The majority of stories are about giving cannabis products as gifts. That’s reasonable and refreshing, but it’s not even close to the greatest contribution that cannabis can make to the holiday season: activating and nourishing the holiday spirit itself.

That frame of mind – an attitude of love, peace, playfulness, and spirituality – was once a predominant element of the holidays that far outshone commercialism, and was largely divorced from politics.

The holiday spirit brought together not only families, but all humankind, under the vast umbrella of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Day, the Pagan Winter Solstice (also known as Yule), the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid, or Milad), and two primary holidays of Buddhists and Hindus, Bodhi Day and Dhanu Sankranti.

During the darkest days of winter, the human spirit shone brightest, with an abundance of holiday cheer. But these days, we feel more divided than ever. Memes about how stressful the holidays are or how toxic family can be are more popular on the internet than any exemplifying pure holiday spirit. No one seems happier during the holidays,  except for those who venerate Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

How can we revive this precious holiday spirit? Cannabis. It’s now a legal libation in many places — and it has long been a part of the holidays of many cultures.

Cannabis consumption on any day of the year inspires many of the fundamental feelings and philosophies that the traditional holidays do: love over fear, spiritualism over commercialism, generosity over greed, and unity over alienation.

Those transcendent choices may very well be why all human beings are wired with cannabinoid receptors. That trait of human neurology did not survive evolution merely to create commerce. The endocannabinoid system, and its interaction with cannabis, survived because it offers heightened awareness, greater relaxation, social comfort, relief from pain, sensory delight, and enhanced creativity.

Cannabinoid receptors stimulate and support cognition and mood-related brain chemistry, like the natural antidepressant anandamide, a word derived from Sanskrit that means “joy, bliss, and delight.”

This Santa-friendly brain chemical can also be triggered by the holidays, limited only by how many Grinches or drunk uncles you have to deal with, or the size of your VISA bill.  Anandamide, especially when acting in concert with its herbal cousin THC, triggers feedback and feed-forward mechanisms that turn happy experiences into biochemical well-being.

Using cannabis to celebrate the holidays creates a powerfully pleasant, self-perpetuating sense of cognition, or cannabis consciousness. A dovetailing of the holidays and herbal sacraments validates both, acknowledging each experience as a key to a gratifying life.

One of the most exciting features of cannabis consciousness is its veritable superpower to help you see old things in a new light, and experience old actions in a new way.

That amazing act of perceptual plasticity is most often found in children, for whom everything is new, from one moment to the next. That newness is what makes childhood so mesmerizing and memorable, and it’s never more thrilling than during the magic of the winter holidays, with the celebration of life the way it should be — happy songs, and colored lights glancing off moonlit snow, accompanied by the aroma of baking bread, the joy of toys, and the presence of the people you love most.  That childhood feeling of your face pink and cold from skating and sledding. And gleeful anticipation so strong it hurts.

Unfortunately, we’re often told during our early years that the happiness of childhood is fleeting, so we eventually enforce that perception upon ourselves. At that point, some of us cave into the sad notion that “Christmas is for kids.”

But the feelings of newness and “nowness” can be evoked with cannabis – ritualistically, recreationally, or medically.

The holidays can be our gift to ourselves if we choose to accept it.  When we do, the outcome can be a perfect interlacing of time, place, purpose, and person.

Is it artificial?  No, not if it happens. Feelings are real. They’re no less real than the grandest moments of your childhood, when you knew at a gut level that life could be good.

That heightened awareness awakens the sense of wonder and newness in all of us, connecting us to our inner child. Of all the benefits that cannabis confers, helping us to find the lost child within us is its greatest.

So remember: sometimes it’s not the child within you that awakens newness. It’s newness, through the wizardry of cannabis, that finds your inner child.

For many baby boomers, Gen-Xers, and older millennials, this holiday season, brightened by all that legal cannabis offers, can become a time of reunion with the feeling that life is new every day. That feeling wasn’t an illusion of youth. It happened, and it can happen again if you let it.

