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Connecticut tries to crack down on cannabis gifting

Connecticut tries to crack down on cannabis gifting

cannabis gifting to be banned in Connecticut

Hundreds of shoppers filtered through rows of vendors selling novelty art and clothing earlier this year at High Bazaar, a Hamden festival where a “gift” of a marijuana product often accompanied the items they purchased.

But the High Bazaar parties are on hold for now, after the town of Hamden claimed permitting violations. And while a hearing in that civil case is scheduled for later this week, the state legislature is considering a bill that would outlaw such “gifting.”

House Bill 5329 would impose up to a $10,000 fine and a year of jail time on violators. Supporters of the legislation said it would help keep sales in the market regulated, although some hemp and cannabis advocates were wary that it would re-criminalize marijuana.

The bill also includes provisions to cap the number of equity joint ventures for producers and to outlaw billboard advertising. Equity joint ventures allow partnerships between social equity applicants and other cannabis businesses.

“We appreciate that gifting will go on between people in the privacy of their homes,” said Rep. Mike D’Agostino, a Democrat who represents Hamden. “An event that’s organized, that rents space and is really a market just violates the entire intent of the statute that we put in place last year.”

D’Agostino chairs the General Law Committee, which heard public comments on the bill Tuesday.

Cannabis gifting is a practice that’s been used in Washington, D.C., where recreational marijuana sales aren’t allowed but possession of less than 2 ounces has been decriminalized. Vendors sell consumers a product such as a T-shirt, and a cannabis product is included as a gift.

Biden Admin warns applicants about investing in cannabis stocks

Biden Admin warns applicants about investing in cannabis stocks

Biden admin cannabis stocks

Smoking weed may no longer be the only potential impediment to getting a job with security clearance in the Biden administration. Investing in cannabis companies could now trip up applicants, too.

The Biden administration has expanded its employee conduct guidelines to potentially deny security clearance to individuals who have invested in companies that are involved in the marijuana business, according to an internal executive branch presentation shared with POLITICO.

“Eligibility may be negatively impacted if an individual knowingly and directly invests in stocks or business ventures that specifically pertain to marijuana growers and retailers,” according to the document. “Decisions to willfully invest in such activity could reflect questionable judgment and an unwillingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations.”

The recently updated guidance is the latest illustration of the federal government trying to grapple with its cannabis-related HR policies as the product has become an accepted legal business, medication and recreational substance in states across the country. All told, 37 states, the District of Columbia and some territories have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use.

The White House has adopted a more forgiving posture than its predecessors. Early on in his tenure, President Joe Biden issued a memo that stated prior marijuana use would not automatically disqualify applicants — the most lenient policy of any administration since before President Ronald Reagan.

But he hasn’t been altogether forgiving. Last year, the White House did fire some employees and rescinded employment offers due to prior marijuana use in the early days of the administration. According to the internal presentation, the White House has not changed its position, despite calls from House Democrats to do so.

How To Make Tincture: An easy cannabis tincture recipe

How To Make Tincture: An easy cannabis tincture recipe

Cannabis tincture recipe for how to make tincture

There’s no shortage of ways to consume cannabis these days. From traditional flower consumption to extracts and edibles, there is something for everyone.

But the tradition of making cannabis edible products at home hasn’t gone anywhere. Cannabis tincture is one of the oldest cannabis edible products that has been made DIY for decades. Knowing how to make tincture provides a way to create your own cannabis edibles easily with just a few steps.

Check out our simple cannabis tincture recipe to learn how to make tincture and create your own quality edibles at home!

What is cannabis tincture?

A tincture is typically an alcohol-based extraction that is made with a high-proof alcohol like Everclear or other grain alcohol. Tinctures themselves have been used in medicine for centuries.

Cannabis tincture has become popular because it is easy to make with few ingredients, and it is a tried and tested method that we know works. Compared to other edibles that require baking or mixing in multiple ingredients such as brownies, cookies or gummies, a cannabis tincture recipe will typically only have just two ingredients; cannabis and alcohol.

The result is a liquid form concentrate that can be easily consumed with a dropper under the tongue. This consumption method is typically faster acting, making it great for those who don’t want to wait an hour for edibles to kick in.

In addition to consumption with the dropper, another major benefit of cannabis tincture is that it can be mixed into just about everything. Once you know how to make tincture there is more room for experimentation like adding in flavors, other herbs and adding it into various dishes.

Using MCT oil instead of alcohol

When purchasing cannabis tinctures from retailers, it is likely that the tincture will be made with MCT oil instead of alcohol. This can be for a few reasons.

MCT oil, or Medium Chain Triglyceride, is a cheaper alternative that is more readily available than high proof alcohol, which may not even be legal in various states in the US. It doesn’t have any flavor, it is colorless and it has a high smoke point. These qualities make MCT great for longer cannabinoid extraction processes that can create a more concentrated final product.

