Your cannabis loving friend doesn’t want another pair of socks with marijuana leaves on them. Instead, try one of these gifts, and get ready to be the MVP of your next smoke-out.
Since the holidays have arrived, it’s fair to wonder what gifts would make perfect holiday surprises for the cannabis enthusiast in your life. There are numerous stoner-approved products on the market that could make a bigger impression than you could have ever hoped for by making them gifting them to people you care about. Here are 5 essential gifts for the weed lover in your life.
Smell-Proof Stash Bag
Even though cannabis is legal in most locales, no one wants to obnoxiously reek of it whenever they carry it from point A to point B. That’s where having a smell-proof container comes in handy. Having something to safely stash cannabis that locks the smell in could avoid attracting unwanted attention, making it a must-have for stoners who take their goods to-go from time to time.
Another must-have tool in the arsenal of weed aficionados is a grinder that can be easily transported. A portable cannabis grinder and dispenser makes the process of breaking down bud much cleaner and simpler than with a traditional grinder. Additionally, an electric grinder can grind the bud much faster than by hand or with a manual grinder. This is the ideal gift for helping the weed enthusiast in your life take their process for breaking down bud into the 21st century.
Foldable Rolling Tray
The next gift idea certain to make an impact on the daily routine of the stoner you’re shopping for is a foldable rolling tray. That’s the type of resource that can help cannabis smokers keep their living space free of the excess bud and ashes. The fact that this rolling tray can be easily stored gives it a clear advantage over other rolling trays that can be found online and in smoke shops. A foldable rolling tray also comes with sections that make it easier to keep up with things like lighters and rolling papers.
Although it seems like an essential item that every stoner has handy, odor eliminating candles could be the perfect gift to give the cannabis lover who already has everything. Since a lot of stoners live in places, such as apartments or duplexes, there’s the possibility of them spreading the aroma of their cannabis smoke to the dismay of neighbors. Odor eliminating candles can eliminate that problem, which eliminates fears of unintentionally hotboxing shared living spaces. Need some ideas? These Are The 5 Best Candles For Cannabis Smokers.
Reusable Mini Joint Filter
After smoking enough joints, the most seasoned cannabis users can attest to experiencing the buildup of resin around its mouthpiece. That can make the experience of smoking one less enjoyable than it should be. This is just one of the problems that a reusable mini joint filter can solve for the cannabis lover in your life. Another way reusable mini joint filters make the lives of stoners easier is by providing better airflow while smoking than people often don’t get with paper or cardboard filters.
Studies like the one published in the NY Times should be critically analyzed and sources should be studied as well.
There I was, minding my own business when I read the headline, “Cannabis Use in Pregnancy May Lead to a More Anxious, Aggressive Child.” So claims the title of a New York Times article written by Melinda Wenner Moyer, who cites a study that looked at maternal cannabis use and an alleged suppressed gene networks in the placenta.
The article is well-written and contains many links embedded within the text creating the illusion of authority. However, if you were to read almost two-thirds of the way down, you’ll run into this paragraph:
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“The study does not, however, prove that prenatal cannabis use caused the children’s behavioral problems. Some of the mothers said they had used cannabis only after giving birth (though THC can pass through breast milk). And women who use cannabis may differ from abstinent women in other ways that put their children at risk for behavioral issues. They may have underlying risk factors, such as a family history of psychiatric problems, or they may have been exposed to other chemicals during pregnancy that increase the risk for behavioral issues in their kids, said Ryan Bogdan, a psychologist at Washington University in St. Louis who studies the underlying biology of psychiatric disorders. The authors of the study tried to control for such differences using statistical methods, but some could nevertheless have influenced the results.”
This isn’t to say that there may be biological concerns about consuming cannabis, this most certainly needs to be studied clinically. However, the study that was cited — as with many of the studies where there are scathing views on cannabis — was not clinical in nature. Additionally, the phrase “Some of the mothers said they had used cannabis only after giving birth,” makes the claim of the article seem more dubious.
Nonetheless, I decided to look at the information to see if it was true or not, whether smoking weed during pregnancy can create angry and anxious babies.
About the Author
I think before we dive deeper into the story we need to take a closer look at Melinda Wenner Moyer. Moyer is the author of the book, “How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes”. The book claims to follow scientifically driven concepts on raising your kids, however, after reading some of the negative reviews of her book it seems that there is a strong bias in terms of ideology.
Her concept of “asshole” is based on a particular type of thinking prevalent in mainstream media, which is totally fine. Of course, if you fall outside of her framed view of how life should be, you’d probably end up on her “asshole list” and subsequently your babies might as well.
