Most of us already have some experience with Cannabis, and many use it as part of their daily routine. Recently the science discovered a ‘new’ family of drugs, name Psychedelics. Researchers are racing to discover the hidden benefits of using Psychedelics and more and more people are enjoying it medically and recreationaly. Exactly what happened with Cannabis just a few years ago.
Are we going to see a new category of products, Cannadelics, that combine the benefits of both families? What are the best Cannabis and Psychedelic products and how to use them in a safe and rewarding environment?
Cannadelics – Cannabis and Psychedelics products
Join us. The new exciting world of Cannadelics has not officialy started but it is already shaking our beliefs on what we thought is true and what is merely an hallucination. Everything is changing even as we speak: the medicine we take, the drugs we use, our preferred recreational activities and even what be take for granted as right or wrong.
Cannadelics are already here, offering us a unique opportunity for self growth and exploration.
Join us, there are so many closed doors just about to be opened, for you.
If you have any bit of experience with cannabis users, especially in the retail sector, you know that people who use cannabis are extremely diverse. Young, old, liberal, conservative, all races and classes – seriously everyone seems to love weed. So why do the most common media representations of a “stoner” lie somewhere between complete idiot and criminal outcast?
Lazy, goofy, unmotivated, unproductive, uneducated, criminals, losers – all these adjectives paint a picture of the basic stoner stereotype, but where does this persona come from? It can be argued, pretty definitively, that it started back in 1936 with the infamous film, Reefer Madness, a propaganda movie that depicted cannabis as a dangerous drug that made people lose complete control over their thoughts and actions, leading to insanity and homicidal behavior.
Today’s stoner movies have a different air to them but the core message remains the same in most, stoners are either morons or criminals. Now don’t get me wrong, stoner movies are hilarious and I love almost every single one of them. From classics like Cheech and Chong to more recent comedies such as Half Baked and Pineapple Express, these movies are always a treat to watch.
However, they’re not relatable, as the main character’s goofy ineptitude is typically getting them into some very crazy and unrelatable situations. Something can be said for taking the power back and turning what was originally a negative characterization into something funny and lighthearted, but did it ultimately cause more harm than good? I mean, the idiot-stoner guise can be hard to shake, despite the legalization and social acceptance of cannabis.
What is the Stoner Stereotype?
Let’s take a look at Cheech and Chong, quite possibly the most popular stoner-duo in modern comedy history. Again, they’re hilarious, endearing and a staple in household entertainment for many people, me included. That said, they do portray an unrealistically dumbed down version of a typical cannabis user, reinforcing the idea that smoking pot makes you less intelligent, or that people who are already less intelligent are the ones who are drawn to the plant in the first place.
It’s not hard to see where this stereotype comes from though, some of the short-term side effects of smoking weed are a comedy gold mine – memory loss, paranoia, munchies, giggles – if you exaggerate them a bit, throw in a couple comically inept protagonists with a complicated task to complete and you have an easy-to-produce comedy every time.
There’s one other common typecast that you see when cannabis is an integral part of the main character’s life, and that’s the rebel/badass/criminal personality – think Nancy from Weeds, the suburban mom turned illegal marijuana dealer. This stereotype perpetuates the belief that cannabis leads to dangerous situations and a lawless lifestyle.
Although there is some truth to these dispositions, the problem is that they’re incredibly overstated and from the outside looking in (meaning someone who doesn’t use cannabis watching one of the movies), it doesn’t make a strong point for cannabis legalization. Plus, sometimes it would be nice to see stoner characters that are more relatable right?
Stoner movies and TV shows pushing the clichés
We’ve seen it time and time again with movies like Up in Smoke, Cheech and Chong’s first movie released in 1978. It was edgy for its time and remains a hilarious classic that set the stage for quirky stoner-duo comedies like Harold and Kumar (White Castle, Guantanamo Bay, etc.), Craig and Smokey (Friday), Dale and Saul (Pineapple Express), and the list goes on.
Look at television, it wasn’t until the mid-2000s that we started seeing cannabis at the forefront of some high-profile network TV series. First there was Weeds, which I mentioned earlier, that aired on Showtime from 2005 to 2012 and centered around a widowed, California mother of two that began selling weed to support her family. Her illegal enterprise landed her and those close to her in no shortage of dangerous and stressful situations.
Then there was Broad City, a show that started as a web series and follows the lives of two stoner women in New York, who manage to make boring, mundane, everyday tasks into hysterically complicated events. The show is based on the main characters’ real-life friendship and their attempt to “make it” in the big city.
