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"In New York, my bicycle messenger really had two types of cannabis. It was either green or brown." Michael Ray is the CEO of Bloom Farms, a California-based cannabis company that specializes in vape cartridges and CBD tinctures. Ray's reflecting on cannabis's current cultural explosion. As an increasing number of states fully legalize it, alongside countries like Canada, the curtain of illegitimacy is slowly lifting. For the first time, cannabis can be explored and experimented with in plain sight. The result: an emerging trend of tailored and targeted vape products that claim to do more than get you lifted. Cannabis is going a la carte.
As with any form of prohibition, once the floodgates open, there's an inevitable wave of over-indulgence. For the last few years, we've seen the emergence of increasingly strong oils and concentrates. But as the party smoke clears, that's changing. People are exploring various cocktails and new compounds with the goal of dialing in the effects to achieve exact moods and experiences. This might be as vague as "party" or as specific as inducing lucid dreams. The problem is, we're probably still years (or decades) away from being able to make such claims with any degree of confidence. At least in a way that would be worthy of the FDA's rubber stamp.
Cannabis is a complex plant, that much we know. "So there are about 140 maybe a few more hydro cannabinoids or plant-derived cannabinoids. THC and CBD being the two best studied, but there's at least another 130 more," says Piomelli, a professor at the University of California Irvine and co-chair of its Center for the Study of Cannabis, in an interview with Engadget.
That is a lot of compounds in one plant that we don't know much about. But that doesn't stop people from trying. Strains that are high in the other 130 or so cannabinoids aren't common, but expect that to change in the future. In the meantime, cannabis companies are experimenting in three main ways: THC-to-CBD ratio, with terpenes and other elements already in the plant, and with additional, non-cannabis additives.
Manipulating cannabis is nothing new. For decades plants have been bred like dogs to enhance their potency and effect. Anyone who's watched Narcos: Mexico will know that even the famous "sensimilla" (essentially a "seedless" cannabis plant) is a byproduct of human botanical intervention.
THC is, without a doubt, the star of the cannabis show. It's what switched humankind on to the plant in the first place. Its effects are unmistakable and, for the most part, pleasurable. CBD is the next best-known cannabinoid and one that's currently exploding into the mainstream thanks, in part, to the recent Farm Bill. It's the balance of these two compounds together that gave the first hint that the effects of cannabis can be customized.
"If you mix THC with something else it will affect the actions of THC," explained Piomelli. "CBD has some modulatory property on what THC does. And therefore, people are talking about the entourage effect." This entourage effect is the reason why you will see percentages or ratios of THC and CBD on the packaging for your vape cartridge. THC is, famously, the part that gets you high, whereas CBD's effects are less concrete. Usually, they are associated with calmness, reducing anxiety or priming you for sleep (among many others). The problem is, almost nothing is known about what different ratios might actually achieve, scientifically speaking. Not least because everybody reacts differently.
According to Ray, experimentation is your best bet. "I think one of the challenges in cannabis and CBD is tuning in your own personal formula," he says. "People still need to be walked through this until they're able to find what works best for them." Luckily, there are plenty of products in a wide variety of ratios and dosages for those who do feel like experimenting.
Ask any beer connoisseur to describe their favorite IPA, and you'll almost certainly hear them talk about hops. In the world of weed, it's terpenes that give your hit its flavor and character. Some think terpenes are also another way we can dial in our experience (in combination with the cannabinoid ratio).
California-based firm Dosist has six cannabis pens to choose from. Each "formula" is labeled with its primary effect (Arouse, Calm, Bliss and so on). Dosist's vaporizers are aimed at people looking for relief from pain or insomnia, rather than those looking to get baked. Along with a breakdown of the THC/CBD ratios and complete (hand-picked) terpene profiles, the pen will vibrate once you have inhaled what Dosist believes to be the optimum amount (hence the name). The company's guidelines suggest a maximum of three "doses" per hour, barely enough to alter your consciousness, but sufficient for the benefits -- according to the company at least.
Terpenes are essential oils found in many plants (not just cannabis). They are characteristically strong in odor, and for most people it will be what defines much of the flavor of your cannabis vape. But some companies, like Dosist, believe they can impact the potency and direction of cannabis's effects.
