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Streamline Commercial Cannabis Cultivation With GrowGeneration

13 January 2026 at 07:20

Cultivating quality cannabis takes a lot of work, but it should never have to feel like a chore. With GrowGeneration, you can provide premium care for your botanical bounties with a minimum of labor and a maximum of joy! Fueled by a desire to streamline the cultivation process, GrowGeneration has flourished over the past decade, becoming a leading industry developer, marketer, retailer and distributor of products for both indoor and outdoor hydroponic and organic gardening.

Offering everything from nutrients and additives to lighting and environmental control systems, GrowGeneration provides end-to-end solutions that offer easy and consistent answers for every type of cannabis cultivation operator.

DripHydro by GrowGeneration

Rooted in Community Convenience

Founded in 2014 by Michael Salaman and Darren Lampert, GrowGeneration was built with a vision to simplify and support the booming cannabis cultivation sector. The founders led the company through a strategic series of acquisitions, transforming it from a single-store startup into a national hydroponics and cultivation powerhouse. Their approach focused on acquiring top-performing regional operators and integrating industry expertise to form a seasoned team of veteran growers, product innovators and commercial cultivation experts. This combination of strategic growth and real-world experience now defines GrowGeneration’s position as the leader in commercial cultivation solutions.

With GrowGeneration you get so much more than premium products. You’re also getting expert advice and a supportive community welcoming to both novice and veteran growers. Recognizing a significant need for specialized cultivation supplies and expertise in the emerging cannabis industry, GrowGeneration also proudly serves a broad audience of indoor gardeners who cultivate everything from vegetables and herbs to flowers.

Today, GrowGeneration has expanded from its humble roots to cater to an ever-expanding list of adult-use states, including Mich., Calif., Maine and N.J. as part of a dynamic national presence. Behind it all is a staff of 250 people chosen for their specialized industry expertise. Have a question? Ask away! GrowGeneration’s staff is always happy to help and here to ensure your cultivation inquiries—be it for a first-time home hydroponic set-up or a large-scale commercial effort—get answered with a smile.

PowerSi by GrowGeneration

A Trusted Supplier

At the center of GrowGeneration’s success is a dedicated commercial division that provides end-to-end support—from facility planning to procurement and expansion. “We’re not just a supplier—we’re a strategic partner,” explains Alex Salaman, GrowGeneration’s Director of Marketing. “With deep industry knowledge and nationwide reach, we deliver tailored solutions that help our customers scale faster, operate more efficiently and achieve better yields.”

GrowGeneration’s exclusive proprietary brands—Drip Hydro, Char Coir, PowerSi, Ion Lighting, The Harvest Company and Dialed In—offer a level of quality control, value and supply assurance that set the company apart from traditional resellers.

By leveraging partnerships with top brands in the cultivation industry, GrowGeneration can offer unmatched manufacturer-direct pricing as well as a variety of financing and credit options. A preview of top-performing proprietary brands available through GrowGen includes:

  • Char Coir — the highest-grade coco available, sourced from a single farm to ensure consistency and quality. Each batch comes with a chemical analysis available to the client and serves as a testament to our quality and standards.
  • Drip Hydro — a complete nutrient solution engineered for one purpose: to make growing easier and more productive. Developed by growers for growers and backed by 45+ years of cultivation experience, it delivers high-quality results, higher yields and low overhead.
  • Ion Lights — advanced LED fixtures for flowering and veg, engineered for increased cannabinoid expression, deeper color, and superior canopy development.
  • PowerSi — high-quality, concentrated additives that improve the health of your plants, your yields, and your crop quality.
  • Dialed In Under Canopy LED lights, Environmental & Fertigation Systems — a first-of-its-kind lighting solution engineered to boost lower-canopy flower development in commercial cannabis cultivation. This system helps cultivators address a universal issue, penetrate lower buds which are typically smaller, less potent and often unsellable due to the spectrum of light stopping at the top of the canopy.
  • The Harvest Company — offers a diverse range of essential products designed specifically for all your home gardening and commercial growing needs. Our carefully developed products are crafted to help you get the most out of each growing season. From Seed to Harvest, we’re here to deliver the perfect solutions for your gardening journey.
CharCoir by GrowGen

Introducing The GrowGen B2B Portal

GrowGeneration even has a convenient B2B online ordering portal available for commercial customers, including the ability to receive instant quotes, lock in commercial prices, enjoy volume savings discounts, and track your business spending to date.

Wondering exactly why you should join GrowGen’s B2B Portal? Designed for licensed cultivators, wholesalers and commercial operators, the GrowGeneration B2B Portal delivers key business advantages:

  • Instant quotes and locked-in commercial pricing
  • Volume discounts and credit terms
  • Real-time spend tracking and reorder tools
  • Dedicated account support and quoting specialists
  • Growers also get access to the GrowGen Pro Program, which includes personalized support from account managers and cultivation experts.
GrowGeneration cannabis bud

Let’s Grow!

Whether you’re expanding a facility, launching a new site, or looking to reduce costs and improve margins, GrowGeneration is your all-in-one cultivation partner. Sign up for the B2B Portal here, or visit GrowGeneration todayand get empowered with all the tools, knowledge and support you need to achieve your cultivation goals.

The post Streamline Commercial Cannabis Cultivation With GrowGeneration appeared first on Cannabis Now.

8 Cannabis Creams for Treating Your Dry Winter Skin

10 January 2026 at 08:11

It’s winter time and that means the days are short, dark and cold, and your skin is in need of some extra TLC to help combat the dryness that arctic temperatures can bring. During this time of the year, it’s important to switch up your skin routine to incorporate moisturizers that are thicker in texture to help coat any skin that may get exposed to the cold. Cannabis creams offer a way to hydrate, combined with the plant’s therapeutic effects to help get you through winter feeling nourished and less tense.

Here are some of our favorite cannabis creams to keep your skin soft until the sun returns in full force.

Cream Skin Cannabis Now

1. Apothecanna Everyday Body Cream

You can use this rich, hydrating cream every day to maintain your skin’s moisture, whether it’s right after a shower or anytime throughout the day. Mandarin, cedar and geranium come together in this lotion to make a light, citrusy scent that won’t have you worried that anyone will guess that you’re using a cannabis-infused lotion at your desk.

Foot Cream Cannabis Now

2. CBD For Life Foot Cream

With your feet bundled up in socks and shoes, it’s important to give them a little attention at the end of a busy day—especially if you’re been standing or walking around for the majority of it. Essential oils like peppermint and arnica combined with cannabis extract can help you reduce pain, soreness and inflammation while also getting some much-needed moisture.

Skin Salve Cannabis Now

3. Flower Power Super Skin Salve

Pull out this salve for those extra dry trouble areas like your elbows, knees, feet and anywhere else that needs some further attention. This salve is made with sungrown cannabis and solar-infused olive oil along with medicinal plants like calendula, comfrey, St. John’s wort, yarrow and plantain to boost the benefits and keep your skin hydrated.

Muscle Lotion Cannabis Now

4. Dixie Elixirs Muscle Relief Lotion

For people whose work involves lots of typing or other repetitive movements with their hands, you can solve two problems with this soothing lotion that will keep your hands moisturized and help cut down on tension as you work. The muscle relief lotion is also great for post-shower moisturizing for a relaxed, pain-free body as you prepare for a rejuvenating rest.

Body Lotion Cannabis Now

5. Mary Jane’s Medicinals Body Lotion

Repair sun-damaged skin from the summer and help your skin regenerate itself with this lotion that can also salvage dry, dull skin. A medley of oils including grapeseed, avocado, jojoba, sweet almond and coconut all work together to soften your skin, stop itchiness related to lack of moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Healing Lotion Cannabis Now

6. Treat Yourself Skin Healing Body Butter

This luxurious, whipped body butter is great for dry skin as well as eczema, psoriasis and other skin irritations that might get exacerbated when cold weather comes around. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula makes it easy to apply and absorb.

Cannabis Basic Hemp Sole

7. Cannabis Basics Hemp Sole’s Desire Repair Cream

If you deal with cracked heels and rough feet, rubbing this on before bed and letting it absorb overnight can help make a major difference. Cocoa and shea butter give this cream its thick texture paired with tea tree, arnica, lavender and spearmint to provides long-lasting relief.

Kush Creams

8. Kush Creams Aloe-Based Face and Eye Cream

Add this fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cannabis cream to your morning and evening skincare routine to keep your face and neck nice and smooth. With hemp seed oil infused in this cream, you can combat acne and reduce wrinkles as well.

The post 8 Cannabis Creams for Treating Your Dry Winter Skin appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Xylem Robotics’ Automated Innovations Improve Cannabis Tech

8 January 2026 at 07:51

In today’s fast and furious cannabis industry, making a reliably available product that’s consistently of the highest quality is a crucial component to finding success in the industry.

With a multitude of elements like shifting legal economies and breakthroughs in research constantly in play, being bogged down by inefficiencies can be the difference between becoming a household name and gathering dust on the shelf.

That’s why Eaze investor Jeff Wu set out to establish a new gold standard in vape and pre-roll manufacturing in the form of Xylem Robotics.

“We do what we say we can do,” Wu confirms. “We don’t advertise fluff, we don’t make up numbers—we strive to deliver precision with technology.”

Powered by a team of professionals with a deep well of talent and experience doing business with the US Government, as well as large retailers such as Apple and Target, Xylem Robotics is on a mission to bring the technology of tomorrow to today’s cannabis industry.

Meet Xylem

Xylem Robotics is a Houston-based business that’s quickly earned a reputation as a global leader in the development of intelligent, automated cannabis industry solutions, including milestones such as the innovation of proprietary robotic cartridge production systems and optimization for vaporizer cartridge supply chains.

Dedicated to helping businesses eliminate bottlenecks, achieve greater efficiency, and scale effectively, Xylem Robotics is here to help companies deliver a strong, sustained competitive advantage that takes every stage of the manufacturing process into account.

Want to learn more about the people-powered work at the heart of Xylem? Check out this wonderful documentary on Xylem’s work partnering with Chico Cannabis Company founder David Petersen, which covers his background as a military veteran and how it shaped his journey in cannabis manufacturing.

The Xylem Difference

Xylem’s automated solutions have been designed to maintain product quality while embracing industry-leading operating standards.

This means careful oversight that includes quality checks during every step of the manufacturing process, from the Xylem floor to your hands. This, along with their continued commitment to excellent customer service, continues to set Xylem apart.

Furthermore, Xylem systems utilize the latest in advanced technology to dispense material at industry-low temperatures, negating both terpene degradation and material oxidation. In combination with production speeds that would otherwise require a large team and alternative methods, this process provides businesses that purchase Xylem’s systems with a significant and valuable competitive advantage.

Cartridge Filling & Capping

Ready to have your carts capped and filled with reliable ease every time? Check out the Xylem X4: the world’s fastest vape cart filling machine.

The Xylem X4 fully automates cart filling and capping, greatly simplifying the vaporizer manufacturing process. As the fastest cart-filling system on the market, Xylem’s X4 is an unparalleled product in a crowded market. In fact, just one X4 machine can deliver the output equivalent to 20 workers at a fraction of the cost. That’s what makes the Xylem X4 cart-filling machine the best solution on the market for cannabis manufacturers.

Specs? We’ve got those! The Xylem X4 boasts a fill speed of 1650 units per hour. Additionally, it can handle all manner of liquid concentrates and any 510 top-filled vape cart unit with press, screw or click-in closures. Able to fill at temperatures as low as 45° C, their fully automated process also includes in-line fills and immediate capping to preserve terpenes. Click here to request a demo.

Pre-Roll Infusion System

For many companies, the bottom line with infused pre-rolls is how efficiently they can get them filled and out to customers to enjoy. That’s why Xylem developed the Xylem Y2. Fully automated, this pre-roll infusion machine is capable of reliably producing 500-700 units per hour. Whether your brand is focused on paper cones, straight-rolled tubes, blunt wraps, or other form factors, Xylem’s Y2 can handle them all.

The Xylem Y2 is also capable of handling all forms of liquid concentrate fill material. That includes rosin, live resin, distillate, sauce, CBD, D8, and HHC — all of which can be filled at temperatures as low as 35 °C. Available infusion types include donut joints and hash holes, all overseen by one expert technician to reduce needs for surplus staffing while keeping your products at premium quality, thanks in part to the Xylem Y2’s precision pumping and temperature control settings.

You will also enjoy complete control over the location and the shape of the resin deposit with Xylem’s modifiable settings and precision linear slider. This allows the operator to precisely adjust the resin deposit location inside each pre-roll while simultaneously eliminating oil spots. Both straight lines and cone-shaped deposits can be easily achieved with Y2 to prevent canoeing and dripping for multiple styles of pre-rolls. See specs and learn more about how the Xylem Y2 can elevate your brand’s output today.

The post Xylem Robotics’ Automated Innovations Improve Cannabis Tech appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Dry January Goes Green: How Federally Legal Cannabis Is Replacing Alcohol

2 January 2026 at 15:56

Dry January is no longer just a detox. What began as a post-holiday pause from drinking has evolved into a cultural reassessment of how people relax, socialize and manage stress. Each January, millions of Americans step back from alcohol not simply to recover from the excesses of the holidays, but to question a deeper assumption: that alcohol is the default reward, social lubricant and stress reliever in adult life.