One of the negative reviews on her book said the following;
“I am a big fan of evidence-based parenting, like Emily Oster’s books, so I wanted to try this one. However, it felt like just another book written by a parent who thinks their way is right and throws in some studies to try to justify it. It was NOT grounded in the research. I like books where the author discusses research that changed their approach. This is more like research used to justify the approach the author already believed in. It just feels biased and a little weak. So many better parenting books are out there that give more radical discoveries and insight.”
Another negative review read, “First 5 min of book author stages babies are racist. This is clear CRT Indoctrination.”
Once again, you’d probably be considered an asshole if you don’t subscribe to Critical Race Theory in the eyes of the author. Or the fact that “anti-racist” requires you to first be a racist to be against it, at least psychologically speaking. Framing matters! Any neuroscientist or behavioral psychologist will tell you that, but I digress.
Photo by Alex Pasarelu via Unsplash
Why is it important to understand who the author is? It’s important because if the author utilizes studies to justify a position she already believes in, then the objectivity of the science comes into question. Considering that her narrative is based on the premise of “not raising asshole children” and using “evidence” to justify this position, it seems that this article feels more like a well-crafted form of native advertisement to build authority within the niche of “non-asshole raising parents”.
Major Problems With the Studies
We have already exposed the fact that the study in question does not prove that prenatal cannabis use had any effect on the behavior of children. We have also established that these were non-clinical studies and that some mothers smoked cannabis after the fact.
There were also issues of environment. For example, how many of those “troubled tots” had an absent father? According to Fatherhood.org, the absence of a father can lead to severe behavioral problems and increases your chances of sliding into poverty four-fold. You’re also more likely to go to prison if you don’t have a father.
This is just one factor that can have major impact on your behavioral problems down the line. The fact of the matter is that the studies on prenatal cannabis use is lacking. Most of these studies are done through surveys and interpreted based on the answers, however, the vast majority of these tests have not been replicated.
Photo by Bruno Nascimento via Unsplash
Therefore, to draw any conclusion in relation to the behavioral impact of your children due to prenatal cannabis use is empirically non-scientific. It’s essentially reducing the human being completely to biology, which definitely does have an impact to a lesser degree. However, how you’ve been raised, whether you have money or not, the relationship of your parents, micro and macro experiences, all play a role in shaping how you behave.
Societal norms aren’t established by biology. Behavior is much more a consequence of parental action or non-action at critical points of development than it is about the type of foods you eat. The thing about THC is that it’s a phytocannabinoids that is almost identical to anandamide, which is found within breast milk.
The fact that your endocannabinoid system interacts with the chemical suggests that the impact it would have on our biology is minimal. Of course, we need clinical data to see whether this is true or not, but until then, studies like the one published in the NY Times should be critically analyzed and sources should be studied as well.
I’m sure Moyer completely believes everything she’s writing and continues to pile on more supporting evidence for her position — and that’s okay. After all, whatever it is you are looking for, you will find.
When traveling, we tend to forget about our nutrition, something that results in us being more stressed out and grumpy when in an airport. Here’s what health experts recommend.
The holiday season is upon us. After a pretty irregular year, the majority of Americans will be boarding a flight within the upcoming month. Aside from the usual anxiety that air travel evokes, the pandemic has made everything worse, increasing wait times, flight delays, and passenger stress.
One thing that’s under our control (kind of) is the meals that we feed our body. These should be an important part of our travel plans, reducing our stress and allowing us to handle flight inconveniences with a better attitude.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska via Kaboompics
The Huffington Post spoke with a variety of health experts on their opinions regarding meals and nutrition during air travel. While their advice differs, most agree on a couple of things: eating during stressful times is important to keep your mood up, and food purchased in airports is bad and expensive. Here’s what they recommend.
Eat at home
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Eating at home before a flight solves a variety of problems, allowing you to eat something that you enjoy, that feels light in your stomach and that isn’t crazy expensive. The problem here is that time is usually tight when we have a flight ahead of us. If you have a flight during the early morning, it’s even tougher to make the time for meals.
According to Jonathan Valdez, owner of Genki Nutrition, if you aren’t able to eat at home, it’s best to eat your meal about an hour before your departure. “This can allow your body some time to digest your food and use the restroom accordingly before boarding,” he said.
Prepare snacks
Photo by Flickr user s58y
Another aspect that can help you stay energized would be to prepare snacks ahead of time. While eating on planes nowadays is annoying, requiring you to take off your face mask and then put it back on, by packing snacks like fruits or nuts you’ll eliminate messes and provide your body with the necessary nutrients.
If you want to avoid mask-shifting, have a good meal before you board the plane, made up of proteins like chicken or yogurt, and digestible fruits, like oranges or bananas. When it comes to water, there’s no limit. Remember to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water before and during the flight.
Finally, the decision on South Dakota’s voter-approved initiative legalizing recreational cannabis is here. Unfortunately, the state’s Supreme Court decided to kill it.
