Growers generally create cannabis strains by breeding varieties based on their terpene profiles, which affect their psychoactive properties and drive consumer preference. Terpene profiles influence effects such as energy levels and mental clarity. 

Below are suggested strains to pair with some of your favorite activities. 

Head Out for a Night on the Town

Super Silver Haze is an excellent choice for a night out on the town.  Users report this strain will enhance your experiences by giving you an energy boost and a body buzz while reducing your weekday stress and social anxiety. 

Users say another benefit of Super Silver Haze is the enhancement of your senses. The club lights will be breathtaking, drinks taste better, and the music immerses you. This is the strain to use before starting an unforgettable night out.

Exercise

Mixing cannabis and exercise has been increasing in popularity. There are even gyms that promote the practice. pairing exercise with cannabis. The popular Durban Poison strain will likely give you bursts of energy, help you feel clearheaded, and may increase your productivity. This strain is also a popular exercise enhancer because users say it reduces fatigue and boosts motivation. 

“The majority of participants who endorsed using cannabis shortly before/after exercise reported that doing so enhances their enjoyment of and recovery from exercise, and approximately half reported that it increases their motivation to exercise,” according to a study published in Frontiers in Public Health.

Watch a Documentary

If you want a relaxing evening in front of the TV, Cereal Milk may be exactly what you are looking for. Users say this strain will calm your daily stresses while soothing your body and mind. This strain is also known to improve focus, allowing you to absorb information thoughtfully.

Laugh at a Comedy Show

One of the pronounced effects of the Tropicana Cookies strain is that it has been known to cause fits of giggles — which is why it’s an excellent option when seeing a comedian or attending an improv show. Users report this strain also increases your energy while letting you stay focused and level-headed. Because the strain is also a social enhancer, it can make a comedy show with friends even more enjoyable. 

Read a Book

There’s no better way to spend a moody evening than with a cozy blanket, a thrilling book, and some cannabis to immerse yourself in the story fully. Gelato may be just the strain for this scenario. Users say Gelato increases your focus, improves mood, relieves stress, and allows your imagination to jump into whatever adventure you are reading. 

Go on a Date

Something as special as blossoming love requires the Unicorn Poop strain. This hybrid strain is perfect for date night because many say it improves conversation, gives you a small bout of giggles, and gently puts your body and mind into a euphoric state.

Cheer on Your Team at a Sporting Event

Sporting events are known for their ice-cold beers, cheering fans, and high energy. The Lemon Cake OG is an excellent addition to your game day checklist. This strain will likely give you all the energy needed to cheer your team to a win. The stimulating buzz accompanying this strain will invigorate your body and mind, adding to the excitement of the competition. While it doesn’t guarantee a win for your team, it can offer fans an exciting experience.

Whatever your plans, consider using a special strain to get you in the right mood to experience each activity to the fullest!

Enter: The wedding cannabis bar.

Anecdotal reports from recreationally-legal cannabis states show that many couples offer their guests cannabis. This can be instead of, or in addition to, the traditional open bar featuring beer, wine, and liquor.

“It grows exponentially each year,” Cat Goldberg, the founder of WeedBar in Los Angeles, told a reporter from Nexstar Media. “People are going to events where they see that people are using cannabis and not drinking alcohol, and they’re like, ‘I want this energy at my wedding.’”

But what exactly is a cannabis bar? What should it offer to keep a party light and energized? How do you find a budtender and ensure you’re going about the whole thing legally? Let’s dive in.

What is a cannabis bar?

A cannabis bar is precisely what it sounds like: A bar area in an event setting that offers legal cannabis products to consenting adults. However, don’t just think of a messy table with a bunch of weed haphazardly strewn across it. Think elegantly rolled joints, delicious infused hors d’oeuvres, decadent desert edibles, and clearly labeled concentrates with high-end hardware for consumption.

What strains of cannabis should I offer to ensure people aren’t falling asleep on the dancefloor?