In recent years, that assumption has started to crack. Rising awareness around mental health, sleep quality, inflammation and long-term wellness has led many people to look for alternatives that align more closely with their values. Increasingly, that alternative is cannabis.

Not dispensary-only marijuana, but a rapidly expanding category of federally legal, hemp-derived cannabis products that can be ordered online and shipped directly to consumers across much of the United States. Enabled by the 2018 Farm Bill, these products have quietly reshaped the cannabis marketplace, offering adults an accessible, legally compliant option that fits seamlessly into modern lifestyles.

This Dry January, cannabis isn’t a compromise. It’s a conscious upgrade.

Why Cannabis Is Becoming the Dry January Go-To

Alcohol has long been woven into social and professional culture, but its downsides are becoming harder to ignore. Even moderate drinking can disrupt sleep, increase anxiety, impair recovery and dull cognitive performance. For many people participating in Dry January, the most striking realization isn’t how difficult giving up alcohol is, but how much better they feel without it.

Cannabis, particularly hemp-derived cannabis designed for moderation and balance, offers a different kind of experience. Instead of numbing or overstimulating, many modern formulations focus on relaxation, emotional regulation, creativity and stress relief. The absence of hangovers, dehydration and next-day regret alone is enough to convert many first-time users, but the appeal runs deeper.

Responsible use of cannabis allows people to unwind without checking out, to socialize without excess, and to mark the end of the day without sacrificing the morning after. For Dry January participants, it often becomes the bridge between abstinence and sustainability—a way to maintain rituals of relaxation without returning to alcohol.

What Makes Cannabis Federally Legal

All of the companies featured in this editorial operate under the legal framework established by the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. This legislation federally legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing no more than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by dry weight. Within this limit, companies can create compliant THC edibles, smokables, tinctures and beverages that deliver noticeable effects while remaining legal at the federal level.

These products are derived from hemp rather than marijuana and are sold online with third-party lab testing for potency and safety. While state laws still vary, this federal pathway has opened the door to a nationwide cannabis economy that feels more like e-commerce than counterculture. For Dry January consumers, that accessibility removes barriers and stigma, making experimentation feel both safe and intentional.

The Top 10 Federally Legal Cannabis Brands to Try This Dry January

1. URB

URB has emerged as one of the most recognizable and influential brands in the federally legal hemp-derived THC space. Known for bold branding and effects that closely resemble traditional cannabis, URB caters to adults who want a full-strength experience without stepping into a dispensary or navigating inconsistent state laws.

URB’s gummies and vape products are clearly labeled, lab-tested and formulated for consistency, making them especially appealing to consumers replacing alcohol with cannabis for the first time. Rather than positioning itself as a watered-down alternative, URB treats hemp-derived THC as legitimate adult-use cannabis. During Dry January, URB products often replace evening cocktails, offering relaxation, euphoria and stress relief without the next-day consequences of drinking.

2. Medterra

Medterra approaches cannabis through a wellness-first, clinically informed lens. Long recognized as a leader in the CBD industry, the brand has expanded into hemp-derived THC products with the same emphasis on quality control, transparency and precise dosing.

Medterra’s formulations are designed to support sleep, calm and emotional balance rather than intoxication. This makes the brand particularly appealing to professionals, fitness enthusiasts and wellness-focused consumers participating in Dry January. Medterra products fit easily into routines centered around recovery and self-care, offering cannabis as a supplement rather than a substitute vice.

3. 420.com

420.com operates as both a marketplace and a cultural platform, curating federally legal cannabis products while celebrating cannabis history, lifestyle and innovation. Rather than focusing on a single product line, 420.com emphasizes exploration and education.

For Dry January participants who are curious but unsure where to start, 420.com offers a guided entry point into the hemp-derived THC ecosystem. Its combination of content and commerce reinforces the idea that cannabis can be integrated thoughtfully into adult life, replacing alcohol not just as a substance, but as a cultural ritual.

4. Zamnesia

Zamnesia brings an international, consciousness-driven perspective to federally legal cannabis. With roots in European cannabis and psychedelic culture, the brand frames cannabis as part of a broader journey into mindfulness, creativity and self-discovery. By learning how to grow your own this January, you can have an elevated experience throughout the year.

Zamnesia’s approach resonates strongly during Dry January, when many people are reevaluating habits and seeking more intentional ways to relax. Rather than emphasizing escapism, Zamnesia encourages reflection and balance, positioning cannabis as a tool for insight rather than avoidance.

5. Adaptaphoria

Adaptaphoria operates at the intersection of cannabis and functional wellness, blending hemp-derived cannabinoids with adaptogens and functional mushrooms. The brand’s philosophy centers on nervous system regulation, stress resilience and emotional grounding.

Dry January can surface stress that alcohol once masked. Adaptaphoria addresses this head-on, offering products designed to help the body adapt rather than dissociate. Its formulations appeal to mindfulness practitioners, creatives and professionals seeking calm focus rather than intoxication.

6. TribeTokes

TribeTokes has built its reputation on clean, transparent cannabis vaping. The brand emphasizes additive-free formulations, naturally derived terpenes and rigorous third-party lab testing.

For Dry January consumers who miss the ritual of a drink or smoke break, TribeTokes offers a refined alternative. Its fast-acting effects and discreet design make it easy to incorporate into social and professional settings, reinforcing cannabis as a controlled, intentional experience.

7. Dad Grass

Dad Grass has become synonymous with low-dose, mellow cannabis experiences that prioritize calm over intensity. With nostalgic branding and an emphasis on moderation, the brand appeals to adults who want to relax without losing control.

For those easing away from alcohol during Dry January, Dad Grass offers familiarity and balance. Its hemp-derived products support relaxation without sedation, making them suitable for everyday use.

8. Vlasic CBD

Vlasic’s move into the hemp-derived cannabinoid space highlights just how mainstream cannabis has become. Best known for pickles, the brand brings mass-market trust and familiarity to CBD and THC-adjacent wellness products.

For Dry January newcomers, Vlasic CBD lowers the barrier to entry. Its approachable branding and focus on stress relief position cannabis as a natural extension of everyday wellness rather than a countercultural leap.

9. Sunday Scaries

Sunday Scaries was built around anxiety relief, and its hemp-derived cannabis products reflect that mission. Designed to reduce stress without dulling motivation, the brand resonates strongly with professionals and creatives navigating burnout.

During Dry January, Sunday Scaries helps replace alcohol-fueled decompression with something more sustainable. Its products support calm, clarity, and emotional reset, especially during high-stress moments.

10. Bee’s Knees

Bee’s Knees represents a more refined, craft-oriented approach to hemp-derived cannabis. The brand emphasizes thoughtfully sourced ingredients, precise formulations and a design-forward aesthetic that appeals to consumers seeking elegance rather than excess. Bee’s Knees products like their Beezy Snaps are often positioned as a replacement for wine or cocktails, offering nuanced, mellow effects that complement social settings without overwhelming the senses.

For Dry January participants, Beezy Snaps by Bee’s Knees provide a sophisticated alternative that preserves ritual and pleasure while eliminating alcohol’s downsides. The brand’s attention to balance, flavor, and presentation makes cannabis feel intentional and celebratory rather than compensatory.

Dry January Is the Catalyst, Not the Finish Line

What Dry January reveals for many people is not just that they can live without alcohol, but that they may function better without it. Federally legal cannabis offers an alternative that aligns with intention, clarity, and wellness rather than excess.

For a growing segment of adults, Dry January becomes the beginning of a long-term shift. Cannabis, used thoughtfully, offers a new model for relaxation—one that fits the realities of modern life.

The post Dry January Goes Green: How Federally Legal Cannabis Is Replacing Alcohol appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Beezy Snaps by Bee’s Knees Wellness Are Here to Save Your Dry January

1 January 2026 at 07:20

Dry January has come a long way from being a month of white-knuckled willpower and awkward soda water orders. These days, it’s less about deprivation and more about rethinking how you can socialize and still have fun while committing to a month of sobriety.

This year, Beezy Snaps by Bee’s Knees Wellness are making it easier with portable THC and CBD beverage boosters designed for people who still want the hangout vibe without the hangover. Think of it as a modern alcohol alternative that lets you customize your experience by adding THC or CBD to any drink, from sparkling water to juice. All you have to do is bend, break, build and blend them to whatever you’re already sipping.

If you’re wondering what drinking looks like without giving up your social life, check out why Beezy Snaps are winning over Dry January drinkers.

1. They Put You Back in Control of the Drinking Experience

One of the biggest reasons people are turning to THC and CBD as an alcohol alternative during Dry January is control. Traditional drinks tend to lock you into a single experience from the first sip. Beezy Snaps flip that dynamic by letting you decide how much or how little THC or CBD you want in the moment. With options like 4 mg and 8 mg strengths, you can build your experience intentionally instead of letting the drink decide for you.

2. They Leave You Clear-Headed the Next Day

The promise of a hangover-free drink is what draws many people in, but it’s the consistency that keeps them there. Beezy Snaps are designed to support relaxation and connection without dehydration, headaches or the mental fog that often follows drinking. For people exploring alcohol alternatives, that predictability is a major shift.

3. They Make Social Drinking More Affordable

For lots of people, Dry January can be just as much a physical reset as it is a financial one. Skipping alcohol often reveals how expensive traditional drinking habits really are. THC and CBD alternatives offer a different equation. Beezy Snaps allow one product to enhance multiple drinks, rather than paying per cocktail or per can. That flexibility makes social drinking feel more sustainable, both financially and personally.

4. They Slip Into Any Social Setting

One of the biggest barriers to alcohol alternatives is convenience. Beezy Snaps remove that friction entirely. Their small, portable format makes them easy to bring along without planning, packing or explanation. Whether it’s a concert, a dinner party, or a weekend trip, THC beverage boosters fit seamlessly into real-life social scenarios. That ease matters during Dry January, when people want alternatives that don’t draw attention or disrupt the moment.

5. They Work With The Drinks You Already Love

Canned alternatives often limit choice. Beezy Snaps expand it. By working with virtually any beverage, they allow people to keep their preferences intact while exploring THC or CBD as an alcohol alternative. Instead of forcing new flavors or routines, they enhance what’s already there.

Where Beezy Snaps Fit Into The Bigger Shift

When it comes to modern alcohol alternatives, Beezy Snaps are setting the standard with a focus on customization, clean formulation and conscious consumption. The goal is simple: Help people feel uplifted and relaxed without the physical and mental downsides that often follow traditional drinking. Instead of chasing extremes, the experience is designed around balance. You’re not locked into a single experience and you’re never guessing where the night will end. You get options. You get personalization. And you get to have social experiences that don’t revolve around pushing limits.

At their core, these beverage boosters are built around transparency. From ingredient standards to dosage clarity, the emphasis is on helping people understand exactly what they’re consuming and why they work. That makes sense for a product designed by a passionate team spanning wellness, branding, product development and digital growth. They were united by a shared mission to redefine what it means to drink socially and guided by values of innovation to empower smarter choices without asking people to opt out of fun.

“We created Beezy Snaps to fuse wellness and simplicity with guilt-free enjoyment,” said Marilee Scruton, founder and chief product officer of Bee’s Knees Wellness.

“Both our 4 mg and 8 mg strengths of Beezy Snaps are a discrete and modern way to boost any beverage without the calories, cans, or hangover. Whether catching up with friends or savoring some downtime, these are a fun and easy option with wellness in mind.”

Ultimately, Beezy Snaps invites people to rethink what drinking can be. Whether you’re exploring Dry January, experimenting with functional beverages, or just looking for a more thoughtful way to drink socially, Bee’s Knees Wellness Beezy Snaps are here to show you what’s possible. You get to decide how much lift you want, so you can adjust your experience to match your plans, your energy and your company. By putting these choices in your hands, Beezy Snaps transform drinking into something personal, intentional and completely under your control.

Explore the full range and start customizing your experience at beezysnaps.com.

The post Beezy Snaps by Bee’s Knees Wellness Are Here to Save Your Dry January appeared first on Cannabis Now.

How Clean Torch Is Redefining the Way We Smoke

22 December 2025 at 20:46

If you’ve ever torched a bowl with a regular lighter, you may have accidentally cooked off half the terpenes before you even had the chance to enjoy them. It happens so fast. One second, you’re aiming for a smooth inhale and the next your strain tastes like a campfire.

Most of us have used the same butane-fueled flame for decades while everything else in cannabis culture has evolved. We’ve upgraded our glass, grinders and knowledge…but not the thing that starts it all. As cannabis gear gets smarter, Clean Torch is stepping up to modernize the one tool that never changed.

The Tech That Makes Clean Torch Different

At first glance, Clean Torch may seem like just another lighter, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s a rechargeable, eco-friendly lighter and vaporizer that replaces open flame with heated air, so you can take clean hits without the chemicals.

It’s the only windproof lighter to combine both vaporization and ignition in one portable unit, using button-activated or breath-activated temperature control. It also lets users create a flameless heating chamber right on their own bong or pipe without needing to pack flower into a built-in chamber like with traditional vaporizers.

Instead of scorching your bowl, the temperature rises with your inhale. Fast breath? Pure vaporization. Slow breath? Vaporization plus ignition. No preset temps, no guesswork, no blasting your flower into ash. Just butane-free, flameless heat.

