Brand Spotlight: Milo Confections Betta Mints Will Better Your Life

December 14, 2017 12:38 am Leave a Comment

While the name will probably conjure thoughts of sugary treats, Milo Confections makes less common, though equally tasty, edibles growing in popularity–marijuana mints. However, you’ll discover these aren’t like most infused breath fresheners on the market. Let’s take a look at their mints.

In this brand spotlight, you'll learn:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

About Milo Confections
How Milo Confections Mints Are Made
Products
Where to Buy Milo Confections
Customer Testimonials
Official Links

About Milo Confections

Officially launched this past April, Milo Confections is a L.A. based brand with a simple mission: create superior cannabis infused mints that bring the plant’s benefits to any lifestyle.

The company prides itself on valuing patient feedback to continually improve their mints. Founder Patrick has extensive experience working with dispensaries, exposing him to varied cannabis patients dealing with different conditions, goals, and preferences. This insight helped him identify common factors all patients look for: high quality ingredients, consistent dosing, and well marked packaging.

How Milo Confections Mints Are Made

Milo “Betta” (better) mints are vegan-friendly and gluten-free, made using only high quality ingredients, cannabis included. The brand infuses mint, the base of all their products, using raw California cannabis distillate, one of the cleanest extraction methods available.

The Milo Confections team has developed a proprietary delivery method so their infused mints quickly deliver comfort, calm, and relief. Patrick’s bio-chemistry background ensures strict and specific care; all dosages accurate and mixed with fatty acids to increase absorption.

Naturally, Milo Confections prides itself on consistency, using SC Labs to test their mints for potency and purity. Precise and stable dosing allow patients to be in control of their medication, giving them the comfort of knowing exactly what to expect every time they open a Milo tin.

Like the products, their packaging focuses on transparency. Every tin label contains the cannabinoid content, ingredients, dosage instructions, and warnings to ensure you get a perfect, appropriate dose each time. Plus it’s small and discreet, perfect to put in your pocket, purse, or backpack.

Products

Milo Betta mints are small, triangular, and surprisingly chewy with no cannabis taste. Their consistency and subtlety might remind you of those soft, pastel after-dinner mints you’d find in restaurants as a kid.

There are three different formulas/flavors: Super Berry Blend THC, Açaí Berry Blend THC:CBD, and Raw Matcha Blend CBD. Each will give you consistent effects, unique flavor and fresh breath simultaneously!

Just be careful: residue might powder your fingers and the top of the tin’s sometimes sticky label. This’ll eventually change, along with a new embossed tin and a hard mint shell, once all government packaging restrictions and regulations have been set in place.

So if you’re looking for familiar, light, healthier edibles to use on the go and on the low, these tasty mints are for you.

Super Berry Blend THC Betta Mints

These pure THC mints come 15 per tin with 20mg THC each, totaling 300mg ($20). After trying you’ll immediately taste a blast of fruity berries balanced with just the right sweetness and no artificial taste. Remember, they do produce psychoactive effects so start with one or two then see how you’re feeling in about half an hour. Ideal for fueling a creative and productive day.

Açaí Berry Blend 2:1 THC+CBD Betta Mints

THC+CBD Betta Mints (around $15) have a 2:1 ratio of THC to CBD, blended with delicious and semi-tart açaí, the super healthy Brazilian berry. Each mint has 5mg THC and 2.5mg CBD, with 20 per tin, totaling 100mg THC and 50mg CBD. With enough CBD to help balance THC’s psychoactive effects, a couple of these are perfect for early morning medicating and all-day consumption. While they do create some psychoactive effects, they’ll be considerably less than their THC-only sister product.

CBD Raw Matcha Blend Betta Mints

Unlike the other two, this cannabis derived CBD-only option blends non-psychoactive benefits with the relaxing properties of matcha green tea. Each mint has 5mg CBD with 20 mints in each tin ($15-20), totaling 100mg of CBD. Their relaxing effects are ideal for a nightcap or a day relaxing at home. These mints would also be ideal after a hard workout or a particularly challenging day dealing with chronic pain. Perfect for patients weary of psychoactive.

Where to Buy Milo Confections

Milo Confections mints are available in several California MMJ dispensaries. You google medical shops to find them, or you can use Nugg’s medical marijuana delivery service to locate local ones that carry and deliver Milo Confections straight to you. It’s free to sign up, but you must have a valid medical marijuana recommendation before ordering.

Don’t have a valid cannabis rec? Don’t worry, NuggMD makes it easier than ever by having licensed cannabis doctors available online every day. After meeting the criteria and being doctor approved via live video conference, you’ll get your medical recommendation for only $49. Then visit Nugg and instantly start ordering!

Customer Testimonials

“As a fashion photographer, I’m always on the go. These mints are perfect for my lifestyle! Small, discrete, and tastes great! Definitely a must have when medicating during the day! Typically, I’m not an edibles person, but these have been so effective it’s changed my mind!…For anyone who can’t smoke but wants the benefits of cannabis, check these products out!!” – Nia Drialla

“[The CBD Betta mints] tasted pretty pleasant…right after taking them it almost felt similar to after I take an anti-anxiety medication. There’s kind of this tingley, relaxed-ness.” – Marissa S.

“As a youtuber that reviews 420 products I get a lot of samples to try. Milo Confections has been one of the best by far! Great mints that deliver real medicine and don’t have an overtly ‘green’ taste to them. Any patient looking for a way to medicate discreetly at work/school should look into these guys!” – Mike D.

Official Links

Want to keep up with all things Milo Confections? Visit and follow them online:

How Medical Marijuana Helps Those Suffering from HIV-AIDS

December 1, 2017 7:45 pm 1 Comment

Even though HIV/AIDS is now treatable thanks to antiretroviral drugs, most who suffer from the disease also experience resulting debilitating symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, depression, and chronic pain.

While the federal government’s lack of clinical cannabis studies has limited progress and raised more questions than answers, medical marijuana has nonetheless proven successful in relieving the adverse side effects of HIV-AIDS and its treatment based on mounting preclinical research.

What you'll learn in this post:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

What Is HIV-AIDS?
Conventional Treatments
Is Cannabis Use Safe for HIV-AIDS?
Medical Marijuana and HIV-AIDS
A Summary of the Scientific Studies
Medical Marijuana Products to Treat HIV-AIDS
Interesting HIV-AIDS Facts
Doctor Testimonials
Patient Testimonials

What Is HIV-AIDS?

HIV, aka the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a sexually transmitted disease that impairs the immune system. As a result, those infected with it are vulnerable to opportunistic infections. AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, refers to the immune system’s breakdown caused by the HIV virus.

The virus is bloodborne, primarily transmitted by exchanging bodily fluids like blood and semen via unprotected sex, as well as contaminated blood transfusions, in utero, or infected mothers’ breast milk. It can’t be transmitted through casual contact.

It attacks the body’s white blood cells, which protect against infections, fungal growths, and malignancies. Consequently, HIV impairs the immune system, leaving the body open to opportunistic infections and cancers.

Currently there’s no cure, though antiviral drugs have helped many manage their condition for decades. With proper treatment, a person with HIV-AIDS can often expect to live a nearly normal lifespan, so long they adhere to their medications.

Conventional Treatments

Antiretroviral drugs have transformed HIV-AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable condition. The FDA has approved six classes of drugs and more than 25 medications to keep the HIV virus from multiplying and impairing the immune system.

