Septemberdgomag.com2022Weeddiditfirst. D GO theaboutprovingresearchWhatmarijuanamedicalMiraculousscientificisplant
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The enigma of Chaco Canyon Chaco Canyon may not be the most widely revered of the Native ruins in our area, but this hidden gem lies just a couple of hours from Durango on the Colorado plateau in northwestern New Mexico — and it’s an intriguing one indeed. 6 Vegan stoner munchies!!! as we learned recently, vegan food doesn’t have to be inherently healthy — which means that we can start stashing some away for a stoned munchie day. All it takes to be vegan is to omit animal products. Everything else goes. Who knew?
ON COVERTHE medical weed, you say? We do. Illustration: Matt Clark for Lil Bud Ryan Brown for DGO Mag 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? Send everything to editor@dgomag.com 12 Stoned in Sin City
September 2022 | 3
While Sin City has an abundance of indulgences to choose from, like gambling, shows, clubs, and other fun diversions, it also has a ton of weed — our favorite. We know you want to visit a few Ve gas-y dispensaries, so we’re nar rowing down the options for ya. 4
Miraculous
DGO Magazine is published by Ballantine Communica tions Inc., P.O. Drawer A, Durango, CO 81302 DGO is a free biweekly publication distributed by Ballantine Communications Inc., and is available for one copy per person. Taking more than five copies of an edition from a distribution location is illegal and is punishable by law according to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-314.
DGO EditorSTAFFMagazine Angelica 375-4551aleicht@bcimedia.comLeicht Design/layout Ryan rbrown@bcimedia.comBrown Contributors Megan AmandaBiancoPush Reader Services 375-4570 Chief OfficerExecutive Carrie Cass V.P. of Advertising Jamie Opalenik 4-5 The enigma of Chaco Canyon 6-7 Vegan rescuemunchiesstonertothe 8-9 An Arizona stoner road trip 10 Disaster rock docs 12-13 Stoned in Sin City 14-17 Cover story on the medical benefits of marijuana 18-20 Weed reviews 21-26 Ask a couple of potheads 26 Dispensary listings /d@dgo_mag gomag @dgdgomag/do_mag gomag Volume 5 Number 47 September 2022 What’s inside
CoverDesignsdesign:
The architectureintriguingof Chaco Canyon
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Many of the buildings at Chaco Can yon have stood up to the ravages of time and erosion, while others have needed partial or complete restoration. Even so, they are a testament to the engineer ing skills and construction techniques of these hardy people. In this region, Chaco’s architecture is unprecedented in scale or sophistication.
The Great Houses of the canyon
There are twelve Great Houses in the canyon — and close to 200 exist in the region. These multi-story buildings may have been ancient apartment buildings. They average 200 rooms, but some held as many as seven or eight hundred.
The enigma of Chaco Canyon mystery that keeps getting rewritten, time and time again
4 | September 2022 Chaco Canyon may not be the most widely revered of the Native ruins in our area, but this hidden gem lies just a couple of hours from Durango on the Colorado plateau in northwestern New Mexico. One of several important Native American ruins in the region — which in cludes, of course, the famed Mesa Verde National Park — Chaco Canyon is a site stands out as a profound enigma.
How and why they did this, why they built here, and why this civilization collapsed is still an inexplicable mystery. In fact, this area has remained such a mystery that textbooks were rewritten due to new evidence that arose about it in the While1990s.theFour Corners region has been inhabited for well over 10,000 years — and some evidence suggests human habitation dating back 13,000 years, or perhaps longer — a cultural and architectural explosion was ignited around 700 to 800 CE. It was a time of unprecedented transformation. Chaco people learned to farm the arid, inhos pitable terrain with advanced irrigation and water control systems for agricul ture. They established a vast trading network with the construction of roads extending hundreds of miles throughout 180,000 square miles of territory. As they erected some of the most magnif icent architecture ever built by Native Americans, a revolution was underway that would drastically alter the fabric of life in the region. Suddenly, as quickly as it had began, the Anasazi civilization went into a swift decline and collapsed. People migrated away from the canyon and the culture soon vanished, trans forming the region once again.
