One (land)Racy Strain Review: Red Congolese

What’s a landrace cannabis plant? Think of it as you would heirloom fruits and veggies. These are plants of “pure” genetics that haven’t crossed paths with others, and not only have the genetics on lock but the #terroir (eg the characteristics conferred by native soil & climate) of where they were grown. So, most anything found in today that’s called landrace is carrying the GENETICS of the ancestor plant but likely lacks the OG terroir. Does that make sense?  

Anyway, winner of the ‘13 Cannabis Cup and longtime love of old school stoners, Red Congo is a straight-up #sativa; I won’t even say ‘leaning’, bc this baby shows all the signs of being the closest thing to a pure sativa I’ve smoked in a very, very long time. 

The lineage of Red Congolese is a tad debated. There is some belief it’s an African landrace strain and others believe it to be a combination of Mexican and Afghan genetics. From what I’ve read in multiple, diverse sources (including this one from Chronicle Books), it seems like all three regions are in there somewhere. THC levels of Red Congolese cannabis flower average around 18-20%; these “live resin diamonds” are clocking in at 82.7%! This extract is a collaboration between Bay-area based GoldSeal (purveyors of excellent flower) and well known extractor/cultivator, Nug. 

The high gives me a energy, mental clarity and, awesomely, a boost in creativity; I knocked out web content for a client after a bonghit or two and felt weightlessly euphoric while doing so. Red Congo gave me an enjoyable full-body tingle, too. Oh, how I love a good tingle. 

Though evidently not a true landrace, this strain is derived from an indigenous cultivar from the Congo region of Central Africa. Based on my research, the seeds from these tall wispy, narrow-leafed plants were brought west centuries ago and crossed with landrace Mexican and Afghani cannabis plants. Please, if you know more about it share in the comments! 

Personally, it’s a great strain to smoke then tackle either physical or creative mental tasks. I found the high from one fat low-temp dab to be long-lasting, extending into the 4-5 hour range. Seriously! I didn’t even think about another dab...for hours. That’s pretty unique for me. The prime terpene present here is #caryophyllene, which helps imbue euphoria plus it enhances pain relief due to its anti-inflammatory properties; perfect example of #entourageeffect. Red Congo smells of tart, overripe fruit, very terpy, and has a sweet, spicy, cheesy flavor - it’s like a cheeseboard of weed! 😂 

For me, this is an ideal day-smoke. Not an extract to use shortly before bedtime bc it revs me up, but maybe a mid-afternoon puff to carry me nicely into evening. I’m parsing this out frugally because I love it so much! 

Fun fact: Bob Marley’s favorite strain was reportedly “Lamb’s Bread”, also a landrace, endemic to Jamaica. 🇯🇲

Have you experienced Red Congo? Have anything to add? 

Tell Your Parents (About Cannabis)

Oh, how the tables have turned! What a difference 20 years makes, huh? Instead of hidin’ my herbage from my ‘rents, I’m lovingly sharing with them the virtues (and samples) of the cannabis plant. As we head into the holidays, I thought I’d share some, hopefully, helpful hints for you to do similar should the opportunity arise and it might: over two-thirds of Americans support legalization (see below for those stats via Pew Research). 

Are your parents or other relatives curious about cannabis? Could they benefit from the plant but feel confused, overwhelmed by the world of weed? I wrote this piece on connecting with other generations about cannabis - it’s easier than you may think. 

I won’t out them publicly, but my IRL friends who know my parents, aunts, and uncles also know I’ve taken a liberal approach to normalizing the topic around them, my own grandparents (yeah nanogenarian baddies!), and of course, by heart and soul, my daughter. I’ve also made it part of my business model to be an educational conduit for other families, since sometimes mama ain’t gonna listen to you, but...she might listen to me (at least about this topic). For your holiday pleasure, here are a few tips for *sparking* the canna-convo with those fabulous humans who raised you: 

• Share your experience. Be authentic and answer questions truthfully, always. I’m obviously coming from “a place of yes” when it comes to weed, so I start with the celebrations: it helps me with so much in life, from sleeping well, to period pain, to my persistent anxiety, to the fun of it, to me it’s ALL WELLNESS - herb is definitely a huge positive facet of my lifestyle. However, I also cover the pitfalls (potfalls?), and have my standard issue warnings (keep reading); even if your sitch was negative, your folks can glean some wisdom from it. Have a bad trip? That’s ok, of course, be mindful of how you place it (“I ate too much” vs. “I ALMOST DIED!”) and be objective (“in hindsight, I’d have smoked and not gone to edibles”) and, remind them that cannabis effects everyone differently and to always start slow and low: 1 to 2.5 milligrams (yes, you read that right), is a great starting point as even 5 mg can scare folks off - believe me, I’ve seen it many a time. 