Piomelli is more skeptical. "I would say 95 percent of the claims that are made are essentially unsubstantiated. Terpenes are compounds. They're biologically active compounds and there are some terpenes that are particularly active on the cannabinoid system," he says. "But proof that a combination of terpenes, so one specific terpene either enhances, or diminishes or in some other way modulate the effects of THC, CBD and other cannabinoids, the evidence is simply not there."
That doesn't mean that there's no merit to the idea, just that scientific proof is sparse. "I'm not the one for dismissing all anecdotal evidence, if the anecdotal evidence is made of thousands of people," Piomelli added. "There's a point where we have to wonder if there is so much smoke there must be some fire."
While cannabinoids and terpenes hold a lot of promise, some think that cannabis can do with a helping hand to get you where you want to go. White Fox Atmospheres is one of a growing number of brands that are adding other herbs to the mix. The company's own website defines its mission as "to formulate, alchemize and create specific effect driven medicine."
White Fox's vape products contain good old-fashioned cannabis, but with "Ayurvedic formulations" added in. Ayurvedic medicine is where things steer off even more into the unknown. The formulations are millennia old but also lack definitive scientific research into their medical efficacy.
Scarlet Ravin, White Fox's founder and CEO, creates the line with the sole intention of making people feel better. Fed up with the arms race in cannabis, the zero-sum game of getting impossibly high, she tells Engadget she wants to answer the question "how do we get to use the medicine in a good way, where we aren't just getting super stoned and blowing our heads off?"
The result is three different cannabis vape formulas: one each for male and female "sexual energy" and another that promises to enhance your ability for lucid dreams. Ravin is aware that people might have certain expectations from a product called "Legendary," or something that contains valeriana wallichii root, but contends that, like most holistic remedies, the effect you receive might be more, well, holistic.
"So our formula kind of gets people back into that state of inner balance," she says, "and a lot of the people that do smoke the pens regularly, will state, 'I got it for pain to see if it would work and I feel like I'm back in my body and I feel like I'm in my heart when I smoke this pen.' So it's more about an allover state of wellness than 'you're gonna get a boner' kind of a vibe, you know?"
The quest for new, specific effects from cannabis isn't surprising. Piomelli explains cannabinoids have something called a "privileged structure." This means they are more likely to have a physiological effect or pharmacological effect.
Understanding ratios, terpenes and the interactions between cannabinoids is key to a customized-cannabis future. A future that might be some years away, according to Jacob Borodovsky, a researcher at the Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, who specializes in cannabis and opioid epidemiology. "I think we'll get to a place like that after you and I have been dead for a long time," he says. "I think that will happen through medicine first through neurobiology, and we'll start to understand these things a lot better."
Borodovsky is referring, in part, to the slow pace at which science can study such things. The number of studies needed is large -- far larger than the financial resources available to enable them. Cannabis is now a commercial venture, and patenting nature is hard. Piomelli concurs: "It's going to cost many millions of dollars because you need a large number of subjects, and you need your placebo controls, and is an expensive enterprise and no company is interested in doing this because how would they protect their property afterward."
Every once in a while, though, we do have enough evidence to turn a remedy into a medicine. Epidiolex is a CBD-based medicine that recently achieved FDA approval for the treatment of Dravet syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy in infants).
But why wait for science to catch up? Humans have been self-experimenting with all manner of substances for millennia. Bloom Farms' Ray takes a suitably measured approach with his products. "I've always been a believer that staying as true to the plant as possible is the best bet," he says, referring to the current wave of CBD products that are booming right now. Some are pure extract, while others like Bloom Farms' are "full spectrum" -- meaning they contain traces of other naturally occurring cannabinoids. The theory being, like your olive oil, the magic is in the plant, not just the desired compound.
