"You don't have to be dreadlocked to be Rasta. We live in Rasta Cruz and my other world is stewarding ganja. Ganja is how I've supported myself. I'm a friend of cannabis personally and as a band."
In 2019, the Original Cannabis Cafe, formerly Lowell Cafe, burst onto the scene. It was the nation's first legally permitted cannabis restaurant, with long lines snaking out of the venue and down La Brea Avenue.
I used to have about 20 pot plants growing on one side, just to experiment. But we're too close to the ocean and they got mold, so we harvested them. Every chance I get. I've been a sun-tanner all my life. The sun is why we moved from Canada to California.
In early February, Canadian researchers reported that rates of severe mental illness among young people have risen alongside increased access to high-potency cannabis (Callaghan, et al., 2022). Around the same time, a new book, A Killing in Cannabis (Kohn, 2024), revisited a 2019 California murder and highlighted how violence tied to the marijuana trade has persisted even after legalization. On February 9, 2024, an opinion piece from the New York Times editorial board
Between the two of us, we smoke one joint after 7 p.m. about four days a week. We also enjoy it on special occasions like holidays and birthdays. Lately, when our adult child has been over to visit and we step away to share a joint, they'll comment, I thought you only smoked on certain days or something to that effect. I feel like they're keeping tabs on us, or even judging us by saying OK in a disapproving way.
"I made a connection with some Black farmers out in Florida in December, and I drove there to pick up the watermelons," he said. "Just so people can continue their fruit fasts and stuff like that. People were telling me 'I'm 10 days deep into a fruit fast and you're saving my life right now.'"
Jason Ambrosino, the CEO and Founder of Veterans Choice Creations, shared his experience of being prescribed numerous medications for severe pain, stating, 'They had me on a lot of different medications, a lot of gabapentin and the typical combination that the military sees. It turned me into a zombie, I couldn't handle it.' His struggle with medication led him to seek alternatives.
Zach is the CMO and VP of digital marketing at CannaPlanners, where he leads a team powering SEO and digital growth for more than 150 dispensaries and 30 cannabis retailers nationwide. Zach honed his skills in the plumbing, HVAC and automotive industries, fields where success depends on mastering local search. We spent two minutes with Zach to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he's admired.
THC-infused beverages will now be available at special events in the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks, which some experts suggest may pave the way for other arenas to do the same. These drinks can be sold outside of state-legal recreational dispensaries because they are part of the hemp-derived cannabis market that is currently legal on the federal level.
For many cannabis consumers, there's one unmistakable sign that they've found the right dispensary: the flower smells alive. It's expressive, sticky, vibrant. At Purple Lotus in San Jose, that's not luck, it's the result of a freshness-first approach that begins long before the jar reaches the shelf. Fresh Flower Begins with Intentional Practices Purple Lotus restocks its flower selection every week, keeping shelves aligned with the natural rhythm of the plant.