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  1. Politics, Pot and Perk with Dr. Craig Leivent

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    Nugg talks politics, pot and perk with Flower Power Coffee Company’s Dr. Craig Leivent. He whips up a pretty mean cup o’ CBD coffee, and some food for thought too.

     

    It’s a rare treat to talk to someone who’s as passionate about cannabis as we are. Botanist and pharmacist Dr. Craig Leivent believes that everyone should be able to benefit from the perks this plant has to offer and does everything he can to share them. So if you’re in love with coffee and cannabis, you’ll find you have a lot in common with the doctor.

     

    Find out how Flower Power Coffee Company hopes to make the world a better place with the potent power of CBDs.

     

    What you'll learn in this article:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    Dr. Leivent’s Background and How Cannabis Became a Part of His Life

     

    Nugg: “When did you first start learning about the potential health benefits of cannabis?”

     

    Dr. Leivent: “So I grew up around cannabis. I lost my dad when I was eight, and my mom worked three jobs. She needed the right path. So, she took cannabis and that helped her. I grew up seeing this. I also grew up being ridiculed and criticized by my friends and by their parents who were mostly heavily medicated and/or alcoholics. And meanwhile she came home from work after a long day, or maybe she was on her way to her next job, she was medicating herself in a way that she was able to go about her daily life. That’s what I saw.”

     

    “It was hard sometimes. It was something we had to deal with because, a lot of my friends, their parents wouldn’t let them come over. But then I began to realize, even when I was in high school, that this was her way of coping instead of being on Xanax and Zoloft or Prozac or multiple other things, she was utilizing cannabis. And this got me to thinking of cannabis as more of an exit drug, and not an entrance drug, and as a tool that can be used for health.”

     

    Nugg: “So how did cannabis become a part of your adult life too?”

     

    Dr. Leivent: “I’ve always loved plants, so I went into botany thinking I was also going to be a doctor. But then the accident happened and I broke my jaw and my orbital, and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do that. I was doing therapy over the next 6 to 8 months, after my accident, and the doctors wanted to put me on barbiturates, benzos and anti-depression meds. I was almost like a guinea pig at one point. I was almost comatose. I was like a zombie and I couldn’t even live my life.”

     

    “So, I tried some cannabis too, and I realized, wow! I didn’t need the benzos or the barbiturates or the anti-depressants that they had me on – the pills that made me a zombie. I was able to consume a little cannabis and get on with my daily living. My reading and writing came back. I wasn’t as proficient as I was before the accident, but I noticed that the cannabis had a healing property on me. I mean, I had 186 stitches on my face. My lips were ripped off. My jaw was broken. My orbital was crushed in. My eyelash was ripped off over my right eye. It wasn’t pretty.”

     

    But Dr. Leivent didn’t let the accident stop him. He finished college and applied to pharmacy school. Dr. Leivent wanted to make cannabis available to help others the way it helped him. He then opened a medical dispensary in Oregon, Lincoln City Collective. Now he’s also on the East Coast, trying to get cannabis into people’s lives through his CBD-infused yummies.

     

    The Story Behind Flower Power Coffee

     

    Dr. Leivent: “I needed a way to get cannabinoids into everyday life. I was thinking and thinking, ‘could we put CBD into something that more than 80% of the population uses?’ And I looked in my hand and saw my coffee and thought, there it is!

     

    “That’s when I reached out to Chef Leighton Knowles who was doing some amazing things in the cannabis sector on the East Coast. We went over some products that were available and were not happy with what we found at the time. So we started going over different formulations, a scientist and a chef another perfect match, but the one thing we knew is we didn’t want an oily brew.”

     

    “I’m not poo-pooing other companies who make CBD coffee. I just don’t see how you can put CBD oil, on a bean, and then grind that bean, and then percolate that bean, and have a consistent measurement of CBD. Because each bean is not getting the same amount of CBD if it’s not being ground right away to get your measurements. So if they’re just leaving it as a whole bean and saying that its 350 mg per bag, that’s great, but how much is it per a serving? Because, if its an oil based thing, is that oil going to come through my water? Am I actually going to be able to get that in my coffee cup? Water and oil don’t like each other. They’d separate.”

     

    “So we searched out a custom-formulated CBD isolate, which is pure CBD – completely THC free. Then we went a little further and we thought, let’s get the best possible coffee that we can get and let’s put it with the best possible isolate that we can get. So we have this amazing CBD isolate with this fantastic coffee that’s been roasting in Brooklyn for the last 70 years. It’s been on Oprah and Seinfeld.”

     

    “We have the best coffee, with the best CBD, and the slight bitterness that the CBD might have is completely masked by the coffee. It’s like a match made in heaven. And it has its own entourage effect, because you’re going to get your energy through your coffee – you’re going to get your focus – but you’re not going to get those jitters and you’re not going to get the anxiety that caffeine usually brings. At least not in moderation.”

     

    “There were studies recently with CBD and coffee that didn’t show that, but these people were drinking eight to 10 cups of the stuff. You’re going to be jittery and have anxiety if you consume that much coffee. So moderation is important. But when people take our coffee and drink it, and they come back and tell us how they feel, it’s undeniable. That’s how the coffee came around. A lot of people describe drinking the coffee as being similar to the sensation they get when they put their hand on an air hockey table. They feel that light buzz going through their body and on their skin. That’s a great feeling.”

     

    “A lot of people don’t realize that their everyday life is stressful. You wake up, and suddenly you’re bombarded with stuff. Our brain doesn’t even let us realize all the stuff that’s going on around us all day or we’d go crazy. I serve this coffee at large events, and I tell people, ‘you’re going to drink this coffee and you’re going to feel great and be able to walk around all day.’ And they come back later and say ‘yeah! I feel great! I walked around all day. I usually can’t do that.’ Or they might have some anxiety with crowds, but they’ll come back to me three hours later and say, ‘you know, the crowds didn’t bother me.'”

     

    Feelings About Cannabinoids and Terpenes

     

    Nugg: “What are your feelings about high THC products with no CBD?

     

    Dr. Leivant: “Well now THC is amazing by itself. I also think it depends on the time of day for particular products. I think a balanced product – especially because of the synergistic effects between THC and CBD – is usually the best option. But the cannabis patients in New York don’t have access to the specific strains and varieties that you do in California.”

     

    Nugg: “It’s so strange to see a state that doesn’t allow flower.”

     

    Dr. Leivant: (laughs) “Yeah, it’s because New York is a smoke-free state, so vaping is considered non-smoking. You can consume your capsules or have a vape pen, but no smoking of flower.”

     

    Nugg: “Do you feel like they are missing out on the other benefits that you would find in natural flower like the CBNs and the terpenes?”

     

    Dr. Leivant: “Oh yes! They definitely might be missing out. CBN, CBG, you know, the other tiny cannabinoids that get pushed out with high THC breeding too. I mean, a plant can only contain so much THC before it can’t grow anymore. So it happens to the flower too. A lot of those natural cannabinoids that cause the entourage effect are being bred out. It’s extreme. I’ve seen 31% THC, so, when you think about it, 30% of that plant is just THC (the buds). So you’re losing a lot of those other finite cannabinoids that have those other wonderful synergistic effects that might give you a better effect from that THC. So, I don’t like THC with no CBD in it. But I also do like higher THC strains too. I’m a hyperactive guy and I have a lot of energy, almost too much energy.”

     

    “This is something I feel very passionate about. I realized everyone needs to consume some type of cannabinoid in some type of way. Like THCA, it won’t get you high, it has more antioxidants and Omega 3,6 and 9, than almost any other plant and most fish. Cannabis is a superfood! If we were to consume cannabis itself as a food, I don’t know how many diseases or conditions we’d improve or even eliminate. You’re in California! You should be consuming raw cannabis every day. Juice it, any way you can get it in there. You can’t deny the benefits. But we’re giving out opium. We’re giving out synthetic fentanyl. I would take my patients down the herb aisles and I would have to say you have to be careful taking this because your kidneys might fail, if you take too much of this your liver will fail, if you take too much of this you’ll get an ulcer. But you can consume your body weight in cannabis and feel great. It’s crazy. The only way you can get hurt from cannabis is if you drop 2,000 pounds on your head.”

     

    Nugg: “It seems so backward.”

     

    Dr. Leivent: “Yeah. We’re not even being taught about the endocannabinoid system. My friends that went through medical school weren’t taught about it. My students in pharmacy school aren’t taught about it. They do have an elective course at LIU, but at St. John’s, a Catholic school, there’s no mention of it. Before, what was it, 1938? There were some 2,000 pharmaceutical products with medical cannabis in them. It was just a great medicine! Now we don’t even feed hemp to our livestock. We’ve taken so many of these cannabinoids out of our daily life. Who knows how many of our current diseases or mental health problems could be attributed to this? I personally believe that. When you see someone who is cannabinoid naive, and you give them CBDs or low dose THCs and you see the effects, it’s undeniable. The reports that we get from people saying they’ve stopped shaking from their Tourette syndrome or they slept all the way through the night for the first time in years – it’s just undeniable. It’s just great to hear these things. We should be utilizing it as much as possible, and instead, we are being handcuffed.”

     

    The Importance of Taking Legal Action to Help Enable Legalization in New York

     

    Of course, with the tenuous ground that CBDs stand upon, the conversation took a natural turn toward the politics of pot. Dr. Leivent isn’t just passionate about his coffee. He knows that his company’s and his customers’ futures depend on the direction of current legislation.

     

    Now that Epidiolex is America’s first FDA-approved CBD-based medication, it’s impossible for the DEA to continue to deny that cannabis has no medical benefit. The DEA must make a decision to reschedule Epidiolex, and it’s still being debated whether this rescheduling will include all CBDs. Some activists are very worried about this decision because if all CBDs are rescheduled to Schedule 2 or Schedule 3, production could become more complicated, not less.

     

    Dr. Leivent: “I don’t think enough people realize what the big issues are. They think any step toward legalization is great. They don’t realize the intricacies of the situation. If we deschedule, we’ll be able to utilize this as a superfood, and as the plant-based medicine it is. If we reschedule, we will be putting cannabis completely in the hands of the pharmaceutical industry. Call your congressman, call your representatives. Everyone, everyone should be calling. Every dispensary should display their congressperson’s phone number.”

     

    The nation got a glimpse of what such a Schedule 2 or 3 world would look like in mid-August when it was discovered that Epidiolex, which is being produced by GW Pharma, could cost as much as $32,000 per year.

     

    That pill may be a little hard to swallow since current compassionate care providers in legal states can make similar CBD tinctures and concoctions for just a couple hundred dollars a month. They often even provide these CBD tinctures for low or no-cost, utilizing the profits from legal cannabis sales to cover the relatively minimal production costs.

     

    Nugg: “Do you think there’s enough public interest now to stop this from happening?”