Over one million artifacts are on display in the visitor’s center, however, many others have yet to be unearthed. Visitors come to see not only the architecture, but also a vast collection of artifacts, and the many petroglyphs; they come to glimpse unsolved mysteries left by an ancient people who tamed a hostile land. Who were these people? What was the purpose of this site, and just what happened here? Today, these questions remain mostly unanswered.
Although each Great House is unique, they are all distinctly Chacoan. They may have served as year round residences; however, there is evidence to suggest otherwise. Modern descendants of the Anasazi believe these structures were only occupied for ceremonial purposes,
One of the most puzzling aspects of the canyon, and perhaps its former inhabitants, is that the region supports few natural resources. It is built on a high desert plateau, with blazing hot sum mers and freezing cold winters, which makes it less than ideal for the extensive building project that the ruins indicate was once in this locale. Still, the Anasazi, Navajo for ancient ones, established a complex, sophisticated, and far-flung civilization in this area — but then aban doned it for reasons still unknown.
Chaco Canyon has not yet been fully excavated. However, this 10-mile stretch of canyon is home to the most perplex ing ancient mysteries in North America.
Kivas, kivas, everywhere A kiva (from Hopi), is a round cer emonial structure. Each Great House features at least one large central kiva (or more), and perhaps a dozen smaller ones. The number of kivas is proportion al to the number of rooms in the house.
Typical of Chacoan kivas are the meticulously placed T-shaped doorways, and the niches set into the round wall. The shape of the door, as well as the purpose of the wall niches are a mys tery. However, in at least one Great Kiva (Casa Rinconada), there are 6 additional niches, offset and slightly below the others.
Chaco is for the adventurous traveler. The canyon is desolate: 60 to 75 miles from the nearest modern towns with services, depending on the direction one enters, north or south.
Whether integrated into the larger com plex or built as a freestanding, isolated structure, there are hundreds of kivas in Chaco Canyon, including the six “great kivas.” While most would seat fewer, the great kivas accommodated hundreds of people. They are round, often semi-sub terranean (partially underground) structures, with a bench situated along the length of the inside wall surrounding a central fire pit. Small niches in the wall are evenly spaced above the bench. While modern pueblo people use the kiva for spiritual or ceremonial practic es, they may have served other func tions as well, such as a gathering place for social, political, or other events.
September 2022 | 5 or perhaps trade gatherings. While the evidence seems to support temporary or intermittent occupancy, no one knows for sure.
Pueblo Bonito, built in stages be tween 850 - 1150 AD, is the largest and most comprehensively excavated ruin in Chaco. With an estimated 700 rooms and 35 kivas (round ceremonial struc tures), it may have towered 5 stories above the canyon floor. Covering almost 2 acres, this building rivals the Roman Coliseum in size. A trail winds visitors through the site, pointing out important aspects of the engineering and construction. Pueblo Bonito would be a staggering architec tural achievement for any ancient peo ple. Yet for the Anasazi, a people with out the benefit of a written language, it is that and more. Skillfully aligned to east-west cardinal directions, a wall bi secting the center of its large courtyard is perfectly aligned north-south. On ei ther side of the wall is a great kiva, also precisely aligned in cardinal directions. This symmetry is common to all Great Houses of Chaco Canyon.
— DGO Staff
One in particular stands out: It is illuminated during the solstice sunrise as light enters through the doorway. Debate surrounding the original door placement makes this somewhat specu lative, however the preponderance of evidence strongly suggests this is no accident. It is not an isolated exam ple - there are many more instances of skilled, thoughtful engineering features that could only have been inspired by solar and lunar cycles. That Chacoan people were adept sky watchers is undisputed. Precision place ments of their buildings as well as the extant petroglyphs bear witness to this.
Visitors to Chaco Canyon will leave with more questions than answers: Why did people settle in this harsh environ ment with so few natural resources and such environmental extremes? Without the wheel, writing, or pack animals, how did they build on such a grand scale? Why would they build roads 30 feet wide with parallel, seemingly redundant, road segments? Why position monu mental architecture with such precision to cardinal directions? What was the main function of Chaco Canyon; was it primarily residential or just for special occasions? Why did they leave so soon after engineering and building such sophisticated structures? These questions may never be answered, and perhaps that is how it should remain.