• Be Cool: but not *that* cool. Use lay-person terms and do NOT go straight to advanced moves. What are advanced moves? Edibles, concentrates, and dabs. Pops will get waaaay to high, it’ll scare him off the weed and piss your mom off, so just stick with straight up cannabis in flower form (if your parents are hesitant to smoke, grab a handheld dry herb vape or a bong to filter and cool the smoke).

• Read Your Audience. From my experience, a lot of people are more open to herb than we give credit (I mean, these are the original stoney festival goers of yesteryear - they paved our way!), but IF you have very conservative parents who may really, truly benefit from cannabis and hemp derivatives, start talking about CBD with them first, it’s everywhere and such a mainstream wellness tool now. But make no mistake, THC is an incredibly powerful compound often overshadowed in these CBD-frenzied days . 

• Clearly, give them something - start with CBD, and include a topical. Moms love topicals. Gifts are always a welcome thing from one’s kiddo, no matter age. I’m a huge fan of gifting the ones I love herb-oriented prezzies, taking care to always explain the basics: topicals, low-dose edibles, jars or herb, a little pipe...stoke your parents out. Just make sure they don’t have to go buy anything to have their experience. Be ready to be surprised too: A friend’s dad has a PuffCo Peak! Still shopping? A source of vetted, CBD-infused products shippable everywhere is HelloMD.com, and you can even grab $20 credit off your purchase by using my affiliate code: Canncierge20. 

• Explain this: Cannabis is metabolized differently depending upon how it’s consumed (i.e., edibles, vaporization, smoking, drinking, etc.) producing differing effects and durations of said effects (good, bad, or indifferent). For instance, a hit from a 65% THC vape will last the least amount of time (say an hour or 2 max), a hit from a joint/pipe/bong will last longer (1-3 hours, dependent on potency), and edibles will be in effect for hours, sometimes up to 12, but usually 6-8 is a more standard expectation. 

• Start low and go slow - especially with edibles, but also with other consumption methods. Begin at stage one: a single puff off a joint, 2.5mgs of THC in a lab-tested edible, or a single draw from a vape. Then, wait. When someone feels good - stop and enjoy the literal flower. 

• Start slow and go slow - especially with edibles. Felt I should just go ahead and state that twice to really stress it’s importance. 

• High quality CBD extract suspended in a carrier oil (like coconut oil, MCT, etc. bc it, like cannabis, is fat-soluable, and absorbs into your body) will lower a THC high - it’s a good idea to have some on hand for moments of over-indulgence, but moreover for it’s awesome benefits as an anti-inflammatory, anxiety helper, nausea killer, etc. My favorite is a super potent nanoliposomal extract from Reset Bioscience - I’m not paid by them, I just like their product (so much they gave me a discount code! Use “Canncierge35” to save 35% on your purchase). 

• Leave Room for Qs. This conversation sometimes need to marinate with people; I’ve found that planting the seed (heh) then allowing it to grow with folks is an organic way to allow them to ask YOU about it next time, making it a more self-directed activity over which they’ll have ownership and control. 

• Call Your Mother! Seriously, assuming you get your loved ones to try something, either stick around to make sure they’re cool or just call or text them a couple of hours later. This can make all the difference in an experience! 

• Encourage them to ask their doc about cannabis. Especially if someone is experiencing heart issues, has a history of psychosis, or is on blood thinners -  this plant is especially important to be open about with caregivers. Legally, doctors cannot initiate conversations about cannabis as a prescription (yet), but they DO have to answer your questions (sometimes by calling me, lol). So make them do some research or share with them the research you’re reading and ask them to INTERPRET the research. Asking their “INTERPRETATION” is key language to use as it gives them latitude to show understanding (or lack thereof) instead of simply regurgitating the research. If they can’t yet answer something to your satisfaction, continue pushing them. Medical pros are actually more open and educated about cannabinoids now than ever. And hey, they really need to know this stuff - it may be your question that changes the way your doctor practices their craft with you and other lucky patients. 

