Friday, 13 February 2015

CBD Oil Now Legal in 11 States

CBD Oil Now Legal in 11 States


Legislation allowing the production of low-THC, CBD-rich marijuana has been approved for limited use in 11 states.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many chemicals in marijuana. Recent publicity about children who suffer from seizures benefitting from oil extracted from marijuana that has almost no THC (i.e hemp)) has set off a wave of legislation like never seen before. Now state reps can favor marijuana without the fear of people getting high from it. This explains why so many Republicans are sponsoring these bills.
Here's a state-by-state breakdown, in alphabetical order:
Alabama
On Apr. 1, 2014, Gov. Robert Bentley signed Carly's Law, named for three-year-old Carly Chandler, making Alabama the second state to legalize CBD oil. On Mar. 11, Alabama's Senate voted unanimously in favor of SB 174. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Paul Sanford, calls for the University of Alabama to conduct research into cannibidiol's efficacy in treating neurological conditions such as epilepsy. UAB would be able to prescribe the oil to approved patients. One million dollars has been allocated for the study.
Florida
On Apr. 22, 2014, HB 843 passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 15-3 vote. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, calls for "four regional orginizations around the state" to "grow, test and dispense" the oil. A patient registry would be created. Unlike other CBD legislation, HB 843 is not limited to seizure conditions; patients with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, PTSD and cancer would also qualify. It was passed by a 111-17 margin on May 1. The Senate version passed the bill by a 36-3 margin on May 2. Gov. Rick Scott signed th bill into law on June 16, making Florida the ninth state to legalize CBD oil.
Kentucky
On Apr. 11, 2014, Gov. Steve Beshear signed SB 124 into law, making Kentucky the third state to legalize CBD oil. On Mar. 12, Kentucky's Senate unanimously approved the bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Julie Denton. On Mar, 26, the House did the same. The new law alows the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville med schools to conduct research into CBD oil and provide it to patients enrolled in the trial program.
Iowa
On Apr. 9, 2014, the House Public Safety Committee passed a CBD oil bill by a 13-5 margin. The legislation, already been approved by the Senate, is strictly intended for patients with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. It allows for possession of a six-months supply (32 ounces) and calls for the University of Iowa to conduct a CBD study. Patients will need to go out-of-state (presumably to Colorado) to acquire the oil. On May 30, Gov. Terry Branstad signd the bill into law, making Iowa the eighth state to legalize CBD oil.
MIssissippi
On Apr. 17, 2014, Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill named for two-year-old Harper Grace Durval, making Mississippi the fifth state to legalize CBD oil. The bill calls for the National Center for Natural Products Research in Oxford to produce the medicine.
Missouri
On May 1, 2014, the Missouri House (136-12) and Senate (unanimous) passed CBD-only leglislation.The bill directs the state's Department of Agricultiure to set up a system for non-profit applicants to produyce the oil under Health and Senior Services guidelines. Patients who suffer from seizures must prove that other treatment regimens have failed. On July 18, Gov. Jay Nixon signed the bill, making Missouri the 11th state to legalize CBD oil.
North Carolina
On June 27, 2014 the state legislature passed CBD-oil bills (there was only on nay vote). The legislation calls for a trial study to be conducted by the state's top four universities - UNC, Duke, Wake Forest and East Carolina. Th primarry focus is making making the oil avaialble to youngsters who suffer from seizures. Neurologists are responsble for providing the medicine. Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill into law into law on July 3, making North Carolina the 10th state to legalize CBD oil.
South Carolina
CBD oil legislation passed South Carolina's House (92-5) and Senate (unanimous), and became law on May 28, 2014 when Gov. Nikki Haley did not veto the bill, making South Carolina the seventh state to legalize CBD oil. Th bill requires a clinical trial to be established at the University of South Carolina.
Tennessee
Last May, Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill that directs Tennessee Tech University to create a research program to study the efficacy of CBD oil used to prevent seizures, making Tennessee the sixth state to legalize CBD oil. The University is required to provide oil to other schools of medicine. All research must be completed by 2018.
Utah
On Mar. 25, 2014, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed HB 105 into law, making Utah the first state to legalize CBD oil. On Mar. 11, Utah's Senate unanimously passed the bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Gage Froerer, which instructs the state's Department to Agriculture to grow low-THC industrial hemp for the purpose of producing cannabis oil. Known as the "Plants Extracts Amendment," the bill allows Utah resdients to acquire the medicine in Colorado and bring it back to Utah.
Virginia
After sailing through Virginia's Senate, the House version of SB 1235 received a unanimous 98-0 vote in favor on Feb. 10. The bill would prevent patients from being prosecuted for using cannabis oil for seizure-related conditions. It's expected to be signed by Democrartic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, making Virginia the 12th state to legalize CBD oil.
Wisconsin
On Apr. 16, 2014, Gov. Scott Walker signed  AB 726 into law, making Wisconsin the fourth state to legalize CBD oil. It's unclear where and by whom the oil is going to be produced.
Two other states have also weighed in on the CBD oil issue:
Georgia
HB 885CBD oil legislation known as Haleigh's Hope Act (named for four-year-old Haleigh Cox), failed to receive a Senate vote after sailing through Georgia's House on Mar. 4, 2014. However, in May, Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executiuve order calling for a study. The British firm GW Pharmaceuticals and Georgia Regents University ared collaborating on the research. The legislation is being reintroduced for the 2015 session.
New York
On June 3, 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state has entered into an agreement with GW Pharmaceuticals to investigate the efficacy of cannabidiol use by children suffering from the seizure disorders Dravet's syndrome and Lennox-Gastuat syndrome. The clinical trials will take place at hospitals, universities and medical colleges. GW is already working with NYU's Langone Medical Center on a trial involving 60 children and their CBD product, Epidiolex. New York passed a broader medical marijuana bill on June 20.
For more info about states with pending marijuana legislation, go here.

