In the United States, June is Black Music Month. Globally Black Music and Black Culture has set the tone for almost every touch point of coolness in modern day society. The relationship between black music, black culture and marijuana or cannabis has a clear throughline for better or worse. In recognition of Black Music month, we’d like to explore the relationships between The Culture and Cannabis. Standard definition of culture is a set of norms, behaviors, ideas, beliefs reflected in society amongst groups of people. Culture is also brought to the forefront via art, music, celebrations, customs, and more. The phrase “the culture” when spoken or heard often refers to predominately black culture with heavy emphasis on hip hop culture and derivates of its norms and creativity.
Jazz music, a great American art-form also created by black people that has deep roots to cannabis dating back to the early 1900s and the New Orleans Jazz scene. From Ella Fitzgerald to Cab Calloway sung about “reefer”. Louis Armstrong, New Orleans native and beloved jazz artist made referenced to marijuana in his music and spoke openly about its ability to increase his productivity. New Orleans banned its use in 1923. Funny enough Armstrong never had an incident with his usage in the city of New Orleans, but California at that time was another situation. Armstrong while between sets a at the Cotton Club in Culver city was enjoying a smoke when cops saw him (other someone alerted them). Ultimately his six months sentence was suspended. Armstrong went on with his great career until his death in 1971. Throughout his career he continued to reference marijuana in his work.
Reggae music has famously championed the global access to cannabis. Peter Tosh dedicated a now classic album in 1976 to the cause titled, Legalize it. Bob Marley music and cannabis icon converted from Christianity to Rastafarian in the 1960’s and therefore smoked marijuana and part of his religious practice. Because of his global crossover success and incredible images captured by photographers at the time many posters of him smoking hung on walls of fans. Bob often sang the medical benefits of cannabis and was well ahead of his time.
Rockers like The Beatles and Bob Dylan, country music icon Willie Nelson infused their music with homages to the cannabis plant but the 1978 drop of incomparable baritone voice of disco and RnB sensation Rick James singing about “Mary Jane” and her glory can’t be denied as one of this most well-known cannabis culture songs. Some could argue the groundwork for what was to come.
Hip hop no doubt has given the most modern-day roadmap about its uses from economics to creativity to lifestyle benefits. What early rappers presented in their work as it relates to cannabis can be seen as the same form of defiance as their jazz counterparts. During The War on Drugs and targeting specifically black men and boys, artists flat out said that not only is marijuana our lifestyle but livelihood. From hits like I Got 5 On It by Luniz to Dr. Dre’s Chronic album, artists were forecasting what they believed. In many ways we can say that musicians have been against the taboo of use so much so adult users are able to enjoy marijuana today while amongst like-minded people in shame-free spaces. The original 1997 Smokin’ Grooves tour featured Cypress Hill arguably one of the most iconic rap groups to ever fight for legalization. From songs titled I Wanna Get High, which did not mince words about their intentions, to 1993 DJ Muggs smoking on the Saturday Night Live stage resulting in a lifetime ban.
Continued pacing and persistence by countless artists using their platforms gave cover for others. Much of the criticism about it being the gateway drug and being a drag on society because of usage has been debunked. Many of these musicians and everyday people have become rather successful regardless of the harmful mythology heaped onto cannabis usage. Large cannabis companies owe a debt to the authenticity factor these artists brought to cannabis conversation, of which they benefit from now and going forward. Today’s popular music may reference cannabis so seamlessly that it could be considered boring however, musicians have added an elevated level of acceptance to cannabis consumption and for that the community will continue to be grateful.
]]>One of the most impactful ways that cannabis and hemp can improve an intimate connection and sex life is by alleviating pain, pelvic pain specifically. Low back, pelvic or hip pain could cause a decrease in arousal, fear of performance, and/or complete lack of desire to engage in any sexual activity not just intercourse. This may cause a rift in the relationship by way of silence around the lack of touch, interest, and sexual activity. Humans crave connection with a trusted lover (s). Not sharing these private moments may trigger great shame for a couple(s).
In a study published (2019) by The Official Journal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called Cannabis for Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Survey of Prevalence and Effectiveness, results concluded that participants found the use cannabis for treating their chronic pelvic pain useful and would consider continued use for managing and eliminating said pain. Pelvic pain is an enormous barrier to intercourse and enjoyment by both parties. To be able to remove that barrier is a form of closeness and intimacy that people experiencing this sort of disruption greatly appreciate.
In another study published (2017) by The Official Journal of The International Society for Sexual Medicine found that “the majority of women who used marijuana before sex reported positive sexual effects in the domains of overall sexual satisfaction, desire, orgasm, and improvement in sexual pain but not in lubrication. Women who used marijuana before sex and those who used more frequently were more than twice as likely to report satisfactory orgasms as those who did not use marijuana before sex or used infrequently.”
