When you are thinking about road tripping to Vegas with your friends, you’re probably thinking about loading up on snacks, pit stops, and all the things you want to do when you get there. One thing to consider for your trip is planning your cannabis use when you get there.

 Planning Your Trip

The nearly five-hour drive to Vegas is one that can be a fun bonding experience with your friends, especially when great music and snacks are involved.

You can choose to hop on the 10 west or the 15 south, depending on which direction you are coming from. It’s always best to hit the road before rush hour traffic starts around 6 am or later on in the evening when it ends after 7 pm. Avoiding heavy traffic can cut a five-hour trip down to four hours, but also remember to drive safely!

Making sure your car is ready for the trip and you are fully stocked up on snacks are a must, but what about packing your cannabis with you?

While it may seem like a great idea to store your favorite flower or concentrate in your backseat, it’s 100% illegal to transport across state lines.

Unfortunately, this choice could lead to a misdemeanor or felony charge. But no worries–you’ll have plenty of options to make up for it when you get to your destination.

Hitting The Road

You’ve loaded all your friends in your car and you’ve checked that you have everything you need (don’t forget the sunblock as it gets extremely hot there). So what about stopping for the essentials during your drive?

Barstow is a famous pit stop on the way to meet lady luck. The quaint town is a good two-hour midpoint between Los Angeles and Vegas going both ways, with gas stations and fast food options to quickly refuel.

On the way to Barstow, think about taking a small detour and traveling up the historic route 66. Here is where you’ll take a step back in history from old diners to antique shops and even an ostrich farm. It’s not the easiest task to find the route, so try a website like this one if you are nervous about your GPS. Remember when you are driving that your phone service may go in and out, so having a map handy won’t hurt.

Places to Visit

You made it! Now what? You’re probably ready to head out with your friends, or relax a bit. Since cannabis use is legal in Las Vegas, there is a myriad of dispensary options for your taste.

Essence Vegas is located right across from the Stratosphere hotel at the southern end of the strip. The store boasts over 50 strains of flowers including topicals and concentrates. Guests can also enjoy a discounted Lyft ride using the code provided on their website.

The Apothecary Shoppe is also another highly rated location because it’s the only cannabis shop on the strip open 24/7. Guests can order online and pick up without hassle, just show your I.D. and you’re good to go.

Budtender by The Apothecary Shoppe – CC BY

Another cool dispensary to try is NuWu Cannabis, the only drive-thru shop in the city. They are also known for having one of the largest selections. If you are willing to venture away from the strip, this may be worth a try.

After consuming, you’ll be ready to get on with your stay. The beauty of Vegas is that it’s definitely not lacking in things to do. If you arrive at the city early in the morning, consider ziplining down the historic Fremont Street. At night, check out of the shows (J-Lo is performing!) before hitting the clubs or casino with friends.

Just remember, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.

The post An Angeleno’s road trip guide to cannabis in Vegas. appeared first on Flowertown.

Planning a snowboarding or skiing trip? You can’t go wrong with Mt. Baker, located in the scenic Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Bellingham, WA. Think cozy lodges that never seem too crowded, slopes at all skill levels, and frosted trees as far as the eye can see. Best of all, Washington state doesn’t have restrictions against cannabis use while skiing or snowboarding. Just remember to be sensible about how much you’re consuming- especially if you plan to hit the black diamond slopes.

Mt. Baker by Mt. Baker Lodging – CC BY

Check-in

Because winter getaways are more fun when you get to stay in a tiny adorable cabin in the woods, check out Mt. Baker Lodging. Cabins run as small as single bedroom units for a romantic snowbound vacation, or you can sleep half your friends and extended family in a sprawling 12-bedroom cabin.