Marijuana’s Long Term Effects On The Brain Finally Revealed


Marijuana’s Long Term Effects On The Brain Finally Revealed



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With a drug war against marijuana still raging in more countries than not, the question of how long-term marijuana use effects the human brain is a pivotal question in its legalization.  Although alcohol remains legal despite heaps of evidence to the dangers of long-term use, the fight to make marijuana available both with regard to its medical properties (especially in selectively killing cancer cells) and non-medical uses has frequently hinged on the various claims made about marijuana’s effects on the recreational user.
Luckily, the debate can finally move out from the realm of opinion into scientific evidence as researchers from the University of Texas just published their research into the long-term effects of marijuana use on the brain in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
The researcher helped dispel the dying myth that marijuana use lowers IQ, and actually provides more evidence to marijuana’s potential role in fighting Alzheimer’s. The research revealed that earlier onset of regular marijuana use leads to greater structural and functional connectivity in the brain. The most significant increases in connectivity appear as an individual begins using marijuana, with results showing that the severity of use is directly correlated to greater connectivity.
Although these results will need to be confirmed with a larger sample (this was based on roughly 100 participants), the preliminary results seemed promising. More research needed to be done in order to see if these differences are caused by, or simply associated with, long term marijuana use. The UT study also found reduced gray matter in the OFC (orbitofrontalcortex) in long-term users (which is a brain region associated with addiction). It was unclear whether this region is simply smaller in regular users (explaining their regular use) or if the use actually contributed to structural brain changes.

A more recent follow-up study (yes, we edit articles with new information) published in the Journal of Neuroscience, also with 100 people (50 adolescents and 50 adults) found no significant differences in brain structure relating to daily or non-daily cannabis consumption. Which pokes holes in the interpretation that cannabis consumption was the driver in the gray matter differences seen in University of Texas study.
These results will also need to be viewed in light of other researcher showing that cannabinoids actually promote brain cell growth/regrowth (neurogenesis) even in adults. Why this could possibly remain illegal anywhere, is an important question, and hopefully people will continue to inform themselves and others on the topic.


