MMJ: Pollen and Protocol

Every time I smoke weed, I break out in a rash and my face swells up. This is a drag, because I like to get high sometimes. Are there any strains that won’t make me swell up? Also, where can I get some vegan, gluten-free treats? - Your Cousin’s Homie

You may be allergic to weed. It’s a drag, but it happens to some folks. Cannabis is a plant, plants have pollen, people are often sensitive to plant pollen, yada yada. At this point, you have two choices: Stop smoking weed, or go see an allergist to make sure that you are in fact allergic to cannabis and not just having an allergic reaction to some random mold or other pathogen that may have snuck into your bag of weed. If it turns out that it’s something in the weed, you can take steps to minimize your risk by only smoking cannabis that has been lab-tested.

As to the vegan, gluten-free edibles thing, Korova makes some good ones. Also, dark chocolate bars should be vegan and gluten-free. You can also make your own. All you need is some cannabis-infused olive oil and a vegan cookbook.

Now weed is legal, I want to open my own cannabusiness. What should I do? - Ganj Trepanuer

Hold your horses. Weed is legal, but the regulations have yet to be written. Also, you didn’t tell me what kind of business you want to start. Growing? Selling? Social club? Billboard company? (I see so many pot-themed billboards all over the West Coast, it’s almost ridiculous.)

Get your business plan together. Weed isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. Everybody and their stoner uncle wants to get into the market, so don’t just think you are gonna show up and smash the game. 2018 is when the new regualtions go into effect, so now is the time to learn as much as you can about the new rules (http://bmcr.ca.gov will keep you up to date) so you will be ready to go once the gates are open.

Now is also a good time to talk to your local officials about how they plan to welcome the cannabis industry. Many cities and counties are still opposed to cannabis in general, so now is the time to start getting your council members and supervisors on the right track. Remind them that under the new law, if they don’t allow any cannabusiness, they don’t get a cut of the tax money. And since weed is a billion-dollar crop in California, your city officials could be costing your town millions of dollars due to their intransigence.