• Patience, my child. You’ll probably find that this topic is one you touch on multiple times - their friends are talking about it, your friends are talking about it, the media’s all over it, and cannabis is in the age of another (r)evolution - it’s here to stay - and what a wonderful thing that really is. When you gift someone a topical or something non-intoxicating, even that small exposure helps dismantle the stigma and stereotypes associated with herb - they’ll likely warm-up to other modes of use. 

• A note on folks who may not have the ability or interest to use cannabis, not necessarily because they’re against it, but perhaps due to a pension or other financial situation tied to the federal government that can be taken away from them if they were ever to test positive for THC. Or, maybe they’re in a sensitive professional position wherein they can’t risk having their internet search history have cannabis in it for fear of punishment. Believe me, I have clients who deal with these realities, so we must honor these responses. But, that does not leave a single person off the hook from vocalizing their support for cannabis reform on behalf of those who use it - just as they would for any other cause from which they don’t directly benefit: think about any other cause with advocates, donors, supporters, etc. I would venture to guess many supporters and advocates for cancer and other very important causes don’t directly benefit from research but engage in supporting it for the love of those who do. 

Interested in doing a deep dive into your own canna-practice? You can buy time with me for yourself, your spouse, or your parents; I do remote one-on-one or couples consults (often people can benefit from the same stuff! And how FUN to do together?). A cannabis coaching session makes a great bday, anniversary, Christmas or Hanukkah gift. Schedule a consult through this link and, of course, feel free to ask me about custom workshops tailored to you: I’ve done bachelorette parties, CBD-themed baby showers, bday parties, ladies’ nights, anniversaries; you name it, I’ll meducate it. My clients leave consults with personalized functional knowledge of the cannabis landscape, a ton of reference information, achievable action steps & guideposts for choosing quality products to suit their needs, and solid discounts with my retail partners, too. (You know your mom loves a deal). My goal is to give folks knowledge to make informed consumption decisions on their canna-journey. 

I hope these suggestions I’ve pulled from my own practice and life are helpful in your family circle. What questions do you have? How do you place cannabis in your family’s conversations?  Are you talking about it at all? Let’s chat in the comments. 

The Dankest Dinner Party

FoodFlowerFuture & Heavy Petal Creative satisfied the senses and set the stage for canna-connection, behold: The New Way to Dinner Party.

I’ve been to wine-pairings where someone talks about the food, the vino, why they go together, and an interesting tidbits about the region in which it was grown. Now, we’re doing this with herb and it just makes so much sense. Not only does cannabis enhance the senses including smell and taste, but it too has complexities that contribute to its uniqueness. Do you know the word terroir? The term reefers (heh) to the natural environment in which wine (or cannabis) is produced including the soil, climate, and topography; it lends much of what we love to the profile of the flower we consume. 

Terps on Terps! I loved the cannabis pairing description for the evening - finishing with a CBD-dominant strain was totally ideal.

Event Co-Producers (L-R), Khara (@FoodFlowerFuture) and Jasmine (@HeavyPetal_SD)

When I’m sizin’ up herb, products, farms, etc., the people behind them, the terroir in which they’re grown, and the social equity impact of the brand MATTER. Just like I don’t shop certain places bc of their lack of such things, I don’t patronize generic herb bc I don’t want to support the unknown or worse - people I don’t respect. Many consumers don’t care where their herb comes from, and I don’t guilt anyone for it, I mean, it wasn’t long ago that many of of would take what we could get, but now that so much information is available about the things we value - it behooves us to pay attention in the weed-realm. I like to know where the plant was grown, who grew it, and what type of farming practices were used, etc. I generally like sun grown herb, I feel the spectrum is more complex, the flavors deeper, and it’s literally connected to the earth, as Mother Nature intended. And good thing, cause the evening was all sun grown pairings!

I dug the High Style cannabis infused nonalcoholic beer. Our chefs, wife and hubby team Mangia Ghangia added blood orange juice and we dosed it with lovely CBD from Zadaka. As a non-drinker this mocktail really worked for me, it was elevatingly refreshing. Highstyle brewery is here in San Diego, I was seated at a table with Charlie, the rep, who is also the daughter of one of the Brewers, which I just absolutely love! Family owned and operated? Hell yeah, here for it. 