Likewise, Ravin is confident she's onto something. "When I'm in a dispensary and I'm doing a demo day, I kind of feel like I'm a little ahead of my time of what we're offering," she says. "But it's just now starting to catch on where enough people have smoked it and say, 'I really like this. I can't exactly say why, but I like how I feel when I'm on it and I wanna keep feeling like that'"
The rush of new products doesn't look like it will slow down any time soon. Perhaps the most potent ingredient in cannabis development is legalization. With the fear of prosecution no longer looming, scientists can explore more freely and consumers can experiment with what works for them. Now, dispensaries like Sava are offering education alongside these a-la-carte products (and even delivery to your door) -- getting the buzz you want has never been easier.
Like your favorite vacation destination, or choice of coffee, your own personal endorsement is ultimately king. We all know which alcohol gets us a little emotional or takes the edge off a tough day at work. Even Piomelli concedes that if it works for you and isn't harmful, it's worth considering. "It's a personal thing," he says. "Personal taste. I don't drink white wine as it gives me a headache. I don't think that justifies a clinical trial."
Even if the time period for consultation with Indigenous groups over the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline is extended by a few weeks, "it still doesn't make up for the approach and the flawed way the consultations are being done," says one B.C. First Nations leader.
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, elected leader of the Neskonlith band and a member of the executive branch of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week in which she described the consultation process as "fatally flawed" and detailed several critiques of the process that's currently underway.
Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources, announced Thursday the consultation timeframe would be extended by a month, based on requests from Indigenous groups and advice from former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci who is leading the government's efforts on consultation for the proposed expansion.
"Extending the timeline doesn't address all these issues and approach to consultation," said Wilson.
Among her criticisms is that Canada is in a "clear conflict-of-interest" when it comes to fulfilling its obligations to Indigenous groups, especially since it purchased the project from Kinder Morgan.
"As pipeline owners, they have a constant bias now because they're looking at the interest of the pipeline as a national interest versus their Crown role for consultation to our Indigenous Peoples," said Wilson in an interview Thursday.
She is also critical of the consultation process itself, because "it's still bypassing our proper title holders, who are our people … they're relying mainly on the band construct, which the federal government created," she said.
Wilson is referring to the traditional territory of her nation, and other First Nations, which extends far beyond the boundaries of the reserves.
"We didn't cede, you know, sell, our land. We didn't relinquish our land. So we hold underlying title," she said.
The consultation process currently underway is the result of a Federal Court of Appeal decision in August 2018 that resulted in the expansion's approval being rescinded.
This happened in part, because the court found the federal government didn't adequately meet its constitutional duty to consult with Indigenous groups whose rights and territories stand to be impacted by the expansion.
Specifically, the court took issue with the last stage of the government's consultation process.
"Canada's efforts fell well short of the mark set by the Supreme Court of Canada," stated the ruling.
"Canada acknowledged it owed a duty of deep consultation to each Indigenous applicant. More was required of Canada."
In an emailed statement, the federal government said "Our government is renewing Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples, creating one based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership."
The statement acknowledged there are diverse opinions about the pipeline and that the government consultation team, comprised of about 60 people, has been working since December to work meaningfully with individual communities.
It also said the consultation team has a mandate to "offer responsive accommodations where appropriate."
Rueben George, a spokesperson for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on the pipeline, said he's skeptical about the government's extension to engage in further consultation but he's still hopeful the government will look at all the research his nation has done into the risks associated with the project including a 1,200 page assessment.
"If it's fair, I'm confident that they would agree with us that it's not a good investment, it's not a good project and it's too much risk," he said.
"The best thing we can do is prepare ourselves and we're more than ready for anything. We're more than ready to sit down and try to come to an agreement that this is not a good project."
George said he understands the pipeline could bring financial benefits to some communities but that for his community and other First Nations that are opposed to the pipeline, no amount of money is worth risking the reciprocal relationship between his people and the lands and waters.
Much like the difference of opinion over the pipeline from city to city, or province to province, Indigenous groups have taken varying positions on the pipeline expansion with some in support and others in opposition.
Several Indigenous groups continue to express an interest in purchasing a stake of the pipeline from Ottawa.
Stephen Buffalo is the president and CEO of the Indian Resource Council based in Alberta. The group was started in the late 1980s by "chiefs representing the oil and gas producing First Nations," according to the organization's website. The council has a membership of 134 First Nations with oil and gas resources on their land.