Dispensary by Green Stop Co – CC BY

Stock up

The closest dispensary to the slopes is Green Stop Cannabis, and it’s well worth a visit. This quirky shop specializes in carrying high-quality strains and premium cannabis products. While you’re there, keep an eye on the woods and see if you can spot their “pet” deer, Doeja. According to Green Stop, Doeja likes to stop in because “even the local deer knows that the grass is better at Green Stop Cannabis.” Be sure to pick up a bag of their Chocolate Ripped Shortbread Cookies.

Green Stop is open from 10am to 8pm Sunday through Thursday, and open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Baker Bus by Baker Bus Facebook – CC BY

Hop on

Indulge in those cookies you just bought without having to worry about driving up a twisty, snow-capped mountain. The Baker Bus runs service from several pick up points at the base of the mountain up to the White Salmon Day Lodge, for just $10 per roundtrip. Speaking as someone who doesn’t like driving on ice even stone cold sober, I say that’s worth every penny.

White Salmon Day Lodge by Powder Hounds – CC BY

Hit the slopes

From the White Salmon Day Lodge, you’ve got easy access to slopes at all skill levels. You’ll also easily find good food, restrooms, lift tickets, rentals, and retail stores. If you need a refresher or you’re just starting out, they also offer classes for skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. If you’re bringing the family, note that there are no daycare facilities, but they do offer lessons starting at age three. Warm up with their signature hot chocolate, and if you’re feeling a little extra hungry after enjoying some of your Green Stop purchases, the chili cheese fries are not to be missed.

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Ever since California legalized medical marijuana use, the Golden State has seen no shortage of dispensaries. In fact, a new one seems to sprout up every week as more “cannapreneurs” try to cash in on the lucrative – and cutthroat – market.

But unfortunately, not all of these businesses play by the rules.

With recreational use now legal, storefronts endure a painstaking process to attain state licenses so they can bring high-quality flower to the masses. The caveat is they have to charge a noticeable state tax that could have rule-abiding business owners lose customers to the decades-old black market.

Mike Ziegler, a legislative aide to Democratic Assemblyman Jim Cooper, told The Associated Press;

“The black market is having a substantial impact on those businesses that are following the rules,”

Unfortunately, bargain-seeking customers are usually unaware of the fact that they’re shopping at an illegal business, and also unaware of the potentially deadly effects.

Too much too fast

In Los Angeles County, for example, law enforcement currently lacks the manpower to keep up with the overwhelming amount of outlaw dispensaries. Meanwhile, the administration is struggling to deal with an overflow of license applications.

Even if an illegal operator does get raided, it’s usually not long before they’re back in business. California’s laws state that possessing more than 28.5 grams is a mere misdemeanor. As a result, rogue shops are willing to take the risk, getting by on system loopholes until they are taken down.

The black market’s cheap advantage in the industry is not only unfair to legal storefronts but also harmful to the consumer.

Lt. Frank Montez of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department told U.S. News;

“When you have an illegitimate, illegal dispensary operating, that not only hurts the industry as a whole but that really hurts the community,”

Los Angeles is home to California’s biggest local cannabis market, where rogue shops far outnumber the amount of licensed storefronts.

While a lot of shops grow their own product, many of them source from non-local, illegal growers who allow harmful pesticides and chemicals in their products. Customers who bring their business to black market dispensaries don’t even know that the dispensary isn’t legitimate since it’s very easy to feign the look of a licensed shop.

What customers also don’t know is where, exactly, their product came from and what they’re putting in their bodies.

Lt. Montez warns, “People out here on the street are thinking it is a legitimate operation and are smoking this cannabis with all these dangerous pesticides, and they are really killing themselves.”

Do you support a legal dispensary?

If you’re unsure, the most surefire way to tell is if you aren’t being charged taxes. If you don’t already frequent a legal storefront, you might want to think twice about the consequences of going to a rogue shop, even if it means having to pay tax.

Plus, if more people were informed enough to support their legal local storefronts, the widespread regulation would diminish the black market and overall, we’d have an abundance of safe, lab-tested cannabis at our disposal.