It’s precision smoking made intuitive. That means no special glass, no proprietary bowls. You still pack and use your own piece, and still take your hit the way you always have. It just upgrades the gear you already own without changing how you smoke. But suddenly the flavor is cleaner, the setup feels intentional, and the lighter in your hand actually matches the quality of the experience you want.

This kind of sleek, sustainable innovation comes from someone who’s spent years figuring out how to redefine the way people light up.

Meet the Mind Behind the Modern Lighter

The story of Clean Torch didn’t begin in a boardroom or a lab, but during a frustrating lunch break more than 25 years ago. When founder Sev Isayan found himself without a proper lighter, he improvised with a car lighter to light a bowl. Fast forward to 2019, and that idea became a patented device designed to improve every part of the experience.

What started as a small problem grew into a mission that became much bigger than just solving an inconvenience.

“At Clean Torch, we are driven by a commitment to perfection and safety,” explains Isayan.  After nearly five years of research and development, I perfected the materials and design to create the cleanest, highest-quality material device possible—the only plastic being the on/off button. My goal is for everyone who smokes marijuana to switch from traditional butane lighters, which expose users to harmful chemicals with every inhale, to a cleaner, safer and life-changing alternative.” 

The company’s hands-on approach reflects this philosophy.

“I founded Clean Torch, developed the product, and hold a utility patent for the device,” Isayan proudly shares. “I work closely with our manufacturer in China and a social media manager based in Los Angeles. I personally oversee shipping and customer service to ensure product quality and understand exactly what our customers love and what we can improve—keeping a close pulse on the business as we grow.”

The Winning Combination of Innovation and Accessibility

Tools like Clean Torch are quietly rewriting the rules of how we light up. It’s not only flameless and butane-free; it’s rechargeable, windproof and designed to work with the pieces you already have. In short, it’s a tool built for the way real people smoke. Whether you’re looking to enhance your home sessions or outdoor adventures, this modern lighter is a huge step forward in the way we enjoy cannabis.

Consumer feedback highlights exactly why Clean Torch is resonating. Users praise its smooth, chemical-free hits, reliable performance, and ability to enhance the taste of their flower. One reviewer noted, “I’ve suffered from headaches for years, and since purchasing a Clean Torch, I haven’t had cluster headaches. It’s been life-changing, and the high is so much cleaner.” Others point to the durability and long-term value.

A New Standard for Cleaner Smoking

Clean Torch is part of a larger shift in cannabis culture toward cleaner, smarter and more intentional consumption without breaking the bank. While most advanced vaporizers cost hundreds of dollars, Clean Torch delivers versatile, dual-function performance for just $35 with a compatible battery. As cannabis culture leans toward cleaner consumption, flameless tech like this is poised to become the new standard. It’s the kind of tool that slips effortlessly into your routine and reminds you how much better small improvements can make the whole experience. Visit cleantorch.com and use code “Canna” for 15% off sitewide.

The post How Clean Torch Is Redefining the Way We Smoke appeared first on Cannabis Now.

MJBizCon 2025: Where the Cannabis Industry Took Stock—and Set its Sights Forward

19 December 2025 at 18:36

MJBizCon 2025 returned to Las Vegas with a familiar sense of scale—and a noticeably different tone. Drawing more than 20,000 cannabis industry professionals from across the globe, the industry’s largest annual business conference once again underscored why it remains the most influential gathering in cannabis.

This year, however, the mood had shifted. After years defined by rapid expansion, regulatory turbulence and market correction, MJBizCon 2025 felt less about hype and more about hard-earned clarity. Operators, investors, brands and policymakers arrived ready to talk fundamentals: profitability, compliance, sustainability and long-term growth.

The Entire Cannabis Ecosystem, Under One Roof

MjBizCon 2025 Expo floor

With 1,000+ exhibiting companies spanning massive exhibit halls, MJBizCon 2025 showcased the full breadth of the cannabis ecosystem. The show floor represented four core sectors—cultivation; processing and manufacturing; retail and dispensary operations; and business services and technology—illustrating just how sophisticated and interconnected the industry has become.

From automation and advanced cultivation systems to fintech, compliance platforms and product innovation, exhibitors focused on real-world solutions for an increasingly competitive marketplace.

A More Measured, More Mature Industry

GrowHub panel at MJBizCon 2025

While booths remained visually striking, conversations were grounded and pragmatic. Multi-state operators and legacy brands alike emphasized disciplined expansion, operational efficiency and margin protection over aggressive land grabs.

Education sessions mirrored this evolution. Panels addressing federal reform, state-by-state regulatory complexity, capital access and international markets were among the most attended. While optimism around rescheduling and banking reform was cautious, there was a growing sense that incremental progress is beginning to translate into tangible opportunity.

Leadership Perspective: Why MJBizCon Still Matters

Emilie Lewis

That realism and resilience echoed throughout the week. As Emilie Lewis, senior vice president of MJBiz, put it: “MJBizCon has earned its place as the most important annual gathering in the cannabis industry. It’s the one week each year when the entire ecosystem—operators, investors, innovators, policymakers and solution providers—comes together to move the industry forward. Despite the headwinds, this community continues to show incredible resilience and ingenuity. That’s why MJBizCon remains the largest, most professional and most influential event in the cannabis sector—it’s where the future of the industry is built, deal by deal and relationship by relationship.”

Brands Creating Experiences—Not Just Booths

Green Rebates
Screenshot

Across the expo floor, brands leaned into creativity, experience and connection. Green Rebates stood out by transforming its booth into a destination rather than a stopover. From live-stitched custom hats to a mini-golf tournament dubbed the “MJ Open”—complete with exclusive “MJ Open Champion” Scotty Cameron putters—the company focused on making people feel welcome in an otherwise overwhelming environment.

“Our biggest goal was to give the wonderful people of this industry a reason to smile,” the Green Rebates team shared. “Walking around MJBiz can feel overwhelming, so we wanted people to stay for a while, play some mini-golf, and walk away with a custom hat stitched live for them. If people walked away with core memories, we accomplished our mission.”

Two weeks after the show, the team noted they were “still on cloud 9,” a testament to the lasting impact experiential marketing can have in a crowded trade show environment.

Innovation Backed by Research and Intention

Terpene Belt Farms

For Terpene Belt Farms, MJBizCon 2025 was about substance as much as style. The company used the show to release a new white paper detailing why cannabis-derived terpenes and botanical terpenes are not the same, while also debuting what they described as the first mood-modulating beverage formulated without hemp cannabinoids, powered by a novel cannabis-derived terpene blend.

“There was good value from MJBiz this year if you knew where to look, and our booth was one of those spots that was delivering,” said Hyrum Taylor, Marketing Director at Terpene Belt Farms. “The feedback on both was pretty incredible—better than you let yourself hope for when planning these kinds of things. It made for an elevated and buzzy vibe, and set the tone for the show.”

Taylor added that attendees returning multiple times for samples—and sharing drinks with friends and competitors alike—made it “the kind of show you want, and the show we had.”

Technology Advancing The Pre-Roll Category

EFLO Vape

Hardware and product-enablement innovation was also front and center. EFLO Vape reported strong interest in its E-Filter technology, particularly from MSOs and emerging brands seeking to enhance pre-rolls without disrupting existing workflows.

“What surprised us most was how quickly the value clicked once people saw it in action,” said Bailey Hannawa, Founder and CEO of EFLO LLC. “As we move into year two, EFLO is focused on continuing to build a new category around enhanced pre-rolls, making it easier for brands to seamlessly power up their offerings.”

For EFLO, MJBizCon validated both market demand and momentum, reinforcing optimism around the future of infused and performance-driven pre-roll innovation.

Automation Signals The Next Leap Forward

Sorting Robotics

On the manufacturing side, Sorting Robotics highlighted the industry’s readiness for deeper automation. The company reported strong enthusiasm around its updated Stardust kief coating robot and the debut of its new Telti robot, designed to tackle unstructured assembly through autonomous decision-making.

“MJBizCon showed the industry is ready for the next leap in automation,” said Barry Baughman, Marketing Manager at Sorting Robotics, noting nonstop demos and packed conversations with operators and executives. “It was energizing and reaffirming for our team, especially as we look toward where cannabis automation is headed in 2026.”

Where Vegas Nights Met Cannabis Business

Beyond the show floor, MJBizCon 2025 came alive after hours. From curated investor dinners to off-site receptions across Las Vegas, networking felt deliberate and outcome-driven, with attendees forging partnerships, advancing deals and setting the tone for the year ahead.

Looking Ahead

MJBizCon 2025 didn’t promise overnight reform or easy wins. Instead, it delivered perspective.

The cannabis industry is no longer in its infancy. It is seasoned, adaptive and increasingly strategic. As operators navigate tighter margins and evolving regulations, including this week’s rescheduling of cannabis as a Schedule III drug, MJBizCon continues to serve as a critical checkpoint—a place to recalibrate, collaborate and recommit to building a stronger industry.

If 2025 was about consolidation and survival, the conversations in Las Vegas suggest that 2026 will be about refinement, innovation and long-term credibility. And for an industry that has fought hard to be taken seriously, that may be the most important milestone of all.

The post MJBizCon 2025: Where the Cannabis Industry Took Stock—and Set its Sights Forward appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Tribe Tokes’ Luxury Vegan Cannabis Gummies

19 December 2025 at 11:08

When recurring sinus infections back in 2016 forced TribeTokes co-founder Degelis Pilla to cut back on smoking and vaping cannabis, she began searching for an alternative consumption method that would work just as well as inhalation for long-term use. She explored the market but found nothing that checked all the boxes. She wanted something plant-based, vegan, free of artificial colors or additives, and with a precise dose that left no room for error.

“My whole life, I loved smoking. Chronic sinus infections, surgeries and losing my voice made me realize that there needed to be an alternative way of utilizing the product and making sure dosing is on point,” Pilla explains. When her hunt came up short, Pilla decided to team up with her friend Kymberly Byrnes in 2017 to create a range of products of their very own—they called it TribeTokes.

It’s a clean, luxury cannabis brand built on transparency, intention and enhancing the user experience. Tribetokes offers a variety of products, such as pre-rolls and vapes. Their flagship product, their gummies, are fully vegan, flavored with real fruit extract, and carefully formulated for specific effects. Whether you need support sleeping, increasing libido or getting a good buzz, each gummy delivers exactly that while providing a real fruit-like flavor, thanks to natural ingredients.

TribeTokes understands what customers need because the founders, Pilla and Byrnes, experienced the challenges themselves. Many people can’t consume artificial colors or additives, which means most edibles on the market don’t work for them. TribeTokes uses pectin instead of gelatin to achieve that gummy texture. And all of their products use only natural, high-quality ingredients paired with a high standard of processes to maintain product integrity. They also know that people want a more discreet way of consuming cannabis. As Pilla says, “Maybe you’re at your in-laws’ house and you need to microdose your way through dinner without pulling out a vape pen.”

Pilla and Byrnes have a community-first approach to customer service, doing everything in their power to show up for customers. “We specialize in answering questions about dosing, explaining how different cannabinoids work, and helping people find the right product for their specific needs,” Pilla explains. If their product line seems daunting, don’t be afraid to reach out for guidance. The team is more than happy to help you choose the product that suits you best. 

While TribeTokes is praised for their range of products, including flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vapes, topicals, and even remedies for your furry friends, we’re impressed by their five gummy offerings, which we take a deeper look into below.  

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Every one of TribeTokes gummies is a tailored sensory experience. Dege designed the gummies to have specific effects that she needed and wanted. Using natural ingredients and precision dosing, every recipe combines a unique profile of cannabinoids—carefully formulated to support distinct effects and purposeful moments. Because of the specialized nature of each member of the portfolio, it only makes sense to dive in deep and review them one by one to fully appreciate what TribeTokes has to offer.

Buzzed Pineapple

Formula: This specific edible was designed for experienced cannabis consumers committed to the journey. Buzzed delivers 10 mg Delta‑9 THC along with 20 mg Delta‑8 THC per gummy. This is a more potent combination than other edibles within the TribeTokes product portfolio.

Flavor & Effect: Pineapple tastes like pineapple! Vibrant tropical flavors are bursting as you chew. Onset is faster: effects begin as early as 35–40 minutes as opposed to the typical one hour-and-asses mark. It’s a swift trip into a clear, euphoric high with relaxing effects on the body. The peak intensity of the experience lasts about three hours. We recommend pairing this with nighttime rituals because, sometimes, there’s a lingering effect towards the end of the experience.

Suggested Use: This is a “clear your calendar” gummy—great for parties, movies or late-night creativity. Not for beginners, and not for mid-day tasks.

Tribe Tokes Libido Lift Gummies

Libido Lift Cherry

  • Formula: This functional gummy includes 10mg of CBD, 20mg of CBC and a proprietary blend of Maca, Muira Puama, Catuaba and Mucuna. This is a mixture of traditional aphrodisiacs to target mood, blood flow and body awareness.
  • Flavor & Effect: The dark fruit flavor of cherry dominates the palette, layered with botanical and herb undercurrents. The body effects took about 90 minutes to appear, starting with a subtle body heat and mild euphoria, like a tickle behind the eyes and consciousness. Peak sensations hovered in the 2 to 3-hour window, with increased tactile sensitivity and mood elevation, though more subtle than traditional buzz-forward gummies. This was not just a libido-based use case. After a terrible headache, this specific gummy lifted the pain and pressure without the psychoactive effects. It felt good to just be.
  • Suggested Use: This gummy sets the tone for intimacy, like pregaming for a fun-filled evening. It’s helpful for unwinding in a sensual way, getting in touch with the body and breathwork. This edible is less about intensity and more about a subtle, soft and embodied presence.