Stand outside on a starry night with the cannabis of your choice, and make it your mission to reconnect with your younger self, free from the cares of the world.

Let the plant help you tap into your inner joy and explore different ways of thinking. While you may think that humbug feeling is synonymous with “adulthood,” it is never too late to reconnect with pure holiday cheer. One hundred and seventy-five years ago, Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote a reminder that the dream of remaking your world is possible:

“The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
The long day wanes;
The slow moon climbs;
The deep moans ’round
With many voices.
Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.”

The post Feeling humbug? Here’s how to tap into your holiday cheer appeared first on Flowertown.

Jamil and his mom

My 80-year-old mom was so opposed to cannabis until she was in so much pain with Arthritis that she finally agreed to try it to help with her pain. Cannabis has brought us closer because I can openly talk about it with her….we go to the dispensary together, and she has become an advocate along my side. It is one more thing that we can talk about together. And I love seeing the positive effects it has had for her.

I have also seen my relationship grow a little stronger with my nephew now that we have cannabis in common. We talk more about our experiences with different products. He was the first to tell me about the recent news with the MLB and cannabis. All in all, our conversations always start or end with some sort of cannabis experience.

Scott and his aunt When I first moved to California, I was still in the closet about my cannabis use, and moving into my aunt and uncle's house, with two high school-aged cousins, meant it needed to stay that way. However, that all changed when my other aunt, Diana, asked me if I smoked 'pot' and where I got it from. Taken aback, I sheepishly said that I did use cannabis and that I got it from a friend of a friend who owned a dispensary.

From then on, I was Diana's cannabis guide--helping her shop, purchasing for her, and listening to her feedback on her experiences. She had used pot when she was younger but, like many of her generation, was rediscovering the brave new world of cannabis in California. She has yet to graduate from 'the sleepy one' to 'indica,' but she has tried enough things to have a preference for vaporizers, topicals, and occasionally flower.

Likely she would be on the edibles band-wagon if it were not for an unfortunate incident involving a 70mg Cheeba Chew and her assumptions about serving sizes. Shopping for her became easier as I learned her preferences, but grew tiresome as we would run out at different rates, resulting in me bugging my friend more often.

Eventually, got our medical cards together. We went straight from the doctor's office to a dispensary, and we were blown away by the variety of products. I doubt she would have taken to in-person shopping so quickly if I had not accompanied her that first time, but shopping is something of a hobby for her. She took to it quickly, often informing me of new products recommended to her by her favorite budtender.

While we haven’t smoked together, we often compare our individual experiences, and occasionally I am still able to give her a good recommendation to help tailor her regimen to better reach her desired benefits. Introducing her to cannabis topicals, for example, helped her tremendously with her newly budding Arthritis, and tinctures have become part of her nightly ritual for better sleep.

I have enjoyed helping her along her cannabis journey, and for a time, it was our little secret among the family. Today I feel our bonding over this previously off-limits topic has elevated the maturity of our relationship, helping both of us see each other as equal, individual adults rather than through a generational, family power dynamic.
Sometimes we get in ruts with the people we love. We talk weather and to-dos, then regret we never got around to the deep stuff. Given that recent studies show cannabis increases empathy, it’s no surprise that cannabis has been used to wiggle out of that rut and create deeper connections within families. Whether it’s my aunt or older cousin, sharing a pre-roll has brought on more profound conversations than I ever had with those relatives before.

For better or worse, the holidays are the time to spend with family. As legalization sweeps the country, more families are incorporating cannabis into their festivities--or at the very least, getting a tad more comfortable talking about it. We asked our Flowertown team to share about a time when cannabis brought them closer to a loved one or facilitated a conversation they wouldn’t have otherwise had. The stories they shared illustrate how cannabis can unite a dinner table in an increasingly divided world. Click on a staff member's photo to check our their story below. Crossing family divides with cannabis Mason and his parents "Honey, come quick. Our son is about to smoke his first bowl!" My first time smoking cannabis was with my parents when I was eighteen after my first year of college.

