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The holidays are rolling around quick ly, despite how much we’re all trying to put them off. And that means you’re probably going to soon be stuck in some situations you don’t really want to be in.
Unlike the tried but true cannabinoids like Delta 9 THC and CBD, THC-H is a relatively new discovery. And, it’s even newer to the market, but there is already a significant demand for it. But should really you be dabbling in this new discovery?
Tell us what you think!
Got something on your mind? Have a joke or a story idea or just something that the world needs to know?
everything to editor@dgomag.com
When it comes to solidifying can nabis protections, there are some moves that the federal government should make — but hasn’t yet. And one of those is adding protections for dispensaries and grow operations on tribal land
4-5 Surviving the hol idays with a little (or a lot of) weed
6-7 A complete(ish) cannabinoid-uca tion
8-9 What’s the deal with THC-H?
10-11 Psychedelics as a treatment to mental health issues
12-13 Why Biden needs to protect cannabis markets on Native land
14-17 Cover story
18-19 Weed reviews
20-21 How cannabis cocktails could help curb binge drinking
22-26 Ask a couple of potheads
Dispensary listings
Ugh, yes. The holiday season is already here.
Illustration:
The holidays are rolling around quickly, despite how much we’re all trying to put them off. And that means you’re probably going to soon be stuck in some situations you don’t really want to be in.
Try as you might to forget it, the reality is that we all have some one in our family who just can’t help themselves. They’re ad dicted to saying shit that makes us want to flip the table in their direction.
But unless you want to disap point your mom again with a rant, or just not show up, you’re going to need to find a few smart ways to avoid the
awkwardness that is family time during the holidays. And by that we mean you need to figure out how to get stoned around your family, especially if you’re traveling out of town, without drawing attention to yourself.
Not sure where to start? Well, the good news is that this little guide will give you a few tips on how to build the perfect stoner survival kit, which will almost certainly make things a lot less stressful.
Survival guide, step one: Gather the essentials (read: edibles).
For starters, you’re going to need to
gather some basic essentials. We suggest you start off with packing some edibles to take with you, which will let you be discreet when you need to be.
The last thing you need is your mom making you search around the house for the skunk she smelled in the room you’re staying in.
Sativa edibles are a great option for daytime use when you’re stuck with the family. They’ll get you stoned and give you that extra little push to tolerate the bullshit and monotony of sitting around watching your dad’s favorite shows (football) or running last minute errands with your mom…probably to get more cranberry sauce.
Indica edibles will come in clutch to send you off to sleepytown when you want the day to end a little quicker than usual. Sure, you might stay up late while you’re at your place, but when the family
is lights out earlier than your normal bedtime, you can match their sleep schedule with a strong indica edible. As an added bonus, taking a few of these will knock some serious hours off your trip.
Vape cartridges are another necessity when building a holiday toolkit. You can’t beat the discretion that vape cartridges offer — and if you choose wisely, you don’t even have to step outside to make use of it. (Side note: We’re big fans of the fruit-flavored Sano Genetics vapes. They taste like magic and get you stoned. What could be better than that?)
As with the edibles, though, you should be sure to choose your strain or
Dreading the holidays with your family? Don’t you worry. Just pack up these essentials and you’ll be all set.
type wisely. Chances are you don’t want an energetic high from a sativa if every one is crashing out — especially if you are going to be forced to tiptoe around in the dark.
Cartridges can also work super well for other times, like when you’re forced to go on a long walk with your sibling or cousins. You’ll have enough to share, and won’t have to worry about coming back smelling like “dope,” at least according to your Vietnam vet dad.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to see your dad relax (for a change) or help your grandma get ripped out of her mind so she’s not talking about your
nonexistent love life. Instead, she’s talking about her plants or the nosey ass new neighbors who moved into her neighborhood she has lived in for 60 years. Or maybe you just want to offer up some much-needed weed sustenance to the family members you’ve always been cool with.
Well, that brings us to the infused foods — the ones that you may want to offer up at the festivities in order to watch your family get lit. Things like infused cookies or brownies work well and can blend right in with the other desserts on the table. You can make them OR buy them; your call. And, as a bonus, your mom will be impressed with your contribution to the holiday dinner for once.
Just make sure to give people a heads up that those aren’t your mama’s brownies beforehand. Otherwise, your grabby aunt may overdo it and end up
couch-locked for hours on the one com fortable couch in the house. And nobody needs to deal with that mess at a holiday gathering, now do they?
While perhaps not the most discreet of the options, it may also be wise to take a joint or two with you. The reality is that nothing beats smoking a joint — especially when you are hiding from your annoying relatives while out back and smoking with some of the cool people in your family. In fact, we still sneak off with our cousins every year to the skate park or just walk around grandma’s neighborhood to pass a joint around.
There’s just something about the communal aspect of smoking a joint that simply can’t be beat. Each year, it just takes us back to the first time we smoked a Thanksgiving joint with our cousins way back in the mid ’90s.
With any luck, these tips will help you navigate the dreaded family time that’s on the horizon. And, maybe getting stoned and talking up a storm with your dad while he is high on the infused cran berry sauce you brought will bring y’all together for a change. He may even tell you about that time back in ’78 when he smoked a joint with your super straightlaced aunt in the parking lot of the Macky Auditorium when Sprinsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town stop in Boulder was canceled. But only if you’re lucky.
Navigating the world of cannabis can be a daunting journey, especially if you’re new to weed. There are so many terms to learn, and trying to remember what each of them means can result in flash backs of sitting (read: sleeping) through high school science classes.
And that’s especially true when it comes to cannabinoids. There are a whopping 150 cannabinoids out there that we currently know of — all of which are found in the cannabis plant. And it’s important to know what they do.
But we aren’t going to break down all of them for you. That would be absurd. What we are going to try and do instead is to simplify them for you.
Not only do we want you to know what you’re putting in your body, but we want you to sound like a pro the next time you are having a conversation with a buddy or are trying to understand the lingo at your favorite dispensary.
Here’s what you should know.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is the most well-known and recog nizable cannabinoid found in marijuana. This cannabinoid is responsible for giving you that textbook high we all know and love.
Until very recently, THC levels were one of the only ways that the quality of cannabis flower was measured.
When THC is inhaled, it goes into your lungs, and is then absorbed into your blood. From there, it reaches your brain, where it binds to receptors.
When you take edibles, the THC enters your blood through your digestive system and attaches to your receptors — just like when it’s inhaled. Once it hits the receptors, you begin to feel the high, which is typically experienced as an
overall sense of euphoria in your body and your mind.
The second most prevalent cannabi noid found in marijuana is Cannabidiol, also known as CBD. This cannabinoid is a broad spectrum, and it has been highly effective at treating illnesses like certain types of epilepsy, anxiety, depression, inflammation and chronic pain — all without the feeling of being “high.” What’s more is that CBD has also been shown to alleviate the adverse effects of feeling too high, which can happen when you ingest too much THC. (Trust us; we know.)
That’s because CBD affects serotonin receptors by acting as a substitute for serotonin. Serotonin is a powerful substance that stabilizes our moods and helps us feel less anxiety, which is what
can feel overwhelming when you’re too high.
And, CBD also interacts with the TRPV1 receptor, which affects inflam mation, body temperature, and the perception of pain. In addition, CBD indi rectly deactivates or blocks the GPR55 receptor, which is associated with cancer cell growth and bone loss.
As THC ages, it turns into the canna binoid CBN. As such, the easiest way to find CBN is to find aged flowers.
But while CBN comes from THC, it doesn’t have the same psychoactive properties. CBN is its own molecule and does not contain THC or any other psychoactive compound that could de liver mind-altering highs, which means it won’t result in a positive drug test.
CBN has very specific effects, and
it typically contributes to sleep and decreasing anxiety. It’s considered to be the most sedative out of all the compounds found in cannabis and was recently discovered from decomposed THC.