One of five states to vote on a cannabis initiative in the Nov. 2020 elections, South Dakota managed to garner some 54% support for legalization, however, the measure was declared unconstitutional.
Photo by Lisa Reichenstein from Pexels
Why?
According to Circuit Judge Christina Klinger’s ruling from February, the initiative violates the requirement that constitutional amendments can deal with just one subject. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem first challenged the amendment and ordered a lawsuit to overturn the adult-use portion of the ballot results in January.
“Amendment A is a revision as it has far-reaching effects on the basic nature of South Dakota’s governmental system,” Klinger, who was appointed as a circuit court judge by Noem in 2019, wrote in her ruling.
“Today’s decision protects and safeguards our constitution,” Noem said in a statement at the time. “I’m confident that South Dakota Supreme Court, if asked to weigh in as well, will come to the same conclusion.”
On Wednesday, however, the majority of the Supreme Court backed Klinger’s ruling, confirming that the amendments “violated the single-subject requirement in the South Dakota Constitution,” reported NORML.
Photo by MmeEmil / Getty Images
“Legalization opponents cannot succeed in the court of public opinion or at the ballot box,” said NORML’s deputy director Paul Armentano. “Thus, they are now petitioning the courts to overturn the will of the people. Whether or not one supports marijuana legalization, Americans should be deeply concerned by this trend and by the outcome of this case.”
This is the second time this year that a court has struck down a voter-approved initiative to legalize the use of marijuana. Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled to abolish Initiative 65 that would regulate medical cannabis in the state even though 73% of Mississippi voters backed the measure on election day.
Last November South Dakota voters also backed a separate ballot measure that would regulate medical marijuana accesses by qualified patients, which fortunately was not challenged.
The head of the U.S. Cannabis Association’s Malawi branch told the BBC that Tyson had accepted the invitation and that plans were underway for him to visit the country.
The government of Malawi has asked the former world heavyweight champ, Mike Tyson to become the official ambassador for the country’s cannabis industry.
Agriculture Minister Lobin Low sent a letter to Tyson inviting him to take up the role, saying that cannabis legalization in Malawi had created new opportunities.
Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for AYS Sports Marketing
Recently, during a training workshop with farmers, Lowe encouraged cannabis growers to form cooperatives to increase their bargaining power and that he viewed cannabis as a key part of the country’s agricultural export strategy to contribute to domestic development. Hence, Malawi’s decision to appoint Tyson.
A successful cannabis entrepreneur, Tyson is launching his own cannabis line, Tyson 2.0, on Black Friday in partnership with Columbia Care Inc.(NEO: CCHW) at Colorado dispensary The Green Solution.
“Malawi may not go it alone as the industry is complex [and requires] collaboration. I would therefore like to appoint you, Mr. Mike Tyson, as Malawi’s Cannabis Branch ambassador,” Lowe wrote in the invitation, reported the BBC.
The U.S. Cannabis Association was facilitating the deal with Tyson, the agriculture ministry said.
Wezi Ngalamila, the head of the association’s Malawi branch, told the BBC that Tyson had accepted the invitation and that plans were underway for him to visit the country.
“Tyson will be working with us,” Ngalamila said.
Malawi legalized the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medicinal use in February 2020, but stopped short of legalizing it for personal use.
Photo by James Gilbert/Stringer/Getty Images
The government now hopes, with Tyson’s influence and backing, to “rope in some investors and even potential buyers,” ministry spokesman Gracian Lungu told the AFP news agency.
The government of Malawi has already licensed 72 companies, both local and international, to grow and produce cannabis in the country, according to the chairman of Malawi’s Cannabis Regulatory Authority, Boniface Kadzamira.
Meanwhile, a locally grown variety of cannabis, Malawi gold, is already renowned by recreational users across the world.
If you’re unsure about a new blend or want to try a new strain, it’s better to opt for a gram or so. This way, you’ll consume the weed quickly, just giving it a try without paying too much for something you might not like.
Those new to buying and smoking marijuana may at first get confused about the weed sizes terminology. Some dispensaries sell marijuana in grams, while others have weed prices denominated for ounces. So, how to determine which amounts of weed you’ll get if you buy, for example, a quarter? What are the weight and dimensions of an eighter?
As the cannabis culture is rich and long-standing, dozens of slang terms emerged to designate this or that quantity of weed you’re buying. Marijuana sales have for a long time been illegal, so dealers and buyers have developed a sophisticated vocabulary to denote different portions without risks of being understood by unwanted people.
Photo by Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Thus, don’t be surprised to hear weird words like “a dime bag,” “an eighter,” or “a zip.” Even though the industry has been legal for some time now, the culture of calling weed portions the old-school way is still alive. Knowing the terms will save you the trouble of confusing things or overpaying for weed. We’re here to clear all the weed measurements intricacies to help you out.