My folks had an amazing balance of being responsibly open-minded. Being products of the 60s, they embraced the "love your neighbor" and activism for your fellow man vibes but broke the "lazy hippy" stereotypes. My Dad works as a respiratory therapist full-time at the hospital in town while my mom runs and owns the local coffee shop, all the while using cannabis nearly their entire lives!

Growing up hearing their psychedelic stories made me respect the nostalgia while also still head caution of those "we were young and dumb" moments. Yet they never revealed their daily cannabis use to me until that summer. I was none the wiser. Aspiring to be a musician and singer, I avoided smoking and drug use at all costs, especially cigarettes. Although my parents never taught me that cannabis was a drug or that it was "bad," they instead provided me an open-minded aspect of moderation with common sense. "If you ever want to try it, try it with us first." Well, that is exactly what ended up happening.

Coming home from my first year of college, I had still never smoked anything or done any recreational drugs except for alcohol. Catching up on the back porch with some friends of mine and my folks, my southern raised Momma interrupts my lengthy rambling and says, "Do you want to smoke a bowl with us, son?" I was speechless. My only response was honest "Sure!... Okay!" At that time, we hear my Pops say, "Alright! Bout time!" as he jumps off the couch in the living room and stumbles outside to join in on rotation. They taught me how to corner my bowl to save the green part of the flower for the next persons hit, how to use the glassware properly, and even how to budget and plan out my stash all that night and it was such a blast! After that, when I would be home for summers, we would have morning rituals of "coffee and bongs" or "bedtime bongs" at night, all bonding together in the living room. It eventually became part of our daily lives, where it made yard work fun, music more profound, and brought us closer as a family.
Nick Flora and his in-law

Last visit home, I had a conversation with my sibling and his wife about how there is a lot more scientific research going into the medicinal benefits surrounding cannabis. About ten years ago, his wife was diagnosed with a rare inner-ear disease called Meniere's disease. Without going into great detail, when one has Meniere's, they are often plagued with horrible dizzy spells and hearing loss. I've seen first-hand how this condition can worsen over the years.

We have never really talked in depth of my career and interest in cannabis. Perhaps due to the long term stigma attached to the plant. However, in recent months we've started talking about how cannabis could be a possibility in helping relieve some of her symptoms. Historically, they fall on the ultra-conservative side of most things, including cannabis. However, as more research comes out, and after our conversations, they are both opening up the idea of obtaining a medical card and consulting with budtenders in their area. For me, it's important to offer up helpful cannabis resources to friends and family, and by doing so, it's opened up the door for more communication and ultimately, relationship growth.

Nik and his father My dad and I stuck to our family roles to a T. My dad played the father and I played the son. We were very close but never considered him a friend. Once I turned 18, my dad and I shared our first pre-roll together and he started opening up about his past and life lessons he’s learned. We shared a lot of laughs and ever since then I felt like I could truly call him my friend. We update each other on our lives and ask each other for advice ETC. He’s one of my best friends and cannabis helped us open up to each other to get out of the father-son roles we played.

I always thought of my dad as a pretty perfect person and it made me think about how I can live up to that and/or surpass that and make him acknowledge my achievements. After this talk, I realized he has messed up a lot in his life as well and he’s not the perfect being I thought he was and it’s okay to not be.
Mandana and her childhood pet When my usually spry family cat, Spartapuss—or Sparty—became lethargic and immobile, we expected the worst.

Sparty made a surprise appearance into our lives when my godmother, who was a second mother to me, died suddenly of pancreatic cancer. He was a beacon of light when everything fell apart. He made the darkest time feel a little lighter.

But his was a seemingly overnight deterioration from an affectionate little being to an incapacitated cat we hardly knew. Taking him to the vet, his prognosis was “persistent arthritis” attacking most of his joints, from nose to tail. The vet could operate, but it’s a recurring condition, so it was futile digging a hole just to have it filled again.

An impained Sparty quickly degenerated, his plaintive meows permeating every waking moment, even through his sleep.

