The Green Leaf by 420saver magazine

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

EXPERT Q & A LEGAL By M. Ryan Hurley AZ’s MMJ Program A Retrospective and Look Towards the Future

should rejoice at the news that the AZ Department of Health Services will accept Dispensary applications between May 14th and 25th. Once the applications are in and DHS anticipates holding the lottery and awarding Certificates in mid August. That means Dispensaries could be up and operating as early as Fall. Of course in this industry, in this State, we must always be cautiously optimistic, but barring some unforeseen action by the US Government the will of the voters will be fully implemented in a few short months! Of course this brings just as many questions as answers. The most prominent of these questions is what will happen to patients/caregivers who currently grow their own medicine.

cense. Certainly some will try to challenge this either via additional lawsuits or outright refusal to stop cultivating. I am hopeful, however, that these individuals will instead comply with the law and seek their medicine through a licensed and regulated Dispensary. Anything else will simply be an invitation to law enforcement to crack down and would result in a severe black eye on the industry, something our opponents would no doubt relish. We all must remember that this law passed very narrowly (by only approximately 5 thousand votes) and that our ability to maintain legal access for sick patients hangs by a thread. It is incumbent upon each of us to put the best foot forward and comply with the regulations and the law as passed even if it means some people will lose the investments they made in the current system. The AZ MMJ Act removes With increasing Federal pressure one’s legal right to cultivate if around the country, and local law enthe patient is within 25 miles of forcement eager to crackdown on those an operating dispensary who push the boundaries of the law the For many this will be a difficult last thing we need is internal fighting pill to swallow particularly when they within the MMJ community. Together invested time, effort and money to cul- we stand, divided we fall. tivate based on the State’s refusal to move forward with the dispensary li-

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ell it has been a challenging and confusing start to AZ’s Medical Marijuana Program. We sit here today nearly one and a half years since the voters approved the law and we have had ample confusion, delays, and challenges but in the end some vital successes. We have nearly 25 thousand patients who have received their cards and their legal protection to possess their medicine, but lawsuits and politics have delayed the full implementation of the dispensary portion of the program leaving many patients struggling to find a reliable and safe source of medicine. Because of this delay caregivers have sought to fill this role with varying degrees of success via cooperatives or compassion clubs. However these providers exist in a very tenuous and murky grey area of the law and we are starting to see some pushback from County Attorneys and local law enforcement. We need look no further than the recent high-profile raids of a prominent local compassion club and a local tincture provider to know that the current situation is unsustainable. For this reason I believe that all of us in the AZ MMJ Community

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

FROM SEEDS TO STASH:

Growing Medical Marijuana,

Arizona-Style AN 8 - PART SERIES BY R . J . MOSS

Part 8: Harvesting, Drying, Curing and Storage To review earlier parts of this series, visit our website at: http//thegreenleafaz.com

boxes or paper bags. Extra leaves and shake dry well under the same conditions piled about 2 inches thick. To avoid mold, turn over the buds and leaves, every other day. When the leaves are totally dry, they can be crumbled to make hash or edibles.

When buds are almost dry and ready to cure, you’ll be able to bend the stems and they will snap. Place them in TupperwareRemember to flush your soil with r/o or distilled water a couple type containers, seal them tight and place them in a dark area. of times, a week prior to the harvest to prevent a fertilizer taste in Several times a day remove the lids and let them breath for about the final product. Harvest early in the morning, when THC levels 10 minutes before re-sealing. This slow cure will ensure a great are reported to run higher. There are two approaches to harvest aroma, smooth taste and an even burn. the crop; the Total Harvest and the “Snip-Snip Method”.

Harvesting Your Crop!