Thanks to those sedative effects, CBN can be pretty darn useful for treating in somnia, according to anecdotal evidence — and the early stages of research show that it may help aid with sleep as well.
Cannabigerol, or CBG, is often referred to as the mother of all cannabi noids, as other cannabinoids are derived from cannabigerolic acid — which is just the acidic form of CBG.
CBG is generally found in smaller quantities than other cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Most strains of the plant only contain about 1% of CBG.
Due to its rarity, the price of CBG tends to be much higher than other cannabinoids. But while the price tag can be steep, there are many potential benefits of CBG, which has led to its
recent popularity.
CBG works by binding to both CB1 and CB2 receptors, and researchers think it strengthens the function of anandamide. Anandamide is a neu rotransmitter that has a role in enhanc ing pleasure, motivation, regulating appetite, promoting sleep, and reducing pain.
Unlike THC, though, CBG will not give you a high.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THC-A, is a precursor to THC. THC-A is converted to THC through decarboxyl ation, which is the fancy word for when weed is heated up to the right tempera tures. Since smoking is the most com mon method of consuming cannabis, the high heat from the flame typically destroys the THC-A in the cannabis.
THC-A has been shown to be a pain reliever, appetite stimulant, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. The best way to consume THCA is through juicing a raw cannabis plant. Scientists also believe
that THCA interacts with serotonin receptors, which may ease anxiety.
Cannabidiolic acid, also known as CBD-A, is a cannabinoid that can be obtained from raw cannabis. It is the cannabinoid precursor to CBD. CBD-A is converted to CBD after cannabis is dehydrated or burned, and it is a non-psychoactive substance. Studies have shown CBD-A to be effective as an antioxidant, analgesic, as an antibacte rial, and it also potentially prohibits the spread of cancer cells.
Cannabichromene, or CBC, was dis covered over 50 years ago and is consid ered one of the big six cannabinoids that are prominent in medical research. CBC has shown promise in fighting cancer due to the interaction with the body’s natural endocannabinoid, anandamide.
It also appears to inhibit the uptake of anandamide, allowing it to remain
longer in the bloodstream. In addition, CBC shows promise in the treatment of pain relief, inflammation, acne, depres sion, and it has positive effects on neural stem progenitor brain cells.
The cannabinoid THC-V has been called quite a few things over the years, but weederall and diet weed are both nicknames that stick out the most. THC-V is known to help suppress your appetite and it also has energy-boosting properties. But while it has THC in its name, THC-V does not have the same intoxicating effects as regular old Delta 9 THC does.
In addition, THC-V has been shown to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, oste oporosis, and anxiety. And though only a few studies exist, there are no reported side effects of using THC-V.
How often have you heard that there are some newly discovered cannabinoids created from hemp plants that you just need to know about? Well, if you keep up with any of the recent trends, chances are good that you’re hearing about them often.
And, surprise, surprise. There is yet another new cannabinoid that you are almost certainly going to be hearing about in the near future.
That cannabinoid is called tetrahydro cannabihexol — better known as THC-H.
Unlike the tried but true cannabinoids like Delta 9 THC and CBD, THC-H is a relatively new discovery. And, it’s even
newer to the market, but there is already a significant demand for it. Not only is it being synthesized from hemp extract like Delta 8 is, making it a popular choice for those in states without legal cannabis markets, but it’s also exploded in popu larity due to how unique it is — and how freaking potent it is.
In fact, THC-H is the second-most potent cannabinoid in the hemp plant. If you need some perspective, it is 25 times stronger than regular THC.
No, that isn’t a typo. It is 25 times stronger.
Here’s the deal with it.
Tetrahydrocannabihexol is a hexyl
homolog of Delta-8 THC. This means the molecules between the two canna binoids are identical — but are uniquely arranged to have distinct properties from one another. This cannabinoid was discovered in 2020 by Italian research ers, the same ones who also discovered THC-P a year prior.
Since its discovery, the cannabinoid has been isolated and analyzed to some extent, but studies to determine its ther apeutic uses have been limited.
Anecdotally, however, there are some trends that users have noticed — as there are already products containing THC-H that are readily available on the
market.
For example, there are 200-plus reviews of THC-H products on Binoid, a website that sells Delta 8, Delta 9, and THC-H products that are synthesized from hemp, and users say that when they used THC-H, they experienced relief from pain, insomnia and anxiety. And, many users describe the high as being not only an enjoyable experience — but one of a kind.
Considering that THC-H is the second-most psychoactive chemical in hemp, users can probably expect effects that result in a deep euphoria and deep relaxation of the mind and body. Some
» THC-H is the new hemp-based synthesized cannabinoid in town (but do you really want to try it?)
users report that the body high is very strong and can last longer than what we commonly associate with psychoac tive cannabinoids — in some cases it is reportedly twice as long.
Still, it’s important to remember that studies showing the potential benefits from the use of THC-H are extremely limited. All cannabinoids work differ ently with the various cannabinoid receptors throughout the body, so buyer beware. There are tried and true meth ods of getting high, and then there’s this. If you live in a legal state, it’s probably smart to stick to the regulated stuff that comes from the cannabis plant — at least for now.
And in Colorado, synthesized can nabinoids from hemp oil, like the uber-popular Delta 8 products that are sold in other states, are illegal. So again,
it’s probably smart to avoid THC-H products that come from unregulated sources at the moment.
Whether or not that’s true in the long term, though, remains to be seen. The more THC-H is studied, the more we will likely learn about the specific benefits — and other factors.
If you absolutely must get your hands on some, though — let’s say you live in a state where weed is still illegal (RIP your sanity) — you may want to know these THC-H products are typically available in the common forms that any popular cannabinoid can be found in. You can get vapes, tinctures and gummies.
That said, you should really do your homework first. This is your friendly re minder that THC-H is a purified extract, so the quality can vary significantly from company to company. The company’s
reputation can be a big clue as to wheth er you’re getting a decent product, or one you can trust.
As with anything, you should read company reviews or ask your friends what companies they have used and who they trust. It’s also important to buy from a company that publishes third party lab reports on their website. This allows you to find unbiased data about the product’s purity, legal compliance, and safety.
It’s also extremely important to look into the company’s hemp sourc ing and ingredients. Companies that use locally-sourced organic hemp will generally offer products that are fresher and free from pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Also check to make sure the ingredient list is free of any fillers, toxins, or additives.
Whether or not you take the risk and try THC-H is your call. Either way, though, this is a pretty darn exciting time in the cannabis world, with new discoveries made on a regular basis. Whatever you do, just be sure to do your research beforehand and make sure you know what you’re getting into. If you can buy weed from a regular dispensary, we highly suggest you take that route.
But if you’re stuck trying out the synthesized products instead, make sure to do your due diligence, whether it’s THC-H, Delta 8, or otherwise.
When it comes to mental health treatment, the options are pretty limited — especially for certain people. After all, nearly one-third of people suffering from depression don’t respond to the treat ments that are currently available. And living with depression can be pretty darn awful, so something needs to be done about it.
In other words, there’s a great need for a safe and effective drug to help treat people who are resistant to what is currently available. And, it looks like there may be hope in the most unlikely of places.
It has long been hypothesized that
psychedelics may be one key to treating depression. Not only is there plenty of anecdotal evidence, but there’s scientific evidence, too.
Ketamine has become a common choice for treating certain types of depression, and there are numerous research studies being conducted to de termine whether LSD, ecstasy, or other compounds would be effective as well.
And, the results of most studies have been promising. For example, a recent research study found that when de pressed mice are given substances like ketamine, LSD, or psilocybin and placed in uncomfortable or life-threatening sit
uations, they will actually fight much lon ger to survive than the depressed mice that are not on any of these substances.