All hail the vegan munchies a stoned who’s craving something worry; there are plenty of to
munchie options
junky? Don’t
pick from.
6 | September 2022
» Are you
vegan
Boxed cake mixes are also vegan — and that includes chocolate.
Boxed cake mixes are the easiest way to make a vegan cake. Most box mixes tell you to add milk, butter, and/or eggs to the batter yourself. This allows them to stay on the shelf for a long time. It’s also a lot cheaper for the manufac turer. Even some chocolate flavors don’t contain powdered milk. A good brand for this is Dunkin Hines, which even has a vegan boxed Chewy Fudge Brownie mix. Yum! You will have to figure out how to make the cake without the ingredients they ask for, but it’s usually not difficult. Once you pick up an accidentally vegan cake mix from whatever brand is com mon in your area, head online. There are plenty of vegan bloggers who post recipes for transforming boxed cake mixes into beautiful vegan cakes. So, it turns out snack pies are also mostly vegan. Bobby Hill would be proud. Snack pies are another commonly accidental vegan food. Once again, the companies’ desire to make cheap products that don’t spoil works to our advantage. Junk food vegans rejoice to see snack pies made with vegetable oil and margarine. Just make sure that any gelatin listed also says “pectin.” Pectin is a plant-based thickener that works like gelatin. Unlike gelatin, however, it doesn’t contain any animal products. Eating vegan can be a healthy choice, of course but not every day has to be kale chips and plain oatmeal — and you may not want kale when you’re stoned. We sure don’t. Either way, anyone can grab a vegan treat to satiate the cravings when they’re high. Plus, these things will typ ically last forever, so you don’t have to worry about making a grocery store run or summoning up Instacart to get them. You can just grab ‘em and toss them into your pantry for a rainy, blazed day. Sounds like a great plan to us. DGO Staff
We tend to forget about the veg an stoners out there, at least when it comes to junk food. We don’t mean to, but when we’re in the munchie zone, we go hard — and it usually includes beef jerky. Let us live, thanks. And while vegan food has been proven to have a ton of health benefits, there’s just some thing very NOT alluring about the idea of a tall glass of kombucha and a salad with kimchi when you’re stoned. But as we learned recently, vegan food doesn’t have to be inherently healthy — which means that we can start stashing some away for a stoned munchie day. In fact, all it takes to be vegan is to omit animal products like meat, egg, dairy, and gelatin. Everything else goes. Who knew? And, there’s even such thing as vegan junk food, which is perfect for someone who’s vegan for reasons of ethics not necessarily health. But even if you’re not a vegan, these tasty and very unhealthy treats are often already part of your everyday diet — so you may even have some sitting around right now. Anyway, without further ado, here are a few junk food treats that you may not have realized were vegan. You can toss them into the cabinet so they’re readily available for the next time you overdo it on the good ol’ weed. Oreos are vegan because life doesn’t make sense. Yes, yes, the brand that claims to be “Milk’s Favorite Cookie” is vegan. In order to stay shelf-stable and fresh for who knows how long, Oreos don’t contain any dairy. Their creamy center is made of vegetable oil. This makes all flavors and types of Oreos vegan. Potato chips are, too. Salty and sweet? Hell yah. Obviously, plain chips are just po tatoes and oil. However, many other flavors are also vegan. Check the back of the packaging to be sure, but most BBQ flavors are vegan. Just make sure they don’t include honey. Salt and vinegar, flamin’ hot, and other common flavors often don’t have any non-vegan ingredients.
September 2022 | 7
—
It’s time for a stoner road trip
Along Petrified Forest National Park’s hiking trails, you’ll see entire logs of pre served petrified wood, an incredibly rare bit of geologic sightseeing. In addition to the fascinating fossils, the park is full of beauty and history. You’ll encounter petroglyphs, mesas and buttes, and bad lands. Featured wildlife includes coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, badgers, and desert cottontails. Grand Canyon National Park
» Let’s all blaze up and head out to one of these three excellent AZ national parks
Petrified Forest National Park Size: 221,391 acres Location: Eastern Arizona; 26 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona, and bordered to the north by the Navajo Nation Main Attraction: petrified wood deposits Petrified Forest National Park is home to one of the world’s best-known depos its of petrified wood. This type of fossil comes from ancient trees or tree-like plants. Petrified wood is created when minerals replace a plant’s organic mate rial. Thus, a three-dimensional replica of the original plant specimen is formed.
