A cannabis newsletter that isn't about hemp, the election, or re-scheduling
Let's talk about the good stuff instead
My opening remarks as emcee at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago, October 2024
I’ve been struggling to publish lately for a few reasons: I have a very intense job and an 18-month-old at home, and I am also still dealing with postpartum mental health issues. Thanks for hanging with me.
But if I am being honest, I’ve also struggled with how to write about weed the last couple of months. I didn’t want to talk about it in the context of the election; I’ve become weary of electoral politicking in cannabis, however relevant it always is as an illegal substance. I didn’t have much to say other than, sure, it’s a big deal both mainstream presidential candidates were in favor of legalizing cannabis one way or another. Cool. That’s over now, and nothing has changed, nor is it likely to in any way that resulted from or is related to any of the last months’ discourse. In hindsight, I’m glad I resisted the urge to contribute when I didn’t have much to say. Something we can all learn from, I think, especially in media.
I’m also quietly watching the current rescheduling rigmarole. Of course, for good reasons, it was the topic du jour at the Benzinga Chicago conference this past October. That’s an investors’ conference, and however the federal government goes, so will their portfolios. You can hear my opening remarks at the top of this letter in the video.
I share the sentiment echoed by cannabis professionals over and over on stage and in quiet conversations at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile: I don’t think re-scheduling cannabis to Schedule III is going to be good for more than a handful of actors, and it could affect company liquidity and state licensing schemes in ways that are unpredictable as of yet, since it would call into question adult-use markets that would have distinct medical carve-outs as a result of re-scheduling, among other things. Those are accounting, fundraising, legislative, legal, and operational nightmares. We need many more concrete answers from the federal government before we can meaningfully talk about any possibilities or problems.
And as much as I do very much care about these things and have parsed them for years in my writing and currently do as a talking head on podcasts, in articles, and at conferences, lately, I have been more enjoying cannabis for what it actually is than the outsized place it’s come to occupy in my life: a plant I like to smoke that makes me feel good. I have had less energy to consider the rest, and it’s been nice to have an opportunity to just, like, be a normal weed consumer for a little bit and take in everything going on around me.
But I’ve kept my toes in formality, too, as always—whatever that means in weedland. In August, I helped judge Jimi Devine and HighRise’s Transbay Challenge flower competition in San Diego and the San Diego Farmers Cup 710 competition. Moon Valley won the former. For the latter, we had to test thirty-something samples of various rosins, resins, and other kinds of hash, including six hash holes! It was intense, but I assembled a tasting crew at my house, took rigorous notes, and crowned a tropical tasting winner, which was not licensed.
Can I be honest about the flower competitions I’ve judged and sampled this year? Some entrants appeared to rush drying and curing, which was a bummer. Wet weed results in rough smoke that doesn’t grind properly. I think this is an industry-wide issue.
In September I joined my friends Sara Payan, Brit Smith, Rachelle Gordon, and Ellen Holland in launching the Puff Puff Press podcast, where we five cannabis media women discuss all things weed. I'll be yapping with them twice monthly, and I hope you’ll tune in.
In October, I flew to Chicago to emcee the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, at which I made it one day on stage. It was a blast, and it was really nice to lead a crowd and see so many people I’ve only met online or who live elsewhere in the country, so I don’t see them often. The second day, I was down and out due to lingering complications from having had my gallbladder out a few years ago. It’s a long story, and not one I care to repeat here, but for those of you who saw me on Day 1 only to notice I disappeared on Day 2, that’s why. If you want to hear candid takeaways from the conference, Todd Harrison’s
newsletter is the place to be.One question I have for cannabis industry folks about events and conferences: how the hell do all of you go to so many? It seems that, at any given moment, there are at least five “must-attend” cannabis industry events happening. I know I’m not the only one who is utterly confused about how everyone finds the time and the energy, but I watch you all from my backyard bong perch in awe and slight horror. I salute you, but I also hope you’re all taking care of yourselves.
Cannabis and healthy aging: Does it help or hurt?
Did you know older Americans are embracing cannabis at the fastest rates in the country? According to a December 2023 study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research by a team from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Americans aged 50-80 use cannabis now more than before the pandemic, with 12 percent saying they’ve consumed a THC-containing substance in the past year and 4 percent saying they do so multiple times a week.
And, according to a 2022 federal survey of more than 2,000 individuals, eight percent of people 65 and older reported having used cannabis in the past year—a rate that has doubled in the last seven years. In the slightly younger 60-64 bracket, more than half reported using cannabis. These statistics make their cohort the most cannabis-curious in the United States, eclipsing that of even teenage Americans.
This groundbreaking study was also conducted in 2020. Read more about what neuroscientists and gerontologists are saying about healthy aging with cannabis here.
Product report from the wild: St. Ides High Tea
Sometimes, I feel limited in only offering my perspective on some products because I have particular ways I like to consume cannabis, and I certainly prefer some methods to others. For example, I’m more-or-less on record as a drinks skeptic, and I do think part of my reluctance to care about them stems from the fact that they don’t have utility in my weed routine. That’s a limiting perspective!
A dear friend of mine who is not connected to the weed industry at all, bless her soul, has some tea to share, quite literally. She’s a custy, but a knowledgeable one who consumes daily.
“Idk if you’ve had these,” she texted me the other day, referring to St. Ides Wild Raspberry cannabis-infused High Tea, which clocks in at 100 milligrams. “It’s my new fave thing. Hits in like 20 mins or so, I buy in the next town over, so it’s cheaper. I just buy three every couple of weeks and keep them in my fridge. I have a little chug before bed, and it’s delightful.”