And, what’s more is that psychedelics may not even need to get you high to do the job.
According to a recent peer-reviewed study published by the Journal of Nature, researchers have identified two compounds that activate the same brain receptor as LSD — but they do not produce the hallucinogenic effects. That study shows promising potential when it comes to the treatment of mental health conditions.
The research completed during this study revealed that the psychedelic-like substances actually reduced the symp toms of depression and anxiety in mice, and they did so without any indicators that the mice were high.
So how do scientists know if a mouse is tripping on psychedelics? Well, they have a funny way of determining wheth er a mouse is high or not. To do so, they simply look at the mouse’s nose. If it’s twitching, they’re tripping.
And that’s precisely what research ers did during this study as well. They examined the behavioral effect of these compounds on the mouse models.
» Research shows serious promise for LSD derivatives as a mental health treatment in the fight against chronic depression
The LSD mice were dosed with produced head twitching and increased locomotor activity as expected. But when the two psychedelic-like com pounds were induced, researchers saw low levels of head twitching, but it did not result in any excessive locomotion.
This alone is a significant discovery due to the potential for treating millions of people who are suffering from de pression but don’t want to take a trip. And, for those who aren’t trip-averse, a clear confirmation that psychedelics can help treat certain types of depression also may also be beneficial — especial ly if they want to stay away from the typical big pharma options their doctors present them.
That said, at least one of the re searchers who helped to author this study thinks it’s highly unlikely for the
particular compounds that were used in the study to make it to clinical trials — but the researcher does believe that similar compounds could potentially make their way into trials in the future.
One of the major goals of this type of research is to find a substance that maintains the antidepressant and anxiolytic properties of psychedelics, but without the classic hallucinogenic effect of LSD and psilocybin. Studies have shown that antidepressant effects of drugs like LSD and psilocybin can take effect almost immediately and last for up to a year — which could ultimately be a huge improvement over the current treatment options.
And, if there comes a time when patients are able to experience the same antidepressant benefits of psychedelics without the trip, it could be a very prom
ising option.
Aside from the potential benefits to patients, there are several other ben efits to finding these types of non-psy chedelic treatments for depression. One of the major benefits is that non-psy chedelics do not require the expensive staffing, space, or safety protocols that are required for psychedelic treatments. That could mean that the treatment is cheaper when there’s no psychedelic component — which would open the treatment option up to more patients.
There has been a significant uptick in public interest regarding psyche delic treatments for depression, and a number of studies have already outlined some of the benefits of using psyche delics in the treatment of mental health issues.
For starters, research from Johns
Hopkins Medicine recently showed that treatment with psilocybin helped to relieve major depressive disorder symp toms in adults for up to a month. And, the compound reduced depression-like symptoms at 20-fold lower doses than Prozac. What’s more is that the effects the compounds had on depressive symptoms lasted up to 14 days after a single dose.
A similar study completed in 2020 also resulted in some success when using derivatives of ibogaine in mice. That study showed evidence of ibo gaine having antidepressant properties without the mice displaying symptoms that they were experiencing any of the hallucinogenic effects.
When it comes to solidifying cannabis protections, there are some moves that the federal government should make — but hasn’t yet.
For starters, we all know that the state markets would like a few more federal protections in case of some overzealous administration trying to dis mantle the legal markets in the future. Plus, researchers would almost certainly like to have a bit more access to the plant in order to find out how exactly it could be of medical benefit to people who need it. And if you want to get really deep, there are lots of people out there who sure would appreciate fed eral legalization of the cannabis plant, which could open up certain, err, more conservative states to legal weed.
But there’s one area that’s often over looked, and that’s tribal market protec tions. While sovereign nations are able to create their own cannabis markets on tribal land, they aren’t always protect ed in these efforts. In fact, they can be downright contentious avenues for Na tive American tribes to take — and it’s not unheard of for overzealous federal agents to raid tribal cannabis markets, destroying crops and wreaking general havoc for no dang reason at all. (It’s not particularly legal, either, but that’s neither here nor there to agents.)
And it’s time something is done about it, according to two unlikely politicians. Right now, there are two GOP con gressmen, Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Brian Mast (R-FL), who are rallying for President Joe Biden to protect tribal cannabis markets.
In a surprising move, the duo — which are members of the more conservative party — recently sent a letter to Presi dent Biden to address “discriminatory” federal marijuana enforcement issues in tribal territories. They are asking for Biden to direct the appropriate agencies to stop going after cannabis on tribal lands, and to instead focus their efforts on more serious crimes, like human trafficking, while respecting tribal sov ereignty.
The two Republican lawmakers sent the letter seeking administrative action in regard to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ cannabis policy shortly after Biden’s proclamation pardoning those who have been found guilty of federal marijuana possession.
The lawmakers are requesting that the president use his federal authority to ensure that the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other related agencies, like the National Indian Gaming Com mission, are able to focus their efforts toward more pressing matters rather than cannabis. This includes issues like missing and murdered indiginous wom en — which is a widespread and devas tating problem on tribal land across the nation — and other issues, like human trafficking, which are more important than enforcing federal cannabis laws on tribal lands.
After all, cannabis markets are profitable avenues to pursue in Native American communities, yet they are constantly in fear of federal imposition, despite the fact that numerous states have legalized cannabis. These lawmak
» Why President Biden needs to do what it takes to protect Native American cannabis markets
essentially feel that federal enforce ment is wrong and needs to stop — and also find it to be discriminatory.
In their letter to President Biden, the congressmen cited the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ raid on the garden of a member of the Pueblo of Picuris, in which the agents destroyed nine plants that were being grown for therapeutic purposes — and were in compliance with both state and Tribal law.
The member of the Pueblo of Picuris whose plants were destroyed has since filed a claim declaring his intention of suing the government for $3.5 million in damages in what he and other see as a double-standard of racially discrimina tory cannabis criminalization.
The tribal government also ad dressed the raid in a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, stating that the raid was “a gross invasion of the Pueblo’s sovereign authority over its members and other persons residing on its land.”
Pueblo of Picuris Gov. Craig Quanchello also weighed in, stating that he feels the raid constituted racial discrimination.
According to a recent press release by the two congressmen, the lawmakers feel that “enforcing Federal cannabis laws on Tribal land, especially in cases where the Tribe and the State have legalized cannabis use, is wrong and it needs to stop.”
“Tribes are sovereign nations, and they have just as much of a right to enact and enforce their own laws as States do,” Joyce said in the press release. “I urge the President to take ac tion to prevent the misguided prioritiza tion and unjust enforcement of federal marijuana laws only on reservations.”
Congressman Joyce helped secure fiscal-year 2023 appropriations lan guage in the Interior Base Bill, which would provide protections for Indian tribes against federal prosecution due to the legalization of marijuana within their territory.
The congressmen said in regard to the bill that “tribes are sovereign nations, and they have just as much of a right to enact and enforce their own laws as States do.”
Back in June, a Senate committee held a listening session that broadly addressed cannabis issues for tribes, in which they discussed relevant legis lation and the importance of tribal sovereignty with respect to cannabis.
Members of the Senate Indian Affairs
Committee heard testimony from rep resentatives of Tribes from across the country, including the Suquamish Tribe, Pueblo of Laguna, Kumeyaay Nation, Puyallup Tribe and Santee Sioux Tribe.
Earlier this year, a group of senators sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, which urged him to direct federal prosecutors not to inter fere with marijuana legalization policies enacted by Native American tribes. The letter requested that the Justice De partment “respect the inherent sover eignty of Tribal governments and cease the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act on Tribal land as it pertains to the growth, possession, and use of cannabis for medicinal, agricul tural, and recreational purposes, where those Tribes have legalized this activity for its own members and those acting in compliance with Tribal law.”