Sleep Mixed Berry

  • Formula: Each gummy is composed of 10 mg Delta‑9 THC, 20 mg CBN, 1 mg B6 and 250 mg L‑Tryptophan. When thinking of edibles as medicine with curated effects, this is one of TribeTokes’ most targeted blends. It was created specifically to ease users into restful slumber. Figuring out dosage over a month-long period is key here, as you test the specific amount your body needs for restful sleep while still being able to wake up feeling up refreshed and unfogged.
  • Flavor & Effect: The mixed berry flavor is rich and herbalicious. Around 60–75 minutes post-consumption, the effects of this journey are built with a heady buzz followed by full-body relaxation. The blend doesn’t knock the user out abruptly, but rather guides them gently into sleep. Most users will sleep 6-8 hours with minimal disruption; however, it takes a little bit of experimentation around dosage to prevent waking up groggy.
  • Suggested Use: This gummy is perfect for winding down after a long day, or when traditional sleep aids like Melatonin aren’t quite enough. This blend is strong and highly effective.
Tribe Tokes Live Rosin Watermelon Gummies

Solventless Watermelon

  • Formula: Each gummy contains 10 mg of live rosin THC, extracted via heat and pressure (without solvents), to preserve the terpene profile in addition to the minor cannabinoids. According to their website, “rosin is considered the champagne of cannabis extracts because it is all-natural, incredibly pure, and delivers a full-spectrum experience.” It’s a curious process as the cannabis is flash frozen to access the full spectrum of both cannabinoids and terpenes that are expertly extracted in a way that distillate is unable to deliver on.
  • Flavor & Effect: The watermelon flavor is juicy with potent herb undertones. Effects set in about one hour later and bring about a warm body sensation followed by a light euphoric head high. Peak intensity was reached by the second hour, maintaining a comfortable plateau through the fifth hour, and tapering gently over the next few. Of course, timing will vary from person to person. 
  • Suggested Use: Best suited for deep creative work, mellowing out, or early evening unwinding after work. The effect is present but not in the same way as the Buzzed: Pineapple. This is a portfolio piece that captures the mythos of what solventless “clean cannabis” highs can achieve.

CBD-Boosted Mango

  • Formula: Each mango gummy blends 10mg Delta‑9 THC with 20mg CBD, using live resin extract to access the full-spectrum qualities while simultaneously softening the THC’s psychoactive effects. According to the TribeTokes website, this live resin extract gummies developed a following among cannabis enthusiasts because of their unique effects, including deep relaxation and staying asleep throughout the night.
  • Flavor & Effect: A rich, mango flavor leads the experience. The journey leans both introspective and cerebral, setting in around 45 minutes with a notable mental shift. The added CBD grounds the trip, keeping anxiety and overstimulation at bay by focusing on the body effects. The peak experience holds steady between hours two and three, with a soft fade by hour six. Unlike the other gummies in the portfolio, it’s suggested that you start with smaller dosing before working up to the ideal dose. This is a trip that can get intense quick.
  • Suggested Use: This is a great option for those solo evenings like out of a Kid Cudi song, deep introspection, or media immersion. This doesn’t inspire the same couch lock as other formulas. Like goldilocks, we would describe this experience as not too intense, hitting a balanced middle ground between intensity and calm.

TribeTokes Leads The Clean Cannabis Movement

TribeTokes’ mission to deliver premium quality to their customers carries on beyond the consumption experience. This is a female-owned brand that you partner with for long-term sustainable use; it’s a relationship you can grow and perform with. We know processes are key for accessing both major and minor cannabinoids. Additionally, Pilla and Byrnes are spearheading the Clean Cannabis Movement, and you can help be a part of this paradigm shift while enjoying a luxury cannabis high that tastes as good as it feels.

Interested in joining the tribe? Get 20% off your purchase with code FEELGOOD20.

The post Tribe Tokes’ Luxury Vegan Cannabis Gummies appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Inside Amsterdam’s 2025 Coffeeshop Awards

17 December 2025 at 14:43

The 2025 Amsterdam Coffeeshop Awards brought together cannabis lovers from across the industry—including coffeeshops, staff, brand representatives and regular patrons—for a weekend of tastings, meetups and shop visits across the city. Organized by AudioKush, the three-day event, held November 14-16, has grown steadily since its launch in 2021 and now serves as an annual record of where Amsterdam’s coffeeshop community stands and how it continues to grow.

To gain a better understanding of the cultural significance of the Amsterdam Coffeeshop Awards, it is helpful to examine how Amsterdam’s coffeeshops originated. In the 1970s, the city started allowing small-scale cannabis sales under controlled conditions. This wasn’t legalization, but it wasn’t an underground loophole either. Rather, it was a practical harm-reduction strategy that eventually shaped Amsterdam’s identity as one of the world’s most recognized cannabis destinations.

For many international visitors, especially those from countries with strict laws, coffeeshops were the first place they saw cannabis handled as a normal part of daily life. Customers could sit down, read a menu, and ask staff about different strains—something that didn’t exist anywhere else at the time. As the years passed, coffee shops became an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape, influenced by music, art, hospitality, food and nightlife. They also became an early example for policymakers looking to understand what a regulated cannabis environment could look like.

The Amsterdam Coffee Shop Awards draw on that history. Rather than simply naming winners, they aim to recognize the people and businesses that continue to shape a culture built over decades.

How The Judging Process Works

The awards are split into two sections with distinct judging methods. The Consumer Choice categories are decided by public voting, giving a clear picture of what regular coffee shop customers and visitors value most across the city. For the Industry Awards, over the course of a week, a panel of 25 industry professionals independently samples and scores the city’s best flower, hash, pre-rolls, edibles, coffeeshops and concentrates. Each product is independently evaluated in a blind taste test, with no branding or identifying information provided to the judges, ensuring that assessments focus solely on quality. Together, these two approaches reflect both the community’s preferences and the standards recognized by industry professionals.

The awards gala was held on Docks 1, a smoker-friendly boat cruise and Amsterdam’s largest floating venue, which capped off a three-day stretch of meet-ups, coffeeshop visits, tastings and late-night parties. According to Russell D, marketing director for Amsterdam Coffee Shop Awards, a total of 200 industry professionals were aboard the awards cruise. By the time the winners were announced, most people in the room had already shared a joint, a conversation, or at least a handshake somewhere else in the city.

Now, let’s take a look at this year’s full list of winners.

2025 Consumer Choice Awards

Barney's Farm

These categories were decided entirely by public vote; the customers, locals and visitors who give Amsterdam’s coffeeshops their character.

  • Coffeeshop of the Year: Barney’s Coffeeshop: Barney’s secured the title for a second consecutive year, becoming the first coffeeshop to achieve this accolade in the Awards’ history. Regulars often point to the same combination: a staff that treats hospitality as a skill, a menu that evolves without chasing fads, and genetics that continue to attract international attention.
  • Budtender of the Year: Lily @ Barney’s Coffeeshop: Lily explains products simply and offers trusted advice, earning strong support from regulars.
  • Most Knowledgeable Staff: Balou: Balou’s staff is known for clear, informative explanations, with Riccardo praised for his easy communication.
  • Content Creator of the Year: Corax Dewai: Corax’s candid coverage captures daily coffeeshop life, resonating with local and online audiences.
  • Best Coffeeshop Menu: Barney’s Coffeeshop: Barney’s menu remains one of the most curated in the city. The selection changes often enough to stay relevant without abandoning long-loved classics. The approach keeps the list focused instead of overwhelming.
  • Best Coffeeshop Art Exhibit: “The Grand History of Cannabis,” Mossy Giant @ De Kade: The exhibit paired illustration with cultural references to create a visual timeline of cannabis history. It drew consistent attention for being engaging without feeling like a museum piece.
  • Best Indoor Coffeeshop Lounge: Prix d’Ami: Prix d’Ami offers diverse lounge spaces, maintaining a cohesive, welcoming atmosphere despite its size.
  • Best Outdoor Coffeeshop Lounge: Katsu: Katsu’s terrace in De Pijp remains a steady favorite. It draws both locals and visitors, offering a secluded, relaxed spot away from the busier tourist zones.
  • Best Coffeeshop Outside Amsterdam: Hunter’s Zandvoort: Hunter’s Zandvoort brings the brand’s style to a very different environment: the coast. Its 40th anniversary added weight to the win.
  • Best Smoker-Friendly Lounge: Barney’s Uptown: Barney’s Uptown feels comfortable and lived-in, with praised seating, drinks, and unobtrusive DJ sets.
  • Best CBD Brand: Mystery Bees: Mystery Bees’ small-batch, simple approach and consistent, clean flavors earned high voter recognition.
  • Best 420 Event or Experience: Buddha Lounge Boat: The Buddha Lounge Boat offers a slow, scenic session on the city’s waterways. It continues to attract people seeking a relaxed, floating alternative to land-based coffeeshop visits.
  • Favourite Coffeeshop Pet: Mr. Pumba: Mr. Pumba is a coffeeshop fixture, well-known and frequently featured in city lore and photos.

2025 Industry Awards: Blind-Tasting Results

Mimosa Strain
Pictured Strain: Mimosa

These awards focus strictly on what’s in the jar, not the noise behind it.

Sativa

  • 1st: Jus D’Orange (The Old Church): A bright, citrus-forward profile that hits like a glass of freshly squeezed juice.
  • 2nd: Mimosa (7th Heaven): Clementine x Purple Punch genetics deliver a fruit-driven and approachable profile.
  • 3rd: B45 (Cream Pheno) (THC Turbine): Smooth and easygoing, the B45 cream phenotype is the perfect modern sativa.

Haze

  • 1st: G13 Haze (Coffeeshop Blue Sea): A classic haze profile built on earth, pine, and citrus, with long-lasting clarity. This cross of G13 and Hawaiian Sativa, G13 Haze, is an Amsterdam classic.
  • 2nd: Super Silver Haze (Coffeeshop Central): Delivered with its usual lemon-spice expression, this legendary cultivar is a cross of Skunk, Northern Lights, and Haze.
  • 3rd: Amnesia (Coffeeshop 7th Heaven): Sharp and uplifting, true to its long-standing reputation of being a benchmark for haze connoisseurs.

Indica

  • 1st: Uncle Snoop (Coffeeshop Barney’s): Dense, frosted buds with vanilla-berry notes and a steady, relaxing effect that’s true to its namesake.
  • 2nd: Black Cherry Gelato (Coffeeshop Hunter’s): Sweet, rounded, and well-suited to late-day use.
  • 3rd: Dark Matter (Coffeeshop The Old Church): This earthly strain delivers a calming finish that melts away tension and guides you into restful sleep.

Hybrid

  • 1st: Baker’s Man (Coffeeshop Relax): Warm, pastry-like aromatics and a sociable, mellow effect.
  • 2nd: Super Boof (Coffeeshop Hunter’s): Tropical citrus punch flavors and a euphoric twist.
  • 3rd: Zillions (Coffeeshop Barney’s): Sweet, expressive, and notably potent, this balanced hybrid crosses Original Z and Lemon Cherry Gelato and features a notably high THC and terpene content.

Traditional Hash

  • 1st: Zero Zero (Coffeeshop Relax): Soft, aromatic, and reminiscent of classic Moroccan craftsmanship.
  • 2nd: Champagne (Coffeeshop 7th Heaven): A sweet, smooth flavor with a bright finish for those who prefer a more polished take on traditional hash.
  • 3rd: Glumosa (Coffeeshop Central): Rich resin flavor and a bold presence make this a full-flavored hash for true aficionados.

Static Hash

  • 1st: Forbidden Fruit × Fruit Joy (Coffeeshop The Old Church): Layered, fruit-led flavor with balanced effects, this is a complex and utterly unique cultivar.
  • 2nd: Painkiller (Coffeeshop Relax): Perfect for those seeking a smooth, calming, full-body high.
  • 3rd: K1 (Coffeeshop Reefer): Reliable potency and intense effects.

Ice Water Hash

  • 1st: Grape Gas WPFF (Coffeeshop Terps Army): Solventless, bold, and smooth with terpenes that burst from the jar, a testament to modern extraction craft.
  • 2nd: Hawaï WPFF (Coffeeshop Hashtag): Creamy, layered and bursting with mango, pineapple, and passion fruit notes.
  • 3rd: RS11 Piatella (Coffeeshop Terps Army): Soft texture and floral aromatics.

Live Rosin

  • 1st: Grape Gas (Coffeeshop Terps Army): The pinnacle of purity and potency.
  • 2nd: Oishii (Green Gold): Creamy, rich, and sweetly layered notes.
  • 3rd: Banana Punch (Coffeeshop 7th Heaven): Sweet, floral and a must for flavor hunters.

Premium Pre-roll

  • 1st: Heavenly Beltz Donut (Coffeeshop 7th Heaven): Perfectly constructed with top-shelf flower and rosin.
  • 2nd: Gelato 33 Hash Hole (Coffeeshop Balou): Creamy, gassy and a powerful dessert for grown-ups.
  • 3rd: #thegasbomb Donut (Coffeeshop Hashtag): Gassy and bold, with a clean, punchy finish.

