Afgooberry by FDG

Cannabis, Indica Cultivar, Product Review

Afgoo (Afghani x Maui Haze) x Blueberry

A wonderful thing about the legal cannabis industry is knowing exactly where our cannabis is coming from. We feel lucky living in Bellingham where there are multiple companies in the city growing premium cannabis flowers. Fine Detail Greenway is one of those local businesses, and the Afgooberry is a favorite from the i502 cannabis producer.  This strain was grown indoors hydroponically.

The buds are fluffy and loose with a stunning with a robust purple hue resting in a bright green bed. Despite the combination density, Afgooberry does grow in a bulbous structure. Take a whiff of the bag for prominent pine aromatics with a sweet berry undertone. This is an ideal kind of bud for beginners as it won’t require a grinder and has a pleasant, familiar scent.

When smoking Afgooberry feel the initial effects come on in the temples just moments after exhalation. Slowly the effects will melt through the frontal lobe as tension releases. The eyes begin to relax and feel heavy as we settle in for the ultimate stress relief. About 10 to 20 minutes after smoking the effects are exceptionally mellow with this very gentle euphoria making for a pleasant but heavy experience. Expect munchies.

On the negative side, this is definitely a cultivar that can cause couch lock, dry eye, and dry mouth. 

 

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Cannabis and Sperm

Cannabis

Despite the age-old rumor cannabis does not hinder sperm activity.

Currently, 1 in 6 Canadian couples experiences issues with infertility according to the Government of Canada. With national legal cannabis quickly approaching in the country, it is important that we further understand any possible connection with our ability to conceive children and smoking or ingesting cannabis. That being said, there is a long-standing rumor that cannabis use can decrease sperm count or fertility in some way.

But a new study led by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) discovered that cannabis use, both by women and men, doesn’t lower a couple’s chance of getting pregnant. The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and is the first of its kind to study a possible connection between cannabis use and fecundability.

The research team focused on 4194 women, 1125 of whose male partners also enrolled. Those surveyed were in monogamous relationships and not using contraception or fertility treatments. They were monitored for a period of three years (between 2013 and 2016). Just 12% of women and 14% of the men surveyed admitted to being cannabis users. After twelve cycles of follow-ups, couples that used cannabis showed the same probability of contraception as those who didn’t use cannabis.

These results should help Canadian legislators understand the effects cannabis may have on the healthcare system by way of fertility treatments. With more scientific research we can hopefully drive more intelligent cannabis legislation across the globe.

The Remedy To THC-Induced Anxiety

Cannabis, Lifestyle

THC-induced anxiety isn’t fun, but don’t throw away those nugs just yet.

It’s true, certain cannabis cultivars tend to give me anxiety. Unfortunately, despite my experience in the convoluted world of strain names every once in awhile I will end up with a strain that has me rocking back and forth trying to figure out an argument that I had in 2011. In a world where taxes have us spending a pretty penny on quality cannabis products, we can’t just throw away our flowers. For those of us on a budget we simply have to make it work, but how?

To tone down the anxiety, it is pretty much a given that I turn to Cannabidiol (CBD). In this case an edible option would technically work, but the time period between ingesting and the onset of effects is far longer than smoking. This means that we would have to eat the CBD edibles or hemp oil anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour before we smoke the anxiety-inducing strain. Instead of trying to be high and also have an exceptional concept of time, think of getting CBD-rich cannabis flowers instead.

If we can get our hands on a CBD cultivar that is 2:1 CBD to THC we can actually mix it with the other flowers that have been giving us trouble. Until we find out which terpenes are aggravators of our anxiety AND we have readily available terpene tests; from here we have to do some trial and error. I like to put equal parts of each strain in my grinder and test it in a place where I feel safe and comfortable (in case the ratio isn’t quite right and an anxiety attack comes). For those still feeling anxious, add more CBD. People that might want more psychoactive, play up the THC cultivar. To keep track of these mixtures, it is a good idea to keep a journal of our use. Goldleaf Journals just came out with a tasting journal that can work great for this purpose.

Also, please remember that there are other ways to deal with anxiety; whether it comes from cannabis or not. When a panic attack starts to swirl in I generally brew a cup of tea, get on my yoga mat, and/or go out into nature. My favorite CBD-rich strain for reducing anxious feelings? Harlequin. For all time. Yes, I’ve tried ACDC and Charlotte’s Web. I’ve had Cannatonic, Shark Shock, and Sour Tsunami. Harlequin is my jam.

BYOBudtender

Cannabis

Choose the right cannabis product every time.

With the information we’ve put in this post, anyone can walk out of any dispensary feeling confident that they have the right product. With no uniformity in budtender training, cultivars, and products between each state it can be easy to be misled by budtenders with the best in intentions. So let’s take a budtender crash course together.