While there were once protections against these types of actions, an Obama-era DOJ guidance on prosecu torial discretion for Tribal governments that opted to legalize cannabis was rescinded by the Attorney General Jeff Sessions back in 2018.
The senators are now urging Garland to “reinstate prosecutorial discretion and allow U.S. Attorneys to deprioritize cannabis enforcement where states and Tribes have legalized cannabis.”
Aside from the BIA raid in the Pueblo of Picuris, the federal government has generally taken a hands-off approach to enforcement in states that have legal ized cannabis.
Ultimately, it is imperative that President Biden act quickly to guaran tee the protection of tribal territories from federal raids concerning cannabis. Protection from these discriminatory raids is essential to allowing Native communities to benefit from cannabis sales on tribal lands — just as others can do in legal markets.
After all, the sales from tribal can nabis markets help to fund the local economies and allow them to prosper.
And, the proven medical benefits from cannabis must not be overlooked when it comes to these communities, which are disproportionately at risk of issues like alcoholism, diabetes, cancer, and opioid abuse.
Ultimately, cannabis sales on native land will only serve to benefit the resi dents and needs to be federally protect ed — and with any luck, Biden will do so immediately.
» From a snake-y joint ring holder to the best version of a Lazy Susan, these are the gifts your ganja-loving friends will be raving about this year
Enriquo Palazzo SPECIAL TO DGOWe all have those friends whose lives seem to revolve around getting stoned (ahem, ahem; there’s no judgment on our parts, thank you very much). Or…you know. Maybe you’re that friend. Who cares! Getting stoned is awesome and we all kinda like it, right? Right.
But the thing is that it’s the holiday season, and the reality is that you need to get a jump on your shopping. You know how quickly things can sneak up on you, and if you aren’t on top of it, you’ll be stressing out and trying to shop at the last minute, grabbing whatever you can find to fill the gaps in your shopping list.
And, you can’t really do that for your stoner friends and family. Not very well, anyway. While we all love our gan ja-loving cousins, besties, and aunties, what can be quite annoying is that everyday gifts from everyday stores just won’t work for these folks. Their eyes light up when they get a new pipe, and they tear up when they break their favorite bong. They talk to you like they are a chemist about different strains or explain edibles like they are pulling a side shift in the lab at Los Alamos.
You can’t get them a cheesy band T-shirt or an overpriced candle this year. Not if you want to be a good friend (or family member), anyway (or avoid the old naughty list, which no one wants to be on).
So, if you really want to im
press the weed-loving folks on your list, these are the gifts for them.
across this little doozy. It’s like a Lazy Susan for the kitchen, but for pot heads!
This thing is a great gift idea for that stoner in your life who constantly feels the need to be organized. In fact, the rolling trays were designed with great attention to customer feedback, which means that every little compartment in the Blazy Susan has a purpose — one that your overly organized friend will find some use for.
Price: $55
Where to find it: herhighnesscbd.com/ collections/accessories/products/ snake-in-the-grass-joint-holder-ring
Maybe your girlfriend is fancy. Maybe she’s a little flashy. Or maybe she doesn’t want her fingers to smell like she has been smoking a joint. Well, well, friends. This joint holder is for her. Or him! Whatever.
And what’s even better is that it not only looks really cool, what with the snake wrapped around your finger and all, but it also works pretty great, too.
Price: $79.99 to $149.99
Where to find it: blazysusan.com/product-category/blazy-susans/
Ever heard of a Blazy Susan? Yeah, we hadn’t either until we stumbled
Price: $695
Where to find it: edie-parker.com/ products/tabletop-lighter-in-sandwich-stack
Who doesn’t love sandwiches? Nobody, that’s who. (Stop lying. You love sandwiches too!)
But what about a sandwich that will light your joint? Well, Edie Parker has you covered if you or your friend is in need of a sandwich table lighter. While this gift is a little on the pricey side, it seems like it would be just the thing to make your stoner friend’s jaw drop.
In other words, treat yo’self. And by that we mean treat your weed-lo vin’ friends with this badass little
lighter this holiday season. Magical Butter Machine MB2E Botanical Extractor
Price: $199.95
Where to find it: amazon.com
We all have that one friend who is constantly talking about baking and cooking with THC butter. You know the one. They just can’t help themselves.
So why not get them a gift that’s fitting? One that many consider to be the most budget-friendly extractor on the market? You know, like the Mag ical Butter Machine MB2E Botanical Extractor or whatever.
What’s great about this machine is that it’s pretty darn affordable (for a workhorse, anyway), but it still comes with everything you need to get the best extraction for cooking. Who wouldn’t love it? You’ll be the bestest friend around if you get them this thing!
And there’s another upside, too! If you give this as a gift this holiday sea son, your herbal cook of a friend will almost certainly be asking you to try things they made with it — which sounds like a pretty decent win.
what.
But there’s good news. This book will put your gifting buddy on the fast track to making some of the best infused dishes out there.
And, as a bonus, it also touches on the historical, political and social context of cannabis. And who couldn’t use a primer or a brush-up on all things weed?
Price: $14.95
Where to find it: amazon.com
OK, listen. What good is that new Magical Butter Botanical Extractor if you don’t have some freaking excellent recipes to go with it? It’s no good, that’s
Price: $17.50+
Where to find it: etsy.com
Know someone whose other half or roomies (or whatever) aren’t too keen on the smell of weed? Well, this candle may feel like a copout, but it’s actually the perfect gift for your friend whose housemate isn’t terribly thrilled with the house reeking of ganja, or for someone who is trying to hide doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing.
And, these soy-based handmade candles also come in three different sizes so you can pick and choose (plus they have great reviews that show they do exactly what they are supposed to).
Price: $135
Where to find it: edieparkerflower. com/products/glass-fruit-pipe-in-ba nana
It’s a banana, Michael! How much could it cost? $10?!!
OK, to be fair, this is a banana pipe, not a real banana — and we aren’t that good at role-playing our inner “Arrest
ed Development” characters, but that’s beside the point.
This glass banana pipe is another cool offering from Edie Parker, and it’s perfect for the potassium-lover (and smoker) in your life.
Sure, you could say this is just anoth er pipe, but it’s honestly just too cool to write it off that quickly. And if you’re
searching for a fruit-themed gift but aren’t a banana fan, this pipe line offers more op tions, including orange, grape, and cherry pipes.
might as well get the whole fruit basket while you’re at
Don’t think of this Nuggy Lite as just a multi-tool for smokers. It’s so much more than that.
From our perspective, this is straight up a Swiss Army knife, one that’s useful for all your smoking needs. It offers everything you need to prepare, enjoy, and clean up whatever form of canna bis you want to imbibe in during your session.
We aren’t kidding, either. This thing features a wax scoop spoon, scraper paddle, clip, flashlight, splitter and a poker. Can’t beat the convenience — and the price is even better.
Price: $29.99
Where to find it: amazon.com
Board games seem to be one of the forgotten pastimes these days, at least when it comes to adults, but every once in a while it can be fun to dig one out — and chances are you’ll have a blast doing so.
And, if you give your friends the gift of Ganjaland, which is an adult version of Candyland — but from ANOTHER UNIVERSE — you’ll be gifting them the best time ever. And that’s especially true if you set up a regular game night to play it with them.
This and a fat bowl of weed are all you need. So order it now and see who’s crowned The Royal Highness of Ganjaland.
Price: From $17.99 to $24.99+
Where to find it: shopgoldleaf.com
There are some people who just love to write or journal when they are high, and Goldleaf has created the perfect journal for those purposes. In fact, Goldleaf offers all kinds of different journals, all with different goals in mind.
These science-based journals can be used for tracking cannabis use, to take notes on different strains, or to help organize cannabis grow operations. In other words, they’re the perfect gift for your nerdy stoner friend.
Price: $11 per pack
Where to find it: shinerollingpapers. com/products/shine-1-sheet-packking-size
Have that one friend who’s always wanted to smoke like a fancy bish? Well, you may want to snag them these rolling papers, fool!
These 24k gold rolling papers are the perfect gift for that someone who is always a little too extra. (You defi nitely know who you are.) Plus, Shine offers these in 24k gold blunt wraps AND rolling papers, so you have your pick of gifts for that blingy pal of yours. They love goooooold, baby!
And while these rolling papers may seem like a novelty, they actually smoke noticeably smoother than tradi tional papers, burn better and stay lit
longer. So it’s not just for show, really. We mean, it is…but it isn’t. It’s fine. Just get them.
Price: On sale for $39.99; regular price is $54.20 (get it??)
Where to find it: waffleye.com/shop
Who loves waffles? Um, every can nabis smoker ever.
This Waffleye Waffle Maker pairs perfectly with the Magical Butter Botanical Extractor — and you can use it to make weed leaf waffles, just like mom used to make!
And what could be better than infused waffles stamped with weed leaves when they’re smothered in your own THC-infused homemade butter?
But there’s more! You don’t have to
limit it to waffles! This creative weed kitchen appliance allows everyone to eat weed-themed grilled cheese, home fries, and desserts.
Price: $89
Where to find it: amazon.com
Have a buddy who’s always smelling a little danky? Oh, good. Well, we have the perfect gift for them.
If you want to help a buddy out, the Skunk Smell Proof Backpack is a great gift option for that friend who’s always walking around smelling like a one-man dispensary. It has an anti-smell interior, a combo lock, and protective netting that keeps all your belongings safe.
It’s a great gift option for someone who might be new to the cannabis world — or maybe even an old pro who wants to brush up on their cannabis education.
Price: $18.59
Where to find it: amazon.com
Need a catch-all gift for your classy stoner friend? Well, “Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, From Dispensaries to Parties” is an excellent choice.
This book schools you on the do’s and don’ts of the different social situa tions you may find yourself navigating while neck-deep in the cannabis world.
Price: $91.99
Where to find it: grav.com
You know that old friend from high school that you used to sneak off with to get high? Yeah, they want this GRAV Milk Carton Bubbler.
This bubbler is designed to look like a milk carton, and it will take you right back to the days of being blazed in the school cafeteria. And, it comes in clear, cobalt, smoke, amber, pink and lake green, so you can buy one color for your friend and another color for yourself. (Might we suggest lake green? It’s so rad!)
And that’s it! From there, you just have wrap this sucker up (gently now) and fork it over. Your oldest stoner buddy will thank you.
OK, question. Serious question.
Have you guys come across that Josh Cellars commercial — the one that advertises the weird wine named after some dude?
Whether or not you have stumbled across that nightmare of a commercial, I have a little advice for you: Watch it stoned.
I’m not kidding. You need to watch it stoned.
And if you’re going to watch it stoned, as I am suggesting to you as we speak, you should watch it while stoned on Cherry Noir.
Cherry Noir is a new strain on the shelves from Prohibition Herb, and let me tell you, it’s a good one. So good, in fact, that my abs still hurt from laugh ing at that dumb commercial. In other words, it made me find humor in the mundane, which is never a bad thing.
Here’s what happened, starting at the beginning.
So I picked up an eighth of this strain one random day from Prohibition, and when I got home and popped off the lid, I was super stoked to see how freaking fat and fluffy the nugs were. You really can’t beat the looks on this gal. She’s a beaut.
She also smells delicious, like a mix of fruit and spice, so I was immediately ready to pop a few nugs in a dry herb vape. But then I thought better of it. Why not roll a joint instead? It’s been a hot minute since I’ve smoked one, I thought, and what better way to send this strain off to the heavens than to roll it in a fatty?
So that’s what I did, obviously. And then I smoked it alone on my hammock while taking in the cool fall breeze. True stoner style.
It was the right call, let me tell you — because about halfway through my session with this strain, I found myself feeling like a human version of Gumby. Everything in my body felt kinda rub bery, and I just knew without looking that I had that same dopey ass grin plastered on my face as the big green
dude does.
In other words, all of the stress in my body was lifted and I was blanketed with the best, most warm, and most euphoric feeling. I was stoked — and for no real reason other than I was smoking a joint. Go figure.
And that feeling wasn’t fleeting, either. It stuck, adhering to my soul like some THC-fueled Velcro. I was stoned, happy, and shorty after, freaking STARV ING.
So hungry, in fact, that my empty brain switched gears from happiness to daydreams of pizza. But that wasn’t enough to force me off the hammock.
Given my sheer bliss over being stoned, it took me a hot minute to finally peel my Gumby-like ass off the ham mock and head inside. The only thing that prompted me to do so was the sun setting, which turned the patio of my home from a sum-warmed oasis to a freezing nightmare. Otherwise, I would have been content to lay out there just grinning and starving for no reason forever.
But it was not meant to be. And ulti mately, that was a good thing, because, as it turns out, my return to the great indoors resulted in the dumbest thing I’ve ever laughed at.
Not before I ordered a pizza, though. Had to satiate the munchies.
After that was done, I flipped on the TV to veg out and wait for delicious carbs, cheese, and sauce to appear at my doorstep. But I was so stoned that I got distracted looking for my apps and just left the TV on whatever local channel it landed on.
And that’s when it happened: The best-worst commercial ever.
So as it turns out, this strain doesn’t just make me happy; it makes me ridiculous. And when the Josh Cellars commercial came on, I found myself laughing hysterically at the idea of this fancy vineyard having a name like Josh. Like, when I say I was laughing I’m not kidding. I was tearing up,
» Warning: This new strain from Prohibition Herb may result in finding a lot of humor in the mundane, which is A-OK with us
Ever smoked a High Times Can nabis Cup Colorado people’s choice
strain? (Good lord, that was a mouthful.) I have — and if you haven’t, you have no excuse for it. This strain is available right down the dang road, whether you live in Pagosa Springs or Durango.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Well, I’m talking about Jabberwokie from The Green House Durango, sillies. This strain won the people’s choice award in the Sativa Flower category at the High Times Cannabis Cup Colorado in August of 2020. It was the only award given to a grower in Southwest Colorado that year, and it was the first Pagosa Therapeutics has won.
I guess when Pagosa Therapeutics, the sister store of The Green House Du rango, goes for it, they go all freaking in.
long been a fan of their grow’s strains because, well, they’re incredibly and insanely potent. They’ve knockd both Blaze and myself on our asses a countless number of times, and while I try not to smoke their strains during the day so I’m not a total freaking pothead stereotype, I do like to indulge in this dispensary’s flower any other time I can justify it.
Which, you know, is why I was excited for this review. I was finally going to get to smoke the award-winning Jabber wokie strain, which until this point, I had not had the pleasure of trying.
I had heard a lot about it, though. This strain has become quite famous for its frost, which indicates a high concentra tion of trichomes. It was the first strain that Pagosa Therapeutics had submitted for competition, and they stole the show on the first try.
Given the infamy behind the dis pensary’s Jabberwokie, I was not only excited, but also nervous. If this grow’s strains kick my teeth in normally, what would the award-winning strain be like?
Well, as it turns out, it falls in line with all of the other strains this dispensary sells. And by that I mean it was super potent and it definitely kicked me in the face. I didn’t even try to defend myself. I just gave in. But I’ll get to that.
So, let’s start with how this little Jab berwokie strain was created, shall we? The Jabberwokie strain is a hybrid that’s
a cross between Lucky Charms and Bio-Diesel. It’s known for its delicious pine scent and its potent effects, and it’s a popular strain with seasoned smokers across the board, whether it’s grown at Pagosa Therapeutics or otherwise.
While I am certainly a regular im biber on the ol’ ganja, I’d actually never smoked any Jabberwokie from any dis pensary prior to this review. I was going into this without a baseline assessment of what this strain should be, other than my bare bones knowledge of the recent win at the High Times Cannabis Cup.
And, I can tell you, it wasn’t quite what I expected.
Not if we’re judging by the looks of this ol’ gal, anyway. I guess I expected this strain to blow my mind with its thicc nugs, but when I popped the lid open on the container after leaving The Green House, I was surprised to find little pop corn nuggets instead.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I do not judge a book nor a weed strain by its cover. And I certainly don’t mind little fluffy nugs of weed. I’ll smoke it all — fat, thin, fluffy, sticky, or sometimes even dry when I find some old stash in a desk drawer. I don’t care. Judge away.
I was also expecting more of a woodsy, piney scent to emit from the container. What I got instead was a face full of diesel fuel. Gas, gas, gas, gas, gas, gas...everybody?
So, before I’d even smoked the strain I’d been thrown off by its looks and smell. That didn’t stop me, of course, and I’m lucky it didn’t. This strain, when
I lit it up, was a totally different experience than I’d expected.
First of all, the taste. While this strain smelled like gasoline, it tasted like grassy green heaven. My god, you guys. I have never tasted a strain so clean or fresh or earthy. I was transported from stupid cold fall weather to awesome summer. Hell. Yeah.
I wanted to smoke the entire bowl from the taste alone, so… you know...I did. And, for me, this was a creeper. I could feel myself getting a little spacey, but when I’d the bowl was cashed, I went from 0 to 60 in two sec onds flat. My eyes stopped cooperating, my mouth got dry, and I swear to Christ, I totally saw the eyes bulge out of the head of a person on an ad. No, it was not animated or a video. It was just a pic.
Things stayed trippy for about four minutes before I stopped taking notes. What happened after that? I have no clue. I think maybe I did … things? May be ate things? I know I existed during that time because, well, I’m sitting here typing this, but what actually happened I cannot tell you. I was that high.
All I can tell you is that I must have passed out at some point, though I’m not sure when. And I slept like a baby for a solid eight hours or so, which I never do. My brain is constantly wired and on a hamster loop.
And, when I woke up, I felt refreshed and ready to go. Also not a thing with me, probably due to lack of sleep.
So, I guess it’s safe to say this strain blew me away like it did the people at the Cannabis Cup. Does it have claws
that catch like the Jabberwock in the Lewis Carroll works? I can’t tell you cause I lost time and space, apparently.
But I can tell you I’d take a turn with that beast with eyes of flame to get my hands on this strain, and you should too.
— DGO Pufnstuf» But it does smell like delicious pine and it can knock you on your proverbial ass, and that’s all we need in a strain
Binge drinking is something that many of us have been guilty of at some point in our life. It may have been back in those wild college years, and some of us were a bit more booze-heavy in our early 20s or 30s instead. But whenev er it happened, the reality is that our binge-drinking years weren’t typically our best years. Overdoing it on the booze isn’t exactly a good look, after all — what with the falling and the vomiting and the hangovers and such.
And the reality is that binge drinking isn’t just messy for our social lives. It’s also pretty darn awful for our bodies — and is the most common and deadly example of excessive alcohol use. As tragic as that sounds, though, there may be some hope headed our way.
While drinking the old booze has long been regarded as one of the great American pastimes, binge drinking culture may be on its way out thanks to the rising popularity of cannabis drinks. Cannabis drinks are starting to pop up everywhere — and from some big names, too.
Take, for example, the fact that Pabst Blue Ribbon and Constellation have already made a footprint with their can nabis infused drinks. These drinks are different then their CBD-infused drink counterparts, which are legal in dozens of states. Rather, these drinks remove the alcohol from the mix, and contain marijuana’s psychoactive component, THC, which gets people high instead.
While any cannabis user will tell you that there have long been cannabis drinks on the shelves at dispensaries, we aren’t talking about the old school products we’ve come to know and love. We’re talking about the cannabis drinks that are being marketed as a health ier alternative to alcohol — one that doesn’t leave you with a hangover, high caloric intake, or regretful mornings. And, what’s perhaps more interesting is that some companies are going a step further by claiming that these infused drinks will help you feel focused, bal anced, and relaxed. Some even suggest a cannabis-infused drink spa day — which could double as an alternative to your mimosa-loving Sunday brunch madness. Whoda thunk it?
And the cannabis infused drink indus
try is only expected to grow in popu larity in the near future, as the trend of looking at cannabis as a form of self care continues to spread — and the health benefits associated with it, like sleep promotion and the reduction of anxiety, become more widely known.
In other words, cannabis is com monly linked to nature due to it being a plant, and this link could help to shift mindsets, leading people to see it as a healthier alternative to alcohol.
The idea that these drinks can replace alcohol in social settings is an interest ing one, but cannabis-infused drinks have only been available for a short time, and it’s unclear as to whether the idea will actually catch on.
After all, the idea of a drinkable can nabis seemed pretty far-fetched until recently, when nanoemulsion technolo gy became more widely available. This technology is what has allowed canna bis to be altered from a hydrophobic substance, in which a drop would turn into sludge in a cup, to something that can be smoothly blended into a seltzer or a cocktail.
And, as of now, cannabis-infused cocktails or beer can’t be enjoyed in public. Bars can’t sell it and dispensaries aren’t allowed to have tasting rooms or other bar-like venues, at least not in southwest Colorado, anyway. So if you’re going to a bar, your options are either teetotaling it, or choosing from booze, booze, or more booze. The laws will have to change if there are going to be major shifts in the binge-drinking mindset.
But if cannabis drinking does catch on, and the laws do shift, it could grow to be a pretty big trend in the future. Af ter all, what’s appealing about cannabis drinks is that they tend to have a quick onset, taking about 10-15 minutes to kick in on average, just like alcohol.
And like alcohol, that quick onset can help ease social anxiety when needed — a true example of “having a drink to take the edge off.” You could just slide up to the bar, order a cannabis cocktail, and wave goodbye to your social awkward ness.
Were that to happen, it could result in a lot less intoxicated people on the
» How cannabis cocktails could finally curb the nation’s binge-drinking problems
road and in bars. After all, your level of intoxication when drinking cannabis can be fairly easily monitored due to the quick onset of liquid THC, so binge drinking them is less likely compared to alcohol, the effects of which can sneak up on you.
There are a few downsides to the idea, though. One major potential downside of replacing alcohol with can nabis drinks is that most people have a general understanding of the potency of alcohol, considering social events have revolved around it for decades. If some one says a beer has 8% alcohol content, you know it’s going to be strong. And if they say it contains 3.2% percent, well, you are probably stuck somewhere in Oklahoma.
That isn’t necessarily the case when it comes to cannabis-infused drinks. Cannabis dosage isn’t always as easy to navigate as booze, and someone who is unfamiliar with cannabis potency might accidentally overdo it without some guidance. While that’s not nearly as dangerous as, say, binge drinking to the point of blackout, it can result in a par anoid high that isn’t terribly pleasant. But, the upside of consuming too much won’t result in a hangover or regret. It
will just likely suck in the interim.
But that’s neither here nor there at the moment. There aren’t options for replacing beer or cocktails with canna bis at bars or nightclubs at this point, so the only option is to imbibe at home and figure out the dosage and number of cannabis drinks you can tolerate. While that may make it easier to ease into the idea, it isn’t going to change the binge-drinking culture that is so danger ous in this country.
The reality is that only time will tell if cannabis infused drinks have the poten tial to overtake the alcohol market and help to curb binge drinking. That said, cannabis does appear to have great potential to do just that. Social accep tance and looser laws will play a major role in the acceptance of these infused drinks, of course — but if things keep going the way they are, we may just see the popularity begin to grow.
Hi there! It’s time for another Q&A with our good buddies Blaze and Puf. These two pot heads are here to answer all of your burning questions about cannabis, legalization, and other weed-related inqui ries. That’s basically all they’re good for — that and smoking weed — so you might as well take advantage of their useless knowledge as you see fit.
This month, we have all sorts of awesome questions to an swer for you. From the strains that you can use to drown out your family during the holidays to Biden’s new federal weed pardons, here are your ques tions about pot for our in-house potheads.
Have questions to ask these two fools? Send them to edi tor@dgomag.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. And, feel free to send them allll over — your wild, wacky,
and just plain weird questions about weed. Nothing shocks us at this point. And we do mean nothing.
I vape a metric shit ton of cannabis oil, and that means I end up with a bunch of empty carts. I don’t want my weed habits to contribute to global warm ing, so I’m hesitant to throw them in the trash. So, what can or should I do with all of my old weed vape cartridges?
Blaze Ridcully: First of all, please don’t throw your old vapes in with your re cycling for curbside pickup. That may seem like a no-brainer, but it needs to be said. Maybe not for you, or you, or you — but someone out there needs to hear it. Those things aren’t supposed to be handled like normal ol’ trash or recyclable materials, at least not for the most part.
When it comes to empty vape carts, the best thing you can do is to look up your local hazardous materials manage ment facilities and get in contact with them so they can recycle the battery if your cartridge has one.
Unfortunately, there are no cartridge
» From strains to drown out your family during the holidays to how Biden’s weed pardons work, here are the answers to your weed-related questions
collection centers in which you can drop them off at because (and this is super dumb) it’s illegal to have such a collec tion center. This is because states have chosen to try and deter people from creating their own extracts to sell on the black market. (We know; we know.)
But if you don’t want to do that, I bet there is someone in the state making art out of cartridges because people are freaking weird. So if you really want to find a good way to dispose of them, maybe do a Google search and see if you can find someone who is doing something creative with them — or find someone who’s repurposing them. That’s all I got.
panies that are offering eco-friendly packaging or are committed to sustain ability. That can help to cut down on some of the unnecessary waste that you’re investing in when you purchase these products. Or maybe just switch to the old school method of shatter, wax, rosin, or some other concentrate in stead. That will reduce the unnecessary waste from carts and you’ll feel better about your life. Probably. Maybe. Who even knows.
DGO Pufnstuf: OK, well I’m probably not the person to ask, because right now I have like 45 empty carts sitting in my bedside table just waiting for a home. If anyone wants them (and all the spit that’s been collected in the reservoirs over the course of their use), come and get them. They’re all yours.
That said, Blaze had some good advice above, so I’d probably just stick with that. And when you’re buying carts, you might want to look for com
I saw that Biden is pardoning a bunch of federal weed convictions. Back in my wilder days, I caught a simple federal possession charge and it’s been a huge problem ever since. What can I expect from this decision — and when?
Blaze Ridcully: If you are one of the nearly 6,500 Americans with a simple marijuana possession charge, then you might be in luck. You may actually benefit from Biden’s new pardons. But here’s the thing: These pardons won’t apply to everyone.
The pardons only apply to U.S. citi zens and permanent residents — and
open this
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only if the charge was the only felony on their record. In other words, if you’re rocking more than one felony on your record, you may be screwed (in a not so great way).
It’s also worth noting that the pardons do not erase convictions from a person’s record, because only an expungement can do that. What the pardon will do, however, is to restore the civil rights that were lost after a felony conviction. These civic rights include things like voting and serving on juries.
It’s also worth noting that the date these pardons will begin has not been announced as of yet. Once it has been announced, you will have to put in some work if you qualify, like filling out a short application on the website for the Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Of fice of the Pardon Attorney is currently working on solidifying the process.
high that is pretty freaking hard to beat when you are dealing with the family.
I would also grab some Straw Gua va for the times when you want an energetic, happy and motivating high. Maybe it will get you through dinner or that awkward convo with the uncle you loathe. I don’t know your business!
Once the festivities are over and you’re stuffed on your dad’s turkey, load a bowl of Banana Kush to send you off to a sleepy, body-buzzing high.
The three of these might be the per fect holiday trifecta.
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DGO Pufnstuf: So again, Blaze ba sically stole my answer. I’m telling mom. This is annoying, Blaze!
But yeah. Here’s the thing. You may or may not qualify for this pardon de pending on the nuanced circumstances of your felony conviction. And, your entire felony record will matter in the grand scheme of things, too.
While we’re all for Biden pardoning these unnecessary convictions, the reality is that there’s a lot more work to do. The process won’t expunge your record, so it won’t erase the reality that you have had a felony conviction for something so dumb from the bowels of the internet (or background checks), but it will give you some of your rights back.
That’s a start, but we need to do bet ter over the long term. This simply ain’t enough to cut the mustard.
End. Rant.
I’m stressing out about the upcoming holiday season for one reason: my parents. We’ve always had a tenuous relationship, and things haven’t chilled since I became an adult. What strains do you recommend to get me super stoned and relaxed but also keep me functional during holiday dinners?
Blaze Ridcully: I would definitely head over to your local dispensary and pick up a few different strains to keep on hand. Variety is the spice of life, after all. Maybe start by grabbing some San Fer nando Valley OG. That strain gives you a heavy, soothing, blissful, and complacent
DGO Pufnstuf: I’m going to disagree with Blaze a bit here and say that the strain you MUST HAVE on hand is Alien Nightmare. Man, that strain will kick you straight in the sleep nads, and that’s a good thing! You can tell your family you’re in a tryptophan coma but you’ll really just be weed sleepy, fool. It’s the perfect way to get out of all of the awkward interac tions with relatives. You won’t be able to keep your eyes open.
It might also benefit you to pick out a couple of good sativas or hybrids for daytime use, provided you want to be mostly sober and functional during the festivities. That ain’t for me — sa tivas give me anxiety these days — but there are plenty of mellow hybrids I’d recommend. Take, for example, GG#4 (aka GG4 or Gorilla Glue, RIP to that name). It’s a doozy in that it will give you a couch-locked buzz full of eupho ria, which will make all of the annoying conversation roll right off your shoul ders with ease.
Or, if you’re into sativas and you can find it, maybe grab some Jack Herer to stick in your back pocket. That strain is perfect for hanging out with the family members you actually do like, as it’ll give you a clear-headed, happy high. In fact, that seems like one to share with the old hippies in your family or the young’ns who are just discovering the almighty weed. They’ll be super impressed with your find — and it will almost certainly lead to some excellent conversation.
I have an old dog who’s in a lot of pain but I’m just not ready to say goodbye. I’ve been giving him CBD oil to try and help the aches and pains, but he’s at the point where he’s struggling to eat. Is it ever safe to give him THC to help stimulate his appetite?
Blaze Ridcully: So, the verdict is out on this one, but for the most part, it’s
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DGO’s Blaze and Puf answer your weed questions you are too embarrassed to ask anyone else.
Come one, come all with your silly, embarrassing, or just plain weird questions about weed, weed-related issues, and whatever else you can dream up. We’ll do our best to answer them in the best way possible And here we go.
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pretty not safe to give your dog THC. Unlike with humans, THC is actually toxic to pets, so you really don’t want to go there. In fact, too much THC is a very bad thing for dogs, and can even be deadly in some cases.
However, you can give your dog CBD to help stimulate its appetite. You should make sure you speak to a veteri narian before doing so, though. Your vet can offer you great advice for other ways to stimulate your dog’s appetite, and may even know what brand or dose of CBD to give to your pup.
As Blaze said, you really shouldn’t dose your dog with THC. It’s no bueno, dudes. Contrary to popu lar belief, THC isn’t kosher for animals. It can lead to vomiting, lethargy, and even death. It’s so not fine, in fact, that if your dog gets a hold of your edibles or other cannabis products, it’s probably time for an emergency vet visit. They literally cannot just sleep it off.
