And because some of those medical states have only authorized the prescription of low-THC cannabis oil, we haven’t reached the point that would allow for a coast-to-coast road trip with cannabis flower or concentrates in the trunk of your car—yet.

With that in mind, we chose three cannabis road trip ideas that, if performed responsibly, will be totally legal (and fun). Our only criteria were that these destinations:

1. Are adult-use states (with one exception)
2. Are states that neighbor other weed-friendly states
3. Have interesting attractions that go beyond cannabis tourism

Here we go:

Destination 1: Four Corners

The Four Corners Monument once had only one real claim to fame: It was the only location in the U.S. where a traveler could go and stand in four states—and two Indigenous tribal territories—at the same time. 

Today, the Colorado-based monument can also boast that all four of those states are legal weed states. That’s right: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah have regulated cannabis programs. Here’s where that exception kicks in: Utah is technically a medical-only state, while the other three states have thriving adult-use programs. 

Tip: Be respectful. Because the Navajo Nation, which technically operates the monument, is strongly opposed to cannabis legalization, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is on the fence about the whole thing, don’t go to the monument expecting to spark up a joint. 

Instead, take a 40-minute drive northeast to Cortez, Colorado, and visit The Doobie Sisters Recreational Dispensary, which boasts that it’s “Montezuma County’s high-end recreational cannabis store,” and is owned and operated by three sisters.

Destination 2: The East Coast and New England

It’s been a long slog, but the states that many think of when they think “East Coast” have finally opened up their adult-use programs and are either fully operational or likely will be in 2023. 

New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have transitioned from medical-only to adult-use sales. And the entirety of New England — with the sole exception of New Hampshire, the Live Free or Die state — has adult-use programs.

Eat an edible and visit Lady Liberty; satisfy your munchies at Boston’s oldest (and most famous) restaurant, Union Oyster House (but make a reservation for both). Or try the “ethical dog sledding” experience in Eden Mills, Vermont, blazed. 

There is no shortage of things to do up and down the weed-friendly Atlantic coastline — it will be a road trip you’ll likely never forget.

Destination 3: California Wine Country

Go where the legalization movement began — and enjoy plenty of wine tastings along the way. California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis when voters approved the Compassionate Use Act nearly 30 years ago.

But before legal weed, the Spanish Franciscan Missionaries began planting vineyards in the 18th century (for communion, of course).

Now, as we all know, California is famous the world over for both its fine cannabis and its fine wines.

The number of wineries in Napa Valley alone beats 450, and there is no shortage of adult-use dispensaries in the region.

But be careful: It’s believed that mixing cannabis and alcohol can amplify the effects of one or both substances, and you absolutely do not want to drive once you’ve begun imbibing. Take advantage of one of the many guided tasting tours—or cruise over Napa Valley and Sonoma high (both literally and figuratively) in a hot-air balloon. 

Whether you’re in middle America or one of the coasts, there is no shortage of great cannabis-themed road trip ideas you can pitch to your friends. We think this is a good start. As always, be responsible: Don’t drive high, and keep your stash in the vehicle’s trunk, out of the driver’s and passengers’ reach.

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!

Denver

Colorado was the first state to sell legal, adult-use weed. The Mile High City is still one of the top destinations this time of year, thanks in no small part to its mild, dry, and mostly predictable climate. 

And while it’s still illegal to consume cannabis in public places and no hotels allow it (yet), 2022 marks the year the first cannabis consumption lounges opened. Check out Black-owned Tetra Lounge in the trendy RiNo neighborhood or The Coffee Joint near Lincoln Park. You need to bring your weed because neither is licensed to sell cannabis on-premises.

Denver is also home to a booming, creative restaurant scene that could see you enjoying high-end cuisine on the rooftop of a former mortuary or chowing down on vegan corn dogs at a divey bar next door to a rowdy rock venue. Those spots are right along the city’s famous Green Mile, where you can choose from 18 dispensaries over a two-mile stretch.

Chicago

In late summer, Chicago starts to mellow out after being hot and sticky for months. It’s also the calm before the frigid winter that earns the “Windy City” its nickname. Chicago launched legal adult-use cannabis sales two years ago. It has a somewhat established dispensary scene and is the home base for many multistate operators and multinational cannabis corporations due to its central U.S. location and proximity to federally legal Canada.