     

    Dr. Leivent: “Absolutely! Just look at the demographics that this crosses. You have every walk of life – every creed, every color, every age group. There are so many people who have seen benefits. Look at all the people who want to relax or treat pain, so they drink or pop a Xanax – but then they poo-poo cannabis. So they go home and they have a drink or get drunk and then they look terrible the next day. Or they take their Xanax and they’re totally out of it. Why would you want to do that when you can come home and smoke a joint or eat an edible and feel a lot better and be a better person to everyone else? There are no ill-effects…well, maybe a pizza or two.”

     

    Find Flower Power Coffee Company’s coffee at these locations, and learn more about coffee and cannabis from Nugg’s Cannabis Concierge team. We’re always here to help.

     

  2. Cannabis Can Help Your Arthritic Canine

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    Dogs are more than pets. They’re beloved four-legged family members who depend on you for everything from breakfast to belly rubs just like your kids. That’s why it’s so devastating to watch yours suffer from a painful condition like osteoarthritis (OA).

     

    But with the June 2018 approval of the first pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol (CBD), dog owners are looking to this wonder cannabinoid to help their canine companions.

     

    CBD’s anti-inflammatory pain relief is well-documented for people with arthritis, so why not try the same medicine for your dog? Until recently, there wasn’t much research to back it up. But a new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science shows promise for CBD as a safe and effective OA treatment. 

     

    What you'll learn in this article:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    What Is Osteoarthritis?

     

    There are over 100 different types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common. Sometimes called degenerative joint disease, OA is a chronic condition that involves wear-and-tear to the cartilage that cushions the joints. Cartilage is a soft, slippery tissue that covers the bone ends where they meet at a joint. When broken down, it can cause bones to grind together.

     

    Signs that your dog may have OA include:

    • Altered gait or limping
    • Stiffness and swelling in joints
    • Decreased activity
    • Difficulty getting up or lying down
    • Inability or reluctance to climb stairs
    • Whining, whimpering, and other signs of pain

     

    Risk of developing OA increases with age, but certain dogs may be more susceptible to this disease earlier in life. If your canine counterpart is particularly active or large, he or she might  be more prone to OA.

     

    How Do You Treat Osteoarthritis in Dogs?

     

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common treatment for OA but they’re far from ideal. NSAIDs can cause unwanted side effects, especially stomach issues.

     

    A systematic review published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that OA treatment with NSAIDs causes adverse side effects in 55% of studies. To make matters worse, NSAIDs may not even offer adequate pain relief for your pooch.

     

    These issues have led many pet owners to seek alternative therapies, like CBD oil, to reduce OA symptoms without side effects.

     

    How Does CBD Reduce Osteoarthritis Symptoms in Dogs?

     

    Like humans, dogs have an endocannabinoid receptor system that plays a key role in managing pain and inflammation. In addition to being widely dispersed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, cannabinoid receptors are present in the lining of the joints.

     

    CBD is a naturally occurring compound in the cannabis plant that binds to these receptors, offering therapeutic benefits such as:

    • Decreased sensitivity to pain
    • Reduced inflammation
    • Regulation of the immune system

     

    These medical benefits make CBD an appealing option for treating dogs suffering from OA. Until recently, there wasn’t a lot of scientific evidence to back it up. The July 2018 study, “Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs” by Gamble et al. provides the proof.

     

    To investigate the effects of oral CBD supplementation, Gamble and colleagues performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, dog owner and veterinarian double-blind crossover trial. They gave 16 dogs with moderate-to-severe OA each two treatments in random order: CBD oil dosed at 2 mg/kg or a placebo. They administered treatment every 12 hours for 4 weeks with a 2-week period in between phases.

     

    Gamble and colleagues measured OA symptoms with an owner assessment using the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI) and Hudson activity scale, as well as a veterinary evaluation every two weeks. Since the study was double-blind, neither owner nor veterinarian knew which treatment the dog was receiving during any phase of the study.

     

    Results showed significant improvements with CBD supplementation at weeks 2 and 4 across 16 dogs of various breeds and sizes. While taking CBD oil, the dogs showed fewer signs of pain and increased their activity level both at home and during their veterinary evaluation.

     

    More importantly, there were no observed side effects throughout the study. While a longer-term trial including a larger sample of dogs would reveal more information, the study by Gamble et al. suggests CBD is a safe and effective treatment for OA.

     

    What Other Conditions Can CBD Help My Dog Cope With?

     

    CBD isn’t only beneficial for dogs with OA. Even without double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to support it, many pet owners hail CBD as a cure-all for a vast array of veterinary health problems.

     

    A report published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association found that owners use CBD to treat several conditions in their dogs and cats, including:

    • Seizures
    • Cancer
    • Anxiety
    • Phobias
    • Digestive issues
    • Skin conditions like pruritus

     

    In addition to reducing pain and inflammation, CBD also has anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects on dogs, making it a top choice for seizure treatment.

     

    Even if your dog doesn’t have a serious medical condition like arthritis or cancer, he or she may exhibit anxiety in situations like a thunderstorm or among other dogs. Since they can’t talk to release trauma, the best you can do is make your puppy pal feel safe and comfortable. Following pain relief, help sleeping and reducing anxiety are the two most common benefits owners report when giving their fur baby CBD.

     

    How Do I Know If CBD Is Right for My Dog?

     

    First, discuss your dog’s symptoms and any concerns you may have with your veterinarian. If the doggy doc diagnoses yours with OA or another issue, ask if CBD can help.

     

    Remember: CBD is non-psychoactive, so your dog won’t get high as long as there’s no THC in the product. While both hemp and marijuana contain CBD, a product that contains only CBD typically comes from the hemp plant. Many CBD products come in oils you can easily mix in with your dog’s food, or simply drop it in their mouth.

     

    If you have more questions about how CBD can improve your dog (or cat’s) life, one of Nugg’s friendly and professional Cannabis Concierge’s will gladly answer them. And while medical questions are best left for your vet, a Cannabis Concierge is always happy to chat with you about the best cannabis products for your fur baby’s condition(s).

     

  3. Dos & Don’ts of Cannabis Storage: How to Keep Your Products Fresh

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    It’s Friday so you purchase some quality flower to help relax. But you unwind too much and leave the jar open over the weekend, only to find stale, flavorless flower come Monday. Maybe you store a top-shelf cartridge in your pocket, forget it’s there, and break it when you sit. Or you leave a piece of chocolate in its foil wrapper where it melts from sun exposure.

     

    While stale bud, leaky cartridges and melted chocolate aren’t the end of the world, it’s really annoying to waste your hard-earned money at your local dispensary or on cannabis delivery. You want the most out of your investment.

     

    You may not realize this, but proper cannabis storage can keep your products fresh, potent and tasty. They, like fresh produce, are also susceptible to degradation. Taking a couple of simple precautionary steps will ensure your edibles, flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, vape carts, tinctures and topicals stay fresh and effective ‘til the end!

     

    Here we’ll give you some tips on how to get the most out of all your cannabis products. In the end, it’s better for your bank account and body.

     

    What you'll learn in this post:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    What Happens to Cannabis When Improperly Stored

     

    Natural forces can really do a number on cannabis quickly. Beyond the physical alterations, factors like heat, air, and UV rays can actually lead to cellular changes that modify potency and effects.

     

    Cannabinoids, the vast chemical compounds found in cannabis like THC and CBD, can synthesize into other forms. Many cannabinoids are stored as acids, which aren’t “bioavailable” without heat. Cannabinoids like CBC (Cannabichromere) and CBG (Cannabigerol), which we don’t know much about, are synthesized from their acidic versions (CBCA and CBGA) when they come into contact with heat.

     

    One of the most consequential examples of cannabinoid synthesization is THC, the cannabinoid that makes us feel high. THC becomes bioavailable when THCA, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, is exposed to heat. But that’s not the final act. When exposed to light and air, cannabis is synthesized into CBN, a cannabinoid known for making you very sleepy.

     

    Synthesizing THC to CBN isn’t necessarily a bad thing; some may even benefit from CBN. If you deal with sleep disorders or pain due to inflammation, CBN’s sedating and anti-inflammatory properties could do the trick. Just be aware that, typically, the higher the CBN level, the lower the THC and psychoactive effects.

     

    Yet if you buy cannabis with a certain THC level and want to keep it that way, storing the product properly will help preserve its potency, texture, flavors and effects. Generally, the most important natural forces to consider are light, temperature, air, and moisture. Improper levels of any of these can lead to changes in taste, potency, safety and, as mentioned, even cannabinoids.

     

    Light

    Failing to stash a strain properly can alter its effects and potency. UV rays, specifically UVA and UVB, are undoubtedly powerful. UVB can break down THC, which can lead to a drop in potency. Protecting your flower from this demise is as simple as buying a couple of UV-protected jars and storing them in a dark, cool place when not in use.

     

    Temperature

    Cannabis should be stored somewhere relatively cool (60°-70°F) and dry. Heat and moisture can produce mold, which can be very dangerous to inhale.

     

    But it can’t be too cold! Cannabis, especially flower, should never be placed in the fridge or freezer. These frigid temperatures will cause the trichomes, those little hairs that make buds look frosty, to separate. Losing trichomes means losing important cannabinoids and flavors.

     

    Air

    In general, cured and processed cannabis should be exposed to as little oxygen as possible. Too much O2 can cause rapid cannabinoid deterioration. As we mentioned, oxygen is responsible for synthesizing THC to CBN. Oxidation will produce a less potent “high” than cannabis products kept in airtight containers. Those UV protective jars above are great because they have an airtight seal and block harmful rays.

     

    Moisture

    Too little humidity can lead to crunchy, unappealing cannabis that lacks flavor and potency. Sounds gross, right? On the other hand, too much dampness and lack of airflow can create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

     

    And as if that isn’t enough, too much humidity and stale air can really ruin the flavor of cannabis by introducing too much ammonia to the chemical equation. Neither is great, though there are easy ways to regulate moisture in your cannabis jars, pre-rolls, and edibles so you have no excuse! Simply buy freshness packets to store in the jar/pack/pouch to help regulate moisture, avoid mold and flavor degradation.

     

    Proper Cannabis Storage by Product Type

     

    Edibles

    Nowadays, we have cannabis-infused versions of just about everything: cold brew coffee, truffles, dried fruit, potato chips, granola–the combinations are virtually endless. Because of this, each edible type comes with its own shelf life and storage needs. On top of that, many come with more than one dose, so proper cannabis storage is necessary if you want to maintain freshness until the next dose.

     

    The number one rule when it comes to edibles: pay attention to the packaging. With such variety their needs vary, so check for shelf life info like sell-by/expiration dates, refrigeration instructions and how long a product will last after opening. If you can’t find any of these details, ask your budtender or contact the brand for advice.

