The frantic pace of the holidays can be tough for the mind and body – maybe CBD can help
While the holiday season is filled with excitement and fun, it can be a hard on the mind and body.Holiday fare is typically very high in calories. While pleasing to the palate, these foods can slow down digestion, reflux, bloating and other tummy issues. Everyone, at some points gets a bit stressed with the additional to-do list.
Recover from Holiday Mania
One’s mind can easily go into on overdrive from too much holiday frenzy. CBD can have a calming effect allowing one to turn one’s mind off and get adequate sleep. Along those lines, CBD can be a very effective tool in helping one stay focused while engaging in relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or exercise.
Photo by Matthew Henry via Burst
Survive the Rigors of Holiday Travel
For those traveling over the holidays, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help combat the mood swings, headaches, and stiff muscles often accompany the stress of travel especially if one is traveling for more than a few hours at a stretch.
A CBD-infused topical can help keep one’s skin and subtle thus making one appear to be relaxed. As CBD is an antioxidant, it can help combat the free radicals which can produce visible signs of aging. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can help reduce skin redness and irritation often caused during the winter months.
Photo by JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
Stay Social and Sober
When attending holiday events, CBD can be invaluable in helping one stay calm with attending stressful holiday parties. Also, adding CBD to an alcoholic drink or consuming a CBD-infused beverage in lieu of a cocktail can prevent one from consuming too much alcohol. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest consuming CBD with alcohol can reduce hangovers.
CBD can help with the stressors from consuming too much holiday fatty foods. Along those lines, CBD works as a digestive aid by helping control IBS symptoms, as well as helping reduce holiday weight gain by regulating insulin levels and converting fat.
Photo by Sofie Delauw/Getty Images
Reduce Headaches
The anti-inflammatory properties present in CBD can help one deal with any headaches caused from too much stress.
A CBD tincture taken sublingually or a CBD-infused drink will enter the bloodstream the quickest for those looking for more immediate relief. When consuming edibles, be mindful of the sugar content of a given CBD product so one does not get a sugar high which will only add to one’s stress. Topicals can also provide immediate relief, and are particularly helpful for introducing CBD into an anti-stress regime for those wary of trying any CBD product.
It is the festive time of year – but you can overdo pumpkin spice….we got you
It seems a lot of people hate the drink and yet it remains seriously popular. But sometimes you need break, so here are 5 fall drinks to replace the pumpkin spice latte. Over two decades, Starbucks has sold hundreds of millions of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and the beverage has become Starbucks most popular seasonal beverage of all time. It has inspired a variety of pumpkin spice products in the marketplace, including cereal, dish soap and scented candles. There is now pumpkin spice weed and alcohol. The craze continues.
The flavor of pumpkin is amazing. It signals the beginning of the holiday season, but you can quickly grow tired of it when all the restaurants and coffee houses in your vicinity are adding a little pumpkin flavoring to their coffees and desserts. As an alternative, there are drinks which will also make you want to curl up on your couch with a fluffy blanket.
Hot Butterbeer Latte
Butterbeer inspired hundreds of people from all over the world when it first appeared on the Harry Potter books, because the name just sounds delicious. Luckily, tons of people have been playing with the idea of the drink, with Starbucks even selling a version of it during the fall season. Their recipe contains milk, caramel syrup, toffee nut syrup, cinnamon dolce syrup, whipped cream, and a shot of espresso. There are also lots of recipes like this one circling the internet.
Plenty of coffee houses and tea shops sell chai lattes, a drink that is warm and contains plenty of spice that fits neatly with the Fall season. Starbucks’ Chai Tea Latte is a yearlong favorite of theirs.
Spiced Latte
Spiced lattes are perfect for people who love spice but have a low tolerance for pumpkin. This drink varies depending on the store that sells it, but it generally contains ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and other delicious spices. It’s can also be prepared at home with simple ingredients.
Dunkin Donuts’ Maple Pecan Coffee was first introduced on 2017 for the store’s special Fall menu. Taking a different approach to flavors inspired by Fall, this drink became a quick favorite, making other coffee houses introduce their own versions of the drink.