My family and I furiously searched for antidotes for his pain. One solution was high-dose morphine adjacent pain medicine. It was difficult to tell if this helped Sparty, since the potent medicine left him in an impenetrable daze, making him even more sedentary than before.

There was talk of end of life planning for him. There were arguments. There were tears. I couldn’t fathom losing him after only eight years.

My recommendation was CBD. My parents were split on this solution, but what they did agree on was that in his condition, Spartapuss had zero quality of life.

We administered the CBD oil to Sparty every day, which was met with great resistance from him. After my mom tasted the CBD and found it to be bitter and generally revolting, we found a nearly flavorless variety that was met with far less contention.

Within a week, Sparty experienced great progress. In two weeks, there was extreme progress, and at the three-week mark, the vet noticed the arthritis actually receding! Today, Sparty has been taking CBD oil every day for two years, and is back to the same cat he was before his diagnosis. We’re so glad to have our little furball still in the family. Brandon and his parents It doesn't matter what age you are; your parents will always have an opinion on what your career path is. So when I decided to quit my job as an executive running production at a large ad agency to start a cannabis business, I fully expected a family meltdown. I just had my first child a few months prior, so my parents had already cocooned into full-blown protective grandparents. I thought nothing good could come out of the conversation I was about to have with them one evening over dinner at a local Italian place we had been going to since I was a kid. I figured my mother couldn't make a scene in front of people who had known us for thirty years, so the location seemed ideal.

I went into the conversation expecting eye rolls and judgmental soundbites. What I got instead was my parents confessing how my father ran an illegal cannabis grow in a Long Beach warehouse in the '80s. It turns out his aerospace company was hit hard by the recession, and his love for engineering turned into a passion for growing cannabis to save our house from being foreclosed. He operated it for several years before his aerospace business was able to turn things around. Instead, I spent the evening helping my father find a box of blueprints documenting his grow and learning how he hooked up motion detectors to shut off the power to the grow operation if the police came by to check the electricity meters on the outside of the building. It was nothing but happiness and encouragement, leading to a wonderful openness on all things cannabis throughout my entire family.
Kyle and his parents I grew up with a fairly normal life. My parents were always very supportive of me and all-around amazing role models in my life. They were always supportive, even when I decided to become an art major and get tattoos as a teenager, which traditionally could be areas of concern for some parents. But the one thing that always made it hard for me to communicate with my parents was some of their values. I grew up in a very involved Christian household. I myself was involved for a very long time, but their views on certain things (like cannabis) weren’t necessarily the same as mine. I could never talk to my parents about cannabis, drinking or even sex; that is until I took my first job in cannabis. Working in the field allowed me to open up conversations I would have never had with my parents before. I was able to tell them that I occasionally liked to partake in cannabis. I feel that admission brought us a lot closer together, and opened up a line of communication we didn’t have before. It allowed me to hear their opinions on the topic as well, where we could talk about this as adults in a neutral, objective way. Talking cannabis was also a great way to open up other traditionally taboo topics within the Church, like drinking, sex, politics, which I would have never been able to do before our discussion around cannabis.
Michael and his brothers I have two younger brothers. They're twins, so they bickered. As the oldest, I played judge and mediator. In their eyes, my extra two years provided me unparalleled wisdom, making my word law. At least, on the playground. Even years after, they always came to me with questions, and as the older brother, I would of course, always have the answer.
But as we grew older, things changed. As years passed, they proved better suited for the structure and expectations of academic life. While I may have been a model student at one point, by high school I was burnt out-- more interested in personal creative pursuits and social engagements.

One of my brothers went to Stanford, the other was making full salaries at summer programming internships before I'd even graduated college myself. We'd talk, but I'd realized long ago they didn't need my advice anymore. I felt pride; that all these people saw the same intelligence and drive in them that I did. But also a little sad that my brothers would never need my advice like they once had, again.

So it was a heartwarming surprise when they both came to me, independently of each other, about advice and information when it came to cannabis. They knew I had more experience and when they began to experiment, they felt safest coming to me. I was glad to offer what I'd learned about harm reduction and how to avoid some rookie pitfalls but mostly, I was just glad that even after all they've accomplished, they still sought their big brother out for guidance.