Just in time for the 2022 420 holiday, a consumption lounge opened inside a dispensary run by Chicago-based giant Green Thumb Industries in the northern suburb of Mundelein.

Some of the more popular Chicago spots like The Bean and Superdawg Drive-In seem custom-made for stoned tourists. Don’t miss the T-Rex and famous artworks recreated using Legos at “The Art of the Brick” exhibit at the Museum of Science + Industry Chicago that runs through Sept. 5.

For a different kind of culture, hit up the Pilsen neighborhood, which Forbes named one of “The 12 Coolest Neighborhoods Around the World” in 2018. It’s celebrated for its street art, music venues, boutiques, and award-winning restaurant scene.

Seattle

Late summer is typically dry and sunny in the notoriously dreary city of Seattle. There’s no better time to hit up the second major U.S. city to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis.

Stock up at LGBTQ-owned Pot Shop Seattle in the Westlake neighborhood, which boasts on its website that it’s “Home of the original Wake & Bake Special”—that’s 10% off all purchases before noon.

And don’t miss The Pink Door—a restaurant with no actual signage. You’ll know you’re at the right place when you see the literal pink door that opens to a critically acclaimed experience of pasta and trapeze shows. And it’s just blocks from the original Starbucks at Pike Place Market. 

Just make sure you consume your cannabis before you walk out the door of your private residence or 420-friendly Airbnb, because Seattle does not have any consumption lounges nearby.

Toronto

If you’re looking for an international destination, take the four-hour drive from recently legal Detroit (or two hours from recently legal Buffalo, New York) to Toronto, the home of superstars Drake and The Weeknd.

Unlike the U.S. cities listed here, you can consume cannabis in public in Toronto. And bonus for some travelers: The legal age of consumption for both alcohol and cannabis is 19 in Canada, where the plant is federally legal.

Hit up some of the 430 (yes, you read that right) cannabis shops in the city, perhaps starting where it all began: The Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. The city’s first legal dispensary was built at the site of a former strip club in the West Queen West neighborhood and remains a weed hotspot. 

Then check out Canada High Tours. For $50, staff will take you on a “Graffiti Tour & Experience” or “Downtown Mash Up. You’ll meet at urban beach park Sugar Beach, tour the Distillery District’s cobblestoned streets and art galleries, and pass The Esplanade on your way back to the beach. 

The friendly hosts will likely have dinner recommendations for you along the way.

New York City (maybe next year)

Adult-use cannabis is finally truly legal in the Empire State. Still, the process of opening up shops is, frankly, something of a mess. But by 2023, you can expect its namesake city to be a premier cannabis destination. Start thinking about which of NYC’s more than 23,000 bars and restaurants you’ll want to hit up when you have the legal munchies.

Book your flight or fill up your tank, and head out for one last summer adventure before it’s too late. Safe travels!

The Podcast is available on any of these platforms.

We’ve been working on something special and we are excited to finally be able to share our first podcast with everyone (while offering a special thanks to Caliva for being our sponsor)!

Meet Our Host – Kevin Fermin:

Kevin is a cannabis enthusiast and professional with over ten years of cannabis experience. Starting off as a trimmer at the age of 18 Kevin quickly became enamored with the cannabis plant and its medicinal effects along with the change of perception brought along with consumption.  Soon he moved into the retail space and fell in love with the satisfaction of providing the public with alternative methods of pain and psychiatric management.

Meet our Guest Host – Betty Blazed:

Betty is a cannabis influencer and advocate on Instagram and The WeedTube. You also may have seen her on TikTok as @thatbishbetty! But besides all that, she is just a girl who enjoys getting high, geeking out and talking your ear off about weed. Her love for Mary Jane has been growing for a while now. Before moving out to Southern California, she lived in both Oregon & Hawaii; two unique climates for growing cannabis and cultivating her knowledge. When she made the move to California, her eyes were opened wide by the cannabis scene here! “It’s a new wave, and I want to ride it!” she thought. “I wanted to be part of something big, to help educate and guide others, all while doing what I love most, smoking weed!”

Enjoy listing to Kevin and Betty on our first podcast – The Cannifornian Podcast!

Listen in as they discuss fun, safe and educational information to learn about and stay up to date on the cannabis and CBD industry. For upcoming podcasts, we’ll continue to do a deep dive into legalization, health and wellness benefits, culture, and much more!