Edibles

  • 1st: Pistachio Cheesecake (Let’s Get Baked × Coffeeshop The Old Church): Nutty, creamy, and decadently dosed, this edible is both a culinary and cannabis masterpiece.
  • 2nd: Mango Mouse (Made To Be Baked × Coffeeshop Sativa): Light, tropical, and easy to enjoy.
  • 3rd: Tartlet Sampler (Petit 420): Offers multiple flavor experiences in one serving.

CBD

  • 1st: Lemon Cherry CBD (Coffeeshop Relax): Citrus-forward with a mild, steady effect.

The post Inside Amsterdam’s 2025 Coffeeshop Awards appeared first on Cannabis Now.

YANA Wellness Becomes First Women-Owned and Operated THC Drink Line in All Virginia Total Wine Locations

15 December 2025 at 14:28

YANA Wellness, a women-owned and operated cannabis brand with a licensed dispensary in Washington, DC, officially makes history as the first hemp-derived THC beverage line in all Total Wine retail locations across Virginia. Their e-commerce platform also reaches consumers with their plant-based alternative drinks nationwide. This marks a major milestone not only for YANA as a small, women-owned business, but for all women pioneering plant-based wellness products for nationwide distribution.

The Founder and CEO of YANA, Ariana Fleishman, has made a blueprint for minority small business owners to create accessible, compliant and community-driven products. Fleishman utilizes her social media platforms to educate consumers and business owners alike.

“YANA stands for You Are Not Alone, and it is also the nickname my mom gave me as a kid. I’ve always wanted to create a community around this mission. Mental health issues are at an all-time with everything going on in the world today. I truly believe you can’t change the world until you change your own community,” Fleishman says. “Adderall and alcohol—these are so normalized in today’s society. My doctor would prescribe me Adderall for the workday to combat my ADHD. Then at night, bars and restaurants only have alcohol on the menu, which completely impairs my memory and makes me feel so sick the next day. Why is this lifestyle still so normalized? Why do we have to be so quiet when we choose to consume plants over poison?”

“Cannabis and Mushrooms are already clinically proven to be an effective medicine and provide so many life-changing benefits when purchased from lab-tested and credible sources,” she continues. “But still, the norm is to take highly addictive drugs prescribed by doctors and to drink alcohol to socialize with friends. My goal is to change this stigma by providing plant-based alternatives in mainstream settings.”

Breaking Down Prohibition Barriers and Entering the Mainstream Market

With cannabis still under federal prohibition, Fleishman purposely developed a variety of plant-based alternative blends so that at least one of their drinks on the product line would meet all jurisdictional regulations in every state. This was her strategy for expanding the brand and the plant-based alternatives culture into new markets while cannabis legalization is still uncertain nationwide.

If you find yourself in Virginia, be sure to look for YANA products at your nearest Total Wine. Beyond these stores, consumers can now also find YANA drinks on various restaurant menus in the DMV area and explore the benefits of cannabinoids, functional mushrooms and adaptogens without fear of the negative stigma.

YANA’s Rizzi Mushroom Elixir is a consumer favorite that contains no THC or CBD—just a federally legal blend of nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms. Rizzi Elixir is featured at premiere social clubs in DC, like Ciel Rooftop at Marriott’s Downtown Hotel and Spark Social, DC’s first non-alcoholic social club for the LGBTQ+ community. These mainstream venues showcase how plant-based alternative drinks can be part of a holistic social wellness lifestyle—and it’s only the beginning. Virginia can now legally sell hemp-derived THC drinks in bars and restaurants with a hemp license as well. Learn more about their full product line and check out where you can buy YANA drinks near you here.

Women Leading the Future of Cannabis

YANA’s success story symbolizes the perseverance of women who have navigated the cannabis industry’s challenging transition from prohibition to legitimacy. Fleishman and her team have emerged from the “gray market” era in DC after five years in the industry to now operating a fully legal, women-run cannabis dispensary. The Chief Strategy Officer of YANA Wellness Brands, Hannah Clarke, a longtime cannabis lobbyist and consultant, emphasizes the significance of their achievements: “Women are not just participating in the industry anymore—we’re building it,” Clarke says. “This is about changing perceptions, policy and the path forward for future generations of women in cannabis.”

YANA prioritizes education, research and inclusion, integrating science, advocacy and entrepreneurship opportunities for their team of young women entering the workforce. Through wellness program collaborations with clinical psychologist Dr. Vivid and university internship programs with American University and the University of Maryland, YANA Wellness offers students the rare opportunity to study the psychological effects of cannabis and mushrooms to properly sell and promote these alternative medicines to conscious consumers.

“I’ve been interested in psychology for a while, but I never imagined I’d find an internship that focuses on the psychological effects of cannabis and mushrooms, at least not so early in my career,” said Lucrezia Brody, a YANA psychology intern and student at American University. “The research we conduct isn’t just filed away—it directly informs our patients and wellness consultants to help improve our community.”

Expanding While Stimulating the Local Economy

YANA is operated by a small team of 10 women, but their strategic partnerships with local, family-owned businesses in Virginia are how YANA is scaling effectively and stimulating the local economy. Fleishman knows that the cannabis market is already dominated by MSOs (multi-state operators) in healthcare, largely owned by publicly traded companies and pharmaceutical businesses, so she has devoted herself to working with local small businesses in all parts of the supply chain.

Pure Shenandoah is a family-owned hemp manufacturing business that provides high-quality cannabis extractions, and Brothers Craft Brewery is a family-owned brewery that YANA uses for canning their drinks. “It was very important to me to stimulate the local economy that I grew up in and keep my mission of building community through plant medicine alternatives,” Fleishman states.

YANA also just signed with Specialty Beverage, a family-owned beverage distribution company known for its large-scale deliveries to mainstream businesses. This partnership increases the accessibility of hemp-derived THC beverages to reach retail locations and restaurant menus that want to provide plant-based alternatives to alcohol.

The Evolution of YANA

In 2019, Ariana Fleishman, also known as “Ari Tokes” on social media, founded YANA Wellness as Cannabis Creatives Collectives for the DC metropolitan area to connect with others through curated social experiences. As the laws changed in DC, YANA evolved into a Holistic Wellness Center and Licensed Cannabis Dispensary.

Fleishman simultaneously spent two years developing the YANA drink line while opening the retail location so she could reach people nationwide with a variety of plant-based alternative blends. Through their social media platforms, YANA continues to advocate for responsible, inclusive and research-backed cannabis culture nationwide. Stay tuned in on their social media for updates on community events, cannabis news, and the culture here.

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Trump Weighs Executive Order to Advance Cannabis Rescheduling

12 December 2025 at 16:58

President Donald Trump is weighing an executive order that would push the federal government to reclassify cannabis, a step that could mark the most significant shift in U.S. cannabis policy in decades—even as the White House cautions that no final decision has been made.

The deliberations, first reported late Thursday by The Washington Post, center on moving marijuana from Schedule I—the government’s most restrictive category, reserved for drugs deemed to have no accepted medical use—to Schedule III, a classification that would acknowledge medical value and loosen some federal controls. 

“This is an encouraging development and a strong indicator that comprehensive legalization is no longer a distant goal,” says Sorse Tech CEO Howard Lee.

The Post reported Trump discussed the potential policy change in a call that included House Speaker Mike Johnson and cannabis industry executives, alongside senior administration officials. Johnson voiced skepticism, the report said, while industry participants pressed the case that rescheduling would reduce barriers to research and help normalize a legal market that now operates in tension with federal law. 

In response to the news, Sasha Nutgent, VP of cannabis retail for Housing Works Cannabis Co. out of New York, tells Cannabis Now that with today’s current cannabis classification, “retailers are not incentivized to operate legally. Reclassification would change that for thousands of businesses, especially those owned by folks from communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.”

Industry and Markets Brace for Potential Policy Change

News of the possible executive order rippled quickly through financial markets early this morning. Cannabis-related stocks and exchange-traded funds jumped in premarket trading after the Post report, according to Reuters, reflecting investor optimism that a federal shift could ease access to capital and reduce tax burdens that have long squeezed state-legal operators. 

Rescheduling, however, would not legalize marijuana nationwide. Even supporters describe it as a narrower, technical move with broad downstream effects—especially for research, medical access and business operations—rather than a sweeping rewrite of prohibition-era policy. 

Gennaro Luce, founder and CEO at CannaLnx, powered by EM2P2, argues that “Rescheduling is an important and overdue shift for patient-centric healthcare, but the move to Schedule III alone isn’t enough to make medical cannabis more accessible or affordable.”

Luce says insurers still need verification, compliance and eligibility frameworks before they can treat medical cannabis like a real benefit. “That part of the system is still missing from the national conversation — fortunately, it’s the medical-cannabis system piece we’ve already built and tested alongside physicians, patients, dispensaries, POS systems and insurers.”

Legal Nuances Stall Progress

President Trump’s considerations land on well-trodden terrain. The modern push to reconsider cannabis’ federal classification accelerated under President Joe Biden, whose administration initiated a review that produced a recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services to move cannabis to Schedule III. The Justice Department formally began the rescheduling process in 2024, opening the door to rulemaking that has since faced delays and political crosscurrents. 

Policy experts say an executive order can direct agencies and set priorities, but it cannot, by itself, rewrite the Controlled Substances Act. Any durable change to cannabis scheduling ultimately runs through federal administrative procedures led by the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, including scientific findings, legal analysis and formal rulemaking steps. That legal nuance has become familiar to cannabis readers—and to anyone who has watched the issue ricochet between campaign promises and bureaucratic reality.

In past coverage of cannabis executive action, Cannabis Now has emphasized that the “stroke of a pen” theory often collides with the limits of federal authority, even when presidents or governors have wide latitude to shape enforcement priorities and regulatory posture. Still, the political stakes are unmistakable. A Trump-backed push to reschedule could scramble the usual partisan map on cannabis, where national Democrats have often positioned themselves as the party of reform while Republicans have been divided between states’-rights advocates and prohibition-aligned lawmakers.

The Post report suggested Trump views rescheduling as a way to “cut restrictions” without endorsing full legalization—a framing that could appeal to voters who support medical access and regulated markets but remain cautious about broader social change. 

For the cannabis industry, the practical implications of Schedule III are potentially enormous—but also uneven. Operators have argued that rescheduling could reduce certain federal tax penalties and make it easier for institutions to do business with cannabis companies.

Ryan Hunter, chief revenue officer for Colorado-based Spherex, a leader in cannabis extraction and purification, offers perspective: “Cannabis is still federally illegal—but even as a federally illegal substance, the move to Schedule III dramatically reduces the federal tax burden for operators. Under IRS code 280E, handling Schedule I or Schedule II substances eliminates the ability for operators to deduct standard operating expenses that most other businesses deduct from their federal taxes. As a result of 280E, cannabis operators’ effective tax rate may be as high as 80 pecent. Beyond this significant improvement, the implications are unclear, but we’re hopeful that this move will allow for cannabis operators to garner the same investment opportunities other industries will enjoy.”

Rescheduling’s Promise and Uncertainty

Analysts told Reuters that shifting cannabis to Schedule III could also accelerate pharmaceutical research and distribution models, even as state-legal markets continue to rely on a patchwork of rules that vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. Critics, including some in Congress, argue rescheduling risks moving faster than the science. The Post reported Johnson referenced studies he said cut against reclassification, reflecting a broader debate over how to weigh evidence of therapeutic benefits against risks of misuse and dependency. 

What happens next could hinge on timing and follow-through. An executive order, if issued, would likely instruct cabinet agencies to prioritize or expedite the administrative process rather than instantly change marijuana’s legal status. Even then, opponents could challenge the move politically and in court, while regulators would still need to align policy with existing federal statutes and international commitments.

“Whenever the White House moves forward with Schedule III, the federal government is effectively telling us that cannabis is medicine,” comments Calyx Containers President and Co-Founder Alex Gonzalez. “And if it’s medicine, ‘good enough’ cannabis practices won’t cut it anymore. Whether rescheduling happens next month or next year, the direction is clear: Cannabis is moving toward pharma-grade standards. For brands, that means tightening quality systems, investing in the ability to react or scale, and preparing for a regulatory-ready supply chain. We’re seeing the smart operators onshoring infrastructure, and we’re positioning our domestic production and business model on being ready to help operators turn this moment into a competitive advantage.”

In the meantime, the national reality on cannabis continues to diverge from federal law. Most states now allow marijuana for medical use, and a growing number permit adult-use sales—a shift that has normalized cannabis commerce for millions of Americans while leaving businesses and consumers navigating legal gray zones that are invisible at the dispensary counter but very real at banks, research institutions and federal agencies.

“Rescheduling is the single most important drug policy move in decades. The potential opportunities for medical and scientific research will significantly increase, while those living in states without an existing medical program will now have access to the powerful healing properties of the plant,” says Mark Lewis, president of specialty banking at Lüt.

“Make no mistake though, rescheduling is just the beginning for those working in the cannabis industry. Until the SAFE Banking Act or 280E is passed, operators will still have to jump through challenging financial hoops to pay their staff, bills or garner investment. The moment is historic, but until cannabis businesses can operate fiscally with the same ease as any other business, more work needs to be done,” Lewis continued. “Payments still need to work in the reality of today, where the ongoing threat of card network shutdowns exists, not just the promise of future reform. While rescheduling may open doors over time, it does not remove the day-to-day financial friction that cannabis operators face right now.”