My friend has never been into cannabis drinks—she smokes and regularly takes edibles. I asked, why switch, how did it change your routine?
She answered that she “doesn’t taste the weed. Some gummies that hit taste awful, plus this hits way quicker. 15-20 minutes, versus an hour and a half.” While fast-acting edibles are widely available on the market, this fact interests me. She’s an intelligent person who regularly inspects packaging and shops at dispensaries. The drink’s packaging spoke to her; the marketing for edibles with the same fast-acting absorption did not. And, even as a regular consumer used to the taste of weed, she still can’t get over the funky taste some gummies have (which, to me, unfortunately, means the better quality edibles on the market with more plant material than distillate oil).
She added that she has cut back on smoking because of the teas, and the high doesn’t last as long, she noticed, but since she uses the tea to help her fall asleep, she doesn’t mind. “I’ll still smoke for sure, but if the tea is on offer at dispensaries, I’d rather put money on the tea over edibles,” she said, adding that it cost around $10 for the can. She likes being able to “take little sips” throughout the night or “chug” it, depending on what kind of day she’s had. “The edibles that are the same price taste horrible.”
From Pharma to Farms: One industry consultant’s journey to plant medicines
by Dina Nagib
Life is full of ironies. Take my experience working in pharmaceuticals and my transition to the cannabis industry: When I worked in a pharmaceuticals lab, which functioned as the dispensary for the company, I held the DEA controlled substance license, all the while being a closeted cannabis consumer.
The lab I worked for researched several diseases, focusing on pain, neurodegeneration, and cystic fibrosis (CF) targets. As our research progressed on CF, we found small-molecule drugs for specific phenotypes (the presentation of a person’s genetics) that work in various combinations based on the patient's genotype (genetics). At the time, this was a relatively new concept called personalized medicine, where researchers tailored the therapeutic method to the patient for specific disease factors.
We had a Schedule II DEA controlled substance license, which meant that we couldn’t use THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids for our research. But even if we could have, that may only have led to synthetic cannabinoids or cannabinoid-like small-molecule therapeutics.
Fast forward, and here I am, living out loud in the cannabis industry, embracing its potential for truly personalized medicine. Imagine this: breeding cannabis plants tailored to an individual’s needs rather than concocting everything in a lab. Don’t get me wrong—there’s room for both. But let’s not lose the magic of the plant.
Take cannabigerol, or CBG, for example—the “mother of all cannabinoids.” It’s the compound from which all others are derived, and its potential feels limitless. I first encountered CBG about two years ago when I started hearing whispers about its anti-inflammatory and anxiety-relieving properties. Naturally, I tried it myself—gummies during a bout of gut distress. Spoiler: I had appendicitis, so the gummies weren’t exactly a cure. But the experience wasn’t unbearable, and afterward, I decided to make CBG part of my daily routine.
Six months earlier, I’d been diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune thyroid disorder. After a rollercoaster of pharmaceutical treatments, my thyroid normalized—without meds. Coincidence? Maybe. However, the only consistent change was a daily RSO tablet of CBG. My doctors are aware, supportive, and encouraged by my clean bill of health.
CBG hasn’t just helped physically. I’ve noticed its calming effects on my anxiety, especially paired with THC in gummies. And the science backs it up: a recent double-anonymized, placebo-controlled study found CBG reduced anxiety and stress and improved memory—all without psychoactive effects. Other studies have shown that it might boost appetite, too.
The appetite angle is fascinating. Cannabis has long been used to stimulate appetite for chemo and HIV/AIDS patients, but not everyone wants to get high. It could be game-changing if CBG can deliver those benefits without the buzz.
Here’s my advice: Know your sources. Opt for high-quality, whole-plant products. And find a doctor who’s open to cannabis. Personalized medicine is about figuring out what works for you. For me, CBG has been transformative. For you? The answer is out there; hopefully, this inspires you to try and find it if you need it.
Dina founded Grass Goddess Consulting and works with dispensaries to implement the right software and analytics to grow their businesses. After 15 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, Dina applied her knowledge and expertise to the rapidly expanding cannabis industry. She wants to ensure dispensaries maintain the high quality required to propel their success. She's passionate about the plant, the science, and creating a socially equitable industry.
Iconic Seed Collab Alert!
San Diego-based Brothers Grimm Seeds just released a hash collab with the cult-famous late-90 Canadian mockumentary series Trailer Park Boys, a program I enjoyed over many a bong sesh while studying hard at Connecticut College in the early aughts.
Created in collaboration with Hemptown Naturals and breeder Rick Campanella, also known as MrSoul, the crew introduced a brand-new strain called Ricky's Hash Plant. It’s available in seed packs containing nine feminized photoperiod seeds per pack. It pulls from coveted genetics: Genius, Puck, and Airborne G13, the latter of which Campanella has lovingly ushered along for 30 years. This is a washer with high resin-producing capabilities.
Listen to Campanella talk about how TPB commissioned and worked with him and Brothers Grimm, resulting in the unique collaboration cultivar:
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY
San Diego Magazine, the esteemed 76-year-old publication where I work, is running a cannabis advertising package against a cannabis editorial feature in the February issue. There's a required print component with other digital add-ons, including podcast. I'll be helping to make most of the media for it. Email me at jackieb@sdmag.com and I'll connect you to one of our sales reps, who can share pricing and information about our readership and distribution across multimedia channels. Payment and assets are due in December for February print and multimedia rollout.
Upcoming in Cannabitch is another gift guide with Clare Sausen from
(check out last year’s), writing from other contributors, and essays I have been working on, including one on criminalization and working in the industry and one on maternal mental health and cannabis. Thanks for reading!
🤣