More recent, and also more controversial, is the Netflix-original series Disjointed, starting Kathy Bates as Los Angeles dispensary owner Ruth Whitefeather Feldman. Ruth and her mixed bag of stoner sidekicks live up to all the worst of the worst stoner stereotypes. The show only lasted two seasons and it’s easy to see why. I mean, it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever watched but it’s pretty bad and the clichés will really make you cringe.
Reefer Madness
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say a few more words about the original stoner stereotype movie, Reefer Madness. As far as anti-cannabis political propaganda goes, it doesn’t get much better than the 1936 version of Reefer Madness.
In the opening scene, a warning is presented to the audience that “marijuana is turning all our children into hooligans and whores.” A stoned lunatic murders a man while a sweet innocent woman takes a couple hits and turns into a sultry vixen. Everyone was completely out of their minds on pot, literally.
“I think the films were an important element in reinforcing the ignorance that was prevalent regarding marijuana during the 1930s when prohibition was first adopted,” says R. Keith Stroup, Washington D.C. public-interest attorney and founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). “The government, I’m sure, loved the fact that it was out there, but it was a privately made movie produced to make money.”
Looking forward
For now, the stoner stereotype remains and our pool of unique and intelligent stoner-characters is shallow, when it comes to media and film. Hopefully in the future, movies will have more dynamic cannabis-consuming casts, and maybe more ethnically diverse and female leads as well.
Hello and welcome! You’ve made it to cannadelics.com, the #1 web spot for the most comprehensive independent news coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Join us whenever possible to stay in-the-loop on the ever-changing landscape of cannabis and psychedelics, and subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always on top of what’s going on.
As far as cannabis extracts go, rosin is as natural as they come. Using only heat and pressure, you can get a concentrate that’s comparable in quality and potency to some of the most high-end stuff on the market.
Rosin is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s not as good as other concentrates like diamonds or live resin sauces. On the contrary, rosin is natural, easy to produce, and perhaps best of all, it can be incredibly potent. The concept is not new and no different than squeezing the oil out of olives – you take the raw plant matter, apply heat and pressure, and you’re left with with a smokable, oily, sap-like substance: rosin. Straight and to-the-point.
This process can be applied to kief as well, and even low-quality hash – turning both into a clean and solvent-free, wax that can be dabbed or added to your bowls, blunts, or joints in a matter of minutes. It’s a great way to make use of trim from top-shelf flower too, that would otherwise be tossed as waste material.
With rosin, the possibilities are seemingly endless. But let’s take a moment to learn more about this all-natural extract.
What is Rosin?
Although we tend to think of rosin simply as a cannabis by-product, it’s actually a solid form of resin that is produced by many different plant species, mostly conifers. Rosin is an ingredient in printing inks, photocopying and laser printing paper, varnishes, adhesives (glues), soap, paper sizing, soda, soldering fluxes, and sealing wax. Rosin can be used as a glazing agent in medicines and chewing gum. In pharmaceuticals, rosin forms an ingredient in several plasters and ointments.
In terms of cannabis, rosin is a waxy, dabbable extract that’s incredibly versatile and easy to obtain. Depending on the amount of heat and pressure used during extraction, rosin can be manipulated into a variety of different textures and consistency, from thick and solid like a budder to thin and runny like tree sap.
The extraction process is much simpler than other concentrates. In short, high-quality plant material is pressed firmly between two heated plates. The heat, coupled with a quick burst of pressure, loosens up the trichomes (or resinous glands) off the plant, which is where all those yummy cannabinoids and terpenoids are contained.
What to look for when buying Rosin
There are few things you’ll want to keep in mind when buying rosin at a dispensary. Old dry buds that are void of any resinous crystals, or anything with mold or mildew, just won’t cut it for making rosin. When it comes to the visual characteristics, you’ll want to look for rosin that is clean and somewhat translucent with no plant material, and light amber or tan in color, like honey.
Don’t buy rosin that’s green, as this means there is too much chlorophyll in the wax and it’s pretty much a bunk product. Dark rosin usually means it’s getting older. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going bad or poor quality, it was simply extracted earlier than other, lighter-colored rosins.
You also need to make sure to smell the rosin (if possible, that might not be an option when purchasing pre-packaged products at dispensaries). Just like other concentrates, you can expect a potent cannabis smell from high quality rosin. If it smells like chemicals, or like hay, it’s trash and was made from lowgrade flower, so don’t buy it.
