News&Comment

Under pressure from weed consumers, California regulators hustle to start testing for pesticides

By Paige St. John Staff Writer  July 23, 2024  Under intense pressure from millions of weed users, California officials are scrambling to test cannabis products for pesticides following a Times investigation last month revealing that regulators have failed to keep vapes and pre-rolls rife with toxic chemicals out of stores. The revelation shook consumer confidence in…
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Dear pot community

How appellations work EDITOR: Your July 7 article about the cannabis appellation program is accompanied by two large photos of a proud local grower’s plants in bags of potting soil (“North Coast pot farms embracing appellation”). The article discusses the grower’s plan to build a greenhouse to provide customers with three “expressions” of growing — indoor,…
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1 In 5 Auto Accident Deaths Now Involves Marijuana Use

BY: JEFFREY H. ANDERSONJULY 02, 2024 Marijuana use has risen dramatically, and it’s killing Americans — so why does the Biden White House want to make the problem worse? The recent trend toward greenlighting the use of marijuana is mystifying on myriad levels. Why ban cigarette smoke in restaurants but let outdoor dining be spoiled by marijuana…
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California’s pot economy is crashing. What comes next?

California no longer sells the most weed in AmericaCalifornia’s cannabis economy is crashing as brands go out of business. What comes next?By Lester Black,Cannabis editorJune 11, 2024 Vince Ning has a singular perspective on California’s weed industry. He’s the CEO and co-founder of Nabis, the state’s largest pot distribution company, which interacts with every single pot…
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The dirty secret of California’s legal weed

An L.A. Times/WeedWeek investigation finds alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products at dispensaries across the state By Paige St. John  and Alex Halperin June 14, 2024  Aging yuppies in neon beachwear stand before a green wall with the catchphrase “You have changed … so has cannabis.” The social media post is part of“Real CA Cannabis,” a…
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A new threat to cannabis users: Smuggled Chinese pesticides

Charred remnants of illegal toxic pesticides burned in a California cannabis grow. (Paige St. John / Los Angeles Times)By Paige St. John Staff Writer June 14, 2024 3 AM PT  In coordinated raids last September, multiple California agencies stormed a network of illegal cannabis-growing warehouses across Oakland while state cannabis regulators singled out a salmon-colored warehouse complex surrounded…
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Strong Link Between Teen Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk

FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology ·May 22, 2024 Summary: A new study finds a strong association between teen cannabis use and a significantly increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. This risk appears to be age-dependent, with adolescents being particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis on their developing brains. While further research is needed, these findings raise concerns about early…
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What You Aren’t Hearing About Marijuana’s Health Effects – WSJ

Bertha Madras, a leading expert on weed, outlines the science linking itto psychiatric disorders, permanent brain damage, and other seriousharms. By Allysia Finley FollowMay 10, 2024 3:13 pm ET Young people who smoked marijuana in the 1960s were seen as part of thecounterculture. Now the cannabis culture is mainstream. A 2022 surveycounterculture. Now the cannabis…
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Contaminated Pot – California Weed Recall Sparks Warning for People to Call Their Doctor

By Matthew Impelli A weed recall in California has sparked a warning from officials for people to call their doctors if they experience symptoms after using the product. Earlier this month, the California Department of Cannabis Control announced a mandatory recall for single “CANNDESCENT CALIFORNIA 100% WHOLE FLOWER PRE-ROLLS,” over concerns that they may be contaminated…
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As legal pot farms expand, so do air pollution worries

Colorado plans major study of emissions from indoor growing facilities BOULDER, COLORADO—Atmospheric scientist William Vizuete grew his dozen pot plants in a garage here, on shelves tucked between some bicycles and a lawn mower. The researcher at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill wasn’t looking for a high—just data. His team aimed to…
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