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Women Grow: Skills for the Modern Business Woman Recap

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We kicked off Women’s History Month at our Social Media Unicorn headquarters with our monthly Women Grow event. This month we focused on ‘Skills for the Modern Business Woman: Taxes, Staffing and Power Brows. The intimate affair led to great conversation between the guest and the speakers, while the power brows tutorial was a huge hit amongst everyone in the crowd!

What We Learned

Our first speaker was Natalie Rasmussen, tax senior manager at California Cannabis CPA. She provided us with a brief and informative discussion about the new tax code for cannabis companies and even reminded all of us about the upcoming filing deadline. Thanks for the reminder, Natalie! Next, we dived into the world of staffing with Valery Godina, owner of Full Moon Harvest. She gave us a breakdown on licensing, and knowing how to pick the right candidate. (Hint, it’s not always about looking good on paper.)

Finally, makeup artist Angel Bello treated us to a tutorial on how to create the perfect “power brows’ for your face. Altitude Products Director of Nevada, Melissa Romero volunteered to be the eyebrow model. Angel also answered numerous questions from the audience and taught us that our eyebrows were sisters, not twins. As the tutorial came to end, members of the audience were also able to get their eyebrows done by the magical makeup unicorn.

Similar to every Women Grow event, the evening included light mingling and snacks. In addition to networking opportunities and crudités, guests were treated to a complimentary gift from Bella’s ultra premium CBD infused bath line. We hope our visitors ended the night with their relaxing Bella bath bomb, bath salts and body cream.

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Motherhood and Marijuana

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I was 25 when my doctor told me that it would be difficult to have children due to my endometriosis. I foolishly assumed I was cursed with bad cramps before being diagnosed with. My doctor suggested prescribed medicines and multiple birth control methods, but they usually made me feel sick. Since, I was already using marijuana recreationally, I decided to use it for my menstrual pain. Once I learned that endometriosis was linked to endocannabinoid deficiency (ECD), I knew that cannabis would be the best method to battle my pain. However, I had to find out the hard way that smoking increases blood clots, but dried flowers and/or CBD oil works best because it combusts the cannabis and releases a range of cannabinoids.
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Growing Knowledge: Ask a Grower

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Are you curious about where your weed comes from? Who is growing this cannabis? What is their experience cultivating my medicine from seed? It has always intrigued me, but it never occurred to me to talk to my master grower father until I got into the cannabis industry. My dad, Duane Cattanach, owns Eagle Green Farm, a Southern Oregon craft cannabis grow. I had way too many questions to include in this post, but here are some of the questions I asked my dad! 


What is growing cannabis like?


A lot of work! A serious challenge, constant changes.

Why is it hard to grow weed?


Nature controls the rules and keeping up with the state’s regulations is hard. You can’t control nature and regulations are constantly changing. 

Soil vs. Hydroponics— what do you think is better?


Soil! It’s natural! I don’t use any chemicals to make it do what it does naturally, but I have never grown in hydroponics, I am a sun and soil kind of guy. I try and keep it as simple as I can.

What are the greatest challenges of an outdoor grow?


The weather constantly changing. Hot, rainy, plants get cold in the ground and sometimes their growth is stunted. Sometimes you have to start over if they are stunted too bad. Temperature is a big challenge, but it’s a double edged sword because it is a great climate for weed, yet you cannot control it.

How do you avoid pests/mold outdoors?


We use all natural products. Right now we are using an oil that combines cinnamon, thyme, and a couple other natural oils.

 

I thought that you could use some chemicals on weed and it won’t affect when you smoke it? 

 
You never know with those chemicals. They say some are safe, but then when further research is done they pull those products and come out with another chemical blend. There’s no sense in using chemicals when it could be ingested into somebody’s system if we can produce it using natural products. 
 

What’s your advice to consumer’s buying weed?


Use it in proper proportions, abuse with any substance is not good. Too much of anything is not good. I think the concentrates are way too over the top.

