“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
Psychedelics
Home grow and community networks are thriving over the service center framework. In 2021 I remember walking into my local market and seeing mono-tubs and mason jars in giant stacks because everyone and their neighbor was starting a little grow. I did during that time and would yield about an ounce a day. It did disrupt the market price for mushrooms for a while. They have since stabilized, and the home grower has prevailed. In Portland we have mushroom supply shops to make the process and information about tek and genetics more accessible. WIN!
Cannabis
HAPPY HARVEST EVERYONE! We are definitely stoked to see some gorgeous nugs this winter. I am kind of looking forward to seeing who is on the landrace trend and support that heirloom lineage. We love our sun-grown farms and the delicate dance they perform as the rains start to roll in and the “choptober” memes start rolling in… but I digress.
WE FUCKING WON AND IT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL!!! March 2023 a new regulation came into effect that stated all cannabis products had to be tested for Aspergillus. If product failed, it could be remediated through chemical, UV, or irradiation and tested again. For small farmers, paying to double test multiple quantities of one batch could have meant their entire profit for that harvest. While it might have been a drop in the bucket for large scale grows, it was devastating for the small farm.
It was further discovered that the group Medicinal Genomics, who lobbied for this strange regulation, was backed financially by an anti-drug organization towards this effort. What’s more is the remediation company, VIST was selling testing and remediation processes with greatly inconsistent results, and gambling with farmers’ livelihoods. The science was bad, and the solution is even worse.
WE WON THOUGH! A group of farmers and a cannabis trade group filed a suit with regulators citing unfounded reasons for the Aspergillus testing requirement. Both regulator groups conceded, and a pause was put on the testing regulation and started to accept flower into the market that had not passed within the window of the active regulation. This is a HUGE FREAKIN DEAL! This sets a precedent that the industry can demand quality-oriented regulations. This means we can see better products and standards vetted within the industry and craft standards.
Connect with us on social @cheechable_world and keep up with advancements in evidence-based science for cannabis regulations.
Interface
AI has come under scrutiny as a professional tool since the mass adoption of ChatGPT and programs of the like. Artists with original works are outraged by the blatant plagiarism contained within the artificially produced visual and written compositions. In September the Authors Guild filed a suit against OpenAI regarding the chatbot’s production of derivative works, according to NYT. Authors involved in the suit include Grisham, Franzen, and Hilderbrand. As digital tech advances the ethics of content becomes murkier. Gatherverse is an excellent resource to view the latest products in immersive tech and ethics in emerging tech.