We don't get to partake together often because we're geographically separated. Winter holidays with the family are our only opportunity and there's nothing I look forward to more than sharing stories, maybe some edibles, and just feeling like kids again.
Tom and his dad In 2014 I was a Ski Instructor at Vail Mountain Resort. My dad came out on a ski trip with his friends. We went to Native Roots Dispensary in Eagle-Vail, which was his first dispensary visit. I remember we mostly purchased edibles. I had a really fun trip skiing with him and his buddies. After a few nights of partaking together, it showed me a more vulnerable side of these adults I’ve looked up to since I was a kid. I think it was that weekend my Dad and I crossed the line in our relationship where we went from father-son to peers who can respect each other.
Sarah and her aunts I have a big Irish Catholic family, so our family get-togethers often revolve around drinking, betting, and partying. Being inebriated together is perhaps the longest standing family tradition. This always makes for a great time and even better people-watching because you never know what will happen next: a fight may break out or a boisterous impression of another relative may ensue. You simply never know.

But when weed is involved with the small circle of us in the family who partake, I know what to expect. It’s a small circle of aunts and uncles who have rediscovered cannabis in their older age. One aunt even has a farm in Michigan, complete with extraction equipment. In those small moments when we sneak away to smoke on a back porch or outside a wedding venue, I’ve gotten some insights into my family history that I may have never known without these little asides with my cannabis-friendly relatives. We talk about how everything was different when they were growing up, and how that translated to my upbringing. I can ask questions about our family that may be uncomfortable for my parents to answer. They ask me how I intend to save the world and change perspectives, and we brainstorm options together. These are the things I’ve come to expect in these moments in these circles.

At a recent wedding I attended in Colorado, my aunt pulled me aside and offered up a pre-roll. Coming from a mid-western family, everyone my age is getting married and having children. It was a weekend filled with questions about my future, but not a future I wanted. Distant relatives asked, “so when are we coming to your wedding?” It was stressful and frustrating because I’ve chosen a different path that doesn’t involve those traditional pillars of success. As we enjoyed the joint on a lawn by the venue, my aunt admitted to me she was a bit envious of her daughter and me. She pined to be young at this time in history and have more options than “get married.”

From afar, she always had a very happy marriage and I still believe that is the case. But in this small moment over a pre-roll, she shared some regret about marrying so young and committing to someone else without knowing who she was first. She explained how even the happiest of marriages can feel stifling at times. It was an unexpected respite from the probing questions that lay ahead of me that weekend.

She gave me the reassurance that I was on the right path for me, and the courage to take a road less traveled when it came to family expectations. As we finished the pre-roll, she concluded her long-winded speech by saying, “I hope you know everyone in this family is behind you, even if they don’t show it. Even if they aren’t alive anymore. Know that they are with you and they support you.” She didn’t know it, and neither did I until she said it out loud--but I needed to hear that. For me, that moment was a true testament to the remarkable healing that can occur with this small but significant plant.

The post Crossing family divides with cannabis appeared first on Flowertown.

Of the many terrific byproducts of legal cannabis, perhaps the best is that consumers no longer have to deal with buying untested products from the illicit market. In states with legal weed, those days are long gone.

As the industry continues to evolve, luxury products like gold-plated bongs and vegan organic edibles are making their way to market. That’s right: legal cannabis has led to regal cannabis.

Of course, the cannabis industry shouldn’t ever discriminate — and fortunately, there are plenty of affordable options out there — but the demands of high-end consumers are being met as well.

So check out some of our picks for the best high-end cannabis products on the market. One could come in handy for the upcoming holiday season if you’re trying to treat your loved one to some swanky dank, guaranteed to provide a luxury cannabis experience.