8 | September 2022 Arizona is the geographic and cultural center of the American Southwest — and how lucky we are that it’s right next door to our fair state. For starters, the Grand Canyon is an unrivaled attraction — but it’s hardly the only outdoor spot that Arizona has to offer. Throughout the state, visitors are wowed by some of the United States’ most enchanting scenery, open spaces, and wildlife. And, now that weed is legal in Arizona, it’s a great time to blaze up and hit the trails at three of the state’s excellent national parks. Rugged desert beauty in the South west Arizona is the sixth-largest U.S. state but hosts just the 14th largest popula tion. The state’s residents are clustered in Phoenix, Tucson, and a few other ur ban centers. Most of the state consists of wide-open spaces and incredible natural beauty. Fortunately, many of Arizona’s geo logical and ecological points of interest are well-preserved and enjoy protected status. The state is home to 11 national wildlife refuges, six national forests, one national monument, and 31 state park units. Of course, the pinnacle of protected status is national park designation. Na tional parks in the United States fulfill a dual mission — to preserve natural resources while accommodating public visitation. In Arizona, there are three unique and fascinating national parks. Visitors to these sites are treated to some of the world’s most majestic landscapes. Plan ning a trip to the Grand Canyon State? Here are the basic facts on Arizona’s three national parks.
It’s impossible to overstate the splendor and significance of the Grand Canyon. It’s considered one of the great wonders of the natural world. Grand Canyon National Park is the quintessen tial national park, visited by nearly six million guests per year. At over 1.2 million acres, Grand Can yon National Park is the 11th largest U.S. national park and the fourth-largest outside of Alaska. The national park pro vides camping, rafting, wildlife viewing, helicopter tours, and all levels of hiking.
The Grand Canyon itself is a 277-mile-long and 18-mile-wide canyon of the Colorado River. Millions of years of geological processes are laid bare in the canyon’s enormous splendor — providing some of the planet’s most spectacular and prized views. The top tourist viewpoints occur on the park’s south rim, at Mather Point and Yavapai Point. Saguaro National Park Size: 91,716 acres Location: Southeastern Arizona, on both sides (west and east) of Tucson, ArizonaMain Attraction: Sonoran Desert landscapes
— DGO Staff
September 2022 | 9 Size: 1,217,262 acres
Location: Northwest Arizona, 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona, and 130 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada Main Attraction: Grand Canyon South Rim
Saguaro National Park is named for the giant and iconic Saguaro cacti that speckle its landscapes. Saguaros, native to the Sonoran desert, can grow up to 40 feet tall and survive for 150-year lifespans. There are nearly two million Saguaro cacti in the National Park. Some of the park’s most exciting wildlife in cludes mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, javelinas, and roadrunners. The park consists of two separate areas, one 10 miles west of Tucson in the Tucson Mountains and the other 10 miles east, below the Rincon Mountains. Saguaro National Park offers excellent hiking through the unique cactus-cov ered landscape.
The enormous cacti cutting into the desert sky create some of the most fabulous sunsets you could ever hope to catch. Touring Arizona’s unique landscapes Arizona is the land of the Grand Can yon and Southwestern deserts. But the state’s landscapes offer so much more. Many visitors are surprised to learn that the state is heavily forested and teeming with fascinating wildlife. From end to end, Arizona is an amaz ing land to explore. The state’s three na tional parks provide perfect focal points for any southwestern adventure.
Disaster rock docs
Breaking a Monster
10 | September 2022 It’s no secret that the world of rock ‘n roll comes fertile with disaster. Long stretches on the road, professional uncertainty and every nasty vice that comes with the lifestyle (everything from overdoses and STDs to revolting eating habits) primes the pump for depression and interpersonal conflict. When money and pride are on the line, fistfights and firings become very real possibilities. And when they do, the fire works can be intense. Here we examine five unique documen taries that catch metal acts in the process of melting down and how they recovered — or burnt out forever.
