REVIEW The DaVinci IQ Herbal Vaporizer



The solid fit and finish and the substantial feel evidences that there was a lot of serious thought and effort put into the DaVinci IQ.

The IQ has simplicity at it’s core. The large herb chamber is very easy to fill and does’t require special or delicate packing. The IQ is fully functional when charging with the non-proprietary micro USD cord. Cleaning the mouthpiece couldn’t be any simpler as it is easy as soaking in alcohol and a thorough rinse - and that’s it! Other than that, the IQ is low maintenance, to say the least. Like I said,”simplicity”.

How you use is up to you. Choose between the flush mouthpiece and the extended. Whether you use the IQ in the precision mode by selecting exact temperatures or if you deploy the app and program specific temperature sessions, you are sure to have the good experience you are looking for.

The IQ is stealthy in a couple of ways. Sure there is a “stealth” mode to dim the LEDs but the IQ’s styling lends to hiding in plain sight among the bevy of electronic devices in our daily life. The size and smooth design makes it a comfortable carry in almost any pocket. 

The DaVinci IQ convection herb vaporizer was a pleasure to review. Every time I pick it up I end up playing with the app to find the perfect temperature settings or thinking of new things to sample in the flavor chamber. The battery life was good with my experience being about an hour or so of heavy use between charges. 

The DaVinci IQ has no shortage of features and comes with a vast amount of extras which include: matching metal stash jar keychain, a vape tool key fob, charging cord, brush and alcohol swabs. There are plenty of good things to say and I know I’ve probably missed one to two but my favorite thing is the herb chamber. The chamber is not only amongst the largest I’ve seen but it also so very easy to fill without losing valuable herbs and doesn’t require and MacGyvering.


Check it out for yourself at DaVinci Vaporizers and consider treating yourself to the best or really making the day for your favorite stoner. I am more than confident that you and yours will really love the IQ.

Stoner Gift Ideas Under $50 The PYPTEK Prometheus Nano


The Prometheus Nano
by Pyptek

Prometheus Nano by PYPTEK presents the world’s first one hitter glass chillum with an aircraft grade anodized aluminum exoskeleton. The Nano weighs less than an ounce, it's travel friendly, compact & delivers a full blast direct injection experience. Made in USA.

Available at PYPTEK

Stoner Gift Ideas Under $10 The OG Kash by Kasher


The OG Kash
by Kasher

The Kasher is a slick stainless steel multi-purpose tool that fits snugly over any standard Bic lighter. Simply slide OG down and you’re ready to use it in a variety of ways. This visually appealing poker tool is portable, durable, and easily cleaned.

The OGs are now sturdier & burlier, nearly twice as thick as before. With this extra durability, the OG will keep that perfectly snug fit on a Bic. Even after extended use it rarely needs to be tightened up.

Get one for your favorite Stoner and one for yourself.

Visit the Kasher Amazon Store

The Science of the Munchies


A study from the brilliant minds at Yale University has explained one of the most curious phenomena from cannabis: the science of munchies. Why do some cannabis consumers experience a heightened sense of appetite after partaking in some of their favorite strains? The Yale study dove into this eternal question and has come up with a scientific answer.

Cannabinoid receptors have a coordinated dance with specific neurons in the brain known as pro-opiomelancortin (or POMC neurons), which are located in the hypothalamus. These neurons control appetite stimulation (as well as other base instincts, such as sexual arousal and alertness – this explains so much). The POMC neurons are also responsible for sending a chemical signal to the brain to stop eating when the person is full.


Scientists have long made the connection between the stimulation of cannabinoid receptors and an increase in appetite. However, this study made the correlation that when cannabinoids are introduced to the system, a receptor inside the POMC neuron is activated, causing a switch from signaling that the person is full to making endorphins, a neurotransmitter that increases appetite.

Tamas Horvath, the lead researcher (who has also authored numerous scientific studies on cannabinoids and eating behavior, as well as endocannabinoids and their role in body fat regulation), likened the chemical effect to switching your foot from a gentle tap of the brakes to rapidly accelerating instead. It fools your brain’s central feeding system and suddenly you feel ravenous, even if you've just eaten.

More at: Leafly

11 Facts about your Endocannabinoid System



How is it that one plant – cannabis – can treat so many different illnesses?

It’s a great question and luckily there is a great answer based on scientific research.

The answer lies in our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Most people have yet to hear about the ECS, but as the world comes to better understand this crucial system, we continue to unlock the secrets of cannabis as medicine while understanding more about human health in general.

Here are some quick facts to get you up to speed – some of them might shock you!

#1) The endocannabinoid system was discovered in the late 1980s when researchers were studying how THC interacted with the body. For reasons we’ll get into, the ECS would soon be considered more significant than all other neuroscience discoveries combined.

#2) In the early 1990s another amazing discovery was made when researchers found two endogenous compounds that bind just like THC with the ECS. These THC-like cannabinoids, produced by our own bodies, are respectively called anandamide and AG-2.

#3) It eventually became clear that the receptors which comprised the ECS were the most prevalent neurotransmitters throughout the brain and also found in the organs, bones, and skin.

#4) Scientists have learned that the ECS plays a direct role in homeostasis, which means that it regulates every metabolic process in the body to keep things running as they should.