Storing the Stash:

With the Total Harvest approach, the grower cuts the plants off The precious buds need to be stored airtight, using a vacuum at the base and hangs them up-side down from a string in a cool sealer, in canning jars to preserve their quality. A refrigerator dark room. With larger plants, cut them into smaller pieces, prior (but never the freezer) is the ideal place to store and preserve to stringing them up. marijuana for several years. Avoid ever leaving your stash in a hot or brightly lit environment. The buds often ripen at different times, so some cultivators prefer the snip-snip method. With this approach, the grower first removes the ripest buds, usually on the top, manicures them Planning Your Next Crop: Cultivators sometimes talk about “getting the bug”. The “bug” to and begins the drying process in a separate area. Every 3 days, grow marijuana can be almost addictive. One grower said that he harvest newly—ripened buds until the crop is in. would rather grow it, than smoke it! It’s easier to manicure the buds when the cannabis is freshly cut and the leaves are still sticking straight out. With a scissors, trim off the large fan leaves, at the stems that exit the bud. More carefully, trim away the smaller leaves, where they protrude from the buds. Be very gentle with this process. The resinous trichomes are very easily broken off, degrading the quality of the cannabis.

Drying and Curing:

Cannabis dries best in a dark, cool and semi-humid environment (about 50 percent). The drying material will usually create enough humidity during this process. Too much humidity can cause mold and excessive dryness will create a harsh taste in the final product. The ideal dry time is 5 - 7 days. If your drying area is too dry, add a couple of buckets of water to the area. A temperature of 65 to 75 degrees works best with this process. Individual buds can be laid out, one layer thick in cardboard

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

Do you have the bug? If so, now is the time to start planning your next crop, which hypothetically will always be better than the last one. Enjoy the fruits of your harvest and the best of luck with your next cultivation.

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

HEALTH

10 Things Every Parent, Teenager & Teacher Should Know About

Marijuana

1. What is Marijuana? “Marijuana” refers to the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, which contain the non-narcotic chemical THC at various potencies. It is smoked or eaten to produce the feeling of being “high.” The different strains of this herb produce different sensual effe effects, ect cts, ra ranging from sedative to stimulant.

2. W Who Uses Marijuana? a? There is no simple pprofi rofile of a ty typical marijuana user. It has been used for 1000s of years for medical, social, and religious reasons and for relaxation. Several of our Presidents are believed to have smoked it. One out of every five Americans say they have tried it. And it is still popular among artists, writers, musicians, activists, lawyers, inventors, working people, etc.

3. How Long Have People Been Using Marijuana? Marijuana has been used since ancient times. While field hands and working people have often smoked the raw plant, aristocrats historically prefer hashish made from the cured flowers of the plant. ant. It was not seen as a problem until a calc calculated cul u ated dis disisis s information campaign was launched in the 1930s, and the first American laws against using it were passed. d

4. Is Marijuana Addictive? dd diccti tive ve?? ve No, it is not. Most users are mode moderate deraate de t ccononnonsumers who smoke it socially ially too rre relax. ela lax. W Wee now know that 10% of our population have “addictive personalities” and d they are nei neither more nor less likely to overindulge verindul in cannabis than in anything else. On a relative scale, marijuana is less habit forming

THE GREEN LEAF F | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

than either sugar or chocolate but more so than anchovies. Sociologists report a general pattern of marijuana use that peaks in the early adult years, followed by a perio period io od of leveling off and then a gradual red reduction in use.

5. Has Anyone Ever Died From Smoking Marijuana? Sm mo No;; nnot one single case, not ever. THC is N No onn of tthe few chemicals for which there is one nnoo know known toxic amount. The federal agency NE T NEDA EDA ssays ays tthat th at autopsie autopsies reveal that 75 people per year are high oon marijuana when they die: this ddoes do es not mean that mari juana caused or was even a factor in their deaths. The chart below compares the number of deaths attributable to selected substances in a typical year:

Tobacco........................ Tobacco....... .......................... 3340,000 40,000 - 395,000 40 39 truth (which he and key fede federal agencies d ral agen de nci c es have not often done regarding marijuana), arding m ma ari riju ju juan ua a) a, Alcohol....................................... 12 1125,000+ 25,00 then re-legalizing marijuana should ana shoul uld ul ld be b ccononnsidered as one way to curb b violence e in i n oour u ur Drugg Overdose................ Ove verd rd dosse. e.... .................. .... ... . 224 24,000 4,0 ,000 00 - 27,00 27,000 cities. The simple fact is tthat marijuana h t ma ha m riiju juan a a an Drug Overdose Overd rd dos o e (i((illegal) lleega g ).. gal .......... .............. 3, 33,800 3,80 ,80 8000 - 5,200 5 200 does not change your basicc personality 5, personality. tty y. The government says that overr 20 m million T illli illi l on o Marijuana............................................... 0 Am Americans still smoke it, probably bly includ*Source: U.S. Government Bureau of ing some of the nicest people you know. Mortality Statistics, 1987