Read more: http://www.exposingtruth.com/marijuanas-long-term-effects-brain-finally-revealed/#ixzz3Rgdn94xF
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Oklahoma House approves study of cannabis oil applications


Oklahoma House approves study of cannabis oil applications

Posted: Friday, February 13, 2015 12:00 am
The Oklahoma House has overwhelmingly approved legislation authorizing a statewide study into clinical trials on certain patients with severe forms of epilepsy  using  an oil derived from the marijuana plant.
House members voted 98-2 for the measure Wednesday and sent it to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.
The bill’s author, Republican Rep. Jon Echols of Oklahoma City, says the bill authorizes an investigation into the use of cannabidiol in children with epilepsy.
Last year, Gov. Mary Fallin asked lawmakers to support the legalization of cannabidiol but said she remained opposed to legalizing all medical marijuana.
Research suggests the oil may be effective to treat toddlers with rare conditions that cause seizures and strokes. Fallin has said cannabidiol could be “potentially life-saving” for some children.

The special science of marijuana making

The special science of marijuana making

by Ray Still, reporter for the Bonney Lake/Sumner Courier Herald

Washington's Smoke Signals
Image Credit: The Reporter & Courier-Herald
Artist: Brandy Pickering


With the passage of I-502 in 2012, development of marijuana legislation and marijuana research has surged to unprecedented levels. In an attempt to clearly translate new laws and research, the Reporter and Courier-Herald will examine these issues in a four-part series. Part four of this series addresses information about the cannabis plant and the chemicals it produces.
While research on the long-term health effects of marijuana use and Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC have only just begun, the cannabis plant itself has been thoroughly studied. The anatomy of the plant is well-known; the iconic five-leaf plant is easily recognizable in popular culture. The science of growing and processing the cannabis plant is also well documented and studied, giving both businesses and medical dispensaries innumerable ways to utilize the plant. On a chemical level, we know how THC affects the human brain and can even synthesize those same chemicals in a lab. Consider this your Cannabis 101 class - the science behind the plant.
The cannabis plant
One of the first things people learn about cannabis and marijuana is there are countless different strains of marijuana. 
However, there are three general subspecies of cannabis: cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. The current cannabis market for medical cannabis and recreational marijuana focus on cannabis sativa and cannabis indica for their chemical content. 
Cannabis sativa tends to grow closer to the equator and in warmer climates. The plant is tree-like, growing tall and thin with thin leaves.
When the sativa plant is dried and smoked, it is reputed to give users an uplifting or energetic high.
Cannabis indica is naturally grown further away from the equator in colder climates. The plant is shorter and bushier than its cousin with wider leaves.
Highs from the indica plant tend to be more relaxing and calming, and may induce the stereotypical stoner “couch lock”.
While many cannabis and marijuana users will stand by the various effects of cannabis sativa versus cannabis indica, marijuana producer and processor Jonathan Swartz of Sylica Phoenix would dispute this. 
“Indicas and sativas have a reputation for producing a certain effect,” Swartz said. “But I would challenge anyone to prove and demonstrate an indica or sativa that is purely an indica or sativa, so they can say this is what the effect is.”
The confusion, Swartz said, comes from the fact many cannabis plants have been mixed genetically, crossing sativa genes with indica genes. 
“We have Grape-Wreck; Grape Ape (an indica strain) and Train Wreck (a sativa strain) mixed together,” said Swartz. “People think it is an indica but no, it’s a hybrid with apparently indica characteristics.”
Peter Pessiki of Integrity Labs, which tests cannabis and marijuana products for quality control, said that it is not yet known why sativa strains and indica strains produce different effects, although researchers guess there are secondary chemicals in the plant may cause the different effects. 
Products sold in stores or dispensaries typically come from the female plant. In order to control cannabis sub-strains, which in turn controls the THC and chemical content of the plant, male plants have to be carefully controlled in order to prevent the accidental pollination of an entire female batch. 