Always on point, California cannabis powerhouse FlowKana brought the delicious with Lime Juice, which was paired with a chilled watermelon soup and I’m still thinking about it. Terpy and citrusy with a sour note, it was a stellar palette primer for the dish and table conversation.

Alongside a burrata salad with beets, pomegranate, and Three Leaf Edibles blood orange gummies, Aloha Humboldt, a farm nestled in the Emerald Triangle, served us sour diesel joints infused with Nasha Extracts icewater hash. Uh...YUM. Delicious. And such a nicely intense high, just a few puffs and even this super stoner was feeling’ very good. These pack a smooth smoke and a slow burn the whole doob. Aloha Humboldt is also run by a husband and wife team which is fantastic and I *adore* the shade of blue in the branding, too. Meant to snap up a hat! 

One of my NorCal faves, Aster Farms paired their Deep Sour Kush with the chimichurri hangar steak course last night and I swear that joint was like the steak of weeds. Dank, savory, delicious - it was spot on as a pairing. The terpene beta caryophyene is prominent in both the strain and pepper that was used in the steak marinade. It’s technically a terpene BUT this compound modulates neuro receptors in a similar way to cannabinoids; it’s due to the presence and interaction of terps and cannabinoids that induce the coveted entourage effect. Also, Stef, you’re a delight.

This evening stuck out to me as a cultural shift. I’m used to going to events with mainly women (which in themselves are a vibrant sub-culture) and I had a bunch of insightful conversations with enlightened dudes last night - it was really wonderful. It’s heartening to hear men describe how they witness women being disadvantaged in this world (and not in a man-splainey way); from men who are married to strong women to men who were raised by strong women, I have a lot of hope for gender equity because men are starting to stand up for women, they’re starting to believe us, and tell other men to be better. This reinforces my belief in cannabis as a tool for social change. We connect through and have important conversations thanks to it!

Also, there were CATS. Like ten of ‘em. Anyone who knows me knows I. Fucking. Love. Cats. The venue host operates Burton’s Pride a FANTASTIC kitteh rescue who made a big impact during the recent fires and are rehabbing kitties beautifully - if you’re in the market for a fully loaded puss at a fair price check them out right meow (sns).  My heart is grateful for Khara of @FoodFlowerFuture, my dear friend @heavypetal, my pals Mangia Ghangia, who’s fare is like a hug for the culinary soul, and for all the event sponsors - whatta goodie bag!  This is most definitely the next level dinner party - truly it was food, flower and future. My spirit so needed it. 

Mangia Ghanja’s perfectly executed cloud-like raspberry soufflé with ganache square - all other desserts are entirely ruined for me after this one.

A Guide to "Lifted Layering": Getting to Sleep & Staying There with Cannabis.

We know poor sleep leads to a myriad of unpleasant ripple effects like daytime sleepiness, fatigue, headaches, unwanted mood shifts, inattention, increased susceptibility to accident, and other health problems that delightfully snowball into daily livin’. I’ve been struggling with getting to sleep and staying there, as well as feeling refreshed when I awaken as opposed to a zombified extra on The Walking Dead. In addition to dealing with old soccer injuries, identifying & reflecting on my stressors (hello parenting in the day of active shooter drills), I’ve been experimenting with “layering” techniques for enhancing my sleep integrating, but not depending upon, THC and CBD

“Lifted Layering” is a term I coined for a self-care equation I’ve been honing - a strategy anyone can use to cobble together relaxing, ritualistic activities to either establish or enhance your self care regimen according to your budget of time, money, and needs. While not wholly reliant upon it, Lifted Layering involves integrating cannabis with other tools of relaxation in an intentional way. This isn’t earth shattering stuff, but more of an example of things I’ve implemented in my own life which complement one another beautifully. Self-care IS healthcare, friends, and unfortunately, consider this a gentle reminder this isn’t a luxury, or stuff you earn, friends, you are entitled to caring for yourself: human beings need rest to live, period.