 

Thank you to Eagle Green Farm and my father for letting me take my Unicorn friend Blessings for a photo shoot and showing me your amazing plants! CANNOT WAIT FOR CROPTOBER! 

How Cannabis Helped Relieve my IBS Symptoms

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A lot of people have asked me recently how cannabis specifically helps my IBS symptoms. I’m happy to share, because cannabis is medicine and cannabis promotes unity and community in a way that’s unlike any other medication!  
 

 

Let’s start with a little background.

I have had tummy troubles for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until high school that I finally saw a gastroenterologist, had my first colonoscopy, and was diagnosed with IBS. After that, it was a seemingly never-ending parade of different medications: one for the nausea, one for appetite, one for the cramping, one to help “move things along”…. so many medications with so many side effects that I felt sick, bloated, and uncomfortable whether I took them or didn’t. My sophomore year in college, my hair broke off in my hand, because the meds made it weak and brittle. That’s when I really understood the havoc I was wreaking on my body through the prescription meds. And that’s when I decided to stop taking them. 
 

Enter: Cannabis 

What then, would I do for the cramps? The nausea? The inability to eat? Enter: cannabis. I have always been a cannabis user, but it wasn’t until 2012 that I found myself a cannabis patient as well. Instead of using it recreationally, I used it medicinally. It soothed my cramps, eased the nausea, and gave me an appetite when I had none. My hair grew back, I lost a bunch of weight (60 lbs!), I wasn’t tired and I didn’t feel sick all the time. I haven’t looked back since. 
 

Let’s talk Treatment

Now let’s talk treatment. Every body is different, and not everything works for everyone. I have found success with indica-dominant strains. I’ve also utilized CBD-only strains, which are wonderful for pain and spasms. If you’re like me, you like a little THC, so I would suggest grinding up both the CBD-only strain, and your favorite strain that contains THC in your grinder together. The bud tenders at the dispensaries are an invaluable resource- use them! Ask them about strains that help with pain, cramping, and nausea. They can point you to specific terpenes, like myrcene, linalool, and limonene, which all have a variety of properties that help with a variety of symptoms. 
 
 
I’m not symptom-free, but my quality of life has improved ten-fold! My symptoms are managed and my life is in control. I give a lot of credit to cannabis. I hope that I’ve been of some help to you, and that you find relief and peace. 

Vegas Cannabis Summit Breaksdown the Ins and Outs of Advertising

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The newly launched adult use market in Nevada has opened its doors for a variety of opportunities in the cannabis industry without ever touching the plant. 

Social Media Unicorn’s CEO Krista Whitley is among the panelists slated to support the leading cannabis professionals operating in the emerging Nevada, California and national marketplace.

The Vegas Cannabis Summit presents leaders of this new frontier and welcomes this exciting entrepreneurial community for a 2-day, 2-night event, featuring panels and educational seminars from industry experts, a vendor trade show, VIP events and concerts.

This two day conference will cover topics ranging from regulation and compliance, to advertising and media and the continued transition of the legal cannabis market, its entrepreneurs, investors and creatives, to be taken safely and seriously into mainstream culture.

We welcome artists, executives, lifestyle brands, technology professionals, investors, college students (21+) entrepreneurs and visionaries to present, educate and share.

We provide the opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in an environment that’s conducive to sharing information & creative collaborations.

The conference organizers and creators have an established track record as a curator of talent and experience with another successful conference, Vegas Music Summit.

Panels include:

  • Cannabis Budtenders, Chefs, Extractors & Growers: The New Celebrity Chef?
  • Building Cannabis Brands, Traditional & Social Media Marketing & Entertainment 
  • Media, Journalism & Content
  • Professional Sports & Cannabis
  • How To Get A Job In The Cannabis Industry
This year’s event will be held at :
 
Backstage Bar & Billiards
601 E Fremont St
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone number(702) 382-2227

Here’s Why Cannabis Collabs Are the Next Big Thing

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When it comes to growing your brand, strategic partnerships can be a highly effective way to build your businesses.