Some Kind of Monster Perhaps the granddaddy of heavy metal rock docs, 2004’s Monster looks at icons Metalli ca in the midst of an existential crisis. Directors Joe Berliner and Bruce Sinofsky captured the interpersonal tension, particularly that between lead vocalist / guitarist James Het field and drummer Lars Ulrich. The vitriol was palpable. The film also includes their search for a fresh bassist after the recent departure of Jason Newsted. By film’s end, they settle upon former Suicidal Tendencies member Robert Trujillo, whose style and decent juju helps breathe new life into the band.
— DGO Staff
Quiet Riot - Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back Everybody remembers “Cum On Feel the Noize” and “Metal Health” from Quiet Riot’s smash hit, Metal Health, the 6x platinum album released in 1983. What casual fans don’t know is the tragi comic tale behind the rotating cast of players that has turned the group into a revolving door. The picture centers upon drummer Frankie Banali, whose desire to make the goup work is spurred on by the death of singer Kevin DuBrow. His des perate desire to fill DuBrow’s absence and heal his past is equal parts sad, funny and heartwarming. Anvil! The Story of Anvil Praise was heaped upon Anvil! when it was initially released in 2008. Director Sacha Gervasi’s lauded rockumentary about Canadian metalers Anvil details how a band can be intensely loved and often imitated, yet never acquire finan cialThinsuccess.crowds, missed trains and lack of promotion all become sources of frustration and tensions fray. In the end, their desire to perform overcomes all obstacles.
Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone Although you’ve likely never heard of them before, Fishbone remains extreme ly influential. Loosely described as a blend of rock, R&B, punk, metal and ska, their distinctive logo can often be spot ted in the form of T-shirts donned by dis criminating listeners. As their popularity grew in the early 90’s, it seemed they were destined to become megastars. Upon the death of his mother, guitar ist Kendall Jones abruptly quit and left to live with his father in what’s been de scribed as a cult, renouncing his former band and even calling them “demonic”. After his band mates attempted an intervention, they suddenly found them selves in court on attempted kidnapping charges. Thus began a downward slide that continues to this day, despite their persistent musical greatness.
Yes, living the life of a hardcore artist is dangerous territory. If you haven’t already, seek out one of these recom mended gems and see for yourself what can go wrong when heavy metal is your business.
Many great documentaries concerning musicians exist, but when one narrows the focus specifically to heavy metal these are some of the best. Anybody ab sorbing these cinematic tales of caution will have their suspicions well-confirmed.
» Want to indulge in a little sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll — from a distance? Well, well. We have found your unicorn.
Eventually, they signed an astronom ical $1.8 million record deal with Sony. During the contract signing, they toyed with their phones and generally spaced out, resulting in a tongue lashing con cerning their immaturity, as if a bunch of middle schoolers should be expected to act like Directortwenty-somethings.LukeMeyer’screw captured the kids at the center of the maelstrom and documented the endless series of unwise decisions that caused the promis ing act to flame out like a Roman candle.
If you’re not familiar with Unlocking the Truth, you’re not alone; after all, they never really got off the ground. When a group of African-American seventh-graders began shredding in the middle of Times Square for tips, a video of the talented youngsters went viral and soon they had the industry breath ing down their necks, hungry to capital ize upon the next big thing.
IS HERE FOR YOU! editor@dgomag.com 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. ASK a of COU�LE POTHEADS DGO’s Blaze and Puf answer your weed questions you are too embarrassed to ask anyone else.
Best prices: Oasis Oasis offers the best value of any dispensary in Vegas. In addition to their amazing prices, they offer one of the best rewards programs. So if you’re a frequent visitor to the city, frequenting Oasis will pay off in both the short and long term. In addition, they have some of the most knowledgable budtenders in Las Vegas, so if you’re new to the world of marijuana, they can help you famil iarize yourself with things like terpenes, indica vs. sativa, and other slightly more complex marijuana topics. In addition, their house brand City Trees offers some of the best concentrates in Las Vegas.