Homemade PSL
One of the drawbacks of Pumpkin Spice Lattes is the fact that they contain lots of sugar and empty calories. While you could order the drink with a whole milk substitute, you could also prepare it at home, controlling how much sugar and syrups are added in.
By the time dessert rolls around, most of us are simply too full to be rowdy, and we need something big and bold to cut through the buttery crust of our final indulgences.
As everyone sets down for their feast of choice on Thanksgiving – the right drink only makes it all the better. For some it is water or tea, others a good wine, but to bring out some nuance, whiskey could be the perfect partner at the end of the meal. Like a tango, whiskey adds and uplifts the flavors of desserts.
Artful pairing of whiskey with savory foods is certainly possible, but it can be challenging, Higher-proof than beer and wine, whiskey can mask or overpower delicate flavors, and having more than one or two glasses of whiskey over the course of dinner might spell disaster, especially if this year’s conversation turns to politics.
But by the time dessert rolls around, most of us are simply too full to be rowdy, and we need something big and bold to cut through the buttery crust of our final indulgences. Here are the whiskey and pie pairings I’ll be reaching for this year:
Wild Turkey Rare Breed | Pumpkin Pie
Bourbon is a natural match with the spicy, rich flavor of pumpkin pie, and Wild Turkey Rare Breedhas the spice and high proof to stand up to the toasty flavor of a well-browned crust. Both also exemplify the best of New World culinary traditions, making this pairing satisfying from a gustatory and intellectual perspective.
Lock Stock & Barrel Rye | Pecan Pie
Lock Stock & Barrel is a big, spicy rye with an incredible punch of flavor – just the right companion for that heady concoction of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates that is pecan pie. All that spice cuts through the sweet heaviness of the pie, while dark herbal flavors in the whiskey accentuate the nutty flavor of the pecans.
Apple pie might be quintessentially American, but it sure pairs well with this import. Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or spends 12 years maturing in casks that once held Sauternes, a French dessert wine made from botrytis-infected grapes. Honeyed and delicate, it’s the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and an underlying freshness, just like apple pie.
Lagavulin 16 | Chocolate Pie
Ah, the dessert of champions. Lagavulin’s rich malty body, sweet flavor, and pungent peat smoke pair beautifully with the flavor of high-quality dark chocolate. Instead of clashing, Lagavulin 16’smarine smoke accentuates the earthy flavors of chocolate just like a few grains of sea salt, and dark chocolate’s slightly bitter note makes Lagavulin taste sweeter and more refined than ever before.
It’s the time of year where people gather together and enjoy each other’s company, good food and hopefully something delicious to wash it all down. While wine is the general go to for dinner parties, beer, vodka, and bubbles are also in the mix. But what about great whiskeys for a Friendsgiving. Some pair well with the flavors of meats and vegetables and adds an earthiness to the palate.
Here are time-tested, proven suggestions for crowd-pleasing whiskeys to plunk down on the table after the plates are cleared and before the babysitters need to be relieved.
Oban 14-Year-Old
Oban 14-Year-Old is quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite all-purpose single malts. It’s the best of both worlds. It has high-toned peat and opulent, vanilla-soaked oak. It’s rich yet nuanced, sweet yet smoky, and interesting without being in the least bit challenging. It also pairs beautifully with chocolate.
George Dickel Barrel Select
This small batch release from George Dickel is aged between 10 and 12 years, right in the sweet spot for American whiskey. Balanced, mellow, and with signature George Dickel minerality, this is a lovely bottle to share with friends who might not know just how delicious Dickel can be.
Hibiki Whiskey
Noted Chef Justin Khanna encourages to people to mix it up with this Japanese whiskey. The House of Suntory a this delicate balance of several malt and grain whiskies is meticulously crafted goodness which pairs without overwhelmed savory flavors.
Basil Hayden’s
Everybody loves bourbon, but not everybody loves the 120+ proof cask strength stuff that’s so popular these days. Basil Hayden’s is a gentler whiskey from Jim Beam and still manages to hang on to all those fruity, spicy characteristics which make American whiskey so enjoyable. Plus, it comes wearing a fun little paper vest.