Follow us on Anchor, Spotify, Apple and Google Podcast at The Cannifornian Podcast!⁠

Whether you’re incorporating CBD items into your daily lifestyle to help with everything from anxiety and depression to complications brought on by cancer medications, cannabinoids possess a plethora of healing powers to help you live your best life.

But what happens when you’re traveling with CBD? Is it legal? Is it only permitted in states where THC is approved? What about flying internationally?

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with these tips for traveling with CBD.

1. Can you travel domestically with CBD?

Unlike THC, which runs the gamut from legal to medicinal to entirely illegal depending on the state you’re in, CBD products are permitted in the United States even if you drive across state lines. 

What about flying? According to the Transportation Security Administration, “Marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products, including some cannabidiol oil, remain illegal under federal law except for products that contain no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA.” 

If your CBD product contains more than 0.3% THC, it’s relegated to the no-fly zone.

2. Can you travel internationally with CBD?

The ability to travel internationally is summed up nicely by the Portland-based CBD experts at Mendi. “CBD is not yet legal in all countries. Some countries exist in a gray area, but in some countries, CBD products are illegal and could cause you big problems. International flights are subject to a different level of security checks and law enforcement by customs agents.”

Bottom line: Know your risks and confirm the policies and laws of your destination country before tossing CBD items into your carry-on luggage.

3. Packing your CBD with liquids on your flight

Treat CBD liquids and creams precisely as you do items like mouthwash and toothpaste. That means no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) per container and stored in a quart-sized clear bag with your toiletries and other related items.

Bonus tip: Do not attempt to hide CBD items of any kind. The products are perfectly legal but stashing them out of sight could raise TSA agents’ eyebrows and make them wonder if you’ve something to hide.

4. Read the label before you leave town

How do you know if the items you’re traveling out of state with are good to go? Carefully read the labels of all your products to ensure each contains less than 0.3% THC. If you don’t, those CBD items suddenly become THC items in the eyes of the law, and depending on which state you’re visiting, this could be horrible news.

Traveling with CBD doesn’t have to be stressful. Just make sure to research your destination’s laws and transport them properly when taking to the sky.

The “weed” is tall, planted in tight rows and has the serrated leaf edges of your classic ganja.

As Hendrix’s 1968 epic “Voodoo Child” drifts from the phone, Norton jokes about having a suitable vibe for the plot. “We should have a speaker in the middle,” he says. “Would people go nuts? ”

Squash, cotton, peppers and watermelon are also grown at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. (Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey)

But this is not that kind of hemp. You don’t smoke this stuff. This is raised for its fiber. It’s industrial hemp, the kind Henry Ford sought to build cars with. And Mount Vernon has started growing it because George Washington did.

The landmark home of the nation’s first president, about 20 miles south of Washington, is part of an effort to return industrial hemp to its historical context and promote its use in the modern world.

Industrial hemp, while cannabis, is far different from its marijuana cousin.

While both contain tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, the substance that’s creates the “high,” industrial hemp contains only tiny amounts of THC and has no psychoactive effect,experts say.

Recreational marijuana has roughly 10 to 30 percent THC in its dry weight of flowers, said Michael Timko, professor of biology and public health sciences at the University of Virginia. Industrial hemp has .3 percent or less.

But the industrial strain, which was widely grown in colonial Virginia to make fiber for rope and other products, became lumped over time with the recreational strain. And both were stigmatized and suppressed in the early 20th century.

This gardener is working to preserve George Washington’s last surviving trees

“You have different strains for different things,” Norton said recently as he stood near his hemp patch, down the hill from Washington’s famous manor house. “They’ve really been able to come up with . . . really strong fiber plants, really strong oil plants and really strong recreational plants.”

Dean Norton, Mount Vernon’s director of horticulture, stands amid the estate’s newest crop, hemp. (Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey)

“But that’s not what we’re doing here,” he said. “This is totally for interpretation purposes. . . . You could a build bonfire with this, sit around it, breathe it, nothing’s going to happen.”

Still, Norton needed a license to cultivate. “My kids love to say I’m a grower,” he said. “I’m (license) number 86 . . . I think it’s really cool.”

Mount Vernon visitors are intrigued.

“The funniest thing is the people that are familiar with hemp, or the other,” he said. “They stop. They look. They go take pictures. [They’ll say] ‘Remember the old VW bug we had.’ It’s always a VW. It’s great. It’s really fun to watch the people that know.”

Industrial hemp was an important crop in colonial times. A sailing ship could require thousands of feet of hemp rope for its rigging, Norton said.