As Dr. Sunil Aggarwal pointed out during the Cannabis Health Summit, the ECS plays a role in processes such as:

Mood regulation
Appetite
Memory
Inflammation
Pain perception
Muscle tone and movement
Extinction of traumatic memory
Protection of nerves and brain tissue
Bone growth
Tumor regulation
Baby breast-feeding reward
Stress management
Eye pressure
Gastrointestinal motility
Seizure activity
And many others

#5) When we don’t have enough endocannabinoids in our body, we call this clinical endocannabinoid deficiency – which medical researchers are connecting to a number of ailments including previously untreatable illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia or migraines. When the ECS isn’t healthy, any number of things can go wrong. The cannabinoids in cannabis can helps us bolster the ECS, which is why the herb is so effective for so many different ailments.

#6) In addition to endogenous and plant-based cannabinoids, attempts have been made to stimulate the ECS with synthetic cannabinoids such as Marinol, which is the synthetic version of THC. While some patients continue to benefit from this FDA-approved drug, the side effects can be very unpleasant for others.

#7) Despite knowledge of the ECS and its relationship with cannabis, governments have maintained severe restrictions on the study and legal access of this plant.

In 2014 alone the U.S. government locked up 700,000 people for cannabis all the while knowing the importance of this plant acting on the ECS.

#8) Pharmaceutical companies meanwhile are permitted to attempt cracking the ECS in other ways, creating chemical concoctions with often times ineffective, harsh or even fatal results.

For example, between 1999 and 2014 the number of opioid prescriptions quadrupled. The number of opioid-related deaths also quadrupled during that time span according to the CDC.

#9) People have been using cannabis for over 10,000 years (without a single fatal overdose ever being recorded), and some estimates have the ECS first developing at about 500 million years ago!

#10) Many medicals school continue to overlook the ECS, however this is starting to change now that we have the first science-based medical cannabis textbook.

#11) Almost every animal, with the exception of insects, has an endocannabinoid system.

Learn more at: LearnGreenFlower.com

MMJ Medicinal Marijuana vs Lupus


Cannabis is effective against lupus for several reasons. Many of the anti-inflammatory benefits it delivers are closely related to the relief gained by rheumatoid arthritis sufferers who medicate with the herb. Chiefly, marijuana is a very effective analgesic (pain killer) and anti-inflammatory agent. Because the inflammation associated with lupus can produce considerable pain in the hands and knees, cannabis can both treat the source of the symptom — the inflammation and swelling — while also decreasing one of the main symptoms — pain.

Some lupus patients report gaining the most efficacy from their symptoms from strains and extracts of cannabis that are high in the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol). Others claim relief from juicing the leaves of cannabis plants, with CBD-rich strains being indicated as more therapeutic. Most strains and concentrates of cannabis are extremely effective at dealing with the nausea experienced by some lupus patients. Those suffering from insomnia should consider smoking or vaporizing a potent indica before sleep.

The fact that lupus sufferers gain the greatest relief from cannabis strains high in CBD is no surprise. The disease affects the immune system, the areas of the body in which the greatest number of CB2 receptors are found. CB2 receptors are the microscopic chemical parking spaces located throughout the body that features what researchers label a “high binding affinity” for the CBD cannabinoid molecule. THC, the cannabinoid most responsible for the psychoactive effect of cannabis that’s so great for depression and PTSD, binds with a different cannabinoid receptor, CB1, which is found mostly in the brain and nervous system.

Because so many lupus patients suffer from skin conditions, the use of cannabis topicals is one of the most effective treatments for varieties and symptoms of this disease that affect the epidermis. This is especially true based on the stigma of highly visible skin conditions in western cultures that value physical beauty. Topicals and the improvement of skin quality are also an approach that considers psychological, emotional, and self-esteem issues, especially in young and middle-aged women typically afflicted with lupus.

Conventional pharmaceutical treatments for lupus include steroids and immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate. In some patients, methotrexate can cause pulmonary fibrosis, among many other negative and severe side effects. Many drugs used to treat lupus also result in extreme nausea and abdominal cramping.

Cannabis, on the contrary, conveys no severe or negative side effects, unless one considers an improved mood, an appetite, and better sleep undesired results of one’s medicine. Given the extreme efficacy of cannabis for inflammation and pain, especially top-shelf strains high in CBD — and the almost complete lack of negative side effects from the herb — one must question the moral and ethical validity of the anti-cannabis stance of the medical establishment.

In some cases, chemotherapy (and, specifically, a pharmaceutical drug called cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan] that is also used to treat cancer) is used to treat patients suffering from lupus. This avenue of therapy brings a slew of negative and controversial side effects to lupus patients, including severe nausea and vomiting, hair loss, lack of energy, and depression, among many others.

Much more at: MassRoots

RECIPE Espresso CannaCupcakes by Jeffthe420chef



Number of servings: 12
Preparation Time: 20 minutes 
Bake time: 18-20 minutes

APPROXIMATE THC PER SERVING*
10-*15mg per serving 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  •  ½ teaspoon salt
  •  ½ teaspoon baking powder
  •  1 teaspoons baking soda
  •  ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  •  ½ cup Cane Sugar
  •  ½ cup Brown Sugar
  •  1 stick grass fed butter, melted
  •  ½  cup hot coffee
  •  ½ cup milk
  •  3 egg yolks
  •  1 teaspoon almond extract
  •  1 tin Kiva Terra Espresso Beans
  •  1 16 oz. bar dark chocolate or 50g Kiva Espresso Dark Chocolate bar *(+5mg per serving)
  •  ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
  •  ½ pint heavy whipping cream
Steps

Cupcakes
1. Preheat oven to 340°F.
2. Grind 12 Terra Espresso Coffee beans
3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together dry ingredients.
4. Add melted CannaButter, coffee and milk and mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, almond extract and ground Terra Espresso beans. Beat 2 more minutes.
5. Pour into paper lined muffin tins pans (3/4 full).
6. Bake for 20-22 Mins

Ganache Icing & Coffee Bean Crumble
1. Coarsely Grind chocolate bar and chocolate chips and set aside in a large glass bowl
2. In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream and stir constantly until edges start to bubble
3. Pour hot cream over chocolate through a strainer and stir until ganache is dark, silky and smooth.
4. Refrigerate for 1 hour to thicken a bit
5. Invert cupcake and dip top into ganache. Set aside.
6. For coffee bean crumble, place 12 Terra Espresso Beans into food processor and pulse until desired coarseness.
7. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon over each cupcake

 Voilà!