Studies on cannabis and sexual health is an emerging area this is especially true when it relates to men’s sexual health. Self-reported evidence of increased libido and arousal as result of cannabis or hemp use continues to be a mainstay in the ongoing conversation. However, studies on cannabis as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction are mixed. It is widely known that some of the psychological causes of ED are depression, anxiety, stress, and exhaustion because of sleep disorders. Cannabis and hemp have been used to treat many of these conditions.
Ways to incorporate hemp and cannabis into your relationship – it is important make sure everyone is on board with the use of introducing hemp or cannabis each time. Giving someone hemp or cannabis without their consent is not only unethical it is against the law. So, consent and ethics first.
If this is not the first-time consuming cannabis or hemp then the usual consumption methods may apply, just changing the strain or dosage to increase desired results during intimate moments could prove to be best practices. Look for cannabis or hemp stains that are known to eliminate pain, ease anxiety, address negative mood states. Strains for energy may be of great benefit for a positive experience.
The use of topicals and suppositories specifically geared towards lubrication, relaxation and/or the easing pain go a long way in assisting pleasurable outcomes. CBD or THC infused massage oil prior to or in use during an intimate connection can ease pelvic pain for and increase lubrication for both partners. It is important to always make sure products do not damage any safer sex items such as condoms or diaphragms.
When using topicals or massage oil on intimate areas of the body – check ingredients and doing a skin test is advisable. Meaning place a small amount of the product on the skin, on the back of the hand for example, wait briefly to make sure there are no adverse skin reactions. Also speaking with a gynecologist, urologist, or dermatologist if one is available to either partner is a suggested step as well.
Talking about sex continues to be a tough topic. Broaching the subject of lack because of physical hurdles can be twice as daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Understanding what barriers cannabis and hemp products can assist in tackling may be a kinder, gentler way to approach a very difficult issue, which in turn might create more intimacy.
]]>Are you wanting a dry herb vaporizer or one for oil, or a vaporizer for concentrate? Are you a looking for portable and discrete or stationary with tons of power? And then there’s budget. Factoring in ease and aesthetic also plays a part when deciding what to purchase. Going down the rabbit hole of reviews can stop people all together. Hopefully covering the why and the what when it comes to vaporizers can give a solid foundation for building a vaporizer wardrobe.
A great vaporizer can make all the difference in the hemp or cannabis experience.
Vaporizers come in desktop and portable versions. A portable or handheld vaporizer is powered by a battery. Desktop vaporizers can be plugged into an electrical outlet. There are flame-powered vaporizers, meaning the use of a lighter is needed. For this blog we are focusing on electrical outlet and battery powered vaporizers.
Why do people move from traditional smokable inhalation methods to vaporizers?
Short answers are - they are healthier because of inhaling flower through vapor verses the run-off from combustion i.e., smoke. Using a vaporizer taste cleaner. Vaporizer don’t burn your flower. They allow for the full flavor profile of the strain. Growers go to great lengths to produce these wonderful strains and connoisseurs search for the best flower to address their needs; getting the full range of this grower/connoisseur marriage can happen abundantly with the use of a vaporizer. In many cases using a medical grade desktop vaporizer for a medical marijuana consumer is the best and only option.
Vaporizer might be more convenient and cost effective. Buying a well-made vaporizer and companion accessories could prove to be a lower cost per use opposed to the time and money spent constantly buying rolling papers, wraps or cigars (for the use of the cigar paper). Vaporizers are more discrete, and the order is controlled to in some cases eliminated.
What’s Out There
Dry herb, concentrate or oil can be consumed with the use of a vaporizer. Which type you purchased will be based on type of cannabis or hemp consumer you are. If you are moving from traditional smokable methods, the dry herb vaporizer offers a similar historical tactile feel. Breaking down the flower to roll it can have the sensory experience as grinding your flower for a dry herb vaporizer. At the same time if the use of oral tinctures speaks to a person, then transitioning to or adding an oil vaporizer to the mix might be the move.
For new shoppers, your vaporizer will clearly indicate what type of material to be used in the device. If it doesn’t indicate or your seller is ambiguous about material usage pass on the product.
A quick note about disposables. Disposable vaporizers or preloaded vape pens is another option. They are battery powered and the customer gets exactly what is in the pen. When that pen is finished it can’t be reloaded with a different material. Some people find disposals a great starting place, an on-the-go alternative to their desktop vaporizer or just enough to be a mainstay vape pen options.