Typically patients are treated with a combination of drugs suited to their needs and must adhere to a strict daily treatment regimen. However, these medications come with severely debilitating side effects, causing many to discontinue their life-saving medications.

Megestrol acetate, commonly prescribed to battle AIDS weight loss, can prompt seizures, heart failure, seizures, pneumonia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, impotence, vaginal bleeding and more.

Opioids like codeine, morphine, and oxycodone are typically prescribed to fight polyneuropathy that comes with HIV-AIDS. Yet they’re often overprescribed and can result in severe addiction, mood change, and even death–which are rising at a staggering rate amid the current opioid epidemic.

Somatropin, a synthetic human growth hormone, is used to combat AIDS wasting syndrome–though may induce stomach, face, hands and feet swelling, cancer, diarrhea, headaches and high blood pressure.

Arrive — cannabis.

Is Cannabis Use Safe for HIV-AIDS?

Cannabis’ side effects, on the other hand, are much less addictive, non-lethal, and mild–even with the sickest of patients. Although it can hinder performance, resulting in temporary impairment, it has little effect on physiological functions.

Inhaling cannabis smoke can harm the respiratory system, though serious complications from it are rare. If it causes discomfort, vaping is a cleaner alternative.

Medical Marijuana and HIV-AIDS

Cannabis’ effectiveness in treating symptoms related to HIV-AIDS is widely recognized. Its value as an antiemetic and analgesic has been proven in numerous studies and has been recognized by several comprehensive, government-sponsored reviews.

AIDS wasting syndrome was a frequent complication of HIV infection prior to the advent of protease-inhibitor drugs. It’s been associated with major weight loss and cachexia, conditions that further debilitate its victims who’re already weakened by immune system failure and opportunistic infections.

Cannabis has been a frequently employed alternative medicine for the condition, particularly in the U.S., because of its reported benefits on appetite and improvement of other AIDS symptoms.

HIV-AIDS patients have known this, self-medicating with cannabis to tolerate their condition and its resulting effects. It’s been effective in reducing nausea, neurological pain and anxiety, as well as stimulating appetite. In fact, the prognosis improves threefold for HIV-AIDS patients who use cannabis as an adjunct therapy to their conventional medications.

The medical community has taken an interest as well, and research into marijuana’s pain-relieving, mood-elevating, and appetite stimulating properties gained momentum. Before long, a consensus soon emerged–marijuana was safe and effective in addressing the debilitating symptoms HIV-AIDS patients dealt with on a daily basis.

The evidence for marijuana’s efficacy as an adjunct therapy turned out to be so overwhelming that the federal government was effectively pressured into approving Marinol, a synthetic version of medical cannabis.

Unfortunately, Marinol has never been as well-tolerated or as popular as marijuana when it comes to symptom relief. That’s because individually isolated cannabinoids (Marinol is just THC) have been shown to have less positive health benefits than when consuming cannabinoids in concert. Namely, THC and CBD together, which has come to be known as the “entourage effect.”

Sympathy for HIV-AIDS patients and the steady accumulation of scientific evidence supporting cannabis’ painkilling benefits proved to be a watershed moment in tipping public opinion in favor of MMJ. More recently, a few studies have suggested that cannabinoids may also have antiviral properties.

A Summary of the Scientific Studies

HIV-AIDS was among the first conditions that medical marijuana was widely used for in the United States.

Initially, some researchers worried heavy cannabis use could further impair white blood cell counts and immune functioning in patients. However, a majority of studies appear to confirm that medical cannabis is safe, well-tolerated by patients, and an effective pain reliever.

More recently, researchers are beginning to investigate medical marijuana’s potential antiviral properties. Here is a summary of important findings:

A clinical trial conducted in 2003 found no evidence that either smoked marijuana or oral cannabis undermined immune function in HIV-AIDS patients.
In 2005, research published in the Journal of Pain Symptom Management concluded that cannabis helped HIV-AIDS patients improve symptom control.
A 2005 study published in Psychopharmacology found that marijuana was an effective appetite stimulant for patients suffering from the wasting effects of HIV-AIDS.
According to a 2007 report, up to 33% of HIV-AIDS patients self-medicate with cannabis to help alleviate nausea, vomiting, depression, weight loss and other side effects caused by their treatments. Some studies suggest that cannabis use is correlated with improved adherence to antiretroviral regimens.
A study published in 2012 found that cannabinoids have the potential to “exert potent antiviral activity without inducing immunosuppression.”
A 2013 Harvard study found that cannabinoids may help prevent the HIV virus from damaging the brain.
At least one study suggests MMJ may help inhibit the progression of the HIV virus itself. However, researchers caution that cannabis should be considered a complementary therapy, not a replacement for proven treatments.

Medical Marijuana Products to Treat HIV-AIDS

Health providers tailor drug therapies to match the unique needs of individual HIV-AIDS patients.

Similarly, there’s no one marijuana strain or cannabis-based product that’s appropriate for all HIV-AIDS patients.

With a condition as serious as HIV-AIDS, it’s especially important to discuss all MMJ treatment options with a licensed physician first.

Interesting HIV-AIDS Facts

Roughly 37 million people have HIV-AIDS worldwide.
Globally, 1.8 million children have HIV-AIDS.
Worldwide, 40% of those living with HIV-AIDS are undiagnosed.
1.2 million Americans are living with HIV-AIDS according to the U.S. Department of Health.
One in eight people infected with HIV-AIDS in the U.S. are unaware of their condition.
HIV-AIDS is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa where the World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the population is infected.

Doctor Testimonials

“From working with AIDS and cancer patients, I repeatedly saw how marijuana could ameliorate a patient’s debilitating fatigue, restore appetite, diminish pain, remedy nausea, cure vomiting and curtail down-to-the-bone weight loss.” — Dr. Kate Scannell

“When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients.” — The American Academy of HIV Medicine

“[Medical marijuana] stimulates the appetite and promotes weight gain, in turn strengthening the body, combating chronic fatigue, and providing the stamina and physical well-being necessary to endure or withstand both adverse side effects of ongoing treatment and other opportunistic infections.” — Dr. Marcus A. Conant

Patient Testimonials

“Wasting syndrome, in combination with other HIV-related symptoms and conditions, left me thoroughly disabled and desperate to obtain relief. I tried smoking marijuana to combat nausea. I found that it reduced my nausea and restored my appetite, allowing me to eat and regain my strength with no noticeable side effects…nothing compares to marijuana in terms of results.” — Daniel J. Kane

“I am a retired Air Force Captain and JAG Corps prosecutor, a former foot soldier in the war on drugs…I am also an AIDS patient who credits medical marijuana as an important link to saving my life…I found that it took only two or three puffs from a marijuana cigarette for my appetite to return.” — Keith Vines

“Medical marijuana was originally recommended to treat my nausea and chronic pain and has proven to be more effective than any of the numerous other treatments I have tried. It is effective without the debilitating grogginess, nausea and lethargy I experienced with other prescribed pain medications. Marijuana also acts as an appetite stimulant, helping me eat enough to avoid ‘wasting.’” — Michael Chelosky

What Is a Medical Marijuana Prescription?

