2016 Archives

In case you haven’t noticed, the U.S. presidential election this year has been pretty heated. Political outsiders, on both the left and the right, have stirred the pot and engaged record numbers of new voters… and that was just the primaries! You can bet that we will be seeing a record turnout in November, as well.
And in November, we’ll be voting for more than just the president.
Several states are working hard to get cannabis legalization bills on the ballot this year. Six of them already have! Nevada, California, Maine and Massachusetts have all approved recreational bills; Florida and Arkansas will be voting on whether or not to legalize medical marijuana.
So, which states are likely to legalize weed in 2016? Let’s take a closer look at the latest developments in the legalization movement, and break it down state by state.

States That Could Legalize Weed in 2016

1. Nevada

The Silver State, which has already legalized medical marijuana, is set to vote on the Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana. The initiative will appear on the November 8th ballot, and if passed, it will end marijuana prohibition in Nevada, create a system of licensed growers and retailers, and establish a 15% tax on marijuana sales.
Polls show that a majority of Nevadans (54% in 2013, and likely even higher now) support marijuana legalization, so it looks very likely the measure will pass.

2. California

Just last month, the state of California approved the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (or AUMA) to appear on the November ballot. If passed, the measure will legalize possession and private use of cannabis for residents 21 and over. It also establishes a system of distribution, and imposes a 15% sales tax, and a weight-based tax on commercial growth and cultivation.
The most recent polls show that 55% of Californians are in favor of legalization, so chances are good. And if you asked me, it’s past time that cannabis was legalized in California — one of the most progressive states in the country.

3. Maine

In November, the people of Maine will vote on the Maine Legalize Marijuana Initiative (aka “Question 1”). The initiative would make it legal for residents 21 and up to grow, possess and consume cannabis. It also establishes a 10% sales tax on marijuana and related products.
Polls show that 55% of residents are in favor of the measure, but there is still some fierce opposition in the state. It will take a strong turnout of progressive voters to ensure this initiative becomes law.

4. Florida

Voters in Florida will vote again in November for a medical marijuana initiative, entitled the Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions. Just like it sounds, the initiative would legalize cannabis as a medicine, but only for those with “debilitating medical conditions,” as determined and prescribed by a physician.
A similar initiative nearly passed in 2014 — 58% of voters said yes, but Florida state law requires a 60% super majority to approve new legislation. But this being a presidential election year, hopes are high that the increased number of young voters will provide the needed push to get it passed.

5. Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative will appear as “Question 4” on the November 8th ballot. If passed, the initiative will legalize possession and home growing for adults 21 and over, as well as imposing a sales tax of only 3.75 percent — though local municipalities will be allowed to collect their own 2% tax as well.
With polls estimating that 57% of residents are in favor of legalization, this initiative has an excellent chance!

6. Arizona

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted more than 250,000 signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State last month, in support of the Arizona Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. With only 150,000 legitimate signatures needed to put it on the ballot, it looks pretty certain that voters will have their say in November.
Whether or not it passes is another story: recent polling shows only 43% of people in favor, and 49% percent opposed. Pass or fail, it’s gonna be close — so each and every vote counts!

7. Arkansas

Residents of Arkansas will have the chance to vote on medical marijuana legislation this November. The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act (or AMCA) has gathered the necessary signatures, and will be on the ballot. Another competing initiative, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act (or AMMA), is still in the process of collecting signatures.
Between the 2 initiatives, the already-approved AMCA is the more compassionate and comprehensive. It allows for more dispensaries, more qualifying conditions, and sliding scale fees and other protections for low income patients.
With polls showing 84% of Arkansans in favor of medical marijuana, it’s likely that the Natural State will become the next one to allow cannabis as medicine. However, if both competing initiatives end up on the ballot, it’s possible that neither one will get enough votes to pass.
 
