Author: News Room

By Andy Rosenblatt John West Thatcher is not your average, run-of-the-mill, depraved, weird, long-haired, hippie drug smuggler. For starters, Thatcher doesn’t drink, curse or smoke. Not even cigarettes. He’s a God-fearing, born-again Christian who eats lunch at his unpretentious desk, wets his hair and combs it straight back, works six days a week and goes to church on the seventh. He’s also a Kiwanis Club member, Davidson College trustee, retired lieutenant colonel and chairman of the Miami chapter of Youth for Christ. With a cover like that, who would ever suspect that Thatcher is the number one cocaine importer in…

As the first hints of spring bring warming temperatures and longer days, the hardy crop of home growers who cultivate their weed in outdoor gardens begins a growing season that won’t culminate until autumn, when sticky, dank buds are ready to be harvested and cured. Although the process is steeped in tradition and lore, growing quality herb is within the ability of most home gardeners, even novices. With a little knowledge, work, and a sunny spot outside, your first crop of homegrown bud could be just months away. One of the first decisions to make at the beginning of the…

Everyone has a favorite snack. It’s usually a chip with a delightful crunch and a one-of-a-kind flavor punch that satisfies every fiber of your being as you settle in for your favorite leisurely activity. As cannabis edibles continue to walk on the savory side, few brands have perfected the art of the cannabis-infused chip quite like TSUMo Snacks. In a bite-sized summary, TSUMo’s crunchy infused chips are thoroughly coated in seasonings that inspire nostalgic memories while getting you lifted. Co-founder and CEO Caroline Yeh spent a decade in traditional consumer packaged goods, before moving into the cannabis industry with Bloom…

The feature film American Pot Story: Oaksterdam will have its Hollywood premiere on Thursday, June 29 at the Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles, with festivities planned for the event including an appearance from weed icon Tommy Chong and a Q&A with the film’s directors, Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus. The premiere continues a successful string of screenings for the film about the cannabis legalization efforts of Oakland-based cannabis training school Oaksterdam University, including the world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in January that garnered the prestigious Audience Award for Unstoppable Feature. American Pot Story: Oaksterdam follows two…

As American hemp farmers struggle to accurately sex plants and prevent their crops from going hot—going over the potency definition of what makes the plants hemp or 0.3% THC on a dry-weight basis—technology is improving to make these tasks a little easier. With the help of some of the top minds at Texas A&M University, Louisiana-based Mariposa Technology has created a digital farming tool for hemp and marijuana farmers using a database and software that allows them to test their crops at any stage of the growing season without having to cut any samples. Using a small laser-operated spectroscopy tool,…

This past weekend Puffco celebrated their 10 year anniversary, commemorating a decade evolving the hash consumption space. From humble beginnings to developing the industry-leading electronic rig experience, a lot has changed since 2013, not just for Puffco, but for the community at large.  You see, back in the day, hash culture was a much less vibrant and public community than it’s become today. Grown in the shadows out of fear of increased repercussions due to the manufactured and potent nature of the substance, when Puffco was founded as much of the game was about discretion as it was function. I…

President Joe Biden is “very open-minded” about the use of psychedelic medicines to treat addiction, his younger brother says. During a call-in to “The Michael Smerconish Program” on SiriusXM on Wednesday, Frank Biden spoke about his own interest in psychedelics, which he researched as a recovering alcoholic investigating the root causes of addiction. And he said substances like ketamine, LSD and ayahuasca have shown “magnificent results” in treating mental health conditions like depression that can cause people to drink. “There’s lots of empirical evidence around it—that trauma is the root cause of all addiction,” he said. “With that said, let’s…

As a North Carolina Senate-passed medical marijuana legalization bill hangs in the balance in the House, the GOP Senate sponsor is taking a novel approach to pressure the opposite chamber to act by holding an unrelated piece of legislation hostage. House Speaker Tim Moore (R) confirmed recently that there’s a lack of consensus around the medical cannabis measure, SB 3, in his caucus and said “it will not come up for a vote” unless a majority of Republican members in his chamber indicate they support it. But Sen. Bill Rabon (R), who has consistently fought for the reform over recent…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, says that he would legalize marijuana and psychedelics if elected to the White House—and he’d tax both substances, using revenue to create “healing centers” where people recovering from drug addiction could learn organic farming as a therapeutic tool. He also voiced support for freeing up banking services for the cannabis industry. The candidate’s position on drug policy reform had been vague around the time he entered the race—but it’s quickly come into sharp focus as he promotes progressive policies that in some cases go well beyond that of incumbent President Joe…

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and its players union have officially signed a collective bargaining agreement that removes marijuana from the league’s banned substances list and lays out rules allowing players to invest in and promote cannabis brands—with certain exceptions. About two months after NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) reached an agreement on the seven-year contract, it has now been signed and enters into force this weekend. The 676-page document contains a number of cannabis provisions—though arguably the most impactful is the removal of marijuana from the list of prohibited substances for players. Players will also be allowed…