12 | September 2022 Las Vegas is the most popular tourist destinations in the world — and if you’re a road warrior, it’s basically right in your own backyard (and by that we mean it’s about seven freakin’ hours away, but still). You may even be planning a trip to Sin City in the near future thanks to its close proximity. We do the same from time to time. But while Sin City has an abundance of indulgences to choose from, like gambling, shows, clubs, and other fun di versions, it also has a ton of weed — our favorite. When marijuana was legalized in Nevada in 2017, it increased the allure of the most alluring city in the world — and a bunch of very Vegas-y dispensaries popped up in tandem. But just like the rest of Sin City’s many attractions, there are countless choices for tourists to get their cannabis products, and try as you might, you can’t possibly make it to all of the dispensaries in this glowing, strange desert oasis. Well, not unless you’re planning to stay in Vegas for weeks on end (which is something we do not recommend). To help you out, we’ve narrowed the list down to five of the must-see Vegas dispensaries. Just don’t imbibe on too many sugary drinks the night before and you should be able to knock them all out in one trip.
Best selection: Planet 13 No matter what marijuana brand or product you’re looking for, chances are Planet 13 has it. Carrying the widest selection of any dispensary in Vegas, Planet 13 is a one-stop shop for all your marijuana needs. Offering a relaxing atmosphere and helpful budtenders, Planet 13 should satisfy any tourist who wants to see the full range of marijuana products Las Vegas has to offer.
Best and only tasting room: NuWu
Currently, marijuana is only legal for consumption in private residences, meaning tourists lack a place to smoke/ consume. While those laws are in the process of changing, NuWu is located on land owned by the Paiute Native Amer ican Tribe, a sovereign jurisdiction. This means laws that apply to other dispensa ries don’t apply at NuWu, allowing them to offer the only marijuana tasting room/ lounge in Vegas. Offering an inviting and friendly atmosphere, the lounge is the
Stoned in Sin City
» Want to check out some very Vegas-y dispensaries on your next gambling road trip? We’ve narrowed down the options for ya.
— DGO Staff
If your travels take you to Hen derson, the city bordering Las Vegas to the south that was voted one of the “Top 50 Best Places to Live in America” by Money Magazine, your best dispensary option would be The Source. With good prices, a good rewards program, and knowledgeable budtenders, it will give you a great experience. In addition, their house brand, 8|Fold, is one of the high est-quality brands in Las Vegas.
September 2022 | 13
best place for tourists to smoke. Best dispensary near UNLV: Pisos Tourists visiting UNLV students can visit one of the other dispensa ries on this list as they have a better selection, better prices, and better budtenders.However, in terms of location, Pisos is ideal. In addition, they offer a selection of strains that are avail able at other dispensaries. It’s worth noting, however, that all of their products are produced at Pisos-owned grow houses, meaning if you’re looking for a specific brand, you’re likely out of luck. Still, Pisos offers a level of conve nience for UNLV students and visitors that no other dispensary can match by virtue of its location.