Make your own
If you don’t want to pay for it, you can always make your own at home; it’s easy! Let’s start with the simplest method, just buy a rosin press and follow the instructions. If you don’t feel like shelling out upwards of $150 though, there are numerous household tools and inexpensive items you can use instead.
All you need is a tortilla press or hair straightener (although a hair straightener with adjustable temperature settings is preferred), parchment paper, a rosin screen or dry mesh bag, and of course, your plant material – which can be either gently broken-down flower, dry sift (kief), or hash (doesn’t have to be the best hash).
Now back to the hair straightener. A hair straightener with 2-inch plates and a variable temperature that can be set to between 250-300 degrees Fahrenheit, or 121-149 degrees Celsius is ideal. If you go too high, the rosin will likely end up too sappy and difficult to work with. You may need to adjust the temperature each time, depending on how buds were cured.
First, you will need to arrange the plant matter in between two sheets of parchment paper. Most people arrange the flower into the shape of a square, to create an even surface area for heat distribution. Additionally, you can put your weed into a rosin screen or mesh bag before placing in the parchment paper, and this can help prevent plant matter from getting into the final product. Be careful with this, because if the screen is too large it’s basically useless; and if it’s too small it could restrict amount of rosin that flows through the mesh, resulting in a smaller yield.
Once you have your pot and parchment paper all set up, it’s time to grab the preheated hair straightener. Lay it on the edge flat surface, like a stapler, quickly and firmly press the parchment paper pouch for 4 to 30 seconds, again, depending on how the flower was cured.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a quick, natural, potent, and cost-effective cannabis extract that you can make yourself, rosin is the way to go. And if you don’t feel like making the effort, you can pop into a dispensary and buy some, just make sure to use the tips listed above to get the best product for the best possible price.
Hello and welcome! You’ve made it to cannadelics.com, the #1 web spot for the most comprehensive independent news coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Join us whenever possible to stay in-the-loop on the ever-changing landscape of cannabis and psychedelics, and subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always on top of what’s going on.
You have likely heard the term “OCD tendencies” used casually to describe uptight behavior traits. The offhand use of this word makes it seem like a mild condition, but the reality is that it can be completely debilitating and sufferers have long-been trying to find a treatment option that’s both safe and effective over an extended period of time.
In the United States alone, as many as one in forty adults are affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It can be mild for some people but for others, it can have a crippling impact in their everyday activities. Although research is growing, what we really know about this disorder remains minimal.
Mounting evidence suggests the Endocannabinoid System plays a substantial role in reducing OCD symptoms such as anxiety, fear, and repetitive behaviors; leading scientists and patients to look at cannabis as potential treatment option for this disorder
The Endocannabinoid System
Before I go any further, let’s quickly discuss the Endocannabinoid System – what it is and why it’s responsible for managing such a varied range of conditions. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is network of receptors that can found throughout the bodies of all animals including vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish) and invertebrates (sea urchins, leeches, mussels, nematodes, and others).
We naturally create cannabinoids within our bodies – called endocannabinoids – which bond to these receptors to regulate different processes in our bodies and maintain internal balance and harmony. So far, researchers have been able to identify two separate endocannabinoids: 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA), as well as two main receptors: CB1 and CB2. 2-AG is a full agonist of both the CB1 and CB2 receptors but it has a more direct association with the CB2 receptor.
For this reason, 2-AG is thought to have a substantial influence over the immune system. Anandamide – or AEA – also referred to as the “bliss molecule”, is largely responsible for maintaining a state of homeostasis. AEA can help manage things such as appetite, sleep wake cycles, pain response, and the list goes on. Our bodies continuously cycle through anandamide.
AEA breaks down very easily, so it doesn’t stay in the body for long. However, our bodies create it on-demand to maintain homeostasis. There is a condition referred to as ‘cannabinoid deficiency’, characterized by a body’s inability to produce endocannabinoids. Some experts theorize that many illnesses we suffer from, stem from this shortage of endocannabinoids.https://cbdflowers.co/the-science-behind-cannabis-trichomes/embed/#?secret=FsZ99enOMi
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Now, let’s get into some details on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD was once ranked in the top 10 most disabling illnesses by lost income and decreased quality of life and it affects 1 in 40 adults in the United States. Approximately 2.3% of the population has OCD, which is about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S. The prevalence of OCD in a 12-month period is higher in females (1.8%) than males (0.5%). One study in 1992 found that nearly two-thirds of people with OCD had major symptoms before the age of 25. In families with a history of OCD, there’s a 25% chance that another immediate family member will develop symptoms.