Hemp “is abundantly productive and will grow for ever on the same spot,” Thomas Jefferson wrote of it.

Jefferson invented a special hemp “break” for processing it. He wrote that he used hemp “for shirting our laborers” – his slaves – because cotton was too expensive.

In the 1700s, it was so valuable that Virginia paid farmers to grow it. Washington took advantage of that, writing in 1767, that he “applied to the fund for giving a Bounty on Hemp.”

He planted it in abundance, especially in one tract he called Muddy Hole.

But it was a labor-intensive crop.

A butterfly lands on one of the newest crops at Mount Vernon – hemp. It looks like marijuana, but it’s not for smoking. (Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey)

The outside fiber had to be separated from the inner core, or “hurd.”

It had to be pulverized, then soaked in water or dew, to help in the extraction. But when the process was completed, the fiber was long and strong.

The idea to return hemp to Mount Vernon came from Brian Walden, 37, a farmer in Charlottesville, who got the notion after a 2014 federal law cleared the way for academic research into industrial hemp cultivation, he said in a telephone interview.

Farmers were permitted to grow it if they joined a research program and partnered with a university that wanted to study industrial hemp, he said.

He connected with the University of Virginia. He “donated land, equipment, expertise,” he said, and began to grow it locally.

Last year, he came up with a hemp plan for Mount Vernon, to boost the crop’s image and illustrate its role in history. Norton was hesitant at first, but agreed this year. The first seeds were planted June 13.

The 6o-day crop should be ready for harvest soon, Walden said.

A similar plot has been planted at Montpelier, the Orange County, Virginia, home of founding father James Madison.

Virginia’s first hemp crop in decades could signal new opportunity

Hemp was a big crop in the colonial Mid-Atlantic, Walden said. “We couldn’t grow flax, like they can up north,” he said. “And we couldn’t grow cotton, like they do down south.”

But in the 20th century, with the rise of the recreational strain, all hemp became stigmatized. “They clumped them all together,” Walden said.

(Medicinal use of hemp/marijuana has been traced back to 1576, when it was recommended for use in treating an unstable Prussian duke, according to historian H. C. Erik Midelfort.)

In 1937, a huge “marihuana” tax was placed on hemp that “made every farmer drop it like a dime,” he said.

But in the 1940s, some production returned because of the wartime need.

In 1942, the Agriculture Department produced a 14-minute film, “Hemp for Victory,” urging farmers to grow it again.

For the sailor and the hangman, it had been indispensable in the past, the narrator declared. Now it was needed for shoe thread, parachute webbing, and 30,000 feet of rope for every battleship.

And in 1941, Henry Ford reportedly produced a short-lived “hemp car” with a body partly made of a hemp-derived substance.

But after the war, with the resurgence in use of the recreational kind, industrial hemp production fell back into disfavor.

Today, 15 states still ban industrial hemp cultivation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The other states allow its growth for commercial, research or pilot programs.

Congress is considering a bill that would legalize industrial hemp cultivation, Walden said.

But the United States remains far behind other countries in taking advantage of industrial hemp’s potential.

“The U.S. is one of the few developed nations that hasn’t looked at the use of hemp as a green, sustainable resource for any number of purposes,” said Timko, of the University of Virginia, the scientist who partnered with Walden.

“It wasn’t as if they didn’t know there was an industrial use,” he said. “It’s just that the federal government couldn’t figure out how to separate it easily.”

Industrial hemp is grown extensively in Europe, China and Canada, he said. The United States imports more than $500 million in hemp products a year. It’s used for clothing and backpacks, oils and additives, and in plastics.

“Why aren’t we growing that $500 million worth of hemp products?” he asked. “Why are we importing it?”

Americans “should learn that we grew industrial hemp . . . and it was really part of the culture that we’ve lost,” he said.

Whether it’s relieving anxiety and depression or providing a better alternative to melatonin to combat insomnia, there’s no shortage of the physical and mental benefits provided by CBD. However, understanding the difference of CBD verses CBD with THC is something you should know.

As you’re perusing CBD products online or in brick and mortar stores, you may notice that some items contain various amounts of THC. Should you consider these options, and what are the pros and cons?

Let’s get down to brass tacks to give you an understanding of standalone CBD products versus CBD with THC options.

