Press/News The Artist Tree

Los Angeles has long been at the forefront of cultural and economic innovation, and its leadership in the cannabis movement is no exception. As the largest city in California, Los Angeles has played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s cannabis industry, setting trends that resonate nationwide. From pioneering consumption lounges to implementing progressive policies, the city continues to lead the way in cannabis legalization and culture.

West Hollywood is going green and going to pot — literally — with a brand-new community event celebrating the city’s cannabis culture and active lifestyle. This November, Emerald Village will host the first-ever WeHo Pot Trot 10K Run * Walk * Whatever, powered by MJBizCon, bringing together fitness, fun, and local cannabis businesses in a uniquely WeHo way.

Hundreds of participants are expected to take part in the first-ever WeHo Pot Trot 10K Run · Walk · Whatever, a fitness-meets-cannabis event launching next month in West Hollywood’s Emerald Village from November 1 to 20, 2025.

Fresno’s ArtHop comes back around on Oct. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. across Fresno. A new venue pops up for ArtHop on Thursday. ArtHop is an art event program that platforms local Fresno artists and vendors. The event is free to enter and it takes place every first and third Thursday of each month.

After years of operating in the shadows, New York’s cannabis scene is stepping into the spotlight — and this time, it’s not just another local showcase. The MJBowl, a new bi-coastal competition designed to spotlight the country’s top cannabis products and producers, promises to give New York’s legacy and licensed operators their long-overdue national moment.

On Sept. 22 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that reverses a tax increase on cannabis products in the State. Now, Californians can expect to continue paying a 15% excise tax on all cannabis products until 2028. The reversal comes after months of vocal frustration from cannabis growers, dispensary owners and consumer advocates.

Let’s be honest: The highlight of most holidays, including Halloween, is the food and drinks involved. While we might not be able to trick-or-treat as adults (at least not without kids in tow), we can take advantage of spooky pop-up bars and restaurants that bring our nightmares to life in immersive settings complete with costumes, creepy cocktails, seasonal plates and ghoulish decor.

A unique bi-coastal cannabis contest has its official retail partners. The MJBowl is a collaboration between weed mega-conference MJBizCon and cutting-edge product rating platform Budist. Now in the mix are distribution partners Nabis and retailers The Artist Tree and Gotham.

The Artist Tree, a cannabis dispensary, lounge and art gallery, is teaming up with animal rescue nonprofit I Stand With My Pack to host a dog adoption event on Sept. 13.

The event will run from noon to 2 p.m. on the first floor of The Artist Tree’s flagship West Hollywood location at 8625 Santa Monica Blvd.

From legacy flower strains to dispensaries that double as art galleries, Fresno dispensaries have something for every weed lover. This guide includes all of the recreational dispensaries in Fresno and the nearby areas so you can quickly discover your local pot options and decide which to visit first.

My story with The Artist Tree began in 2023, when I made the leap from a very corporate role in the trampoline park industry to join the cannabis world. Knowing I wanted to grow where I was planted, I chose to start from the bottom to truly learn the business.

In California, wholesale cannabis once cost more than $1,000 a pound, Gordon said. “And now we’re down to maybe $250 a pound, which is below the cost of production for, certainly, the majority of small farmers.”