1. Lowell Farms Pre-Rolls

The Santa Barbara-based Lowell Farms, has been making smoke in the cannabis industry for years by mastering the art of the joint. Their specialized pre-rolled joints, known for their captivating design, vintage-style packaging, and green-tipped matches, are sleek and sexy. Check out Lowell’s selection of luxury pre-rolls here. All joints are packed with top-quality flower, in a crafty box with a compartment for matches.

2. Beboe Pastilles

Beboe is a luxury brand specializing in high-end cannabis products. Beboe pastilles, which come in Inspired (sativa) or Downtime (indica) options, are delicious candied edibles that contain 5mg of THC and 3mg of CBD. Made with cold-water processed hash, they provide a clean, subtle, euphoric high. You can find these luxury cannabis items at the High End, tucked away on the fifth floor of Barney’s in Beverly Hills, a specialty retailer renowned for featuring the world’s top designers. That’s a fancy place to buy edibles.

3. Sensi Luxury 14k Rose Gold Vape Pen

Sensi Luxury Vapes bring consumers luxurious vaporizers with flawless quality and eye-catching features. Of their many appealing offerings, their 14k Rose Gold Luxury Vape Pen is designed for the vaping connoisseur to produce deliver highly potent clean vapor in a sleek, discreet manner. It’s perfectly sized for your pocket — and with its 14k rose-gold plated finish, it pairs nicely with a Rolex.

4. Aura Waterpipe

This high-end smoking apparatus could be displayed on the coffee table of a Beverly Hills mansion. Not your typical bong or bubbler, its beautiful, innovative design starts with the tapered glass chamber and is topped off with a matte black mouthpiece and downstem that enhances each hit. Plus, the mouthpiece has a hidden storage area for your lighter. Take a look here.

5. Printabowl

Printabowl creates 3D-printed “elevation instruments” for smoking cannabis. The Printabong water pipe provides a spacious full-color customizable canvas, which allows you to personalize high-quality American glass pieces with art of your choice. It has a beaker base that accommodates huge hits, and a built-in ice catcher to ensure it pulls cool and steady. This could be the ideal gift if you are looking to go super-personal. Check out the details here.

The post 5 high-end cannabis gifts for a luxurious high appeared first on Flowertown.

Cool Timeline

2009

Oct 2009

Obama announces War on Drugs was unsuccessful

President Obama calls for an end to the unsuccessful War on Drugs and the Justice Department announces that federal prosecutors will no longer pursue medical marijuana patients or distributors who comply with state laws.

2010

Nov 2010

Arizona and New Jersey legalize medical

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2011

May 2011

Delaware legalizes medical

In this historical dam-breaking year, five states legalized cannabis. Delaware and Connecticut become the nth and nth states to legalize medical.

2012

Jun 2012

Connecticut legalizes medical

Nov 2012

Colorado, Oregon and Washington legalize recreational

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In a sweeping move that birthed the American recreational market, three states went full recreational, opening the door for every state to follow.

2013

Jul 2013

New Hampshire legalizes medical

2014

Nov 2014

Alaska and Washington D.C. legalize recreational

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D.C’s medical bill was actually signed in 1998, but was blocked until 2009.

2015

Jun 2015

Louisiana and Puerto Rico legalize medical

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Jul 2015

Hawaii legalizes dispensaries

Hawaii finally allows dispensaries after legalizing medical in 2000.

Oct 2015

Public opinion hits historic milestone

A new Gallup poll released shows over half of Americans support legalization

2016

Nov 2016

California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada legalize recreational

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California was the first state to legalize medical in 1996. Maine did so in 1999, Nevada in 2000 and Massachusetts in 2012.

Nov 2016

Five more states legalize medical

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Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania legalize, bringing more access to the South and Midwest.

2017

Apr 2017

West Virginia legalizes medical

2018

Jan 2018

Northern Mariana Islands and Vermont legalize recreational

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May 2018

Adult use cannabis sales exceed medicinal sales

Adult-use recreational cannabis sales exceeded medicinal sales for the first time since legalization.

Jun 2018

Epidiolex

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex, a cannabis-derived medication, to treat two forms of rare epilepsy.