How Much is a Gram of Weed?
The minimum with which you can start is a gram of weed. As a rule, it’s the smallest size dispensaries can sell, and users acquire such quantity for a test of a new strain or quick, one-time use.
How much is a gram of weed? There is nothing complicated here – a gram equals 1g in standard weight measurements units, so you’ll hardly be mistaken.
The word “dime” is often used to denote 10, so a gram of weed bag is often called a “dime bag.” The dime bag of weed name comes from the portion’s price, which most users can acquire for around $10. Thus, if you need to buy only one gram, you can use the terms “gram,” “dime bag of weed,” and “dub.”
How Much is a Dub of Weed?
As the term suggests, a dub is a 20g bag of weed, also known as a dub-sack. All over the world, whenever you travel, you can always count on a dub-sack to contain 2g of marijuana.
Gram of Weed Slang Terms
A gram of weed has the following slang terms:
dime
dime bag
dub bag
dub sack
20-sack
sawbuck
How Much Is an Ounce of Weed?
An ounce of weed takes you to the world of bulk buyers, allowing you to enjoy a lower price and a substantial quantity of cannabis for smoking at your pleasure and convenience. It’s also the legal maximum for a one-time purchase, even in states with legalized marijuana.
The cost of one ounce ranges from $190 to $350 across the USA, and a decision to buy this weed measurements unit is usually wise for regular smokers. In this way, they don’t need to bother returning to the dispensary, again and again, having sufficient stock of weed in their homes for regular use whenever they please. However, it’s key to stay disciplined, as having so much weed at your fingertips may often only mean that you’ll smoke it more often than usual.
How Many Grams in an Ounce of Weed?
How many grams in an oz of weed? An ounce contains 28 grams of weed, which is usually enough for 2-3 weeks and even up to one month for disciplined smokers.
How Much is a Zip?
A zip of weed is precisely one ounce. This portion of weed acquired this name because it fits a sandwich zip bag ideally. Many dealers used to store ounces of weed in these bags, so getting an ounce is still equated to buying a “zip bag.”
Ounce of Weed Slang Terms
An ounce of weed has the following slang terms:
O
zip bag
zip
O zone
lid
How Much is a Half Ounce of Weed?
A half ounce of weed also equals two quarters. This amount of weed is also considered a bulk purchase, allowing you not to worry about stock replenishments for a couple of weeks (for those who smoke one joint per day). Heavier smokers usually use half an ounce for one week.
The cost of a half of weed varies from $110 to $180 in different states. Those who consume 2-3 joints a day won’t have it last longer than one week, but those having only one can extend the portion for several weeks of regular use.
How Many Grams in a Half Ounce of Weed?
How many grams in a half oz of weed? If an ounce is 28 grams, then a half of weed is precisely 14 grams in weight.
How Much is a Half a Zip of Weed?
A zip is another term for an ounce, so half a zip of weed is exactly half an ounce of weed.
Half Ounce of Weed Slang Terms
A half of weed has the following slang terms:
half-O
half an O
half a zip
How Much is a Quarter of Weed?
When we’re talking about a quarter of weed, we always mean the quarter pound of weed. Thus, to determine the right weight, you need to divide the ounce (28g) by four. The resulting weight is 7 grams, which is enough for a couple of days for a non-heavy smoker.
As a rule, you will need to pay from $70 to $100 for this amount of marijuana. People who don’t smoke marijuana too often can extend the quantity for over one week. However, this weed amount gives the owner relative freedom of consumption, as it’s quite enough to have a good time smoking for several days without concerns about the need to go to the dispensary again.
How Many Grams in a Quarter of Weed?
How many grams is a quarter pound of weed? This portion is one-fourth of 28 grams, which results in a weight of 7 grams.
How Many Ounces in a Quarter of Weed?
The ounce is a larger weed measurements size than a quarter, so there is only one fourth of an ounce in the quarter.
Quarter of Weed Slang Terms
A quarter of weed has the following slang terms:
quarter
q
7 grams
How Much is an Eighth of Weed?
An eighth of weed is a portion twice smaller than the quarter, and as its name suggests, it equals one-eighth of an ounce. The 8th of weed typically costs around $35-50, while high-demand markets (e.g., California) pose even higher prices. Whenever you buy an eighter, you should be ready to have 12-15 bongs with it (which is a fair amount of weed for around one week) or roll 4-5 joints.
How Many Grams in an 8th of Weed?
As this portion equals one-eighth of the size of one ounce, its weight can be identified by dividing 28 by 8, which is 3.5 grams. Those who want to have it all precise and right should refer to the weight of 3.543 grams. If you want to understand how much this portion weighs, try a penny coin in your hand. It’s around 3-3.5 grams in weight.