This is particularly true in the new legal cannabis space. As more and more new states legalize marijuana for both medical and adult use, this offers a unique opportunity for existing cannabis brands to grow nationally through partnerships with cannabis retail stores and dispensaries. 

One of the greatest opportunities for cannabis retailers is to create strategic partnerships with the brands they carry. The key behind the strategic partnerships are offering a win/win for all parties involved.

“Much like how Paul Mitchell has partnered with the salons that carry their caviar-goldhair products, I am seeing successful cannabis lifestyle brands like Caviar Gold starting to partner with cannabis dispensaries to help them drive sales before the cannabis consumer even walks through the door,” social media expert Krista Whitley explained. 

When brands function as an extension of the cannabis dispensary team they can achieve an incredibly unique consumer experience that screams premium. 

Whitley, who launched The Weekend Box, curates the best of the best in Nevada’s cannabis products. 

“When dispensary owners can connect to the community through a shared love of cannabis they tap into a virtually endless stream of talented employees and consumers,” Whitley added.  

4 Things You Should Know About New Recreational Cannabis In Nevada

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Nevada’s new cannabis laws go into effect on July 1st.

This year alone the city has welcomed more than  17,000,000 visitors and that doesn’t even include the summer months.

Come July 1st Nevada locals and the millions of visitors age 21 and up will soon be able to walk into a dispensary and purchase cannabis similar to dispensaries in Denver. 

Here are four things you should know before making Nevada the next stop for your next canna vaycay. 

How much is this going to cost me? 

The wholesale tax that dispensaries pay when purchasing product has increased as part of Adult Use.  There will also be different taxes applied to transactions dependent upon whether you are a medical patient or a recreational customer. 

Where Does The Money Go? 

 

Revenue from the tax on Nevada’s recreational sales is projected to stimulate approximately $7.5 billion in economic activity in the first seven years of sales. That’s a lot of cash! So here’s where it’ll go.

The state’s Opportunity Scholarships are slated to receive a whopping $20 million boost. An additional $25 million is slated to go to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), with the remainder going to the State’s general fund. 

Do I Still Need My Medical Marijuana Card? 

Yes! It will save you money in the long run because medical cannabis products will be taxed at a lower rate than recreational sales. Beginning July 1st, recreational customers will have a 10% excise tax applied to their transactions. 

What’s the Legal Limit? 

State possession limits are still capped at 2.5 ounces for medical patients and 1 ounce for recreational consumers.

The current law that limits medical marijuana patients to 70 grams in a two-week period is also ending under the new provisions.

Planning a trip to Vegas? Check out CannabisInVegas.com for info on the top dispensaries and must have products in Sin City!

Everything You Need To Know About The D.C. Cannabis Scene

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Our nation’s capital legalized cannabis back in 2014, but there’s no tax-and-regulate system in place, meaning there’s still a long way to go before D.C. becomes the District of Cannabis.

Here at Social Media Unicorn, our team is constantly keeping our fingers on the pulse of cannabis scenes across the nation and abroad. If you’re heading to the District as a cannatourist, here are some tips you need to know.

Dispensaries Are All But Non Existent

Unlike California, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon, all states where those 21+ can legally consume cannabis, D.C. cannabis laws are a bit more ambivalent. Today residents and visitors alike are bound by frustrating laws that allow possession, but prohibit sales. In short, scoring legal weed in D.C., while pretty easy, gives off the feel of an old school street deal, and arrests for still-illegal deals have hit pre-legalization levels.

The Facts on D.C. Cannabis Laws

It is legal for a person who is at least 21 years old to possess two ounces or less of marijuana, transfer one ounce or less of marijuana to another person who is at least 21 years old, however so no payment or any other type of exchange of goods or services. 

Statistics from the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department show a large increase in the number of distribution busts in 2016, with the 220 arrests more than doubling the number seen in 2013, the year before residents voted to loosen pot laws.

So, Selling Cannabis Is Still Illegal? 

In short, yes. While residents are welcome to cultivate up to six marijuana plants and possess marijuana-related  paraphernalia – like bongs or rolling papers, congress has blocked regulated dispensaries. So how do visitors legally obtain cannabis if you can’t buy it?