     

    If you don’t spread infused butter or olive oil on your daily toast, stow in the freezer instead of the frig. Just be sure to use the rest in six months or risk it going rotten.

     

    Refrigerate drinks, candy bars and baked sweets unless consumed in one sitting. Don’t like them ice-cold? Let chocolates, cookies, cakes and krispy treats sit out for five minutes to reach room temperature or risk cold, hurt teeth. Unlike baked goods, most chocolate bars don’t come in resealable packaging, so also put them in an airtight sandwich bag to prolong shelf life.

     

    More popular infused snacks like chips and popcorn already come in resealable bags; those that don’t, place in an appropriately sized ziplock bag. Regardless of the packaging, keep them anywhere it’s not very hot or cold since they don’t require refrigeration.

     

    As for gummies, most are also already packaged in reclosable bags or child-proof plastic bottles. Refrigeration won’t do any harm, though you’ll do more chewing, so put them in a cool, shady place like a drawer or cabinet.

     

    Flower & Pre-Rolls

    We can’t overstate the difference proper storage can make on cannabis flower and pre-rolls. Flower easily deteriorates when exposed to oxygen, humidity and UV rays that can lead to lackluster flavor and effectiveness.

     

    If you left a fresh nug or joint out on the counter, it wouldn’t be worth consuming within two weeks. But with the proper cannabis storage techniques, flower and pre-rolls can last up to six months or longer! That’s a huge difference in shelf life for very little effort.

     

    First, let’s discuss the best containers for storing cannabis flower. Here’s a little-known fact: the static electricity in plastic bags can actually make marijuana less potent by attracting the trichomes away from the buds and to the walls of the plastic bag. These trichomes are full of cannabinoids and terpenes, both essential to the potency and flavor. If plastic bags are part of your current storage technique, now’s the time to invest in some UV-blocking glass jars.

     

    Now let’s talk temperature. Proper conditions will ensure your cannabis doesn’t dry out or grow yucky organisms like mold and bacteria. These gross critters thrive above 77°F, so always stash your bud in a cooler environment and away from direct sunlight, preferably 60°F to 75°F. This can be as simple as keeping a jar or pre-roll pack/tube in a desk drawer in a shaded part of your home. And if you want to be extra cautious about moisture levels (and you should), invest in some freshness packs to extend their shelf life.

     

    But, whatever you do, don’t store your cannabis flower or joints in the fridge or freezer. While a very short stay in either isn’t necessarily bad, storing flower in very low temperatures for an extended time can cause the trichomes to fall right off.

     

    Concentrates

    Concentrates have taken the cannabis world by storm. Similar to edibles, there’s a huge variety available made using different extraction processes, resulting in distinct textures and effects like sugar, shatter, budder, resin, and crumble.

     

    Unlike flower, these concentrates offer more potent effects, a cleaner high, and arguably more complex taste. However, improper storage can be detrimental to these positive characteristics.

     

    Concentrates are one of the easier products to preserve, lasting three to six months or longer when properly stored. Concentrates like sauce, butter, and crumble typically come in thick glass jars while others like shatter are packaged in small plastic cases (like SD cards) or paper envelopes with the product wrapped in parchment paper. Regardless of their packaging, don’t leave them exposed to the air when not in use.

     

    If you want short-term storage and transportation, purchase an airtight silicone container to keep your preferred concentrate(s) free of debris, deterioration, and harmful UV rays.

     

    Vape Cartridges

    Proper storage is a matter of function as well as preservation. Vape carts should also be placed in a cool, dark locale to preserve potency and flavor. Beyond that, tossing one around haphazardly or storing it horizontally (unless in the manufacturer’s case) can lead to annoying mishaps like leaking and clogging.

     

    Unfortunately, most cartridges are made from plastic and thus relatively easy to break; the components are so small it isn’t hard to get a clog. And when you pay $50-$60 for a top-shelf one, being careless with care can really hurt your wallet.

     

    Keep in mind that pyrex and metal cartridges are less likely to break since the material’s stronger. Whenever your battery pen isn’t in use, unscrew the cartridge to avoid any unnecessary heat. Then store it upright with the mouthpiece facing up; keeping the oil down by the wick won’t cause clogging near the mouthpiece. Plus, you won’t have to wait for the oil to flow back down towards the heating element. Want portability? Invest in a vaporizer that comes with a padded carrying case.

     

    Here’s an extra tip for clogged cartridges (they’re more common than you think): many top-shelf brands use more natural ingredients like honey in their concentrates. This can cause the oil’s viscosity to fluctuate, sometimes resulting in jamming. But before you give up on a vape oil cartridge try thinning the oil with a little heat using these two methods. Take small, rapid puffs while plugged into the battery to get the heating element fired up or simply roll the cartridge between your hands quickly to create friction. Now you’re heatin’ up!

     

    Tinctures

    If this was a competition, tinctures and topicals would be tied for easiest cannabis storage. Generally, tinctures are a supremely underrated form of consumption. Not only are they a very discrete non-smoking option that can be added to nearly any food or drink, they have a two or three-year shelf life if stored right!

     

    That might sound crazy, but tinctures are incredibly stable due to the alcohol extraction method most commonly used to make them. So, as you might guess, tincture storage is pretty simple. Whether it’s olive oil, vegetable glycerin or something else, it’ll preserve easily. All you need is one of those UV-protected bottles or jars kept in a cool, dark place. And as if that isn’t easy enough, virtually all tinctures already come in UV-protected packaging.

     

    Topicals

    Storing topicals is pretty much a no-brainer. These can easily have a shelf life of one to two years if stowed properly — since storing topicals is so easy, you shouldn’t have any problems.

     

    Whether an oil, lotion, salve, spray, balm, or cream, they’re all made to be stored in a bathroom or medicine cabinet like the rest of your ointments and other medications. That means the materials used to emulsify and mix into topicals are, for the most part, completely shelf stable. And just like tinctures, virtually all topicals come in UV-protected and airtight packaging.

     

    Still, the normal rules of cannabis storage still apply. Keep your topicals in a cool, dark place; don’t let them sit in the car during a hot summer day or in the freezer when the AC is on the fritz. Generally speaking, a bathroom or bedside drawer are great spots to store.

     

    Recommended Cannabis Products with Storage in Mind

     

    Sadly, when it comes to packaging, not all brands are created equal. Some may look very visually pleasing, but just doesn’t offer the level of protection needed to keep what’s inside fresh. Here are some concentrates, carts, flower, pre-rolls, and edibles that are just as potent as they are protected. 

     

    Concentrates

    Look for concentrates that come in small and sealable glass jars or syringes rather than just parchment paper and a Ziplock bag. Both Heavy Hitters and Alpine Vapor make some pretty cool small syringes filled cannabis distillate and oil, respectively. These can be easily be stored upright and will limit the concentrate’s exposure to unnecessary air.

     

    Vape Cartridges

    Invest in one that comes with a nice, padded carrying case like this one from AbsoluteXtracts. For a disposable vape option, try a dosist pen. While these pens are made of recycled plastic, they’re incredibly well made and aren’t likely to leak or break. Why? The entire cartridge, except a small window to gauge the level of oil, is encased in a strong plastic shell.

     

    Flower & Pre-Rolls

    When it comes to flower and pre-rolls, invest in brands that package their products safely and correctly to maximize shelf life. Flow Kana packages their flower in UV-protected, amber glass jars. Ganja Gold houses their individual flower/wax/kief tarantula pre-rolls in sturdy, airtight plastic doob tubes. THC Design shrink wraps their Classic J’s tins containing six joints, each with its own molded placeholder, covered by a Boveda humidity pack and thin paper sheet.

     

    Edibles

    Most infused foods, unfortunately, aren’t made with storage in mind, especially those that come with multiple doses like a chocolate bar or baked good. If you’re like me and often find yourself with more, there are a few options.

     

    One option: buy edibles with resealable packaging. Korova stores all of their bars and cookies in tricky-to-open, UV-protected, resealable plastic pouches. If dividing one is too much trouble or sweets aren’t for you, try Milo Confections single serving mints. They provide the exact dose you want and fit in your pocket or purse. Just pop one or two out of the tin whenever you need relief!

     

    Do yourself a favor and stash your cannabis where it’ll keep fresh! It’ll last longer, keep its flavor and potency, and remain free of mold and other harmful bacteria. When it really comes down to it, cannabis storage is as simple as keeping a UV-protected jar or ziplock bag in a cool, dark drawer. Sounds easy enough, right?

     

    If you’re curious about the best way to store your favorite or new product, consult Nugg’s cannabis concierge service. Our team of experts can give you the most up-to-date info on how to seal your stash, maximizing flavor and potency for weeks to come.

  4. Let’s Talk About Cannabis and Anxiety

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    Ever had a “bad trip” on cannabis? Perhaps you smoked too much or tried edibles for the first time and weren’t prepared for the effects? It’s well known that overly-strong cannabis doses can cause panic and anxiety. So people often scratch their heads and laugh when they find out doctors recommend cannabis to treat anxiety disorder. But doesn’t it cause anxiety in the first place?

     

    It might be a cliched notion, but when confronted with two completely opposite points of view, the truth is almost always somewhere in between. When faced with one extreme accusing cannabis of causing psychosis, and another proclaiming it’s a remedy, it’s wise to take both points of view with a grain of salt.  

     

    Cannabis and anxiety is a complex topic that’s only beginning to move to the forefront of the legalization conversation. And, believe it or not, many cannabis users experience remarkable relief from anxiety disorders with cannabis. So how is this possible? Can cannabis really help treat an anxiety disorder? We’re only now beginning to see studies that show the cannabinoids’ true roles in our stress patterns and physiology.

     

    What you'll learn in this post:

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    What Is Anxiety?

     

    Anxiety is a normal response to stress. Literally, everyone experiences it from time to time. But sometimes anxiety becomes an ugly monster that takes over life. At this point, you might be diagnosed with one of the many different types of clinical anxiety disorders:

    • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)  
    • Panic disorder
    • Panic attacks
    • Agoraphobia
    • Social anxiety disorder
    • Selective mutism
    • Separation anxiety
    • Phobias
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

     

    That’s a lot of syllables and categories that don’t really tell us much about what anxiety is, or its physical causes.

     

    I Thought Anxiety Was All in My Head?

     

    Wrong. Anxiety is a physiological reaction to stress. Like all physiological reactions, it can be well-adapted to external circumstances or dysfunctionally adapted. When the reaction to stress is dysfunctional, a cascade of hormones are released into the body to wreak their havoc – and the aftermath ain’t pretty. The physical symptoms are:

    • Increased heart rate or palpitations
    • Choking sensation
    • Shaking
    • Sweating
    • Pain in your chest
    • Feeling hot or cold
    • Goosebumps
    • Numbness
    • Tingling
    • Nausea
    • Intestinal cramps
    • Fear of losing control, dying or a sudden sense of detachment from reality

     

    You can have one or all of these symptoms, which can vary widely. But all of them have one thing in common – they’re normal reactions to increased stress hormones.

