Open Letter To Anyone Considering Cannabis

Dear First Timer

I know how weird it can feel to stand at the edge of your life looking over at a very strange option, Cannabis. Everything you have tried up until now has not made much difference in your life. But maybe, possibly...you hope, that something as radical as trying Cannabis will finally bring the change you so desperately want and more importantly need!

I'm here to tell you it will! It will change everything! It doesn't change the you who is deep down inside. The you who has been lost, covered up, and scarred by all the crap life has dealt you is still inside somewhere. She/he will again be found through Cannabis. All it does is melt away the pain, the stress, and the mental anguish that have so long been your ever present companions. They really are not worth hanging on to any longer than you already have.

I write from a similar perspective because I was there only six short months ago. But add on top of that the internal struggle I had because I am a Born Again, Baptized, Bible believing, tongues speaking, Holy Spirit filled Christian. I had a lot of stuff to shift through before I was able to make the leap. But next to giving my life to Christ this is the best decision I have ever made for my life. What do I mean by my life has changed? My marriage has changed! My ability to function at work has changed! My physical health has changed! My mental and emotional health has changed, and my family has changed! All for the better.

I could go on an entire day about how my life has improved and all the interesting facts about Cannabis, and the things I have learned in this new improved life of mine, but that would be boring.  Plus, you could just read the older posts in this blog. No, it's time to put your big toe in the water and let the rest of you slide in and relax.

Here's what to have before you start:
Time: Set aside about 2 hours at least, but best if you give yourself the whole afternoon or evening off. Call it ME time, if ya like.
Grab a non-alcoholic drink. Cold and thirst quenching is best.
Bring a snack. Anything will do, but I'm finding that salty seems to be the craving linked with cannabis use.
Bring an iPod, an android, or something to listen to music on.
Be prepared to go to bed, or take a nap

Here's whats going to happen:

Been gifted with a joint?

Take it outside on a nice evening or afternoon (cuz you don't want your house to smell) and while sitting in your most comfy deck chair light it up. If this is your very first time, take no more than two inhales, holding each for about 3 to 5 seconds before exhaling. Then gently butt out the joint and sit back for a few minutes.  Most strains of cannabis will take about 5 to 10 minutes to take effect when inhaled, only a limited few up to 20 or 30 minutes . Have a drink with you to counter this new and unpleasant taste, or cough. It's not pleasant for non-smokers but you can do it. I did.

Some of the things you may feel could include a tingling sensation in the head. Your heart might race. You might feel light headed, or dizzy. You might feel like talking a lot, or not at all (listen to that music you brought). You might get real hungry or thirsty (Ah! Snacks!)  If you feel nothing at all after 20 minutes (which sometimes happens - don't worry) light it up again and take another two inhales. When smoking (or vaping) the effects will last about 1.5 hours. Perhaps longer depending on how much you smoked and how fast or slow your metabolism is.

Just in case you smoked too much the first time (like I did) and you feel like it will never end, know that it will wear off and you will not feel like that forever. There is nothing to fear. No one has died from smoking cannabis (see how I felt when I REALLY overdid it one night). You will most likely want to go to sleep actually. Go ahead. And when you wake up you will feel normal again, but slightly prouder of your self for finally taking that first step.

Been gifted with (Coconut) Infused Oil?
This can be taken two different ways. Topical, which produces no high at all or eaten, which will produce a high.
If you are using it topically, rub it into the skin at the place most effected by pain/inflammation. From my experience I learned that I didn't notice any difference in the pain in my joints after rubbing it in for a week. So I stopped for two days. Those two days my joints were more sore than they had been all week while using the oil topically. I was convinced. It works. I did find it best to apply at least twice a day, especially when working since I'm on my feet all day.