CBD, on the other hand, is another story. I’ve used CBD to help stimulate the appetite of my aging dogs, and if you find the bacon-flavored pet option, you’re a real winner. It’s excellent.
There are even pet-focused CBD tinc tures at the dispensaries or at pet stores that you can grab.
And unlike THC, CBD will make them hangry and it is not toxic to pets (obvi ously, or they wouldn’t sell it, right?). So, you can give that to your old puppers without feeling like you’re being a total jerk or causing them some serious med ical distress.
It’s strange to me that Colorado is the land of legal weed but Delta-8 prod ucts are somehow illegal. Why were they outlawed and should I be worried about using them if I live in another state where there’s no legal cannabis
Blaze Ridcully: Delta-8, which is a cannabinoid that is found in the cannabis plant in small amounts, is typically made for edibles or other products by using hemp oil to synthetically create this can nabinoid. The synthetic version of Delta-8 was outlawed in Colorado because it is not naturally derived from the cannabis plant.
Rather, it is created in a lab using hemp, which may result in the addition of toxic or harmful substances in the final product. The state also claims these products contain unidentifiable by products, which are present due to the chemical conversion.
It has caused enough concern that the state created a task force to research the harmful effects of the compound. There is no upcoming legislation that could possibly lift the ban on Delta 8 in the state of Colorado.
If I were in a place where there is no legal cannabis market, I would look at every other avenue to get some legit cannabis before I would buy Delta-8 products. The problem I see with it is that there’s no real way of regulating what’s actually in these edibles, tinc tures, and vapes, and I definitely consid er it to be an absolute last resort.
Now, if the choice is between some terrible ditch weed that your connect had tucked under his sack or a Delta-8
gummy? Well, that’s a differ ent call. But if you can visit a licensed dispensary in a legal state and make your way back with some real prod ucts (yes, yes, it’s against the law, but desperate times call for desperate measures), that’s probably your best bet.
DGO Pufnstuf: Listen. I have taken part in the ol’ syn thetic Delta-8 products a time or two, and I’m still alive and kicking. I also have at least one good lung left.
I kid, I kid. I’m fine. They were fine. We’re all fine.
I didn’t love them, to be honest. They mostly made me sleepy, which at this point a couple of hours of Netflix can do, too. So, no real win there. And to be fair, I’m a little weirded out at the idea that you can just create synthetic cannabinoids from hemp, but I guess if you have a reputable source for them, you’re probably going to be OK. I am not a doctor, though.
That said, I echo Blaze’s sentiment above. If you can possibly make your way to a freaking real dispensary, you should. The products in dispensaries are regulated, which means they’re checked to make sure they’re safe for you to take, eat, smoke, or whatever. That is very important, fools.
And in my opinion, Colorado out lawed Delta-8 products for a reason. If you can go the natural route, do it. Don’t conflate legal with safe, especially when it comes to synthesized cannabinoids. But if you have no other alternative, well…that’s your choice to make.
— DGO Pufnstuf — Blaze RidcullyBorder Buds, 1929 US-550, (970) 2592639, borderbuds.com
Colorado Grow Co., 965 1/2 Main Ave., (970) 259-1647, coloradogrowcompany.com
Durango Organics, Bodo Park, 2 Suttle St., Suite F & G, (970) 259-3674, durangoor ganics.com
Durango Organics, Grandview, 37 Co Rd. 232, (970) 426-4381, durangoorganics.com
Durango Rec Room, 145 E College Dr., (970) 764-4087, durangorecroom.com
The Greenery, 208 Parker Ave., Suite E, (970) 403-3710, durangogreenery.com
The Green House, 730 S Camino Del Rio, (970) 247-2420, thegreenhousecolorado.com
Kinfolk Farms, 83A Davidson Creek Rd., (970) 759-8683, kinfolk-farms.com
LOVA Canna Co –Durango, 1135 S Camino Del Rio, Suite 220, (970) 422-8029, lovaco.com
Mammoth Farms Dispensary, 927 CO-3, (970) 422-3282
Mountain Annie’s, 1644 CO Rd. 203, 970-247-2190, mountainanniescannabis.com
Prohibition Herb, 1185 Camino Del Rio, (970) 385-8622, prohibitionherb.com
Rocky Mountain High, 120 E 36th St., (970) 259-4093, rockymountainhigh.co
Santé, 742 ½ Main Ave., (970) 375-2837, san tecolorado.com
Telluride Bud Company, 3473 Main Ave., (970) 422-8311, telluridebc.com
Chronic Therapy, 1020 S. Broadway, (970) 529-2045, chronictherapy.com
Doobie Sisters, 695 N Broadway, (970) 565-2345, doobiesistersco.com
Durango Organics, 1013 E Main St., (970) 565-6500, durangoorganics.com
The Herbal Alternative, 1531 Lebanon Rd., (970) 529-7007, theherbalalternative.net
LivWell Cortez, 1819 E Main St., (970) 5659577, livwell.com
Mountain Annie’s, 310 E Main St., (970) 564-5181, mountainanniescannabis.com
The Cultured Cannabis, 385 N Willow St., (970) 533-9931, theculturedco.com
LivWell Mancos, 101 Railroad Ave., (970) 533-9848, livwell.com
The Green House, 270 E Pagosa St., (970) 264-4420, thegreenhousecolorado.com
Pagosa Therapeutics, 235 Bastille Dr., (970) 731-4420, pagosatherapeutics.com
San Juan Strains, 356 E Pagosa St., Unit B, (970) 264-5323, sanjuanstrains.com
Smoke Rings, 266 E Pagosa St., (970) 2640942, smokeringsco.com
Pagosa Craft Dispensary, 127 Gold mine Dr., (970) 264-0833,.pagosacraftcanna bis.com
High Grade Specialists, 600 Cloman Blvd. #1, (970) 731-3202, highgradespecialists.
The Alchemist, 115 W Main St., (505) 2584180, thealchemistllc.com Distinguished Dispensary, 4601 English Rd., (505) 278-8524, distinguisheddis pensary.com
Dreamz Dispensary, 3501 E Main St., SUITE i-2, (505) 258-4680, dreamzcannabis. com
The Grass Station, 928 E Main St., (505) 278-8825, tgs505.com
Oasis Cannabis Dispensary, 428 E Main St., (888) 505-3947, oasiscannabisnm. com
Purlife Farmington, 3024 E Main St., STE A, (505) 695-2360, purlifenm.com
The Reef Joint, 3000 E 20th St., Suite D2, (505) 278-8963, thereefjoint.com
Toke Dispensary, 4339 E Main St., Ste A, (505) 278-8823, ziatoke.com
Ultra Health Dispensary Farmington, 4251 E Main St., Suite D, (505) 258-4634, ultrahealth.com/new-mexico-dispensaries/ farmington-2/
guttural laughs pumping from my belly.
And, it got worse as I started to think about how funny it sounded to put a big ol’ swig of Josh in your mouth — which someone, somewhere has said NOT IN JEST at some point.
At that point, I couldn’t freaking breathe because I was laughing so hard. It wouldn’t stop. Just take a big ol’ mouth ful of Josh, why dontcha?
WHO BRANDED THIS WINE.
That stupid stoned laughter continued for what felt like hours on end, a cycle of me laughing, getting distracted, and then my brain circling back to the idea of a cup o’ Josh and breaking out into giggles again.
I only really got control of it when my pizza arrived to satiate the hunger.
And that, my friends, is why you need to watch that commercial with a bowl of Cherry Noir — especially if you’re stoned.
I can’t promise you that it’ll result in an epic bout of laughter, but what I can tell you is that this strain was a miracle worker when it came to lifting my stress and letting me find the humor in the nonsense. And at this point in the year, I’d call that a huge win for real.
— DGO Pufnstuf