According to the DSM-5, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is defined as, “Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive, unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress. The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.”
This usually manifests in anxiety about things that may go wrong, thinking things have already gone wrong when they haven’t, plus the urges and compulsions such as repeatedly washing hands, checking locks, or cleaning surfaces. Those with OCD typically have higher levels of anxiety and depression, which is to be expected and can range in severity.
Living with OCD presents numerous challenges, and to add to it all, most of the existing treatment options (a combination of SSRIs, Anxiolytics, and Antidepressants) are often unable to completely manage the symptoms. A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders is pointing towards cannabis as a potential treatment for OCD.https://cbdflowers.co/what-to-do-if-you-get-too-stoned/embed/#?secret=Pm2iBuxqwA
The Study: Cannabis and OCD
Researchers from Washington State University found that “acute cannabis use (inhaled), particularly cannabis with higher levels of CBD, was able to quickly reduce symptoms of OCD such as anxiety, compulsions, and intrusive thoughts.” Case studies on cannabis, as well as synthetic forms of THC (one of the active chemicals in cannabis) have also found some evidence for symptom reduction.
At first this was believed to be a temporary fix, but over time symptoms continued to diminish, especially the intrusive thoughts. Until now, there have been no official studies on the effectiveness of cannabis on OCD, but research has previously found that those with OCD have a higher likelihood of self-medicating with cannabis anyway.
Many private studies, and loads of anecdotal evidence, all point to cannabis as a safe and very effective method for reducing OCD symptoms. This new study was conducted on humans who were voluntarily using inhaled cannabis products. Several animal studies have found that CBD is able to reduce compulsive behaviors in rodents.https://cbdflowers.co/thcv-tetrahydrocannabivarin-flowers/embed/#?secret=4X0Pv4FvuD
Strainprint Survey
Intrigued by the results, researchers on this study were compelled to dive deeper into the connection between cannabis and OCD in humans. Using an app called Strainprint, they were able to survey Canadian cannabis users who self-reported their use of INHALED cannabis products to manage OCD.
A total of 87 individuals evaluated their symptoms prior to cannabis, as well as after, and answered a series of questions – “How intrusive are your thoughts?” or “How bad is your compulsive behavior” – on a scale of 1 to 10. Type of product used and dose was also tracked.
The results: cannabis use was definitively linked to a reduction in OCD symptoms. Ninety-five percent of all respondents reported a reduction in compulsions, while just under ninety percent (89.6) claimed that cannabis minimized intrusive thoughts. As far as anxiety management, ninety-four percent of participants said it helped.
A very small number, 2-3 percent of participants, reported a worsening in symptoms, mainly anxiety. This could be due to the high levels of THC in certain flower strains and products. Ultimately, even these participants found that cannabis helped with their overall mental state. Accounting for all this in their final analysis, researchers found that participants who used products with higher levels of CBD reported more significant reductions in OCD symptoms.
Overtime, cannabis had a less potent effect on these symptoms, indicating that a tolerance can develop. This is the case for recreational users as well, in which case the dosage and product can be adjusted, or the user can take a short tolerance break.https://cbdflowers.co/how-cannabis-terpenes-affect-your-high/embed/#?secret=L5tiSyBeDG
Final Thoughts
To summarize, both scientific and anecdotal evidence proves that cannabis is effective for reducing symptoms of OCD, despite some limitations. It’s important to note that this study did not have a placebo control group, but regardless, just tracking the patients’ behavior was convincing enough on its own. This research gives hope to sufferers that the potential for natural OCD management exists, in the form of a plant that, thankfully, most Americans already have access to.
Hello and welcome! You’ve made it to cannadelics.com, the #1 web spot for the most comprehensive independent news coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Join us whenever possible to stay in-the-loop on the ever-changing landscape of cannabis and psychedelics, and subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always on top of what’s going on.
California is well-known for growing quality cannabis, but the Golden State is also renowned in the wine world. The state’s newest industry is taking a page from the winery book by establishing regional identities for cannabis flowers.
This concept isn’t completely unheard of in the cannabis industry. Numerous strains are named after California to indicate that it was grown here, but when it comes to specific localities, that’s where things get a bit hazy. Someone in an out of state market – say Chicago or Michigan – might see the name Cali Haze or Cali Fire and assume that it’s grown in that “good California soil”; but what exactly does that mean?