The second way you can use Infused Oil is eating it, or baking with it. Most people make infused butter and bake with it. I have stopped using butter and only use Coconut oil now because it's more versatile and the coconut oil itself has health benefits. It is easy to use and store, it can be used on the skin, or in cooking, I can also melt it in my morning coffee.
If you are eating it for the first time, whether melted in a hot drink, or baked into something, or spread on toast here's what to do and what to expect. I suggest using the oil in a measured amount so you do not over do it. Very first time use no more than 1/8 tsp. If after an hour and a half you felt no different you can take a second dose of 1/8 tsp. Yes, that sounds like a tiny amount because it is. Better that than too much the first time. But remember it doesn't matter if you do take too much the first time, it will wear off eventually, most likely just make you very tired, and not much will happen except a REALLY good nights sleep! After my first experience (which by the way I over did everything because I didn't have anyone to tell me these things) I slept the entire night for the first time in years, and after I woke I felt happy, and like I had a hangover. For me my first experience with eating cannabis lasted 21 hours from start to finish. But I had had a lot! Way more than 1/4 tsp. The point though is that the sensation eventually left. And it didn't last at the same height the whole time either. The overall body sensation came on after an hour of eating, and peaked about a half hour later, lasting about 2 hours and then dissipated very slowly for about 3 more hours. The slight hangover feeling I had lingered but I was able to go to work and mostly ignore it. I definitely noticed when it just stopped, and I was no worse for wear.

On the topic of 'Is this going to harm me in any way?' No, it's not. So far from decades of human experience the adverse side effects of Cannabis use are feeling really hungry and making everything taste REALLY good (I now LOVE A&W Teen burgers), a lovely sense of euphoria, making music really good (worship improved for me too), and a really good sleep. When scientists discovered the
endocannabinoid system that the Cannabis uses to gain entry to our bodies it was also discovered that the only place without these receptors was the brain stem area which controls heart rate, breathing and all our autonomic functions. No receptors = no change. Other, more medically defined effects can include, but are by no means limited to....reduction in pain, reduction in inflammation, reduction or loss of tremors, shakes or spasticity, reduction in migraines, the arrest of glaucoma. Gains include, greater mobility, improved mood over all, better sleep, improved appetite, better sex life, and an improved outlook on life.

No, Cannabis will not take away the years of pain, or trauma suffered. But it will give you better perspective of the future. It will not remove your disorder, disease, or malady but it will improve your quality of life in ways you can hardly believe are possible right now, while you still sit on the fence. Take it from me, one who did everything about this process wrong yet still came out yelling the praises of this controversial medicine to anyone who will listen! When I look back at my life before, I cry. How hopeless and desperate I was back then! Oh, how wonderful and beautiful life is now! It's black and white next to Technicolor!

Have questions? Feel free to ask here, or find me on Facebook by the same name, NewbieOn TheHerb. It is open to the public because I'm about educating and helping others get free too.  Browse the old posts here on my blog. I have been brutally honest about every bit of my experience.

Then....dip that toe in and float!

Cannabis Culture Vs. the Pot Culture

I had a short conversation via text the other day with a friend about the oddity that is my life right now. How I'm stuck between the Cannabis Culture and the Hippie High.

See I'm a new breed of Pot smoker. I don't call it Pot, and I don't (usually) smoke it. Admittedly I feel a sense of importance to the new Cannabis Culture that is arising. Why? I'm not really sure. I've never grown it so have no helpful tips of the trade. I don't sell it, and so have no secret insider information. I'm no scientist so I can't tell you any groundbreaking new discoveries. Heck! I've only started using in December of 2014. I think it has more to do with the importance one person can make when they stop believing the propaganda and learn something from experience instead. It also has to do with being a woman involved, in a small way, in a new revolution. I've never felt so important actually! (if only Rona Ambrose really knew from experience, perhaps she'd lighten up too and start making a positive difference!)


That conversation I had started like this....
Me: ....the whole stoner culture intrigues me cuz I'm not really part of it. Everything I do is measured and dosed and picked based on relief of symptoms. And done alone. I don't often get the chance to indulge in the freedom of just having a toke and a talk with a friend.

