California has a rich cannabis culture. Not only do thousands of people reside in the state, but many live near a cannabis market to go and select their product.
The state has over a dozen legal cannabis markets, with some being large and some being small. There are also several legal growing operations and manufactured products. These include things like products for vaporization and concentrate use.
There is also active participation from the communities around these markets. Groups support local businesses and individuals that work at those businesses to help build community support.
Jack Herer
Jack Herer is a powerful cannabinoid found in marijuana. It is named after the ranch where it was first discovered in the late 1940s.
Jack Herer was discovered in 1952 when a farming family living in northern California bred and grew it for years, developing it as an important crop. Eventually, scientists determined it was a cannabinoid and created a formula to create hash oil.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that scientists determined hash oil could be sold as a drug and that it had legitimate uses such as an antiseizure medication. Today, there are several ways to obtain hash oil including through cell phone apps or by visiting a gas station with a grinder.
It is important to note that although you can purchase hash oil for medical purposes, there are still concerns about its purity and effects on people who do not have high amounts of cannabinoids in their system.
Amanda Reiger
Amanda Reiger is an American expat who has devoted her life to promoting cannabis as a therapeutic agent. She is the co-founder and President of The Arc, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS in California and beyond.
She has been involved in the cannabis movement for decades and was one of the first people to speak out about it. In 1991, she founded One America advocacy group, which advocates for cannabis as a legal treatment for cancer and other diseases.
She has also been involved with the United States Government’s Project Gator, where you are hired by the US Government to find candidates who are dangerous but can be controlled. Amanda was perfect for Project Gator: she was an outspoken candidate who advocated using cannabis as an antiretroviral treatment.
Sara Wedge
Sara Wedge was born and raised in Southern California, but after graduating from college, she moved to Oakland, California to work with the City at Night.
She worked in community services and street life as a youth mentor and supervisor. She has been involved in the cannabis community for years, first as a patient and then as a caregiver.
She is the founder of Green Giants, an organization that connects people who want to use cannabis but are worried about side effects or concern about what it is made of. She also writes a blog called The Green Whisperer where she shares tips on using cannabis as a therapy and how to best find a care provider.
The thing that makes Green Giants unique is that members are free to join regardless of their medical marijuana condition or use.
Jane West
Jane West is the most influential cannabis advocate in California history. She’s the first high-profile cannabis activist to run for public office, and she won! She was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2006, serving two terms until 2009.
During her time in Congress, she helped craft several important pieces of legislation such as the Rohatyn Law, which provides funding for local law enforcement to enforce marijuana laws, and the Medical Cannabis Regulation Program.
She also helped pass HR 675, the Rohatyn Law Reinterpretation Act of 2012, which clarified that state law does not prevent local governments from implementing rules and regulations governing cannabis businesses.
Unfortunately, her time in Congress ended with her election due to Barack Obama appointing her to his cabinet as a commissioner for drug-free policies at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Meg Sanders
Meg Sanders was a founding member of the Board of California Cannabis Advocates (CalCanaAd), one of only a handful of cannabis advocacy groups in the country allowed to operate in the state of California.
Although she is no longer involved with CalCanaAd, she continues to promote cannabis as an effective therapy through her The Meg Foundation. She is also an expert on CBDs and believes they can play an important role in therapy and everyday life.
She has appeared on numerous television shows discussing her views on cannabis, from The View to Dr. Oz to Last Week Tonight. Her unorthodox approach has garnered attention, but it has also brought vindication as she continues to serve patients with her programs.
She believes that CBDs may be the next big thing in medicine because they do not have side effects and are widely available.
Melissa Marie Todd
Melissa Marie Todd was a US Navy veteran who started her career as an investigative reporter. During her time in the military, she learned about veterans and their needs. She began helping them during her time in the military and subsequently at CNN.
Shortly after joining CNN, she began working on behalf of veterans with their cannabis therapy programs. She has become very involved in veteran advocacy, leading national groups such as American Legion and VCA San Diego to endorse adult use cannabis.
Her work has taken her to Washington, DC, where she has interviewed members of Congress about her experiences with cannabis therapy and received some level of support from Congress.
These days, she spends most of her time lobbying state organizations to support veterans’ programs through cannabis therapy.
Amy Dannenberg
Amy Dannenberg is another person whose life-changing experience with cannabis has had a dramatic impact. Unlike many others, who began as a result of her experience with cannabis, she went on to become an expert in the field after using it for years to help heal her physical and emotional health.
She is the founder and director of The Herb House, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about cannabis and providing access to premium products for medical use. She also hosts The Amy Show, which offers listeners educational insights about cannabis and how it can help them with their health issues.
Since joining The Herb House as its director of growth & development in 2016, she has helped grow the organization from just two staff members to a full team of four. She also developed new products such as tinctures and gels so that patients have access to quality medical marijuana products.
Jenn Grinyer
Jenn Grinyer is one of the most influential cannabis advocates in California history. She has played an important role in promoting cannabis and removing barriers to using it as an intervention option.
Grinyer started her career working for the U.S. Department of Justice, where she helped advance cannabis law reform efforts across the country. After leaving government service, she transitioned into a career as a public speaker and advocate, helping people learn how to use CBD to treat various ailments.
She now spends her time sharing her knowledge on YouTube and speaking at events, making her one of the most accessible Cannabis ganisters out there today. She also runs a website called The Green Giant that provides information on CBD-rich plants and how they can be used for treatment.
