The Ohio Cannabis Health and Business Summit: A Transformative Experience for the Industry
Written By Dustin Hoxworth
One of the obvious things that stood out at this year’s OCHBS was the number of attendees. From what I was told, attendance was up this year while it was down at other events in the state. The summit was filled with professionals from all corners of the cannabis industry who were there to connect, share insights, and build relationships. Everyone seemed to be excited to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations, and you could actually feel the energy in the room.
The Evolution of Hall of Flowers: An Interview with Rama Mayo
Written By Leah Cerri
“The show has to evolve as the industry evolves. Every year, we talk to all our exhibitors after the show to get their feedback. They said we really have the B2B side dialed in and have been asking us what else we can do to support their customer sales and help them connect to their consumers. Day two now provides them with the opportunity to talk and sell directly to their customers, face to face. You don’t get to do that in dispensaries and via your distributor.”
Crop-tober in New Mexico: A Visit to Tumbleweed Farms in Ojo Caliente
Written By Jessica Reilly-Chevalier
Inside the greenhouse, the plants are huge. They soar over my head, brushing the top of the greenhouse, thick, resinous flowers protruding from every branch. The stalks are thick as bushes and the long branches are trellised to the ceiling with string, like tomatoes. It smells like heaven, earthy and rich and dank, life blossoming all around.
My Journey Through Life With Cannabis: How Did I Get Here?
Written By Kim Cooper
It was 1990 and I was pregnant with my second child. I always knew I wanted lots of kids. 5 was a good number I thought! But my life was taking another twist, that started at the end of the 80’s: a custody battle was brewing over my daughter. Of course, my cannabis consumption was wielded against me once again. I would spend the next 5 years in court
When Cannabis Heals: How My Mother’s Cancer Unveiled the Healing Power of CBDA
Written By Inesa Ponomariovaite
Trapped in a relentless cycle of illness, infection, and chronic pain, I faced not only serious health challenges but also the trauma of domestic violence. Desperate for relief, I left Lithuania, hoping that advanced medical care in the U.S. would bring healing. Instead, my condition worsened. In my search for a solution, I turned to plant-based medicine, abandoning conventional treatments. Remarkably, within weeks, I experienced a significant recovery. This life-changing experience fueled my passion to help others find the same relief that I did.
Mastering Credit and Collections in the Cannabis Industry: Best Practices for Growth and Stability
Written By Brett Gelfand
In the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, effective financial management is essential to maintain cash flow and fuel growth. Two key components of financial success in this space are trade credit and accounts receivable (AR) management. This guide explores how these strategies can benefit your business, offering practical advice on securing credit, mitigating risks, and the importance of strong credit and collection policies.
Product Review: High-Quality, High-Style: Fore20's Acapulco Gold Shirt
Written By Rob Sanchez
When it comes to comfort, I may have found my new favorite shirt. It’s very soft and lightweight as you’d expect from athletic wear. Still being triple digits here, I put it through the paces taking the dog for a walk and playing some kendama at the park. No issues there; it breathed well and kept me dry and comfortable while providing some ultraviolet protection along the way.
Getting High: From Stigma to Empowerment, Misunderstanding to Mindfulness
Written By David Kooi
In my experience with cannabis, I have often avoided using the term "high" in favor of fostering a new conversation around cannabis— one that is grounded in purpose, wellness, and evidence-based understanding. My mission since entering the industry has always been to empower individuals to improve their lives through purposeful cannabis consumption, and to dispel the myths that have long plagued the cannabis plant.
An Interview with Chip Paul
Written By Casey Renteria
“We had no money, we had to beg, borrow, and steal for everything we did. It was a pretty historic moment for us, and very grassroots in the way this movement came up. I’m very proud and humbled by that. I like to think God put me in that position, cannabis just stuck and this is where he wants me to be.”
The Great Midwest Hemp Fest – 54 years of Cannabis Advocacy
Written By Daniel Crawford
The Great Midwest Hemp Fest is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate voters and advocate for change in Wisconsin’s legislation surrounding THC laws. Their goal is to deliver educational resources and awareness about the positive effects of THC legalization in Wisconsin.
Ben Masel, Founder, Yippie and cannabis activist, ran and organized the fest from its inception in 1971 to his death in 2011. Masel was a champion of Liberty and he also knew the laws better than the police who were sworn to uphold them. He pushed harder against the limits on dissent in what was supposed to be a free society.