That right there sums up the Cannabis Culture Vs. the Pot Culture


Thankfully my friend calmed my slight paranoia that evening and let me know I did nothing wrong by immediately seeing a simple drive home one evening after work as an appropriate time to pass a joint her way (whew). Navigating this new life is sometimes easy and other times I have no grid for what's right, wrong or otherwise. My Cannabis use is for medicinal reasons. But it's fun to cross that line and just get blasted too. I've had to learn everything I know by myself. Whether it was through Youtube videos or reading articles from HighTimes, or The Stoners Cookbook. I've taught myself how to roll joints, blunts, make butter/oil and what paraphernalia is best, worse, or most useful. I can also discuss the finer points of Cannabis science that has so far exceeded everyones else's limits I know. This is what the new breed of Stoner looks like. Like a 40-something working mother trying to live life to its fullest cuz hiding from it in alcohol, pills or seclusion just weren't working for me anymore.



This is Cannabis use in the selfie culture! Everything done alone. A quick search of Puff Puff Pass in Google images bears no group photos. I have one photo of myself smoking from a pipe, but the full photo won't be seeing the light of this or any other computer. At least not yet, I'm still a closet cannabis user. But I do have rather a lot of photos of the different strains I've bought, blunts I've rolled, the cookies I've made, and the stuff I've bought (many of these photos can be found on my public Facebook page of the same name). All of it done alone. So am I taking pictures to prove I can do it? Maybe, but I tell myself its for my blog. I also do it to educate. I'm not the only Mid 40's woman out there who has just embarked on a new Cannabis way of life. If I can do it, so can anyone!

It is a strange thing being on one side of the coin but having grown up "seeing" another side, the old culture. The Hippie Pot culture. What some refer to as Stoner culture. Where a group of people gather, pass a few joints around, share some peace, ideas, and free love. Really, they were doing exactly what still needs to happen today. Sharing life together in real and meaningful ways. Having community. Something sorely lacking in todays fast paced selfie culture. But is it dying out? Is the Stoner Culture being transformed along with our laws, regulations and knowledge of the Cannabis plant? Will any of the original Pot Culture hang on through this transition and stay firmly fixed in spite of the new solitary places we find ourselves? I guess that's really up to us to determine. I for one do not want to lose the good old days that I have still yet to experience, but would rather see it merged with the new.

Medicated Oil and Chocolates

With my third purchase made, received and tried out over the last week I was ready to make more medicated oil.  (I know, I’m behind and didn’t tell you about the first time)

The purpose of this oil, though edible is for topical application to my knees and sore arm. I found the topical use helps to decrease my joint pain enough to warrant daily use. My test included daily application for a week followed by two days of not using it. I definitely regretted not using it those two days! There was an increase of pain, a decrease in speed of movement and a decrease in my ability to be on my feet moving. I haven’t gone without using my oil since. 

And then I did something that seemed only logical, yet risky. I rubbed some medicated oil on my daughters back. She had back surgery in April and is still dealing with lots of pain. She medicates with an Extra Strength Tylonal and an Aleve every 8 hours, but her pain and the shooting nerve pain that occurs numerous times a day just makes her miserable, tired and less focused on her last few weeks of school. The next morning she said it helped and wanted me to put some on her back again before school. She decided to also try putting it on her rib cage under her arm where a shooting nerve pain runs. After two days of applying it in both places I asked some important questions. No, she wasn’t feeling any high at all. Yes, she noticed a decrease in pain in her back, but the effect faded part way through the day. (We need two applications a day if possible). And lastly, regarding the spot under her arm, the CannaCoconut Oil decreased the severity and the frequency of the “attacks” of shooting pain that usually make her hold her breathe and grab her side when it occurs.  Such SWEET success!! 

Her pain is not gone mind you. But I’m not about to medicate her any further than with topical oil. And she has expressed that she is not interested in that anyway. I’m ok with what we are doing for her. Its helping and eventually I’m guessing she will be able to wean off the phamra-drugs first. So what this means for me is making lots more oil to share. 