So there you have it; my picks for the 7 states most likely to legalize weed in 2016. Several other states — including Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and my home state of Missouri — all have active cannabis legalization campaigns underway. Some, like Michigan’s MILegalize, have already collected signatures and submitted their petitions. But all of them have weaker polling, stronger opposition, and other factors preventing their initiatives from moving forward.
If you live in any of these 7 states, make sure you are registered to vote, and show up at the polls in November and let your voice be heard. But no matter where you live, continue to educate yourself about the benefits of cannabis and cannabis legalization. Get active in the legalization movement locally.
Together, we can end marijuana prohibition across the U.S., and around the world!

Low temp and high temperature dabs come with their own set of pros and cons. There’s been arguing over which is better but it really comes down to the experience you want from your concentrate. Are you looking for a quick rush? A day-time high? Trying to sleep? The best temperature to dab at depends on the high you’re looking for.
Low-temperature Dabs
A low temp is generally between done 470 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit. The trick to getting the perfect low temp depends on the nail you’re using. Ceramic nails take the longest to heat up but they hold heat for the longest. Titanium is usually the quickest to heat up but quartz heat up time depends on the thickness of the glass. Glass is ideal for flavor and has become the favorite of cannabis concentrate connoisseurs. If you’re using a 4mm thick quartz banger you’ll need to heat it until the base is red hot then allow it to cool for 45-55 seconds before dropping your dab in. Then you’ll need to put a carb cap over the quartz banger to allow the concentrate to become hot enough for vaporization. The reason people go through all these extra steps is to preserve terpenes. Terpenes are what provide cannabis with flavor and they have a fairly low boiling point. Low-temperature dabs are intended to be a low enough temperature so that the flavor from an extracts terpenes is maximized. At high temperatures some THC can also be burned away decreasing the potency of the dab. Another benefit to low temperature dabbing is that it’s easier on the throat and lungs. Dabs have been associated with coughing fits but these are mostly from users doing dabs at temperatures that are too hot for comfort.
High-temperature Dabs
High temp dabs are usually taken at 700 or more degrees Fahrenheit. Although they aren’t as flavorful high-temperature dabs come with their own array of benefits. The experience is comparable to taking a shot, 2 seconds and it’s all over, except for the fact that you might end up in a coughing fit for the next 30 seconds. Another benefit is the fact that high-temp dabs don’t leave behind a puddle of concentrate that needs to be Q-tipped like low-temp dabs do. You also won’t need to worry about struggling to reach for a carb cap with your lips to your bong. Some users even prefer the high associated with high temp dabs. Customgrow420, a popular weedtuber who says he prefers high-temperature dabs, claims that the high is more intense and he enjoys coughing his lungs out because it apparently gives him more of a head rush. To each his own, try out both techniques to see which one best suits your needs. If you’re getting top shelf concentrates you may want to low temp dab and taste your quality concentrates but if you’re just trying to get high and fast, high temperature dabs are the way to go.
 

If you had ever wondered how much weed goes into joints, chances are if you turn to the internet you had a hard time coming to a conclusion. If you were to look things up on YouTube, for example, you will find an abundance videos that contain people rolling or smoking extremely large joints that are not typical.
If you turn to sources such as Weedmaps to see the size of pre-rolled joints being sold at dispensaries, chances are you would have come to the same conclusion as many and would believe that the typical American joint is on average a half gram of cannabis.
This half gram has also been utilized as a baseline by the United States office of National Drug control policy. But thanks to Greg Ridgeway from the University of Pennsylvania and his colleagues Beau Kilmer from the Rand Corporation we now have a more decisive answer.
Based on the analysis of more than 10,000 marijuana sales in 40 different communities over an 11-year period shows that the average sized joint contains .32 grams of cannabis. So you were probably wondering why someone would have spent money to perform a study to come up with this statistic but it’ll actually make complete sense once I explain.
Knowing how much cannabis is typically consumed within one joint allows organizations such as the United States office of National Drug control policy a better ability to determine the amount of marijuana that is trafficked from out of the country as well as to positively affect the conversation surrounding legalization of cannabis on the federal level within the US.
Having this data could drastically benefit the reform of cannabis at both a state and federal level. How much marijuana do you think is in a typical joint? We would love to hear how much you roll in a standard joint, so let us know in the comments below.
image credit: Big stock