Nov 2018

Canada legalizes recreational

Canada legalized recreational adult use cannabis nationwide.

Nov 2018

Missouri and Oklahoma legalize medical

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Dec 2018

Farm Bill passes

The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law, effectively legalizing the hemp industry. The Bill protects

2019

Aug 2019

Outside Lands opens it’s doors to cannabis

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In a blowout affair featuring the likes of Childish Gambino, Kacey Musgraves and Paul Simon, Outside Lands becomes the first American mainstream festival to allow onsite purchase and consumption of cannabis.

Sep 2019

OG Cannabis cafe

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The first cannabis cafe opens in Los Angeles, serving gourmet food and cannabis to consume on site.

Dec 2019

Guam and four states legalize medical

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Guam, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Utah legalize medical. In New York, Governor Cuomo wouldn’t decriminalize it until 2019.

The post Major changes in cannabis: a decade timeline appeared first on Flowertown.

The holiday season is upon us and if you’re lucky, you likely have a trip lined up for a merry vacation. Maybe it’s a month-long jaunt to the Maldives (have an extra ticket?) or maybe it’s just a hop over the state line to prove to your mother you’re still alive. Either way, you’ll likely have run into the classic cannabis conundrum– should I fly with it?

It’s the latest legal limbo for cannabis, a common legal phenomenon that seems to follow cannabis like a shadow as different states accelerate towards progressive cannabis laws at different rates. First things first– cannabis is still, on a federal level, illegal. While that might change soon, until then, you’re still walking into federal jurisdiction when you pass through airport security or board a commercial flight and it’s still illegal to cross state lines with it. Regardless of your states’ laws, if you’re travelling from legal state to legal state or even if you’re only going to another city in the same legal state; you’re still entering federal jurisdiction and airspace. As stated by the TSA’s Instagram post however, they try to make it clear that while such is protocol, they are not actively looking for cannabis or infused products, so we know stopping you for it ranks relatively low on their priorities. TSA agents are still required to alert local authorities if they find cannabis during the security screening however, no matter your destination or flight plan.

So that’s the first wrinkle in what might otherwise be a simple “yes” or “no” to whether or not you can bring your goodies with you. If you are flagged and turned over to local law enforcement in Oregon, the following events will play out very differently than if you were flagged in say, Tennessee.

The most progressive of airport stances comes from LAX, the busiest origin and destination airport in the world, in arguably the biggest cannabis market in the world. Staying consistent with state law, LAX updated it’s rules to allow possession of up to 28.5 grams of flower or 8 grams of concentrate. They are quick to remind travelers however, that once you hit security, TSA still operates under federal jurisdiction. And like every other airport in the country, TSA is required to notify local authorities, LAXPD in this case. The good news, LAXPD has obstensibly said: if no crime has been committed, as is now the case due to LAX’s updated rules, no action is to be taken. That doesn’t mean you should consider buying up some farms and running a DIY export business out of LA just yet however, as cannabis smuggling arrests have still gone up 166% since 2016. This tells us that while LAX is possibly the best airport in the world to take off with your stash, law enforcement makes a clear distinction between personal possession and amounts large enough to imply an intent to distribute.

In the Bay Area, SFO has previously said there is no airport-specific policy, and that law enforcement won’t confiscate personal amounts, but might warn you if your intended destination might raise some issues. Similarly the Oakland Airport was actually the first airport in the country to allow medical cannabis back in 2008, and is anecdotally one of the friendlier airports when it comes to personal cannabis.

Portland and Seattle both allow you to bring cannabis to other cities in the same state but explicitly state recreational cannabis in not allowed to be taken into federal jurisdiction or across state lines. Though Nevada and Colorado have relatively progressive statewide cannabis laws, the Las Vegas and Denver airports are also relatively stricter on cannabis in airports due in part to their booming out-of-state cannabis tourism and proximity to more hardline states. Thankfully they do at least provide “amnesty boxes” that allow you to dispose of your products if you bring them along… accidentally.