Whether Trump ultimately signs an order or backs away, the past 24 hours have underscored a core truth of cannabis politics in Washington: Even incremental change can move markets, reshape messaging and reopen debates that Congress has struggled for years to settle.

The post Trump Weighs Executive Order to Advance Cannabis Rescheduling appeared first on Cannabis Now.

2025 Cannabis Holiday Gift Guide: This Year’s Standout Picks

8 December 2025 at 16:02

’Tis the season again! If you’re scrambling for last-minute presents or totally blanking on what to get your cannabis-loving crew, don’t stress — we’ve got you. The Cannabis Now team rounded up our favorite finds across the full spectrum of cannabis goodies. Think stylish smoking gear, elevated fashion pieces, tasty edibles, must-have seeds and grower essentials. There’s truly something for everyone on this list. Plus, we’ve sprinkled in exclusive holiday discount codes just for you. Time to spark some joy with the coolest cannabis gifts of 2025.

Mellow Fellow’s Live Resin Blends Edibles

Mellow Fellow Live Resin Gummies

Give the gift of good vibes this holiday season. Mellow Fellow’s Live Resin Blends combine cannabinoids and terpenes for elevated, experience-based effects—crafted for every mood. Euphoria keeps spirits bright with an uplifting, creative boost, while Dream helps you unwind and find calm after the chaos. Each gummy is made with live resin for authentic strain flavor and consistent potency, wrapped in a sweet, shareable treat. $29.99

Clean Torch Complete Set

Clean Torch is a revolutionary breath-activated, flameless electric lighter that doubles as a vaporizer. This electric lighter is a no-brainer for cannabis enthusiasts and travel—windproof, rechargeable and totally flame-free, it works wherever you go. No butane either, just a quick inhale and you’re good to go. Plus, it’s compact, stylish and built to handle the elements, making it as smart as it is sleek. Whether you’re lighting up at a campsite or traveling across the country, Clean Torch is a must-have, long-life gadget perfect for every trip or keeping at home. It’s that surprisingly perfect little gadget you never knew you needed—until you realize it makes every smoke easier, cleaner, and way more fun. $125 (Use the code “Canna” for 15% off sitewide.)

The All-Paper Smokebuddy

All-Paper Smokebuddy

The All-Paper Smokebuddy—the first in a new generation of sustainably sourced, eco-friendly smoke filters! Crafted entirely from paper, including the packaging, this Smokebuddy is a greener alternative to traditional filters. It effectively reduces odor and filters smoke while keeping secondhand smoke away from friends, family, and neighbors. Compact, convenient, and responsibly made, it’s designed with both performance and the planet in mind. $19.95 (Use Holiday Promo code: HOLIDAYBUDDY25 for 25% off).

TEMPEST | Designer Cooling Pipe by Artifact

Meet Tempest, the designer magnetic pipe from Artifact, engineered to elevate your ritual. It delivers ultra-smooth hits and feels like art in your hand, with two symmetrical halves that snap together with powerful magnets and pull apart in a second for easy cleaning. Inside, a cooling Labyrinth stretches the smoke, strips out heat, and collects resin so every bowl lands smooth and cool. Drop in the optional titanium filter for effortless sessions with hash and other extracts. It looks like a sculpture, hits like a bong, and cleans back to brand new whenever you want. It is the upgrade every weed lover secretly wants in their stocking. $78 (Use Holiday Promo Code CANNABISNOW10 for extra savings).

The Veazy Dry Herb Vaporizer From Storz & Bickel

Veazy vaporizer

The new Storz & Bickel VEAZY Vaporizer delivers consistent, flavorful vapor in just 40 seconds using the company’s patented hybrid heating technology. It’s also the brand’s smallest and most affordable device, priced at just $249 and weighing 0.3 lbs. Users can fine-tune settings and easily personalize sessions from their phone or laptop via Bluetooth to the S&B web app.  Plus, the quick USB-C charging system means you can easily recharge the device when you’re on the move. The VEAZY dry herb vape is the perfect blend of style and substance: It fits nicely in the palm of your hand but still packs a punch with S&B’s patented mini hybrid heater blending conduction and convection. $249

Royal Queen Seeds

Royal Queen Seeds F1 Hybrid Seeds


With over ten years of experience breeding exceptional cultivars and delivering world-class customer service, Royal Queen Seeds (RQS) is a leader in the cannabis genetics space. They have a huge selection of premium cannabis seeds for your homegrowing friend. Whether you’re an experienced cultivator, or simply curious about trying to grow cannabis at home for the first, Royal Queen Seeds has seed varietals for every person, and every situation. Check out their Grow Guide and Strain Finder Tool to determine the best seeds to give this holiday season. These truly make for the perfect stocking stuffers! Starting at $12.50

IGrowCan Homegrow Kit From Royal Queen Seeds

Royal Queen Seeds iGrowCan home grow kit

If you choose to send cannabis seeds to a first-time grower, then consider bundling it with Royal Queen Seeds’ homegrow kit, which makes growing weed easier and stealthier than ever before. You don’t even need to go to the stores to buy soil or pots. With this convenient kit, you can grow fast autoflowering strains that reach a maximum height of 23.4 inches, and harvest after just 10 weeks. Each can contain 2 seeds, a germination plug, and all of the growing media and nutrients you’ll need. Just follow the instruction manual! $36

Calming Beef Dog Chews

Back in stock and better than ever! Our new formula is 3X BIGGER than before and easier to chew for older dogs and easier to break for smaller doses. At Vlasic Labs, dogs are part of the family. This Broad Spectrum chew contains ZERO THC and 5mg of CBD per chew, so you can easily find the right dose for your pup. $34.99

8000 Kicks Chelsea Boot

Introducing the first waterproof hemp Chelsea boots. The classic design, now more stylish than ever, this time with a premium hemp upper. 8000 Kicks’ new boot is totally vegan, and it uses the same waterproofing technology as their backpacks and shoes. The Chelsea Boots include a rugged sole for the most demanding terrains while keeping a minimalist design for daily wear. $199 (Use 20% Promo Code: CANNABISNOW20 for extra savings.)   

Sunday Scaries THC Sleep Gummies

Sunday Scaries THC Sleep Gummies

Tired of sleep supplements or teas that don’t actually work? Find that prescription meds do work, but you don’t want the negative side effects that come with them? Then Sunday Scaries THC Sleep Gummies are for you! The brand custom-formulated these gummies so that they actually work to help induce sleep, but without compromising your health. If you have any loved ones struggling with restless nights, consider these all-natural, full-spectrum gummies from Sunday Scaries. They are designed to prevent next-day grogginess, and the brand promises to refund you if you can’t fall asleep within 20-30 minutes. $31 (Use Promo Code: CNM20 for extra savings).

Mama Dose – Mama’s Mindful Truffles

Each of these chocolate truffles from Mama Dose is a gentle guide on your journey towards presence and inner harmony, infused with 250mg of the potent Penis Envy strain. Mama’s Mindful Truffles offer a luxurious ritual of self-connection, designed to sharpen your senses and awaken your spirit. Handcrafted with premium vegan ingredients, these truffles combine rich, velvety cocoa with organic sweeteners to create a decadent, ethically sourced experience. $60 (Use Promo Code: CannabisNow2025 for extra savings).

The post 2025 Cannabis Holiday Gift Guide: This Year’s Standout Picks appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Cannabis for Christmas: Strains to Celebrate the Season

5 December 2025 at 12:41

As the mainstream acceptance of cannabis use rumbles ever forward across the globe, the time when families and friends can gather around the Christmas tree vaporizing top-shelf cannabis may not be as far off as it once seemed. Those who choose to honor their health and turn away from the mulled wines and spiked egg nog this year should not have to hide their enjoyment of our favorite flower.

That signature scent of most flowers and plants, including the pine tree propped in the living room, originates from terpenes. As master horticulturalist Ed Rosenthal explains in his Big Book of Buds series, terpenes are also the components of cannabis responsible for the different effects and odors of the many varieties of marijuana.

“Pinene is the familiar odor associated with pine trees and their resin,” Rosenthal writes in the Big Book of Buds, volume 4. “Pinene probably gives true skunk varieties, the ones that stink like an animal, much of their odor… The smoke seems to expand in your lungs and the high comes on very quickly since a high percentage of the substance will pass to the bloodstream and brain.”

Pinene, which is most dominantly found in cannabis as the compound alpha-pinene, is the terpene that has established a solid reputation for tasting and smelling like a pine tree. The following three strains are sure to bring on this unique flavor so often associated with the holiday season.

Jack Herer –  This world-renowned strain was named after and bred in honor of the legendary author and cannabis activist, Jack Herer. “Upon the first draw, you immediately begin to identify its complex flavors,” West says. “It’s almost as if you can roll the smoke over the different parts of your tongue and taste each one individually. After exhaling, you will enjoy the lingering taste of the haze and lemon cleaner. A single experience smoking this strain is all it takes to be able to confidently identify it in the future as well as recognize strains with which it has been bred.”

Super Silver Haze – This selection comes compliments of Strainhunter Franco Loja. Loja is the manager of Green House Seed Co. and says Super Sliver Haze offers the highest levels of alpha-pinene. This strain is an uplifting sativa and bursts with skunk-like notes alongside the sweet floral of its Haze parentage. Super Silver Haze is a great choice for keeping your energy going today.

Bubba Kush – This Green House Seed Co. offering is known for causing powerful sedative effects. Enjoy this strain after the company has left for the day. It’s a great solution towards ensuring the new year begins in a state of complete relaxation and reflection.

What are your favorite strains? Tell us in the comments below. 

The post Cannabis for Christmas: Strains to Celebrate the Season appeared first on Cannabis Now.

5 Creative Uses for Everclear This Holiday Season

2 December 2025 at 07:20

Another year is drawing to a close AKA the holiday season is upon us. As the usual holiday hustle and bustle settles upon us like a layer of fresh snow, our thoughts have turned to all things Christmas. This includes thoughtful gifts, delicious feasts and family visits. While Everclear may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Christmas, the creative uses of this versatile and high-proof spirit will have it become your secret ingredient for making this holiday season extra special for the cannabis lover in your life (yes, that includes you!)

With an odorless, flavorless and colorless composition, Everclear offers a blank canvas with which you can let your imagination run wild. The clean palette of this American-made, 190-proof grain alcohol encourages you to unleash your creativity and concoct a range of creations in the kitchen—and beyond. Everclear can also be used for many other purposes in your home, from making your own perfume to cleaning and more.

In this article, we’ll unwrap the magic of Everclear and explore five creative uses that will transform your Christmas celebrations.

PHOTO Everclear

Maximize Your Recipes

Christmas is often synonymous with indulgent feasts—and Everclear can be your culinary ally in the kitchen. With its high alcohol content, Everclear is an excellent choice for extracting flavors from herbs, spices and fruits, creating vibrant extracts that elevate your recipes. Whether you’re infusing holiday cookies with a burst of citrus zest or crafting a homemade vanilla extract for your cakes and desserts, Everclear’s neutral flavor profile and exceptional extracting power make it a valuable addition to your holiday baking arsenal.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Ditch the canned berries for delicious, homemade cranberry sauce. In this recipe by acclaimed cannabis chef Vanessa Dora Lavorato, Everclear softens berries and captures their sweet/tart taste in this fresh take on the seasonal sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 24 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2 tbsp Everclear
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 orange peels, pith removed
  • Juice of an orange
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Instructions:

  1. Combine cranberries, Everclear, sugar and orange peel in a bowl. Let macerate overnight.
  2. In a saucepan, add macerated cranberries with orange juice and salt. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce thickens and cranberries pop.
  3. Remove from heat and mix in pomegranate seeds.

Clean Your House for Guests

Preparing your home for holiday guests can be daunting, but Everclear is here to help. Its potent disinfectant properties can be harnessed for creating DIY cleaning solutions that leave your home sparkling and fresh. From sanitizing countertops to reviving dingy glassware, Everclear-based cleaning solutions are effective and eco-friendly, ensuring your home is a welcoming and pristine haven for your loved ones. It also helps to eliminate the smell of cannabis, too.

Create Thoughtful Gifts

The creative uses of Everclear can bring a delightful and personal touch to your Christmas presents. Consider gifting homemade liqueurs, flavored extracts or even handcrafted cocktail kits featuring your favorite Everclear-based concoctions. The pinch of effort and a sprinkling of love you’ll put into creating these thoughtful gifts will surely warm the hearts of your recipients, making the holidays feel even more special. Get some inspiration here.

PHOTO Everclear

Everclear Odor-Fighting Spray

One of the most straightforward and efficient ways to neutralize cannabis odors is by making an Everclear spray. You’ll need a spray bottle, Everclear (preferably 190 proof) and water. Mix equal parts of Everclear and water in the spray bottle, shake it well and you have a powerful, odor-fighting solution at your disposal. Everclear will eliminate persistent cannabis scents from your home thanks to its high alcohol content, which acts as a potent deodorizing agent. 

Create Thoughtful Gifts

Everclear can bring a delightful and personal touch to your Christmas presents. Consider gifting homemade liqueurs, flavored extracts or even handcrafted cocktail kits featuring your favorite Everclear-based concoctions. The pinch of effort and a sprinkling of love you’ll put into creating these thoughtful gifts will surely warm the hearts of your recipients, making the holidays feel even more special. Get some inspiration here.

