The artist worked with Charlotte’s Web to create the world’s largest crop art installation in a Kansas hemp field.

The post Shepard Fairey’s 76-acre cannabis crop art will blow your mind appeared first on Leafly.

Image via

The California Assembly just unanimously approved a new bill that would impose massive fines on any business that supports black market cannabis sales. 

State law already prohibits unlicensed cannabis sales, cultivation, and production, but this new bill takes aim at ancillary businesses that indirectly support illegal sales. Companies that advertise for black market weed dealers, landlords that knowingly rent space to illegal pot operations, or anyone else found guilty of aiding and abetting illicit sales could be charged $30,000 a day under this new bill.

Assemblyperson Blanca Rubio told the Los Angeles Times that she proposed the bill to help crack down on the Golden State’s thriving black market. “Despite some success during the first two years of legalized cannabis sales, the illicit market has flourished,” said Rubio. “In addition to dwindling tax revenues, the underground market presents public safety and health threats to California.”

California officials have scrambled to find a solution to the state’s black market situation ever since adult-use sales went live in 2018. In 2019, illegal weed dealers raked in an estimated $9 billion in sales, three times the amount that licensed adult-use retailers sold that same year. Even today, as much as 80 percent of all pot sold in the Golden State is sourced illegally. 

Cannabis industry insiders are divided in their opinions over the proposed legislation. The United Cannabis Business Association, which supports state-licensed pot businesses, has come out in favor of the bill. “The illicit cannabis market must be shut down to ensure that legal operators can see an increase of patients and consumers which creates union jobs while we contribute to local and the State of California’s tax revenues,” the organization wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

Other advocates, including NORML, believe that the state’s law-enforcement-focused strategies are not the most effective solution to the problem. “In general we would rather see ‘carrots’ to assist people in securing commercial licenses by lowering the barriers to entry, rather than ‘sticks,’ be they criminal or civil,” said Ellen Komp, deputy director of California NORML, to the Times.

Cops have been working overtime to bust illegal weed operations for years now, seizing millions of dollars in illicit products, but the black market has bounced back from every raid. Last month, state regulators even tried to secure additional funding to hire their own personal police force. But many industry advocates say that reforming the state’s burdensome laws and regulations would be more effective than hiring more cops.

Weed prices are one major factor that is driving the popularity of black market sales in the state. Extreme taxes and high regulatory and compliance fees have driven the prices of legal weed through the roof, while illicit operations are able to skirt these taxes and fees. Around 90 percent of Cali’s towns and cities also prohibit legal pot sales in their jurisdictions, which makes it hard for a large percentage of state residents to buy weed legally.

Before it can become law, however, the bill must still be approved by the state Senate, who will debate the proposal when they return to Sacramento later this month. Governor Gavin Newsom must also sign the bill before it can take effect, but he seems likely to do so given his previous support of enforcement-based strategies.

Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘I Feel A Sneeze Coming On In My Mask’

Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley, is a nationally regarded expert who appears regularly in the media to discuss modern-day etiquette dilemmas.

The post Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘I Feel A Sneeze Coming On In My Mask’ appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Image via

Hollywood star, cannabis kingpin, and stoner comedy overlord Seth Rogen recently got serious about the anti-black nature of pot prohibition in the United States and called for the expungement of criminal records. 

Rogen sat on a virtual panel last week hosted by the Marijuana Policy Project titled “Reimagining Justice: Race, Cannabis, and Policing,” which is where he discussed the racial injustices of Drug War policing.  Houseplant, the cannabis company run by Rogen and his partner Seth Goldberg, sponsored the online discussion panel.

“The war on drugs was racist, is racist.” Rogen said. “The only reason cannabis is illegal is for racist reasons, and we have to acknowledge that and be aware of that.”

After decades of drug policies that target people of color, Rogen and other panelists noted that cannabis legalization is hugely benefitting white businesses, while many Black people remain in prison on pot charges and those with criminal records are barred from the industry.

According to a report by the ACLU, race-based enforcement of cannabis is still the way weed is policed in the US. The report states that Blacks are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for pot than whites. While disproportionate figures remain consistent in every US state, cops in Montana and Kentucky are 9.4 and 9.5 times more likely to bust Black people for weed than white folks. In some individual counties, the disparity can range from 20 to 50 times higher. Such inequity cannot stand and whites, Rogen said, must take action against it.