Sure, some weed will knock you out - hello, Academic: a solid Indica flower with high THC and really sleepy terps (think linalool, a floral sedative terpene also found in Lavender, and is known to calm the mind and body and induce sleep). But, I found that after my initial pajama-clad smoke sesh, I tended to wake up after a couple of hours and proceed to exemplify that Squidward-visiting-the-bong-at-midnight-meme. *Not* that there’s anything wrong with midnight tokin’, but mama needs a solid eight hours of sleep. I’m so interested in this space that I’ve framed a bunch of my time around it, including my recent #WomensWeedNight and in most, if not all, of the consulting I do with clients. Americans have a biiiig sleep issue. Here I’ve articulated some helpful practices with which I’ve been experimenting - try some adaptation of them in your routine and let me know how it goes! Do not feel pressure to do all of these all the time; really, it’s like choosing a few cards from a deck - selfcare need not be lockstep uniform, but a fluid regular activity you relish in and are called to do consistently. I do some combo of these things each night of my life, but that doesn’t mean you need to do the same.

Prep for success by building this time into your schedule. Dedicate 30 minutes to an hour to this routine after your responsibilities for the day are met (or even if they aren’t, frankly, if it can be done tomorrow, let it be). So charge your crystals, grab some herb, a scented candle, and treat yo’ self along these lines, ladies (and gents).

Step 1. Find a quiet area to chillax uninterrupted, find your happy place, your “lady lair” as I call my spot. I don’t care if it’s Harry Potter's under-the-stairs hovel. Make like Liz Lemon and go to there and (politely) tell those in your household to leave ya be!

Step 2. Smoke or vape an Indica-leaning strain, you have to get into your “me time” headspace immediately, amirite? Remember, Indica cannabis varieties are known to abate anxiety and relax the body moreso than our Sativas. Pay attention to where you carry your stress physically, and when that area starts to relax you’ve found medicine which suits you. If you’re more of a mental stress person, the next step is for you. I can always tell when I’ve medicated adequately when my shoulders drop involuntarily because this is where most of my stress manifests physically. My absolute favorite concentrate before bed comes from my friends at Craft1861, their SLEEP formula is outstanding - I and my clients clamor for it. Some of my fave flower strains that are widely available: Northern Lights, Gelato, Granddaddy Purple, and Skywalker; no worries if this list doesn’t match your local weed inventory - just ask your supplier for an Indica with a moderate to high amount of THC (18%+) and maybe even some CBD in there, if you can find it.

Also, interesting tidbit: old cannabis has been shown to help aide in sleep issues thanks to the development of Cannabinol or CBN, a lesser known cannabinoid that slowly develops as the others degrade over time and is known to be a very sleep-inducing compound. Only problem? There aren’t a lot of CBN-heavy strains on the market (yet) and we know there isn’t a demand for old weed, so good luck finding CBN flower; some people make their own by basically leaving a jar of herb in the garage. For a year. Yeah, not so appetizing, but read on for a product suggestion featuring CBN.

Step 3. You’re stoned now so we’ll keep this short, but I promise, skipping this step is a mistake. Do a 4 minute journal entry/scribble in a notebook or phone (though I think there’s more tactile benefit to putting pen to paper). Use a sharpie to resist drilling down too far - just mind-blurt out the things that are on your mind, bothering you, or stressing you out. Simply getting it out helps calm your brainwaves into a state that’s far more conducive to relaxation. Set a timer and try this: Take ONE minute to think about your worries, take ONE minute to write them down, ONE minute to write the simplest actions to address each, and ONE minute to write down 4 things for which you’re grateful. This exercise lowers your heart rate almost immediately and cumulatively over time will help you feel more balanced and happy. Perfect for us mental stress cases. Bonus? Your to-do list for the next day is started.  

Medicated bath bombs: worthy of the HIGHpe. This is my set-up for bathtime.

Step 5. Run (and style) your bath! Layer your Lair! One of my BFFs literally drags her plants into her bathroom to achieve the vibe - like a 5 foot palm tree, ya’ll. I put crystals around and light candles just to gussy it up. I’m also a fan of adding an infused bathbomb (KushQueen makes wonderful products); No, you will not get high from such a thing, essentially you’ll leave the bath uber-moisturized and noticeably more relaxed, sorta like you’ve had a massage in addition to a warm bath. Sometimes I cut the bombs in half, too, for future tub time. Make your bath HOT so you can stay in there longer than you think you should. Spoiler alert: you should stay in there longer than you think you should. Our epidermis is literally our largest organ thus soaking yourself in a CBD and THC-laden bath relieves inflammation at the skin and superficial muscle group levels outstandingly.