The Battle for Virginia's Final Cannabis License: A Struggle Between Local Dreams and Corporate Power
Written By Maxwell Cranford
While originally intending to award such licenses in June, the award date has now been postponed indefinitely. The VCCA has been tight-lipped, offering no comments beyond the FAQ on their website. This lack of transparency has left applicants in the dark, leaving multiple groups crying foul as new information comes to light, stating that such blatant pay-to-play from out-of-state billionaires is exactly the opposite of what Virginia residents want from their medical providers. It does not help that such concerns were pointed out by multiple groups in April 2024, only to fall on deaf ears at the VCCA.
Activism in the Weeds: A Call for Change in Australia's Cannabis Laws
Written By Nigel Despinasse
Stolk and Zammit's approach to activism is anything but conventional. Their tactics include projecting pro-cannabis messages onto the iconic Sydney Opera House, placing fake cannabis plants throughout Sydney, and even setting up a fake hydroponic grow operation in a busy store space. These actions are designed to grab attention and spark conversations, breaking through the noise of traditional activism methods.
Considering Conscious Cannabis Use
Written By Seibo Shen
After graduating college, I got my first job at a tech company and the CEO was big into meditation. Every few weeks, we would all sit and meditate together and after the meditations, my co-workers would talk about how peaceful it was, the insights they got, and some of them even received “downloads.” When they would ask me about my experience I would say that I got insights and let go of stress but in reality, I felt nothing.
The Law of Attraction: How Small Cannabrands Are Embracing Authenticity to Better the Industry as a Whole
Written By Kelly Ebbert
As a small business, breaking into the cannabis industry can be daunting. It takes immense courage, jockeying with dominant players to gain a foothold. These businesses work tirelessly to stand out among the crowd.
From glass-blowing manufacturing to dispensaries to hand-crafted cannabis products, small business owners are rallying around the motto of authenticity to increase brand presence and awareness and leave their mark on the budding industry.
A Chronicle of Cultivating a Cannabis Legacy and Love Story
Written By Jamie Lynn Dodd
I romanticized the fantasy of living a life fueled by passion and serving a higher purpose, all centered around a medicine that I truly came to believe in, and always will believe in. The plant has never been the antagonist in this epic love saga of my lifetime but a shining, “knight in green armor,” protagonist that triumphs in the end. Because that’s the “stuff” that good stories are made of, right?
Healing Through Cannabis: One Woman’s Journey to Sobriety and Empowerment
Written By Monica Olano
The medical staff struggled to turn her for delivery, and the nurses - new and unfamiliar with the equipment - failed to monitor her heart rate for over five minutes. I became violently ill, and my husband was forcibly removed from the room. With panic filling the room, they hastily moved me to an operating bed. During the emergency C-section, the anesthesia failed. Yes, I felt everything. Although my daughter was finally delivered alive and well, she endured severe trauma. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice.
Green Doesn't Always Mean Go
Written By Ali Lopez
For the most part, other medical professionals are surprised that I am a consumer. I break their stigmatized idea of what “a stoner” looks like to them. When they find out I have an autoimmune condition, and it helps with some of my symptom management, they are sympathetic and curious. They start to change their minds a little bit about consumption.
An Interview With Waxy Brown
Written By Casey Renteria
“They will either fear my footprint, or my fist print. When I’m gone, there will still be veterans who need access to this. Psilocybin is on its way, and there are still ketamine conversations to have. Talking about it is great. But what are we going to do about it? That is the line between advocate and activist. We love the advocates and we need advocates, but feel free to step over that line into activism at any time. If not, don't worry, we’ll throw full punches until the plant is on the farmer's market table.”
“Let's remember, that the intoxicating cannabis they are talking about was never toxic to begin with!”
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Written By LaWann Stribling
Education is Key! Education provides curiosity and the search for understanding.Caroline Phillips, founder of The National Cannabis Festival does a phenomenal job in providing a multitude of avenues to explore cannabis and the community. Grower’s World was the highlight for me this year alongside the Wellness and Policy Pavillions.
Finding Peace Amidst Chaos: A Story of Love, Loss, and Edibles
Written By Marge Thomas
Most people find change hard, we like comfort, security, and the feeling of knowing what’s next. Change is disruptive. When I found myself engaged in yet another argument with my spouse, the words of a friend popped into my head: there’s comfort in the dysfunction.
It’s hard to recognize when a relationship has run its course; to see that two people who used to be synchronized now want different things from life, their paths diverging. It’s hard to let go because it feels like failure and it hurts.