How much is an 8th of weed in grams? The weight is 3.5 grams, though the precis estimates differ from 3 to 3.5 grams in various locations.
How Many Ounces in an Eighth of Weed?
An ounce is a larger measurement of weed unit, so there is no full ounce in an eighth. An eighth of weed contains one-eighth part of an ounce, which is 3.5 grams.
Small portions are always the most expensive, so if you know the weed well and want to consume more of it, it’s better to get a larger portion at once, saving on the bulk purchase.
Please keep in mind that buying anything larger than an ounce is prohibited by the law, even in those states where marijuana is legalized. Thus, if you’re trying to get an ounce for yourself, you can only get some problems with law enforcement officers (unless you’re a dispensary owner or a licensed, official distributor).
Another tip is to use digital scales for weed measurements of your home-grown or purchased weed. Digital scales are much more precise than usual scales, which is an essential matter in weighing such a costly product as cannabis.
Finally, keep in mind that a major portion of weed weight is determined by moisture. So, the older your weed is, the lighter it gets because of drying out.
Conclusion
Now that you have all information about marijuana weights and portion sizes, you’ll be much better positioned to buy the right quantity for your needs and budget. If you’re unsure about a new blend or want to try a new strain, it’s better to opt for a gram or so. In this way, you’ll consume the weed quickly, just giving it a try without paying too much for something you might not like.
Bloodshot eyes are a good and age old indicator that someone is high.
One of the most distinguishing aspects of a marijuana high is those glaringly red eyes. Despite putting on perfume, washing your hands, and acting your heart out to look as normal and sober as possible, red eyes can easily break your cover. Fortunately, they are temporary and painless — they just make you look high as hell. Here is why red eyes happens when you smoke weed.
Surprisingly, weed eyes have very little to do with the act of smoking, even if that’s what we usually associate them with. Weed eyes occur not only when you smoke weed; they occur when vaping and even with edibles, when there are no irritants like fire or smoke to contend with. This physical reaction occurs when your blood pressure drops and your heart rate increases, which is all due to the THC in your system.
Photo by dadgrass via Pixabay
When your blood pressure drops, your blood vessels and capillaries dilate, including the ones in your eyes. This dilation increases blood flow, turning your eyes red and reducing intraocular pressure. Because of this, some experts believe marijuana could be a viable treatment for glaucoma.
So, knowing that it’s all about blood pressure, will your eyes turn red regardless of consumption method? The answer depends on the potency and amount of THC consumed and of your individual sensitivities. For example, some people are more sensitive to smoke and therefore joints can make their eyes redder. There are also people who could be allergic to smoke or even to cannabis, experiencing these kinds of symptoms with more frequency.
Photo by Andrea Dibitonto via Unsplash
Bloodshot eyes depend on lots of factors, and they’re a bit difficult to prevent. If you’d like to avoid them, sticking to strains with lower THC content might be the right call. If your eyes get bloodshot, you can try having some water, using eye drops, and waiting an hour or two for the effects to pass.
Logic indicates that the redder your eyes, the more your blood pressure drops, and the more potent the THC. In other words, bright red eyes are usually a pretty good indicator of someone who is super high. While the smell may be masked and the user might be a seasoned cannabis consumer who knows how to handle a high, the eyes don’t lie.
Want some educational engagement over the holidays? Look no further than these weed documentaries that exhibit the bigger picture of the complicated relationship between the U.S. and cannabis.
Part of the process of becoming a conscious stoner is to be aware of how the 2010s were a decade of enormous victories for the free marijuana movement worldwide. This is especially true in the U.S., the biggest sponsor of the War on Drugs in the 20th century. To understand this victory, we must understand the social cost it took to get us where we are now, even though the fight isn’t over. Here are the best weed documentaries to stream!
These 10 show the bigger picture of the complicated relationship between the U.S. and cannabis. Every aspect of the impacts of marijuana on social life is approached in these documentaries.
Photo by JESHOOTS.com via Pexels
1. Grass Is Greener (2019)
Year: 2019
Duration: 1h 37min
IMDb: 7.1/10
Director: Fab 5 Freddie
Stars: B-Real, Steven Hager, Damian Marley, Snoop Dogg
Available on Netflix, Grass is Greener is a masterpiece directed by Fab 5 Freddy, about the origins of marijuana in the U.S. and the contradictions developed from there. It reveals the American history of cannabis through legends like Bob Marley, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Snoop Dogg, and many others. It’s a celebration of the greatness of marijuana’s legacy to jazz, hip hop, and World music. Put your headphones on because music is a critical element of this documentary.
The film also examines the war on drugs. Marijuana’s prohibition was a critical component in the oppression of people of color, women, and anti-war movements throughout the 20th century. It reveals the injustices made under the name of prohibition until today and how ‘reefer madness’ took the U.S. by storm.