CBD: What You Need to Know

If you’re new to the world of cannabidiol, let’s quickly clear up some misconceptions. Unlike its THC counterpart, CBD is not a psychoactive agent providing a “high” sensation. It’s extracted from cannabis plants, often diluted with coconut or hemp seed oil, and can provide relief for everything from muscle soreness to cancer medication side effects.

Your dog can even take it.

In a nutshell, CBD “supports the natural neurotransmitter in our bodies. CBD binds to a receptor that triggers serotonin release leading to a reduction in stress and anxiousness, which balances moods.”

CBD is legal in the United States, so it’s perfectly kosher to have it shipped to your doorstep or purchased at major retailers like Whole Foods. You can even travel with it domestically.

The benefits of cannabidiol can’t be overstated, but what about CBD items possessing THC as well?

CBD with THC: What You Need to Know

CBD products with THC should be treated differently than CBD-only items.

Depending on how much THC is in each product, you could find yourself relatively “high,” euphoric, or sleepy, making the CBD-THC combo ideal for falling asleep or back to sleep.

It can also be an excellent way to unwind at the end of the day, similar to a glass of red wine (but without the unwanted calories and red teeth).

CBD with THC can also provide a one-two punch considering research has shown they both help with anxiety, nausea, and various types of pain and discomfort.

There are a few issues to keep in mind if you decide THC with CBD is right for you. Cannabinoids store in your body fat so that the THC can show up on potential drug tests, which could cost you your job depending on your state’s laws.   

You’ll also want to adhere to the cannabis maxim of “You can always have more, but you can never have less.” That is to say, start with a minimal amount versus eating a 50-milligram chocolate bar right out of the gate. Not sure how many milligrams to begin with? Consult your doctor, and dispensaries always have experts to assist you online, over the phone, and in the store.

Most importantly, it’s critical to check your state laws regarding THC products of any amount because what’s perfectly legal in one state could be highly illegal in another.

Yes, he answered, not initially thinking much of the question. The 57-year-old Canadian has a license for medical marijuana, and pot had been legal in Washington for six years. Like that, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents turned him away with an extreme decree: He had been banned from the United States.

“It’s absolutely out of control. Here I am being honest with the United States and I get the boot,” Powers said on a recent afternoon as he stood in his driveway in this farming town an hour east of Vancouver. “I have a license … yet they’re turning people away for pot? It makes not a single bit of sense.”

With Canada set to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide on Wednesday — only the second country to do so, following Uruguay — many Canadians, especially those who live near the border, face growing anxiety over what to say if U.S. customs agents ask them if they’ve ever consumed marijuana.

Lying to a border agent can result in a person being denied entry. But so too can being honest about past marijuana use.

While nearly every state along the U.S.-Canada border has legalized marijuana, at least for medical use, ports of entry fall under federal jurisdiction, meaning cannabis is still viewed as a Schedule I drug — just like heroin.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. border agents — who have broad discretion in what questions they ask people seeking entry — can turn away noncitizens who acknowledge having used a controlled substance, ever.

Last year, U.S. officials turned away 22,000 Canadians at ports of entry, deeming them inadmissible, according to the most recent available data. The Department of Homeland Security does not list the reasons a person is denied entry and the agency declined to say how many Canadians are annually deemed inadmissible because of marijuana.

But based on interviews with immigration attorneys here in the Pacific Northwest, hundreds of new marijuana admission cases come in each week.

Len Saunders, Powers’ attorney, said he’s averaged two new clients a week for the past year. He expects the number to increase after Canada legalizes pot, making it more accessible and acceptable to use.

“Business is booming as Canadians are being turned away for simply admitting to taking a drag of a joint 20 years ago. It’s that silly,” Saunders said. “They’re being penalized for honesty. No one wants to lie to a border agent.”

His clients often face a pricey workaround, Saunders said. They can apply for a waiver — about $600 in addition to legal fees — that grants entry into the U.S. for up to five years. The individual must carry the waiver at all times when in America. The process must be repeated when it’s time to renew.

Saunders, whose office is in Blaine, Wash., a border town along Interstate 5, said the overlap of immigration law and the piecemeal marijuana policies in the United States make for frustrating legal situations, especially in states where marijuana is allowed for recreational and medical use, like Washington.

“If you’re a Canadian tourist in Seattle and you’re over the age of 21, you can buy marijuana. But if on your next trip to the U.S., you’re questioned by border agents and you admit to using pot in the past, you can be banned,” he said. “It’s totally backwards and doesn’t make sense.”