First, hire a DJ that’ll energize the crowd throughout the night. Once you’ve got that down, start thinking about strains. While it’s easy to think “sativa” since it’s the type of cannabis best known for keeping people energized and creative, many people experience anxiety on pure sativas.

You’ll want to go to a cannabis retail store and talk to a budtender about good hybrids that provide an uplifting but balanced high. 

You can even make sure you have different options and have fun with the theme. Many strains that fall into this category have names easily tied into a wedding event. Think Wedding Cake, which provides euphoria while calming the mind and body. Purple Champagne, another apt choice, is a sativa-dominant hybrid strain that users at the authoritative Leafly database rank as uplifting and energetic.

Where should I get my edibles?

Every major metropolitan area with legal adult-use cannabis should have a licensed bakery specializing in cannabis-infused goods. Google is your friend here. But the keyword is “licensed.” You want to check that you’re providing your guests legal goodies, and that they’re not going to make anybody sick due to poor kitchen practices.

How much cannabis do I need?

One gram of cannabis is the standard for a traditional joint. That means there are 28 joints in an ounce of cannabis. Assume that most of your guests will share those joints and that, unless you know your friends are true stoners, one joint is enough to get two to three people high. Also, assume that not all of your guests will consume. Planning for one gram of cannabis per guest will likely leave enough for post-honeymoon leftovers (because traveling with cannabis is dangerous).

Pro-tip: Ask for very low-dose edibles (2.5mg should do) to prevent overconsumption.

I need somebody to roll these joints — and a budtender. Help!

Rolling 100 joints is no fun. It would be best if you had somebody who can knowledgeably serve your guests at your wedding so you can focus on the important stuff — like saying your vows.

That’s where you want to bring in a professional. Companies like Weedbar in Los Angeles and Love and Marij in Colorado know local laws and will help you get set up safely and legally.

There’s also a traveling Cannabis Wedding Expo that brings together engaged couples, cannabis brands, and wedding planners to potentially work together.

There are ways to do this yourself without the help of an expert, but cannabis law is complicated and fragmented state by state. For example, a location with a liquor license, like a wedding venue, may not be permitted to host a cannabis bar according to your state’s law. You may need to set up a separate tent on the grounds.

So to avoid risking potential legal action or a lawsuit by an attendee who accidentally consumed too much weed, seek out an experienced company. An established company can mitigate risk and work out the details with your wedding venue, which is likely not used to hosting 420-friendly events. 

Also: Congratulations!

Despite its name being inspired by “Comic-Con,” CannaCon is all about business. The self-proclaimed “nation’s leading B2B cannabis conference” launched in 2014, drawing 6,000 attendees, according to CannaCon founder Bob Smart.

Expect hundreds of exhibitors, including media outlets, advisory firms, lighting companies, and manufacturers. Plan on hitting up seminars with titles like “The Future of Plant-Based Medicine,” “Improving the Customer Experience at Retail,” and “Pheno Hunt: How to Bag the Big One.”

Expect a safe space, no matter your cannabis knowledge level. And there will be no apparent consumption on site.

“CannaCon is a business show—a safe niche,” Smart said in a 2017 interview. “We made a space where any business guy who’s not in the industry can show up, walk around and feel comfortable. 

But it’s not all business. The professional weed party promoters at Sensi Magazine’s official after-parties are legendary in the industry. And if you can’t get into that event (there could be a line around the block, even if you have a ticket), have no fear. There are typically plenty of unofficial after-parties planned around the event too.

The event is big business itself, taking advantage of the rollback of COVID-19 restrictions with seven events plotted out so far for 2022 and 2023 and thousands of expected attendees.

CannaCon breaks its events out roughly by region and mostly sticks to legal adult-use cannabis states, with Mississippi being its sole exception. The Magnolia State is the newest medical state in the U.S., though there are no dispensaries currently open.

Here are the currently scheduled CannaCons nationwide—no West Coast dates have been announced.