Cannabis tinctures
PHOTO yanadjan

Produce Effective Tinctures

Tinctures have been used for centuries to extract the beneficial properties of herbs and spices—and Everclear makes the ideal base. Cannabis tinctures are traditionally made with food-grade, high-proof grain alcohol to remove terpenes and cannabinoids from the plant’s foliage. With a concentration of 95% alcohol by volume (190 proof) and 75.5% (151 proof), Everclear is one of the best choices for making tinctures. That’s because the higher the alcohol percentage, the more effectively it dissolves the plant’s compounds—resulting in a more efficacious end product. Ed Rosenthal has an easy-to-follow technique for making tinctures you can read here.

Elevate Your Cocktails

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a proper old-fashioned toast to good times. Everclear can be your secret weapon for crafting signature cocktails to impress your guests. From vibrant fruit punches to festive flavors, the high proof of this grain alcohol allows you to create bold libations that will add joy to your celebrations. And of course, you can always add a drop or two of your cannabis tincture if you prefer.

Holiday Highball Recipe

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Combine Fall Flavors Infusion and club soda in a highball glass full of ice
  2. Stir briefly
  3. Garnish with both apple slices

This Christmas, let Everclear be your versatile holiday helper. The creative uses are endless!

PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Everclear® Grain Alcohol is 75.5%-95% Alc./Vol. (120-190 Proof), ©2023 Luxco®, Inc., St. Louis, MO.

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The AV2 Roller Brings Industrial Precision to Infused Pre-Rolls

22 November 2025 at 14:12

Infused pre-rolls are shaping today’s cannabis retail market as consumers gravitate toward stronger, more flavorful options. In California, it’s reported that from December 2024 through February 2025, cannabis sales reached about $1.1 billion, with infused prerolls accounting for 66.3% of all pre-roll sales totaling $178.1 million.

This surge in demand has also exposed a major production gap. Many manufacturers still finish infused pre-rolls by hand, brushing on oil and applying kief in labor-intensive batches that slow output and introduce quality issues. AV2, a California-based engineering company, set out to solve that problem.

The company’s flagship innovation, the AV2 Roller, is the first automation system built specifically for coating and infusion in cannabis production. The AV2 Roller replaces manual finishing work with precise, repeatable automation, helping brands produce faster, cleaner and more uniform products.

the LALA pre-roll machine

Engineering Built for Cannabis

AV2 was founded with a clear purpose: to solve the operational headaches holding cannabis producers back. The founders saw manufacturers working with repurposed machinery that couldn’t keep pace with demand or compliance standards. Drawing on industrial engineering expertise, they began designing purpose-built systems that deliver the precision, reliability and scalability modern cannabis manufacturing requires.

Unlike many systems that borrow from food or pharmaceutical machinery, AV2’s equipment is designed from the ground up for cannabis. Built from industrial-grade components, the AV2 Roller handles sticky, resin-rich materials without clogging or downtime. Every function, from temperature control to coating thickness, is calibrated to how cannabis actually behaves. This is cannabis machinery in the truest sense: professional-grade, purpose-built and engineered to meet the industry’s evolving demands for consistency and scalability.

Elevating Cannabis Production

At its core, the AV2 Roller automates one of the most labor-intensive steps in the production of infused pre-roll. The system applies cannabis oil or food-safe adhesive evenly across cones, straights, or blunts, creating a perfectly uniform surface for kief or other coatings.

The entire process takes about 2.5 seconds per pre-roll, producing 4,500 – 7,000 units per hour, depending on operator and speed. By comparison, a manual finishing team might produce one-tenth of that volume. The difference is more than speed: it’s accuracy. The AV2 Roller eliminates uneven application, wasted material and batch-to-batch variability.

Key Benefits for Cannabis Manufacturers

  • Labor Cost Reduction: Each AV2 Roller replaces large manual finishing crews. With just two employees per system, manufacturers can reallocate skilled staff to product development or packaging, reducing overhead and streamlining operations.
  • Increased Output and Capacity: Running at high speed, the machine completes 4500 – 7,000 pre-rolls an hour (again, depending on the operator and speed), keeping production ahead of sales growth. That efficiency gives brands room to scale without expanding facilities or staff.
  • Reduced Variability: Precision coating ensures each pre-roll receives the same amount of oil or adhesive. The result is improved product quality, better burn performance and fewer rejected units—key advantages in a market built on reliability.

  • Infinite Scalability: With a compact footprint and accessible pricing, the AV2 Roller allows operators to expand at their own pace. Adding additional systems multiplies capacity without requiring major capital investment or facility redesign.

The machine was designed to meet the strict regulatory environment unique to cannabis manufacturing. AV2 engineered the AV2 Roller to help producers stay compliant while maintaining speed and accuracy.

AV2 approaches its work as an engineering partner, not a vendor. Each installation begins with a consultation to understand the client’s specific workflow and product mix. The company provides complete training, on-site setup and ongoing service to ensure each system continues to perform as intended.

That partnership approach reflects AV2’s philosophy: long-term collaboration over one-time sales. The goal is to build equipment that scales with a customer’s growth, whether that’s a boutique producer with a single facility or a multi-state operator managing a network of sites.

AV2 positions itself as the connection point between industrial-grade engineering and cannabis culture. The company combines the precision of advanced manufacturing with a deep respect for the craft and community that built the industry. Its machines bring global production standards to cannabis without sacrificing the creativity that defines the space.

Setting the New Standard for a Rapidly Evolving Market

The cannabis landscape is changing faster than ever. New products, new regulations and new consumer expectations are reshaping how companies produce and compete. The AV2 Roller helps manufacturers meet that change head-on. It provides the precision, reliability and throughput necessary to succeed in an increasingly professionalized market.

AV2’s message is simple: innovation is no longer optional. Brands that invest in automation built for cannabis, not just adapted from other industries, are the ones that will thrive.

The AV2 Roller proves that automation can align perfectly with cannabis culture while delivering measurable business results. For producers seeking real efficiency, scalability and a strong ROI, it’s a solution built for today and ready for what comes next.

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The Discreet Stoner’s Guide to Thanksgiving

20 November 2025 at 04:51

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude… and the annual tradition of keeping your cool when Uncle Arthur brings up politics before dessert. Between dodging Aunt Linda’s “helpful” remarks about your life choices and enduring your cousin’s 17-minute explanation of their job, it’s no wonder so many people approach the holiday with a mix of excitement and existential dread. But there is another way: discreet cannabis products.

Whether it’s a low-dose gummy to keep you zen while Grandma critiques your mashed potatoes or a discreet dab to make your third helping of pumpkin pie even more delicious, we could all use a little extra holiday support. And after the last election cycle, we might all need the calming effects of weed to help us deal with our families. And let’s not forget about how anxiety-inducing holiday travel can be: flight delays, big crowds and lots of people in a hurry. Even if you’re not a stoner or regular cannabis user, you may be popping some edibles when the stress of traveling during the holidays hits. And then there are the folks out there meeting new people for the first time—like your boyfriend’s extended family. It’s exciting and dreadful all at the same time. With the help of the right discreet cannabis products, your holidays can be less stressful and more fun. Yes, please.

So, with that said, let’s explore how discreet dosing with these cannabis products can help you keep your sanity, unwind and enjoy the holidays with the whole family.

Under-The-Radar Cannabis Picks

KANHA Minis

KANHA Minis are shareable, pocket-sized chocolates that utilize minor cannabinoids and terpenes to deliver fast, targeted effects. Whether you need energy for carving the turkey, a social boost for mingling with relatives, or a chill moment to survive your crazy uncle’s usual political rant, these are sure to help. Compact, delicious and easy to share, KANHA Minis make navigating the holiday chaos a little sweeter.

High-Not

Thanksgiving is a time for indulgence—and sometimes that means overdoing it, even with cannabis. Enter High-Not, the first “THC Recovery Shot,” designed to help you quickly curb the effects of cannabis and eliminate the groggy “hangover” feeling that can linger after edibles. Developed with a licensed compounding pharmacist, High-Not combines terpenes, L-theanine, black pepper extract, limonene and electrolytes to safely and effectively ease your high.

Tyson 2.0 Modül Dok Deluxe Travel Set

If you need an extra one-two hit this holiday season, Mike Tyson’s latest partnership with Stündenglass might help you win the fight. This sleek, all-in-one handheld device can be used with dry flower and concentrates thanks to its advanced digital heating system that reaches the desired temperature in just 15 seconds. Housed in a rugged, drop-resistant case in Tyson’s signature red, the device features bold tiger graphics and connects seamlessly to the Stündenglass Gravity Hookah for ultimate versatility. With a 2.4″ color display, intuitive controls, and customizable sessions, this cutting-edge smoking tech delivers a knockout experience for cannabis lovers.

Cranberry OG by Timeless

If you need a deliciously discreet vape option for your cousin walk, grab your penjamin that’s loaded with the Cranberry OG cart by Timeless Vapes. Flavors of fresh citrus, spice and tart cranberry come from terpenes like limonene, beta-caryophyllene and alpha-pinene and deliver an uplifting and euphoric high.

Code Red Eye Drops

Thanksgiving may bring plenty of joy, but between early-morning cooking marathons, late-night family games and the annual cousin walk, your eyes can end up looking as tired as you feel. That’s where Code Red Eye Drops come in. Designed to tackle both redness and dryness fast, these eye drops are formulated specifically for the cannabis user. Get quick relief before family photos or while catching up with that aunt who insists on intense eye contact.

A Modern Twist on Traditional Cheer

If some of the crowd is 420-friendly or perhaps curious about cannabis now that it’s becoming more mainstream, these discreet products could make for good conversation starters, too. Whether you’re looking to spark creativity in the kitchen, mellow out during family gatherings, or enjoy a stress-free Black Friday, these discreet cannabis products will help you enjoy a modern twist on traditional holiday cheer this Thanksgiving.

The post The Discreet Stoner’s Guide to Thanksgiving appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Calyx Cure Solves Critical Post-Harvest Problems and Helps Growers Finish Strong

19 November 2025 at 07:20

Every grower hates this moment. You’ve done the work in the grow, everything’s dialed, and then somewhere between the curing process and the jar being opened by the customer, the nose softens, color fades, and the scale trends the wrong way. Post-harvest is where great flower can quietly lose its edge – and with it, valuable weight and terpenes that drive aroma, potency, and price integrity.

For cannabis cultivators, this phase represents a critical and costly challenge. Without proper atmosphere control during the cure, moisture escapes, leading to overall weight loss. At the same time, volatile terpene compounds degrade quickly without the right barriers and anti-absorption technology, diminishing the final product’s flavor and entourage profile.

Drying and curing are critical and costly for cannabis cultivators. Lack of atmospheric control causes weight loss, while inadequate barriers lead to rapid terpene degradation, harming flavor and entourage.

Innovation Driven by Industry Needs

Calyx Containers, long known for its packaging innovations, built Calyx Cure to solve these problems at the source. The flat-bottom curing pouch stabilizes humidity and oxygen, resists terpene absorption, limits UV rays, and reduces static so trichomes stay on the bud instead of the bag.

The Science of a Better Cure

In partnership with the Cannabis Research Coalition, Calyx Cure was tested in a 60/60 environment without active humidification. The results were striking: Calyx Cure maintained a tighter, higher water-activity band than commodity bags, leading to better weight outcomes while retaining a higher amount of key monoterpenes like limonene compared to competitive products as well as the standard turkey bags.

That environment stability translated into practical advantages: more repeatable cures, less dry-down, and a nose that holds longer on the shelf. The study also showed a consistent, predictable relationship between moisture content and water activity under Calyx conditions – simplifying QC workflows and reducing variability.

The Nine Layers of Innovation

Each layer of the Calyx Cure pouch performs a precise role in protecting product integrity:

  • Layer 9: A rugged outer shell that resists punctures and warehouse abrasion.
  • Layer 8: UV filtration that shields cannabinoids and color like sunglasses for your flower.
  • Layer 7: Reinforced micro-strands for puncture resistance against stems and corners.
  • Layer 6: A dense oxygen barrier that slows oxidation and preserves potency.
  • Layer 5: A modified-atmosphere membrane that self-balances CO₂ and O₂ for ideal cure conditions.
  • Layer 4: Moisture-control tech that keeps humidity in the sweet spot – no extra packs required.
  • Layer 3: Terpene-lock barrier that prevents aromatic oils from escaping during storage or transit.
  • Layer 2: Anti-static discharge protection that keeps trichomes on the flower, not stuck to the film.
  • Layer 1: Food-safe contact layer that’s non-leaching, neutral, and taste-free.

Together, these layers form a self-regulating microclimate that protects your crop through every stage of post-harvest handling.

Results That Show Up Where It Matters

Operators notice the benefits immediately. Weight stays closer to target, aroma carries from seal to sale, maintaining terp-forward character and supporting premium pricing for the maximum amount of product. The pouch stands open for quick loading, resists pallet rub, and locks out odor and light – built for real cultivation environments, not just lab conditions.

Economics That Add Up

The math is simple: retain more weight in cure, have more weight to sell. Even a 2–3% improvement in retained moisture multiplied by your wholesale dollars per gram can translate into significant annual gains. Add the value of terpene retention and longer shelf life, and Calyx Cure often pays for itself within just a few turns.