The group is one of many that's expressed an interest in buying a stake in the pipeline and has been in contact with Finance Minister Bill Morneau about how that might happen.
Buffalo said after the latest meeting with Morneau there's a lot of uncertainty over what the federal government plans to do — but they're still going to work on putting together a proposal for Ottawa.
"The money's going somewhere and I think it should rightfully go to the First Nations people who have been, for many many years, over 150 years, been in poverty," he said.
"We're not trying to be pipeline owners…. We need a source of revenue other than what government controls."
Buffalo said it has been "tremendously difficult" being in a position where people have perceived him to be in direct conflict with First Nations who stand in opposition to the project.
"To be honest, I'm proud of the fact that they've taken this big company and the federal government and stopped them in their tracks in this development of the TMX because it's recognition of our Indigenous rights. But now, what's next?"
He said he's not trying to tell other nations what position to take in their territories and that he doesn't want First Nations to be in conflict with one another over the project.
It wasn't supposed to be this way.
Just last week, B.C. Ferries announced that it was adding 89 sailings on the Easter long weekend.
But these new trips, including 70 between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, haven't been sufficient to carry all the people showing up at terminals.
According to B.C. Ferries, pay parking has reached capacity at Horseshoe Bay and travellers are being urged to take public transit to that terminal.
Sailings from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay are 100 percent full to the 3:45 p.m. sailing. Now, the Crown-owned company is selling tickets for the 5:40 p.m. trip.
But some of the grumpiest travellers have been trying to get to Vancouver Island via the Tsawwassen terminal.
The 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. vessels to Swartz Bay are full—and the 5 p.m. boat is 90 percent full.
https://twitter.com/BCFerries/status/1119326309811933184
It could be the busiest day in the history of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.
Harried B.C. Ferries staff are trying to help passengers by travelling along the causeway and speaking to those worried about missing reservations.
https://twitter.com/CKNW/status/1119318195658272768
Below, you can see some how some people are reacting to this situation on social media.
https://twitter.com/JessicaRozitis/status/1119312931106066432
https://twitter.com/KarenGray/status/1119279259808194560
https://twitter.com/GeoffHenshaw/status/1119308265215520768
https://twitter.com/SusanSalee/status/1119296319376347136
https://twitter.com/NSSEPbernadette/status/1119300303482839040
https://twitter.com/normaloqWendy/status/1119315868146475009
https://twitter.com/jcaldert/status/1119299979829321729
Last year, transportation consultant Eric Doherty made several recommendations to the special adviser on coastal ferry service about how B.C. Ferries could address environmental issues while encouraging more foot, bus, and cycling passengers.
This could be accomplished, according to his report, by enhancing bus service and by prioritizing low-carbon modes of travel.
That included reducing foot-passenger fares relative to vehicle fares and eliminating extra fees for cyclists.
B.C. Ferries put out the following tweets later this afternoon.
https://twitter.com/BCFerries/status/1119401154172026881
https://twitter.com/BCFerries/status/1119384381955739648
https://twitter.com/BCFerries/status/1119379328633122816More
April 19th, 2019 by Zachary Shahan
The Tesla story is fascinating. Whether you love the company or hate it, it is easy to get pulled into the story like you’re pulled into a good movie. This is surely one reason so many people so obsessively check for Tesla news and op-eds every day.
Another reason is that Tesla’s vehicles are freakin’ wicked — in a class of their own. But I’ll come back to that in a minute.
People sometimes think or try to claim Tesla is all about hype. If Elon Musk wasn’t such a good hype man, Tesla would be nothing — so the critique goes. I think there is an element of truth in there. That element is that Elon Musk is a wonderful entertainer and storyteller. He’s freakin’ funny, and adorably candid, open, and stimulating.
As a sociologist by training, I do find this whole aspect of the Tesla story fascinating. No doubt about it, Tesla wouldn’t have sold as many cars as it has without that secret sauce. And the social movement aspect of Tesla, and Elon Musk’s whole life, could be the subject of a long book. Further, that element is often present with big tech shifts — look at Apple and Steve Jobs, or … hmm, maybe it’s not actually that common.