     

    It’s Just the Way We Work

     

    There’s an evolutionary basis for these physical symptoms when exposed to stress. The most basic benefit? These physical reactions are intensely unpleasant, encouraging us to exit stressful situations that cause these symptoms. Even better, these unpleasant hormones give us the energy we need to escape a bad situation fast, increasing our chances of survival. Consider the following scenario:

     

    You dip your toe into a South American lake. It looks like a pleasant place for a swim. The water’s wonderful and relaxing, so you wade a little further in. Suddenly, you see it frothing as a bird flails to escape. A pool of blood mixes with the frothy water and you realize you’ve stepped into piranha territory.

     

    Would it be evolutionarily expedient to stay in the water? How about moseying out slowly as the school of killer fish rapidly descends on you for dessert? Of course not!

     

    Stress Is an Important Survival Tool

     

    The best survival reaction would be to run away from that lake so fast that you appaer to levitate. This is where anxiety comes in. It releases stress hormones that prepare your body for the intense burst of physical activity you need to survive, better known as “fight or flight.”

     

    This reaction is real, and it has a powerful effect on the human body. In fact, the physical effects can be so powerful that they can provide seemingly superhuman strength. These are the hormones that allow a 280lb man to lift a 3,000lb car off an accident victim. Or they might give a mother the strength to run into a burning building to rescue her child. If these hormones can do all this, they aren’t all bad, and they most definitely aren’t all in your head.

     

    Wearing Out the Button

     

    But what if these hormones are always being activated without the accompanying explosion of activity? Consider, if you will, another scenario:

     

    You’re in L.A. on the 405 at 11pm. You check your mirrors, signal, and switch lanes to exit. Suddenly you see a red Corvette screaming toward you at half the speed of light.  

     

    The same physiological response that saved your ancient ancestors from saber tooth tigers just allowed you to jerk your car back into the previous lane in time to avoid becoming protoplasm on the side of the road.

     

    All That Adrenaline and Nowhere to Go

     

    So, was the situation with the red corvette any less life-threatening than the piranhas? Heck no! The exact same stress response saved you twice. However, in the case of the piranhas, you just levitated through water at breakneck speed (not easy to do). In the case of the nut behind the wheel, you’re still sitting on your keister, likely suffering from heart palpitations and homicidal rage. What are you supposed to do with all that extra blood sugar and adrenaline?

     

    Depending on your current lifestyle and occupation, you could find yourself facing this type of fight or flight response several times a day. Any normal person who experiences this hormone response while forced to be immobile or calm will have a negative reaction (think of an encounter with an aggressive customer who might be threatening your life). These hormones aren’t meant to be circulating in great amounts while sitting still.

     

    So, there’s NOTHING to be embarrassed about if you suffer from anxiety. Almost everyone has experienced this phenomenon. And the ones that don’t probably actually do and just don’t know it.

     

    Your body is built to work this way. It’s the world that’s poorly adapted to our biology and changing so fast it’s hard to keep up on an evolutionary scale. Perhaps, centuries from now, our physiological responses will evolve to adapt more appropriately to these stressful situations that require small movements and calm. We might even call it the “react and relax” response.

     

    It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

     

    Meanwhile, we need to deal with the here and now. The world is nuts and it’s actually a testament to humanity’s resilience that we can survive here at all. Just because anxiety might become a diagnosed mental illness doesn’t mean it’s your fault, it’s all in your head, or a weakness. Just the opposite.

     

    The world we live in today is every bit as tough and stressful as it was when our ancestors lived here. We’re dealing with biological responses that are very poorly adapted to the stressful situations we regularly deal with. So, how do we cope?

     

    The Medical Approach

     

    Doctors have lots of handy little pills. They’ve got ones that make you larger, some that make you small, and others that mom gave you that don’t seem to do anything at all.

     

    Fortunately, some people really do benefit from medicines that help regulate our stress responses. Unfortunately, many others have a hard time getting past the unpleasant side effects. These can include:

    • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: weight gain, insomnia and sexual problems.
    • Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors: high blood pressure, nausea, headaches and trouble sleeping.
    • Tricyclic Antidepressants: low blood pressure, blurry vision, dry mouth and constipation.
    • Benzodiazepines: addiction and risk of overdose.

     

    If you have trouble dealing with these side effects (it’s hard to believe some people don’t), don’t despair. There are other natural ways to combat the stress caused by our unnatural world.

     

    Cognitive Behavior Therapy

     

    Think of this as a way to rewire the brain – perhaps even give you a little adaptive evolutionary kick start. Basically, it involves teaching your brain entirely new thought patterns. For an oversimplified example, we can revisit our homicidal Corvette. Was he/she really trying to kill you, or just trying to get somewhere fast?

     

    We tend to think in a reactionary way to situations that causes a feedback loop and increases our anger and stress hormones. We might think, “that (insert expletive) tried to kill me!” This doesn’t help. It’s also probably not true. Instead, you’d replace the defensive thought with, “I’m in control of my car and forgive this person for their careless act.”

     

    This is a lot harder than it sounds. It requires an almost superhuman effort of self-control since we aren’t built to think that way. It’s also very worthwhile and life-affirming for many who find it improves other areas of life as they learn. Want to learn more about this proven therapeutic tool? Check out this page.

     

    Meditation

     

    This is another acquired skill that can help to reduce stress hormones and repair stress-induced damage. The best part about meditation is it can be used as long as time and circumstances allow. Learn more about meditation and its benefits here.

     

    Physical Activity

     

    Considering the root of the problem, fight or flight without the release of either, increasing physical activity, and sweating, as often as possible can help. This will help to use all of the extra glucose and adrenaline released into our systems.

     

    There are many ways to do this, but if it’s possible to time physical activity closely with stressful situations, you might experience more relief. For instance, if you have a fight with a loved one, you can take a walk around the block to “cool off.”

     

    Where Does Cannabis Fit In?

     

    Many people use cannabis to treat stress and anxiety, and use it very effectively. This is confusing to some scientists that don’t approach medicine in a functional way. It’s well-known that THC can sometimes give you the heebie-jeebies. So it doesn’t seem like cannabis is the ideal herb for anxiety of any kind.

     

    But THC isn’t the only compound in cannabis; and unlike the controlled environments in research studies, it’s usually taken with many other cannabinoids at the same time. Just like many medications produced by big pharma, THC alone can produce a very different effect than the whole plant from which it’s derived.

     

    Dose and Ratio Matter

     

    Cannabis is one of those herbs that can have opposite effects at different doses, and at different mixtures. Taking a little may make a person relaxed and happy while taking a lot can push a novice to borderline psychosis.  

     

    Some of the compounds in cannabis elevate anxiety, while others cause relaxation. The overall effect that a cannabis product has on you will depend on the ratio of each compound present, and your own physiological reactions. Discover more about them here.

     

    Bottom line: you’ll never know how a new strain or cannabis product will affect you until you try it. That’s why it’s so important to start small and work your dosage up if you’re among the majority who suffers from a little occasional anxiety. It may be tempting to overdo your cannabis dosage since it won’t kill you, but the difference between a great day and a horrific afternoon can a few milligrams of THC.

     

    How Do I Find the Best Cannabis for My Needs?

     

    That’s a very good question with an answer about as clear as mud. Clinical studies can provide a general idea of how compounds work on most, but not how they work on everyone. Clinical studies on single compounds won’t tell us what happens when they’re combined with others, either. And when the compounds are as magical and dynamic as they are in cannabis, experimental results can be positively confounding.

     

    Studies have shown that CBD acts as an antagonist to THC in CB1 receptors (the receptors that make us feel high). But a few others show less of this effect with CBD than previously thought. What’s more likely is that scientists have failed to take into account each person’s unique chemistry. The general consensus is that CBD does help with relaxation and perception of a more mellow high, and our fellow canna-connoisseurs tend to agree.

     

    So a good start would be finding a strain with some CBD as well as THC. You might want a 50/50 mix if you don’t want to feel much from the THC, or go with a lower CBD:THC ratio if you’re open to a little couch lock for the day. But this still leaves a lot of room for experimentation.

     

    Getting High Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum

     

    Budtenders and enthusiasts everywhere generally agree that sativa provides a more cerebral high while indica gives us couch lock and munchies. This statement is as credible as an old wives’ tale. The truth is even more convoluted than our most experienced cannabis scientists will admit.

     

    We see studies that test how disconnected neurotransmitters absorb compounds in a Petri dish and show cannabinoids’ effects on rats and mice. We even see studies assessing whether administering Marinol can reduce cannabis self-administration in “cannabis dependent” individuals like methadone for “cannabis addicts.” (It’s okay to laugh at the silliness of this concept.)

     

    Remember, anyone can submit a scientific study to the community – even a paranoid Reagan-era mad scientist who thinks any pill is good idea if it’s got “Lilly” or “Abbott” stamped on it. Heaven forbid you take the actual substance in its natural form.

     

    Each one of these studies fails to take into account the most important variable – us! None of these chemical reactions takes place in a vacuum. They take place in our bodies where receptors are affected by what we eat, what we’re doing at the time, and how much dopamine and serotonin we already have in our systems – even what we were thinking about five minutes ago.

     

    How in the world would it be possible to completely narrow down the effects of a strain or specific compound in the midst of such chaos?

     

    Why Not Try Your Own Scientific Approach?

     

    The best way to figure out the right regimen for your personal well-being is to try several different types, strains, ratios and administration methods and keep track of how they make you feel. There’s something to be said for applying the scientific method to our own health and wellness routines. After all, even scientists have to admit that what works on a lab rat may have absolutely no bearing on humans.

     

    Even if you’re an extremely experienced user, you can benefit from this method. We often fall into certain habits or a rut with our medicine and lose great opportunities to improve results.

     

    Here are some questions to consider while experimenting. Does edible CBD have a more relaxing effect than smoked or vaped CBD? Does the ratio of CBD to THC affect your high? Do the other cannabinoids present, like terpenes, affect your overall feel? Prefer natural terpenes to artificial flavors? Edibles, inhalation, or both? Do you like to titrate your doses in tiny amounts or take larger doses one to three times daily?

     

    If you have questions or are unsure where to start, Nugg’s Cannabis Concierge service is here for you. Our team of experts will listen to your needs and concerns, and offer the most up-to-date product and industry info to make sure you have the best possible cannabis experience.

  5. The FDA Wants Your Cannabis Input so Don’t Be Afraid to Tell It Straight

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    Last winter, we reported that the World Health Organization is reassessing their stance on cannabis. Now the organization is rightfully asking for input from member nations who can’t legalize cannabis due to international treaties.

     

    Thankfully, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking for our input.

     

    What you'll learn in this post:

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    What Info Does the FDA Want?

