Toke of the Town

Browsing: Opinion

Cannabis Transformed Ana Izquierdo Into “La Reina de Mota”

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By on Culture, Medical, Opinion

Ana Izquierdo, better known as La Reina de Mota (“the queen of marijuana” in Spanish) has been a longtime advocate for cannabis as a remedy for certain forms of trauma and other mental health diagnoses. Izquierdo herself has survived her own struggles, such as drug addiction in her early adult life and fighting homelessness for five years. After seeing how cannabis positively impacted her own life and personal battles, she decided to dive head-first into different avenues in Colorado’s new industry, from cannabis fashion to social responsibility with other cannabis industry leaders.

Izquierdo has used her role in cannabis to organize clothing kits for the homeless and provide aid to Puerto Rico with other cannabis leaders after the region was struck by hurricanes Maria and Irma. Now a YouTube channel host who gives advice to others struggling with addiction, Izquierdo hopes her story will inspire people who faced the same battles that she did while considering cannabis as a way to heal and find new communities of friends. We caught up with Izquierdo to learn more about what pulled her into the cannabis space, the challenges she’s faced as a woman in the industry, and how she’s used the plant to propel herself forward.

Shift Cannabis Started in 2010. So Why is it Just Now Selling Weed?

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By on Cannabusiness, Opinion

Travis Howard launched Shift, his cannabis company, back in 2010, but didn’t put weed on the shelves until this summer. The Boulder attorney originally established Shift as a consulting firm, acquiring cannabis business licenses while helping other potrepreneurs manage their own green dreams.

Now he wants to put his own mark on your lungs, with Shift Genuine Cannabis available in dispensaries throughout Colorado. We spoke with Howard to learn more about his journey through legal cannabis and why he chose to start a flower-focused company.

Ten Mouthwatering Marijuana Strains

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By on Culture, Opinion, Products

Dispensaries tend to sell their cannabis to customers based on indica, sativa and hybird or nighttime/daytime designations, but I’m a flavor guy. Give me something new, juicy or pungent.

I don’t care if it’s gassy, fruity, creamy, earthy, sour or floral — the wide span of cannabis flavors is a delight to research. Almost any strain can bring a lip-smacking smoke if grown correctly, but some are more predisposed to good taste than others. Here are ten strains we’ve seen around Denver that make great appetizers:

Cannabis Strains, Rated

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By on Culture, Opinion

Confused by all the cannabis strain names? There are hundreds of them, including one-time varieties named after Jeff Sessions and Peyton Manning. And even strains bearing the same time-honored names can be completely different depending on growing conditions and genetics.

But over the years, I’ve come to recognize that you can depend on the quality of certain varieties, for better or for worse. Here’s a handy guide to which strains deserve their reputations…and which don’t.

The Case Against THC Potency Limits on Shatter and Other Marijuana Products

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By on Cannabusiness, Follow that story, Opinion

Neal Levine, a longtime member of the Colorado marijuana industry who’s now the CEO of the national Cannabis Trade Federation, sees the case for THC potency limits on marijuana concentrates recently made in this space as a Trojan horse for gutting the industry.

“When you start talking about potency and it’s not based on science, it sounds like reefer madness, the next generation,” Levine says.

Wana Gummie? Wana Brands CEO on Why People Like Candy Edibles.

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By on Cannabusiness, Opinion, Products

The edibles game can be a screwy one for the legal cannabis industry, with a roulette of changing regulations and constantly evolving market demand. New government rules on dosing and packaging can end a company overnight; if those don’t do it, then ever-changing extraction technology and consumer habits just might, with new forms of consumption popping up more often than expected. That’s not even counting the financing and expansion issues faced by American cannabis brands now that our neighbors to the north have legalized the plant federally.

Despite all of these obstacles, Colorado-based pot companies continue to thrive nationally, and Boulder’s Wana Brands is no exception. The infused-products company, known for its gummies, has branched out with vaporizing, CBD and capsule products on its way to becoming one of the state’s largest cannabis brands, with continued expansion into other states. To learn more about surviving in such a tough market, we caught up with Wana founder and CEO Nancy Whiteman.

Ashley Kingsley, Woman of Weed, Talks About the Female Impact on Cannabis

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By on Cannabusiness, Culture, Opinion

Cannabis affects everyone differently, and we’re still trying to figure out what scientific and psychological factors play the biggest roles in each of our “highs.” Some research even shows evidence that one’s sex may play a role in how he or she reacts to cannabis, with male and female bodies carrying different hormones and possibly different endocannabinoid systems.

To learn more about the plant’s impact on women and how they can use it to further their own well-being, we talked to Ashley Kingsley, co-founder of women’s cannabis group Ellementa.

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