Step 6. Hydrate. While your bath runs (mine takes foreverrr) grab a drank. There is research showing a connection between mood and dehydration, think hangry but for water (#HydRage?), and you lose a lot of H2O while you soak your body into raisinity. I like to chug a glass of water then steep some cannabis tea to enjoy in the bath - I make my own cannacoconut oil (here’s an easy DIY recipe) and my dose is roughly around 20-30mg. You can also find medicated teas on the market, Kikoko makes a sleepytime version with CBN in it, it’s on my list to try.

Step 7. Throw on a facemask, pack a bowl and Tune. The. Eff. Out. Not enough people smoke in the bath for some reason. Do it. If quiet solitude is your thang, do it, if you wanna binge on The Real Housewives of Any City, do it. I tend to listen to music, puff, and revel in how awesome I feel while sippin’ my tea TOTALLY ALONE. Now lay there...for as long as you’d like. Warm the bath up once or twice.  

Step 8. Here’s where things get interesting. So yes, I’ve smoked by this time probably twice and my tea is settling in and I’m feeling good *how-ev-er* I’ve discovered that my body needs more layers to help me sleep all night. Post-bath is when I’ll take my fave Charlotte’s Web CBD and THC extracts; I usually take one dose but may double up if I’m sore from a workout or something. It sounds like a lot, but remember that CBD actually disrupts THC, dampening it’s cognitive effects, while holding the medicinal benefit in place. Even given that, still be sure to titrate (aka adjust dosage) conservatively and use ratios aligned with your tolerance - you can always take more. Start with the dose on the package, give yourself a few minutes to allow it to spread into your bloodstream (15-20 should definitely do it when using a sublingual), and when you feel good, stop.

My favorite products from Stanley Brothers and Charlotte's Web, these are my staples. 

Step 9. Ever heard of Self Massage? I can almost hear the dirty jokes being typed. Seriously, who can get a massage every time s/he needs one? I certainly cannot and have devised a little technique, with the help of topicals, a tennis ball, and my foam roller. I really like Papa & Barkley’s topical line but I’ve also made my own and it was outstanding. This is usually my last stop before hittin’ the actual sack - and sometimes I just do 5 minutes of bed yoga - but these two techniques relax my spine and hips better than others and are adaptable to almost any body part. I slather any achy muscles or joints in a medicated salve then do 5 minutes of stretching, that’s it. Here’s a nice set of tennis ball massage moves and here’s my absolute favorite move EVER using my foam roller, the Spine Roll Release. *squeal* Seriously, be prepared to be obsessed. And if you have a partner who doesn’t massage you like Skeletor (I’m looking at you, husband), ask them to work ya over.

Just a casual foam roller moment between friends: here I am leading my friend Laura of @Queen_Canna in the spine release move I adore.

Step 10. Do you! Some of my clients feel like they “shouldn’t” medicate in the middle of the night for some reason. Do not feel a modicum of guilt if you wake up and have a toke. Like, would you feel guilty taking an Advil in the middle of night for a gnar toothache? NO. Do what it takes to get the rest you need, but really, don’t resort to Ambien - it’s addictive and makes for some weird sleepwalking/driving/shopping tales. Ask Chelsea Handler. And word to the wise: if you tend to wake up in the middle of the night within 4-6 hours of your alarm, you probably do NOT want to ingest edibles so close to wake-up, you’ll proooobably still be high when the buzzer goes off; In this case, opt to smoke or vaporize a little something and hook up some white noise or instrumental music to lull you back into REM sleep.

Happy Layering! Let me know in how these tools and strategies work for you or if you have your own rituals you rely on, cannabis-related or not. XO - TC

The Wee(d)kend Savior in Your Pantry.

Ever over-indulged with cannabis? Pulled the classic “this edible isn’t working” and take more too soon? Or just gotten *too* lifted? A few of my clients have asked for advice for some, um, cannsumption problems recently so I wanted to spread a tidbit of knowledge that might save your weekend sometime.