Via: Jeffthe420Chef.com

PROFILE The MouthPeace by Moose Labs


MooseLabs was already successfully producing products for cannabis consumers when they stumbled upon a need for an idea. When attending a Cannabis Cup event, the crew from Moose Labs noticed friends and strangers sharing glass pipes and bongs. When they heard about a friend who had become very sick after attending a cannabis “sharing” event, the need for a clean and healthy solution became very clear.

Moose Labs tackled the germs problem and came up with the MouthPeace and the MouthPeace quickly became the “must have” for safe sharing.

Now you can share and socialize to your heart’s content and avoid your old and new friends sharing their bugs, viruses and cooties back.

Available in three versions, your MouthPeace will fit all needs. Choose from: the Original with it’s tampered sure fit shape, the Slim which is just as universal but slim enough to fit in a pocket or a small purse and the Mini which is great for joints, blunts and pipes.


All Moose Labs MouthPeaces are 100% Platinum Cured Silicone, Dishwasher and Hot Water safe and each one comes with a handy lanyard.


Check out the MouthPeace at Moose-Labs.com, Choose your favorite color and Stay healthy and safe.

MMJ EDIBLE RECIPE The Double Whammy CannaChipWich by Jeff the 420 Chef


Makes 6 Double Whammy’s

INGREDIENTS

1 cups + 1TBSP all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3/4 stick JeffThe420Chef’s Light Tasting Cannabutter, softened
¼ stick grass fed butter, softened
½ cup cane sugar
¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
½ bag semi-sweet chocolate chips morsels
Vanilla Ice Cream
Chocolate shavings

HOW TO MAKE IT

PREHEAT oven to 340° F

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. 

CREAM both butters, cane sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large bowl until smooth. I
prefer to do this by hand but you can use a mixer and set it on “cream”.

ADD egg and blend until creamy and smooth

FOLD in flour mixture (go slow). 

STIR in Chocolate Chips 

DROP by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheet. 

BAKE for 11 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

COOL completely....

ADD 1 scoop of ice cream and create sandwich with 2 cookies

Sprinkle ice cream with chocolate shaving and Voila, you have a Double Whammy!

Enjoy ☺ 


*Click on the THC/CBD Calculator link to figure out the approximate dose of THC per serving.

Thank you: Jeff the 420 Chef

Medical Marijuana vs Prescription Drugs


Statistics show that states that have legalized medical marijuana and made it available to patients have seen a 25% drop in opiate related overdoses. This alone proves that patients are choosing medical marijuana as a safer alternative – but now there’s a study that backs up this statistic. Researchers took a look at how much Medicare was spending on prescription medications (through Medicare Part D) and found that the number of prescriptions for conditions that can be alternatively treated with medical marijuana declined from 2010 – 2013.

Prescriptions for things like opioid painkillers (think Vicodin, OxyContin, Hydrocodone, etc), anti-anxiety, and antidepressants – among others – all saw a significant drop during that time period, but only in states with medical marijuana programs. That drop saved Medicare roughly $165.2 million in 2013 alone and the number of daily doses of painkillers alone dropped by 1826 doses – all pointing to the fact that patients were choosing medical marijuana and doctors were recommending it. 

“The results suggest people are really using marijuana as medicine and not just using it for recreational purposes,” Ashley Bradford, a student researcher at the University of Georgia (UGA) and the lead author of the new study, said in a statement.

These findings were also based on the fact that medications for which medical marijuana is not an alternative (blood thinners, for example) have not seen a reduction in the number of daily doses prescribed and paid for. While this data is not scientific proof that medical marijuana works – it is proof that enough people are turning to it, so it must be effective. Otherwise, wouldn’t people stick to the medications that did work?

“We wouldn’t say that saving money is the reason to adopt this. But it should be part of the discussion,” he (W. David Bradfor) added. “We think it’s pretty good indirect evidence that people are using this as medication.”

Millions of dollars saved only ends up accounting for 0.5% of the spending tracked by Medicare Part D – and if medical marijuana ever becomes Schedule II then insurance may begin to cover it (though likely only FDA approved versions) so that savings wouldn’t be quite as significant later on – but it’s still nothing to ignore. Marijuana is less expensive to produce, especially on a large scale, so it would still end up being a more cost effective treatment in the end. 

via: the Marijuana Times

MMJ All About Tincture


Tinctures are an ages-old method of delivering the medicinal benefits of marijuana to patients of all ages. While cannabis that is high in psychoactive THC and, thus, relatively potent can certainly be used to create a tincture, historically this extraction and consumption method has been limited to purely medical applications and was often considered a “hemp extract” or “hemp oil.”

Another way of describing a tincture is an alcohol infused with cannabis resin. According to The Weed Blog, an online publication out of Oregon, many seasoned marijuana smokers aren’t even aware of the humble tincture, let alone have ever partaken of such an extraction. Said the blog in one of its posts:

“Tinctures are perhaps the least popular and beloved way of consuming marijuana. They don’t have the ritual that comes with smoking, nor the fun of edibles.”