At the end of the story, the catalyst for a big tech shift is often the technology itself. You are probably reading this on a tiny, powerful computer called a “phone” because the technologies inside of it were developed consistently over the course of decades and became more and more accessible for normal people — all while doing more and more advanced tasks.
Tesla is a great success because it came into the electric vehicle market at just the right time, further helped to drive down the costs of the hearts and brains of the machines — the batteries and the computers — and had the vision to pull all of the components together to make one sexy ass car, and then another, and another, and another. Tesla has been leading on electric vehicle battery development, motor development, inverter development, autonomous driving tech, computer hardware, computer software, seat production (exclusive story coming), and the overall package for years. Even looking at one of those matters in isolation, it can seem as though Tesla is years ahead of the competition in the EV world. Looking at them altogether, it’s just hard to find the company that is closest behind Tesla in this marathon.
Before you think I’ve just gotten lost in a Tesla vortex of hype, though, consider what this leadership has translated into lately. Tesla has been absolutely dominating electric vehicle markets. It is also essentially the only automaker that has an electric vehicle on the market that is demonstrably competitive with the top selling gas cars. As I pointed out a few days ago, the Tesla Model 3 was the top selling car (of any type) in the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland last month. Furthermore:
It was the #1 luxury car in the USA in Q1 2019, the #1 small or midsize luxury car in 2018, the #1 electric vehicle in the USA in Q1 2019 and all of 2018, the #1 top selling car in California in the second half of 2018, the 11th best selling car in the USA in 2018and the 13th best selling car in Q1 2019, the #1 best selling car in the US in terms of revenue in Q4 2018, the #1 best selling car from an American car company in the second half of 2018, and together with the Model S accounted for 20% of US luxury car sales in 2018.
The Model 3 is the breakthrough car many of us thought it would be — but it’s still a bit shocking to witness these successes. The important thing, though, is that this market isn’t standing still — and Tesla, in particular, is a restless animal. With that in mind, what’s around the corner?
The question I’ve been struggling with for months is the question of consumer awareness.
The thing is — the Model 3 is much better than a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class, is cost competitive with a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, but is invisible to many people or seen as something complete different from what it is (too expensive, unsafe, complicated to drive, etc.). How long will it take for the next wave of technology adopters on the disruptive technology S-curve to find out about the Model 3 and its benefits — and then buy the car?
Also, while the Model 3 wallops the car competition, many buyers simply want a crossover, SUV, or pickup truck. It will take time to get models to market that are competitive in those classes in the same way the Model 3 is competitive in the sedan class.
To have a little fun and to have something to check on later to see how crazy I am, I decided to come up with a forecast on some major Tesla milestones. I have a feeling this is not a smart thing to do, but I’m going to do it anyway. Here’s my wild ass guess at how it’s gonna go down with Tesla:
What are your thoughts? Where do you think I’m crazy? Where do you think I’m spot on?
Note: Some of these forecasts could get screwed up if certain Chinese automakers blow up in size and their hottest models take control of global sales charts.
Zachary Shahan Zach is tryin' to help society help itself (and other species). He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director and chief editor. He's also the president of Important Media and the director/founder of EV Obsession and Solar Love. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, and Canada. Zach has long-term investments in TSLA, FSLR, SPWR, SEDG, & ABB — after years of covering solar and EVs, he simply has a lot of faith in these particular companies and feels like they are good cleantech companies to invest in. But he offers no professional investment advice and would rather not be responsible for you losing money, so don't jump to conclusions.
More than 300,000 Dodge Dart compact cars have been recalled by Fiat Chrysler because of a problem with the transmission that can cause the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly.
Around 20,000 of the impacted cars were sold in Canada. According to Transport Canada, a bushing can fail which causes the shifter cable in the vehicle to detach, resulting in the transmission not shifting gears when the shifter is moved. If a driver attempts to exit the car while it is not in park and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle could move suddenly.
The recall covers cars from 2013 through 2016 with six-speed automatic transmissions. Fiat Chrysler said it is unaware of any crashes or injuries related to the defect. The company will be notifying owners of the recall by mail and instructing them to take their car to a dealer to fix the problem.