I’ve definitely had moments of regret over the decades, especially since part of my work is testing many different products for clients, etc. This common stoner misstep is sometimes a rough but necessary part of figuring out our ideal personal THC dosage; unfortunately, it also leads to folks ending up in the emergency room or just plain having a TERRIBLE time. I mean, I know people who have had one atrocious edible experience and have sworn off marijuana for life. For LIFE, ya’ll. It really does feel horrible, believe people when they say they feel like they’re “dying”: the racing heart, the sweating, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, disorientation - it’s like, bad.  And don’t think you’re beyond it, veteran smokers, cannabinoids are processed very differently in our bodies depending on a litany of factors from your age, sex, what you’ve eaten that day, if you’ve worked out, your mental state, if you’re a woman your hormonal cycle will impact how cannabis effects you, and of course the amount, type and mode of weed you ingest matters. You never know how  different ganja products will impact you, regardless of how you take them - smoking, eating, vaping AND/or combining with alcohol (which can be the cannabis kiss of death, btw). Go low and slow, people, low and slow! At least until you understand your tolerance and limits (as you would with alcohol, frankly). And please don’t drive when you’re blazed, it’s JUST AS BAD AS DRUNK DRIVING. It’s one thing to smoke a joint with your friends, have a hike or something, then drive a couple of hours later - don’t puff tuff then go control a 2,000 pound gas-filled vehicle. Ya feel?

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to counteract the negative effects of THC but isn’t always at our fingertips. But good news, however, and it involves a kitchen staple you probably have in your cabinet or is growing in your California ‘hood: Pink Peppercorns. The Peruvian Pepper Tree (sometimes called the California Pepper Tree) thrives in central and southern California and was planted prolificly in planned neighborhood grids like mine in San Diego in the 50s/60s. The berries or “drupes” are the seeds inside these vivid pink outer husks which are ripe in the Fall and Winter months and they last basically forever. (I use them medicinally and in my cooking as well, they lend a really subtle sweet chili flavor to my avo toast. Mmmultitasker!)

How to Use: Simply crush peppercorns using a mortar and pestle or grinder, give them a few deep sniffs, and/ or chew on 5-10 kernals for a couple of minutes, taking care not to swallow right away. I found that chewing the kernals made for a quick (minutes) onset of “de-high-ing” (ha) wherein sniffing them didn’t do much for me. Others have reported a reversal in the negative effects of THC (anxiety lessened, nausea subsided, heart rate normalized, etc.).

Why it Works: It’s posited that there is an #EntourageEffect of the Terpenoids in the pepper plant interacting directly with the THC cannabinoid in cannabis. Per LeafScience, "Pepper contains the terpenes myrcene, α-Pinene (alpha-pinene) and the terpenoid (a modified terpene) caryophyllene.  Pinene has been used for asthmatic patients as a bronchodilator, and, beta-caryophyllene which has been researched for help with athritis, multiple sclerosis and HIV-associated dementia as well as treatment with anxiety and depression. In other words, the terpenoids found in pepper could help with the THC-induced symptoms felt from the phytocannabinoids found in marijuana".

Terpenes, cannabinoids and the entourage effect - extremely exciting plant medicine for our world - this space is just so, so promising. If you or someone you love is curious about cannabis and would like to acquire deeper knowledge of the plant, applications, and therapeutic benefits to help her make more informed cannabis-for-wellness decisions, contact me for personalized, confidential virtual cannabis coaching: thecanncierge@gmail.

Women's Weed Night

We had so much fun at the last Women’s Weed Night!

Lifted ladies ranging from our 30s to 70s gathered in a private residence to learn more about the sacred cannabis flower, discover vetted effective products, and workshop new techniques to embolden and improve the cannabis practice. Here’s a little bit about the evening.

Opening with champagne and introductions, we dined on uber-tasty vegetarian, gluten-free lasagne by the very talented multi-talented Christine Dionese.  After we had a bite, we kicked off the evening with some background on the difference between hemp and cannabis plants, drilled down into the active compounds of THC and CBD, then briefed peeps on the ECS. Everyone in attendance had at least a mid-level understanding, so the content was tailored.

We like to do something we call “level up” with #cannsumption, starting with the non-psychoactives and moving into THC. I highly recommend this practice, especially for women, (since THC impacts us more quickly), for those on other medications, or who are very sensitive to THC (fyi: you are one of these people if you get really paranoid, nauseated, sweaty, etc. when you smoke a sativa-leaning weed). Even for veteran stoners, you really don’t know how different compounds and combos of said compounds will take to your system - I don’t care if you’re Snoop - but especially when mixing edibles, flower & concentrates - TAKE YOUR TIME. And, very good thing to know: CBD counteracts the negative things like paranoia, nausea, and shakiness that some strains can cause in certain individuals - I keep it on hand for those moments of too much cannsumption (they happen, trust).