November 15, 2017 1:09 am Leave a Comment

California has been on the forefront of medical marijuana for over two decades, long before it could be purchased legally in 29 states and Washington D.C.

But what’s the difference between a medical marijuana card and a medical marijuana prescription? How has California cannabis legislation changed since the passage of Prop 215? Are medical marijuana evaluations still necessary? We’ll answer these questions and more.

What you'll learn in this article:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

Prop 215: The Beginning of Modern Medical Cannabis
SB 420: California’s Official Medical Marijuana Program
Qualifying Conditions: Who Can Obtain Medical Cannabis in California
What’s the Difference Between a Medical Marijuana Prescription & an ID Card?
Where to Get a Cannabis Doctor’s Prescription & Medical Cannabis
Don't Wait Until 2018

Prop 215: The Beginning of Modern Medical Cannabis

medical marijuana prescription

Before you ask, “can I buy marijuana in California?” let’s examine the laws that made it happen.

The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 was originally conceived by San Francisco marijuana activist Dennis Peron in memory of his partner, Jonathan West, who used marijuana to treat his debilitating AIDS symptoms. It declared that medical cannabis can be grown and purchased by patients with virtually any medical condition.

After several failed attempts to achieve legalization, Peron worked with other activists to create Californians for Compassionate Use, a political action committee dedicated to putting medical marijuana on the ballot. That proposition passed with 55.6% support.

However, implementing Prop 215 was not without its challenges. Some California counties decided to opt out, effectively banning medical cannabis within county lines.

Plus, cannabis remaining a Schedule I narcotic added more barriers and reasons not to comply. Despite allowing ill patients safe access to medical marijuana, many so-called “cannabis clubs,” where patients can obtain and use the plant, were subject to police raids and criminal prosecution.

SB 420: California’s Official Medical Marijuana Program

medical marijuana prescription

In 2003, California State Senator John Vasconcellos introduced Senate Bill 420, also known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act. The bill aimed to clarify key components of Proposition 215 and create an official medical marijuana program, complete with a voluntary ID system. It also allows certain patients to be exempt from standard possession limits if a qualified doctor believes more medical cannabis is needed.

SB 420 also enacted laws and protections for patients and caregivers that weren’t originally included in Prop 215, including protection against arrest for transporting medical cannabis. It also declared that more information be gathered to potentially increase the number of qualifying conditions.

Additionally, the Medical Marijuana Program Act allows probationers, parolees, and prisoners to apply for permission to use medical marijuana; but such requests may be refused at the discretion of authorities.

Qualifying Conditions: Who Can Obtain Medical Cannabis in California

medical marijuana prescription

Unlike other states, California has a practically endless list of conditions that may qualify a patient for the California Medical Marijuana Program. They include:

Anxiety
Anorexia
Arthritis
Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)
Cancer
Chronic Pain: any persistent medical symptom that can cause serious harm and limits the ability to conduct one or more major life activity
Fibromyalgia
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Migraines
Multiple Sclerosis/Chronic Muscle Spasms
Seizures

What’s the Difference Between a Medical Marijuana Prescription & an ID Card?

medical marijuana prescription

Many are asking, “do I need a California medical marijuana card and a script?” While they’re similar, a medical marijuana recommendation isn’t the same as an ID card. The rec is essentially a paper prescription a licensed medical provider gives a patient verifying their qualifying condition(s) and allowing him or her to use medical cannabis.

A medical marijuana program ID card is issued by county health departments on a voluntary basis. The idea behind the ID is patient protection. Police can easily identify MMJ patients by a unique identification number without hassling or detaining them. Patients must renew their ID every year and pay applicable fees; those on state insurance qualify for a 50% discount on their fees.

Where to Get a Cannabis Doctor’s Prescription & Medical Cannabis

With three options to choose from, getting a prescription for medical marijuana isn’t as complicated as you may think.

Visit your primary care physician and ask if he or she’s can provide a MMJ prescription. Typically, most aren’t comfortable with cannabis and aren’t knowledgeable enough to recommend it.

There are also several stand-alone offices throughout California, staffed entirely with medical marijuana doctors. These docs often see people on a walk-in basis and may be closer and cheaper than a primary care physician. Yet the legwork of searching for them, matching prices and traveling to their office can be a headache.

Now medical cannabis prescriptions can be secured online using telemedicine websites and apps. This process is fast, convenient and simple, giving patients nearly instant access to a MMJ certification.

But before you google “medical marijuana evaluations near me” try NuggMD, the country’s leading telemedicine service, and get medical marijuana recommendations for only $49. The entire process takes around ten minutes, but you can take all the time you want to talk to the weed doctor. All your info is HIPAA compliant and is never shared with a third party or the state.

Once you acquire yours, forget Google or Weedmaps and use Nugg, California’s largest online cannabis marketplace, to access medical marijuana delivery and have it sent to your home.

In addition to detailed online menus, compare prices and read reviews before ordering. With Nugg, patients don’t even have to leave home to obtain both a MMJ doctor’s recommendation and medical marijuana!

Don’t Wait Until 2018

Proposition 215 and SB 420 set the standard for MMJ programs across the country. It’s been over 20 years since medical cannabis was first legalized, and more Californians have safe access to it now more than ever. You should too.

You can obtain a medical cannabis prescription from a few sources, though NuggMD is clearly the best option. Don’t hesitate and get yours today!

How to Find Recreational Marijuana Dispensaries “Near Me”

October 31, 2017 9:34 pm Leave a Comment

California has always been a cannabis trailblazer. Being the first to legalize medical use, growing the world’s best marijuana, having the richest cannabis culture–the state has a long history and special relationship with the plant.

With legal marijuana approaching in 2018, people are wondering, “how can I find recreational marijuana dispensaries near me?” Here we’ll break down current cannabis laws along with the necessary requirements and steps to take before visiting a non-medical dispensary. Forget googling “recreational dispensaries near me” because we’ve got you covered.

Don’t want to leave home for your weed? Have dispensaries bring medical marijuana right to you. Click here to order cannabis online from Nugg have it delivered in under and hour!

What you'll learn in this post:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

History of Accessing Cannabis in California
How to Find Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries
Requirements for Accessing a Dispensary Today
Requirements for Accessing Recreational Dispensaries Near You

History of Accessing Cannabis in California

Legal access to cannabis has come in many forms (and steps) since medical marijuana was first legalized over twenty years ago. These three historic laws helped lead up to recreational legalization.

Prop 215

Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was the country’s first successful state initiative to legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients.

Under the proposition, California residents with a valid medical condition can get a marijuana recommendation from a certified doctor, allowing them to use, possess and grow cannabis for medical use. Because the wording is deliberately vague, the proposition allows almost anyone to use medical cannabis for almost any painful condition.

The law also allows medical patients’ primary caregivers to possess and cultivate cannabis on their behalf.

SB 420

While Prop 215 was revolutionary, it lacked much of the specificity that a true regulated system needs. In 2004, Senate Bill 420, better known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act, was passed in an attempt to clarify gaps in Prop 215 and act as a compromise between patient advocates and law enforcement.

SB 420 included state guidelines for possession limits, allowing MMJ patients to grow up to six mature or 12 immature plants and have up to a half-pound of dried, processed cannabis. Severely or deathly ill patients can exceed this amount if they have a doctor’s written permission.

