10 Things You Didn’t Know About Marijuana
Top 7 Sex Toys & Cannabis Accessories for Summer Fun
Summer is here and if you’re looking for some summer loving–solo or partnered–this list will help you out! I chose high quality, innovative items to showcase because I believe your pleasure is worth it! Mindfully combining sex and cannabis means being thoughtful about the products you’re using and the ways in which the materials and quality of the devices impacts your body and pleasure.
Fun Factory Cobra Libre II: For people with penises, this toy is a fantastic addition to the toy collection. According to my lover, it impressively mimics a blowjob with its silicone lips and vibrating core. Lube is a non-negotiable with the Cobra Libre II, it would likely cause discomfort if used without some kind of slippery substance. It’s definitely a toy that can be enjoyed solo or partnered, and is great for alternating with a BJ because it allows the giver a chance to rest their jaw while not having to pause the pleasure.
Hot Octopuss Queen Bee: I have been waiting patiently for this toy to hit the market and now that June has arrived–the time is upon us! Hot Octopuss revolutionized the sex toy industry when they debuted their oscillating penis toy, the Hot Octopuss Pulse (also known as “the world’s first guybrator,”) in 2014. The oscillation creates a different vibration sensation than other toys I’ve tried, and it was a game changer for penis owners with erectile struggles. Hot Octopuss CEO Adam Lewis decided that this would translate well into a clitoral-focused toy and began developing the Queen Bee. This rechargeable wand features the same oscillation through a plate on one side that made its predecessor so unique. It’s also waterproof, so you can take it in the pool or bath with you!
WARM by Warm Inc.: Why would you want a sex toy warmer in the summer? Because exploring with temperature play is a fun way to bring a sensual experience into your lovemaking! This luxury device is made of vegan leather and a silky warming sleeve that wraps around your toys and warms it to a pleasant temperature in 15-20 minutes–plenty of time for foreplay or a hot bath first! This is especially useful if you own glass, metal, or ceramic toys, but any toy material can be used with WARM. If you’ve never had the experience of using a toy that has been warmed up, give yourself this gift. It’s magical.
VapeXhale Evo: I cannot say enough good things about this desktop vaporizer. I love being able to choose the temperature settings and that the convection heating element works equally well for flower and concentrates. I especially love how lightweight it is. My Evo lives on a nightstand at the foot of my bed, and the long cord makes it easy to bring into bed with me. My partners have been loving it, and especially enjoy the taste of flower when vaping at lower settings. This is fantastic for summer fun because it lets you stay inside where it’s cool rather than having to go outside to smoke. It also keeps your indoor space from getting smoky, which is great if you live in a shared housing situation with roommates or in an apartment complex.
We-Vibe Wish: One of the newest toys in the We-Vibe lineup, the Wish has double the power of Tango–We-Vibe’s lipstick sized external vibrator. It also feature bluetooth capabilities, so you can control the vibe with your own phone through the We-Connect app, or offer control to your partner! There’s also an in-app photo and text messaging feature, allowing you to stealth sext. The outside is a soft matte silicone that has a bit of squish at the tapered tip (it feels a bit like a tongue!) and offers deep, rumbly vibrations.
CBD Ganja Gum by The Good Gum Company: Produced in Oregon as a THC-infused chewing gum, this gum is also available in CBD-only form in all 50 states This 5mg CBD Ganja Gum is great for consuming on the go, and since CBD doesn’t cause psychoactive effects, you can enjoy this gum no matter where life takes you. I love CBD for sexy times because it helps alleviate any physical discomfort you may be feeling while also helping to quiet your mind–not to mention freshening your breath to make you extra kissable!
LEVO Oil Infuser: I only recently became aware of this infuser and I have to say–it’s pretty high on my summer shopping list. The possibilities are endless! LEVO allows you to choose time and temperature and decarboxylates your flower in the process.The resulting infused oil can be used for such benign purposes as a salad dressing or topping for popcorn, or you could infuse a body friendly oil like coconut oil and use it for sexy fun times by using it as a massage oil or applying it to the vulva in your life. The best part of infusing your own oil is that–assuming you’re using lab-tested flower–you have complete quality control and can take comfort knowing that your oil is free of molds, pesticides, and anything else you don’t want to be putting in your body.