According to Swartz, when a female plant is pollinated, it ends the plant’s flowering process early, halts THC production and produces seeds, all of which the market would prefer to avoid in plants meant to be used for products.
The female flower buds are typically harvested from the terminal cola, which is located at the top of the plant. However, buds can be found at many sites along the plant. 
The buds themselves are composed of tight bunches of small leaves and calyxes, tear-shaped nodules that contain the glands that secrete THC and other chemicals, known as cannabinoids. 
These glands, or trichomes, are found in abundance in the buds, but can also be found on the stem and leaves of the cannabis plant as well. 
Processing the plant
The cannabis plant can be processed several different ways to get it ready for consumption.
Many do-it-yourself websites, like Marijuana Growers HQ, explain that drying the cannabis plant after harvesting it is extremely important.
One way to dry the plant is to hang it on a line, use mesh screens, or a drying cage. 
A different process is needed for extracts and edibles.
According to CannLabs, another cannabis testing company, many cannabis processors soak the plant in a solvent, such as butane, isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, to begin the extraction process. 
THC and other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant bond to the liquid solvent and are pulled off the plant. 
The plant materials, sans cannabinoids, are then filtered out of the solvent mixture. 
The solvent is also removed, leaving only the cannabinoids from the plant ready to be mixed into food products like chocolates or brownies, or even put into gel capsules for consumption.
Sylica Phoenix uses butane for their extraction process, and their end-product is 80 percent plus THC extract. 
Other methods for extracting cannabinoids from the cannabis plant include using carbon dioxide (CO2), water and dry sieves, each resulting in different potency and chemical content.
Cannabinoids and other chemicals
Cannabinoids are the active chemicals in cannabis. The University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute has said there are 66 classified cannabinoids, although several cannabis information websites claim there are more than 85 cannabinoids in the plant. 
The most commonly-known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive chemical many researchers believe is responsible for the high users receive when consuming marijuana. 
However, you can’t just chow down on a raw cannabis plant to get buzzed. 
The cannabis plant creates a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA.
According to Pessiki, THCA is not psychoactive because the chemical is attached to a carboxylic acid. 
“With that group on there, it does not have any of the psychological effects,” Pessiki said. “It doesn’t get you stoned.”
Pessiki said THCA must undergo a form of combustion in order to activate the chemical.
“By heating it, you lose carbon dioxide, CO2, and once it spits out that CO2 molecule, it is now active and ready to interact with your brain,” he said.
When THCA becomes active, it turns into THC delta-9, which is a more specific way to refer to psychoactive THC. 
Swartz said consuming cannabis and THCA without combustion, “is like eating grass.” 
A lesser-known cannabinoid is cannabidiol. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cannabidiol (CBD) has been used for medical treatments and for treating epilepsy. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning it won’t get a user high like THC, and has been used to treat pain, psychosis and addiction to other substances.
When THC and CBD are consumed, these cannabinoids affect the endocannabinoid system in a person’s brain. 
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, human brains already produce cannabinoid chemicals naturally.
These natural cannabinoids and cannabis cannabinoids are very similar in shape on a molecular level, which is why THC and CBD can affect the human brain. 
The natural cannabinoid that is similar to THC is called anandamide.
The natural cannabinoids, however, are weaker versions than THC and CBD, and are broken down in the brain more easily. 
Because THC and CBD are stronger chemicals, they affect the brain for longer than the natural chemicals.
Other chemicals found in cannabis include terpenes. According to scientific staff at Integrity Labs, terpenes give cannabis strains specific odors, which range from typical skunk smell of marijuana to the citrus scent of Night Train, according to the Medical Marijuana Strains website.
Flavinoids are also found in cannabis, and when smoked, can give the user unique tastes, from a woody and earthy taste to key lime pie.