Your Partner in Cultivation

As markets tighten and regulations shift, the clearest lever for success remains the flower itself – and how it finishes. The last container a bud touches can protect that finish or erode it. Calyx Cure is built to protect it – turning a vulnerable post-harvest phase into a controlled, repeatable advantage.

The post Calyx Cure Solves Critical Post-Harvest Problems and Helps Growers Finish Strong appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Event Recap: Business of Cannabis NY 2025

18 November 2025 at 16:59

The Business of Cannabis: New York Summit took place earlier this month on November 6 at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, New York. The crowd was composed of dispensary owners, growers, legal experts, marketing professionals, educators and brand leaders. The historic brick-walled space overlooking the East River was filled with conversation, cautious optimism, and shared curiosity about what the next chapter of New York’s legal cannabis market might bring.

The energy in the room was shaped by the industry’s complex moment. New York’s cannabis market has expanded rapidly since legalization, but the state’s industry has also been confronted with major challenges, including delayed licensing and confusion within the Office of Cannabis Management. For many entrepreneurs and advocates who gathered at the summit, the recent election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was viewed as the biggest variable in what might come next.

The Cannabis-Friendly Mayor

During a candidate debate, Mamdani was asked, “Have you ever purchased anything in a cannabis shop, and what did you buy?”

“I have, I have purchased marijuana at a legal cannabis shop,” Mamdani replied with a chuckle.

Laughter was heard from the audience at the debate, but the comment was received differently within the cannabis industry. Mamdani’s admission was regarded as more than a humorous moment; it was seen as a rare display of candor by an elected official when addressing cannabis. His words were quickly circulated across industry circles and social media feeds, prompting discussions about the type of administration he might lead and how open he might be to engaging with those who have built the city’s legal market from the ground up.

In the days following the election, curiosity was replaced by a mix of excitement and anxiety. Operators, brand founders and policy advocates questioned whether the new mayor might signal a more collaborative approach to regulation and enforcement.

The Mamdani Effect

When Mamdani’s potential impact on the New York market was discussed, CuraLeaf’s executive vice president and regional leader Robert Sciarrone offered his view. “It’s too early to tell in New York, to see what the new mayor is going to do here,” Sciarrone said. “I’m just happy to hear that he visited a shop in New York during the debates.”

Sciarrone’s remarks were met with nods and agreement from attendees. For many, the comment served as a reminder that even small signs of understanding from elected officials carry importance. A mayor who has stepped inside a licensed cannabis store, observed its operations, and spoken with its staff may have developed a deeper appreciation for the work behind compliance and community impact.

Rather than focusing on uncertainty, Sciarrone encouraged the community to take initiative and advocate whenever possible. “Like any regime change, everybody is on a menu for a hot topic for them to bite down on. It’s our responsibility as operators in the state to get out in front of it and have conversations with Mamdani and make sure he understands that we are fighting for our business. All we can do is hope he listens. I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but all I know is we have to talk about it or else…we’re on a menu. We’ve to get out there with urgency and have a good conversation.”

Taking Action

His call to action was echoed throughout the event. In smaller breakout sessions and hallway discussions, strategies were developed. Some participants concentrated on job creation, SKU analysis and tax revenue, while others discussed strategies for engagement with the Office of Cannabis Management. Many operators spoke about the need to humanize their stories so that the mayor and his team could better understand that behind every dispensary counter and cultivation license are individuals building legitimate businesses after years of prohibition. Above all, concern was expressed about the hemp market and the impact of illegal markets on cannabis. The event took place just days ahead of President Trump’s signing of the new federal budget bill, which bans hemp-derived THC and will surely bring additional challenges for those working in the hemp consumables space.

The Wythe’s atmosphere was described as a crossroads between celebration and vigilance. Attendees congratulated one another for surviving the turbulence of recent years but repeatedly returned to a shared theme: the urgent need for city and state cannabis operators in New York to form a cohesive coalition. The absence of such a coalition within the state was described as one of the most harmful issues facing the market today, hindering collaboration and collective political negotiation. A sense prevailed that New York’s cannabis market might either fragment or flourish depending on its engagement with new political leadership.

Collaboration Between Competitors

As the day concluded, sunlight streamed through the tall industrial windows, and attention shifted toward next steps. Contact information was exchanged, working groups were organized, and commitments were made to attend future events such as the upcoming MJBizCon in Las Vegas.

For those in attendance of the Business of Cannabis event, the takeaway was clear: New York’s cannabis industry cannot wait for clarity from above. Messaging must be created that both challenges and educates. The future of the market will depend not only on new regulations, but also on relationships, persistence and the willingness to continue discussions even when outcomes remain uncertain.

The post Event Recap: Business of Cannabis NY 2025 appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Guardians of Ganja: The Cannabis Insurance Company Covering Your Grass 

17 November 2025 at 07:20

Even though the American cannabis industry became a multi-billion-dollar industry years ago, a decent number of insurance companies are still hesitant to work with cannabis businesses. Whether it’s due to the federally prohibited status surrounding cannabis or certain internal policies among the larger insurance providers that dictate which risks will be insured, the process of finding a quality and reliable insurance provider for licensed cannabis businesses can be quite arduous.   

Especially with the multimillion-dollar cultivation and manufacturing operation setups and subsequent wholesale transactions that are equally lucrative and costly, having dedicated and thorough insurance policies in place is now beyond necessity.       

Luckily for those cannabis businesses, Guardians of Ganja is a top-tier insurance agency with a memorable name whose operations and robust policies are created and tailored specifically to the very necessary and precise requirements of those cannabis businesses.   

“One of the best things about cannabis is its ability to free your mind from the constraints of life,” says Jason Ascheman, co-owner of the agency solely focused on the cannabis industry. “After some research, we found the industry was grossly underserved. Guardians of Ganja started with the desire to find something no one else was doing, something that was equally unique, challenging and something that we wholeheartedly believe in.” 

The agency’s primary location of Billings, Montana, is certainly a preferable one from both a cannabis and agricultural standpoint. The state legalized adult-use cannabis back in 2020 (for a second time) and has had a vibrant adult-use market for well over 3 years, surpassing $1 billion in total sales at the end of 2024. Similarly, the state’s agricultural industry is nothing short of massive, being a major producer of cattle and several varieties of wheat.   

Dalton Knutson, co-founder of Guardians of Ganja, meets with a client called White Pine, based in Helena, Mont.

A Specialty Cannabis Insurance Company 

Prior to entering the insurance industry, Guardians of Ganja’s second co-owner, Dalton Knutson, held a variety of interesting and honorable positions, including everything from selling solar panels to bravely serving as a firefighter. Unfortunately, his diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease from his childhood worsened, and after major surgery, he had to resign from his role as a firefighter.    

“But it was after this that my belief in cannabis became stronger, the more I experimented with different treatment methods,” Knutson says. “It became something I wholeheartedly believed in and supported.” 

Knutson soon teamed up with Ascheman, who has over 8 years of experience in the insurance industry. While they both share a passion for the plant, Ascheman’s hands-on insurance experience combined with Knutson’s entrepreneurial and service-oriented nature gave them an edge. “We both realized the market was underserved,” Knutson explains, expressing how they truly have a desire to help cannabis-related companies protect what they have built.  

With the clever tagline of “Covering Your Grass for a Greener Tomorrow”, the services offered by Guardians of Ganja include policies that have been uniquely designed for every different plant-touching sector of the cannabis industry, along with ancillary businesses—everything from cultivation to manufacturing to retail to vital testing labs, even Lessors Risk policies for landlords with cannabis exposures. From the intricacies and detailed coverage options provided by their policies, it’s clear that the team at Guardians of Ganja has several years of experience working directly in this nascent yet heavily regulated industry. 

With liability coverages alone, so many common circumstances and situations that arise in compliant cannabis operations would be insured. A full spectrum of services is offered, from general liability to product liability and the very crucial professional liability.  

Guardians of Ganja cannabis insurance team meeting with a dispensary
Meeting with Nature’s Fix dispensary out of Billings, Mont.

What’s Covered by Guardians of Ganja 

Some other very worthwhile sectors of successful cannabis operations covered through Guardian of Ganja’s policies are product deliveries of all varieties, as well as the transportation vehicles themselves. All types of deliveries, from individual home deliveries to large-scale deliveries, from cultivation facilities to dispensaries. Given how heavily monitored and documented every single cannabis delivery is via platforms like METRC by state regulators, regardless of size, the Guardians of Ganja team ensures that every element of the delivery process is diligently insured is of utmost importance.     

Even crop insurance—a vital safeguard that protects farmers’ investments from unexpected disasters—is available through Guardians of Ganja. Every single stage in the cultivation process is covered, from vegetation and harvest to the pivotal drying and curing stages.     

“We pride ourselves in creating personal connections and relationships with our clients to not only be their agent, but a trusted confidant and partner that has their best interest at heart,” Knutson says with pride.  

As the American cannabis industry evolves and expands at a more rapid pace than just about any other industry, the experienced team at Guardians of Ganja is committed to staying up to date on all those constant changes.   

“Along with this, we are continuously educating ourselves on the intricacies of the industry to ensure our recommendations are well-informed and knowledge-based. It’s our belief that putting the needs of the clients over anything else is always a win in the end,” Knutson explains. “To sum things up, GOG means so much more than just insurance. It’s real people with real experiences with cannabis that want to genuinely make a difference both personally and business-wise.” 

The post Guardians of Ganja: The Cannabis Insurance Company Covering Your Grass  appeared first on Cannabis Now.

InTrack CFO Delivers Trusted Financial Services for Cannabis Businesses

12 November 2025 at 03:27

Tired of feeling like getting a handle on your cannabis company’s finances is the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest? You’re not alone. Due to a complex array of factors, the challenges of keeping your books balanced, taxes filed and timely questions answered can often be quite substantial. That’s where InTrack CFO can make a mountain of difference with tailored solutions for all types of cannabis businesses.

Think of InTrack like a ski-lift you can safely ride instead of attempting to trek up any treacherous slopes on your own. Combining convenience and consistency with readily available expert advice, InTrack CFO is here to help turn your stress into peace of mind.

Meet The Experts

Operating a successful cannabis business comes with the challenge of trying to learn the ropes in what can feel like a thousand separate fields.

Depending on the focus of your company, that may include required expertise in everything from botany to security systems. Various businesses can also require a deep knowledge of chemistry, cutting-edge technologies, farming equipment, transportation systems and a host of other vital subjects.

That’s why InTrack is staffed by experts familiar with cannabis-specific accounting needs like 280E tax mitigation as well as matters of cannabis compliance, tax strategy and business scaling solutions. In contrast to general CPAs, InTrack’s deep focus on the cannabis industry means you’ll never be more than a phone call away from helpful answers your urgent, cannabis-specific accounting questions.

Rather than adding the headache of having to master the various elements of effective financial upkeep to your to-dos, scratch it off the list by signing up for InTrack CFO’s suite of services. Services include accurate tax calculations and up-to-date bookkeeping—all provided by responsive, reliable accountants who have your back. Plus, their clients’ books are always audit-ready, investor-ready, and lender-ready, meaning no scrambling and no surprises.

Take comfort knowing InTrackCFO’s boutique CPA and CFO advisory firm exclusively serves clients from the cannabis sector. This isn’t their side job or a bonus hustle—they’re proud to specialize exclusively in cannabis finance.

Cracking The Code

InTrackCFO knows critical elements of the IRS code such as 280E inside and out and is prepared to pursue legal reductions in tax burdens for their clients. Along the way, you’ll find that their friendly team is always fast to respond and eager to explain financial concepts to ensure you never feel lost or left behind. Have a question? Just call!

“There are a lot of firms out there that might advertise these services, yet they ultimately let folks down,” InTrack CPA Cameron McKenney acknowledges. “At InTrack, we have a proven track record of helping operators to save millions in taxes through smart structuring and planning.”

What does peace of mind look like? It starts with InTrack’s qualified team producing investor- and audit-ready books every month, giving operators the financial clarity needed for a thriving, sustainable future. It also includes their responsive staff of experts who understand urgent answers to crucial queries can’t wait. Much of InTrack’s model stems from their dedication to being perceived by clients as long-term partners—an outsourced CFO, so to speak—rather than just a service provider.

In fact, many of their current clients initially came to them after suffering through frustrating experiences with unresponsive or inexperienced accountants.

“Many people come to us with books that need to be cleaned and fixed—multiple years’ worth of stuff— taxes need to be refiled, it’s a mess,” McKenney added.

While it’s always an unfortunate situation to endure, InTrack CFO has a sterling track record of helping clients to tidy up messy books, fix past mistakes, and replace broken systems with streamlined, effective solutions.

“Thanks to our deep focus on the industry and experience working specifically with cannabis operators, we know how to help, whether it’s 280E tax mitigation, cannabis specific compliance stuff, tax strategy, or scaling the business,” McKenney confirmed.

InTrack’s goal is simple: to provide clients with frictionless financial upkeep that makes things feel manageable, not overwhelming.

Ready to see how easy it can be? Visit intrackcfo.com today and experience the bliss of knowing your businesses can go back to focusing on what it does best.

The post InTrack CFO Delivers Trusted Financial Services for Cannabis Businesses appeared first on Cannabis Now.

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