Last year, more than a dozen members of Congress wrote to U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, as well as to U.S. border officials, to express concerns about Canadians and other noncitizens being targeted at U.S. ports of entry.

“We ask that your respective agencies develop policies that ban penalizing noncitizens based on their use or possession of marijuana if they are visiting or residing in states that have enacted marijuana use laws,” the lawmakers wrote.

In September, Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, who signed the letter, made a direct appeal to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. He wrote to her and highlighted a Star Vancouver article from July outlining how three Canadians with no criminal history were deemed “inadmissible” by the U.S. government. The men own a company that builds equipment to harvest marijuana.

“The archaic state of the law is winning over common sense,” Correa, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said in an interview. “The federal law is not at all reflective of what is going on.”

Correa — who has met with Canadian officials to discuss the issue — wants Homeland Security to stop banning people for past cannabis use until Congress can bring the law in line with reality. He has not received a response.

In a statement posted to its website last week, the Department of Homeland Security said it stands firm on barring even casual marijuana users from entering the country.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforces the laws of the United States and U.S. laws will not change following Canada’s legalization of marijuana,” the statement read. “Requirements for international travelers wishing to enter the United States are governed by and conducted in accordance with U.S. Federal Law, which supersedes state laws.”

For Powers, the ordeal began in August when he and his girlfriend, Marian, tried to catch the Stone Temple Pilots at a two-day music festival outside Seattle.

When they pulled up to the port of entry in Sumas, Wash., customs agents waved them over to a secondary-checkpoint area. It was a random flag, common at ports of entry.

While they were still inside their GMC Yukon, an agent peppered them with questions. Where were they headed? How long did they plan to stay? How much cash did they have on them? Then the agent asked Powers and his girlfriend to step inside a building for more questions.

Inside, agents asked to look through his iPhone. He gave them permission and they scrolled through his photos, pausing on a shot of his medical marijuana card.

Did he ever smoke pot before getting a card in 2010, an agent asked? Yes, Powers responded.

“I wasn’t going to lie,” said Powers, who works in construction and says he uses cannabis to help with shoulder and back pain.

The agents kept a transcript of their conversation — the pages that became his sworn statement — and told Powers he had been deemed “inadmissible.” They handed him paperwork for a waiver and told him that he was barred from entering the United States.

“I thought they were kidding,” he said. “They’re treating people like terrorists when all we did was admit to smoking some pot.”

On a recent afternoon, Powers met with Saunders at a Starbucks a short drive from the border. Saunders explained that it would take three to six months to get a waiver. It would cost him $580, plus $1,000 in legal fees, and Powers needed to get a background check and two character reference letters.

If he did all that, Saunders assured him, he would get the waiver, though he would have renew it in five years.

“I hope so,” Powers replied. “I enjoy the United States. I enjoy going to shows.”

For Powers, the ban meant canceling a trip to Las Vegas to see Metallica for his girlfriend’s birthday next month. Until he was banned, the couple traveled to Vegas at least three times a year to go to concerts or watch Penn & Teller perform.

These days, Powers, who is semi-retired, spends much of his time working on the single-level ranch house that he is building for himself. On a recent afternoon, as a light rain fell, he took a break from installing window panes. He found a spot under the roof and did what he often does in his down time — scrolled through his iPhone searching for upcoming concerts in Washington and Las Vegas.

Asked if he would be upset if he doesn’t get the waiver, Powers paused.

“Yeah, I really would,” he said. “I just wish the U.S. would do what we’re doing and just legalize the damn stuff.”

© 2018 Los Angeles Times. Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Here’s another thing travelers can consider bringing when a trip takes them through Los Angeles International Airport — marijuana.

Just be careful about carrying it onto the plane.

A written policy posted by airport police says small amounts of weed may now be brought into one of the world’s busiest airports. But, police warn, possession of any amount is still a federal crime and TSA agents may find your stash.

What happens if they do remains a little murky.

TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers said Thursday that agents won’t take it away but will summon the police and let them deal with it.

“TSA’s focus is on terrorism and security threats to the aircraft and its passengers,” Dankers said in an email.

“Whether or not the passenger is allowed to travel with marijuana is up to law enforcement’s discretion,” she added.

If it turns out a traveler is carrying no more than 28.5 grams (about an ounce), or 8 grams in concentrated form, airport police will simply turn them loose.