While not the type of concentrate that captures headlines and results in petabytes of pot porn floating amongst the internets, tinctures are, without a doubt, the oldest mass-market way of extracting and consuming the cannabinoids and terpenes found in the medicine-bearing trichomes of the cannabis plant. During the majority of the 19th century, physicians from throughout North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe dispensed, recommended, and prescribed cannabis tinctures for a wide variety of common ailments.

In fact, during the period of 1837 to 1937, which some writers have referred to as the golden age of medical cannabis — and the century preceding its federal-level prohibition in the United States — a mild cannabis tincture, typically manufactured by a large pharmaceutical company, was the home solution administered to adults and children suffering from everything from skinned knees and headaches to sore muscles and menstrual cramps.

In 1890, British physician J.R. Reynolds published his 30 years of experience with cannabis, recommending it for multiple conditions. In his position as the court physician to Queen Victoria, he infamously administered a tincture-infused cannabis tea for her menstrual cramps. During this period, it was rare that a tincture of “cannabis sativa” was not present in the medicine cabinets of everyone from wealthy downtown debutantes to prairie ranchers to middle class suburbanites.

According to the book Understanding Medical Marijuana, “…one museum has identified more than 600 medical products involving marijuana as a chief ingredient prior to its prohibition in 1937.” Most of these would have been packaged and distributed through retail pharmacies, drug stores, and physicians as tinctures.

More including: How Tinctures are made, THCA, CBD and How to make Tinctures at: MassRoots

VIDEO RECIPE Light Tasting Cannabutter by Jeff the 420 Chef


Easy and worthy Recipe to make Light Tasting CannaButter and start making your own tasty creations


WHAT YOU'LL NEED (makes 1 stick of butter)
Heat resistant glass dish
Distilled water
Fine mesh strainer and a Tea Strainer
French Press Coffee Maker
Small Tupperware or bowl with cover (large enough to fit a melted stick of butter)
Bowl filled with Ice Water
Aluminum foil

INGREDIENTS
1 (4oz) + 1/3 stick butter  (I prefer unsalted grass fed butter. Kerrygold is the best!)
1/4 oz dried herb 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BUTTER

STEP 1: Rinse and Blanch your Herb
  1. Coarsely grind or break up dry herb and soak overnight in Distilled water.
  2. The next day drain and rinse cannabis in the fine mesh strainer over the sink with more distilled water.
  3. Place rinsed cannabis in Tea Strainer
  4. Bring water to a boil
  5. Place tea strainer with herb in boiling water for 5 minutes
  6. Immediately remove tea strainer after 5 minutes and place in ice water for 1 minute.
  7. Remove from ice water, squeeze out excess water and break apart into small pieces onto oven safe ceramic or Pyrex baking dish
  8. Preheat oven to 300ºF
  9. Spread blanched cannabis in dish evenly
  10. Cover with foil
  11. Bake for 20 minutes to decarb
  12. Fill a large pot or a portable water boiler like the Proctor Silex water boiler with water and bring to a boil
  13. Place butter in French Press and place French Press into water boiler or pot to melt.   The water line should be just above the melted butter line.
  14. Gently mix decarbed herb into the melted butter.
  15. Cover French Press with plunger and lid but DON'T PLUNGE yet. 
  16. Let butter simmer for 3 hours
  17. CHECK WATER LEVEL IN BOILER EVERY 20 minutes and refill as necessary.
  18. After 3 hours push down plunger on French Press and pour into plastic butter dish or a similar storage container. 
  19. Place strained butter mixture into refrigerator till it solidifies
  20. Turn out re-solidified butter onto a paper towel to remove any residual water or moisture from your butter and blot your butter dry!
Place dried butter back into butter dish and voila!


More from Jeff the 420 Chef at: Jeffthe420Chef.com

REVIEW The SLX v2.0 Herb Grinder



The Connoisseur’s Herb Grinder

     At first glance, the SLX v2.0 is a good looking machine. Completely coated with a ceramic, non-stick and 100% FDA certified coating, this grinder is as slick as it looks.

    Because of the never stick coating, there will be no more cross threading or jammed up sets of teeth stuck together with the results of your last dozen grinds.

    One of the best features is the grind basket. Unlike most other grinders, there is no need to unscrew a kief collector before collecting your ground herbs. You need only lift out the basket that fits neatly on top of the kief collector.

    I refer to the SLX v2.0 as a “Connoisseur’s Grinder” because of it’s non-stick abilities. With the SLX v2.0 you can grind up a new strain or an old favorite while not picking up any results of your last grind as well as not leaving anything more than some kief behind.

    Just try the SLX v2.0 once and you will see what I am talking about. Or take my word for it and you will need only too pick between two sizes and seven colors.

    The SLX v2.0 is on my “best of” list and I know with our friends at SLX backing up their grinders with their “We’ll Make It Right” promise, the SLX v2.0 will remain on the list.
 

The SLX v2.0 is available at SLXherbgrinders.com


MMJ EDIBLE RECIPE Spinach Cannabis Quiche


Ingredients:

1/2 cup cannabis-infused butter
3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
1 small white onion (finely diced)
10 oz package frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
4.5 oz can of mushrooms (drained and chopped)
6 oz package of crumbled feta (herb & garlic)
8 oz package of shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs (beaten)
1 cup milk
1 (9″) unbaked deep pie crust
Salt and black pepper to taste


Directions

To begin, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, in a medium size skillet melt the 1/2 cup of cannabis-infused butter over medium-heat on the stove top.

Then, finely mince the 3 cloves of garlic and finely dice the white onion.

Add them both to your skillet with the melted cannabutter.