2. Rolling Papers (2015)
Year: 2015
Duration: 1h 19 min
IMDb – 6.2/10
Director: Mitch Dickman
Stars: Whoopi Goldberg (archive), Ricardo Baca, Ryan Clendenin
Directed by Mitch Dickman, Rolling Papers covers The Denver Post and their innovative stance of creating a cannabis journalism section under the leadership of Ricardo Baca. This documentary reveals how a shrinking journalism economic niche is turning its fortunes around with the force of the free marijuana movement. This documentary explores the journalists’ personal life, reflecting on polarized themes such as parenting and cannabis, and the lingering preconceptions about the war on drugs. So get your Netflix account ready because Rolling Papers is a must-watch, and not only to cannabis enthusiasts. It shows the myriad opportunities for cannabis businesses. Also, enjoy the brilliantly edited cut scenes of marijuana strains.
3. Weed the People (2018)
Year: 2018
Duration: 1h 34 min
IMDb – 7.1/10
Director: Abby Epstein
Stars: Amanda Reiman, Donald Abrams, Bonni Goldstein
Winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary in 2018’s Nashville Film Festival, Weed the People is a heartfelt documentary available on Netflix about American families and cannabis.
Directed by Abby Epstein, Weed the People looks at cancer patients and their families’ fight against former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and anti-marijuana legislation. The film examines American’s prohibitionist scientific tendencies in the war on drugs and the more advanced international studies on cannabis and cancer research.
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay
4. The Culture High (2015)
Year: 2015
Duration: 2h
IMDb – 8.2/10
Director: Brett Harvey
Stars: Joe Rogan, Snoop Dogg, Ronald Reagan (archive)
The Culture High is a spectacular documentary directed by Brett Harvey in 2014. The film won Best Documentary at the 2015 AMPIA Awards and multiple award nominations at international film festivals.
Available on Vimeo, The Culture High tackles the disinformation and hypocritical prohibitionist discourse that was mass advertised in the 20th century. The documentary demystifies the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia, addiction, lung damage, existential angst, and other aspects of human sociability.
Vice takes the steering wheel with the 2013 short documentary High Country: The Future of Weed. It took place after decades of discrimination and negation of marijuana’s value to the people when many U.S. states started a legalization process of marijuana that contemplated recreational use. Vice Motherboard arrives in Colorado, the first regulated, taxed, and legal cannabis market, to investigate the booming growth of cannabis-related businesses.
Available on YouTube, the documentary features professional cannabis growers and details a cultivation model that doesn’t waste any of the plants during the production processes, utilizing everything from the leaves to the flowers without any loss of cannabis value.
Then, it focuses on the booming cannabis tech market, the numerous ways that cannabis can be worked on from seed to consumption, and the jobs it can create. This documentary will convince you that there is no telling how far the cannabis industry can go.
6. WEED: A CNN Special Report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta (2013)
“WEED – A CNN Special Report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta” is a full-length documentary series aired by CNN in 2013. It reflects the change of perception in the U.S. media about marijuana. The series portrays the war on drugs propaganda as a general misconception developed by the first Drug Czar in the U.S., the former Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry J. Anslinger. It theorizes that Anslinger opportunistically turned marijuana into the #1 Public Enemy to gain political capital and increase his department’s budget.
CNN takes a surprising and progressive approach regarding cannabis. Available on multiple sources on the web, it critiques the poor handling of U.S. marijuana policies throughout the decades.
7. Weediquette (2016)
Year: 2016
Duration: 3 seasons
IMDb – 8.1/10
Director: VICE media
Stars: Krishna Andavolu, Jason Cranford, Catherine Lewis
Weediquette is an unfinished Viceland TV documentary series starring Krishna Andavolu and his quest to discover the fortune of science, culture, medicine, and economics that the cannabis boom provides.
The project is not officially over, but altogether, Viceland and Krishna released 24 episodes in 2016 and 2017, touching many social aspects impacted by cannabis and the war on drugs. The topics are varied, and it approaches myths and facts about war veteran’s use of cannabis to treat PTSD, autism treatment, driving under the influence of marijuana, deportation, parenting and many more controversial topics.
Weediquette serves as an ode to marijuana and its applications and has almost an encyclopedic value to the cannabis world given the high quality of information, state-of-the-art video editing and writing.
8. Grass
Year: 1999
Duration: 1h 07min
IMDb: 7.2/10
Director: Ron Mann
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Harry J. Anslinger, George Bush
Awards: Genie Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary
This documentary explores the history of marijuana in the US throughout the 20th century, giving us valuable insight into what made America so fearful of marijuana and how that fear impacted society and the economy. The film tackles critical issues such as xenophobia against Mexican immigrants, who have been associated with marijuana use for decades, federal laws and strict penalties, social stigma, and the consequences of recreational cannabis use.