As far as international travel, the stakes are generally much, much higher. Even Canada, the second country to federally allow cannabis and one of our closest neighbors has dedicated a whole webpage and video pleading with people not to attempt to cross, even from or to a legal state, with cannabis. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some countries that still have death penalties for cannabis trafficking.

After all is said and done, air travel with cannabis is not 100% risk-free. However, given the TSA’s consistent deprioritization across the board, it’s probably somewhere in the 90% range given the proper precautions. We don’t encourage anyone to expose themselves to any unnecessary legal risk, but it does seem that many people make it through with no issues, provided you’re not smuggling felony amounts and it’s not immediately visible. Considering the logistics of air travel, where you’re really only screened when you board, flying out of an origin city in certain legal states presents the least risk. Landing in a destination city in a legal state is ideal, but there shouldn’t be any instance in which you’d be checked when you land, provided you don’t give law enforcement a reason to. If you land in a non-legal state of course, and you make it out of the airport, none of this protects you from the simple fact that you will be possessing cannabis in an illegal state, which will leave you legally exposed. Travelling internationally increases the risk tenfold, especially if the destination country screens arrivals, and may leave you at the mercy of a much less forgiving government.

The post Can I fly with cannabis? appeared first on Flowertown.

There are a number of cocktails that you really only get to enjoy during the holiday season. Combine these festive cocktails with cannabis to have a jolly Christmas. Sometimes the holidays are so stressful, we leave a week of vacationing and partying thinking, “I need a drink!”

Whip up these cozy cocktails for yourself once the holidays have passed but the stress still lingers. Try these five cannabis-infused Christmas cocktails this winter season.

It’s important to note that you will feel different effects from the cannabis depending on how it was infused. Recipes with cannabutter and do-it-yourself infusions will result in psychoactive effects, while pre-made products like cannabis-infused vodka simply infuse cannabis for added aroma and are THC free. It is also important to note that when you are combining two different substances, always proceed with caution and responsibility.

Canna-Cane

The peppermint flavor of this cocktail is perfect for those still clinging to the Christmas spirit. Forget the peppermint mocha; indulge with a canna-cane instead.

• 2 ounces cannabis vodka
• 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
• Cranberry juice to taste

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Mix well and pour the drink into a martini glass. If you want to be festive in your presentation, crush candy canes and then coat the rim of the glass. You’ll get an extra dose of mint with each sip.

Cannabis-Infused Eggnog

Were you running around so much this Christmas that you forgot to have some of the most spirited of spirits? Eggnog is a must for winter but there’s no need to worry; it’s not too late! Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties are available, but this cannabis-infused eggnog gives it an extra kick.

• Finely ground cannabis
• Rum
• Eggnog

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cannabis and rum in a 1:3 ratio in an oven-safe container. Place in the oven for 45 minutes so that the cannabis can infuse the rum. Strain the mixture with a cheesecloth and place in a bottle or jar. Add 2 ounces of the cannabis rum to a warm cup of eggnog and cozy up next to the fire for a relaxing evening.

Cannabis-Infused Chocolate Raspberry Martini

A cannabis-infused chocolate raspberry martini is sweet and creamy. It’s the perfect cocktail to enjoy with some leftover holiday treats.

• 2 ounces cannabis-infused vodka
• 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
• 1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur
• 2 ounces cream

Combine all of the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Pour the drink into a martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries and chocolate shavings.

Cannaberry Cocktail

The bright red color of this cocktail paired with a green garnish makes it a festive drink. It’s also sweet and fruity for those who don’t like the heavier drinks often served during the holidays.

• Strawberries
• Pineapple
• Lemon-lime soda
• Cannabis-infused vodka

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender with lots of ice. This recipe doesn’t use exact measurements, and you can make the cocktails as strong or light as you want by adding more or less cannabis vodka. Blend until the large chunks of fruit are gone and you have a smooth frozen cocktail. Pour the drink into glasses and top with mint leaves.

The post Cozy cannabis-infused cocktails for the winter season appeared first on Flowertown.