“Because there is no crime,” said airport Officer Alicia Hernandez.

Still, police caution people to think twice before embarking on a cannabis-fueled vacation.

“Passengers should be aware that marijuana laws vary state by state and they are encouraged to check the laws of the states in which they plan to travel,” says the statement posted on the website flylax.com last January after California legalized recreational marijuana.

So far, few if any other airports seem to have followed suit.

San Diego International Airport has no policy on pot, said spokesman Jonathan Heller.

In Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, it is still illegal to bring it into Denver International Airport.

Airport spokeswoman Emily Williams says that’s because possession is still a federal crime and air travel is governed by federal authorities.

In any case, few have been caught carrying pot, she said, and for those who have the penalty was light if the amount was small.

“If it’s a small amount the TSA and the Denver Police Department will ask that person to dispose of it and if that person is willing to do that they move through,” she said.

Still the best advice to travelers, says Douglas Kidd, executive director of the National Association of Airline Passengers, is to leave your stash at home. You can always buy more when you get there.

“The first thing the TSA is going to do is if they find something that is illegal for federal purposes is they’re going to refer it to local law enforcement,” Kidd said.

“Now local law enforcement may say, ‘We’re not going to do anything.’ But still, the delay could cause you to miss your flight.”

While the wine and marijuana industries are similar in some ways, blending those worlds isn’t always easy. Winegrowers and cannabis cultivators increasingly square off over customers, land and workers. And lingering stigmas have kept some of the state’s wine-growing regions from being open to the newly legalized marijuana market.

Now it seems Temecula Valley Wine Country is on track to shut out the cannabis industry. Opposition from local winegrowers and government officials is making it unlikely that marijuana businesses will be allowed to operate in one of the most important agricultural and tourism regions in Riverside County.

“My fear is that you would see vineyards pushed out and there would be outdoor cultivation with chain-linked, barbed-wire fences,” said Danny Martin, board president for the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association.

“We want to be the Temecula Valley Wine Country. We don’t want to become the Temecula Valley Weed Country.”

The message is clear, according to Micah Anderson, president of the cannabis cultivation trade group Southern California Responsible Growers Council.

“Wine is socially acceptable here,” Anderson said. “Cannabis isn’t.”

Ordinance carves out Temecula Valley

Though passage of Proposition 64 in 2016 made it legal in California for adults to consume cannabis, the law also gives cities and counties the authority to regulate most other marijuana activities within their borders.

All marijuana businesses are currently banned in unincorporated Riverside County. However, county leaders are considering an ordinance that would be among the most permissive in California, allowing businesses to grow, manufacture, test, distribute and sell marijuana products in most of the county’s unincorporated areas.

But, as proposed, the Riverside County ordinance would block marijuana businesses from two key areas — residential areas and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. The popular wine-tasting destination has a few dozen wineries spread over more than 17,000 acres of county-controlled land, just east of Temecula’s city limits.

Riverside County Planning Department staff said via email that cannabis cultivation is “not compatible” with the long-term planning for that area, which they said provides a “significant tourist attraction” and “economic benefit” to the region.

Supervisor Chuck Washington — whose district includes Temecula Valley and who once invested in an area winery — also opposes cannabis cultivation in the area because he doesn’t believe it would “further the goals” of the region, according to his chief of staff, Jeff Comerchero.

In a June 20 letter, Martin told Washington that the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association board supported a ban on all commercial cannabis activities in wine country and asked the Board of Supervisors to “continue to deny all inconsistent land uses within this special agricultural area in our county.”

County staff said the first listed goal for the wine region is to “encourage agricultural cultivation.” Cannabis cultivation is an agricultural activity, Anderson said, with growers licensed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. And cannabis, he added, should be treated as an agricultural product by local regulators.

But Martin insists that adding cannabis-related businesses in Temecula Valley Wine Country would be inconsistent with the existing zoning plan for the area.

Lessons learned

The wine and cannabis industries have coexisted for decades in places such as Mendocino and Sonoma counties, pointed out Josh Drayton, spokesman for the California Cannabis Industry Association.

But now that the state is licensing cannabis businesses for the first time, he said marijuana farmers can come out of the shadows to fight for the same rights and business opportunities wine growers have worked to secure.

“I think the cannabis industry has learned a lot from the wine industry,” Drayton said. “A lot of the challenges they have faced, and found solutions for, are guiding forces for our industry.”