Know Thy Strain

There are so many different types of cannabis strains available today. Sometimes growers will rename strains but frankly, the same cultivar can grow differently with varying effects based solely on the environment. For that reason, as cannabis becomes more widely legal, take note of two things after smoking/vaping/dabbing/eating a new strain:

  1. How does it make me feel?
  2. Who grew it?

If we’re aware of how a Sour Diesel plant grown by one cultivator makes us feel but find that the garden across town’s Sour Diesel tends to vary slightly, write it down! Keeping a journal or ‘strain diary’ can be really helpful for medical patients, and honestly, is a good idea for recreational users as well.

Modus Operandi

After having more understanding about what strains work for our specific endocannabinoid system, we should take stock of exactly how we want to enjoy our cannabis. For example, someone with lung issues is not going to want to smoke. These people might find edibles or tinctures to be a great fit. Another scenario, someone with a high tolerance might enjoy high potency cannabis extractions.

We mention these situations not to confuse, but instead to emphasize that finding the right product starts with asking ourselves exactly what we need from our cannabis. Find the MO, so we want to smoke? Would we prefer to eat something? This is another crucial question for any budtender to ask their clients and as such, would be a good thing to ask ourselves before ever walking into the doors of our local dispensary.

Always Ask

While we’re all about self-educating, I also don’t think we should ever discount the experience of our local budtenders. Know what type of strains you like, understand the kind of products you’re interested in, and then go forth and tell that smiling person behind the counter. While these keepers of weed don’t know our endocannabinoid system like we do, they do know the ins and outs of the products that they carry; so tell them what things you’ve liked in the past and watch them find a similar product. If a budtender staff doesn’t accommodate in this manner, go to a different store.

These are the basics of equipping ourselves for buying cannabis from the dispensary. Going into a cannabis store can be sensory overload, so remember these tips and find yourself happy with your purchases every time.

 

Sunny G from Gabriel Cannabis

Indica Cultivar, Product Review

[Sherbert(Pink Panties x Girl Scout Cookies) x Gummo(Bubblegum x Orange Bud)]

Gabriel Cannabis is available all over Washington state right on down to the Northern Oregon border. It is the strain that circulated in the company’s ‘Name That Strain’ campaign. The effects could be called Indica-dominant as its a great choice for anyone dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, and pain. This brand is also a good choice for the connoisseur as they follow good practices, maintain their licenses with the state, and grow simply impressive cannabis flowers.

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The Gabriel Cannabis Process

The company produces indoor grown cannabis flowers fed with all-organic nutrients. Gabriel cultivation rooms are sealed off from other environments for full control over free radicals. Their mantra is to provide the plants with the ideal environment so that pesticides aren’t even needed. They also use a humidity system that recaptures the water given off in the room and uses it to rewater the plants for a more sustainable approach to indoor farming.

After harvest, branches are hung in a unique cedar cellar for seven days to cure before being hand trimmed. They are then sealed up in handcrafted cedar boxes and cured for another 14 days. After that last cure each bud goes through one final inspection to ensure that it is trimmed to those high Gabriel standards. Once buds are deemed ready for sale it’s time for packaging, and Gabriel packaging is eye catching to say the least. Glass jars with sustainable and airtight bamboo lids are graced with stickers that identify both the brand and strain. THC and CBD potency are also clearly labelled on the side of the jar in the style of a food label’s nutritional breakdown. The bottom of each jar is outfitted with nugnifying glass that can help us get the full view of those sparkling trichomes.

cannabis

@cara_juana

How Does It Hit The Senses?

Visually the Sunny G is an absolute stunner, but she’s so much more than just a pretty face. The buds are a deep, dark purple with the smallest hints of dark green. Bright orange brown hairs are sprinkled throughout each nug alongside a complete blanket of sticky sweet trichomes. Once we get past this initial wow factor we can break down the complex aroma of sharp calamus root and mandarin oranges that develops into a rich bergamot and bright camphor flavor after being ripped through the bong.

I hit my Sunny G through a clean glass beaker bong with an Herb Iron ceramic wand. Just after exhalation that gratifying feeling of a cloudy brain begins to move in as stresses melt away. There is a slight clinging in the temple in those first moments of the come up, but that initial uptick mellows quickly into a heavy, happy stone. This familiar relaxation comes alongside a heavy eye and loose jaw. In about 30 to 45 minutes the high has hit its stride and the mellow mood is real. The ability to keep it together and function is there but stresses and daily aches and pains are quelled for about 2-3 hours.

Sunny G 

16% THC

18% THCA

0.05% CBD

Keep an eye out for a drop of Sunny G resin from the i502 processor very soon!

To find Gabriel Cannabis throughout Washington state cannabis dispensaries check out their website for a comprehensive list of stores.

 

THC-Infused Coffee Dark Chocolate

Edibles

This THC-infused coffee flavored dark chocolate from The Goodship Company is one to write home about.

Walking into Satori in Bellingham, Washington on that delightfully dreary day I knew that I wanted to leave with some dark chocolate. Since I can’t have dairy it is always a toss up whether or not they’ll have what I need. As I perused the edibles counter I saw them, the cutest little packages of chocolate infused with 10mg of THC. When the budtender told me that the dark chocolate was Vegan AND made with coffee I knew it was a match made in heaven. Once I got in the car and took a bite… it became crystal clear. This chocolate is so good that you’ll wish there was a whole pile more than it, and coffee lovers, you’re in for a treat.

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The delicious nature of these goods are surely due in part to the fact that The Goodship was founded by those who craft the beloved recipes at Seattle fave Cupcake Royale. They use sustainbly sourced ingredients and this bar is made with Sightglass coffee. In total, the brand manufactures and distributes baked goods, chocolates, and confections that promise deliver a clean, uplifting high. And guess what, that it does.

The crisp, clear effects that I felt after the chocolate bar kicked in provided me with exactly what I needed to take on the rest of my day. To infuse them, they use an ethanol washed extraction which removed the cannabis flavor but leaves behind that crisp effect we were describing. It also lasted about 5 hours when combined with 10 mg CBD, which was phenomenal for my current tolerance.

Coffee Dark Chocolate, Regular Dark Chocolate, the Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie, the Saigon Snickerdoodle Cookie and more can be found alongside other beloved products from The Goodship in around 100 dispensaries across the state of Washington.

Learn more about The Goodship Company’s cannabis products and find some near you on their website.

 

Relocated For The Trees

Cannabis

After a long stint in the Southwest, we have picked up our furry animals and moved up to the Pacific Northwest. Bellingham, Washington to be exact. Josh has hung up his rancher hat for now and is working as a dog trainer while he writes the final chapter of his fantasy novel. I am still writing for a living and smoking all of the weed that I can on the way. That is where you come in, dear readers because instead of driving half an hour for OK cannabis in Eastern Arizona I’m in the land of milk and honey.

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There are tons of products up here worth writing about, and I’m so excited to share them with you as I smoke, eat, and dab my way through Washington (and sometimes California, Oregon, and Nevada) cannabis-infused products. Stay tuned and I’ll make sure you know exactly what you’ll be smoking when you get to a Washington state cannabis dispensary.

 

Cannabis Dispensary Review: Kompo

AZ Dispensaries

Finding a fabulous cannabis dispensary is always a titillating experience, Kompo in Taylor has the best medical cannabis in the area.

I am beginning to like the little town where we live, but I was having issues finding affordable cannabis. Eventually, I looked hard enough to find Kompo. A little laid back spot located right on the outskirts of Taylor, Arizona.  Here’s the lowdown on everything that you’ll need to know before you visit.

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@cara_juana

Get There, Check In

First and foremost, the road is a bit bumpy. My Jetta made it, but if you’re delicate about your suspension or whatever then be sure to take a different vehicle. Also, when I put the address in Google Maps it brought me to a nearby house. There is ample parking out front once you get there. For your first visit, you need your Arizona ID or Driver’s License and AZMMJ card. There is a window at the front where you put them through and you’ll sign a few forms. The whole process is quick and easy, you’ll be in the doors in minutes.

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Blackberry Kush

Budtender Experience

Once through those doors prepare to be pleased. They have around 15 strains at any given time. The two counters each have a few displays to smell and look at before purchasing. Prices are pretty legit for the quality of buds, $45+tax for an eighth. Budtenders are knowledgeable and kind. I’ve been helped by everyone now and I have enjoyed each person I meet there. They also have a wide variety of CBD only pet and human products, edibles of almost all kinds, glass, and even some vapes.

Flower Power

At the moment Kompo is working with the city to get their own grow operation started. Until then, they have built up some valuable connections in the state. Their wholesale guy needs a pat on the back because everything that I’ve bought there has been long lasting and effective. Be sure to talk to your budtender while picking out flowers, it is the best way to get the right strain for you. Don’t be shy! That’s why they’re there.

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Thin Mint from @cara_juana

What is your favorite dispensary in Arizona? Do you want me to get the skinny on somewhere for you? Tell me in the comments!

Herb Spotlight: Marjoram

Herb Spotlight

It still isn’t clear exactly where this thought came from but as I was organizing my cooking herbs and spices something sprung into my head, “Get marjoram”. The thought was odd because I’ve never really cooked with marjoram before. As I sat here trying to decide what herb I wanted to research today it became quite clear that it was time to more about mystical marjoram.

Ancient Greek mythology states that the Goddess Aphrodite used to grow marjoram which inspired many kitchen witches to use the common cooking herb in love potions.

Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare [aka: wintersweet, sweet marjoram, marjolaine, joy of the mountains]

Magickal Stats: Elementally water, ruled by Venus and Mars

Parts Used: leaf, essential oil, flower

marjoramImproves Function Of:

  • Digestive System
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Immune System
  • Neurological System

Aides in Relieving Symptoms of: 

  • Mumps, Measles, Malaria, Common Cold, Typhoid, Tetanus Infection in Wounds
  • Stomach ache & Cramp, nausea & vomiting, flatulence & diarrhea
  • High blood pressure, high cholesterol, poor circulation
  • Sore muscles & joints, toothache, pain, back ache
  • Insomnia, Stress, Anxiety, & minimizing emotional outbursts
  • PMS & imbalanced sexual desire

Assists Spiritually With: 

  • Offertory to Goddess Aphrodite
  • Bringing strength to marriage
  • Protect a home

What Do I Do With It?

Marjoram tea is made in various strengths for digestion aide, immune system boost, and to calm the nerves and relieve anxiety. Applying marjoram topically helps to relieve aching joints and cramping muscles, this can be done by adding the herb or oil to a topical cream or by just applying the essential oil directly to the painful spot. Essential oil of marjoram can be diffused to help with the same ailments as tea, because of this I recommend inhaling the tea as it cools off.

To bless a house, dried marjoram can be sprinkled around the perimeter of a home as a representation of familial love. It can also be offered to the Goddess Aphrodite to entice strength in a marriage. Similarly, marjoram is often one of the main components in love potions.

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God Has No Religion, People Do

Lifestyle, Religion

As a pathway to God religion is one of the most useful tools for the human soul, but sometimes we get lost within the labels and lose our connection to divinity.

Raised Catholic until soccer took over my Sundays I didn’t find organized religion again until high school. Eventually, I chose to party over being a devout Christian at that age, I’m not the type of human that is able to do both. The party morphed over the years and eventually hit a downward spiral until I was about 25 and met an exceptionally abusive man. He never hit me, he just constantly called me a whore, slut, and other generally belittling names so that I believed that I could never do better. Eventually, I moved back in with my parents after that last fight had me cowering in the corner digging my own nails into my arms.

I continued dating him and to ensure that he didn’t scream at me and then dump me I basically hung out in my room alone. Desperate for human interaction I found that church was the only place that I could go without him losing it. What I found there wasn’t just a solid group of women to spend time with, it was a pathway to God. With continued bible study, prayer, and sermons I was able to realize that I didn’t need a negative relationship in my life and was able to let go. But the problem was that I didn’t have a concrete belief in some of the things that other people in church wholeheartedly believed. I just don’t find it factual that Jesus was literally a mystical son of God sent to Earth but I dug the metaphor. The continued fellowship and guidance from some key ladies in my life kept me at that home church until I made my next move to Arizona.

When I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona I didn’t find a new church since work sort of took over my life. I also had some doubts about my faith and where my faith was really channeling. Before I began my disaster relationship I had deeply studied the Buddhist and Pagan philosophies through various books and self-study. Since that was another thing that the man had hated about me my studies had become a sort of fantasy secret, but living in Flagstaff reconnected me to those roots. After trudging through the muck towards self-love and working on enjoying being alone I met cowboyfriend, an amazingly weird little Pagan cowboy snowboarder pirate. He literally makes no sense and it is one of my most favorite things. It gave me hope that I can be whatever I want, that a religious label is meaningless to me in my understanding of God.

A recent conversation with my older brother made me fully accept that I am not a Christian, the doctrine simply doesn’t jive with me. The reason that I enjoyed being Christian is that for once in my life people weren’t scared of me, they saw me as normal and our social interactions were more comfortable. Recently I read somewhere that God doesn’t have religion, people do. This felt so right to me and I started wondering why religion is in place in every modern society of people. It is obviously important to human societies all over the world and that is because it provides us with a pathway to God, who is the same entity over and over again no matter what book we’re reading. I feel fresh with this new understanding, where I once sat in a fog I now feel that without labels I can actually sit at Gods feet. I understand this isn’t a new idea but it is a newly solidified understanding in my own mind, and with that comes peace.

I know this is such a sensitive topic, but these are my feelings and thoughts on the matter. Since it had been so long since I shared with you guys I decided to share what’s been on my mind lately and I am doing so with the utmost respect to other’s beliefs.