This documentary is 22 years old now, and many things have changed, including the perception of marijuana in modern American society. Still, many issues described in this film remain relevant to this day. The main reason behind a negative attitude towards weed is propaganda, old and rusty movies such as Tell Your Children (1936) that describe weed as a drug that provokes murderous tendencies and a gateway drug that leads to severe addictions. Grass dismantles those myths and gives us a retrospective view of society’s attitude towards marijuana. More than 20 years later, we have a slightly different picture in front of us, so we can look even deeper into the past and see what has changed and where we are headed.
Well, this is something you don’t see every day: a group of nuns comes up with an idea to grow their own weed and sell it to people in California Valley. The documentary describes how Sister Kate, a business-savvy woman from California, came up with the idea of helping people in pain by giving them a natural and healthy remedy – cannabis. Sister Kate formed a group of activists and decided to sell weed in the area. The film describes her struggles with the local anti-weed activists and the positive and negative sides of the business.
This documentary is narrowly focused on a single group of people who happen to sell marijuana in California, almost as if the movie was advertising their product. Well, let’s be real here, the film is a giant commercial for the Sisters of the Valley, and at times, it feels like a drama show. Did you see the Tiger King? Well, dial it down a lot, change the tigers for weed and gun-toting rednecks for weed-selling nuns, and you’ll get the general idea of what is going on there. Some scandals, some shooting, some police raids – it feels fun and entertaining. Though the documentary is not that insightful or revealing as you might want it to be, it still is a fun plot.
A NORML Life is a documentary from 2011 that illustrates the situation with cannabis legalization in the US at the time of release. The movie is based on numerous interviews with people involved with cannabis in one way or another – doctors, growers, users, scientists, and so on. All of these people talk about the positive effects of marijuana. The evidence is overwhelming; from the personal accounts to the actual scientific data, everything points at the simple fact – marijuana can produce a hugely positive impact on people’s health and has almost no side effects when consumed moderately.
The movie is a bit outdated, considering how the situation has changed over the past decade. However, it still offers a great deal of information and brings valuable ideas to the viewer’s mind. Once again, we have a chance to get a retrospective view of weed in our society and have a more complete picture of the direction we are moving in.
Fortunately, things have changed for the better over the past decade in terms of weed legalization, and this documentary lets us see how we’ve grown since then. It is a highly informative documentary that can give you a more profound understanding of how weed works and how it can benefit us personally and socially.
Now marketed as “The Original Buzz” and available at both recreational and medical dispensaries in Colorado, Space Food Sticks will soon be going nationwide in legal states.
Space Food Sticks, the tasty cylindrical protein snacks that captured the public imagination in the 1970s, are back with an out-of-this-world twist: THC.
The release of infused Space Food Sticks represents the first time a classic American brand has entered the booming recreational cannabis edibles market.
Photo courtesy of The Vivid Team/Facebook
Fifty years ago, Pillsbury created Space Food Sticks for Apollo 11 astronauts to be eaten with their helmets on. A commercial spin-off was billed as the world’s first “Astro-Snack” and it became a lunchbox favorite, developing a cult following before disappearing from grocery store shelves in the 1970s.
The new iteration of Space Food Sticks is a joint venture between The Vivid Team of Denver, Colorado (a company that creates and sells food, beverage, cosmetic and cannabis products), and Retrofuture Products, a Brooklyn-based specialty-foods company. They are relaunching legacy brands in the emerging cannabis edibles market.
“I was looking to bring back an iconic snack from the space age,” said Eric Lefcowitz owner of Retrofuture Products in a press release. “Space Food Sticks have a truly unique history.”
The Brooklyn entrepreneur marketed a non-psychoactive version of the chewy treats before pivoting into the uncharted territory of cannabis branding.
“Very few brands in cannabis have established themselves as trustworthy. And we have a track record of being trustworthy with decades of experience developing mainstream CPGs. So we leaped at the chance to apply that to Space Food Sticks,” added Steffen Weck, co-president along with Jessica Cristadoro of the Vivid Team.
“We are fielding calls from all over the country. That’s a result of brand equity as well as a growing public interest in a healthier alternative in edibles and we provide that,” explained Cristadoro.
Now marketed as “The Original Buzz” and available at both recreational and medical dispensaries in Colorado, Space Food Sticks will soon be going nationwide in legal states.
Interest in all things space has surged thanks to Elon Musk’s Space X, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Horizons and Richard Branson’s Virgin Intergalactic. “We hope they’ll get served as inflight snacks,” Lefcowitz concluded.
If you decide to change your smoking methods because you feel you’re not high enough, you might not experience any difference if you do not confirm the quality of your product.