Anyone who wants to avoid any hint of alcohol taste in their tincture should definitely consider picking up MCT oil instead. It may even be available at your local grocery store.

Now, on to the cannabis tincture recipe!

How to make tincture (alcohol based)

Firstly, you’ll need to gather your “ingredients” for making the cannabis tincture. Luckily very few are required. Here is what you will need for this alcohol-based cannabis tincture recipe:

  • 1 Glass Jar
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 Small Funnel
  • 1 Strainer (cheesecloth or coffee strainer will do)
  • 1 Glass Tincture Bottle with Dropper
  • Cannabis Flower (at least an eighth of an ounce)
  • High proof alcohol (190 proof grain alcohol recommended)

One of the most overlooked steps in following a cannabis tincture recipe is the decarboxylation process. More commonly called “decarbing”, this process helps to activate the THC molecules in the flower using heat. This is why you cannot get high from just eating raw cannabis flower.

To decarb your cannabis, break it up and place it on the baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 230 degrees Fahrenheit and place the baking sheet in for 30 minutes. After this time is up, remove the cannabis flower and place it into the glass jar. Make sure your jar has enough space for you cannabis flower and your alcohol.

After adding enough alcohol to completely submerge the cannabis, seal the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks. Be sure to shake the jar once daily for roughly 21 days. This is typically how long it takes for the cannabinoids to completely dissolve into the alcohol.

Extremely impatient people can instead shake the jar rapidly for several minutes after sealing it and strain it after for a much quicker, and much less potent result. For everyone else, the jar can be strained after 21 days through your filter, into the tincture bottle. It can be easy to overfill the bottle without leaving room for the dropper, so make sure to leave a little extra room at the top.

That’s it! Your alcohol-based cannabis tincture is done and ready to consume. For those that want to make tincture with MCT oil instead, the cannabis tincture recipe is slightly different. However it’s just as easy, and even quicker!

Cannabis tincture recipe (MCT Oil)

To make cannabis tincture with MCT oil instead of alcohol, the only addition is a crockpot. In terms of ingredients, you’re just swapping out the alcohol for MCT oil. You will want to use roughly an eighth ounce of flower per 1 cup of MCT oil.

The first crockpot method is super simple. Pour in your MCT oil followed by your decarbed cannabis flower. Turn the crockpot to “warm” or “low” and simmer 2 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Lower time requires a higher temperature, while longer time can stay at a lower temperature. The community is split on which produces a better product, so it is probably comparable either way.

Pouring the finished tincture directly from your crockpot into a dropper jar will prove difficult. So strain your tincture first into a larger jar to separate out the cannabis flower. You can then use this jar to store the bulk of your tincture, and refill your dropper bottle as needed from the jar.

If you’re really trying to avoid extra mess, or if smell is an issue, there is a twist on the crockpot method that will help.

Instead of pouring your MCT oil and cannabis directly into the crockpot, fill the crockpot about halfway with water. Then take your MCT oil and cannabis measurements and put them into a sealed glass jar. Put the sealed jar into the water filled crockpot and turn it to “High”.

Burp the jar and shake it regularly to make sure there isn’t a build up of pressure. After 30 minutes, strain into your dropper bottle and the tincture is done.

Knowing how to make tincture at home can save a lot of money at the dispensary. Not only that, having a cannabis tincture recipe on hand is always useful, and not just for cannabis! The medicinal benefits of various herbs and flowers can be extracted in the same exact way.

Let us know what you think of this cannabis tincture recipe and how it worked out for you, and what we should give a guide on next!

World’s first airport cannabis store to open in Canada

World’s first airport cannabis store to open in Canada

first airport cannabis store opening in Canada

The Prince George Airport in British Columbia is one step closer to hosting what reportedly would be the world’s first in-airport cannabis store.

The Prince George City Council voted in favor of the store’s land-use application at a public hearing Monday night.

Retail brand Copilot plans to open its airport terminal store by the beginning of summer, said co-founder Owen Ritz, pending further government approvals and store construction.

“We think that one potential segment are customers who are looking to purchase cannabis products and potentially consume them before traveling,” Ritz told MJBizDaily.

“It’s not necessarily because we view cannabis as a way to get intoxicated before traveling – it’s that cannabis is a product that people use to relieve stress and travel is a stressful experience, and it’s a practice that already exists.”

Other potential customers include arriving travelers looking to pick up cannabis before heading to their final destination in B.C., Ritz added, as well as curious travelers who might not ordinarily visit a cannabis store.

“We really view being in an airport as an opportunity to do that, to introduce our brand, and cannabis retail in general, to any type of customer.”

Cannabis consumption area planned

The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) publicly announced the planned cannabis retailer in January.