With my first tiny batch of Infused Coconut Oil (only about a tablespoon worth, skimmed out of my infused oil I made for baking) all but gone I was in need of making more.  Ingredients were Coconut Oil, and three hand picked strains best for pain management. For a wide spectrum of coverage I choose AviDekel (high CBD best for inflammation), Cognitiva (UK Cheese - a Sativa), and Sedamen (Pink Kush - an Indica). 

Medicated Coconut Oil

The Recipe :

1/4 cup of organic Coconut Oil

3.5 g of Cannabis of choice, ground but it doesn't need to be as fine as Shake Flour.
(See about the method I used here)

Put both in a cold pot and turn heat to lowest heat.
Allow coconut oil to melt and mix dry herb in well. 
Let sit on heat. Tiny bubbles that form in the oil are indication that the Cannabinoids are being absorbed by the oil. 

I nursed the mix for 2 hours. Low heat, off, low heat, off, repeat…Stirring (or swirling the pot) often. 

I strained through a small sieve into a coffee filter which was placed in a second larger sieve and over a bowl. The larger pieces of herb I pressed the oil out of into my glass storage jar with the back of a spoon. The coffee filter had very little plant matter, but what was there was very fine. The oil came out very clear and such a pretty colour! 

My dry herb was already crumble in the containers so I did not need to grind it. I do recommend it be at least as ground up as your hand grinder gets it. For baking, grinding it down to Shake Flour would be fine, but for topical oil I wanted only pure oil with little to no plant matter in it. I was very happy with the results of the coffee filter method instead of the cheese clothe. Though I did have to gently squeeze out the last half of the oil to speed up the process when the filter reached saturation. I feel there was not much oil lost to the filter.

In the end I had just under a 1/4 cup of Cannabis Infused Coconut Oil. But I couldn’t just stop there….Cuz I have started to consider making medicated chocolates and candies. I had saved a recipe to Pinterest for medicated chocolate bark. I halved the recipe and adapted it a bit to my taste. The original recipe can be found here….

Since a 1/4 cup is only 4 Tbsps I scooped out 1 Tbsp for a test batch.

CannaChocolates!

Ingredients:

 4 oz chocolate:(I used 2 oz of semi-sweet chocolate, and 2oz of 70% Chocolate)
1 Tbsp  Infused Coconut Oil (or Cannabutter)
(Bit of paraffin wax for consistency)
1/4 cup granola
Toppings:
1/4 cup  chopped dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pistachios 

Melt chocolate and infused oil over a double boiler and mix well until fully melted. 

After it was fully mixed I added a few bits of paraffin wax. Its used to make the finished product glossy, but since I added extra oil I didn't want my end result to melt in my hands, so the wax helps reduce that effect too.

Once fully melted and mixed I removed the bowl from the heat and added in my own home made granola, and all the chopped dried cranberries. (I had to chop more for the topping since I did that). 

In tiny chocolate cups (they are silver inside to let sticky candy or chocolate just slide out) I carefully spooned about 3 demi spoons into each cup, making 16. Working quickly before it cools too much I topped each cup with chopped Pistachios, then Chopped cranberries and as a finishing touch I dusted each with gold dust. Just cuz it’s for me doesn’t mean I can’t feel fancy!

Serving size for me is 2 chocolates. I wouldn't eat more then that before a work shift. It gives me a nice light sensation. One was too little. 

The math: 

1/4 cup oil =  (4 Tbsp) = 3.68g
1 Tbsp = 0.92g
Divided by 16 chocolates = 0.057g each.

It is true the dose is low. I’m not getting high as a kite off my chocolates. But according to research for medicinal purposes some issues are helped with just micro doses of Cannabis (Learn More Here). Its not really necessary to smoke or eat large amounts to feel the health benefits of Cannabis. I’m not really wanting to spend more money than I really need to that’s for sure! And I do see and feel the decrease of pain from the small doses I take throughout the day. 

Maybe I’ll try suckers next!