6. Does es Marijuana Lead to o Crime and/or Drugs? nd/or Hard Dr

8. How Does Marijuana Affect Your Health?

Smoking anything is not healthy, but marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco and people smoke less of it at a time. This health risk can be avoided by eating the plant instead of smoking it, or can be reduced reduce ed by smoking smaller amounts of sstronger st rongger mar marijuana. There The heere is no proof that marijuana her ccauses ca usses es sserious erio er ous health or sexual problems but, like alcohol, its use by children or ado7. Does Marijuana Make lescents is discouraged. Cannabis is a mePeople Violent? dicinal herb that has hundreds of proven, No. In fact, Federal Bureau of Narcotics ics di- valuable theraputic uses - from stress rerector Harry Anslinger once told Congress gress duction to gl glaucoma to asthma to cancer just the opposite - that it leads to non-vivi- therapy therapy, etc. olence and pacifism. If he was telling the he No. The only crim crime most marijuana users commit is th that they use marijuana. And, while many people who abuse dangerous drugs also smoke marijuana, the old “stepping stone” theory is now discredited, since virtually all of them started out “using” g legarettes, algal drugs like sugar, coffee, cigarettes, cohol, etc.

9.. Wh What hatt A About bou All Those Scary Stat St atis at issti ticss and Studies? Statistics Most M Mo st were were er prepared er prepa as scare tactics for tthe th he go government ove vern r ment rn meen by Dr. Gabriel Nahas, and were w we re ssoo bbiased iased and uunscientific that Nahas was fired by the National Institute of Health and an nd fi fin nally nally renounc renounced his own studies as meaningless. meanin ngl gless l F For one experiment, he suffocated monkeys for five minutes at a time, uusing proportionately more smoke than the average user inhales in an entire lifetime. The other studies that claim sensational health risks are also suspect, since they lack controls and pproduce results which cannot bee replicated or independently verified. d.

10. What Can I Do About Marijuana? Mari riiju juan a a? an No independent government panel that has studied marijuana has ever recommended jail for users. Concerned persons should therefore ask their legislators to re-legalize and tax this plant, subject to age limits and regulations similar to those on alcohol and tobacco.

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

The Top 10 High Yielding Marijuana Strains 1. Big Bud The name says it all. You want massive pot buds? Go with Big Bud. Is it the strongest weed you can grow? Hell no. “Beasters” have a distinct look and smell to them and are not for the high brow smoker–they’re fully developed large buds that feature a heavy red hair profile and light THC levels (although certainly a big step up from Mexican/ seedy shwag). So even though it’s a lower level strain, Big Bud, also referred to as “BC Bud” has got a simply ludicrous yield and an average flowering period (about 50-60 days). And it smokes OKAY, especially if you have a low tolerance for medicine. The one caveat, –and this really applies to every seed and strain out there–is that while some Big Bud marijuana seeds grow into monsters–only some genetics are of the extremely high yielding variety, so be careful when purchasing your cannabis seeds and make sure its got the right genetics to grow into a beast of a plant.

2. Blueberry There’s a reason that Blueberry, the Coca-Cola of strains, is one of the easiest and cheapest high grade marijuana seeds to acquire–and that’s because of its crazy high yield. Blueberry, a 75-25 indica dominant strain, has a heritage that’s mix between Oregon and European genetics. So while Blueberry may not be the most potent strain out there, it’s an extremely useful seed for industrial operations. No, blueberry won’t “WOW” any prospective buyers, but it sells, is a quality bud, and will fill your pockets at the end of the day

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3 northern lights 3. If Blueberry is Coca-Cola, then Northern Lights, a potent indica-dominant hybrid, is Pepsi. This strain that orginated in Seattle has a generous yield of about eight ounces per six to eight foot plant. Let your Northern Lights plants mature fully and the taste will likewise improve. Registering a solid yield of about eight ounces per six to eight foot plant, Northern Lights is a top notch strain that can be grown in mass quantity. Yeah, it’s flowering period is a bit lengthier than some of these other strains, but the high potency and generous yield compensate for the wait.