With indoor buds, it doesn’t matter so much because they’re grown in a very controlled environment. But with outdoor it’s clearly very different. Naturally, there will be noticeable differences in flower that’s grown in the cool, damp, Central Coast or bay area, compared to flower that’s grown in warm, arid regions like Coachella Valley.
This is the same when it comes to wine. “Wine is really the ultimate product of place,” said Rex Stults, vice president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association. “The microclimate, soils, geology – all of that factors in to the types of grapes that grow well in certain areas.” Wine producers have long used appellations, which refers to a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where ingredients for certain products were grown.
Marketing by Location
It’s more than just useful information for the consumer, it adds to the status and reputation of certain wine brands. The new appellations law, Senate Bill 67, affords California cannabis growers similar opportunities.
“Place names are really important and can be a really critical tool to developing and strengthening the cannabis industry,” Stults said. “Protecting the reputation of those regions is critical to the success of the wine industry, Stults added, and that can be applied to marijuana as well.”
Now it will be up to the cannabis industry to make sure they build a positive and personal connection between consumers and growing regions. Farmers and retailers will be able to use the locations to market and protect the unique characteristics of the cannabis produced in their areas. Different climate can mean different flavor, average potency, and appearance – the main factors that consumers look at when choosing flower.
“If you develop a reputation for having a delicious, high-quality product, then the name of the region becomes synonymous with the product,” Stults said. “The product has to be good consistently year after year.”
A Superior Product
Daniel Fink, owner and operator of Down OM Farms in Nevada County, sees the appellations law as a way to distinguish his lesser-known Northern California region from the larger and more dominant cultivation counties such as Humboldt and Mendocino.
Nevada County – where Fink’s farm is located – is warmer and drier than the aforementioned coastal areas, so he can grow popular sativa strains much later in the season. Strains like Blue Dream, Durban Poison, and Sour Diesel are incredibly popular; Fink refers to them as his “bread and butter strains”.
“The market teaches us that throughout the years, sativas are more highly sought-after, and that’s what we do well here,” Fink said.
Additionally, Fink prides himself on using regenerative, sustainable growing practices on his 10,000-square-foot farm. Practices that he attributes to the region. “I use clay soil amended with worm castings fed by manure from a small herd of alpaca is high in calcium, which helps plants uptake nutrients.”
Legacy Producing Regions
Genine Coleman, founder of the Mendocino-based Origins Council, has been focused on the economic development of legacy-producing regions in California. Origins Council defines legacy cannabis producing regions as those “rural areas of California that have established prolific small scale cannabis cultivation and herbal medicine craft over the past 2 decades, or longer.”
She’s been advocating for an appellations program for about five years now, emphasizing the casual link between natural resources and how humans have adapted to grow certain plants in specific regions.
“It’s really setting up this program to be a traditional casual-link program like we see in Europe with wine,” Coleman said. “Appellations legally protect and promote the collective genetic resources and intellectual property of historic producing regions.”
Taste Testing
Another facet that could be incredibly beneficial to the cannabis industry is a widescale taste testing operation, like wine tours, but farms tours instead. This would allow consumers to test the product they plan on buying, as well as offering a whole new stream of income for cannabis farms.
Napa Valley gets roughly 3 million annual visitors that take entire vacations to tour the vineyards and taste different types of wine. Wineries can charge anywhere from $10 to $150 per head and the cost increases if the consumer decides to enhance their experience by adding lunch, a class, activity, or seminar. Some wineries can also be rented out for parties and large events such as weddings.
According to Stults, “Building that personal connection from consumer to grower has worked well and the cannabis industry would be wise to look at that and see if there’s a way to adopt it.”
Final Thoughts
If done correctly, this can add a new level of class to the cannabis buying experience, especially for outdoor flowers, that often have a reputation of being subpar compared to indoor buds. Maybe the reason for that is the location in which they were grown?
The California appellations law will give cannabis consumers a baseline for product searching – for example, if they know they like weed grown in a particular region, they’ll likely shop for strains grown there first. But not only that, it also offers retailers new criteria for stocking products, as well as providing farmers with numerous potential revenue streams.
Hello and welcome! You’ve made it to cannadelics.com, the #1 web spot for the most comprehensive independent news coverage of the cannabis and psychedelics industries. Join us whenever possible to stay in-the-loop on the ever-changing landscape of cannabis and psychedelics, and subscribe to The Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, so you’re always on top of what’s going on.