“If you are white people in the cannabis space,” Rogen said, “you should acknowledge the realities of the space you are in and the conditions on which this industry was built and the history of cannabis in America.”

While affirming that Houseplant is committed to racial justice, Rogen pointed out his own privilege. “My life has been far less negatively affected from outward cannabis use than many people that I’m friends with who are not white,” he said. “A lot of people just don’t want to acknowledge it or think about it. And to us, we cannot operate one day without acknowledging it, because we are benefiting from it.”

In addition, Rogen and Goldberg remain active with National Expungement Week, working to eradicate the records of those who did time for weed crimes. 

“Expungement is incredibly important to us,” Rogen said, “because it is a step in correcting some of the wrongs and giving back some of the rights that these people, who have been negatively affected by the War on Drugs, had taken away from them for no reason.”

The #1 Thing This Doctor Wishes Other Physicians Knew About Cannabis

“We need more research, but the research needs to focus on the fundamental understanding of what is going on with the whole plant.”

The post The #1 Thing This Doctor Wishes Other Physicians Knew About Cannabis appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Despite the technological leaps made by the vaporizer industry in recent years, there are still relatively few devices that can vape both flower and concentrate, and even fewer that can do both jobs well. 

The Firefly 2+, a new and improved version of the popular Firefly 2 vaporizer, is a particularly unique portable convection vaporizer that functions as a kind of electric pipe. 

With upgrades from the previous model that include a significant price drop and the broadest temperature range of any vaporizer, the Firefly 2+ is an affordable and versatile option for tech savvy Millennials and Gen Zers looking for an alternative to smoking.  

Whether you’re in the market for a new vape, or just curious as to what all the buzz is about, here’s our take on the new Firefly 2+. 

What is the Firefly 2+? 

The Firefly 2+ is a touch sensor activated portable convection vaporizer that stands out for its on-demand heating feature, versatility in accepting both flower and concentrates, and a glass heating chamber with ember glow LED design that mimics the feeling of smoking a bowl.

At $249.95, this device is still in the realm of affordability when it comes to multi-use vapes with tech features. And at only 5” tall and 1.4” wide, it’s a sleek little vape that packs a punch, producing consistent, great tasting vapor because of its convection method of heating. 

Most vaporizers use conduction heating, meaning the vaping material is heated through direct contact with the surface of the heating chamber. While this works, it can result in uneven vaporization. The Firefly 2+ uses convection heating, meaning the air is preheated before it passes through the material, preserving terpenes, cannabinoids and vaporizing evenly.

What can you vape with the Firefly 2+?

The Firefly 2+ is compatible with both ground flower and extracts. 

How do you use the Firefly 2+?

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, here’s a breakdown of how to use the device itself. 

Charge the Firefly 2+

The Firefly 2+ comes with a proprietary charging dock. To charge, plug the cable into a USB adapter and connect to the charging dock. When placed on the dock, the device’s LED light will begin blinking blue to indicate charge, and solid blue to indicate it’s ready for use.

Pro tip: Use a wall adapter 9 volts or higher to ensure fastest charge. Using a lesser adapter can increase charging time by up to two hours. 

LED Guide 

• Blinking Green: Device is heating
• Solid Green: Device is ready to use 

• Blinking Blue: Battery is charging (while on dock)
• Solid Blue: Battery is charged

• Blinking Red: Battery is low and needs charging
• Solid Red: Device needs to cool down for a few minutes

Heating Control (from device) 

To put the Firefly into temperature setting mode, hold the right button and tap the left button quickly three times. 

The LED will blink red 1—7 times, indicating the current temperature. 

To change the temperature, you must still be holding the right button and tap the left button the following times to set the desired temperature: 

• 7 Taps: 500 degrees: Concentrates (Beware: The concentrate heat setting will cause combustion if used with ground material)
• 6 Taps: High
• 5 Taps: Med-High
• 4 Taps: Med
• 3 Taps: Med-Low 
• 2 Taps: Low
• 1 Tap: 320 degrees: Ultra Low

The Firefly App 

One of the main selling points of the Firefly 2+, especially for younger generations, is the Firefly App. Unfortunately, on November 15th, 2019, Apple removed all vaporizer apps from its store. Firefly apps that were downloaded before removal will still work but cannot be updated, but Android users are not affected. 