     

    The notice for public comments asks for opinions on:

     

    • Abuse potential
    • Actual abuse
    • Medical usefulness
    • Trafficking
    • Impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use

     

    While the notice is required by the Controlled Substances Act, the FDA really does use their input – so it’s vital that we contribute. Currently, there are 22.2 million U.S. cannabis users. It’d be very difficult for the federal government to recommend continued global prohibition if inundated with positive comments from each one of them.

     

    We can only submit electronic or written comments for this request from now until April 23, 2018. There’s no time to waste!

     

    How Do I Submit My Comments?

     

    Enter electronic comments here. Don’t leave any personal info you don’t want publicly known as the site’s comments will be reposted in their entirety.

     

    If you wish to make a more private statement, send to the address below and be sure it’s postmarked by April 23, 2018:

     

    Dockets Management
    Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration
    5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
    Rockville, MD 20852

     

    What Can I Say?

     

    Tell the FDA anything you want to about the plant. Stories explaining its medical usefulness will be particularly helpful. Form letters tend to be less credible, so personal input will prove the most useful.

     

    Don’t be shy if you’re not a wordsmith; the agency won’t be checking your grammar. What does matter is those who’ve benefited from medicinal cannabis profess their desire for full descheduling.

     

    The government can’t know it no longer has the consent of the governed unless the governed lets it know. This is our chance to be heard loud and clear; let’s flood the powers that be with more positive cannabis opinions than they’ve ever received!

     

    We have senators fighting for states’ rights in our nationwide legalization battle, though it’s an uphill one. If we can end the unreasonable international treaties preventing total decriminalization, we can finally end the costly war on weed at home.

     

    Please don’t wait; comment today and share this news with everyone you know so they can share their comments too!

     

  6. Is Cannabis Really Safer Than Opiates, or Just as Dangerous?

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    Legally prescribed opiates kill more people than illegal heroin and cocaine combined. Meanwhile, the ugly stepsister on the Schedule I drug list, cannabis, has yet to take a single soul. The federal government, however, stubbornly maintains that opiates have a medical use while cannabis does not.

     

    Have they lost their minds? On the take? Or are they simply ignoring the facts?

     

    Roughly 23% of adults reported consuming opiates in some form between 2015 and 2017 – mostly in the form of legally prescribed painkillers. The CDC reports that 55,043 of these people died from an opiate overdose in the same amount of time. In contrast, cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States with 22.2 million users, according to the CDC, with no recorded deaths.

     

    Then why are opiates so commonly prescribed while our federal government attacks cannabis like an instrument of biological warfare?

     

    Here's what you'll learn in this article:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    Is Cannabis Really Safer Than Opiates?

     

    The general consensus remains that cannabis is a far-safer alternative for treating ailments associated with serious illness than opiates. Here are a few reasons backed by science, not just anecdotal evidence:

     

    • There are still no known cases of cannabis death by overdose alone, while there are tens of thousands of opiate overdoses per year.
    • Unlike opiates, the amount of cannabis needed to treat a condition is hundreds of times smaller than what’s theorized to kill a human. (Theorized, not proven; death by cannabis alone may be impossible.)
    • The body’s own biological responses to THC might actually protect us from overdosing on it. Opiates, on the other hand, are hard-wired to our respiratory system.

     

    1) The LD50 (the median lethal dose) for cannabis is many times higher than for any other comparable medicine.
    2) There’s a huge gap between the effective cannabis dise and the estimated LD50, while there’s a tiny gap between the effective dose of opiates and the LD50.
    3) The body’s own physiological responses when cannabinoid receptors are activated add protection from an overdose of THC, while opiates can easily fatally depress respiration.

     

    But what does all this scientific jargon mean, and is it still possible to die from a cannabis overdose? Is cannabis truly a safer alternative, or would patients who use it just trade “one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful,” as Attorney General Jeff Sessions says?

     

    Let’s take a closer look at the facts.

     

    You Can Die from a Cannabis Overdose — But It’s Practically Impossible

     

    Yes, it’s possible to die of a cannabis overdose. But unlike opiates, this is incredibly difficult to accomplish. And, contrary to some controversial news reports, no one has actually succeeded.

     

    This is commonly accepted knowledge, yet there are few people who can explain why this is so. There are plenty of articles online claiming it’s feasible to overdose on edibles with high-potency concentrates. Some even estimate you could die from eating a 2,000mg THC treat. It’s a good idea to consider the source for such an unreasonable claim.

     

    All of these speculations add to the confusion that fuels the nationwide legalization debate, and some of them merely defy common sense. For instance:

     

    • If it’s physically possible to overdose on an edible commonly available in legal cannabis markets, why aren’t we inundated with a cannabis overdose epidemic along with our opiate one?
    • Do scientists truthfully know how much cannabis it takes to kill a mouse, let alone a human?
    • How is it possible to get so high from a substance and not die?

     

    That last is a legitimate question for anyone who’s ever experienced a massive case of couch lock from that hypothetical 2,000mg candy bar.

     

    What’s an LD50?

     

    LD50 is an abbreviation for the dose that would prove lethal in 50% of test subjects. For this reason, tests to determine lethal doses are only administered on test animals – often genetically modified lab rats. These are done under controlled conditions where varying doses are given to test subjects; meanwhile, control groups receive the same substance without the active ingredient.

     

    If a lab tests the LD50 for oral THC administration in a corn oil base, it would have to test groups with varying doses of THC, and the control groups would get the corn oil. The dosage for the measured substance is in mg/kg body weight, or milligrams of the substance per kilogram the subject weighs. So if we have a freakishly large test rat weighing one kilogram that was in the 50mg/kg test group, it’d receive doses of 50mg THC.

     

    It’s important to understand because these tests are performed on animals, not humans – making it impossible to measure the exact toxicity for any substance. There are physiological differences in metabolism and biology that come into play.

     

    It’s also true that every substance we ingest has an LD50 – including the ones we need for basic biological functions like water and vitamins. You can die from drinking too much water at once, water intoxication, and it happens quite often. So, it’s important to look at these figures with this understanding.

     

    What’s the Cannabis LD50?

     

    Scientists have obtained extremely varied LD50 estimates with tests using Marinol – synthetically produced Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on rats:

     

    Method of Administration Lowest Experimental Result That Caused Death in 50% of Animal Subjects Highest Experimental Result That Caused Death In 50% of Animal Subjects
    Oral Administration 666mg/kg 1270mg/kg
    IV Administration 29mg/kg 128mg/kg
    IP Administration (injection into the abdominal cavity) 168mg/kg 672mg/kg

     

    Thought to be the most psychologically and physiologically active compound in cannabis, Delta 9-THC is not the only one. The cannabis that we normally smoke, eat (and hopefully don’t inject) has many other derivatives that have been tested even less than THC, including:

     

    • Delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCA)
    • Cannabidiol (CBD)
    • Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
    • Cannabinol (CBN)
    • Cannabigerol (CBG)

     

    Some of these compounds, like cannabidiol, have opposing effects to Delta 9-THC and therefore mitigate the drug’s effects. This is why LD50s for pure THC should be considered only as guidelines for further research, not the definitive guideline for human dosing. View a fairly comprehensive list of the 483 known cannabis compounds and their known physiological effects here.

     

    How Does This LD50 Translate to Human Dosing?

     

    Since the LD50 estimates based on animal studies are so varied and the tests have only been on animals, it’s pretty hard to nail down how much cannabis would be needed to kill someone.

     

    LD50s vary widely between species. A human can tolerate up to 1,000mg/kg of theobromine, the chemical in chocolate that can kill dogs and cats if they eat as little as 300mg/kg. There’s also a large gap between the lowest dose of a substance that can kill and the dose that kills 100% of the test subject – known as the LDLo and LD100 respectively.

     

    All we can do is attempt to extrapolate the best guess of the human LD50. Estimates have ranged from “smoking enough to die of oxygen deprivation first” to “drowning in a vat of hash oil.” These claims, far from a scientific explanation, do little to ease the jitters and paranoia suffered by the poor sap who just ate a 2,000mg candy bar for his first cannabis experience. Let’s look at the numbers.

     

    The lowest effective oral dose of pure THC that produced fatalities in 50% of rats was 666 mg/kg (a kilogram is 2.2 pounds). That means the sap who ate that super potent candy bar would have to weigh about 6.6 pounds (roughly the size of a small newborn infant) in order to have a 50% chance of dying, according to the most conservative LD50 estimates.

     

    If he weighs about 160 lbs., he’d have to consume roughly 48,436mg of pure THC to reach this threshold. If he’s never eaten that much before, it’s a good bet he’s freaking out.

     

    For contrast, the LD50 for oral administration of the common opiate fentanyl citrate in rats is 18mg/kg.

     

    Effective Vs. Lethal Dose

     

    A substance’s effective dose is “the amount of a drug, or level of radiation exposure, that’s sufficient to achieve the desired clinical improvement.” The larger the gap between the LD50 and the effective dose, the safer and more effective the drug. In truth, this number is far more important than the LD50, since it determines the risk of overdose from a standard dose.

     

    The measurement of the mean effective dose for a drug, versus the mean lethal dose, is often called the LD50/ED50, or the Therapeutic Index (TI). Here are the TIs of several common drugs to put the issue in perspective:

     

    • Alcohol – 10
    • Morphine – 70
    • Valium – 100
    • THC – 1,000

     

    According to the TI ratings, the only fully legal drug on this list is also the most dangerous – alcohol. This would explain why there are 2,200 U.S. alcohol poisoning deaths each year. It also explains why we have yet to see a single cannabis poisoning fatality.

     

    The Brain’s Added Overdose Protection

     

    When THC is introduced to the brain, it releases the hormone pregnenolone, inhibiting the intoxicating effects of THC. In other words, we naturally have a built-in system that keeps us from “getting too high.” Our 2,000mg chocolate-eater wondering why paint is peeling off the walls will probably tell you it’s not working.

     

    In fact, many scientists are looking into the effectiveness of pregnenolone for treating cannabis overdose. After all, many people who take too much seek hospital treatment because an overdose tends to make some feel frightened. Most of these people would appreciate a faster option than just “waiting it out.”

     

    This can also serve as an effective deterrent to excessive cannabis abuse. Those who’ve experienced a “bad trip” from using too much for their tolerance don’t want to repeat the experience.

     

    Sometimes All That’s Needed Is a Little Common Sense

     

    After examining the facts:

     

    • No one has ever died from cannabis but tens of thousands a people die per year from opiates
    • The LD50 for cannabis is extremely high while the LD50 for opiates is extremely low
    • The therapeutic index for cannabis is 14 times higher than morphine

     

    It’s hard to believe anyone would consider cannabis as merely a “slightly less awful life-wrecking dependency.” If anything, cannabis is a vitally important and incredibly safe medicine that could provide relief for thousands of people who currently risk addiction or death from overuse of opiates for pain control.