4. Hamilton Headband Hamilton isn’t known for cream cannabis. However, this sample of Headband represented. And represented heavy. Ganja gawd damn! The marijuana strain had a fantastic rich exotic dances on your pallet flavor. Loved it. Could easily vaporize it all day

s always, these seeds and strains will only reach their maximum potentials if bred and taken care of properly. A lot of these strains you will recognize as commonplace in medical marijuana dispensaries–and that’s no coincidence. Higher yielding (and high quality) strains GENERALLY equal higher profit margins and easier growth parameters, particularly in non-medical states where good herb is harder to come by. If you want the most bang for your buck, these are ten of the highest yielding (generally about 6 ounces per plant) marijuana seeds on the market.

5. AK-47 Like its namesake, this fine strain of a potent weed flower is always strapped–and always a high yielder. AK-47 has fallen a bit out of favor amongst connoisseurs of late, as it was a really hot strain around five years or so a go. That said, it’s still a firey marijuana nugget when grown properly and with stellar AK-47 marijuana seeds. All in all, AK-47 is a wise choice if you’re looking for a cannabis strain that produces a high yield, nice aesthetics, and a potent high. This guns always a blazing!

8. Blue Dream There’s a reason Blue Dream is one of the easiest and cheapest high quality strains to find in California. It’s easy to grow, and it has an absolute monster yield. Is it an astounding strain? No–it’s not obviously not a Kush level strain. But Blue Dream is a rock solid Sativa a step below the likes of a Maui Wowie seed. Blue Dream seeds are also available in an abundance and very easy to find (hyperlink).

6. Grapefruit/Juicy fruit A friend of mine used to be able to get this quality, heavily Triched out strain rather easily in the New York City area, and it was a long time staple of mine. Juicy Fruit, along with its sister strain Grapefruit, are consistently a high yielding strains that give a solid smoke. All in all, Juicyfruit, is a rather useful strain. Again, not all of the fruity (think J1, Dutch Treat) line of strains are created equal, however, as the more potent and exotic ones obviously are harder to come by and don’t have the same kind of yield.

9 9. Jack Herrer Jack Herrer, one of the more legendary seeds around because of its renowned heritage, is one of the best higher yielding strains out there. It’s not a beginner level strain though, so unless this isn’t your first or second rodeo, avoid growing it.

7. skunk Yielding typically around 6 ouncer per plant (although skunk strains do vary from this mean), Skunk is more often than not a high quality strain that has a great yield. Skunk seeds are prominent, particularly in the Southwest. Skunks a classic strain that packs a pungent waft. Its yield is always solid as you’ll get at least 6 ounces per plant.

10. White Rhino/Romulan White Rhino Great for wake and bakes, video games, and pilates. Since first writing about fitness and weed (not that I’m a work-out freak, but I do have a regime) I’ve learned plenty of people get high and excersize. Awesome! White Rhino might be good for that. Green House Seed Co. bred White Rhino from a choice Afghan and Brazilian.

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

STRAIN GUIDE Medicinal Qualities Depression, Cachexia

Trainwreck

Lineage: Unknown

Yield: 220 grams/plant

Effect: Couch-locked, silly high

Flowering: 40-45 days

THC Content: 15%-18%

Taste: Earthy Spices

Sativa/Indica: Sativa

Climate: Indoor

Scent: Musky

Height: 4 Ft.

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STRAIN GUIDE Medicinal Qualities Pain, Depression

Purple Urkel Lineage: Hindu Kush x Purple Afghani

Yield: 80 grams/plant

Effect: Cerebral, Uplifting High

Flowering: 50-60 Days

THC Content: 17%-21%

Taste: Ripe Fruits and Herbs

Sativa/Indica: Indica

Climate: Indoor/Outdoor

Scent: Floral

Height: 3 Â˝ Ft.

Medicinal Qualities Reduces Chronic Headache Pain

Romulan Lineage: White Rhino x California Kush

Yield: 65 grams/plant

Effect: Cerebral, couch-locked high

Flowering: 56-60 Days

THC Content: 16-19%

Taste: Robustly Sour

Sativa/Indica: Indica

Climate: Indoor/Outdoor

Scent: Strong Pine

Height: 4 Ft.

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

Products The Silver Surfer Vap The Silver Surfer is among the most popular and highly regarded vaporizers on the market today, and is often referred to as the king of the whip-style vaporizers. Some of the key features that set the Silver Surfer apart from the competition are: • Durable aluminum housing and base plate. • Ceramic-encased heating element • Downward-angled heater cover connection • 100% non-toxic materials used in construction.

Fold-a-Pipe Fold-a-Pipe is a thin stainless steel card no larger the an ordinary credit card that fits neatly and discreetly in your wallet and folds in to a fully functional smoking pipe. Fold-a-Pipe is easy to assemble and take mear minutes to fold this seemingly innocent sheet of metal in to a sturdy and powerful smoking device.

The porsche hookah The extraordinary Porsche Design Shisha combines high-quality materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and glass with the timeless and unique design approach of the luxury brand. Puristic and stylish at the same time. The Porsche Design Shisha is made in Germany and stands at a height of 55 centimetres. It only shows a discreet branding on the aluminium top of the Shisha and comes with a long flexible tube made out of TecFlex material, which is also used for the classic Porsche Design TecFlex writing tools.

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

RECIPES

Highern Chef EDIBLES

Pot Hot Chocolate INGREDIENTS • 1 cup Whole Milk • 1 cup Light Cream • 4 grams Cannabis • 5 ounces Unsweetened Chocolate

• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla • 5 tablespoons Sugar • Pinch of Salt • Pinch of Cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS Combine the milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan on medium heat. Once the salt and sugar has dissolved, add the light cream, cinnamon, vanilla, and finely chopped cannabis. Heat to just under boiling, and add the chocolate. Turn the heat off, and stir until the chocolate has melted. Serve in a mug, and top with whipped cream and orange zest, or stick to the classical miniature marshmallows. NOTES For every 8 ounces of milk, whole milk contains 8 grams of fat, 2% milk contains 5 grams of fat, 1% contains 2.5 grams of fat, and skim milk contains no fat. Do not confuse hot cocoa and hot chocolate. While hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, it lacks the fat of cocoa butter; hot chocolate, however, is made from chocolate bars melted into cream. Unsweetened chocolate is also called baking or ter chocolate, you could substitute with semi-sweet chocolate, but leave the vanilla out if you do.

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

Weed Macaroni and Cheese INGREDIENTS • 3 tablespoons uncooked macaroni pasta • 1 tablespoon cannabutter • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1 pinch pepper • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder • 1/2 cup milk • 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese • 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce • 1 dash hot sauce • 1 teaspoon bread crumbs • 1 tablespoon shredded Cheddar cheese INSTRUCTIONS 1.Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an oven-proof soup crock or 1 cup baking dish. 2.Fill a small saucepan with water, and bring to a boil. Stir in the macaroni; boil until cooked but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well, and reserve.3.In the same saucepan, melt the cannabutter over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and milk; whisk until smooth. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and whisk in 1/3 cup cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Stir in the cooked macaroni. Spoon the macaroni and cheese into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon cheddar cheese. 4.Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the macaroni is heated through, about 10 minutes.

Stoned Chicken Tortilla Soup INGREDIENTS • 1 onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon cannaoil • 2 teaspoons chili powder • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth • 1 1/4 cups water • 1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked • 1 cup white hominy • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro • 2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces • crushed tortilla chips • sliced avocado • shredded Monterey Jack cheese • chopped green onions INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in cannaoil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. 2. Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes. 3. Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

Boneless Stoned Buffalo Wings INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 10 chicken wings • Cannaoil for deep frying • 1/4 cup Cannabutter • 1/4 cup hot sauce • 1 dash ground black pepper • 1 dash garlic powder INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large nonporous glass dish or bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes. 2. Heat Cannaoil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The Cannaoil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or so deep. Combine the Cannabutter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until Cannabutter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving. 3. Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve. 800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

Should Anxiety be treated with MediCal Marijuana? or the government to accept cannabis use as an acceptable recreational drug, it’s clear that something needs to change. While opinions of marijuana have become more lax over time, the degree of change is moving far too slowly. Part of the problem is that those that oppose the drug are the ones with the loudest voice, and they carry with them the appearance of authority simply because they have successfully branded those for the legalization as “drug users.” This is, of course, a self-fulfilling label. If one claims that marijuana is a harmful, addictive drug, then one can label those that use it as drug addicts, even though that title is misleading. The problem is that this occurs with nearly every debate. Opponents of cannabis, both because of the media and from their own rhetoric, have managed to show the “other side” as a group that is simply trying to score more drugs, and not one that is fighting for a worthy cause. So in order for changes to take place, something needs to change. While it’s tempting to think that the world will suddenly start to accept cannabis for what it really is, the reality is that it is going to take a lot of work, and part of that work is going to be changing the language of the marijuana debate.

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Marijuana and Anxiety Changing the language is no easy task, and it needs to start at the ground floor, targeting specific negative associations and changing those associations into positive ones. One example is with marijuana and its link to anxiety. Some studies and anecdotal evidence have shown that marijuana may actually increase anxiety and cause panic attacks. Once that association came out, the media responded with its usual drastic overreaction, claiming that marijuana had potential side effects that could cause serious anxiety issues. This, of course, is not true – or at least not to the extent that the media claimed it to be. What few studies there were didn’t correctly mimic the actual effects of cannabis, and even the NIH admits that no real link has been found linking marijuana to panic attacks and anxiety. Any anecdotal evidence is also meaningless, because:

Dosing may not have been controlled. Marijuana may have been laced with other drugs. User’s setting, experience, and concern over the drug were not accounted for. If a

first time user that is afraid of the effects of marijuana takes an overdose of cannabis they bought on the street laced with a stimulant, it’s pretty clear their experience would be atypical and not indicative of the actual effects or benefits of marijuana as a drug. Yet marijuana users know how relaxing the drug can be. Indeed, it’s one of the best parts about cannabis. Something here is clearly amiss, and that is why how marijuana can be used for anxiety is a great example of how the language and the debate needs to be changed.

This involves some personal responsibility, such as never pressuring someone into taking cannabis, making sure that any new person is comfortable, and choosing only the safest varieties out there to avoid any lacing problems. Most people already take these types of precautions, but there are still some that promote the drug recklessly and they may be doing far more harm than good to their cause.

Be Professional

When arguing the merits of marijuana, give an air of professionalism. Show that whether it’s social anxiety disorder or How to Frame Marijuana as a panic attacks or something else, there are benefits, and make sure that you look the Solution for Anxiety Changing the language is not going to be part of someone that knows what they’re easy. Below are some potential ideas that talking about. It sounds like a small may or may not help to change the way change, but appearance, voice, and stature that people view marijuana and anxiety: all play a significant role in the way you promote your message.

Find, Fund, and Support Research Rather than talk about what marijuana does do, it may be advantageous to focus on simply trying to get more research in the field. When someone that uses marijuana tries to talk about the effects it has, they’re often speaking from their heir own experience. That’s not enough to change legislation, and may actually harm m your case if you’re trying to convince someone omeone that your opinion carries weight. What you need is real, controlled research, ch, that you can point to as evidence that there here are benefits to those with anxiety.

Be Proud Of Your Story If you used cannabis to self-medicate for your own anxiety issues, wear that story with pride. Make sure you put a human (but professional) face to the effects of anxiety, explaining how you managed to improve your life thanks to the success of the drug.

Compare and Contrast to o Modern Medicine All medicine has side effects, s, and some medicines have considerable issues with panic and anxiety. Talk about marijuana as though it is already ady a medicine – not just one used by cannabis culture. Talk about it as though gh it’s already been approved for regular ular use, even though it hasn’t. This is will start to give the words more authority uthority and hopefully (subtly) change how people start to view marijuana. a.

Be Careful/Cautious with h First Timers Controlling the anecdotes is also an important part of changing thee landscape. 800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190

800-430-7190 | MAY 2012 | THE GREEN LEAF

THE GREEN LEAF | MAY 2012 | 800-430-7190