2016 was a big year for cannabis. After years of living in the shadows of society voters in California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Florida and Maine said Yes! to legalization (medical only in Florida). As more cannabis users discover ways to medicate, we thought it would be good to celebrate the innovators who keep creating new ways to enjoy the plant.

Here's a few products we think will be standouts in 2017:

Whoopi & Maya

photo: Whoopi & Maya

Did you know cannabis can seriously minimize the discomfort caused by a woman's monthly cycle? Neither did I, but apparently Whoopi has spent a lifetime dealing with incredible discomfort. She just happened to be a longtime supporter of cannabis and got the idea to start asking around to see if anyone knew how to use cannabis as a medicine to help her.

It just so happens that Maya Elisabeth of OM Edibles has been growing her own strains of cannabis for years. Maya founded a female collective of growers and also established her own company that infuses the medical powers of cannabis into everyday products.

One of her friends had been tinkering with healing herbs and essential oils, and the two got to talking and came up with the idea to mix cannabis with these other natural remedies to make it into a bath salt. Around that time Whoopi came knocking asking, "hey, got anything that can help me?". And with that, Whoopi & Maya was born. Now, you can soak in this luxurious blend of herbs for the ultimate natural relaxation.

Check out Maya's new classes on WeedHorn. They're free to watch and chock full of good information.

SUGGESTED: Did you know cannabis can seriously minimize the discomfort caused by a woman's monthly cycle? Neither did I, but apparently Whoopi has spent a lifetime dealing with incredible discomfort. She just happened to be a longtime supporter of cannabis and got the idea to start asking around to see if anyone knew how to use cannabis as a medicine to help her, and so Whoopi and Maya was born. They have now released a cannabis line catering to women, blending essential oils and other healing herbs with cannabis to create the ultimate monthly medicine. Our personal favorite? The bath salts, hands-down — who doesn't want to soak in a luxurious blend of herbs for the ultimate relaxation?

Empower White Label

Blending essential oils with the healing benefits of cannabis to help ease chronic pain, these products are both powerful and beautiful. Soak in a bath or rub in some oil to feel the relief yourself.

Dr. Dabber Aurora

photo: Dr. Dabber

There are officially a thousand vaporizers on the market, but this one will do the work of many. It used to be called the Aura but was changed to Aurora in early 2016. With 3 heat settings, quartz, ceramic and halo atomizers, and two mouthpiece styles, you've multiple ways to enjoy your concentrates.

One key feature that's new on the Aurora magnetics instead of screwing your chamber on and off. It's nice when you want to take a peek inside to see if your quartz coil is clean and you can just pop it open instead of unscrewing it.

Also, Dr. Dabber's mantra is all about heating your wax at lower temperatures for better flavor. New improvements are being made to creating concentrates making them better tasting with more pure terp profiles. The Aurora will treat those high quality extractions with kid gloves delivering taste and a cashmere texture.

Weed Yo Self Notebook

Kristen Williams is a cannabist activist and educator. She also teaches some of our online courses like Unlocking Your Creativity with Cannabis and How To Use Marijuana. When Kristen isn't trying to teach people about cannabis in her home state of Missouri, she's also a brilliant graphic designer who has designed packaging for Jane West and other cannabis products.

Weed Yo Self by kwilliams622

Last year, Kristen introduced a line of products that capture her spirit perfectly. The Weed Yo Self line of goodies tell a story about improving your life with cannabis. One of our favorite items is simply a Weed Yo Self brainstorm notebook.

In my early days of smoking (before iPhones), my favorite thing to do after getting high was doodle all sorts of nonsense in notebooks I kept on my coffee table. When friends would come over and help me get through a fresh baggie I'd make them doodle crazy shit in it too.

I recently moved and came across those old notebooks. They were like little time capsules of my life when weed was something new and insightful. There were all sorts of notes to my older self in those books. Keeping them was one of the best ideas and I'd encourage you to do the same. Kristen's notebook has this awesome illustration on the cover with plenty of blank pages just waiting for you.

Stash bag

photo: AnnaBis

The last thing you want after saving up for months and scouring for the perfect piece is having it break on you, making travel to friends' one of those things you have to seriously consider the risks of. Now, you can transport your piece safely and in style with the AnnaBis stash bag — plus no one will ever guess your 3-foot bong lives in that beautiful leather bag.

photo: AnnaBis

Grobo

photo: Grobo

Ever want to grow your own medicine but had no idea where to start? Grobo has made it crazy easy for you! All you have to do is plant your seeds, tell the Grobo app what you planted (it's good for more than just cannabis!), then simply watch it grow. Yes, it really is that easy.

PrestoDoctor

There's a good reason PrestoDoctor has over 1,000 5-star reviews on TrustDoctor. Although weed is legal in more states, that doesn't mean you can buy it recreationally just yet. If you want to get a medical card in the privacy of your home just visit the online doctors who will have a video consultation with you. After the appointment you'll get your card in a week or so. It's that easy.

Grav Fire Button: http://www.grav.com/product/fire-button/

Know someone interested in concentrates but won't touch a torch? This could be the perfect gift for them. The Grav Labs Fire Button is a universally fitting, portable E-Nail that heats instantaneously for a temperature-controlled dab and cools quickly so that no one gets accidentally burned.

Stoner Mug Cakes Recipe Book

The problem with the holidays is that when you make that batch of cookies, you eat them all. Use this book to satisfy your sweet tooth with individual servings and get familiar with how to infuse cannabis into your recipes, learning how to tailor strains with tastes. And the best part is, you can make these medicated or not — either way, they'll be delicious.

Kargo Water Pipe by 420 Science

photo: Kristen Williams Design

How many times have you misplaced your herbs in the middle of your smoke-a-thon? How many times did you bargain with your buddies on who had to get up and pack the next bowl? This piece eliminates all those feels with a convenient built-in stash jar, and even has multiple percolator options so you can get what's perfect for you.