Posted onCannabis Usage

Veterans and Cannabis 

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Veterans in the United States are arguably one of the most voiceless and overlooked people groups in the country. Currently, there are more than 20 million military veterans in the United States, and there is a complete lack of resources and options available to these people who may be struggling with finances, relationships, housing, work, career path, mental health, and so much more. Veterans’ mental health needs to be a much more prominent conversation when it comes to this country.

These man and women have served diligently and protected us from the threat of terrorism and other evil organizations that would like to destory us. However, we do not always return the favor in protecting our veterans from homelessness, unemployment, and mental health problems. Did you know that veterans are the most at risk people group in this country to death by suicide?

Many veterans who have been discharged from military service have trouble integrating back into society and the programs provided by the Federal Government are not always helpful. Are there ways that cannabis can help in treating the mental health illnesses that veterans suffer from? I think so. Many veterans feel that there is a stigma around mental health and trying to get help, so advocating for this group of people is super important. Using cannabis as an alternative method to treat anxiety, PTSD, depression, chronic pain, and other conditions that veterans have to live with may be really impactful in giving these people more hope and escape from their mental health problems.

So what are some of the problems associated with PTSD? What kind of obstacles would we be treating by using cannabis to fight back against poor mental health? Well, to start, PTSD usually manifests itself as a deep fear of trust in relationships. Many veterans who suffer with PTSD struggle to trust other people and this has to do with their desire to be able to control their environment the best that they can and reduce risk of injury (whether physical or mental). This can cause veterans to push people away and avoid developing deep and intimate relationships, which can add to the feelings of loneliness and isolation that they may already feel.

How can cannabis help in this area? Well, cannabis is actually a really good way to mellow out anxious thoughts that veterans may be living with. If a person is struggling to feel comfortable in social situations or trust those around them, it could be because they are staying hypervigilant of their surroundings and relationships; basically, these people are always on age. Certain strains of cannabis are great for taking the edge off while still allowing the individual to function and complete normal tasks from day to day. 

Another way that veterans struggling with PTSD may struggle is sleeping at night. After our men and women have come back from overseas, especially in heightened combat situations, they may have trouble sleeping through the night without disruptions. Some veterans are not able to sleep at night because of their anxiety and stress, while others are inflicted with nightmares about things they have done and experienced. It can also be really hard for military veterans to talk about the trauma that they have experienced.

Many of them have repressed and compartmentalized their trauma in ways that make it really hard to bring up again. Using medical marijuana can definitely help veterans when it comes to falling asleep at night and feeling more at peace and relaxed in their own beds. In fact, many people suffering from anxiety disorders prefer indica strains of marijuana, because it creates intense waves of calm and peacefulness while you fall asleep.

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Posted onCannabis Usage

Great Gift Ideas For Cannabis Lovers

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This is a really busy time of year as we all know. November and December are arguably the most stressful months of the year, which is a really sad fact in my opinion. Thanksgiving and Christmas are great holidays to spend with family and friends and to be grateful for life itself and what you have. However, some people stress way too much about the holidays and this can partially be attributed to having to get gifts for people. Giving gifts to your family and friends is a great way to show your love for them and express your joy, but it can also be a bit pricey depending on what you buy and how many people you have to buy gifts for.

Are people in your life really interested in weed? Now that marijuana is legal in over 35 states, it is becoming more and more accessible across the United States. With that being said, there is a good chance that you know someone who enjoys smoking the bud every now and then. If you are struggling to find gift ideas for that special someone, know that you can always turn to the cannabis community for great marijuana related gift ideas.

After all, we will probably just tell you about the things that we wish we could get. Now I know what you are thinking – marijuana can be expensive and you do not want to spend that much over the holidays. While that is a fair point, I will counter this by saying that we have some cheaper gift ideas for your weed loving family and friends that won’t necessarily break the bank. Keep in mind that these gift ideas only work for people that are living in states where recreational marijuana is legalized, otherwise you’ll be running into cannabis laws and medical marijuana policies. 