Arguably the most important aspect of SB 420 was that it established a voluntary identification card system for medical cannabis patients and their caregivers. It protects privacy by assigning each patient a unique ID number that law enforcement can verify without needing more specific info, helping to avoid trouble.

Prop 64

The most recent change to accessing cannabis in California came in November of 2016. Golden State voters passed Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use Marijuana Act, legalizing recreational cannabis use and possession for adults 21 and older. It doesn’t conflict with Prop 215 so MMJ patients still retain all of their rights and privileges granted under the act.

Adults can legally purchase weed from recreational cannabis stores, plus possess and transport up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and eight grams of concentrated marijuana.

They’re able to smoke, vape or ingest any cannabis form in private homes and businesses licensed for on-site consumption. Finally it allows licensed businesses that sell recreational marijuana to be taxed and regulated by the state government.

How to Find Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries

recreational marijuana dispensaries near me

While Prop 64 passed almost a year ago, the state government must go through a long and arduous rulemaking process before recreational dispensary licenses are granted.

No licenses will be granted before January 2018, though some lawmakers think it may be as long as 2019 before rules are set in place and businesses can officially begin selling recreational weed. Until then, medical dispensaries are your only option.

It’s important to understand that any California dispensary currently claiming to sell recreational cannabis under Prop 64 is acting illegally (careful, they’re out there). While it might be tempting, you’re better off playing it safe and getting access to medical dispensaries; it’s worth it in the long run.

If you’re looking for a medical marijuana dispensary today or the closest recreational dispensary in the future, the following tools can help find them near you.

Nugg

California’s largest online cannabis marketplace, Nugg finds dispensaries near you that’ll deliver straight to your door. All you have to do is enter your location (address or zip code) and Nugg will instantly produce live menus from all medical dispensaries (and eventually the nearest recreational dispensaries) open near you, along with dispensary reviews from other Nugg users.

Is there anything better and more convenient than getting your medical marijuana delivered right to your door?

Weedmaps

Weedmaps, the world’s first marijuana tech and media brand, is a way to find cannabis doctors, storefront dispensaries, products, prices and delivery services operating in your area. Yet unlike Nugg, the giant doesn’t offer direct telehealth services and you can’t directly order from these listed places, only see prices and reviews.

Leafly

Leafly makes it easy to find a marijuana dispensary near you as well. Just type in your zip code to see a map of several in your immediate area, or you can search by product to see what cannabis clinic near you has it in stock.

They don’t offer delivery, but it’s a good tool to see dispensary menus and discover new products. Their in-depth list of strains can help you discover which flower works best for specific conditions, moods and activities.

Requirements for Accessing a Dispensary Today

Until licenses are granted for recreational cannabis sales, medical dispensaries are your only (and actually best) choice. But before you walk into a MMJ storefront or order cannabis online, you must have a valid MMJ recommendation or ID card. If you need one, there are a few options to choose from, though not all are created equal.

First, ask your primary care physician if he or she’s willing to recommend medical cannabis based on your symptoms/condition. Unfortunately, even in today’s age, most won’t officially be on board with it–though they might suggest trying one of the two following methods.

Second, you could visit a local medical marijuana doctor who specializes in helping recommend medical marijuana to qualifying patients. But this means searching for local cannabis docs, comparing fees, driving, and waiting before you see a doctor, only to pay a huge fee for little service.

Lastly, you can and should use patient-favorite NuggMD, by far the fastest and most affordable way to get certified by a cannabis doctor ONLINE! Their telemedicine service allows you to skip the red tape, saving you time and money.

It’s easy. All you need is an internet connection and a webcam to have your consultation anywhere, even from bed! Just fill out some basic info about yourself and your condition(s), upload a photo, then consult the doc for a live, face-to-face chat.

NuggMD doctors are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, so no need to be intimidated or afraid. While the evaluation just lasts around ten minutes, you can take as long as necessary for the doc to answer all of your MMJ related questions and concerns.

The whole process only costs $49. Need a renewal? It’s also only $49. And if you aren’t approved, you pay nothing.

Once certified, you’ll immediately be emailed a temporary copy of your rec until the hard copy comes in the mail a few days later. If you plan on visiting a storefront dispensary, check online or call ahead to find out if they accept this temporary rec. Otherwise, get your weed straight from Nugg’s several dispensary partners across California.

Remember to visit the Nugg Blog for info on all things cannabis and sign up for Nugg’s cannabis delivery using the promo code BLOG20 to get $20 off! You won’t find a better deal in California.

Requirements for Accessing Recreational Dispensaries Near You

recreational marijuana dispensaries near me

Once the recreational market is up and running, any adult age 21 and up with a valid photo ID will have to access recreational marijuana dispensaries. Recreational users will be able to buy several products like flower, edibles, tinctures, beverages, and topicals.

While visiting a nearby recreational dispensary may seem like a no-brainer, users will be taxed at a higher rate than medical cannabis patients and there’ll be potency limits on edibles, requiring all infused foods to be dosed in 10mg pieces. Potency limits for edibles will be higher for medical marijuana patients, as well as possession and home grow limits.

It’s important to remember that there are currently no legal recreational weed stores in California and, mostly likely, won’t be any for a while. Lawmakers are hopeful that recreational licenses will be distributed in 2018, but until then you’ll need a MMJ recommendation or ID card to access any dispensary’s weed products.

NuggMD and Nugg are well worth the money for easy access to hundreds of dispensaries and the security of being a MMJ patient. Plus, no more seemingly endless searches for “recreational weed near me,” “where is the closest dispensary,” and “recreational marijuana shops near me”!

Don’t wait for recreational marijuana stores to sprout up; become a cannabis patient today!

Best and Worst Vape Cartridges of 2015 & 2016

October 20, 2017 9:00 pm 63 Comments

You’ve probably noticed more and more “vape pens” popping up at your local dispensary, online telemedicine platforms like Nugg & NuggMD, but what about cannabis vape cartridges? Maybe you don’t know exactly what they are or how to use them, but you’ve seen your pal puffing on what looks to be an “armored pen” like its oxygen.

Here’s the deal—the vaporizers you see today are portable electronic sticks that heat marijuana oil to a temperature just shy of combustion, emitting a smokeless “mist” without the tars, toxins and carbon produced and ingested when setting your herb aflame.

Vaporizers make vaping and smoking easy, discreet, and honestly quite a lot of fun (just don’t confuse cannabis vaporizers with e-cigarette vaporizer pens that function the same but use nicotine instead of THC).

After seeing celebs like rapper/weed icon Snoop Dogg, comedian Sarah Silverman, fighter Nate Diaz and others publicly sport these magic healing wands, you’re probably tempted to try one for yourself. You’re not alone. Even a third of Leafly reviews are related to medical or adult vaporizer use.

But what you might not realize is that the vape pens themselves aren’t the key. Yes, each comes with its own design, price, quality, durability, and “wow factor”; but in reality it’s the THC and/or CBD vape oil (also commonly referred to as cannabis e-juice or liquid concentrate) inside the detachable cartridge that produces the relaxing, healing effects.

These weed cartridges are typically created using a CO2 extraction method and can be replaced time and time again with any THC and/or CBD infused liquid.

Which brings us to the point of this article…

What are the best (and worst) vape cartridges available today?