That includes trying to brand cannabis products with appellations of origin. Meaning only marijuana grown in Humboldt County can have that label, just like only wines grown in Napa Valley can boast that origin.

Mom-and-pop wineries have also found creative ways to compete with bigger, corporate vineyards, Drayton said — a struggle that’s just starting for smaller and medium-sized marijuana growers. Transferable strategies might include tax incentives for small operators, boutique tours, paired dinners directed by sommeliers and direct-to-consumer sales that give owners a chance to sell the stories behind their products.

In Temecula Valley, Anderson said cannabis farmers would love to have tasting rooms just like the vineyards do. The county could permit such spaces, known generally as cannabis lounges, but hasn’t chosen to include that option in the proposed ordinance.

Competition is fierce

The industry overlap does pose some common challenges.

Labor costs are going up for growers of wine and cannabis, even as the size of the labor pool is shrinking, Drayton said, with the Trump administration’s immigration policies squeezing things even more.

“The wine industry has struggled with labor for a while,” said George Christie, president of the Wine Industry Network trade group. And with the growing cannabis industry able to offer some workers more money and better working conditions, he said, wineries are feeling the pinch.

Also, in many parts of the state, agricultural land is limited. And once a city or county votes to allow marijuana businesses, land values typically skyrocket, a phenomenon that has already forced out some wine growers.

In early 2017, San Francisco-based cannabis distributor Flow Kana announced it had purchased 80 acres in Redwood Valley that were once home to the Fetzer family winery. The company is transforming the property into Flow Cannabis Institute, which is being billed as a “one-stop facility” for marijuana processing, storage and distribution.

Ampelos Vineyard and Cellars in Lompoc said in its June 24 newsletter that they were moving after their landlord of 12 years got a “high offer” for their property from cannabis producers.

“Sad to see how this new business is rolling into the valley and taking over land and buildings,” wrote Ampelos’ owner Peter Work.

Those threats have come up during the Wine & Weed Symposium, a conference Christie’s group will host set for its second year in Santa Rosa on Aug. 2. But Christie said a “much larger percentage” of the conference’s roughly 500 attendees — including a number of “older, conservative wine industry people” — is interested in hearing about opportunities available in cannabis.

Christie sees overlap not just with business models between the industries, but also with the type of people they attract. Wine growers, he said, are typically hard-working, passionate, strategic entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid of a challenge. He sees many of the same qualities in cannabis entrepreneurs, he added, and nothing of the stoner stereotype he once expected.

“As that stigma sort of erodes,” he said, “there are more and more people in the wine industry that are kind of open to what opportunities this may bring.”

There are already wine growers in the Temecula area who are experimenting with small marijuana grows, according to Anderson. And he said there are many more entrepreneurs waiting on the sidelines, hoping the county will open the region to licensed marijuana businesses.

Laws limit overlap

The trend of literally mixing these two worlds by infusing wine with cannabis was becoming fashionable a couple years ago, with singer/cannabis entrepreneur Melissa Etheridge touting a “wine tincture” in her line of Etheridge Farms products.

Then California issued the first draft of its still-evolving rules for the marijuana industry. Those regulations included a strict ban on products that mix alcohol and cannabis and severely limited public events where marijuana is consumed, such as the wine and weed pairing dinners that had begun popping up everywhere.

Since cannabis remains illegal under federal law, wineries could also be jeopardizing their federal licenses if they start making or selling cannabis products on the same property.

“There are a bunch of people that thought they were going to go that road,” Anderson said. “That left a lot of broken dreams.”

Some companies, such as Hermosa Beach-based Rebel Coast Winery, are navigating the regulations by making cannabis-infused wine that’s alcohol-free. And event companies are trading infused dinners for tours that stop at both wineries and cannabis businesses.

Such ventures show that it doesn’t have to be a “zero sum game,” Christie said, where either the wine or the cannabis industry wins. And in Anderson’s view, they also show that marijuana entrepreneurs will work with any reasonable regulations that are thrown their way, including rules that he says could mitigate whatever safety, aesthetic or odor concerns neighbors might have.

That’s something he hopes Riverside County will take into consideration as officials write the playbook for how wine and weed will mix in Temecula Valley.

“We all want to be good neighbors,” he said. “Give us options, don’t just shut us out.”

The issue will be decided when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors takes up the proposed cannabis ordinance sometime later this year.