We would be remiss if we did not mention that there has been a lot of controversy surrounding vape pens in general. It is important point out that controversy has to do with nicotine based vape pens which we are strictly discussing the use of hemp and cannabis products. However, when buying anything - always be judicious in purchasing a vaporizer for your hemp and cannabis use. Below are some holy grail tips to constantly have top of mind when purchasing.
Purchasing Tips
First and foremost, look forward to getting excited about vaporizer shopping. This does not have to be daunting. The technology is constantly evolving to enhance one’s ease of use and optimum flower experience. Plus, these devices are some good-looking pieces.
Look at the chamber type in the vaporizer. Is it convection or conduction chamber? Conduction is more likely to burn the flower vs convection. Convection is more heated air rather than combusting the flower. If you don’t mind the flower being heated the combusting mechanism and are looking for a smoky taste like the traditional smoking experiences a combustion chamber might be your choice. Convection allows for full use of dry herb; little to none of the flower will stick to the chamber. You are paying for the flower so waste not. Does the vaporizer have a ceramic oven or stainless steel? Ceramic ovens are found more in vaporizers used in medical practices or considered medical-grade vaporizers. Ceramic is said to give a cleaner experience, meaning the full taste of the flower is felt without additives of after taste. Find out how much flower the vaporizer can hold at one time, that may be determinate on which size you purchase.
In Addition To
Now that you’ve chosen your vaporizer, there may be a few other things you might want to pick up to make sure your research and purchase don’t go to waste.
If you haven’t invested is a nice grinder, having one that will give you a smooth breakdown of your dry herb is key. The dry herb needs to be broken down before putting it into the device.
Buying a sleeve, storage bag or case to keep the unit free from scratches, dings, and possible breakage is advantageous. Plus, a storage accessory is a nice touch to your vaporizer. Respect your device and your device will keep working in your favor years to come.
Getting additional batteries, or refillable oil tanks (glass cartridge with ceramic tip is top shelf) is an excellent idea. Picking up cleaner and cleaning kits for your vaporizer is a must. To maintain your vaporizer and appreciate your flower experience you must clean the unit. Cleaning your device with just any solution or random tools could lead to destroying the device and ultimately wasting your money. It’s recommended to clean the vaporizer once every two weeks.
Some Cautionary Advice
Don’t purchase vaporizers predominately made of plastic. These are heated tools. And don’t purchase these devices from places that aren’t knowledgeable in what these devices do. Absolute no, no - do not buy pieces from random convenient stores and gas stations. There are well-versed shops, vendors and online sites dedicated to making sure you get what you need. The landscape has grown, take advantage of the wealth of knowledge in the ecosystem.
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]]>Dr. Dabber - Switch
The Switch blends nicely into any Nero intense room design. Not only is this piece sleek it's beyond functional. Some of the wonderful features include - induction heat for fast and consistent flavor, 25 calibrated heat settings, self-cleaning that burns away residue and many more fantastic features.
Cloudious9 - Tectonic9
Upgrade your traditional grinder to a smooth auto dispensing Tectonic9 grinder. With the press of a button the diamond shaped grinding teeth provides a beautiful fluffy grind. Good to go!
Ghost Vape MV1
Not only is the Ghost MV1 sharp in appearance it is optimum for the use of medical and food grade materials with its true convection technology. The possibility of charring or combustion is eliminated because this delivers cool vapor of the highest purity every session, allowing retention of a quality flavor profile from your favorite herbs.
Jane West - The Compact
If you are on the go The Compact is a discrete carrying case that keeps your personal flower out of sight and ready to use when you get to the privacy of your on home. Gone are the days of having your products slushing around in the bottom of your bag.
Hemp Meds - Revitalizing Body Wash
We couldn't end this post without a little self-care in the form of a CBD product. The contents aren't black but the packaging is and will look great in a chic black and white bathroom. The Revitalizing Body Wash is sulfate-free and infused with CBD oil and omega 3,6 and 9 - giving your skin soothing relief as it cleanses.
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]]>The Essentials
Humidor
To keep your flower organized and fresh a must have in any collection is a Cannador. This wonderful piece holds up to 6 strains, keeps your flower away from humidity, light and heat. The lock feature is a perfect way to keep what's in safe. The beautiful wood and clean lines allows this humidor to fit in with anyone's modern decor.
Containers
If stainless steel is more your speed then CVault containers are an edgy fit. Air tight, the light isn't getting in and odor isn't leaking. With a variety of sizes there is a container just for the right amount. The stainless steel design lends itself quiet well to privacy.
Lastly for those who like to put eyes on their product at any given time the EVAK glass container allows for just that. Air tight and odorless these well-crafted pieces keep your strains ready for use. These containers also come in a variety of sizes.