Cook for several minutes until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant; roughly 5-6 minutes.

While the onions and garlic are cooking, drain the mushrooms and the thawed spinach.

Proceed to chop the mushrooms and add them and the drained spinach to your skillet containing the onions and garlic. Stir well to combine.

Then, add in both the feta cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (the other 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese will be used to crown the quiche once it has begun to bake).

Season with salt and black pepper, and stir well to combine until all of the cheese is mostly melted.

Next, spoon the quiche mixture into the unbaked pie crust.
Then, in a medium size bowl, beat the 4 eggs and 1 cup of milk.

Once finished, pour the egg and milk mixture over top the spinach filling in the pie crust. 

Jiggle and shimmy the pie crust around to ensure the egg has made its way into all of the nooks and crannies that may be hiding, and also to allow any air bubbles to escape prior to baking.

Place the spinach quiche into your preheated oven and allow it to bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the quiche from the oven and crown it with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.

Place the quiche back into the preheated oven and continue to bake it for an additional 35-40 minutes, or until the center is completely set.

Remove the quiche from the oven, and allow it to stand for 10 minutes prior to serving.
Serve and enjoy!

Check out other posts from Weedist’s Great Edibles Recipes series!

Health Benefits of Hemp Oil


Out of all the cannabinoids in marijuana, cannabidiol (or CBD) has become one of the most sought after compounds due to its superior medicinal benefits. The most common medium for taking CBD is through an extract, such as tinctures and oils, which can be created from hemp.

Compared to THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, CBD heals the body passively without getting the patient high. According to a report from the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the cannabinoid contains the following properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-seizure and anti-depressant. Recently, CBD extracts received attention from the media for helping mitigate seizures in children diagnosed with Dravet syndrome. Traditional medicines, including clonazepam and diazepam, often leave such patients disconnected from their surroundings, significantly lowering the individual’s quality of life. It’s important to consider that CBD does not come with the same debilitating side effects as prescription meds. The compound is known to promote alertness with minimal overdose risks. Furthermore, it can counteract vomiting and nausea closely associated with conventional treatments.

Hemp CBD oil is also suitable for patients suffering from pain-related diseases, such as headaches, cramps and arthritis. Interestingly, scientists have proven that CBD activates the same parts of the brain as opioids. It regulates the patient’s thresholds “through the modulation of RVM neuronal activity.” This suggests that the compound could be a viable option for individuals who are concerned about the recent spike in opioid overdoses across the United States.

CBD is not limited to patients with crippling medical conditions. The compound in hemp oil is also beneficial for mainstream consumers with everyday ailments. In a study from the University of College London’s Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, CBD was effective in reducing cigarette addiction in smokers. During the trial, 24 participants were randomly given an inhaler of CBD or a placebo. The individuals were asked to take a puff from the inhaler when they had an urge to smoke a cigarette. The results showed that those who were given CBD decreased their cigarette consumption by up to 40 percent.

Individuals who are prone to acne may also find CBD useful in preventing skin breakouts and redness. First uncovered in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and the National Institute of Health, scientists discovered that the application of cannabidiol on human sebaceous glands helped reduce skin inflammation by hindering lipid synthesis.

Unlike medical cannabis, hemp CBD oil is legal, and consumers do not need a license to purchase the extract from a store or online. Individuals who are interested in trying hemp oil should check out Elixinol’s CBD products. The company offers hemp oil extracts in the following mediums: tinctures, capsules, liposomes and oral applications. “With deep roots in the hemp industry, we have been focused on manufacturing and providing the highest quality CBD Hemp extracts in the world for over 3 decades,” said Paul Benhaim, CEO of Elixinol.

via: MassRoots

MMJ vs Crohn's Disease


Crohn’s Disease and Colitis are painful, chronic conditions that can ruin someone’s quality of life, even when they aren’t acting up. When they are, these conditions can leave one writhing in pain, unable to function. Treatments for these conditions have been limited until recently, as they have now been included in some states as qualifying conditions for medical marijuana.

Crohn’s disease causes chronic pain and inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract, causing swelling, constipation, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, cramping, and the sensation that bowels aren’t fully evacuated.

Ulcerative Colitis belongs to the same family of disorders, known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBS, but only affects the innermost layer of the colon. Symptoms are the same as Crohn’s but also include fever, decreased appetite, fatigue, unhealthy weight loss, and amenorrhea in women.

Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat the symptoms of IBS related diseases and was widely prescribed for these conditions until its legal status was changed almost 85 years ago. It wasn’t until 1942 that it was removed from the medical pharmacopeia.

More recently, The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America issued a statement in 2012 saying that the compounds found in the marijuana plant have been shown to play an important part in decreasing gastrointestinal inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids are well established, but it turns out that IBS patients have more receptors for these compounds in their colon and intestines that those without the condition, meaning that for them, the relief is even more profound.

Researchers at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Chaim Sheba Medical Center performed a study that found people affected by the diseases showed significantly improved quality of life using inhaled medical cannabis, as well as increased appetite, healthy weight gain, and a decrease in symptoms severity and frequency. This led to a more normal life, greater ability to perform both professionally and socially, and decreased mental stress and depression.

Researchers at the Sire Manchester Hospital in England also published a study reporting that medical marijuana decreased pain and diarrhea in IBS patients.

More Including Strain Suggestions at: Herb

REVIEW TransformerTubes be Creative and Customize your Own.


TransformerTubes are interchangeable modules that can be arranged in any number of color combinations and configurations. The concept is rather simple. Easy to assemble components that add up to a pretty cool water pipe with a design you customize for yourself.