Redbreast 12-Year-Old
Most cringe from the word “smooth” used to describe whiskey—what does such a thing mean? Has anybody ever tasted a gritty whiskey?—but once in a while, the adjective does come to mind. Redbreast 12-Year-Old is silky, sweet, supple, and downright seductive, a seamless homage to the mellow flavors of malted barley and integrated oak. Don’t call it “smooth,” but your guests almost certainly will.
Have a great holiday season and venture out with some great whiskeys for Friendsgiving.
The holiday season is on us and airports, highways and train stations will be packed. Here are some tips for holiday travel with weed
It has been reported 55.4 Million Americans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday. This forecast is a 2.3% increase over last year, the third highest since 2000, so be ready for crowds. Whether near or far, you might want to bring some “treats” to use while away from home, TSA frowns on it, but here are some tips for holiday travel with weed.
If you plan to use while traveling, which we caution, here are a few suggestions. One, forgot flower and vapes, too smelly, too noticeable and too annoying to those who can make traveling difficult. Gummies are the easiest and least noticeable, especially since airports sell tons of regular candy. Don’t overindulge, you don’t want to be the subject of some’s viral video or be stopped by TSA, security of the Highway Patrol.
Now about bringing treats with you on your trip.
By Air
Photo by Ali Abdul Rahman via Unsplash
Wouldn’t it be great to not have to worry about weed when traveling? Sadly, we’re not there yet, far from it, in fact. While some airports are fine with it, others are not. For example, Denver’s airport, which is located in the very legal state of Colorado, forbids cannabis.
As for the Travel Security Administration (TSA), their stance is pretty clear. Since marijuana is federally illegal, passengers will be stopped if they have cannabis on them. Still, it helps to know your rights; don’t interact with police officers unless you have to and, if detained or arrested, let them know you don’t consent to a search and you want a lawyer.
Still, if you’re traveling with a vape pen or some edibles, it’s very unlikely you’ll be stopped. When it comes to flower, especially if it’s large amounts, we’d advise to store your well earned weed in a mason jar and to hide it away from sunlight in some cabinet in your apartment, waiting for you upon your return. If you’re going home for the holidays, use some of your old contacts for weed, or mooch off of some cousin.
By Land
Photo by Alex Jumper via Unsplash
The rules of traveling by land are similar to those on air; while the states where you’re traveling to and from may be legal, the drug remains illegal on a federal level, making matters complicated.
While there are penalties for traveling with weed, especially if you have large amounts of it, officers are not actively on the lookout for them. This means that if you are driving consciously you likely won’t have trouble mobilizing your weed. Make sure you store your weed in an airtight container or that you prioritize edibles and vapes, since these are more discreet and less likely to be spotted. And make sure you don’t embibe and drive.
If you have a medical marijuana card, you might face less hurdles. Still, it’s not a clear path. Be sure to have your doctor’s certificate, your marijuana medical ID card, and your physician’s number. Ideally, you’d be traveling to a state with medical marijuana reciprocity. Make sure you have the smallest amount possible on you, keeping your weed stored in a convenient place.
However you do it, have a great time with your friends and remember it is all about being together with those you chose this Thanksgiving
It has been all the rage since the early 2000s and a chance to spend tend to the choose close people over family. Friendsgiving is a blend of friends and Thanksgiving, and it refers the large meal eaten with friends either on or near Thanksgiving. It is a thing and people are serious how-tos, sample menus, new traditions, and games. So how to add weed to your Friendsgiving celebration?
Unlike the family events that require you to “forget something in your car” with your favorite cousin, at Friendsgiving (in states where cannabis is recreationally legal), you can celebrate freely with your friends. Here are some tips.
Infuse Your Feast
Introducing weed to your meal is easy, since so much of the flavor (and THC) is fat-soluble, the butter-heavy meal is a great way to infuse cannabis if you want a group experience.
While infused butter is an easy go-to for guests to make any dish 420 friendly, you might want to consider exempting main courses due to people overindulging. You can do a smaller version so people can do a taste test.
Photo by Jessie Moore
The easiest option is the dessert course. There are tips to avoid the weed taste and using cannabutter as a small spread could work OR you can make a small apple, pumpkin or chocolate pie with a bit of cannabis oil as an added treat.
And if you don’t want to put cannabis in the meal or are concerned of overdosage, you can have and share some marijuana gummies. They are the most popular used weed and you can manage it throughout the day.
Photo by Hans via Pixabay
Cooking Tips to Keep You Sane
Chef Justin Khanna has worked in some of the top restaurants in the world and now advises food-tech startups, hosts pop-up dinners and publishes educational content. Here he offers some basic tips for your feast:
Don’t get overwhelmed. Making a prep list is the easiest way to avoid feeling scattered. Think about it: this is probably one of the biggest meals of your year, you should treat it differently than a standard dinner party with friends! Making a quick checklist of the dishes you’re preparing can help make sure components don’t go missing and also give you a great sense of how to answer when your guests come over and ask, “what can I help with?”
Don’t go it alone. Speaking of asking for help, this ends up being a huge win of having your friends be your guests. It’s not about grandma making the entire meal (that was my Thanksgiving tradition), so spread the load. Ask folks what they’re comfortable making or bringing, and use that opportunity to build out the meal. It’s way easier to know that someone else has the turkey covered, and you can use your oven for other projects throughout the day.
Don’t forget snacks. Let’s face it, your guests are going to arrive hungry. This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, but offering some nibbles on arrival can be a phenomenal way to give yourself “buffer time” on serving the big meal. Considering folks probably want to catch up (or get to know one another on a first meet), offer up a charcuterie or butter board, crudités and dips, or even a baked cheese appetizer as a way to let everyone settle in without getting hangry.
However you do it, have a great time with your friends and remember it is all about being together with those you chose this Thanksgiving.
He is all over social media making people life and scratch their heads, but does Matt Rife consumer marijuana?
For those who are on social media or who love comedy, you have probably heard of Matt Rife. He is a wildly successful comedian on TikTok, where he has amassed more than 18 million followers. On Instagram he has 6 million and his live performances are popular. Currently he is sharing his struggles as being “hot” and a comedian, he says it makes it extra hard. So you wonder with all the pressure of being at “it” boy, does Matt Rife use weed.
From Ohio, Rife first took an interest in comedy at 14 years old when a teacher encouraged him to be in a high talent show. He did the show, and then started performing professionally a year later at just 15. He has been doing well since.
As a comedian, Rife is best known for his self-produced comedy specials: Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023) and Walking Red Flag (2023), as well as his appearance on Bring the Funny in 2019. He has had guest roles on the sketch comedy and improv game show series Wild ‘n Out, and comedy television series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Fresh Off the Boat.
The question really isn’t does Rife use weed, but how much! He is know for working his weed use in his comedy acts, including consuming on stage. The 28 year old has made a brand out of being handsome, stoned and funny. During one show, a guy from Texas, who may have had al little alcohol, ends up partaking with Rife who during the show. Check it out HERE.
Early on Rife shares about his marijuana life…
Rife gives a light-hearted touch to his cannabis use and helps make it mainstream – it the way Dean Martin made normalized martinis and drinking.
The holiday season is a time of indulgence, but sometimes you may go a bit far. Here is a way to come down if you went a wee to far
Indulgence seems to be the key word of the holiday season. Grand meals, gifts galore, egg nog, candies, social occasions, family all combine to a faster than usual pace. And for a number, they indulge in alcohol and marijuana. While an alcohol high is one thing, a marijuana can be treated, here are quick ways to come down if too high during the holidays.
Here is a solution in case things go sideways since no one enjoys being super high and having relatives asking them about their job prospects or the people they’re dating.
Photos by: Wesley Gibbs via Unsplash; Element5 Digital via Unsplash
Have some water
It may seem basic, but water is very important when it comes to managing a really intense high, especially if you’re the kind of person who gets cottonmouth. Drink something cold and preferably non-alcoholic or caffeinated to keep you from getting more intoxicated than you already are. And make sure to hold on to that drink. Take periodic sips and get refills, which will help you feel grounded. Snacking on something (not edibles!) might also help.
Go for a walk
If you’re too high and can barely speak, maybe it’s time to go outside. A change of scenery and some fresh air can do wonders for you, and it’s also a great way to prevent people from giving you weird looks. Try to go for your walk with someone you trust and who knows what’s going on with you; you don’t want to get lost in the middle of a Thanksgiving dinner party.
Take a shower
If you can make a quick escape and take a shower, do it. A quick shower can help you relax and distract you from your high.
Doing an activity that requires some focus can also help you feel grounded and more in control of your senses. Try to watch some light TV, play a video game, focus on the delicious food without appearing ravenous, or talking to a friend or relative you trust. If you’re surrounded by family, keep your talking to a minimum, since that’s the best way of not blowing your cover. Stick to basic questions and you should be fine.
Get ready to act
Most people won’t notice a thing if you’re careful, so try to keep your cool and remind yourself that no one knows the depths of your high except for yourself. If you think someone is looking at you weird or asking you too many questions, just chalk it up to marijuana-induced paranoia. The best thing you can do at the moment is stay calm and remind yourself that this is momentary.
From your fridge, to pantry to bathroom cabinet, keeping up with what’s good and what has expired is tough.
The good thing about vodka is it doesn’t expire. But wine and beer can get old, lose flavor and just get plan bad. Nothing is worse than out of date milk, moldy bread and old meats. But does marijuana have an expiration date?
Moldy and/or old weed, when taken, may not lead to damaging health issues, but it can affect you if you have underlying health conditions. If you are 100% healthy, you will observe that it isn’t as potent as when it was still fresh. Older weed also has a different feel, taste, and texture, making it quite unappealing to users. You wouldn’t like such moldy weed hence the reason it is advised that you don’t keep your weed for too long. So how long should you store your weed? And how long does weed stay fresh?
How long does weed stay fresh?
If you store the weed properly, it can remain suitable for six months to 1 year. After this stated period, the dried weed starts to lose its potency and aroma. Works of research suggests that weed loses 16% of THC when it is left for an entire year, and it continually drops from there.
From 16% at one year, it gets to 26% THC lost in two years, and 34% THC lost in three years. If you leave the weed for more than four years, you will lose 41% THC. What’s the purpose of weed without THC? Why would you keep the weed for that long?
In some cases, it is possible that you unintentionally left the weed; maybe you traveled for a long time or forgot that you had weed. Regardless of the reason, you should be intentional with how you use your weed such that if you will not use it within six months, don’t buy it.
How can I tell if my weed is old?
The smell
The first sign that your weed is old is its smell. The weed that has stayed for too long will have a different scent and an entirely different aroma from what you initially bought.
Some weeds may also have a harsh smell and taste, which can be a significant turn-over for anyone. Please pay attention to your weed’s aroma when you first buy it so you can tell the difference between a fresh weed and a thick weed.
The appearance
Next are the weed’s outlook and appearance, which gives you an indication that it is too old. Fresh weed doesn’t crumble or look spongy when you break a part of it: if any of these happens, it is too old. If it seems too dry or even too moist, it has become too old for use.
Feeling sick after consumption
We hope you don’t get to this third sign because it is unpleasant, but it is also a sign of old weed. If you consume old weed, you might feel unwell afterward: the primary symptom will be an upset stomach. If you are unsure how long you’ve left the weed, please don’t consume it to avoid this unpleasant experience.
When searching for molds, you must do it carefully as it is possible to miss the molds. Molds can be hard to see unless you take a more careful and closer look. You will see small, white fuzzy spots on the weed that has a powdery feel when you look closely. Molds also have a musty smell that will remind you of hay.
Now, if your weed is not very old, it is still advisable that you do a mold inspection as sometimes molds appear on weed even when they are not very old. If you consume the molds on weeds, you will experience coughing, vomiting, and nausea.
For those with a weak immune system, inhaling the smoke or vapors of mold-infested weed can cause damaging illness and sometimes death (when it is taken excessively). Generally, if it looks or smells terribly, please toss it (even if it isn’t old).
How can I store my weed properly?
Now we need to learn the correct way to store weed, and there are some things you should know. Oxygen, temperature, humidity, and light affect your cannabis immensely, from its taste to its aroma and even potency.
Therefore to store weed safely without the negative impacts we’ve discussed, you should do the following:
Purchase the right jars
Please don’t use plastic bags to store your weed because they have static that affects the weed’s trichomes. Trichomes are the parts of the plant that produces cannabinoids and terpenes, and without these properties, the weed will lose its potency.
The best storage option for weed is a glass jar: this is airtight, it doesn’t have a static charge, and limits the weed’s exposure to oxygen. Glass jars are also inexpensive and easily accessible for purchase.
If you are unsure about the humidity, please get a humidity pack for the containers you use, one meant for cannabis, and you would get it right.
Keep the weed in a cool, dry, and dark place
Weed should be kept in a cool, dry, and dark place away from sunlight. If you place the weed under sunlight, it will break down, and molds will start to grow on it. Keep it in the dark place like a cabinet at a temperature below 77°F.
Don’t keep it in the freezer
Your weed will become brittle and easily break off if you put it in a refrigerator. The refrigerator also exposes the weed to excess moisture, which leads to molds’ build-up, so avoid refrigerators.
Cannabis is fast becoming a treasured product because of its versatility to us both as a medicinal agent or recreational product. Take care of it like you do other drugs and valuable items in your home by storing it properly. Keep weed in a sealed container, safe from heat, sunlight, and moisture. With these safety tips and strategies, you can have very fresh and potent weed that can last up to a year.
New research utilizing a data-centric approach showed that marijuana significantly reduced the effects of these mental illnesses.
The holiday season for most people is a fun time of the year filled with turkey, celebrations, and family and friend gatherings. Media reenforces is a merry good cheer time for everyone. But some some it is a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. Marijuana may help holiday anxiety and depression. During the holidays, 62% of respondents to a study described their stress level as “very or somewhat” elevated during the holidays, while only 10% reported no stress during the season.
A Washington State study utilized a data-centric approach using human test subjects to reveal marijuana’s efficacy in treating depression, anxiety, and stress found in everyday life. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study concluded that “[c]annabis reduces perceived symptoms of negative affect in the short-term, but continued use may exacerbate baseline symptoms of depression over time.”
Utilizing information provided by the marijuana app Strainprint, which helps medical users tracks their cannabis doses and strains, researchers were able to examine how subjects used cannabis within the comforts of their home. As lead author on the study Carrie Cutler told Health Europa, that approach is a departure from previous research around mental illness and cannabis.
“Existing research on the effects of cannabis on depression, anxiety and stress are very rare and have almost exclusively been done with orally administered THC pills in a laboratory,” Cutler said. “What is unique about our study is that we looked at actual inhaled cannabis by medical marijuana patients who were using it in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to a laboratory.”
Photo by Joanna Kosinska via Unsplash
According to their analysis, the researchers found that marijuana low in THC and high in CBD was most effective at reducing depression symptoms, while high-THC/high-CBD cannabis “was best for reducing perceived symptoms of stress.” Interestingly, the data also showed that women responded with larger decreases in anxiety after marijuana consumption than men.
More specifically, 89,3% of all session saw significant drop-offs with depression symptoms after smoking marijuana. However, 3.2% of sessions had those symptoms exacerbated while 7.5% of session elicited no change. For session tracking anxiety and stress, more than 90% of sessions had significant reduction in those symptoms. Whether marijuana increased symptoms of anxiety and stress, or played no role at all, followed similar statistical patterns as the depression numbers.
“This is to my knowledge one of the first scientific studies to provide guidance on the strains and quantities of cannabis people should be seeking out for reducing stress, anxiety and depression,” Cutler said. “Currently, medical and recreational cannabis users rely on the advice of bud tenders whose recommendations are based off of anecdotal not scientific evidence.”
Anxiety and related disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions in the U.S. While antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications can be effective, they also come with significant side effects. As a result, some individuals are turning to alternative treatments, such as cannabis. But using cannabis comes with its own set of risks. “While it can be used as an alternative treatment for certain types of stress and anxiety, cannabis is not a one-size-fits-all solution and may not be suitable for everyone,” says psychiatrist Dr. Amanda Kingston.