By asking for trusted brands at legal dispensaries, you not only ensure that the community (and the industry) thrives, but also prevent the spread of dangerous, illegal cannabis.

Check out some of our favorite pre-rolls, edibles, and vapes to get an idea of what some tried and tested products look like and where to find them.

The post How to tell if a dispensary is legal & why it matters appeared first on Flowertown.

In today’s modern age of cannabis, there’s a lot more ways to enjoy the benefits of the plant without actually having to smoke it. While there’s vapor pens, pre-rolls, edibles and more, there’s also been a recent rise in skin cream topicals. 

Like any other lotion, just lather these on and enjoy the benefits. In addition to the moisturizing properties, your skin absorbs and interacts with the cannabinoids present in the creams. These typically include the Big Two: CBD and THC.  

While some may strictly be CBD, most of these typically have a 1:1 CBD to THC ratio, or even higher on the CBD end of the scale. This allows for consumers to get the full effect of CBD’s restorative properties as the compounds work in an “entourage effect.” With or without E, Vinny, and the gang, here’s a few of our favorite topicals available right now.  

Papa & Barkley 

Based out of northern California, Papa & Barkley exclusively makes products based on relieving pain or enjoying cannabis in more alternative ways than smoking or vaping. This includes epsom salts, patches, tinctures, and, most importantly, great topicals. These balms are either 3:1 CBD to THC or the reverse, so whichever ratio you prefer, you can find it here.

   

Apothecanna  

Apothecanna probably has the widest variety of topicals available. From bug sprays to deodorants, this brand makes great cannabis-infused wellness products. We highly recommend the pain-relieving body sprays and topical creams, which provide a great balance of THC to CBD and will make any achy joint feel ten years younger.  

The post Flowertown Favorites: Topicals appeared first on Flowertown.

It’s no secret that this summer has been a traumatic one for many California residents. With our state ablaze, over 1 million acres burned, thousands of homes and farms have been affected.

Last year, the raging wildfires delivered what Business Insider referred to as “the worst year on record” for California’s cannabis industry. The Emerald Triangle seemingly can’t catch a break as of early August, the Mendocino Complex fire has “burned more acreage than any blaze in California history,” including popular cities for large-scale cannabis farms.

Mendocino County alone is home to more than 10,000 cannabis growers. To add to the industry’s sense of urgency, there are still limited options to insure land for cannabis cultivation. This means that once a cannabis farm is destroyed or affected, there is little that can be done to restore the damage.

The Emerald Triangle up in smoke

For many, the majority of harm done to their crops is not caused by fire, but its smoke. This summer, the smoke was so thick and wind so consistent that other legalized states, such as Colorado, became concerned for their own cannabis crops.

In Northern California, growers reported early flowering due to the thick smoke and overcast sky that ensued for weeks from the Mendocino and Carr fires. Early flowering is a problem for farmers because it means a smaller yield (less income), and less product for both suppliers and consumers.

During summer months, farmers usually depend on consistent California sunlight to inundate their plants with the UV rays they need at a specific point in their growth process. Because of the smoke and subsequent overcast sky, farmers scrambled to mitigate the crisis of early flowering.

Many turned to nitrogen (a necessary nutrient for plants) and added more lighting equipment, which can be costly. For startup growers, the lack of insurance, costs to rectify early flowering, and loss in sales might be too big of hurdles to overcome. Because early flowering results in a smaller supply, many consumers are also concerned that the smaller supply will lead to rising prices in the coming months.

While there haven’t been reports of this issue affecting retail prices yet, it is a possibility that if the fires continue to wipe out or diminish crops through early flowering, price increases might hit the industry.

Too early to flower, too early to tell

Like the case of early flowering, the lingering effects of fire have been most devastating for outdoor cannabis grows, which for many reasons have been the backbone of California cannabis cultivation long before legalization.

Smoke can stress or kill plants, and smoke residue can threaten the quality and safety of the ones that make it out alive. Many growers who have spent months adapting to strict state regulations worry that the smoke can tarnish their lab test results.