     

    If you have questions, our Cannabis Concierge can help steer you towards the products that might be suitable to help you find relief from your symptoms. You should check with your doctor before incorporating cannabis into your treatment regimen, but our team of experts can help lay out your options.

  7. We’ve Stumped the Bureau of Cannabis Control—And Ourselves

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    As many of you know, our FAQ column helps answer some of the more perplexing aspects of new cannabis laws. But sometimes a reader gives us a juicy question we can’t answer, or find the answer for.

     

    When this happens, we turn to the Bureau of Cannabis Control, which is more than happy to provide answers to confusing legal questions.

     

    What you'll learn in this article:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    Can the Bureau of Cannabis Control Dictate MMJ Limits?

     

    About a month ago, we received a great question: 

     

    “How much cannabis concentrate can be sold to qualified medical patients?”

     

    First, you should know that the state attempted to establish default possession limitations with SB420 in 2003. But these attempts were shot down in 2010 by the People v. Kelly.

     

    According to Ballotpedia, “the basis for the court’s ruling in People v. Kelly is that the 2003 legislation amounted to an amendment to Proposition 215 and that the California Constitution prohibits legislative tampering with ballot initiatives approved by voters.”

     

    This has been a sticky wicket for those wanting to limit cannabis. Basically, the ruling said the amount of cannabis a medicinal patient can have is the amount the doctor says he/she can have. If the doctor prescribes a daily bath in hash oil, that’s a legally defensible position.

     

    This was good news for patients who no longer had to fear prosecution if they truly needed larger amounts of cannabis. The limits established by SB420 still remained in Health and Safety Code Sec. 11362.77, but there is now a valid defense if a patient has a rec for larger amounts.

     

    Can Prop. 64 Revoke This Medical Defense?

     

    Unfortunately, Prop 64 changed all this. The proposition establishes a pathway for the legislature to alter any part of the voter initiative with a two-thirds vote to “further the purposes and intent” of the act. So, naturally, people assume the sky’s the limit for legislative overreach. It’s not.

     

    No section of Prop 64 addresses the amount of cannabis a medical cannabis patient can possess. In fact, all of the patient possession limits in current law are actually installed by SB94, the new law designed to enact Prop 64. So, technically, the legislature once again attempts to establish limits for these needy people, just like in SB420, that hasn’t been voted into law, defying Prop 215.

     

    Prop 215 has not been repealed. It’s still a voter initiative passed by the people. It’s still a valid law and was not only left intact by Prop 64, but Prop 64 repeatedly defers to Prop 215.

     

    Still, unless you want to be the defendant in that inevitable landmark case revisiting the People v. Kelly, you better know the limit the legislature attempts to impose on patients.

     

    Initially, our reader’s question seems reasonable and easy to answer. Under the recently amended SB94, recreational users can buy up to one ounce of flower or up to eight grams of concentrates. Medical patients can purchase up to eight ounces of flower and — oh, wait, the default amount of concentrates a cannabis patient can buy isn’t in the code.

     

    What now? Time to message the BCC! 

     

    Back and Forth with the BCC

     

    On Feb. 7, 2018, we wrote:

     

    How much cannabis concentrate can be sold to medical patients?  So far, the regulations only control flower — 8 ounces. They don’t differentiate for concentrate. Does this mean that 8 ounces of concentrate could be sold as well?

     

    On Feb. 21, we received this response:

     

    Thank you for contacting the Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau). Please see the Health and Safety Code section 11362.77. It defines the daily amounts allowed.

    Best Regards,
    Bureau Staff

     

    That’s not a clear answer, especially since we copied and pasted the applicable code sections that refer to Health and Safety Code section 11362.77 for easy reference. Apparently, their staff didn’t read our entire email.

     

    So we immediately answered back:

     

    I can understand if you didn’t read my question fully. You’re probably getting a million questions. I know it’s referred to in H&SC 11362.77. This is why I mentioned the code at the end of my question and pointed out to you that H&SC 11362.77 doesn’t define medical cannabis at all. The answer is NOT in this code. All this code says is:

    11362.77.  (a) A qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess no more than eight ounces of dried cannabis per qualified patient. In addition, a qualified patient or primary caregiver may also maintain no more than six mature or 12 immature cannabis plants per qualified patient.

    This code doesn’t mention concentrate at all. So, my question still stands, how much concentrate can a patient purchase?

     

    The next day, the Bureau responded yet again:

     

    Hello,

    Yes we do get a million questions a day. Thank you for understanding. The Health and Safety Code section does not define medical cannabis, but it states how much a patient may purchase as a daily limit. I have highlighted the section below that should answer your question regarding the daily limit of concentrate, not flower.

    Best Regards,

     


    Well, that’s all well and good, but it still doesn’t answer the question. The code highlighted above is the amount of concentrate allowed for recreational consumers, not the default amount permitted for medical patients.

     

    Naturally, we immediately responded:

     

    The limit highlighted is for adult-use cannabis, not medical. I am asking what the limit for medical possession is. And it is reasonable to assume that there will be a difference because there is a difference in the amount of flower allowed between adult-use and medical. What they have failed to differentiate is the difference between adult-use concentrate and medical concentrate allowed. 

     

    Nearly one month after sending this reply, we finally got an answer — well, not really:

     

    Hello,

    Health and Safety Code Section 11362.77 states:

    (a) A qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess no more than eight ounces of dried cannabis per qualified patient. In addition, a qualified patient or primary caregiver may also maintain no more than six mature or 12 immature cannabis plants per qualified patient.
    (b) If a qualified patient or primary caregiver has a physician’s recommendation that this quantity does not meet the qualified patient’s medical needs, the qualified patient or primary caregiver may possess an amount of cannabis consistent with the patient’s needs.
    (c) Counties and cities may retain or enact medicinal cannabis guidelines allowing qualified patients or primary caregivers to exceed the state limits set forth in subdivision a.
    (d) Only the dried mature processed flowers of female cannabis plant or the plant conversion shall be considered when determining allowable quantities of cannabis under this section.
    (e) A qualified patient or a person holding a valid identification card, or the designated primary caregiver of that qualified patient or person, may possess amounts of cannabis consistent with this article.

    As indicated in the statute, the limit applies to the dried mature processed flowers of the female cannabis plant or the plant conversion. Therefore, the limit would apply to dried flower and the plant conversion as stated in the statute. We have since come to realize that licensed retailers are not able to readily identify what amount of concentrates the plant conversion may amount to. The Bureau is currently working on further clarifying this regulation.

    Best Regards,
    Bureau Staff

     

    In other words, the Bureau of Cannabis Control doesn’t know yet.

     

    The Bureau’s Apparently Stumped—And so Are We

     

    Well, that’s okay. The law isn’t clear to us either; that’s why we asked. The problem is the Bureau of Cannabis Control cites a section of code from SB420 (a law that was rendered partially unenforceable by the People v. Kelly).

     

    While it remains in several amendments, the latest being SB94, it’s old and does nothing to establish an acceptable limit. The section only dictates what parts of the plant can be considered in determining limits.

     

    After over a month-and-a-half of questioning, neither we nor the Bureau of Cannabis Control could find the section of current law dictating the default amount of cannabis concentrate a patient can purchase.

     

    Could it be the amount of cannabis concentrate that a patient can purchase hasn’t been established? Understanding that there’s a subtle difference between possession limits and purchase limits, CAN purchase limits be established since Prop 64 didn’t address medical possession limits — especially since some patients have to travel more than 200 miles to find safe access to their medicine? Can SB94 override Prop. 215 any more than SB420 could?

     

    We’ll let you know when we find out.

  8. Can Blockchain Technology Finally End Cannabis Censorship?

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    Ever posted your favorite topic on social media, only to have it end up in “Facebook Jail” or deleted? If you post about cannabis, you almost certainly know this frustration. Accounts are often summarily suspended or deleted over one post about a plant that’s legal in 29 states and counting.

     

    First-generation social networks are private interests owned and operated by private corporations. They have control over what language they choose to allow and when to allow it. Of course, there are viable free speech arguments about public forums and discrimination over access, but this takes years of judicial red tape.

     

    Meanwhile, blockchain’s disruptive technology can provide an easier solution to censorship than slogging through the court system—build something better and beat them at their own game. Sashi Nakamoto’s invention may be the key to making this possible.

     

    What you'll learn in this post:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    Who Is Sashi Nakamoto?

     

    His true identity is actually a mystery. It’s also evidence of blockchain’s complete anonymity. For all we know, Nakamoto could just be some hapless technoweenie who invented blockchain in his mom’s basement while eating Hot Pockets and playing Halo. General consensus whittles it down to a handful of candidates who still won’t fess up to creating the incorruptible digital ledger.

     

    But we do know that whoever (or whatever) Satoshi Nakamoto is, he/it owns about 5% of Bitcoin, the first monetary application of blockchain tech. This gives him/them a net worth of at least $9 billion.

     

    Some governments argue Nakamoto is a criminal gang set on breaking the current market with their disruptive technology. Bitcoin is worth roughly $180 billion, yet so anonymous users don’t know who created it or owned the original stake. Bitcoin made Silk Road, the dark web’s eBay, possible.

     

    But that’s the point of disruptive technology, right? Create disarray by proving something new is possible. With blockchain, Nakamoto showed it’s possible to have anonymous, decentralized and unalterable transactions on a reliable and efficient network. Blockchain could even become the basis for a new kind of internet.

     

    What Exactly Is Blockchain?

     

    As Toby Morning, Founder of Lyfted Distribution & Logistics, explains it:

     

    “People talk about blockchain currencies and blockchain technology synonymously, but Bitcoin and blockchain technology are not the same thing. If you think of blockchain as a type of operating system, and Bitcoin as a program that can run on that operating system, you’ll have a pretty close analogy.”

     

    There are many other “programs” that can also run on blockchain technology. Morning uses it as the backbone for his distribution network’s databasing. The company believes it’s vital to ensure compliance with the state’s new track and trace program.

     

    “If you want to break the information flow, you just hack Metrc (the state’s third party track and trace program). We write all of our own transactions to our blockchain application, so in case Metrc gets hacked, or the system fails, we can’t lose our information. This is vital because our customers have a responsibility to the state and can be audited and sued if they don’t comply.”

     

    How Blockchain Works

     

    When data is added to a ledger on a blockchain network, it’s entered into a block. These information blocks are attached to each other via chain. Once the chain is full of blocks, it’s hashed into the previous info chain connecting back to every other one.

     

    The data is then stored in duplicate form across all other computers attached to its network. Think of it as double-entry bookkeeping on steroids, making records more secure and error-proof.  

     

    When a transaction is entered, anyone can see it—but no one can edit it (like only viewing a Google doc). All you can do is add new pages and link them to the original document.