Not only can you easily set exact temperatures based on the consistency and material you plan on using, but you can fully customize your vape with features like device calibration, touch sensor activation, battery level updates and more. 

How to pack flower 

When packing flower into the Firefly 2+, you want it to be ground coarsely, much like what you would use for a joint or a blunt. If the grind is too powdery, it can pull through the vape. It’s also important to note that when the glass chamber is filled to the top with flower, it shouldn’t be packed too tightly. 

1. Remove the magnetic lid of the device and fill the glass chamber with the coarsely ground flower. 
2. Make sure the interior surface is completely free of material so it will be able to seal tightly and completely. 
3. Replace the lid, and check that the seal is tight. 

Vaping Flower 

1. Using the device’s “touch and glow” heating feature, place your fingers on the touch sensors on either side of the vape — without pressing down or using force — to start heating. 
2. The LED light will blink two times to indicate it’s heating up, then turn solid green. Once solid green, the heating coil will begin to glow, and you can take a hit. 
3. Continue to hold down the touch sensors while you inhale for ten seconds. After 30 seconds of holding the touch sensors, the Firefly will turn off automatically.

How to pack concentrate

1. Open the lid and press the concentrate pad firmly into the bottom of the glass heating chamber, readying the device for use. 
2. It’s important to use a very small amount of concentrate with the Firefly 2+, roughly the size of a grain of rice for solid extracts, or 2-3 drops of liquid. Place concentrate in the center of the pad. Replace the lid, making sure the seal is tight.

Vaping Concentrate

To vape concentrate with the Firefly 2+, either download the Firefly app and use the “Concentrates” temperature setting, or set the temperature manually from the device. 

Follow the same steps as flower vaping. 

Pro tip: Be sure to take an extra long hit from your concentrate bowl on the first inhale. Doing so will ensure the concentrate melts into the pad correctly and vaporizes evenly throughout the rest of the session. 

How to clean the Firefly 2+

Cleaning the firefly is a simple process that involves the heating chamber, the vapor path, the mouthpiece and the concentrate pad. 

Heating Chamber: Use the small brush or cleaning pick to get out any particles, then use an alcohol wipe to clean.  

Vapor Path: Use alcohol wipes to clean the surfaces of the vapor path. 

Mouthpiece: Wiggle the mouthpiece until it has been removed from the device, and remove any debris with the pick. Click the mouthpiece back into place. 

Concentrate Pad: Preheat the device for 10-15 seconds to loosen any extra material, then remove pad with cleaning pick. Don’t try to clean the concentrate pad itself. 

What is the appeal?

The Firefly 2+ is about as 2020 as it gets with a lot of tech and very little tradition. It’s kind of cool that amidst all the techy features like convection heating, app integration, and touch sensor technology, there’s still a physical bowl to pack that cherries when you hit it, even if that cherry isn’t exactly a real one. 

This vape is great for the younger set of casual cannabis users who are looking for a healthier, or more likely just hipper, alternative to the smelly world of smoking. While pipes and joints are great, it’s a brave new world out there. If the first couple months of 2020 are any indicator, you’re going to have to be high to brave it yourself. The Firefly is a great place to start. 

Featured image courtesy of Firefly 

The post Everything you need to know about the Firefly 2+ appeared first on Weedmaps News.

And it’s costing fledgling businesses—licensed by the state, and following the rules—millions of dollars.

The post Border Patrol keeps seizing legal cannabis far from border in California appeared first on Leafly.

More Americans Are Using LSD To Escape Reality

Researchers found that past-year LSD use jumped more than 50% between 2015 and 2018.

The post More Americans Are Using LSD To Escape Reality appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

Combating An Overactive Bladder With THC And CBD

OAB (sometimes called “spastic bladder”) is the frequent and urgent need to empty your bladder.

The post Combating An Overactive Bladder With THC And CBD appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

However, according to experts, police harassment increased.