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]]>When we hear cannabis and mindfulness, one may automatically think of “stoner” culture. People zoning out, eating munchies, having long random conversations about unrelated topics, playing video games and not contributing to society. Whoa, the judgments are long. Those tropes can be put to rest by saying – regardless if you’re a consumer of cannabis all of those tropes can transverse any culture and furthermore aren’t always a bad thing in moderation and for some can actually be a lucrative profession, like gaming culture. Which many laughed at back in the day but we shall digress.
Back to cannabis and mindfulness and how it can play a part in today’s climate of uncertainty and remain in one’s life as a permanent methodology. This topic combination can be brimming with information so for this piece we’re touching on immediate ways. After all mindfulness is an ongoing process.
When thinking of mindfulness the word meditation quickly arises. The idea of meditation may not be accessible to people for reasons of time constraints, against cultural norms or even lack of knowledge on how to execute. Luckily mindfulness is more than one or two popular ways of meditation. Sitting or lying down in a meditative state isn’t the only way to be mindful.
Mindfulness can be the overall care and consideration on thoughts and actions that increase the greater good for an overall outcome. In that theme there are several ways to up your mindfulness in reference to cannabis starting today.
Ways to be mindful around cannabis:
Education will always be one of the main ways to be mindful around cannabis. Luckily not only have product offerings flooded the market education has flooded the market. There are many publications from medical to lifestyle to culture, producing enormous amount good information. The search for information isn’t as daunting as it was when little to no information existed. No longer is one forced to ask “the cat down the street, around to corner, in the back of the house, next to the sign with the E scratched out.” You can research the who, what, where, how and why about cannabis from the comfort of your home. Looking for information is a deliberate act of empowerment and mindfulness.
Choose the best products you can. This is a tricky one for many reasons. As knowledge increase your awareness so goes awareness in buying choices. It becomes tricky if you don’t have access to legal and reputable dispensaries that source great products. If you do have access don’t be afraid to visits different places and ask questions. If you are buying legal ancillary products that help you get the best out of your plant ask questions of those providers too, whether it’s brick and mortar or online. Factor in pricing - buy the best products at the price points of your budget.
Talk to medical professionals who are becoming more accepting of cannabis as a therapeutic for a number of treatment alternatives. There are numerous studies that find talking to your doctor about any sort of health issue is harder than talking to a friend at game night. It’s as if we want to be so pitch perfect with our doctors we don’t talk to the main person who needs to know the most about us. Many doctors go into to field because they want to help and heal. Here's the other catch - they're also problem solvers at heart. Imploring these skill sets when seeing your doctor can keep your cannabis wellness top of mind. Doctors are constantly continuing their education including seminars surrounding breakthroughs and new discoveries when it comes to cannabis and ongoing therapeutics. Being in partnership with professionals who have access to burgeoning information takes your self-care up a notch. If your doctor doesn’t have a position or knowledge about the subject don’t be afraid to ask for reference or follow-up information for the next visit. Again tap into those problem-solving skills.
Commit to yourself. Easier said than done, just because adult-use prohibition is falling doesn’t mean stigma about “the devil’s lettuce” has dissipated. Many who have arrived at the place of adding this plant into their lifestyle management have a very specific reason – be it addressing pain, mood-balancing factors, disease fighting factors or what have you; the plant has offered a benefit. Lean into the fact that one owes the naysayers nothing. Leaning into what your body needs to operate at a quality of life that you seek is mindfulness operating at full tilt. Stand firm on your why, it not only helps you it helps the cannabis community at large.
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]]>So let’s start with beauty! Whether we’ve been locked down or we’re planning for a re-emergence after lockdown for those who are looking to take care of their crown and glory start here. GrönCBD Repair Adaptable Hair Mask with 150mg of CDB is a sumptuous gift for the “hairlista” in your world. Both our founder and our founder’s mother swears by it for their hair! It coats and seals ends while leaving hair soft and nourished. This mask is loaded with goodness such as shea butter, castor seed oil, vitamins E and B5, and of course CBD! CBD which can nourish and strength hair and ultimately promote hair growth!
For those who are in legal states and have embraced the DIY mood of these current times how about turning up recipes with some infused butter starting with the Magical Butter Machine. User friendly this powerful machine can offer a whole new frontier to the home chef who is micro-dosing via edibles. Not your grandmother’s edibles anymore!
We can’t end our list without adding something that addresses overall wellness. One of our core goals is to source products that help people live a pain free life. Mary’s Nutritionals Elite Patch is a nice way to discretely address pain relief. This laser cut unscented patch comfortably stays on your skin for hours. With its flexible design the wearer can put it on and forget about it.
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