Tech Has Taken Care of That

“Marijuana events are going on all the time now,” the Gentleman Toker, a D.C. cannabis blog explained. Also, so-called weed “search engines” like LeafedIn also offer a way to find opportunities to get the gift of cannabis. 

Becoming a Unicorn

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The first month of a new career always brings fear and excitement.

I’m glad to say that here at Social Media Unicorn it has been a lot more excitement than fear. Everyone is great! Not only is my entire team fun to work with, they all have an in-depth knowledge of the cannabis culture and the wants and needs of the community we serve. With that being said, I am starting a weekly blog to inform and educate about the new innovative products, services, and happenings within our community. Stay tuned each week to see what this Unicorn is getting into 😉

Just recently, we had the pleasure of hosting a patient appreciation day for Tahoe Hydro Company with the lovely people over at Medizin. They operate one of the premier dispensaries that cater to Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. Medizin, unlike many other dispensaries, is also involved in cultivation. They have some award winning flowers like Chloe, one of the most medically beneficial strains that is offered in Las Vegas. We had a great time representing Tahoe Hydro Company while we were there. THC is a boutique cultivator out of Carson City, NV, that is sure to fit the needs and wants of any consumer out there. They have award winning strains: Blackjack (S), Gelato 45 (H), Tahoe Hydro OG (I), all winning their respective categories at the 2016 Jack Herer Cup. THC also just entered the preroll game with the introduction of their STIX line, currently offering Tahoe Hydro OG. Needless to say, they know what they are doing over there at Tahoe Hydro Company. We passed out tons of Tahoe swag and educated patients on our products and specials. It was great meeting and creating future Tahoe fans! I loved hearing all the positive feedback regarding our products. Huge thank you to Tanya and the whole crew at Medizin for making my first patient appreciation day a success!  

All in all, these first few weeks have been an adventure and a blessing. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by people who are so passionate about cannabis. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me as a Unicorn. Be sure to tune in next week for my next post and mark your calendars for our upcoming events!

Las Vegas Social Media Day – Fri. 6/30

Follow Tahoe Hydro Company on IG @tahoehydroponics

Get updates from Medizin at http://medizinlv.com 

The Endocannabinoid System

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The Endocannabinoid System

An appropriately titled 2013 survey, “Ignorance Is Not Bliss,” revealed that only 13 percent of U.S. medical schools teach the endocannabinoid system to future doctors. With more and more patients are turning to it for relief, there’s certainly a need to be familiar with the endocannabinoid system.

The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a naturally-occurring network of receptors that is spread throughout the entire body. This system controls some of our most vital life functions, including our immune system, memory, appetite, sleep pattern, mood, and pain sensation.

The three main components of the endocannabinoid system are as follows:

  • Cannabinoid Receptors – found on the surface of cells
  • Endocannabinoids – small molecules that activate cannabinoid receptors
  • Metabolic Enzymes – break down endocannabinoids after they are used

There are currently two known major cannabinoid receptors; CB1 and CB2. Though they’re certainly not the only cannabinoid receptors, they were the first discovered and therefore remain the most-studied.

Unlike THC, endocannabinoids are naturally produced by cells within the human body. Like the plant cannabinoid THC, they are molecules that bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors.

The final piece of the endocannabinoid puzzle is comprised of the metabolic enzymes that quickly destroy endocannabinoids as soon as they are used. The enzymes responsible for this rapid breakdown are FAAH and MAGL. Their work ensures that endocannabinoids are used efficiently. This differentiates endocannabinoids from other molecular signals (such as hormones or classical neurotransmitters) which can persist for several seconds or minutes, or be stored for later use.

Of course, this is only a high-level overview of the human endocannabinoid system. Unfortunately, cannabis research is extremely limited – due to its federally illegal status – which prohibits government institutions (like the FDA) from conducting clinical studies. However, cannabis research is growing like a weed (pun intended) and each year, studies reveal even more about this intricate network within our bodies.