How To Get A Job In The Marijuana Industry: Q&A With Tweed Inc.


How To Get A Job In The Marijuana Industry: Q&A With Tweed Inc.

(Photo: Tweed Inc.)


The growth of the cannabis industry is creating career opportunities that have never existed before. We asked one company about how to land one.

For Canadians, the switch to a commercial medical marijuana system that is predicted to generate billions means that companies are hiring fast.
One of those companies is Tweed Inc., a newly licensed producer based in Smith Falls, Ontario. The company expects to create over a 100 jobs once operations are in full swing.
We spoke to Chris Murray, Director of Medical Education and Outreach at Tweed, about what businesses are looking for when it comes to new hires.
Q: How much hiring has Tweed done so far? Are there any jobs still available?
Over the past few months, we’ve started to expand from our initial core team. I joined the Tweed team in December to focus on the medical education and practitioner communication side of things.
As we progressed towards being approved, we started moving forward with hiring. We’ve already hired a total of 9 people in various levels. We also have fantastic local construction workers and contractors that have been amazing with their commitment to building up Tweed.
But right now, we still have a couple more positions to hire in terms of production assistants, and a medical liaison to help with educating practitioners.
Q: What job opportunities are there at a company like Tweed?
For us, being one of the largest producers in Canada, there’s obviously a focus on the production side of things. We have our master grower, our section growers, and our production assistants. And as our capacity continues to grow, those roles will multiply.
“There’s obviously a focus on the production side”Beyond production we have our customer care team, which mostly consists of customer support agents who communicate with patients through phone or email. Eventually there will be roles to help evaluate and improve the process of addressing patients’ needs.
The medical side is also an area with reasonable promise for growth. We have a medical liaison position open and we’ll likely have some sort of event management role, specifically involved with outreach to practitioners, whether it be through one-on-one academic detailing or communicating to practitioners through conferences and continuing medical education events.
There’s also our quality assurance team, who are responsible for laboratory analysis of products and concentrations of different cannabinoids based on Health Canada requirements.
Q: Are there any special qualifications for getting hired in this industry?
I don’t think so. Because where we stand as an industry, there isn’t really a place to draw from. Unless you’re to consider recreationally growing cannabis as a specific requirement.
But there’s not a lot of people who have experience growing medical cannabis in a commercial indoor facility. You do get relevant experience growing other products in a commercial indoor facility, like a greenhouse, so it helps to have that.
Tweed's grow facility, which currently houses over 10,000 plants (Photo: Tweed Inc.)
Tweed’s grow facility currently houses over 10,000 plants (Photo: Tweed Inc.)
On the medical side, I think the most important qualification is someone who has a proven track record of learning. Because when you look at something like marijuana, where the evidence is so broad-spectrum and continually changing, it’s important to be able to adapt. It’s also important to be able to communicate that information to practitioners.
Q: Why would someone want to work in the marijuana industry?
The reason I wanted to be involved with this opportunity is based on looking at cannabis as a whole – the amount of research and what it’s said to do, and has done, for so many people. Therapeutically, the things that it can do are exceptional.
My background has been in medical education, such as taking dense research and turning it into information that the general public reads, or what practitioners base what they do on.
So to be part of something that can change healthcare in an incredibly positive way is the appeal for me. I truly think, as this industry develops, that you will see a change in the landscape of how it’s prescribed and thought of by practitioners.
Q: Can employees use cannabis on the job?
There’s certain situations where it’s ill-advised. But then again we don’t have any roles involving heavy machinery. If someone is using it for medication and feels they need to use it while they’re working, I don’t think there would be any issues with that. But our official policy is to decide on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Are there any special perks of working at Tweed (i.e. discounts, stock options)?
I get asked a lot about whether I get discounts or free samples or need someone to test product. But as far as our operations are concerned, I don’t think we’ll be having any discounts.
We are looking at getting listed on the TSX, and there is an options pool that we’re in the process of developing. Our goal is to have people looking at working with Tweed as being a company they can grow with as well. So having that available for employees I think is important.

Dating app targets pro-marijuana singles

Dating app targets pro-marijuana singles



DENVER - You knew it was only a matter of time.
Denver company has designed a dating app for those who like to toke up and find their soul mate at the same time.
"High There" is similar to Tinder. Singles can make dating profiles that other users can peruse through the array of options.
"I hated dating on other sites and apps because, as soon as the idea of my cannabis consumption came up - date over," CEO Todd Mitchem told the Fast Company blog Co.Exist. "I actually walked out of a date [after paying, of course] and said to myself 'that's it.'"
Another thing that makes the app different is it ranks users' level of pot utilization from "lazy" to "vape usage." That way, singles don't get matched with someone who likes to pack a bowl versus ingest pot-laced brownies.
High There! is only accessible in states that have legalized cannabis for recreational or medicinal use.

Pot-based sex spray for women hitting Colorado shelves


Pot-based sex spray for women hitting Colorado shelves

DENVER — A new pot spray promising to help women have better sex will hit the shelves in Colorado next week.
Foria, which contains marijuana extract, claims the relaxing properties of cannabis will help women have better and more satisfying sex. It's been available for a few months in California, but only to people with a medical marijuana card and doctor's recommendation. The edible coconut oil-based spray — users spritz it on their genitals about 30 minutes before sex — goes on sale to the general public in Colorado next week at an Aspen marijuana boutique.
Foria, from Aphrodite Group, a California medical marijuana cooperative, is the latest in a burgeoning line of marijuana-infused products, from lotions to candies to patches. And while there's little scientific evidence to back up their efficacy, scientists say marijuana's long history of use gives significant credibility to the concept.