The modules include: dome percolators, ice and milking chambers, glass and liquid freezer modules, in a variety of colors and more, including: a choice of bases, carbon filtration and LEGO® character modules. The possibilities are endless.

The smooth surfaces also make a blank palette for spray or craft paints or a great place for all those stickers you’ve collected.

Because TransformerTubes can be broken down and taken apart easily, filling, cleaning and transportation are all simplified. Try carrying around a 4 foot piece of glass. When it comes to cleaning, BYOTubes suggests alcohol-based solutions or my friends at Randy’s suggest their Green Label Cleaner as an alternative.

So, if you’re looking for a great water pipe that can be made truly unique and are looking for a little creative expression, I suggest checking out Transformer Tubes.



Check out TransformerTubes 
and Build Your Own at BYOTubes
Get 10% OFF Everything
with Code: MRSTINKYS

Juicing Marijuana Leaves


Almost every part of a marijuana plant can be used for something. With growers fixated on the flowers and buds, the other parts of the herb, such as the roots and leaves, are often neglected or thrown into a compost pile. Trimmers are quick to cut away the inferior bits of the plant, and very few people know that they can be used for smoothies, creams and oils. 

Juicing is a great way to get the most out of cannabis leaves. The natural ingredients are filled with antioxidants and vitamins, which can aid the immune system in preventing and fighting off diseases. It is important to consider that this method of ingesting marijuana leaves won’t get you high. If you’re avoiding the psychoactive effects of weed, juicing is the way to go. Without heat to convert THCA in raw cannabis into THC, you’re left with CBDA, CBG and healthy doses of phytocannabinoids. 

“They [phytochemicals] are not nutrients per se, there are tons of phytochemicals in basically every healthy fruit and vegetable, and are correlated with antioxidant and even anti-cancer properties. Though it’s still tough for scientists to prove exactly what’s happening, it’s clear that plants hold important medicinal value for our bodies,” explained Roni Stetter from Merry Jane.

Such components may help reduce inflammation, pain and muscle spasms. In particular, CBG or Cannabigerol, is packed with natural cleansing properties, and can be used to manage intra-ocular pressure (IOP) for patients diagnosed with glaucoma. Cannabis leaves also contain high levels of phytochemicals (bioactive non-nutrient plant compounds). At an atomic level, the chemicals are effective in reducing free radical damage in the body, while decreasing risks associated with chronic illnesses.

Juicing cannabis leaves is a straightforward procedure. The first step is to acquire the leaves, which is the hardest part of the process if you don’t have direct access to a growing house. When it comes to the actual juicing, you may want to incorporate the leaves with fruits to avoid the raw, leafy taste. This also means that you would need to monitor your sugar intake to prevent unwanted weight gain. Mixing the green ingredients with watery fruit juice is an effective way to dilute the potency of the leaves. 

More from: Michael Cheng and MassRoots

MMJ Edible RECIPE Tropical THC Muffins


These coconut muffins are a dense but moist delight that use the wonderful power of mango (or rather the chemical compound myrcene terpenes contained in the tropical fruit) to amplify the effects of THC and help it traverse the blood-brain barrier more efficiently. Be sure to have the egg and coconut oil at room temperature when you begin or the batter will be very, very difficult to stir.

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup less 3 tbsps coconut oil
3 tbsps THC-infused coconut oil (see below)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
¾ cup coconut milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large mango, with flesh diced
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, divided in ½ cup and ¼ cup 


Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a muffin tin with papers.
  2. In a small saucepan, warm both coconut oils until just barely melted.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder and salt. Stir in 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, coconut oil, coconut milk, diced mango and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients until just combined.
  5. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups then sprinkle the top with remaining 1/4 cup coconut. Should you not be able to fill all 12 muffin wells, remove the paper liner and add an inch of water to the empty ones. This will keep your tray from staining and your muffins nice and moist.
  6. Bake for approx. 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out batter-free. Remove to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to three days.
Yield: 10 to 12 muffins of considerable potency

More Recipes and News: The Marijuana Times

How to mitigate the effects of too much MMJ


by Nanette Porter of Medical Jane

1. Calm down and relax. Approach the situation in an accepting and calming way. Your initial reaction is usually panic. Freaking out will make the situation worse. Panic can temporarily rob you of your ability to think and concentrate. Employ meditation techniques to calm your mind. My favorite is the mantra meditation technique. During mantra meditation you mentally or softly keep repeating a word or phrase, such as “fear isn’t real, fear isn’t real, fear isn’t real,” until you have replaced all your busy thoughts. Remember you are in discomfort not danger. Fear comes from thinking about what may happen, not what is actually happening.


2. Find your happy place. Bright lights, loud music, crowds and noise are stimulating, so they can make everything more frightening. Some people get anxious when in a crowded or public place because they are concerned that others will observe their highness. Getting to a place where you feel safe is the key. A quiet, dark room or watching TV  alone works for some; while others prefer to distract themselves with the people and objects around them by playing a videogame or blaring their favorite tunes.

3. Take deep breaths. Just breathe. Do some diaphragmatic breathing – belly breathing. Many people think they know how to do deep breathing, but if you aren’t doing it correctly, you are not going to get good results.

4. Stay hydrated. You are at a higher risk of dehydration and may need to increase your water intake. If the thought of water doesn’t sit well, try adding some fresh lemon or lime. Other foods and drinks that can help you stay hydrated include fruit and vegetable juices, milk and herbal teas. High water content fruits include watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapples, oranges and raspberries.