Do you ever ask yourself if you’re smoking weed the right way? Or do you have a favorite way of smoking pot but you have that nagging feeling that you’re not doing it the right way? It’s not just you. Everyone cannot have the same ‘best’ way of smoking cannabis. Your best high may not be the same as mine.
The goal of many recreational marijuana users is to get high the best way possible, and when high, they aim to get the highest. The more they find themselves rolling or inhaling smoke from their delivery devices, the more doubt they’ll have.
Photo by Artem Xromov via Unsplash
What some fail to understand is that the quality of a high is not only dependent on the smoking method. The THC content of the buds also plays a huge role. You can practice smoking your weed the way fellow stoners prescribed and still wouldn’t get that satisfying high because you’re smoking something lesser. To satisfy customers, different companies make ads that allege that their new products are the next best delivery methods for smoking pot.
Experimenting To Discover Your Best Method Of Smoking Weed
The best way to go about the mighty task of figuring out what’s best for you is to experiment. There are many ways to smoke pot and you only have to try out some to discover which method gives you the kick you desire so much. A few dollars is all you need to purchase some weed and visit a cannabis bar to try out the delivery equipment. If you can afford to buy the equipment instead of renting at these consumption spaces, it would also work.
As I mentioned earlier, nothing about cannabis (or even the world) generally works the same way for everyone. The same hit won’t deliver the same intensity in everyone that uses it.
Measuring THC
The highest THC recorded for a concentrated marijuana or cannabis plant is roughly capped at 30%. Weed with this THC content is considered to be a sky-high level. Although it is tempting, not everyone can handle the high. By experimenting, you get to figure out how much THC you enjoy ingesting. It opens the door to new experiences that you can try out in creative ways that are guaranteed to give you fun.
THC levels are measured in mg and percentage. Percentage lets you know how much THC is contained in the bud, while mg lets you know how much THC is contained in extracts and concentrates. A milligram is a form of measurement that pays attention to the weight of the product. There’s a lot of maths involved in this, and I have no intention to bore you in the slightest.
Let’s focus more on smoking good weed and the best methods to get the most out of each drag, shall we?
Smoking Weed
Critics often claim that Stoners miss out on a lot of highs when they smoke a blunt. But remember, what works for Jack, may not work for John. Before smoking, there’s this exciting thrill and nostalgia that comes along with grinding a premium bud and then rolling the joints, or packing a bowl. Not to mention the fun that comes along with passing the smoke when amid buddies.
Here are some smoking methods and the level of highness expected:
Photo by gradyreese/Getty Images
Joints
Depending on the content of THC in the rolled buds in the joint, you can expect to receive about 35% of the flower’s total THC. The missing THC accounts for losses due to pyrolytic destruction and side-stream smoke.
Pyrolysis is what happens when a bud is too hot from being inflamed, some of the available cannabinoids are destroyed by the extreme temperature. Some THC is also lost when you pause dragging. You could also expect the level of expected high to reduce when you share your joint with another person.
Packing A Bowl
When bowls are smoked, pyrolytic destruction also occurs. This is because you are holding an open torch to the packed buds throughout the session. You receive about 40% of THC. The more it takes for you to smoke all, the less THC that will be received into the body. Side-streaming can also result in THC losses.
Hash Bowls
This is similar to smoking a bowl. Hash can more or less be likened to processed and pressed kief. The distinction is that hash is produced from the trichomes of the plant (not the buds). Trichomes possess twice the amount of THC contained in the plant and are twice as potent as the regular buds processed into pre-rolls. As expected, at least 50% of the THC is lost to pyrolysis and sidestream. Regardless of this, it can be considered as smoking concentrates.
Photo by martin-dm/Getty Images
Vaporizers
Expert stoners consider vaporizers to be the most accurate form of smoking pot. Note that vaporizers are not the same as regular oil vapes. These use a more controlled heating source to bring the weed to the right temperature that would conserve THC and prevent too much loss. Unlike the other methods of smoking, vaporizers have a lesser THC loss. This falls between 25-30%.
All smoking methods will inevitably cause a loss in available THC content, but for vaporizers, loss only occurs at the endpoint when the buds begin to dry and burn.
Bongs
These devices will give you a cool and smooth smoke. About 50% of the THC will be lost regardless. Due to its heating source, THC loss occurs at temperatures above 390°F. At this temperature, the THC is released and damaged.
Conclusion
There’s no standard method for getting high. You can only experiment to get your preferred technique. Blunts, bowls, joints, hash, and bongs are cost-effective methods that can be shared among buddies, while vaporizers are reliable devices that help you preserve your THC. Another thing you must do is to find a reputable distributor. This way you’re assured that all your products are of premium quality.
If you decide to change your smoking methods because you feel you’re not high enough, you might not experience any difference if you do not confirm the quality of your product.
This article was created in partnership with Cannabis.net