2022

• Denver (West), Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25, at the Denver Convention Center at 700 14th St.
• Richmond, Virginia (South), Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center at 403 N. 3rd St.

2023

• Biloxi, Mississippi (South), Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum at 2350 Beach Blvd.
• Oklahoma City (South), Friday and Saturday, March 31-April 1, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center at 100 Mick Cornett Drive.
• Albuquerque, New Mexico (West), Friday and Saturday, May 19-20, at the Albuquerque Convention Center at 401 2nd St. NW.

If you’re a business owner, know that the program was designed with your needs front of mind—“from seed to seed money,” as the company says in its promotional material.

CannaCon calls itself “a one-stop shop for all of your cannabis business needs” and touts its events as an opportunity to “network with like-minded entrepreneurs who are also building a bold, new industry.”

Tickets range in price from $50 for a one-day pass to the expo, to $110 for a one-day pass that includes the seminars. A two-day pass is either $80 or $160, depending on whether you plan on attending the seminars.

So, put on your best casual outfit (remember this is cannabis—even “business casual” might be too dressy for this crowd). Then, pop an edible, and get ready to rub elbows with some of the biggest, brightest names in cannabis—and take home a lot of swag.

By Rebecca Olmos | TheCannifornian.com Correspondent

April 20th is the annual day to celebrate and honor all things cannabis. The term 420 was coined back in the 1970s by a group of teenage boys in San Rafael, CA. The group called themselves the Waldos and would meet up after school each day at 4:20 pm to spark up before going on an adventure.

Over 50 years later, people still celebrate all over the world. If you and your fellow cannabis enthusiasts friends are looking for fun ways to celebrate this year, here are a few places to try out.

1. San Francisco Cannabis Lounges

Mask mandates are lifting, and lounges are back open! You’ll have to head over to San Francisco to find one, but they are a dope experience. You purchase your products at the counter, but you can smoke them in the designated lounge areas. Most spots offer accessories, dab rig rentals, and even live music. Make sure to check out all the lounge menus beforehand to snag the best promo offers.

• Hippie Hill in San Francisco 

This event is one of the world’s biggest cannabis celebrations. Tens of thousands of people gather at Hippie Hill every year. This year promises Berner and Mike Tyson performances, food trucks, and legal cannabis sales. This event is free to the public and will be at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. So bring your picnic blanket, shades, and session essentials for this historic annual event.

• San Francisco to Humbolt Weed Tour

What better way to experience California than on a scenic tour infused with cannabis and wine. The tour starts at Fisherman’s Wharf bright and early on 4/20 and will take you over the Golden Gate into the iconic Emerald Triangle of Mendicino. Throughout the experience, you’ll get to try some of the best vino and ganja California offers. You need to purchase tickets in advance for this event, but if you can’t make it on 4/20, the experience is available for booking throughout the year.

• Evergreen San Francisco 

Who says 4/20 only has to last one day? California is robust in cannabis history, infused events, and advocates who exude cannabis appreciate it 24/7. This year San Francisco is introducing a brand new experience: Evergreen San Francisco. The 9-day affair runs from April 16 till the 24th and will feature lounges, immersive art, hikes, comedy showers, and event speakers. You can check out the complete list of events here. 4/20 has become such a monumental day within the cannabis industry, filled with fun experiences, diverse history lessons, and many retail sales. However you choose to celebrate, please remember to consume safely!

By JACKSON GUILFOIL | jguilfoil@times-standard.com | Eureka Times-Standard
Photo: The Reggae On The River music festival could return this year, depending on the decision from the Mateel Community Center and the festival’s management team. (Times-Standard file)

After a hiatus brought on by a 2019 cancellation, then the pandemic in the subsequent years, the Mateel Community Center’s Board of Directors are discussing whether or not to bring the Reggae On The River music festival back this year.

“We’re trying to come to a consensus internally on whether or not to pursue it happening this year. Some members of the festival management team really think it’s going to happen this year, and some are more skeptical, and that is also true of our board. We try and put out a united front when we’ve come to a consensus, but we’re still debating it internally,” Shiloh Croybaker, general manager of the community center, said.