5. Boost your blood sugar. Cannabis has been associated with lower blood sugar, which is great for reducing the tendency toward both obesity and type 2 diabetes; but if you are prone to swings in blood sugar, many of the symptoms you are experiencing may be related thereto. If you suspect your blood sugar is low, try adding a tablespoon of honey to a glass of water. Hope Warshaw, RD, a certified diabetes educator and author of Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, does not recommend chocolate. She explains that the fat in chocolate slows down how fast the sugar and carbohydrates can get into your bloodstream, making chocolate an inferior choice to fruits containing natural sugars.

6. Reach for CBD. A lot of the feelings of paranoia and anxiety stem from too much THC and not enough other cannabinoids to balance out THC’s psychoactive effect. According to the study, Hypnotic and antiepileptic effects of cannabidiol, CBD was shown to possess sedative properties. Try a CBD tincture or transdermal patch to counteract the unwanted psychoactive effects of THC.

7. The black pepper myth. The black pepper suggestion went viral when Neil Young told Howard Stern during an interview in 2014, “Try black pepper balls if you get paranoid. Just chew two or three pieces. I just found this out myself. Try it.” A study conducted on mice suggests that beta-caryophyllene (present in the essential oils of various plants, including black pepper) may be useful in treating anxiety and depression. Black pepper is also known to increase drowsiness. However, it can also lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs or supplements that affect blood sugar.

8. Get some sleep. Sometimes a good nap may be all that is needed. Curl up in your blankets with a soft pillow and think happy thoughts. Sleeping is the most effective way to remedy smoking too much cannabis. However, because infused edibles take much longer to digest, you may wake up feeling dazed and confused. Not to worry, these feelings should fade away as your day progresses. Some patients have reported feeling slight depression for 1-2 days following a large cannabis intake, although this has not been proven by any clinical studies.

The best way to avoid a bad experience is to make sure you’re informed about proper dosages and to always approach cannabis, especially edibles, with caution. You need to find the proper amount that works for you. Cautious experimentation is the only way to find that out. That’s why lab testing cannabis is so important; without the vital lab data, patients are left to fend for themselves. Compile that with a general lack of patient education systems and it’s no wonder why so many people have had at least one bad experience when consuming too much cannabis in one sitting.


More on MMJ Overdose at Medical Jane

3 Steps to Making Edibles by Mary Jean Dunsdon


Before I dive into my first column, I figure I should introduce myself. I was born Mary Jean Dunsdon, youngest of four, to a Top Gun fighter pilot and a macramé hut/craft store owner. So I come by my current profession honestly. I have been unapologetic about my marijuana use and food production since 1993. I sold my first cookies on the world-famous, clothing-optional Wreck Beach that same year.

Before selling cookies, I sold slices of watermelon and T-Shirts to nude people. The T-Shirts had pictures of my best friend on them. He was an 80-year-old Irish bootlegger named Paddy White. Paddy loved to smoke pot. I sold the watermelon for $2 a slice—except to children. It was always free for children. This is where I got my name, Watermelon.

Since those early days, I have easily made and sold more than 1 million Ginger Extra Snap Cookies, Rum-Resin Balls, Bud-der Tarts, Weedish Meatballs, Spanakopita Puff Pastries, Nice Cream Cones, Quiche Your Ass Goodnights and so much more. I love to host marijuana-tasting salons in my home a few times each year. I cannot stress how important it is to know about serving size and cannabis conversion when hosting such parties. I want everybody to have a great time without sleeping over or freaking out. I have some great party tricks I will share with you in a later column, but for starters, I want to break down my rather simple process, step by step. When it comes to baking edibles, there are three steps to nail:

Making your shake flour
Determining your serving sizes
Converting your cannabis

These processes can be used for almost any recipe. I always encourage responsible edible creations that can be enjoyed by the average person. Advanced edible eaters can have two servings. For me, the easiest method of all for making edibles is by starting with some shake flour.

Making Shake Flour
Shake flour, quite simply, is finely ground, dried cannabis flowers and/or leaves. To make your own, pulverize cannabis flowers and/or leaves into a fine flour using a blender or coffee grinder, and then sift off any fibrous material. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use it on a recipe-by-recipe basis.

Serving Sizes & Portion Control
The most important kitchen tool you will need for creating edibles is a scale. My serving guidelines, which I believe offer the perfect dose for the average person, is 0.5-0.75 grams per serving. So, if your recipe says serves 10, you will weigh up enough shake flower for 10 servings only. This equates to 5-7.5 grams, depending on the quality of your shake/bud. Don’t be a hero unless you like sleepovers. Less is always more. A little goes a long way. As my mama says, “You can always go back for seconds.”

You can then add your weighed shake to the fat, oil, alcohol or whatever you are using for your cannabis conversion. This helps avoids any confusion on how much to eat, or how much pre-made canna butter to add.

Cannabis Conversion
You need to convert dried cannabis to make it active, meaning it gets you high when you ingest it. Scientifically speaking, you need to knock the carbon molecule off the cannabis so it can bind to your cannabinoid receptors. Cannabis molecules cannot easily bind to your receptors with the carbon molecule intact. This is similar to a key that won’t fit into a lock. After you knock the carbon molecule off, the key fits perfectly.

You can knock carbon molecules off using heat, alcohols or fats. This is the process of cannabis conversion taking place. There are many different types of fats you can use to convert cannabis for edibles, including butter, coconut oil and bacon fat. There are also many different types of alcohol you can used to convert cannabis for edibles, including rum, vodka and black sambuca. Another way to covert cannabis is using dry-cooking techniques done in an oven or a slow cooker, and some patience.