"Cannabis is an aphrodisiac," said Genifer Murray, CEO of CannLabs, one of the nation's largest marijuana-testing companies. "And there's a lot of nerves down there."
What sets Foria apart, industry experts say, is its slick marketing campaign that's driving significant interest from customers. The company is launching Foria in Colorado at the X Games in Aspen, which begin Jan. 22. A video on the company's website features women speaking openly about how they use it and its effects. Foria claims to be the first sexual lubricant designed specifically to improve sex for women.
"We definitely have patients coming in for it, requesting it specifically. ... A-list celebrities that come in specifically for it. You'd be surprised who comes in for it," said Matthew Rosen of the CannaSutra co-op in Studio City, Calif. "Most people have been giving positive feedback on it."
Among those giving positive feedback: Rosen's own girlfriend. "We tried it together and she loved it," he said.
Foria isn't cheap. In California, medical marijuana patients "donate" money instead of buying products, and they donate about $44 for a 10ml bottle. Each spritz contains about 2mg of THC, the component of marijuana that normally gets people high. But marijuana plants contain dozens of other chemical compounds, and Foria's makers say their proprietary blend generates heightened sensation but doesn't get the user high.
Murray said there's been an explosion in marijuana-infused product offerings, many of them little more than snake oil trading on the trendiness of legal marijuana.
Colorado and Washington state both allow recreational sales and use of marijuana, and Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia also have legalized but not yet started recreational sales. Because Foria is a marijuana product but not a prescription medicine, anyone 21 or older can buy it over the counter from a legal pot shop. Initially, Foria will be offered only at the Native Roots chain of marijuana stores in Colorado.
In Colorado, many of those recreational marijuana stores carry marijuana-infused lotions, including the "Legalize Lotion" line from Apothecanna. Users say the lotions can ease pain and relax muscles, which is pretty much what Foria claims to do. Some massage therapists in Denver are even offering "Mile High" massages with pot-infused oil, which customers say is incredibly relaxing.
Murray said she's tried out several different kinds of pain rubs, along with Foria.
"If this can help women have orgasms, I'm all about that," Murray said.
And did it work for her? "No comment," she said with a laugh.


Colorado florists offer pot-themed Valentine's Day bouquets

Colorado florists offer pot-themed Valentine's Day bouquets


DENVER — You had to know it would happen: Colorado florists are offering marijuana floral arrangements for Valentine's Day.
"You can't do a lot because the smell is so overwhelming. It's more of a little accent here and there," said Cindy Ollig, owner of the Perfect Petal in Denver.
Recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado for more than a year, and many retail pot shops take pride in selling intact marijuana "buds," rather than the compressed or ground-up marijuana often found on the illegal market.

Ollig said marijuana fans, especially those who own stores, love to incorporate the cannabis plant into their lives. She said incorporating marijuana isn't all that different than giving chocolate or wine. This summer she provided marijuana-themed floral arrangements for a wedding between two pot dispensary owners.
"They have great budgets and wanted to give a nod to their business," she said with a laugh.
Ollig's phone has been ringing off the hook after her business was featured in a story by the Denver Post's Cannabist section Thursday morning.

To stay within the law, the customer must provide the marijuana, and the florist cannot deliver the completed arrangements; they must be picked up by the buyer.
Ollig isn't the only florist incorporating marijuana into bouquets. Another Colorado florist, Buds & Blossoms, makes wedding arrangements, and boasts "you can take the buds from your bouquet or 'budonniere' and put it straight into your bowl."
The marijuana-themed bouquets are the latest development in the fast-growing legal cannabis industry in Colorado and Washington state.
Last month, a California-based company introduced in Colorado a marijuana-infused sexual lubricant for women that claims to help them relax. And marijuana store shelves are stocked with pot-infused candies, cookies and brownies as "ganjapreneuers" race to market with products that remain illegal across the rest of the country.