It’s time for the second installment of our new series, “Prohibitionist Arguments Cannalyzed,” in which I examine arguments made by cannabis prohibitionists, refute them with facts and opinions, and am rewarded by angry emails and comments from aforementioned prohibitionists telling me what a stupid, useless, stoner I am. Serenity, now! Argument: Dispensaries attract crime to […]
Smoke Signals
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Reefer Regs Roll Hard
While Oregon’s recreational cannabis industry strives—and often succeeds—in being Daniel Day-Lewis (aka, a “good actor”), there are times when we take actions more like Adam Sandler (aka, “bad actor”). Growers, producers, dispensaries and others face judgement and penalties on two fronts: the electronic public square of social media, and the more fearsome regulatory agency smackdown, […]
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Drudge Report
New cannabis report is getting a lot of attention—but maybe not for being entirely accurate
A new report is out, examining how Oregon is doing with our recreational cannabis program. Much like Thomas Kinkade, it paints an ugly picture. Oregon Attorney General Billy Williams says Oregon’s cannabis is “out of control.” The “Insight Report: An Initial Assessment of Cannabis Production, Distribution, and Consumption in Oregon 2018,” was prepared by a group […]
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Addicted to Weed?
You may have made or heard comments about “jonesing for weed,” “needing” to smoke or having a “pot habit.” The idea that someone has a fever for cannabis that can only be treated with more cannabis implies a “cannabis addiction.” Is that a real thing? Can someone become addicted to cannabis in the same manner […]
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Should We Legalize All Drugs? Discuss
Having just celebrated the third anniversary of cannabis legalization in Oregon, it’s safe to say it has been a success. While its had a negative impact on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), and 28,975 licensed growers have depressed prices—and the lack of social consumption spaces and events is mind boggling—the numerous benefits still outweigh […]
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Prohibition Arguments Cannalyzed
You know something that truly bothers me? Yes, high treason by a flaccid, racist, sociopathic Nazi lover who lost the popular vote by 2,864,974 votes, of course. But I’m none too wild about the arguments used by prohibitionists in their opposition to a regulated cannabis program, either. Now that legalization has had a few years […]
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Weed Replacing Wine
When living in Northern California, I spent many weekends doing the most Northern California thing possible, (aside from practicing nude goat yoga and crafting small-batch organic, free range chia kombucha), which was visiting wineries. Some of my favorite memories involve downing bottles of delicious, jammy Napa reds. Some of my least favorite memories were the […]
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Cannabis Sales Languish in Tax-ifornia
California activated its recreational Adult Use cannabis program on Jan. 1, and as the nation’s most populous and prosperous state, expectations were “high.” (Get it? Like when you use cannabis, is the joke. #thisisgonnabeagreatcolumn.) The state would prosper greatly, raising abundant tax revenue, and the fact that ‘it’s gonna be great, so great you guys!’ […]
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Depression and Cannabis
Summer is here, so it’s time for a fun, frothy column to read while sipping a tropical beverage by the pool, or on the beach No, not really. It’s about cannabis and depression. “Depression” is not be confused with how you feel because you lost your stash of bubble hash, someone stole your nearly-ready-for-harvest plants, […]
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Cannabis for Canada
Last week, Canada officially approved legalization of cannabis throughout the country— the first G-7 nation to do so, but the second overall. The first is Uruguay, a nation many of you struggle to pronounce, spell or remember it exists. (Don’t “ooooooh” me, y’all know it’s true.) Uruguay is a country of 3 million, bookended by […]