Best Henderson dispensary: The Source
SPECIAL TO DGO We may pretend like cannabis is all fun and games around here — and to be fair, for us, it is. But the reality is that the plant is a lot more than just a miracle fix for social anxiety or lame parties; it’s also a very potent and effective medicine. Many devot ed cannabis users have attested to this over the last several decades, but there hasn’t been much in the way of research to prove it. Well, until now, that is. Thanks to looser research restrictions, scientists and research ers have finally been making some serious headway in proving that the plant can be used as a safe, effective medicine for all sorts of ailments. But what exactly are they research ing — and what have they found while taking a deep dive into can nabis as medicine? Well, the short answer is: a lot of things. If you’re curious as to how canna bis is finally getting the medical rec ognition it deserves, check out some some of the recent research into the plant, outlined below. It’s about time that the cannabis plant got its fair shake with serious research — and we can’t wait to see what else is uncovered as time goes on. Does research prove that cannabis is the safe, effective sleep aid you’ve been dreaming of? Sleep disorders are a common health issue that may negatively impact other physical and mental health conditions. According to the American Sleep Association, 50-70 million adults in the U.S. suffer from
Cannabis research has come a long way recently — and it’s finally starting to prove how effective a medicine the plant can truly be a sleep disorder. The most common sleep disorder is insomnia with chronic insomnia affecting 10% of adults and short-term issues reported by about 30% of adults. The long-term effect of sleep loss can cause a wide variety of health issues including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Sleep disorders can severely impact learning and memory functions, and left untreated can produce visual and auditory hallucinations, even triggering mania in people with manic depression. According to the American Thoracic Society, sleep disorders are even more common among older Americans, afflicting from 30 to 80 percent of the elderly. Studies published in the soci ety’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggest that sleep disorders may contribute to amyloid deposits in the brain, the plaque-building peptides associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that untreated sleep disorders in the elderly may accelerate cognitive decline, increasing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Proper sleep is necessary to allow neurons in the brain to rejuvenate. Lack of adequate sleep affects mood, focus, muscle function, and the ability to recall information. In the workplace, these issues may result in relatively minor problems, such as clerical errors, to severe and major accidents. A 2017 report commissioned by Harvard University estimated that in 2015 the direct cost of sleep deficiency in the U.S. was over $410 billion, equal to 2.28 percent of the gross domestic product. The medical community has tradi tionally treated sleep disorders with a combination of medication and the modification of habits. Limiting the intake of caffeine and alcohol along with a proper diet can help to alleviate symptoms in some patients. Physicians often prescribe dietary supplements and prescription sleep aids to help patients receive adequate sleep. While prescription sleep aids are effective at inducing sleep they often have significant undesirable side effects, which can add additional health burdens and may cause tolerance and depen dency.Research and anecdotal evidence suggests that certain strains of cannabis may be useful as sleep aids. Cannabidiol(CBD) has been shown to reduce anxiety levels effectively, while tetrahy drocannabinol (THC) relaxes patients and induces sleep. Statistical evidence shows that when ingested, marijuana strains with the proper ratio of CBD and THC provide significant improve ments in patients who have insomnia and other sleep disorders. According to a 2008 study published by the National Center for Biotechnol ogy, marijuana strains with high levels of THC reduce the amount of REM sleep in individuals. Less REM sleep means fewer dreams, which can reduce or eliminate nightmares, especially beneficial for patients who have PTSD. Less time in the REM stage enables patients with sleep disorders to spend more time in a “deep sleep” phase which is believed to be the most restorative, therapeutic, and restful part of the sleep cycle. A 2018 peer-reviewed study published by the Molecular Diversity Preservation International and Multi disciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) found that marijuana reduced sleep disorder symptoms by as much as 4.5 points on a scale of one to ten. This study also found that the method of ingestion was a factor in the effective ness of marijuana as a sleep aid, with the highest levels of relief achieved by using a vaporizer followed by smoking from a pipe. Their study also suggested that after controlling for other characteristics of the strain consumed, higher levels of CBD combined with high THC con tent provided the most significant levels of Anecdotalrelief.evidence concerning the effectiveness of can nabis as a sleep aid has been available for years and recent scientific evidence shows that marijuana offers a safe, effective alternative to prescription medications for the treatment of sleep disorders. The recent changes in the public perception of the plant and its therapeutic benefits have caused the legal and medical communities to rethink the plant’s prohibition. As the legal status of cannabis continues to change, allowing more research and scientific studies to take place, scien tific data will undoubtedly continue to support the anecdotal evidence. Research on cannabis as a treatment option for epilepsy Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects nearly 65 million people globally. In the United States, about 3.4 million people, or 1.2% of the popula tion, are currently diagnosed with epi lepsy. While