We wish someone warned us which ones to try first and which ones to stay away from, but there’s just not much information out there on what makes one cartridge better than another. Maybe a random reddit thread here and there, a post in High Times or The Cannabist, but for the most part the topic of personal cannabis vaporizers is still an emerging trend with a lot to be discovered.

Plus, when something so small is priced so high you can’t really afford trial and error. We’re writing this post in hopes that prospective wax pen vape cartridge buyers like you find it useful prior to purchase.

Our first piece of advice for medical marijuana users—don’t listen to what the budtenders tell you. They’re job is to push products. They’re not pharmacists. Most of them don’t care about your medical needs and the cannabis industry just doesn’t have standards to make sure the people behind the counter know what they’re talking about.

In fact, most of us are frequently shocked how little they actually know. “This one’s the best” usually means “this is the one nobody’s buying and we really need to get rid of it.”

And you often can’t trust pricing as an indicator of quality; you may think expensive carts trump the rest in quality and potency, but they’re most likely only pricey because of fancy packaging and branding.

In this 2015-2017 breakdown, we’ll try to refrain from talking about qualities that are mainly subjective like smell and taste. They all smell and taste differently, but we know what you care about most are the THC concentration, vapor production, and ultimately the effects of the high, so we’ll mainly address these issues.

We’ve also updated this piece to include vape cartridges that became available to consumers in 2017.

In this brand spotlight, you'll discover:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

O.pen
American Flower
Pure Vape
TetraLabs
Eureka Vapor
Honey Vape
Kurvana
Pax Era
FlavRx
How to Get Vape Products Delivered in Under an Hour

We’ll go from worst to best so, even if you don’t have time to read this whole thing, you can click on a brand above and find out which one(s) to try and which to stay away from. When you do find one you’re interested in, check out the last section of this post to learn how you can get it delivered to your home (if you’re in California, that is).

O.pen

Don’t be fooled by the sleek packaging! You might be tempted to buy an O.pen pre-filled hash oil vape cartridge or O.Pen refill because they’re nice, colorful, and have a variety of vape cartridge strains in 250mg ($30-45) and 500mg ($50-65) sizes, but this is the least favorite brand we’ve tried.

And believe us, we wanted to think the first experience was a fluke, but then the second AND third marijuana oil cartridges ended in leakage too.

Even when we followed the O.pen vape instructions and managed to get these things puffing, the burnt plastic taste was simply off-putting and unnatural. We imagine this product comes from a production line with little quality control and a company with little interest in the cannabis user. Still looking for O-pen vape cartridges for sale? Scroll or jump to the end of this article.

O-Pen vape cartridges = avoid, not worth the problems when better ones available.

American Flower

This one will get you high, but not very quickly. We had to power-hit it rapidly for ten minutes and only then did the cerebral lift-up kick in. There’s not that much vapor produced, so you feel like every hit comes up short. For some reason this one is priced at $40 for 500mg of vape pen hash oil, but we have no idea what reason justifies that price.

Their packaging isn’t even aesthetically pleasing. See for yourself; it’s freaking atrocious. Looks like it’s straight out of the Kirkland Swiss army knife handbook.

American Flower cartridges = don’t bother, unless the O-pen is your only other option. Then prep the lungs, suck down the entire cart and hope for the best.

Pure Vape

Pure Vape has the potential to be an amazing product. They kill it when it comes to taste, potency, and availability, but they’re not fooling anybody with their price point.

If you’re light on cash $40 for the 500mg cartridge and $50 for the 1200mg cartridge (a better deal) might not be worth it; you’re better off buying some wax or shatter to get more bang for your buck, unless you insist on vaping.

An average Pure Vape cartridge might last about four days, if you have the discipline of a Shaolin monk, but if you’re a regular toker this thing will give you two days of great tasting vapor, and two days of burnt hits. Instead, save those 40 or 50 bucks for one of the bad boys below.

Pure Vape cartridges = quality but short-lasting; not worth the price.

TetraLabs

TetraLabs does not mess around when it comes to quality. These cannabis oil cartridges contain pure liquid THC will get you really high, make your mouth water, and will last longer than most others on the market.

While more expensive than the previous cartridges, their strength, smoothness and effectiveness makes them worth the heftier $70 (1000mg) and $40 (500mg) price tags.

While they come in a variety of flavors, Classic, Crème Brûlée, Earl Grey, Pineapple and Spearmint, unfortunately they don’t come in a variety of strains because you only have one option…Mystery Hybrid.

Although labeled a hybrid strain, we wouldn’t recommend this cartridge if you’re trying to get stuff done. They definitely lean more towards the indica-dominant side of the spectrum, so if you’re looking for that deep body couch-lock then this is the vape cartridge for you.

Tetra Labs Gold cartridges = pricey but dank, almost too dank if you’re tryna function.

Eureka Vapor

Unlike the others on this list, Eureka oil vapor cartridges come in almost 20 popular indica, sativa and hybrid strains like Girl Scout Cookie, Super Silver Haze, and White Window for practically every condition or mood.

Not only is there something for everybody, each Eureka vapor cartridge tastes like what it’s supposed to as their extraction process produces only the purest and healthiest vapor.

SEE ALSO: Eureka Vape Cartridge Review

They’re fairly priced at $35 for 0.5g/500mg and $65 for 1g/1000mg, plus works like any standard 510-thread cartridge. Currently they’re only available in California and Colorado, so if you can legally buy medical marijuana and are lucky enough to find them, take advantage and enjoy! You won’t be sorry.

Eureka vape cartridges = great selection, effective, and affordable; a more balanced cartridge.

Honey Vape

Super potent, super high-quality with a bunch of great tasting strains like Skywalker OG, Blackberry, and Tangerine Dream to choose from.

In our eyes, Honey Vape could’ve taken the cake, but we like to medicate on-the-go and this cartridge slowed us down. Why?

When we first tried the Honey Vape cartridge we were ready to put it at the top of this list (meaning the absolute worst) marijuana cartridge available. We could barely get this thing to hit at all. We were sucking on it like a baby on a pacifier, our lips hurt and we were doing way too much of the work.

But we found the trick—you have to heat this stuff up beforehand until the liquid THC starts to flow and then, believe us, it runs like gold. After giving up on the concentrate and accidentally leaving it to fry in the sun, we discovered that the THC vape juice was swimming around more freely.

We then plugged it into our vape pen, took one huge drag and, would you look at that, the thing absolutely RIPPED.

With up to 80% THC oil in each, we proceeded to get a mind-blowing creative high that lasted well over two hours (impressive for any THC cartridges our book).

So if you don’t mind doing a little prep-work (like putting a blowdryer or flame to this thing) and paying $40 (0.5g), $75 (1g), or $110 (1.8g) for a CO2 oil cartridge, then Honey Vape is totally worth it. You won’t find this kind of quality and potency anywhere else.

Honey Vape cartridges = looks like honey, tastes like it too, and gets you very medicated so go try one of these cartridges now.

Kurvana (formerly Kure Botanicals)

There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfect tasting vapor hit. We’d probably buy these cannabis vape juices even if they didn’t contain active cannabinoids; they’re that good.

However, even though these cartridges taste better than any others we’ve tried, taste isn’t the determining factor for why we put Kurvana at numero uno.

They’re also extremely potent (67-70% THC), come in 11 delicious strains like Pineapple Express, Citron OG and Grapefruit Kush, and the presentation is pristine. Where other companies use fancy packaging to place a premium on price (a.k.a. rip you off), Kurvana uses its stylish packaging as the “wow factor.”