Croybaker noted he expects an announcement regarding the festival to happen “very soon.”

Reggae On The River, which began in 1984 to benefit the Mateel Tribe, had its last show in 2018. While the festival has historically provided significant benefit to the Mateel Community Center, Croybaker listed a number of issues that contributed to the festival’s decline.

“The event had lost considerable money in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and there was debate about why it was losing money, whether it was financial mismanagement, which is one public claim, or if it was declining sales or bad predictions on attendance. There’s a lot of finger-pointing about who was to blame,” Croybaker said.

2019’s festival was canceled by High Times, a cannabis-themed production company that was putting on the event that year, ending a brief partnership with the Mateel Community Center, which was financially struggling.

Part of the internal discussion over whether to hold the event focuses on how easy it will be to conjure a compelling line-up of artists this late in the year, according to John Bruno, a board member whose wife was instrumental in the festival’s creation in 1983, then putting on the first event in 1984.

“It is just lining up all the right acts to bring the musical population here to our Southern Humboldt area. We have to start advertising at the beginning of the year, and we’re already into March,” Bruno said.

Bruno added the festival’s appeal extends beyond Humboldt County, and his friends in the Bay Area are asking if the festival will happen this year.

Regardless if the event happens this year or in 2023, Croybaker noted that it will be refreshing to attend once again with the usual cast of volunteers and helpers.

“We know that our relaunch is really important and that there will be a tremendous amount of scrutiny. We know we could do it this year, but it has to be really close to perfect,” Croybaker said.

Those seeking updates on the festival may sign up at http://www.reggaeontheriver.com/.

Jackson Guilfoil can be reached at 707-441-0506.

By  ISABELLA VANDERHEIDEN | ivanderheiden@times-standard.com |

For the last year, Humboldt County’s cannabis farmers have struggled to make ends meet as the price per pound of cannabis continues to fall as a result of massive overproduction across the state.

Many agree that decreasing the costs of production and eliminating the state cultivation tax would be the quickest path to immediate relief for cannabis farmers. Some say the key is branding and developing a marketing strategy that will help secure Humboldt County’s name as a world-renowned producer of high-quality sun-grown cannabis. Further integrating the cannabis industry into the local tourism industry is yet another strategy that could uplift small farmers.

While there is no silver bullet to saving the industry, one thing is clear: The legacy must be preserved.

Leveling the playing field

The Humboldt County Growers Alliance, a trade association that represents 275 licensed cannabis businesses in Humboldt County, recently joined the Origins Council as a regional partner for state and federal cannabis advocacy. The Origins Council, which also represents the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance and the Trinity County Agriculture Alliance, is the largest membership-based cannabis advocacy organization in the state representing nearly 900 licensed cannabis businesses across California.

By unifying the three Emerald Triangle counties with other major cannabis producers across the state, Natalynne DeLapp, executive director for the HCGA, said Humboldt County will be in a better position to advocate at the state and, ultimately, federal level.

Budtenders show patients different strains of marijuana in jars at a local dispensary. (Shaun Walker/ Times-Standard)

“One of the biggest costs of production is the state cultivation tax, which is a set fixed rate that recently went up which only added insult to injury,” DeLapp said. The cultivation tax for flower per dry-weight pound will increase from $154.40 per pound to $161.28 beginning Jan. 1, 2022, according to the state Department of Tax and Fee Administration. “Sun-grown farmers that are only getting $300 a pound are being disproportionately impacted whereas indoor operators are getting a much higher rate per pound. We need to deal with that discrepancy.”

Julie Benbow, executive director of the Humboldt County Visitors Bureau, echoed DeLapp’s call for immediate tax relief. “The difficult situation right now is that the legal cannabis farmers in Humboldt County, not only have their prices tanked but they are taxed a huge amount of money per pound,” she said.

