Ohio, Guns, & Housewife Highs
Ohio, Guns, & Housewife Highs
Plus: Is hemp even real?
Monday, December 11, 2023
Time to read: About 5 minutes. Contains 1,077 words.
Good morning!
I know it’s been a while since I dove deep on a Friday. This week, I’m making up for lost time with an eye-opening breakdown separating fact from unintentional fiction in regards to hemp and cannabis.
It all started when a reader responded to my last mention of the rise of hemp-derived Delta 9 with a simple observation that pretty much broke my brain: “there is no such thing as hemp-derived THC. There is just THC. It’s all the same thing.” Although I knew that hemp and cannabis are the same plant, I still had the idea that hemp-derived THC was being extracted in a way that the final form differs in substance from what is available in a licensed dispensary from full-on cannabis plants.
So, after a little back and forth, I took all my cannabis plant knowledge, my synthetic cannabinoid baggage, and went to the most qualified source in my Rolodex—a neuroscientist who’s studied cannabis for almost 20 years, worked closely with cultivators as she conducted NIH-funded preclinical and clinical research, and reviewed literally thousands of Certificates of Analysis from labs across the country. I’ll share our conversation and all of the clarifications and realizations therein in this Friday’s newsletter for paid subscribers.
Also coming soon for paid subs: a podcast episode featuring a candid, unedited conversation with Mary Pryor, the lauded cannabis advocate, Cannaclusive co-founder, and founder of cannabis brand, Sheba Baby!
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One-Hitters: Cannabis News at a Glance
Dean Phillips, the Minnesota moderate gunning for a spot in the Democratic primary, fired weed-fueled shots at President Biden in recent campaign stops, stating that he doubts Biden ever “smelled weed, let alone smoked it.” If Phillips were to make it all the way to the White House, cannabis legalization in some form would be slightly more likely.
Good news from Ohio: most of the last-minute changes that Ohio Senate Republicans attempted to make to the law didn’t pass, and the voter-approved legislation went into effect last Thursday. Home grow abilities remain intact, but the number of household plants was cut to six. Unfortunately, the higher 15% tax on purchases and 50% THC cap for cannabis extracts made it through. Those are two big reasons for consumers to continue buying from non-licensed operations.
Not so great news for small weed cos. in New York: multistate operators with medical marijuana licenses get to enter the adult-use market on December 29, and the state’s Cannabis Growers Showcase program—a boon for farms dealing with a glut of product—is coming to an end. Every single purchase will matter in the coming months; consumers have to shop wisely and support the NY companies they wish to see survive.
Six Democratic governors signed a letter to President Biden urging him to see that the Drug Enforcement Administration reschedules cannabis to Schedule III before the end of 2023, citing that 88 percent of Americans are in favor of legalization for medical or recreational use and how supporting the state-regulated marketplace is “essential for the safety of the American people.”
2023 was hard on CBD beauty. Sephora dropped a ton of brands from their virtual shelves, brands big and small called it quits, and Allure declared the death of CBD in July. Glossy recently covered one brand that’s keeping the faith, Muri Lelu, and when asked why, the founder basically replied, ‘Because it works.’ I completely agree. I saw faster healing results on my skin with CBD face oils by TONIC or Blunt Skincare than I did that damn overhyped Vintner’s Daughter serum. Rave reviews pile on Fitish’s CBD lip balm. Vertly and Saint Jane are going strong. CBD beauty isn’t dead, and the proof is in the moisturized, less-prone-to-cracking pudding. I think the brands with quality products that market them wisely will see their patience rewarded—Muri Lelu saw a 50% increase in DTC sales this year.
The New York Times highlights the tension unfolding in multiple states where you will be denied the ability to own a firearm if you report cannabis use, medical or otherwise. As always, the comment section is an illuminating temperature check on public sentiment.
In a relatively notable moment for modern cannabis culture, a weed dinner party happened on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills over the past couple of episodes. Did it make cannabis seem more accessible? I’m not sure, but I do appreciate The Herbal Chef’s Chris Sayegh showing how experienced chefs are able to customize doses for mixed company. Each guest was able to request their ideal amount for custom doses, including zero if preferred. Or, in Sutton Stracke’s unexpected case, you could just light up the joint you brought from home.
Friendly bong spotting in one of Vanity Fair’s gift guides: hi, Yew Yew! I confirmed the wavy bong mention was not a paid placement—it’s good to know that I’m not the only writer still including items purely because I dig them. Edie Parker’s jewelry collab and a pack of Weekenders joints made it into that Maximum Chill guide as well.
High Finds: Lifestyle Goods I Like
Anyone else counting down the hours until Poor Things hits theaters later this week? I’ve been looking forward to the phantasmagoric Frankenstein riff since the first peeks of Emma Stone’s jet-black dye job. Based on what the trailer shows of the film’s colorful, retro-futuristic world, I feel like Doble Reina’s Perla Negra Bubbler would look at home in Willem Dafoe’s laboratory.
Speaking of cinematic experiences, I absolutely love the secret agent stoner vibes of Puebco’s Empty Book Stash Box. The interiors are velvet-lined, and you can pick your favorite of four vintage-looking book covers.
Gossamer has launched its first line of accessories, and I think they’re a sign of trends to come. The three-piece Nesting Set includes a sleek one-hitter, a more ceremonial, passable pipe, and a grooved tray that fits both pipes perfectly inside, all made of jade-colored glass and contained with a fitted cover. Moving forward, all upscale pieces need to deliver the same kind of all-encompassing elements—the way fine jewelry comes with cleaning cloths, and luxury purses come with dust bags.
The pipe that I’m giving my old-school relatives who’ve smoked the same piece for 40 years includes an optional filter and a poker that fits in the piece when not in use.
Any other remotely cannabis-related gift I’m giving this year can be found in Our Dream‘s Gift Guide, an opus of a seasonal roundup featuring 39 BIPOC-founded brands.
Professional lighter of trees 🎄,
Lauren Yoshiko