For growers closer to the flames, smoke is not the only concern: Fire retardant, soot, and ash that settles after a fire contains a number of contaminants labs test for.

The fact that these materials may also affect the flavor of cannabis is the least of the industry’s worries when compared to the risk they pose to consumer safety. For this reason, it is important to stick with brands and dispensaries you trust that regularly pass laboratory tests.

Of course, the full effects of this year’s wildfires have yet to be realized. In 2017, the worst fires began in November and December, around the time wind speeds historically pick up. The damage of the most recent summer fires has been hard to assess as new fires seem to pop up every day.

What everyone can agree on is the worst is likely yet to come. It’s becoming more clear that annual large-scale wildfires are the new normal, and cannabis farmers need to adapt to this reality. For now, the future of many cannabis farms depends, literally, on where the wind blows.

As wildfires and seasonal storms become larger and more ominous, so too is the pressure on residents to get out of harm’s way. While cannabis still has the stigma of preventing productivity, many (including this woman in the path of Hurricane Florence) have been able to use it to get themselves and their loved ones to safety.

The post How wildfires affect California’s cannabis industry appeared first on Flowertown.

With renewed interest in cannabis use since its increasing legalization, novice users and old-pros alike are now able to reap the plant’s benefits like never before.  

As the market is legalized (and stabilizes), it grows and expands exponentially. With that, there are now pre-rolls, vaporizers, vape pens, topical oils, tinctures, edibles, and just good ole flower.  

All of which can be overwhelming to both new consumers, and those who have gotten their trusted flower from a guy who knows a guy who lives in a trailer somewhere near Venice Beach.  

But for those looking to elevate their cannabis consumption with premium brands and better products, we took a minute to recommend some best tips and tricks to navigate the growing industry and get the most out of your relationship with the wonderful plant.  

Look for lab-tested products 

This is perhaps the most important aspect to consider when buying a cannabis product.  

All consumable agriculture should be lab-tested before it makes it into the hands of the consumer. Like all plants, cannabis absorbs pretty much everything around it during growth and cultivation. When harvested, lab scientists test to make sure there is no mold or other toxic elements that have made it unsafe to consume. 

Scientists also measure the marijuana’s potency.  

They do this by looking at the cannabinoid content, primarily for the two most cannabinoids, THC and CBD. Different strains carry different ratios and knowing how much of one or the other is in your product will indicate what kind of effects it has.  

Sealed products usually indicate if they’ve been tested in a lab and also list the THC:CBD ratio, so make sure that where you purchase your product takes the time to properly seal the product and inform you of its contents.  

Strains are not the same everywhere you go 

If traditional flower is more your mojo, then know that what you see isn’t always what you get.  

Some dispensaries sell pre-measured flower in pre-sealed packaging, while others have flower in bulk that they will measure out in front of you.  

In these cases, you want to ask your budtender if what you’re getting has been tested in a lab. Most budtenders are helpful in knowing the origins of your product and what specific effects each strain provides, so never be afraid to ask questions! 

The dispensary you go to should only carry safe, tested products that pass all inspections.  

That being said, curiosity can only help you learn more about the plant and what you want out of it. Feel free to ask your budtender where any product comes from, what it was tested for and even its results.  

If they don’t know the answers, or can’t point you to where they would be available, it may be time to find a new dispensary.  

A little research goes a long way 

As you can see, there are important things to consider before you make your first purchase, not only for the quality of your product but also for your general safety.  

The cannabis industry is responsible for providing safe, quality products, but consumers should also have a responsibility to know what they’re buying.  

This is why it’s so important to ask your budtender questions. Because although your first dispensary experience can be a daunting one, it’s important to know what they’re talking about when they try to inform you of these things.  

Start out by learning some more basics, such as what are THC and CBD, what an indica is versus a sativa. That should get you ready to go and ready to explore the new great space that cannabis has grown into.

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