The only downside is they’re one of the most expensive 1g cartridges available, $75 each, but their .5g cartridges are a reasonable $40 a piece, putting them on-par with the Honey vape cartridge.

These embody everything you want in your weed oil cartridges: the intensely flavored strains taste awesome and hit smoothly while getting you high as a kite, and the beautifully crafted vial containers look attractive. Way to go Kurvana, you’ve done us right.

Kurvana vape cartridges = currently one of the best vape cartridge on the market, hands down.

vape cartridges

Pax Era

Mostly known for their dried flower vapes, Pax has become a leading vape cartridge producer in 2017 due in part to their super sleek and stylish concentrates pen, the Pax Era. The pen’s thin, rectangular shape is unlike any other, making their cartridges, called “pods,” a high quality specialty item.

Surprisingly, Pax doesn’t make their own vape oil but partners with high quality cannabis companies, licensing their pod’s to different ones in each MMJ state.

Here in California, Bloom Farms produces the pods in a ton of organic strains, including ACDC, Silver Haze, Sour Diesel, White Kush and many more. Bloom Farm’s Pax Era Pods are on the expensive end, with 500mg (the only size available) cartridges costing around $60 a piece.

In addition to the pods’ lasting unexpectedly long, the pen itself heats to a perfect temperature so you’ll never have another harsh hit filled with burnt flavor. It not only looks futuristic, it also comes equipped with an app, allowing you to track your consumption and alter the temperature as needed.

Pax Era Pods = What these pods lack in affordability and diversity they make up for in quality, flavor and lasting ability. Worth the splurge.

FlavRX

The FlavRx takes pride in emphasizing the science behind the perfect dose, so it’s no surprise the company won “Best Vape Pen” at the 2016 HempCon in San Francisco. Now in 2017 they’ve become even popular. Every cartridge provides a quality high that’s full of natural flavor, tasting more like smoking flower than vaping concentrate.

Another amazing aspect of FlavRx cartridges? There are currently 24 strain-specific options to choose from, including favorites like Girl Scout Cookies, Green Crack, Blue Dream, Jack Herer and OG Kush, along with several more so you’ll never get bored.

Their cartridges come in two sizes: 500mg (0.5ml) and 1,000mg (1.0ml). The smaller will cost around $35 while the large will cost around $65, making these some of the more expensive options available.

If you’re more concerned with price than quality, these vape oil cartridges probably aren’t for you. But if you are willing to pay a bit more for better quality flavor and high, FlavRx might be your new favorite.

FlavRX = Rich, natural flavor of smoking flower with the potent high of concentrates.

Read on to learn how to order cannabis delivery online from top dispensaries in your area. We guarantee you they carry some (if not all) of these products.

How to Get Vape Products Delivered in Under an Hour

Where can you find THC vape oil for sale online? While you can’t buy it or other vape pen cartridges wholesale directly from the companies that make them, or buy them outside of your designated state, you can find a variety of vape refills, dab cartridges, wax cartridges, BHO cartridges, CBD vape pen cartridges, hash oil cartridges and more for sale just by using any device with an internet connection!

Keep in mind though, this service is only available in California for now.

Visit Nugg, the leading online cannabis marketplace, to find a competitive list of the vape cartridges you want, and have them delivered to your door! Put in your address or zip code and/or use the search bar to hunt for brands and vape products using key search words like “vaporizer” and “cartridges.”

See which medical marijuana dispensaries near you carry these awesome (or not so awesome) products, compare pricing, and order hassle-free without ever talking to a live person. Instant gratification here you come!

So there you have it. The best and worst vape cartridges of 2015 & 2016, and much more to come in 2017.

We’ll update this page regularly with new cartridge additions, so visit us again to learn about new cartridge brands & products.

How to Get a Cultivation License to Grow 99 Cannabis Plants in California

October 13, 2017 10:39 pm 1 Comment

Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It was not written by an attorney. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Nugg and all authors make no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held responsible or liable for any outdated or incorrect information. The info does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship; it is not intended to convey or constitute legal or regulatory advice, an interpretation of law, an advisory opinion or rulemaking of any kind, and is neither a substitute for nor does it release you from your responsibility to review applicable law and, if necessary, obtain legal advice from a qualified attorney.

Did you hear that you can get a license to grow 99 plants? Want one? Well, this isn’t exactly the right way to look at personal cultivation. There’s a big difference between a license to cultivate and an exemption from the state’s recommended limits for personal medical cannabis cultivation.

If you think you might need more than the state’s limit of six plants, you can talk to a NuggMD physician about adding this exemption to your recommendation. But first, read on to understand exactly what a grower’s recommendation is, and what it’s not, and if it’s the right choice for you.

What you'll learn in this post:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

What Exactly Is a Grower's Recommendation?
Where Does This Affirmative Defense Come From? Why Doesn't It Protect from Arrest?
Why Will Collectives Be Challenged?
The People v. Kelley
The State Giveth, SB94 Taketh Away
Not a License to Sell (It Never Has Been)
What's the Takeaway?
Sources & Further Reading

What Exactly Is a Grower’s Recommendation?

First things first. You aren’t going to get a cultivation license from a doctor. They don’t exist. What you can get is a note from your physician stating that you need an exemption from the state-established maximum amount of plants you can grow as a patient.

Health and Safety Code 11362.77 says:

(a) A qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess no more than eight ounces of dried cannabis per qualified patient. In addition, a qualified patient or primary caregiver may also maintain no more than six mature or 12 immature cannabis plants per qualified patient.

(b) If a qualified patient or primary caregiver has a physician’s recommendation that this quantity does not meet the qualified patient’s medical needs, the qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess an amount of cannabis consistent with the patient’s needs.

What the grower’s recommendation is really saying is that you need more than the state-established limits listed in Health & Safety Code 11362.77(a). But this isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free-card if you decide to start your own cannabis farm with 99 plants. It doesn’t even stop the police from arresting you if they really want to. It simply provides you with an affirmative defense for cultivating and possessing an amount of cannabis in excess of the state’s established guidelines–up to your needs.

Where Does This Affirmative Defense Come From? Why Doesn’t It Protect from Arrest?

This affirmative defense comes partly from case law. The People v. Trippent (1997) found that qualified patients and caregivers have an implied defense to the transportation of medical marijuana when the “quantity transported and the method, timing and distance of the transportation are reasonably related to the patient’s current medical needs.” (People v. Trippet (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 1532, 1551.)

But it’s actually SB420, not Prop 215 that provided you with protection from arrest. SB420 was a bill passed by the legislature in 2004 which provided that anyone who participates in the state’s voluntary MMIC program can be protected from legal retribution so long as they stay within the boundaries established by the program.

In addition to establishing the identification card program, the SB420, a.k.a. the Medical Marijuana Program, also set possession guidelines for cardholders and recognized a qualified right to collective and cooperative cultivation of medical marijuana. This right can and will be challenged, and it will likely be challenged in the coming year or two due to the Jan. 9, 2019 “sunset clause” that effectively attempts to end cannabis collectives in the state.

Why Will Collectives Be Challenged?

