Marijuana Spot - Medical Marijuana - California Dispensaries - Legal Cannabis

Outdoor Weed ... A Fine California & West Coast Agricultural Product

It's an economic fact: A huge amount of outdoor weed is grown on the west coast. From Southern California to the top of Canada, outdoor weed is grown in vast fields all over these areas. Northern California and Washington being two of the main staples for outdoor growing. Outdoor weed has the potential to reach 12 even 14 feet tall, in the proper climates and growing conditions. This can result in bud yields as big as an adult's forearm

Outdoor weed allows the grower much more yield than growing indoors for the simple fact that the outdoors has more space for the plants to grow. The farmer can also usually plant more plants in the growing area. Outdoor weed growing operations usually contain thousands of plants, and multiple people tend to them. There are many hazards to growing outdoor weed, unexpected weather patterns, deer and other animals, and mites... This is not to even mention the legal ramifications: It takes a lot of effort to maintain outdoor grow operations. Outdoor weed is often times big budded indica, which grows well on the west coast.

Outdoor weed has a very fresh smell and flavor, which tends to seem less chemically-saturated then indoor weed. Heavy earthy tones are expected when smoking outdoor weed; it exudes almost a natural flavor. Outdoor weed tends to not cause headaches, or the stuffy headed feeling sometimes associated with marijuana, or the chemicals it was grown with when indoor.

Not that all outdoor weed is free of chemicals, but on a whole, usually has less then plants grown indoor. A lot of outdoor weed is grown with organic fertilizers and nutrients as to not mar the purity of the weed. Keeping it natural is usually a big part of outdoor growing. The growing seasons for outdoor weed are between March and October. When the cold seasons come if the outdoor weed begins to droop, or discolor, growers know it’s time for harvest.

Once harvested outdoor weed must be cured before it is consumed, the excess water weight must be expunged because the chlorophyll will cause an unpleasant taste, and a terrible headache. Also the weed won't burn if it is too wet. Outdoor weed and indoor weed alike are both cured for around 14 days. Most curing methods involve simply hanging the outdoor weed upside down in room-temperature room with good ventilation. After 2 weeks, the outdoor weed should be more than adequately dry and ready for use as the growers see fit.

Marijuana in Mainstream Culture

The L.A. Times image blog did a lengthy post today on the increasing pervasiveness of marijuana in all aspects of mainstream culture.  According to the Times:

The California Field Poll says drug references in popular music have multiplied like, well, weeds in the last three decades. Marijuana's presence on TV and in the movies has moved from the harbinger of bad things including murderous rage ("Reefer Madness" in 1936) to full-scale hauntings ("Poltergeist" in 1982) and burger runs gone awry ("Harold & Kumar go to White Castle" in 2001) to being just another fixture in the pop-culture firmament. Cannabis crops up on shows such as "Entourage," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "True Blood" and "Desperate Housewives," and even on animated shows such as "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."

Indeed marijuana is becoming more mainstream than cigarettes, which, Mad Men aside, have required a social stigma onscreen in recent years. How long can it be before TV and film characters begin visiting pot dispensaries as a matter of course?  If the trends keep up, it could be very soon indeed.

LINK [Marijuana's New High Life: LA Times]

Marijuana Dispensary in Long Beach Celebrates Grand Opening

You know medical marijuana in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is getting more and more accepted when a pot dispensary in Long Beach decides to announce its grand opening with a splashy press release on Market Wire!

That's right, August 8th marked the Grand Opening of the Cornerstone Health and Wellness medical marijuana dispensary in Long Beach, CA.  Located off the 710 freeway's "Willow St." exit, Cornerstone Health & Wellness dispensary specialized in "top strains only" and boast of a VIP "arcade video game challenge" -- with discounts for the winners -- for the entertainment of, perhaps, the dispensary's younger clientele.

Like the Roscoe Compassionate Collective, Cornerstone Health & Wellness gave away free pot and complimentary medical marijuana at their grand opening.  No word on if this offer still holds...

Additionally, you won't want to miss the Cornerstone Dispensary's early bird special -- 10% off pot product purchased before 10 AM...

LINK: [Cornerstone Health & Wellness Marijuana Dispensary, Long Beach]

"Sativex," a New Cannabis-Based Medication, Is Legal in Canada

Who knew? 

A cannabis-derived drug called Sativex, meant to help mutliple sclerosis patients manage pain, is already legal in Canada.  The drug is administered orally, in liquid form, and has already become informally known as "liquid pot." 

Sativex has a long, informative Wikipedia entry if you're curious about the drug...

Evidently it's also been approved for upcoming FDA trials, although one would never know for all the publicity this has received...

Finally, if you're interested in Sativex's effect on the American Drug war and the medical marijuana battles in California and beyond, then you might check out Reason Magazine's piece  "If Sativex Works, So Does Pot."

Edible Marijuana: Funny Pictures

We just stumbled across the "Baked Life" blog -- which has a funny photo gallery this month of various "edible marijuana" products.  From chronic cola to frisky brownies to mint flavored cannabinol spray, there were some very funny pictures there. 

We're always on the lookout for stuff like this. 

Seen a funny picture of a marijuana product or pot food gimmick lately?  Be sure to hit us up in the comments section and we'll definitely pots it here.