First Course: CW Everyday Hemp Extract for everyone! I literally want to yell that daily. We started the night off with my health supplement obsession, non-psychoactive #hempextract from Charlotte’s Web. Adults generally will use 1-2 droppers twice daily for optimal results, so we all had that dose to kick off the evening, in addition, we sipped CBD-dosed cocktails I posted to Insta about earlier. I’m pretty into healthy living (though I cannot pass-up a coldass coca-cola) and CBD has been in my orbit for a while now, but, moreover, this product has become a staple for my family, not just for me: I use it to quell inflammation, improve skin & brain elasticity and it has helped joint pain from old soccer injuries diminish; my husband is using it to heal after a cycling injury and for sleep; My child also, is benefiting from CBD in topical form and uses CW’s Topical Pen, for an outbreak of eczema associated with, we think, the stress of starting school.

Second course: Marley Natural's Red Label CBD joints of ACDC, a famously relaxing strain with 17% CBD and 1.1% THC. These Js are relatively petite but pack a solid smoke, I’ve found that my “levels” are just right when I use about a 3:1 THC:CBD sort of ratio, so a few tokes of this was a really nice primer for the THC to follow, and, it was ideal for the CBD-only users of the group who are more of a reversed form of me, so more CBD to THC. Your shoulders will drop a little bit, you’ll feel your muscles relax, and some of the ladies used the following adjectives post-smokage: “fuzzy..but only physically”, “relaxed”, “cozy”, “anxiety - gone”, “content”.

Third Course: CRAFT 1861 Premium Cannabis Oil, we tested the whole line designed to help you uplift, create, relax, and sleep; they’re also releasing a CBD:THC oil soon, which will be amazing. Craft 1861 is a brand I’m pleased to be working with in my consulting practice, they're thoughtful and effective from the start: the fresh-frozen flower is cold-pressed extracted (NO BHO, Co2, MCT, PEG, or PEG 400! No bad stuff!) resulting in very pure cannabis oil. But, then, what's done next is what sets Craft 1861 apart: in addition to extracting THC and CBD, Craft 1861 extracts those essential oils we've all been learning so much about, terpenes, like linalool, myrcene, and limonene. The terpenes are then combined in custom profiles aligned with supporting an array of common mood destinations (with which everyone can connect), then the terpene cocktails are re-combined with the pure cannabis oil to a delightful taste and remarkable affect. 

As far as accessibility, Craft 1861 is next level - eschewing sometimes complicated-for-the-novice-to-understand strain names and plant compound references, Craft 1861 designed a product using common language everyone uses in life, it's recognizable; Obviously, in pen form, micro-dosing and discretion is just total necessity. I've affectionately named the line my “Weed Wardrobe” because I keep the set on deck to support daily across-the-board needs: Uplift, for a bright, "day" medication; Create for an energetic euphoria ideal for making, thinking, and doing; Relax for when you need to chill and allay some pain; and Sleep, for exactly that. And, what’s heartening is that I’ve received positive feedback from one client using Craft 1861 Sleep to wean off of ambien: she reports better, more sustained sleep and no more fear of addiction...or nude sleepwalking!

In their collective, Craft 1861 works with farmers from Calaveras County, CA, and pays their farmer-partners a fair wage for sustainably sungrown, organic marijuana for their exclusive use. I really, REALLY trust this brand philosophically and scientifically - and I do not say that lightly. Check them out at www.craft1861.com, ask for them by name at your shop, or find them on Weedmaps. Obviously, nothing for sale here folks!

Fourth Course: Homegrown Cheesecake Joint packed to the gills. My grow partners and I just took this strain from a nice slow cure and it’s dank, cheesy, and elicits an extremely stoney, sort of silly euphoria, leading to...

Fifth Course: Donuts & an episode of #Disjointed. Naturally.

We closed our workshop with hugs, new friends exchanging info, and a collective feeling of happiness from watching one’s community grow before her eyes. Cannabis heals, unites, and makes us better people - it’s a beautiful thing to witness, especially among a group of women spanning multiple generations. For more information on my work, classes, and retreats visit thecanncierge.com or on Instagram @thecanncierge.