Ken Hamik, operating partner of the Ganjery cannabis dispensary in McKinleyville, chair of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Humboldt County Visitors Bureau’s marketing committee, agreed that “tax relief should be at the top of the agenda.”

“Just write them off, give the farmers a pass this year. Prices have been historically low and it’s no fault of theirs, it’s a big fault of the regulations,” he said. “We are who we are because of our small farmers. If we do not give small farmers the proper pathway to viable business, then Humboldt County is in trouble. Legacy farmers need to be protected immediately.”

Keeping the legacy alive

As the 1960s drew to a close, hippies looking to start anew headed to Humboldt County in what would later become the back-to-the-land movement. Once there, they erected little houses in the hills and many began growing cannabis. These are the people who would lay the foundation for Humboldt County’s cannabis legacy.

“Is Southern Humboldt the birthplace of American cannabis culture? I would say so,” said Rio Anderson, owner and operator of Lady Sativa Farms in Southern Humboldt. “The intellectuals that left San Francisco in the 1960s decided to create a land-based living that was anti-industrial and communal and took care of its citizens. I actually don’t think they’re really viewed as our legacy farmers. The legacy farmers that we talk about are the sons and daughters of those back-to-the-landers.”

As legacy farmers, Anderson said it is critical to keep local history intact.

“We’ve got to evolve, but we also can’t lose sight of who we are and who we were,” he said. “But we have to be real about our history and how it was in the 70s and through the 90s when it was very anti-cannabis here. That’s got to be a part of the story, too.”

To keep the legacy alive, legacy operators must be protected, DeLapp said.

“My mission is to preserve, protect and enhance Humboldt County’s world-renowned cannabis industry. Right now, we need to preserve as many of our legacy operators as possible,” she said. “We have not lost them, there are still thousands of them that have held on through this crisis, but we don’t know how many we might lose in this next year. We need to preserve as many of our legacy operators as possible because we’re not creating a new batch of them.”

DeLapp likened it to environmental conservation.

“We need to protect and ensure that our county and state policies are not detrimental to their health and habitat — I think of this like endangered species,” she said. “… We need to make sure that the habitat is conducive and not actually detrimental to their health, which is questionable at both the state and local levels. Then we need to enhance them, which means helping promote their stories, promoting their brands and it’s not just the people who are still part of the industry.”

If legacy cultivators are able to hang on, Humboldt County’s cannabis industry might have a fighting chance. “The legacy is important for the future, not the past,” Hamik said.

Integrating cannabis into local tourism

Matt Kurth, owner of Humboldt Cannabis Tours, said the best way to protect the county’s legacy is to bring people here.

“We all know that this magical place truly has to be experienced,” he said. “How do you take a photo of the Redwoods or a video of a cannabis farm just before harvest? People must be present to experience these things. Cannabis tourism is the only option for Humboldt County if we are to remain economically and culturally relevant into the future. I say this after much thought and soul searching about my motivations.”

Matt Kurth (Times-Standard file)

Kurth started Humboldt Cannabis Tours, California’s first cannabis tour company, ahead of statewide legalization in 2015. He offers tours to legal cannabis businesses across Humboldt County. To date, he’s conducted more than 400 tours with more than 1,000 guests.

“Everyone is really worried about the consequences to our community of the market continuing to collapse. They are leaning more into tourism as it provides a diverse income stream and more stability,” he said. “… We need to move away from selling pounds and shift towards selling experiences.”

Kurth envisions Humboldt County becoming the France or Napa Valley of cannabis.

 “Napa and France wine economies are heavily reliant on tourism. Wine tourism is a $5 billion industry in France and accounts for 25% of wine’s economic impact. In Napa, wine tourism contributes about $2.23 billion to their economy, that is about 30% of wine production’s impact,” he said. “A large part of what makes France France is tourism.”

Benbow agreed that cannabis tourism “has the potential to be a really strong player” in the future of the cannabis industry.