What’s on your summer must-have list, either for cannabis accessories or sexy fun times? I’d love to hear about it!
Marijuana vs Medical Marijuana
Learn the difference between marijuana and medical marijuana in this video.
These 12 States Consume the Most Marijuana
The United States is still feeling the effects of the 2016 Election. A lot of controversy surrounds the results of the Presidential portion of Election Day. However, many states voted in favor across the board on one particular item this past year – to legalize marijuana.
Nine states voted on marijuana laws, resulting in eight states favoring the use of the medicinal plant. Now, more than half of the states in America allow the use of marijuana in some form. This past election season has brought the current tally up to 29 states plus the District of Columbia.
There are two different ways that marijuana is regulated in the U.S.A. It is regulated both recreationally and medicinally. Therefore, in some states one or the other may be legal. In others, it may be both.
Recreational laws are much like drinking laws. You have to be at least 21 to buy cannabis. The second regulation is medicinally. This is where a specialist writes you a prescription for a strane that will placate to your needs, whether it be depression, anxiety, eating disorders, HIV, etc.
Out of the 29 states, as well as D.C., here are the 12 that consume the most marijuana.
- California
Legalizing marijuana medically in 1996, California was the first state to vote in favor of marijuana in the United States. However, the west-coast state only voted this past election season to legalize it recreationally. With 4,633,000 users, California has the most total users in the United States. However, with a population of 39.25 million, only 14.9% of Cali residents use marijuana, ranking the Golden State at the bottom of this list percentage-wise.
- Michigan
Marijuana has been medically legal for almost a decade, as Michigan passed a law in favor of it in 2008. Since then, 1,304,000 of the 9.93 million that populate the Wolverine State use marijuana as treatment for their ailments. That makes 15.6% of the state marijuana users.
- New Mexico
New Mexico is currently in its tenth year of legalized medical marijuana. However, there seems to be no shift any time soon as it comes to legalizing it recreationally. Many states have a tendency to begin with the decriminalization of marijuana prior to making the plant recreationally legal. However, in New Mexico, a maximum marijuana fine can still carry up to $5,000. Of the 2.08 million that inhabit the Land of Enchantment, 267,000 people use medical marijuana, making up 15.6% of the population.
- New Hampshire
House Bill 573 passed in 2013, making medical marijuana legal in New Hampshire. Of the 1.33 million who call The Granite State Home, 194,000 people use medicinal marijuana. That makes for 17.1% of the state benefitting from the plant.
- Massachusetts
Massachusetts took a big stand for cannabis in 2008, when it decriminalized possession of the plant to $100 for less than an ounce. The New England-based state also voted yes to Question 2, legalizing medical marijuana that year as well. It wasn’t until this past election where Massachusetts citizens voted yes to recreational marijuana. Now, 989,000 of the 6.81 million residents of Massachusetts use marijuana, which equals 17.6% of the state.
- Rhode Island
The smallest of the United States is one of the smokiest. With only 1.6 million people in the coastal state, 170,000 use marijuana medically. With such a small population, that means 18.7% use marijuana to treat their illnesses.
- Maine
Maine was one of the first states to legalize marijuana medically, as they passed a bill in 1999. However, recreational marijuana only became legal this past election. With 1.33 million people living in the Pine Tree State, 224,000 use marijuana in some form. That means that 19.4% of the northernmost part of New England are marijuana users.
- Washington
The Evergreen State sure does love its green. In 2012, Washington voted to legalize marijuana recreationally and medically. Now, 1,105,000 of the 7.29 million who live on this Canadian border-state use marijuana. Edging out Maine by a hair, 19.5% of Washingtonians participate in marijuana consumption.