epilepsy is more common than many other neurological diseases, it is widely misunderstood, and for nearly half of those with the condition, the cause is unknown. What is Epilepsyepilepsy?isaneurological disorder characterized by repeated, unprovoked seizures caused by a disturbance to nerve activity in the brain. Everyone’s brain transmits messages through electrical pulses to their body to tell the body what to do. Epileptic sei zures happen due to a disruption or interference to the electrical activity, causing the movement, behavior, level of awareness, and feelings of a person to change. The disease and the seizures it causes can vary significantly among people.Thecondition is typically diagnosed by a medical specialist after two un provoked seizures, but not all people that suffer from seizures are diagnosed with epilepsy. While epilepsy most commonly afflicts people over 60, chil dren, and adolescents, the condition affects people of all genders, cultural backgrounds, and other demographic frameworks, and it can develop at any age or stage of life. With over 40 different varieties of seizures, a person with epilepsy may experience one or more types. A person’s behavior during a seizure depends on the type of seizure and the affected area of the brain. While the cause of nearly 50% of all epilepsy cases is unknown, the con dition may be triggered by a genetic disorder or an acquired brain injury caused by a stroke or trauma. When a person is undergoing a seizure, they experience changes that include abnormal behavior, sensations, and symptoms which sometimes include the loss of consciousness, with few symptoms between episodes. In most cases, epilepsy is treated with prescrip tion medications and, in some instanc es, dietary changes, surgery, or medical devices.Chemical Compounds in Cannabis That Appear to Assist With Epilepsy Cannabis research is limited, and much more is needed, but many epi lepsy patients say that marijuana helps control their seizures. While not every patient should consider cannabis as a treatment option, for some, medical cannabis may be the best alternative treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy
Marijuana medical research
The cannabis plants, both marijua na and hemp, contain over a hundred chemical compounds known as canna binoids. The two most well-known and well-studied cannabinoids are also the most abundant, delta-9-tetrahydrocan nabinol, commonly referred to as THC and cannabidiol or CBD.
However, CBD is derived primarily from hemp, which has less than 0.3% THC by law. Therefore, CBD has none of the psychoactive effects of marijua na but has the same capacity to bind with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. CBD’s ability to regulate the endocannabinoid system without pro ducing a high makes it the preferred cannabinoid for treating seizures. While nearly everyone agrees that more research is needed, there is evi dence that CBD can effectively treat drug-re sistant types of epilepsy. A 2018 review of data collected from various clinical trials of CBD from 1978 to 2017 found that while the cannabinoid was not helpful for everyone, many patients saw improvements in their condition. How does cannabis help relieve symp toms of epilepsy? While research has yet to reveal precisely how CBD and THC helps prevent seizures, it is believed to be the result of the interaction of the chemical compounds with a system of neurotransmitters and receptors called the endocannabinoid system. Researchers believe that the endo cannabinoid system is responsible for regulating nearly every body function, including appetite, pain, sleep, cell re production, immune system response, and even your level of consciousness, emotions, and dreams. Scientistsfoundhavethat
CBD modifies these bodily functions by binding with receptors found through out the body as part of the endocanna binoid system. In addition, research has shown that CBD has positive effects on a broad spectrum of seizures based on animal model data. Recent changes in Federal law have enabled the research of cannabis for therapeutic purposes to increase dra matically. As a result, the first FDA-ap proved, plant-based drug derived from cannabis hit the market in 2018. Epidi olex is a purified, pharmaceutical-grade CBD product approved as a treatment for two rare forms of epilepsy, Len nox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. There is increasing interest in researching and developing canna bis-derived drugs to treat drug-resis tant epilepsy with minimal side effects. Research into this area should be encouraged to decrease the symptoms associated with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Many patients are wary of trying cannabis as a treatment because of the psychoactive effects of THC. Addition ally, in some people, the compound has been shown to cause anxiety.
16 | September 2022 and uncontrolled seizures when rec ommended by a qualified physician.
THC is the psychoactive ingredi ent found in cannabis, while CBD is a non-psychoactive compound. Both cannabinoids have been shown to have a variety of medical benefits. However, CBD is quickly emerging as one of the plant’s leading medicinal compounds, and preliminary evidence suggests that the cannabinoid can help control seizures.Thepercentage of cannabinoid compounds varies between different cannabis strains. Research has found that controlling specific symptoms is dependent on the ratios of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids found in one particular strain. THC and CBD can both be isolated into a pure form, but studies have found when it comes to cannabis, there is a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. This ef fect suggests that a full spectrum prod uct containing at least trace amounts of the full range of cannabinoids is more effective at treating symptoms than a pure isolate.
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A study done by the Multidisci plinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) found participants treated with THC had the greatest improvement of PTSD symptoms among three study groups. According to Dr. