?

Coincidentally, grams convert to ounces or pounds relatively easily, though these conversions aren’t exact. You’re probably familiar with an eighth-ounce of weed coming out to about 3.5 grams. A quarter-ounce of weed is about 7 grams. Again, these aren’t exact conversions, but they’re close enough for the average toker. 

For the record, US educators and institutions have tried, for decades, to convert the Land of the “Free” to the SI system. Each time, these attempts at national conversion have failed. Americans just can’t let go of the king’s feet — or the king’s weights, which is why we still weigh weed in pounds and ounces even though we also weigh it in grams, too. 

Our Hot Take: Imperial System’s Small Measurements Are Inconvenient for Cannabis

Now, when we get to smaller amounts, like the amount of cannabis that fits into a joint, imperial measurements just don’t cut it. For instance, the average joint holds about 1 gram (SI) of ground-up flower. But if we tried this with a common imperial unit for small amounts, such as “grains,” this gets complicated: 1 gram equals about 15.43 grains. An eighth-ounce of weed, or 3.5 grams, becomes roughly 54 grains in imperial units.

Another imperial unit for small weights is the dram, or, more precisely, the avoirdupois dram. In the US, we usually weigh whisky in drams, so, if we’re going to regulate “marijuana like alcohol,” wouldn’t it make sense to use the dram instead of the gram?

No! And here’s why: 1 gram is about 0.564 dram. And 1 dram is about 27.34 grains. If we’re trying to convert between drams and grains, the calculations become a bit of a nightmare. You can already see why most cannabis sellers prefer to stick with grams when weighing smaller amounts of cannabis: The math is much easier to calculate in grams than it is in grains or drams, as most smaller weed weights will fall somewhere between 0.5 gram to 7 grams. At greater than 7 grams, we can start referring to weights in terms of ounces (or fractions of ounces, rather, such as a quarter-ounce).

Furthermore, calibrating a scale that measures in grams is both convenient and efficient. The US nickel weighs almost exactly 5 grams. And most folks have a nickel laying around their home, if not residing comfortably within their own pockets. If you want to ensure your seller’s scale is accurate, simply drop a nickel on it. If it’s not reading 5 grams, something is off (and you’re likely getting ripped off, too).

But, There’s Gotta Be Another Way

Now, what if we went with a more familiar imperial unit for measuring a joint or a bowl, such as ounces? In that case, 1 gram equals 0.035274 ounces. If someone only wanted to buy 2 grams of weed for the weekend (we envy such lightweights), the seller would need to weigh out 0.07 ounces, which will be both tricky and inaccurate with most commercially available scales. 

There is one neat imperial conversion for small weights to larger ones. One pound equals exactly 7,000 grains. However, 1 grain equals about 0.065 grams. So, good luck trying to divvy up that pound in equal portions of grains with your standard pocket scale. Or, you could just do it in grams and save yourself a lot of unnecessary arithmetic. 

The bipartisan measure is called The Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2020.

Top 5 Fresh Toast Stories Of The Week: Sept. 11, 2020

ICYMI: Here are the headlines making news this week on The Fresh Toast.

The post Top 5 Fresh Toast Stories Of The Week: Sept. 11, 2020 appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The Oregon Fires And Cannabis

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) reported that 1 in every 5 licensed marijuana businesses (408 businesses) are in evacuation protocols from the 35 uncontained wildfires.

The post The Oregon Fires And Cannabis appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

This Texas Law Unintentionally Caused Cannabis Arrests To Drop In The State

Hemp legalization caused confusion among police and prosecutors, who have instead adopted a ‘Smart on Crime’ approach.

The post This Texas Law Unintentionally Caused Cannabis Arrests To Drop In The State appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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A major cannabis reform bill appearing before the House of Representatives this month is gathering bipartisan support. 

This week, Representative Don Young (R-AK), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, told Alaska Public Media that he was planning to vote in favor of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. This bill, which will come up for a vote on September 21st, would legalize cannabis on a federal level, clear the criminal records of former pot offenders, and reinvest weed tax revenue into communities harmed by the War on Drugs.

“It’s a big vote,” Young explained, according to Marijuana Moment. “And we’re going to pass that, I’m confident… I’m one to believe that when people vote on something—as they did in the state of Alaska—we ought to recognize people’s will and follow through with it.” The congressman added that the vote is especially critical because “the federal government is trying to enforce some of their federal laws against marijuana, and I’m saying no.”

Young is the third Republican Representative to announce their support for the MORE Act. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) not only supports the bill, but is actually the only GOP member to officially co-sponsor the legislation. Gaetz did say that he is opposed to the provision redirecting tax revenue to marginalized communities, but also added that he will vote in favor of the bill nonetheless.

“I believe in cannabis reform in this country,” Gaetz said, Marijuana Moment reports. “The federal government has lied to the American people for a generation about cannabis. What are we going to do about it? The MORE Act.”

And in August, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) also said that he was down with legalization. “Of course I intend to vote yes on the bill,” said McClintock to POLITICO. “With respect to timing, I do find it ironic that the only small businesses the Democrats seem to be worried about is cannabis shops, but I would support this bill whenever it is brought to a vote.”

Although they might not be bold enough to announce their intentions in advance, at least a few other GOP lawmakers may also vote in favor of the bill. Last month, 31 Republicans approved an amendment to prohibit the Department of Justice from interfering with state-licensed cannabis laws. And the fact that Don Young, the longest-serving member of the House, supports the MORE Act may well convince some of his peers to do the same.

“As the dean of the House, Don Young’s support for the MORE Act is a huge deal,” said Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, to Marijuana Moment. “It is our sincere hope that other Republicans will follow his lead to ensure that states that choose to regulate a cannabis marketplace are protected under federal law.”

But even if the House passes the bill, it must still be approved by the Senate and the president. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has worked to help legalize hemp, but is no fan of marijuana, and the GOP-led Senate has a long history of stopping cannabis reform bills in their tracks. And while the president has previously expressed support for states’ rights to legalize, it is uncertain whether he would back full federal legalization.

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Nebraska’s Supreme Court just ruled that a previously approved measure to legalize medical marijuana is “unconstitutional” and therefore cannot appear on the state’s election ballot in November. This is, of course, anti-democratic and infuriating, but let’s take a look at how this happened. 

First off, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is an idiot. Just last week he declared, “There is no such thing as medical marijuana.” Ricketts proclaimed this falsehood as the leader of a state where 77 percent of residents support legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Now on to the nitty gritty. Last July, the activist group Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) collected more than enough signatures to qualify a medical weed bill to be included on the November election ballot. 

Then, on August 28 the Secretary of State made it official: Nebraskans could decide for themselves whether or not to legalize medical marijuana by voting on Nebraska Medical Cannabis Constitutional Amendment (NMCCA). 

Three days later, however, Sheriff Terry Wagner filed a lawsuit to block the measure, claiming it overstepped constitutional boundaries by covering too many topics for a single initiative. A state court initially tossed out the challenge. Yesterday, however, Sheriff “No-Pot” won.

The Nebraska Supreme Court declared that it agreed with Sheriff Wagner — a man who puts people in jail for possessing and using cannabis. With only two justices dissenting, the Supremes formally removed the proposal from the ballot.

“As proposed, the [NMCCA] contains more than one subject — by our count, it contains at least eight subjects,” the court wrote in its official opinion. “It would regulate the role of cannabis in at least six areas of public life. These secondary purposes are not naturally and necessarily connected to the NMCCA’s primary purpose. As such, they constitute logrolling.”

The term “logrolling” is a bit dramatic, considering the definition means: “the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other’s proposed legislation.” Further, a robust cannabis bill is generally required in order to ensure a program runs smoothly and serves the people in the best ways possible. Plus, legalizing cannabis in any form touches multiple parts of society, so it makes sense that there are “multiple subjects” included within the bill — pretty much all cannabis legislation has multiple subjects within their respective bills. 

But, the disingenuous patronizing didn’t stop there. “If voters are to intelligently adopt a State policy with regard to medicinal cannabis use, they must first be allowed to decide that issue alone, unencumbered by other subjects,” the court wrote.

Seriously? Is this real life? The Supreme Court of Nebraska is implying that state residents aren’t competent enough to understand what they support. It implies that the government and courts know better, and the people — who very clearly want access to legal medical cannabis — are getting duped and don’t know it. 

2020 has been quite a year — one that’s shown the many different hues of fascism in America. The people of Nebraska just got bulldozed by their state government, despite making one thing emphatically clear: they want legal medical marijuana and they want it now!