LINK: [Baked Life Photo Gallery of Edible Marijuana Products]

Marijuana News and Links Roundup

• LAist has an interview this with week with both Cheech AND Chong.  Topics include the stoner duo's breakup in 1985 and Tommy Chong's arrest and incarceration on drug charges.  Incidentally, Chong looks like he's 80 years old these days... [Cheech & Chong Q&A - LAist]


• The recent out-of-control wildifres in Santa Barbara look like they were caused by an illegal marijuana farm and growing operation working at the behest of a Mexican crime syndicate... These idiots are giving pot growing a bad name! [Marijuana Farm Causes Wildfires - Suspects at Large in Forest]


• Brad Pitt is considering running for mayor of New Orleans on a platform that vaguely resembles John Lennon dressed up as a libertarian.  A key selling point: the legalization and taxation of marijuana. [Pitt and Legalization of Marijuana - Examiner.com]

Humbodlt County Marijuana Scene - The Weed Capital of California

Humboldt county grows some of the best marijuana in the state of California, which puts it up there in the running for best marijuana worldwide. Some people prefer weed from other regions but most people that know pot know that Humboldt weed has unparalleled taste and quality.

Humboldt County California marijuana grows eight hours North of San Francisco and is generally a beautifully refreshing, green part of California where many other plants trees and wildlife grow alongside the Humboldt county pot. It likely has something to do with the fact that Humboldt county marijuana is simply amazing.

There have been many articles on why Humbolt county has the best weed, but the issue is in the chemical makeup of the soil. Humboldt county has some of the best land for growing marijuana. Many people want to buy property in Humboldt County just to grow marijuana.

Many people come from all over the world to smoke weed from the best marijuana in Humboldt County.  And yes, the best marijuana worldwide.

Of course, there's also a popular movie by the name of "Humboldt County."  It's not a coincidence that the movie sources the marijuana up there.  We'll post about that fine weed flick some other time here on Marijuana Spot.

Marijuana Blog Roundup: California and Beyond

• Here's a funny and insightful roundup on marijuana law and pot's defacto legalization in California.  Says the blogger: "Make no mistake, we are talking defacto legalization with at least an estimated 300,000 persons now receiving medical cannabis in California.  The fact is that all most anyone over 45 (who s not extraordinarily lucky) has an aliment that qualifies for medical cannabis." [Prawfs Blog: Marijuana Law]


• Truth Dig reprints Alternet's recent expose on New York City's alarmingly high marijuana arrest rate and the social and legal implications thereof.  Incidentally, the Village Voice calls NYC the "marijuana arrest capital of the World," with 43,000 weed arrests since 1997. [Truth Dig: New York's War on Marijuana]


• Reports the Marijuana Policy Project: "The House sponsor of Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law, Rep. Thomas Slater, passed away today after a long battle with cancer.  In addition to championing the needs of seriously ill patients who could benefit from medical marijuana, he was the tireless advocate for the needy in his district..." [MPP Blog: Medical Marijuana Movement Loses a Champion.]

California Marijuana - An Ode to Green Bliss

California marijuana is the best marijuana in the world because in California, marijuana gets the perfect amount of sunshine and the perfect amount of breeze. California marijuana grows so well because the marijuana in California is given natural water from pure rain sources -- including rain-fed rivers and creeks and streams. California's natural resources help produce the best marijuana in these free and independent United States.

But why is California marijuana the best in this grand, sprawling nation? For the same reason California has glorious foliage, trees, and vineyards. Wind blows in from the Pacific Northwest and sprays a natural mist through the air -- carrying filtered water particles into the growing marijuana. California marijuana then becomes green and vibrant naturally. This wind comes from the ocean from the West coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

Why is California Marijuana the best?  Better than all the rest? Yes, Virginia, my purple-hazed pupil, the CLIMATE is why California marijuana is the best.

Marijuana in the New Yorker

It's no secret: marijuana has been the "Talk of the Town" for the better part of a century.  And with the recent explosion of legal pot dispensaries in California, cannabis is as much a juicy part of the national discourse as it ever was.  Oddly enough, the New Yorker has been there to comment on marijuana culture from the start.  Googling around today, we noticed that the magazine has a search tag for "marijuana," with articles dating back at least to the thirties. 

Among the highlights from the New Yorker's marijuana coverage througout history:

* David Samuels reports on the current state of the pot industry in California -- expounding on how the product is grow, distributed, and sold.  There's even a podcast where Samuels talks about the sources he interviewed and the California locations he visitied to assemble the story. 

LINK [The California Dream (includes podcast)]

* Old, old school reporter Meyer Berger delivers a 1938 sketch about "Tea" For a Viper: a visit to a hashish den in Harlem. Says Berger: "There are hundreds of these joints or tea pads, in Harlem. Some of them are very elegant. Hashish smokers dislike strong light, and all tea pads use blue lights..." Ha!

LINK: [Tea For a Viper]

* David France writes a cleverly titled Tallk of the Town piece called The Grass Menagerie regarding "Johann Moore, who runs the New York Medical Marijuana Buyers' Club. Every Tuesday night, from five-thirty to six-thirty, in the basement of a lower-Manhattan bar, members of the New York Medical Marijuana Buyers' Club gather to purchase pot for medical needs..." Even in 1996 the medical marijuana community was keeping it strong in NYC!

LINK [The Grass Menagerie]