It’s unclear whether voters will approve California’s ballot measure to legalize and tax the growing and use of medical marijuana next week, but in light of the growing industry that’s sprouted up around the medical marijuana business, it seems immaterial.
One of the elements of that industry is the proliferation of pot-related iPhone and iPad apps.
The creators of the iPhone version of iweeducation.com for example, (updated Tuesday) promise access to a comprehensive-looking database of attributes about the myriad strains of the plant: “growing info, genetics, historical info, THC%, CBD%, strain photos, lineage, characteristics …”
Then there’s the artfully-designed “STRAINS Pro” for $2.99, which bills itself as “An Advanced Breeder’s Guide to Distinctive Cannabis.”
This app provides an “A-Z” listing with high definition pictures of the different strains, and a “Cannabis Cup” listing to “quickly browse the top strains by year.”
Those with a more activist bent might be willing to cough up 99 cents for the “Legalize It!” app which is a tool for high-tech, civic-minded potheads.
Like the many other apps available related to pot, this is no fuzzy-headed endeavor, but a highly-organized approach to arming people with all the little-known facts the creators apparently feel that the public needs to know about marijuana in order to cast a more favorable light on it.
For example, did you know that cannabis seeds were used for food in China as far back as 6000 B.C.? That factoid, one of many, came from the “History” section.
Other sub-sections of the “Facts” section include “Myths & Facts,” “Medicinal Uses,” “Common Street Names,” and “Common Strains.”
There’s also a database of the laws concerning the stuff in all 50 states. It tells you what the penalties are for possession, sale and cultivation.
As these apps demonstrate, the marijuana business is moving out of the shadows and to a mobile device near you.