First, this is a moot point when it comes to a grower’s recommendation. That exemption only applies to you or your qualified patient–whoever it was issued for. But because collective cultivation and a grower’s recommendation tend to get muddled up by those who don’t completely understand the law, it’s worthy of further explanation.

To start this explanation, you need to understand that there’s a sort of hierarchy to our set of laws in California. First, you have the state Constitution. The Constitution is the top level. You can’t contradict this law. If any law was made by the legislature or by a regular ballot initiative that contradicted the Constitution, it would be ruled by the courts to be unconstitutional and thus, invalid.

The next level of legislation is the initiative process. Our state is very democratic in recognizing the right of the People to write their own laws. Any law written and passed directly by the people through the initiative process cannot be tampered with by the legislature.

Below the Constitution and the initiative process are the laws written by our legislature. This is why the state lawmakers, county and city governments hate the initiative process so much. Initiatives can’t be changed by anything but another vote of the people. (Article II Sec. 10(c) of the State Constitution.)

Proposition 215, a.k.a. the Compassionate Use Act, is the initiative that legalized medical cannabis in the state. It was written by and passed by the People of California, so it’s THE basic law that must be respected when the legislature writes laws pertaining to medical cannabis. They have to obey it because it has not yet been overturned by a vote of the people.

Some think that Prop 64 (California’s legalization initiative) repealed parts of Prop 215, but it didn’t. Prop 215 still stands. Prop 64 even reinforces Prop 215 in several different areas of the language. So, if the legislature writes something that contradicts Prop 215, it won’t be valid. A court would be forced to overturn such a new law or regulation based on the fact that Prop 215 carries more weight than anything the legislature could pass.

The People v. Kelley

This actually happened in a well-known challenge to the state’s attempt to limit cultivation amounts. SB420 originally imposed a patient cultivation limit of 6 plants mature, and 12 plants immature (sound familiar?) In the People v. Kelly, the defense argued that this limit was unconstitutional because it would violate Prop 215.

They won, and this is why the state can’t limit the number of plants you can grow if your doctor says you need more and you can show that you really do. But Prop 64 is probably going to allow cause prosecutors to revisit this case.

For now, the point is this–Prop 215 is solid law, but it never actually said you can grow 99 plants without being questioned, arrested or prosecuted by authorities. What it says is that “(d) Section 11357, relating to the possession of marijuana, and Section 11358, relating to the cultivation of marijuana, shall not apply to a patient, or to a patient’s primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician.”

The sections referred to here are 11357 and 11358 of the Health and Safety Code. There’s a lot of other sections of this code pertaining to marijuana, including 11359 which still carries harsh penalties, and one of those is possessing cannabis with the intent to sell. This section existed decades before Prop 215 was passed, and was only amended by Prop 64 to slightly lessen the sting. These penalties still include jail time and fines.

The State Giveth, SB94 Taketh Away

So, SB420 was written by the legislature in 2004 to clarify exactly how Prop 215 patients were going to obtain the cannabis that they have the right to use. To do so, it added Sec. 11362.775 to the Health and Safety Code. This section recognizes the rights of patients and primary caregivers to “associate within the State of California in order collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes.” Prop 64 changed all this.

Prop 64 paved the way for SB94, aka the MAUCRSA, which is a marriage between the state’s 2014 attempt to establish a commercial medical marijuana distribution program (the MMRSA or MCRSA) and Prop 64, our legalization initiative. Once the state has fully established its commercial cannabis system, SB94 provides that Section 11362.775 of the Health and Safety Code is to be repealed. This repeal date is Jan. 9, 2019.

To be clear, Section 11362.775 of the Health and Safety Code can be repealed because this section of the code was never established by initiative in the first place. It was established by the state legislature in an attempt to control the distribution of cannabis by patients claiming the protection of Prop 215.

Not a License to Sell (It Never Has Been)

Just to be clear, Prop 215 says nothing about collective cultivation or allowing you to sell the cannabis you grow. It allows for cultivation by a primary caregiver for their direct qualified patients. If you’re looking to collectively cultivate that’s an entirely different section of the law that repeals on Jan. 9, 2019. So, if you’re searching for how to get a 99 plant rec so you can grow and sell your cannabis or provide it to patients in need, you’re barking up the wrong tree. A grower’s recommendation (what some call the 99 plant rec) simply says that you need more than the state established limits for your own personal use.

Say that you (or your qualified patient) do actually need 99 plants for personal medical uses. The People v. Kelley (and other case law) confirms that you only have an affirmative defense, which means that you can argue that the cultivation limits established by law should not apply to your circumstances, for lack of simpler words. An affirmative defense is only going to be asserted after you’ve been arrested for suspicion of violating one of the states now numerous cannabis laws.

So, imagine yourself and your doctor in court arguing the following: For demonstration sake, we will say you can squeeze 1 pound of cannabis out of your outdoor plant. Some can’t get that much and some can get much (way) more because it really depends on the lighting and season, etc., but we’ll do this for easy math. You would have to be able to justify, medically, that you need 99 pounds of cannabis per harvest. Even if you make edibles, this is a lot of THC.

Consider that a pound has 16 ounces in it. An ounce has 28.5 grams. Under the pound per plant scenario, that’s roughly 45,144 grams of cannabis (28.5 x 16 x 99). A gram of cannabis flower generally has between 100 and 300 mg (10% to 30%) of THC. So even if you only harvested one crop of cannabis per year (most do at least two, if not three or four), on the low-quality side, at 100mg THC per gram (10%), you’re talking about 4,514,400 mg of THC.

Divide that by 365 days for only one harvest of what most would consider bunk weed, and you’re talking about consuming roughly 12,368 mg of THC per day minimum. You can see why this doesn’t convert–not even for edibles. However, there are plenty of serious cannabis patients out there who’ve built up a tolerance to THC and can reasonably argue that they need thousands of milligrams of THC per day.

There are also people that juice cannabis for THCA and use the leaves in their cooking, which is probably the healthiest way to use cannabis anyway. But the point here is that 99 plants is excessive for a single person under most circumstances. Furthermore, there’s nothing to stop the police from continuing to investigate you to see if you are selling, and anything they find to support this theory can an will be used against you. (Think dime bags, excessive cash, scales, etc.)

Many patients, really do need more than six mature plants though, because if there is a pest problem or disease they could lose an entire medical crop that they depend on for their health or maybe even their lives. It’s good to have an exemption from limits in these circumstances.

Why are most exemptions written for “up to 99”? Because federal criminal sanctions are harsher with a hundred plants. But in truth, your rec isn’t saying you can grow 99 plants. It’s saying that you can grow as many plants as you need up to this limit. It’s a subtle, but very important difference–and you’ll have to be able to prove that you really do need what you choose to grow.

What’s the Takeaway?

There’s no such thing as a doctor-provided license to grow 99 plants. If you want a commercial license to grow and sell marijuana, you should start with your local government and then apply with the Bureau of Cannabis Control.
A grower’s recommendation only allows you to grow as much cannabis as you medically need–just you (or the qualified patient holding the rec).
A grower’s recommendation does not allow you to grow cannabis for sale–it never did, and it never will.
A grower’s recommendation does not allow you to start a collective. This is a different area of law, and is affected by the “sunset clause” of Jan. 9, 2019.
Most importantly, a grower’s recommendation does not protect you from arrest or prosecution. It only provides for a defense if you’re arrested or prosecuted, and this defense is not guaranteed to work.