“There is quite a bit of cannabis tourism already. Humboldt Cannabis Tours, the owners of the Scotia Lodge and Humboldt Bay Social Club offer consumption at their hotels, Papa & Barkley Social is a new cannabis lounge in Eureka, there’s really a lot going on already,” she said. “…I’d say that as a major player in tourism it’s a nascent industry, but so was craft beer 10 years ago.”

Benbow also underscored the importance of Humboldt County boosting marketing efforts.

“Humboldt cannabis was a brand long before Humboldt cannabis was legal and we need to push that message forward. We’re running on fumes right now,” she said. “There some amazing farmers throughout the county and they all have incredible stories to tell. That’s what the tourists want to buy, the history and the story of it.”

Laura Lasseter, director of operations for the Southern Humboldt Business and Visitors Bureau, said her main mission “has always been tourism marketing and destination development inclusive of the cannabis industry.”

“For us, integrating cannabis and tourism is nothing new but everchanging,” she said. “We have embraced the cannabis industry with open arms and do our best to help showcase what we can with our events, external marketing and networking to help advance the integration of cannabis and tourism through our partnerships in the hospitality and tourism industry. We’re making a concerted effort to work towards destigmatizing, normalizing  cannabis with education.”

Lasseter emphasized the need to preserve the cannabis culture, heritage and legacy craft farmers that made Humboldt County world-renowned.

In addition to being an economic driver, cannabis tourism also has the potential to build bridges between industries, DeLapp added.

“There is an incredible opportunity to partner between the cannabis trade associations, the various tourism organizations, chambers of commerce and pool resources together where we’re building each other up and not tearing each other down,” she said. “It’s time for us to put some of the past behind us and to openly acknowledge that cannabis is part of the future. If we all understand that and accept that as reality, then we can really come up with different plans and strategies for how we can work together.”

By Rebecca Olmos | TheCannifornian.com Correspondent

‘Tis the season of giving, and cannabis is a great gift to receive. A recent poll revealed that 9 out of 10 cannabis users in legal states plan to incorporate weed into their holiday festivities. But before you head over to your local dispensary to shop, here are some things to consider.

1. When in doubt, it’s the thought that counts

It can be daunting enough to buy cannabis for yourself with the plethora of items available on the menu. Just remember, everyone has unique cannabis preferences, and what is for you might not be for your loved one.

You can always check out some holiday cannabis gift guides before you go. Still, a general rule of thumb is: Prerolls are always a convenient gift, chocolate and gummies are dose-able and delicious, and wellness products like bath bombs and lotions are perfect stocking stuffers. Budtender recommendation are key if you’re not sure what to choose.

Cannabis accessories are also always a safe bet. In almost all stoner stash boxes, lighters, rolling papers, rolling trays, and grinders are necessary. Some dispensaries might even offer gift cards! 

2. Keep your gifts local

Travel is a big part of holiday culture, and it can be tempting to pack that canna-gift into your bag to take with you. If you’re driving within the confines of California and over the age of 21, you’re in the clear. Just don’t consume and drive. 

If you’re flying, it’s a different story. Cannabis remains a federally prohibited substance, and air space is technically federal territory. So it is illegal to bring your infused goods with you on a flight. TSA may not be intently looking for your stash – but If airport personnel find it, they will turn you over to authorities.

3. Don’t mail your weed gifts

It is extremely convienent to be able to ship your gifts to your loved ones out of state. But just make sure it’s not anything infused with weed.

It is prohibited to ship any cannabis-derived product through any mailing service because cannabis is still federally illegal. And if you do, there are risks and penalties, including prison. Hemp-derived products are okay, though, as long as they follow local, state, and compliance guidelines. If you’re going the hemp route, make sure you order from a trusted vendor.

Whatever or however you choose to gift cannabis, just make sure to give with good intention, don’t fly with it and don’t ship it anywhere. That way, you and your loved ones are safe to enjoy all the fun that comes with infusing the holidays with cannabis.