     

    If there’s a user error, he or she can see the mistaken transaction and agree to correct it with a new one (i.e. getting a refund). Once that transaction’s fixed, the record will contain both the mistake and the correction in the order they were added. This is why it’s so useful for meeting the new compliance standards for track and trace set up by California.

     

    Can This Help End Corporate Censorship?

     

    Until now, social networks were like old-fashioned central databases. These first generation ones store all of our personal information on a single database that they themselves have complete control over. A social network can censor and eliminate any posts by their direct competition, or any content that doesn’t fit their moral or political agenda.

     

    A blockchain network has no single, old-fashioned database that can be controlled. There’s no person or entity to decide what can be posted except users themselves. Once someone adds content, no one can change or alter it without leaving evidence of tampering.

     

    Even better, it can be humans, not algorithms, who decide what’s relevant and what constitutes quality content via consensus. And since it’s blockchain, users should be able to enjoy the freedom and security of their shared information while remaining completely anonymous—if they’re careful.

     

    For many, this revolutionary social networking concept couldn’t come at a better time.

     

    Marketers, writers and activists can expend thousands of hours and energy on their profiles, building up followers and creating a presence, only to lose it to the capricious censorship of the network’s owners.

     

    The cannabis industry has been getting the brunt of corporate social networking’s formidable banhammer.

     

    Why CEOs Shouldn’t Arbitrate Free Speech

     

    By the time our courts decide on the free speech lawsuits surrounding first-generation social media networks, the behemoths that created the controversy won’t be relevant. The internet age is the embodiment of instant gratification and millennials have neither the time nor the desire to fix a broken system. It’s become easier just to move on.

     

    Nothing illustrates this point more than the inevitable demise of Facebook, which is now losing young users at an unprecedented rate. Some say the network has simply become uncool because Mom and Dad crashed the party.

     

     

    But when Facebook lost $3.3 billion in stock values last month after announcing new changes to their news feed, censorship definitely came into the conversation.  

     

    Founder Mark Zuckerberg said in a public statement that changes were designed to make the social network a more personal experience with friends and family again. Others insist this was a cover allowing the company to censor postings that lead to backlash over cyberbullying and “fake news.”

     

    Facebook’s response? Zuckerberg said, “we feel a responsibility to make sure our services aren’t just fun to use, but also good for people’s well-being.”

     

    So, Mr. Zuckerberg, who gets to decide what’s good for us?

     

    It’s not surprising that Facebook’s disenfranchised users have simply decided to leave. And now they have some interesting new options for a replacement forum.

     

    How About a Cannabis Network Dedicated to Free Speech?

     

    That’s why so many ears are perking up at the idea of a new blockchain social network dedicated entirely to what us cannapreneurs and stoners love most—ganja! Smoke Network is more than happy to provide an outlet for dangerous concepts like saying whatever the hell we want about a plant that should be legal anyway.

     

    Because the network is based on blockchain, savvy users could keep their personal information as private as Sashi Nakamoto’s—if it’s built well. And since their contributions can’t be edited, deleted or censored, they won’t risk spending hours or weeks on content that gets chucked down the Orwellian memory hole.

     

    Even better, Smoke Network created their own cryptocurrency designed to pay users just for hanging out and adding content.

     

    Getting Paid to Talk About Bud?

     

    So is paying users in “smoke” to hang out a gimmick, or a new way to approach advertising? It’s a bit of a ploy, but think of it this way: corporations already pay networks to get our attention; blockchain simply makes it possible to cut out the middleman and pay the target of that communication directly.

     

    This also gives content creators a novel new way to monetize their intellectual property. Though don’t start thinking this is the motherload. You won’t be earning a living surfing the internet and smoking pot. (Only in a perfect world…)

     

    The amounts paid are measured in cents and fractions of cents, not dollars. Even if you spend day and night posting content and surfing for pay, it’s more like bonuses that accumulate using a rewards-based credit card.

     

    What could go wrong?

     

    The Darker Potential of Blockchain Networks

     

    The concept of a blockchain social network isn’t all sunshine and butterflies. An anonymous forum is likely to be inundated with horrifying content. This is nothing new. 

     

    Supposedly, members will be able to upvote and promote good information while downvoting or ignoring the bad. At least users will get a proper warning before clicking on something that can’t be unseen or undone.

     

    Assuming that the majority of users are responsible human beings, the system is capable of self-censoring and creating a relatively safe environment.

     

    Consider a poster who wants to sell moldy weed from a ditch in Missouri swarming with pesticides and Feds in equal amounts.

     

    If the network is truly decentralized, it’d be very difficult to eliminate this user’s posts, although more honest users could downvote to give others fair warning. This still leaves room for innocents to be victimized. Worse, what if our villains are communicating something truly dangerous like paid foreign propaganda to influence American elections or human trafficking networking instructions?

     

    It’s Not a Free-For-All

     

    There’s still no standard for enforcing issues like this on blockchain technology. So it’s definitely going to be up to the users to keep the place civil and out of the hands of criminals. It worked out for Silk Road, right? (Read how Silk Road was shut down by the FBI.)

     

    But before you decide to join the new network and go wild, think again. It may be difficult to track down users but it’s not impossible. When there’s a will, there’s a way, and the criminal investigations that accompanied the Silk Road shut down should make this crystal clear.

     

    In the case of Smoke Network, the network isn’t like the dark web where servers were down more than up. Data will be extremely traceable. So it’s feasible that the very determined investigator could eventually track down its source.

     

    In their privacy policy, Smoke Network says they collect users’ data, including IP addresses and personal information. They’ll also hand this info over to law enforcement if they feel it’s justified.

     

    Users in Legal States Can Still End Up in Hot Water

     

    While most people are contemplating problems like black market sales in a dark web environment, they might be missing other regulations that could target the forum’s creators and users directly.

     

    For instance, Smoke Network could accidentally end up paying users for illegal content, like advertisements for black market dealers or instructions for how to manufacture BHO with primitive equipment.

     

    This may seem like a free speech matter, which would let the network’s owners and users escape culpability, but not all speech is protected by the First Amendment.

     

    Unprotected language includes:

     

    • Screaming “fire” in a crowded theater
    • Certain obscenities like child pornography
    • Speech that incites violence
    • Libel and slander
    • Blackmail
    • Incitement to lawless action
    • Solicitations to commit crimes

     

    So the idea of incentivizing blockchain social networks based around a Schedule 1 drug seems destined for a lawsuit. Will blockchain social networks be sued over user content?

     

    Is Escaping Corporate Censorship Worth the Risk?

     

    At the end of the day, no system is going to be perfect. Whatever communication network is created, there’ll always be hackers and criminals eager to crash the party. (And don’t forget Mom and Dad.)

     

    Protecting free speech has always been a matter of balancing society’s need for safety with our personal need for expression.

     

    Perhaps a completely anonymous blockchain system will open more avenues for criminal action, but this system will give users more options to moderate those actions and protect the community as a whole without government intervention or corporate censorship. Perhaps this is the balance we’re looking for.

     

    We need uncensored networks to carry out our activism. Otherwise, how can we change the unjust laws that keep cannabis illegal? There’s a reason that activist speech was the very first topic of the Bill of Rights.

     

    Besides, nothing worth having comes without risk. We all know free speech comes at a price. Here in America, we tend to feel that price is worth paying. It’s an uphill battle for sure, and not for the timid, but the courts can’t stay in the way of progress forever.

     

    Hopefully, blockchain social networks can make a dent in the current corporate censorship holding back progress towards a free and legal market for all.

     

    Of course, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye, right?

  9. International Women’s Day: 8 Cannabis Founders Pressing For Progress

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    Cannabis mirrors humankind in some very interesting and magical ways. It cuts to the heart of the delicate balance between yin and yang. Our masculine and feminine energies conflict and complement each other to drive our growth and transformation as a species. The same is true for male and female cannabis plants conflicting and complementing each other to provide for our needs.

     

    Male plants provide pollen for producing nutritious hemp seeds while female plants are valued for the buds that nurture our minds. In other words, male plants provide food for the body, but female plants provide nourishment for our souls. We can take so many lessons from this plant, but one of our favorite is its call to celebrate the mystical and divine feminine nature.

     

    There’s simply no denying the feminine spirit of the plant. So it should be no surprise that the cannabis industry has managed to draw the best female minds and creative forces to its budding businesses. Everywhere we look, we see women bringing their immense passion and fighting spirit to legalize a plant that should be considered sacred, not scorned.

     

    In celebration of the women who influence our industry, we have interviewed those who provide us with inspiration daily. We hope you’ll find them inspirational too.

     

    The badass women you'll meet in this post:

    [Click any of the section titles below to jump there]

     

    Maya Elisabeth

    Founder, Om Edibles; founder, Whoopi & Maya

    The amazing thing about cannabis is that she doesn’t discriminate.

     

    Nugg: What have been some of your proudest moments/wins for women in the industry?

     

    Elisabeth: We have received countless detailed testimonials of women telling us about the relief they have found from our products. A lot of women have searched for relief their whole life and have not been able to find it even with heavy pharmaceuticals. Our Relax tincture has improved women’s overall menstrual cycle if it is taken every day – it’s a real game changer. As for Om, every time we win an award women come up to us and tell us that we are an inspiration and it makes us feel really good. Victory feels good in general but it feels especially sweet when you hear the feedback that you are inspiring others – especially women.

     

    Nugg: Is there a time in your cannabis career that you feel being a woman created a bias against you?

     

    Elisabeth: Probably all over the place but I don’t care. I love being underestimated! I choose to focus on thriving and women supporting each other. For the most part men have really been more supportive than anything.

     

    Nugg: What implications does a woman-led cannabis industry have for gender parity in other industries?

     

    Elisabeth: I hope it will lead the example for other industries and show people that it’s possible. I hope to see females step to the forefront in many other industries as well, or at least be equal. That’s something they say about matriarchal societies – there is no leader; everyone is equal and the community is led by everybody. I love that idea! The amazing thing about cannabis is that she doesn’t discriminate.

     

    Jane West

    CEO, Jane West; founder, Women Grow; founder, Edible Events

    It’s about launching a revolution of female-led companies all across the cannabis industry.

     

    Nugg: What role will women play in erasing the stigma against cannabis?

     

    West: Women are incredibly well positioned to help lead the cannabis revolution. As people see successful business women, stay-at-home moms, working mothers, and even grandmothers adopt cannabis into their healthy, busy, and successful lifestyles, they’ll challenge the lingering stigmas around cannabis use. Women all over the country are also helping to launch credible, sustainable cannabis companies, showing the world that through responsible stewardship, the cannabis industry can be a lasting force for good.

     

    Nugg: What have been some of your proudest moments/wins for women in the industry?