If you need to cultivate more than the limits established by Health and Safety Code 11362.77, you need to contact and retain a qualified attorney–especially now as the laws change and the state and counties prepare to step up enforcement and further tighten cultivation laws. There is no substitute for advice from a qualified attorney when it comes to protecting your freedom.

Sources & Further Reading

Medical Marijuana Edibles Brand Guide Part 15: Ingredients

October 6, 2017 10:02 pm Leave a Comment

For the past few months we’ve been highlighting an eclectic variety of almost every medical marijuana infused food imaginable.

In this the last installment of our lengthy fifteen part series, it’s only appropriate that we examine some basic infused ingredients—honeys, sauces, and oils—so that you can do some experimenting of your own to create delicious, medicated meals. Once you’ve found some ingredients you’d like to play with, check out these cannabis chefs and cookbooks for inspiration.

We sincerely hope you’ve found all of these posts helpful in understanding more about infused foods and discovering the brands, products and strengths that’ll provide you with the most relief.

The brands that you'll learn about:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

Clean Healing
GFarmaLabs
Honey Pot
La Vida Verde
Om Edibles
TKO Edibles
Venice Cookie Company Brands
Zendo Edibles

Clean Healing

Pizza Sauce

Cannabis infused marinara sauce
Perfect amount for a 10”-12” pizza
Available in 3 dosage levels: 60mg, 150mg & 500mg THC
5.8oz jar
N/A

GFarmaLabs

Liquid Gold Honey

Raw, unfiltered honey
200mg THC per jar
Hybrid
Available in Cinnamon, Lemon, and Original
$18-$25

Honey Pot

THC Honey

A mix of California Wildflower Honey and infused virgin coconut oil
Indica
5mg, 50mg & 250mg THC
$4-$6 (5mg), $15-$25 (50mg), $55-$65 (250mg)

CBD Honey

A mix of California Wildflower Honey and infused virgin coconut oil
20:1 CBD:THC ratio
5mg, 50mg & 250mg CBD
$6-$10 (5mg), $20-$25 (50mg), $65-$80 (250mg)

La Vida Verde

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cannabis infused EVOO perfect for salads, pastas, and almost anything
200mg THC
Indica or sativa
Available in Lemon Balsamic and Rosemary Garlic
$18-$20

Om Edibles

Medicated Cannabis Olive Oil

360mg THC in each 4oz bottle
15mg per teaspoon
Vegan
Gluten-free
Low glycemic
$24-$30

TKO Edibles

Cocanna Nut Oil

Use for baking and spreading on foods or for pain and skin conditions (when applied topically)
200mg THC
3.5 ounces
Vegan
Gluten-free
$15-$20

Venice Cookie Company Brands

Humble Farms Honey Sticks

Locally sourced, infused honey with coconut oil in a suckable straw
60mg THC
Indica kief
Gluten-free
All-natural
$7-$10

Me So Honey Straws

Locally sourced, infused honey in a suckable straw
18-20mg THC
Indica kief
Gluten-free
$6-$8

Not So Virgin Coconut Oil

All-natural, cold-pressed infused coconut oil in a suckable straw
200mg THC & 11mg CBD (2.5 gram jar)
Organic
Vegan
Sugar-free
Gluten-free
$20-$25

Not So Virgin Coconut Oil Straw

All-natural, cold-pressed infused coconut oil in a suckable straw
18-20mg THC
Organic
Vegan
Sugar-free
Gluten-free
$6-$7

Not So Virgin Honey Jar

Locally sourced honey in a petite jar
200mg THC (4 gram jar)
$20-$25

Not So Virgin Olive Oil

Local, artisanal first-press olive oil infused with whole plant cannabis extract
500mg THC & 25mg CBD
Vegan
Gluten-free
Sugar-free
$35-$45

Zendo Edibles

Infused Coconut Oil

Sweet, delicious oil that can be eaten or applied to skin
60mg THC (1.43oz) per pouch
Hybrid
All-natural
Gluten-free
$7-$10

Infused Peanut Butter

A balance of smooth and crunchy, packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
50mg THC (1oz) per pouch
Hybrid
All-natural
Gluten-free
$6-$10

BREAKING: Licensing Authorities Announce Withdrawal of Proposed Medical Cannabis Regulations

October 4, 2017 1:20 am Leave a Comment

SACRAMENTO – California’s three cannabis licensing authorities announced today the official withdrawal of the medical cannabis regulations that were proposed in late spring by the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Cannabis Control, Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch and Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing. The official withdrawal will occur October 6. The proposed regulations were geared toward the implementation of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. These licensing authorities held hearings and accepted public comments regarding the proposed regulations during a 45-day public comment period.

However, in late June, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, which creates one regulatory system for both medicinal and adult-use cannabis. Because of that action, the licensing authorities will withdraw the proposed medical regulations and will instead move forward with one regulatory package for both medicinal and adult-use cannabis.

The three cannabis licensing authorities will develop emergency regulations based on the new law and will incorporate the robust and valuable public comment received on the proposed medical cannabis regulations. The summary of public comments, as well as the responses to those comments, received by each agency – either in writing or in person at one of the public comment forums hosted by the three agencies – can be viewed by clicking the links below:

Bureau of Cannabis Control:
http://bcc.ca.gov/law_regs/mcrsa_comments.pdf
http://bcc.ca.gov/law_regs/mcrsa_lab_comments.pdf

CA Department of Food and Ag:
http://cannabis.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/09/Medical-Cannabis-Cultivation-Regulations-Draft-Comment-Summary.pdf

CA Department of Public Health:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Cannabis%20Comments%20(Final%20on%20CDPH%20Letterhead).pdf

The licensing authorities will use the emergency rulemaking process for the new regulations. The emergency regulations are expected to be published in November. The implementation date for the issuance of commercial cannabis licenses remains the same: January 1, 2018.

For additional information about the three licensing authorities, or to learn about updates as they become available, please visit the state’s Cannabis Web Portal – www.cannabis.ca.gov.

Article courtesy of the Bureau of Cannabis Control.

Medical Marijuana Edibles Brand Guide Part 14: Macaroons & Macarons

September 29, 2017 9:22 pm Leave a Comment

Macaroons and macarons have become popular desserts—so it’s no surprise they’re also mmj versions. But because of their nearly identical spelling, sweet taste and cookie texture, they’re often confused for one another. So what is the difference between the two?

Macaroons are coconut-based with a soft, crumbly texture and irregular shape. Macarons, on the other hand, are French meringue-based sandwich cookies with a jam, buttercream or ganache filling, available in several sizes and flavors.

Let’s meet these yummy infused macaroons and macarons!

The brands that you'll learn about:

[Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

Madame Munchie
La Vida Verde
Utopia Farms

Madame Munchie

Macarons

20mg THC per artisanal macaron
Single box or variety 5 box (100mg)
Available in 5 gourmet flavors: Citrus à l’amande Macaron (housemade almond butter and orange zest), Green Gold Macaron (pistachio butter and honey), Hazelnut Mocha Macaron (chocolate ganache, espresso and housemade hazelnut butter), PB&J Macaron (housemade peanut butter and organic grape jelly), and Tropical Jungle Macaron (chocolate ganache with fresh banana puree
$6-$8 (single) & $23-$30 (variety)