Ritz said he and fellow Copilot co-founder Reed Horton originally pitched the airport on the retail concept nearly two years ago, gaining PGAA’s approval and support for the retail concept.

The single-terminal regional airport served nearly 500,000 passengers in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and zapped air travel.

Up to 80% of pro athletes may be using cannabis

Up to 80% of pro athletes may be using cannabis

80% of pro athletes potentially using cannabis

You probably have heard about a runner’s high, but many professional athletes are actually getting high before they compete.

A former Georgia Bulldog and NFL player told Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein about 80% of the guys in the league are using marijuana.

Football is known for bone crushing hits. More and more players are turning to marijuana to help relieve the pain from the physicality of the sport.

“I would probably say around 80 % of the guys in our league use cannabis,” said Tavarres King, who played for the Georgia Bulldogs and spent seven years in the NFL.

“You mentioned 80% of your teammates or guys that you know in the league were using marijuana. Were you one of them?” Klein asked King.

“100 percent,” King answered, going on the record for the first time about his marijuana use during his NFL career.

King said marijuana helped him with anxiety and focus.

“Playing with it, laser sharp. I was laser sharp, laser focused,” King said.

“So, everyone knows you with the Giants, Lambeau Field, catching a touchdown pass from Eli Manning and you were high that game?” Klein asked.

“Yeah, yeah I was,” replied King laughing.

“You did your job,” Klein said.

“Yeah, I did my job,” King said.

Provisional cannabis licenses in California coming to an end

Provisional cannabis licenses in California coming to an end

provincial cannabis licenses in California news

Thousands of business have been put on a timeline as provisional cannabis licenses in California will be coming to and end in the future.

The end to a longstanding program in the state is going to make entry into the California legal cannabis industry much more difficult for newcomers. However the end to the temporary permit program will impact thousands of legal cannabis businesses across the state.

In fact, this change will impact the majority of California cannabis businesses.

Beginning June 30th, the options for entering the cannabis industry in California will become more limited. Potential newcomers will have two options:

  • Obtain an annual state license
  • Buy an existing licensed company

But obtaining an annual state license in California right now can take months or even years before a new business could begin operations, not to mention the costs of obtaining said license. Buying an existing cannabis company that is already licensed will be a much speedier process, though likely even more costly.

This could mean an increase in merger and acquisition activity in the state. While the end to the provisional cannabis licenses in California is meant to help existing cannabis businesses in the state, it may be too soon to say.

Of the 12,221 marijuana businesses that are currently licensed in California, only 3,378 currently hold annual state licenses. In other words, over 70% of legal cannabis businesses in California are operating with a provisional license.

Compared to annual licenses, provisional cannabis licenses in California have been much easier to obtain. Provisional licenses have acted as an extension of temporary permits that were issued following the passing of Proposition 64. These temporary licenses were originally intended to allow already licensed medical cannabis businesses in the state to sell cannabis recreationally while the state set up the regulated industry.

That was in 2018.

In 2022, the majority of the industry is still operating under provisional licenses for a variety of reasons. However most would likely argue that the costs of obtaining an annual license alone is reason enough.

As it stands, current provisional license holders don’t need to worry. However those looking to apply for a new provisional cannabis license in California will have their first deadline March 31, 2022. These will specifically be license applications for mixed light and indoor cultivation at or less than 22,000 square feet of contiguous premises and outdoor cultivation at or less than 20,000 square feet of contiguous premises.

June 30, 2022 is when the California Department of Cannabis Control is when these licenses must be issued. Starting July 1st, renewing a provisional cannabis license in California will become more difficult, requiring specific conditions. However local equity applicants and smaller cultivations will still be able to apply for provisional cannabis licenses in California through 2023.

January 1, 2026 is the last day that any provisional cannabis licenses can be in effect. In other words, all current provisional cannabis license holders — 70% of current businesses in California — have until this date to obtain an annual state license.

Four years may seem like ample time for the 8,843 provisional license holders in California to make the switch to an annual license. However since Proposition 64 passed, California has been plagued with suffocating bureaucracy, exorbitant fees and costs, strict regulations and other issues that already make it extremely difficult to operate for smaller operations.

The state has allocated $100 million to help the 17 cities and counties with the most marijuana companies to finish transitioning provisionally licensed companies into annual permits. However the annual licensing process is so involved, said attorney Ariana Van Alstine, that some companies have taken years to get theirs. Others are still waiting for their licenses, going back-and-forth with local or state regulators on getting theirs completed or both.

With a priority on transitioning existing provisional cannabis licenses in California, one must hope that the process will run smoothly. Ideally, every provisional license holder will be able to make the switch to an annual license before January 1, 2026.

However if California’s past is to act as any reference, one must also be extremely skeptical.