     

    West: My team and I built the Jane West lifestyle brand on the belief that women and others who have traditionally been underrepresented in corporate culture should have a seat at the table in the cannabis industry, as well as have a stake in our success. Now, through Republic, anyone can own a part of our company, and help shape our future, with an investment of as little as $25. That’s the sort of ground-breaking approach that can really help level the playing field for women everywhere.

     

    Nugg: Is there a specific moment in your cannabis career that you feel being a woman created a bias against you? How did you push forward and overcome?

     

    West: There were plenty of times during our initial fundraising round when I wondered if it would have been easier for me to raise capital if I were a man. After all, while 38 percent of all businesses are owned by women, only 2 percent of venture capital funding currently goes to female-owned companies. Of course, disparities like that just inspire me and my team to work harder than ever to reach our goals, not just for the success of our own company, but for the sake of female entrepreneurs everywhere.

     

    Nugg: What implications does a woman-led cannabis industry have for gender parity in other industries?

     

    West: I truly hope that women in other fields will be inspired by the incredible wealth of companies being launched and operated by women in the cannabis space. Because this is a nascent industry, it’s surely easier for women entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in cannabis than it is in established businesses. But that doesn’t mean women shouldn’t fight for positions of power and authority, no matter their trade. From an even bigger-picture approach, I hope that the women who are staking their claim in the cannabis industry and building it into a legitimate, powerful sector of the economy will challenge established views of women in the workplace and ultimately cause the old patriarchal paradigm to shift towards an equitable corporate culture.

     

    How is Women Grow/Jane West products helping to create a landscape where young women can win in the cannabis industry, long-term, and how can young women get involved with your efforts?

     

    West: I hope young women will take inspiration from our ambition and launch their own businesses, build their own teams of incredible women, and find out for themselves how much is possible when they focus on their dreams. This isn’t just about one female-led company making it big. It’s about launching a revolution of female-led companies all across the cannabis industry.

     

    Jodie Emery

    Cannabis Rights Activist

    We have to be inspiring and optimistic in order to help make things better.

     

    Nugg: It was exactly a year ago that your arrest happened on International Women’s Day. You serve as a beacon in the cannabis industry because you’re such a strong female character and you fight so hard for cannabis rights. Do you have anything to say about the significance of International Women’s Day in the cannabis industry?

     

    Emery: There’s some horrific stories about how the drug war’s been used to perpetuate sexual violence against women; sexual violence by the state. I definitely was traumatized by the strip searching that went on. When we got to the maximum security prison and they needed to do another strip search and I said,  “So, top first and then bottom?” and she said, “No, everything all at once, squat and cough.” And it’s just so extra degrading. And then I find out that our Canadian courts have said strip searches are unconstitutional.

     

    Afterward, I asked my lawyer, “You know when they tell you to take off your clothes, what if you said no?” And he said, “Well you can’t really say no. You are in their control.” So that’s a very traumatic thing to realize. It’s sexual assault at the hands of the government. So, in my life I’ve been through sexual assault, as many women have. And I deal with that. This happens to almost everybody who gets arrested for cannabis dispensaries or even low level crimes. It deprives women of their liberty. For me, it being International Women’s Day and going through that, there is this kind of sick irony to it, especially with the full year of #MeToo.

     

    Nugg: Looking back, do you regret anything?

     

    Emery: No I don’t regret it. We helped provide access to tens of thousands of people. We really helped save lives literally, as all cannabis providers do. There’s an opioid crisis happening across North America and we know that cannabis dispensaries reduce opioid deaths and people literally came in saying it saved their lives. I also use cannabis personally for depression and anxiety.

     

    I’ve been through a lot in my life. I lost my father to suicide, I’ve been through all sorts of horrific things. But I am a strong and tough woman. So, cannabis helps me cope. We have to be inspiring and optimistic in order to help make things better.

     

    Nugg: What’s next?

     

    Emery: The next step is get legal, have retail stores, lounges – you need consumption spaces. I want cannabis culture to be legal in that way. And then I want to work with hemp because I am a green environmentalist at heart. But politically, calling for a moratorium on arrests. They could have stopped the arrests immediately but they’re not. I also need to work on amnesty for all records. The gov’t will be pressured into getting rid of records for simple possessions. That will probably happen in a year or two.

     

    Aliza Sherman & Ashley Kingsley

    Co-Founders of Ellementa

     

                                                

    Nugg: Can you speak about about how Ellementa came to be/what your driving motivations were?

     

    Sherman: Ellementa came out of a personal need for pain relief and chronic insomnia. I was suffering from arthritis in my neck from years of tech use and my sleep was interrupted from peri-menopause. The quality of my life was dwindling from lack of sleep and pain. Once I tried it before bedtime – I live in Alaska where it is legal – realized it was the natural remedy I was seeking. When I slept through the night for the first time in several years, I cried from relief. Then I set out to make sure other women who were suffering in silence were getting the information they needed to help and heal.

     

    Nugg: Tell us a bit about Ellementa gatherings. How can women get involved in future gatherings?

     

    Sherman: Our gatherings are small by design – average attendance is about 20 women although some markets bring in 30 or 40. We try to branch off into additional gatherings in any given area to keep them intimate so they are not intimidating to newcomers. Women are moved by the candid stories told by our experts or by other women in the room. We showcase brands through “show and tell” – we always lead with education before sales.

     

    Nugg: Do you feel there is gender parity in the cannabis industry, or do we still have a long way to go? How will we carry these lessons forward towards racial parity in cannabis?

     

    Sherman: Decriminalizing and legalizing cannabis nationwide will hopefully address some of these inequities and wrongs but it is a much more complex undertaking than simply changing laws. Expecting any industry, including cannabis, to completely transform societal biases is quite a heavy load. But if we have a chance to ensure that the cannabis industry is about inclusion and equality, we have to keep that top of mind in everything we do. Women are the change in cannabis. We want to see diversity and representation for all.

     

    Nugg: How is the cannabis movement better as a sum of its parts? Why is it important for women to come together in the cannabis industry instead of battling for first place?

     

    Kingsley: I truly believe we must lift each other up and build the cannabis industry together and support one another. There are an unlimited amount of opportunities to innovate and create – and together, we are better. We don’t have to do this alone and it does not need to be a race or a competition. Women are natural collaborators – and with collaboration comes amazing partnerships, strategies, unique and collective ideas. Our industry needs every single last one of us in order to grow and move cannabis to the mainstream. I think it is so important to always honor the plant first – without her, we wouldn’t be here.

     

    Ophelia Chong

    Photographer & Founder, Stock Pot Images

    Photography has changed public opinions from wars, to how people see a celebrity.

     

    Nugg: What have been some of your proudest moments/wins for women in the industry?

     

    Chong: Everyday I see people move a step closer to their goals and I applaud them all. If I had the pick one instance it would be seeing Cat Packer take on the arduous job of Chief Executive of Cannabis for the city of Los Angeles. The goal is to bring equality to a white male dominant industry.

     

    Nugg: What challenges lie ahead for women in cannabis?

     

    Our challenge will be not resting on our laurels. Rather we should be constantly moving forward and be open to reinventing ourselves.

     

    Nugg: Where do you see the synergy of art + cannabis taking our culture in the future? How has it gotten us to where we are today?

     

    Chong: Art is based on theory and thesis, not on a substance. Cannabis is a stimulant and it also relaxes. Art is from the mind and heart and whatever you use to stimulate both is where it began, but it is not the end product.

     

    Molly Peckler

    Founder, Highly Devoted (cannabis matchmaking)

    Women are just being more bold and they’re not taking “no” for an answer.

     

    Nugg: How did your cannabis matchmaking service Highly Devoted come to be?

     

    Peckler: I was a mainstream matchmaker for several years. That’s where I really started to become familiar with helping people find love, and that’s where I first started tapping into my coaching abilities. I have a degree in psychology – I’ve always been very curious about people and what makes them tick, what their motivations are. And I’ve always just been a coach to all of the people in my life when it came to relationships, so it came very naturally to me. But I was curious about getting into the cannabis industry because it’s been a huge passion of mine as well. I left mainstream matchmaking to take a gig at a cannabis consulting firm.

     

    Nugg: Why is cannabis such a good connector for matchmaking?

     

    Peckler: First and foremost, if cannabis is an important part of your life, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a perspective, it really goes to your core and who you are. And so to be able to be with  someone who gets that, and respects that, and doesn’t judge you for that, and can even connect with you on that same level is really powerful. It’s also a great tool for anchoring yourself in the current moment and really being there in the here and now with your partner. I feel like it lets your walls come down. It always makes my ego go on the back burner. I’m a better listener. I always feel like I’m the best version of myself when I use cannabis.

     

    Nugg: What are some other ways you see women winning it in the industry, and why do you think it’s important for women to have a strong hand in the progression of the cannabis movement?

     

    Peckler: Women are just being more bold and they’re not taking “no” for an answer. It’s still completely lopsided when it comes to investment and a whole host of aspects of the industry, but I think women are getting a lot of attention in media and that’s really powerful. Really becoming authorities and experts in the industry. Every single day I’m excited to wake up and see what I can do and how far I can go. If I was a man in this industry I would have had it easier in some ways, but I wouldn’t trade this for anything. I love the opportunity I have and the niche that I’ve carved out specifically. And I don’t think I could have done that if I was a man.

    Kandice Hawes-Lopez

    Executive Director, Orange County NORML

    Women have been behind most of the historic changes in social and political policy.

     

    Nugg: What have been some of your proudest moments/wins for women in the industry?

     

    Hawes-Lopez: For me personally, I feel the city of Santa Ana underestimated me as a young woman in the industry. After lobbying the city and getting no action regarding the regulation of medical cannabis dispensaries, I co-authored and organized the campaign that collected over 10,000 signatures and qualified for the ballot. I was very proud because I was able to organize 20 male-led collectives in this effort and force the city into action.

     

    Nugg: What role will women play in erasing the stigma against cannabis?

     

    Hawes-Lopez: Women have been behind most of the historic changes in social and political policy. It’s women’s compassion, caring and nurturing qualities that put us in the line of fire for others. As women change their views on issues like cannabis, these new views are passed down to the children they raise, and family they care for.

     

    Nugg: What implications does a woman-led cannabis industry have for gender parity in other industries?

     

    Hawes-Lopez: I think we need to see more large cannabis companies run by women. If society sees wives and mothers in the cannabis industry I think it will help remove the stigma and normalize the industry. I hope having more women-led cannabis businesses will help gender parity in other industries. If society sees women making great strides in complicated industries, it will encourage other industries to not discount our abilities.

     

    As women, we all have a vested interest in the future of the cannabis industry. It will eventually affect every other business industry in the world. So, we are in this together, and we will rise together. If you would like to show your support, Nugg is donating the proceeds of our International Women’s Day celebration T-Shirts to support women entrepreneurs in cannabis.

     

    Visit www.womensday.getnugg.com to learn more and get involved. 

     


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