The first gift idea that we have is on one of my favorite holidays of the year – it’s called Green Wednesday. Many dispensaries in the country have started participating in the annual tradition  of Green Wednesday in which you can save a ton of money on your monthly allotment of weed. Dispensaries all over the country will be a part of this holiday, and there are many great sales going on that allow you to buy a lot of weed for relatively cheap. You’d be spending way more on cannabis if the deals were not going on! So you might as well take advantage of it. Plus, you can even engage with curbside pickup or home delivery if you are not wanting to actually go inside the dispensary. Using this time to stock on marijuana is perfect, and you can give things away as gifts. Let’s face it, receiving straight up marijuana as a christmas present is pretty much the best feeling ever. 

Another gift idea that we thought of for weed lovers is the raw bamboo rolling tray. For the real cannabis enthusiasts that like to make their pre-rolls at home, there is no better gift than the ability to keep everything nice and tidy. Some people like to do things their own way. Plus, it is worth noting that this tray can separate and go back together in different ways to make sure that you are getting the optimal amount of use, and so that you can roll your joints right or left handed! Honestly, you really should invest in one of these anyways if you smoke marijuana yourself. I hope that this article was helpful to you and that you’re prepared for the holidays in about a month or so.

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Taking Advantage of Terpenes for Aromatherapy

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If you are someone who regularly enjoys smoking cannabis, you probably fall into one of two categories. The first category of pothead is someone who really enjoys all of the smells and wonderful aromas that you can get from smoking a marijuana flower. These people are going to be a lot more meticulous about how they smoke weed and make sure that they are getting all of the benefits associated with the smells of the plant. However, cannabis users in the other category may not care so much about how they are smoking their weed, and would be inclined to simply stuff a bowl of dried weed and light up. In either case, it is important to recognize that people are simply using their cannabis in the way that they see fit.

As long as you are enjoying your cannabis and getting high off of it, you will have no complaints from me. However, it is also true that you can find an even more pleasant experience with your marijuana if your bud is not over-fried or too dried. If you did not know, there is something called terpenes within the marijuana plant that enhances the flavor and aroma of your weed. Marijuana that has been overdried is not going to have as many terpenes in it, which will make the overall flavor and smell of the bud not as delicious and pleasing. For some people, the aroma that comes with burning fresh weed is therapeutic in a way – hence the term, aromatherapy. Not only are you enjoying a nice and relaxing high, but your nose is filled with the sweet and natural smells of the terpenes in your cannabis.

If you are looking for more information about what terpenes are, then look no further. When you invest in some good quality weed and open your container to smell it, you will surely be able to tell the difference between high quality and low quality smells, and a lot of it comes down to the amount of terpenes in the plant.

People really enjoy using terpenes as a form of aromatherapy and it is becoming more and more popular as weed is legalized from state to state across America. So you may be wondering, what the heck are terpenes? We know that they are found in fresh weed, but what are they? Well, terpenes do more than just smell good. They can also make you feel good too. Certain studies have shown that terpenes can be part of the plant that enhances your mood and improves your emotional health and energy levels.

Some strains of marijuana that contain much more terpenes than others are better for improving your focus as well. So there is a reason that you should probably be smoking more fresh weed if you really want to reap all the benefits that terpenes have to offer. Like I said earlier, I’m not here to tell anybody how to smoke their weed. If you like really dry buds in your pipe, then that’s all you my friend! However, there is definitely scientific evidence behind the benefits of terpenes, and part of that lies in the fact that they are great for aromatherapy. 

It is also worth mentioning that there are several different types of terpenes and they can differ in how they enhance your mood and how your brain responds. Myrcene is a type of terpene that is most commonly found in popular marijuana strains. Mycrene has a much earthier smell than other terpenes, and that is one way that you can identify it in your cannabis. This type of terpene is great for relaxing and feeling lightly sedated.

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Marketing Tips For Weed Dispensaries

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If you have been in the cannabis industry for a while now, you may have trouble keeping up with the competition. The fact that more and more states are legalizing medical marijuana on a regular basis is great for us cannabis consumers, but it can make life tough for all of our friends at dispensaries. Why? Because new sellers continue to enter the market and add to the level of competition from dispensary to dispensary.

Granted, marijauan is one of those products that basically sells itself. If you have a good setup and a good product, you are bound to have success as a dispensary. However, we live in the age of the consumer with a lot of choices at the same time, and marketing is more important now than it has ever been. The medical marijuana industry is becoming extremely lucrative as more states set up policies and laws around it, which makes it even more attractive for business entrepreneurs who are trying to get in on the cannabis cash. Sales of marijuana from state to state are predicted to increase each year well into the 2030s.

This kind of confidence in a growing industry makes it super easy for people to jump on the bandwagon and try their hand at owning and managing a medical marijuana dispensary. As the market of cannabis evolves, however, dispensaries are going to have to try a lot harder to get patients to come to their store. Right now, any dispensary that opens up can pretty much guarantee an influx of patients trying to get their hands on marijuana. Dispensaries are going to need to be more innovative and set themselves apart from other places in the future. We can already see that in some states, like California, Colorado, and Florida, the cannabis industry is becoming much more competitive.

So what are some marketing tips for marijuana dispensaries? Well, the biggest one that I can give you is to heavily lean into the medical side of marijuana. Even though some medical patients are merely using cannabis as a means to treat their chronic diseases or conditions, there is still a big stigma associated with using cannabis. To combat that, dispensaries should stray from the pop culture and pothead aesthetic when opening their store. Instead, lean into the clinical, professional, and medical side of cannabis, even if you are opening up a recreational weed dispensary.

This will make people feel more comfortable about buying cannabis and will help add to the credibility of cannabis being used as a natural, medicinal alternative to enjoy the benefits of on a regular basis. The most successful types of dispensaries are ones that are approachable, safe, and helpful, like any other professional retail establishment. Make sure that you are making patients feel comfortable when they visit your store, and don’t make them feel stupid for asking questions about marijuana that seem obvious. Some people genuinely do not know much about cannabis, and that’s okay because we are here to help them!

Another tip for marketing your dispensary is to diversify the content that you are creating to appeal to a variety of patient age groups. The awesome thing about marijuana is that it is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Interestingly, the fastest growing consumer demographic for medical cannabis is patients of 65 years of age or older. It’s not just the young kids smoking weed after school. Now that weed is truly seen as a natural option for managing pain and chronic illnesses, people of older age are really starting to see the benefits of it.

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Your Pet and Cannabis

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If you have been a part of any online websites or forums about cannabis, you may have heard questions about pets and marijuana. More specifically, people sometimes wonder if it is safe or effective to give their pet marijuana or check to see if they need to bring their pet to the vet after it was accidentally ingested. Some people are curious about what to do if their pet gets on the counter when they aren’t home and munches down on some leftover edibles on the table.

The fact about this situation is that your pets can in fact get high from ingesting marijuana. Now, let me stop you right there before you get the bright idea to let your dog take a hit from your bong; sometimes, animals do not experience getting high in the same way that humans do. In fact, it is true that it can potentially be an awful experience for our four legendary friends, not at all like the euphoric or happy trip that cannabis takes us down. For some smaller animals, consuming certain amounts of marijuana can actually be life threatening! So think twice before you give your little guy something to take the edge off – it just might take everything instead. 

I have a story about this exact sort of scenario. One weekend I was with my friends on a break from the fall semester at university, and we were just minding our own business on his porch and smoking some weed out of his pipe. We had also been doing edibles that night, and I believe that we must have left the opened package of gummies on the table back inside. We spent an hour or so on the front porch just chilling and talking about life; the nice thing about living in Michigan is that recreational marijuana is legalized for adults over the age of 21, so smoking on the porch was not a huge issue around that area.

Anyways, I got up to go to the bathroom inside and opened the door to see my friend’s dog lying on the couch, all fours up in the air. It turns out that he got up on the table and ate the entire rest of the pack of THC gummies, and now the poor thing was high out of his mind. I thought my friend and I were high, but this dog was basically on pluto. I told my friend that his dog was down for the count, but we didn’t want to try to take the dog to the vet because we had also been smoking. We ended up just letting the little guy sleep it off and he was fine after a few days, but he definitely did not enjoy the experience. All of that to say – don’t let your pets consume marijuana, because it can be really bad for them and even cause some serious medical problems.

However, I will mention that there are certain CBD products made and marketed specifically for pets. Most of these products are just CBD, however, because CBD oil is a really effective way of delivering a variety of health benefits to pets. Some pets, especially older ones, suffer from muscle soreness, digestive issues, joint problems, and many other factors that CBD can actually play a part in treating. Many people use CBD products for their pets and notice a real difference in their pet’s comfort and energy levels. That being said, it is definitely important to keep all of your own cannabis products out of reach from your cat or dog, just to make sure that they do not get into anything and hurt themselves.

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