Originally Posted at: Hydrolife

Star QB Jim McMahon Recovered from Chronic Pain with MMJ


Former Super Bowl champion and Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon credits medical marijuana for helping him recover from the chronic pain he developed from his long and arduous career as a football player in the NFL.

Now 56, McMahon has been plagued by debilitating health problems following his 15-year career in the National Football League which included multiple concussions and a broken back. Since retiring from football, McMahon has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and experiences severe headaches, depression, memory loss, and vision and speech problems. As a result of all these health issues, McMahon has joined other players in a pending class-action lawsuit accusing the NFL of negligence and misconduct in handling concussions.

Since he came forward with his health issues, McMahon said he has been feeling significantly better after his recent chiropractic neck treatments, but says medical marijuana got him off the copious amounts of prescription narcotic painkillers that he took throughout his career.

McMahon admitted to taking nearly 100 Percocet pills a month for pain in his shoulders, neck and arms before he received his medical card. “They were doing more harm than good,” he said. “This medical marijuana has been a godsend. It relieves me of the pain — or thinking about it, anyway. More people should have access to this wonderful plant.

McMahon received his doctor’s recommendation for medical cannabis in his home state of Arizona after it was approved by a voter referendum in 2010. However, his focus lately has been on the state of Illinois, where he is advocating for chronic pain to be added to the list of acceptable conditions for medical marijuana patients.

via: Medical Jane

CBD vs Bipolar Disorder Symptoms


As medical marijuana becomes legal in more states across the country, there’s been a spike in public interest to see whether cannabis can effectively treat mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis that are commonly associated with bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, there are conflicts in scientific consensus for both supporting and opposing views of cannabis use for the treatment of mood disorders. Some studies have linked marijuana use with early-onset psychosis, while others suggest there are anti-psychotic benefits of cannabis in bipolar disorder patients.

It has been shown that cannabidiol has anti-psychotic properties, particularly anxiolytic benefits in humans. CBD possesses hypnotic, anti-convulsive, neuroprotective, and anti-stress benefits. Based on this evidence, research studies have begun to investigate the anxiolytic and antipsychotic benefits of CBD, which may be useful in effectively treating bipolar disorder. 

The Neurochemistry of Bipolar Disorder and Cannabinoids

A dysfunctional endocannabinoid system (EC) has been implicated in mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, and modulation of the EC system by exogenous cannabinoids such as cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol and anandamide can potentially treat bipolar disorder symptoms by exerting antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic effects. Research studies have demonstrated the antipsychotic mechanism action of cannabidiol. Administration of cannabidiol may indirectly influence endogenous anandamide signaling by inhibiting intracellular metabolism by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Elevated levels of anandamide can attenuate mood disturbances and treat bipolar disorder symptoms. 

Research studies have pointed out the role of the dopamine (DA) system in mood disorders, including bipolar disorder. The key role of the mesoaccumbens DA system has been proven in the reward pathway (neural circuitry) and motivational behaviors. Experimental studies being conducted to investigate the efficacy of anti-psychotic drugs are based on the hypothesis of dopamine, glutamate, and other neurotransmitters. These drugs exhibit antagonism to dopamine D2 receptors which is commonly linked with hyperprolactinemia due to action of anterior-pituitary mammotrophic cells. These drugs are called typical anti-psychotics (Clozapine) which cause Parkinson-like symptoms, while atypical anti-psychotics are also effective without causing serious adverse events, which can be confirmed by a catalepsy test.

Atypical anti-psychotic drugs inhibit hyperlocomotion and the stereotype that results due to dopamine antagonists at lower doses. Effective anti-psychotic action requires the blocking of D2 receptors as well as glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. 

A comparative study assessed the anti-psychotic efficacy of haloperidol (an anti-psychotic drug) and cannabidiol (CBD) found that CBD inhibited hyperlocomotion without causing catalepsy, even at higher doses; while haloperidol caused prolactin disturbances. The pharmacological action of CBD mimics clozapine. Another neurochemical experimental study reported similar results. These results prove that CBD acts like an atypical anti-psychotic drug without causing serious and long-term side effects.

One study investigated the anti-depressive action of CBD in an experimental animal model (AKA olfactory bulbectomy mouse model) of depression (OBX). The results suggest that cannabidiol exerted rapid and sustained antidepressant action in the depressed animals by significantly augmenting cortical serotonin and glutamate levels in a dose-dependent manner. Receptor studies have shown that the action was exerted via a 5-HT1A receptor-dependent mechanism, which represents novel drug functionality. After prolonged CBD administration notable adaptive changes were documented in pre and post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptor action. 

CBD can inhibit glutamate toxicity and offers anti-convulsant and mood-stabilizing benefits, which are similar to the benefits of conventional therapeutic drugs such as valproate and lithium that are indicated for bipolar disorder. In open-label human clinical trials, CBD has significantly reduced psychotic symptoms and normalized motor functions in psychiatric patients. These benefits can be useful to treat manic episodes in bipolar disorder patients. 

Cannabinoids influence mood perceptions and exert anti-depressant action by acting as an agonist in central CB1 receptors. 5-HT is believed to be responsible for mood control and implicated in antidepressant-like actions. Research evidences have pointed out the action of CBD in the serotonin (5-HT) system and related neurons. Administration of CB1R agonists such as phytocannabinoids into the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of the brain has resulted in enhanced 5-HT neuronal activity and CB1R-dependent antidepressant-like effects in the experimental animals. This study clearly shows the dose-dependent antidepressant benefit of CBD, which can be particularly useful for the treatment of mood disorders, including bipolar disorder.

More Including: The Neuroprotective, Anti-psychotic, and Anxiolytic Benefits of CBD at Marijuana Times.

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