- Alaska
The 49th State was not one of the last to legalize marijuana. Back in 2014, Alaska voted yes to both recreational and medicinal marijuana. Now, 114,000 of the 741,894 Last Frontier residents use marijuana in some form, making up 19.5% percent of the largest state in America.
- Vermont
The home of Bernie Sanders loves their marijuana. Cannabis became legalized medically back in 2004, and has been decriminalized numerous times since. In 2016 and 2017, bills have passed and stalled to legalize the plant recreationally. However, it is widely believed that The Green Mountain State will get greener in 2018. As for now, 108,000 people out of 624,594 use the plant, which makes for 19.8% percent of the state.
- Oregon
Oregon is well-known for its greener lifestyle. That’s what makes it an easy number 2 on our list. Since 2014, 646,000 of the 4.9 million people living in Oregon consume marijuana either recreationally or medicinally. That measures out to 19.9% of the state utilizing the plant.
- Colorado
No other state may be more synonymous with marijuana than the forerunner of ending the prohibition on recreational weed, Colorado. As of 2012, the Rocky Mountain State has been the standard bearer of marijuana, producing billions of tax revenues that have gone toward schools and infrastructure. 909,000 of the 5.54 million in Colorado use the plant recreationally and medicinally. That makes for 21.6% of the state’s residents marijuana users.
Infographic courtesy of Badass Glass, an online headshop offering some of the best selections of premium glassware on the internet.
GMO Weed Coming to Stores Soon
People have been genetically modifying weed since the beginning.
Ancient farmers grew cannabis plants with specific goals in mind. The different goals produced two distinctly new variations or phenotypes of cannabis. The two GMO variants are known as cannabis sativa and cannabis indica. Our ancestors used selective breeding to modify the genetics of cannabis ruderalis to create what we currently recognize as weed.
Selective breeding is a great example of the basic concept of genetically modified organisms. By only breeding plants with the best traits, later generations display more desired traits. Both still have the same level of development, one is just more useful.
South African plants need to be tall enough to reach above the scrub brush to get enough light. Sativas like Durban Poison grow incredibly tall because of having South African genetics. But cannabis from the Hindu Kush mountains grow short and dense enough to resist the high winds. Breeding them together may pass on the cold resistance of the Hindu Kush, and/or the height of the Durban Poison.
The race is on to find a better way.
Researchers at Phylos Bioscience launched the Cannabis Evolution Project last year to map the genome of marijuana. By documenting the specific genetic markers of cannabis, the team adds real data to the collective body of knowledge. Phylos also provides producers with a time-stamped certificate of authenticity that helps establish and defend intellectual property rights.
Phylos also shares the sequence data in the Open Cannabis Project’s database. Although they don’t share data without permission. The process prevents companies like Monsanto from capitalizing on weed by securing exclusive patents to specific strains.
Advancements in genetic engineering are coming fast.
Genetic engineering is defined as manipulation of the genetic code or DNA. Plants and animals can be genetically manipulated because both have DNA. Each strand of DNA contains instructions for how, where and when cells should grow. The whole sequence is called the genome. We are quickly learning about the complex code that makes up the genome of cannabis.
Mice were the first creatures to have their DNA manipulated. Scientists managed this feat back in the 1970s. Plants weren’t modified until the 1990s. Through intense study and experimentation, we can predictably enhance certain qualities in a wide range of organisms.
Using modern genetic tools like CRISPR, we can cut and paste different genetic sequences. Researchers can use CRISPR to create indicas that grow tall like sativas, hybrids that produce trichomes in veg or instill UV light responsiveness.
GMO crops are becoming increasingly common.
Just over 20 years ago, the first genetically modified crops entered the market. After only two decades, GMO crops have flooded food and agricultural markets. GMO’s are adopted by industry after industry and change the very face of agriculture in the process.
Most soybean, corn and canola crops produced today are genetically modified. These crops fight off pests, resist disease and produce more stable products. Commercial farmers have adopted these GMO crops in part because of increased consistency.
Marijuana farmers are always looking to increase the consistency and potency of their crops. A GMO crop that promises to fight off pests, diseases, and resist cold would be mighty tempting. Especially if that crop produced commercial quantities of flower.
New Jersey Legalizes Weed but Criminalizes Possession
New Jersey will arrest anyone with the smallest possession of weed.
29 U.S. states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana. The State of New Jersey recently legalized weed but the criminal justice system still treats everyone like it never happened. New Jersey officials will even arrest people for having a half smoked joint in their possession while in public.
Or having a car freshener hanging in the rear-view mirror. Having a freshener hanging is enough to give police probable cause. Cops use this to search drivers they suspect of having weed. States like Oregon require drivers to have cannabis out of reach of drivers or have it be in a sealed container. But New Jersey doesn’t want cannabis in the car at all.
Just smelling like weed while walking along the road is enough for cops to frisk a person. In 2014, New Jersey arrested over 25,000 people for possession. Many of the people targeted were tourists but even locals were charged. Residents and tourists beware; New Jersey will charge for possession and let the courts figure out guilt.
Carmine Villani is a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey. She says that possessing weed (anywhere from 0 to 50 grams) will lead to a disorderly conduct fine. If the cop is in a bad mood, you might get 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine. If you get caught with it in your car you could lose your license. If you are caught with an already smoked joint, a resonated pipe or left over shake it doesn’t matter. Your life will be ruined. In New Jersey, getting caught with the smallest amount of pot is a life altering affair.
New Jersey will take away professional licenses for those caught with weed.
Carmine also says that people who work with children as a profession could lose their license. They lose the ability to work with children when they are caught with possession of weed. First time offenders have a sliver of hope although.
People caught with 50 grams of marijuana or less have a change of getting a reduced sentence if it is their first time. If defendants pass a urine test and undergo a year of probation they can avoid the fee and jail time. Repeat offenders have no option but pay the fine and/or do the time.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is responsible for marijuana enforcement.
Gov. Christie is against cannabis and hates everything about it. He drafted and passed a cannabis bill that only supports the sickest and near dead members of society. Patients with cancer and are close to death got an exemption. They can obtain a medical marijuana card but still face the prospect of arrest and harsh penalties if found in possession. Things get even worse if they have it in their car or are caught with it in public.
The cops don’t require much to ruin a person’s life.
Having paraphernalia is enough for police to arrest and later convict a person. Also, if the cops suspect that the resin they see contains a derivative of cannabis, they use a test called the Duqeunois-Levine Test. If the test drop turns purple, then the substance tested positive for a derivative of cannabis.
The most insane part of all this is that it takes several months for the test to come back. One woman in New Jersey was going to get a job in September, but got arrested in August. She had to wait till March for her case to resolve. People with sticky fingers can also be tested for cannabis derivatives with the Duquenois Test.
New Jersey will not decriminalize cannabis any time soon.
Maybe the governor will decriminalize cannabis because elections are coming up. However, it looks unlikely. If city officials decriminalize marijuana, currently a misdemeanor, the penalty will be relabeled.
For example, instead of a possession charge, having weed in the car will become a driving under the influence charge. But the test cops use for THC doesn’t give accurate results. Having any THC in your system results in a charge. But THC stays in the body for up to a month or more. If a person smoked a jay in the beginning of the month they should wait a month for the substance to leave their system before they can drive again.
New Jersey police currently use outdated field sobriety tests.
The departments methods were designed in the early 70’s. They were also designed to combat alcohol, a very different drug. A person can be high and still can lift a leg or walk a straight line. Because of how easily cannabis users can pass a sobriety test, police have started ambushing people.
Many New Jersey cops park at the PNC Bank Arts Center and bust kids and adults in the parking lot. They’ll arrest people if they think they were smoking a joint or if they are find residue somewhere nearby. Basically, the PNC Bank Arts Center houses the New Jersey police barracks.
Many can’t believe how strict the cops are when it comes to a small amount of weed. But the New Jersey cops don’t care. Gov. Christie has a no non-sense policy when it comes to the possession and use of cannabis. And it will continue to be that way until Gov. Christie is out of office.
Microdosing Interview with Andrew Mieure
Microdosing is becoming a buzzword in the cannabis community, but what exactly does it mean? We caught up with Andrew Mieure, owner of Colorado-based Top Shelf Budtending and a leading authority on budtending for social use. He offers nuanced insights about microdosing, or as he’ll explain, microserving, and offers some helpful tips.
Weed Reader: What is microdosing and what are the benefits?
Andrew Mieure: Microdosing is the act of using cannabis in very small doses to reach a medical benefit without some of the unwanted side effects normally associated with larger doses of cannabis. (Anxiety, short term memory loss, sedation) The sizing of a “microdose” can vary per patient or consumer since each individual has a different tolerance, but, generally speaking anything 1mg to 5mg for edible products, extremely small dabs of concentrates (pin head sized) or 1 small (1-2 second) puff from a joint or pipe. This practice ensures that the patient or consumer is still getting a steady supply of cannabinoids without being too medicated to work, play or otherwise interfere with their daily life. Microdosing is a wonderful practice and I believe more consumers should start experimenting with it.
WR: What is microserving and why the distinction?
AM: With the emergence of cannabis social use and cannabis based parties, we decided that the term “microdosing” seems a bit too serious for parties. For many people “dosing” sounds like something your doctor would instruct you to do, or something you would read on the back of a Nyquil bottle, not exactly the thing you want to be told at an event. Even more important is the negative association that the word “dosing” has with “overdosing.” With much of the United States dealing with an opiate epidemic, we want to do our best to provide a safer alternative to harmful pharmaceutical drugs, removing the term “dosing” completely allows the guests to feel safer about the cannabis they are consuming. Instead, we have started to use the term “microserving.” Microserving is the exact same thing as microdosing, but geared more towards the social use and recreational consumer.
WR: What are some best practices for budtenders in social use settings?
AM: First, if you dealing with non-industry guests or guests new to cannabis, always be sure to inquire about their tolerance, experience with cannabis, preferred consumption method and normal place of consumption. You could do this all one-by-one with each guest or at the start of the event. Always start all guests out with small servings and monitor their progress throughout the duration of the party. We even go as far as creating a ticket system for joints and edibles to ensure that the guests are not consuming too much. Second, budtenders should be educated in social use specifically. While many budtenders are trained on how to tell patients what they may need in a dispensary setting, social use budtenders allow their guests to see, smell and sample the cannabis at the event, adding another layer of complexity to their recommendations and practices. Some of the biggest mistakes I have seen at social events would be some of the easiest and most simple things to keep in mind. Simple things like having alcohol swabs, wearing gloves, and keeping everything sanitary should be non-negotiables for any social use budtender. Finally and most importantly, have fun! While being educated, serious and airtight about what we do, it is imperative to make sure the guests are having an amazing time at our event.
WR: What advice would you give to cannabis novices who are attending their first social use event?
AM: First, please make sure to tell your budtender everything about your tolerance, experience with cannabis and if you have any types of allergies or specific medical conditions for them to take into consideration. Second, be very aware that consuming cannabis in social settings can feel much different than smoking in your home or at a comfortable location. We always advise brand new users to try cannabis at home first before coming to a cannabis event, as it is easier to dial in how you feel in a comfortable environment versus when you are in a social use setting which can cause some anxiety. If you do decide to use it at a social event, please only use very small amounts and do not mix it with any other drugs or alcohol.
Third, never, I mean NEVER give into peer pressure. If you do not want to try cannabis, there is no pressure. It is your body and your choice. Never let anyone else pressure you into using cannabis when you are not one hundred percent comfortable. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Just because your friend can smoke 3 joints back to back does not mean you can too. Tolerances vary wildly and some users are prone to anxiety. Cannabis is not alcohol and it is up to us to show the world that social cannabis use is a completely different experience where peer pressure has no place.
If you want to microdose flower, I would suggest getting small portable vaporizer or a small one-hitter pipe that allows you to put in only a tiny amount of flower, avoiding any of those accidentally massive bong rips.
Top image: topshelfbudtending
7 Medical Benefits Of Marijuana
7 Medical Benefits Of Marijuana
Best Way to Get a Medical Cannabis Card for 2017
One of the most common questions I get is, “Is it difficult to get a medical cannabis card?” I always respond, “Not as difficult as you might think.” There are all sorts of ways of getting one, but we shall mention the obvious (and perhaps easiest) one first …
Telehealth
Getting to a doctor that specializes in medical marijuana can be tough. Not everyone lives near one, and even if they do, a patient might go there and find out it’s too busy or they’re unable to book an appointment at a time they’d like. Plus, some of these doctors aren’t necessarily in the safest neighborhoods, which is sad but unfortunately true in some instances.
Telehealth saves a person from all this hassle. You can literally:
- Sign up
- Fill out the medical marijuana evaluation form, attaching any relevant medical records you may already have proving your condition/s.
- Talk to the doctor.
- If you qualify, you will be given a signed recommendation letter.
- This recommendation letter can be emailed to you, so you can start using your recommendation letter straight away.
- A medical marijuana card can be sent to you via post – not necessary, but highly recommended.
Telehealth is a massive plus for sick and disabled patients who might have difficulty getting around, as well as those living out in the boondocks.
Should you be worried about privacy and security, don’t worry. Any decent, reputable doctor will have a safe and secure website, with all of your personal information kept private in accordance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Law Enforcement can access these records, but only by court order. This information cannot be given out to police departments willy-nilly.
The Direct Way
You can call me, Doctor Frank, on +1 888-351-7807 and set up an appointment over the phone. My practice address is 4110 1/2 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065, USA, which you can come to once you’ve booked your appointment (no stalking, please!). I can help walk you through the process. However, whilst I do try and make time for all my patients, many find seeing me online to be just as quick and efficient, and you needn’t leave the comfort of your living room.
Of course there are other Doctors out there and speaking to a friend or family member who uses MMJ might be able to advise you. Regardless of what route you take please make sure they are HIPPA compliant!
What Conditions Usually Get Medical Cannabis Recommendations?
Usually cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, AIDS/HIV, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease and any chronic condition that may impact a person’s life over the long-term.
I Want One Now! What Do I Need to Get a MMJ Card?
Now that you know you want a medical cannabis card, all you need are the following things:
- Any form of valid, state-issued U.S. identification (e.g. ID card, driver’s license, passport).
- Proof of residency in the state of California (e.g. rent or mortgage agreement)
- Personal health records proving your condition – not necessary, but helpful
Will My Insurance Cover Medical Marijuana?
Whilst there are often vast differences in policy from one insurance company to the next, it is unlikely that most insurance companies will cover medical marijuana, especially as it’s a Schedule I drug. Unfortunately, using medical marijuana may put your insurance at jeopardy in some instances (especially if it’s health insurance paid for by an employer), so be careful and read all your terms and conditions on your health policy properly.
As you can see, getting a medical marijuana card is a lot simpler than you might think. There’s no secret club. No special handshake. No magic words. It’s just a matter of is getting on the phone or computer and booking your appointment. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.
10 Best Times To Get High
A wise man once said “Everything’s better when you’re high. If you don’t smoke, I don’t know why.” That wise man was Cameron Thomaz, otherwise known as the Wizard of House Khalifa, in his song Up, released in 2010. 7 years later, I’ve still yet to find an argument against that statement. I literally cannot think of 1 single activity that isn’t more enjoyable when stoned, which raises the question: when are the best times to get high? I mean, we all love to get high before running Saturday errands, or while kicking it with the homies, but when are the tried-and-true best times to get high? For answers, we check in with our expert, ya boy (me, I, Dante Jordan). In no particular order, here are 10 of the best times to get high:
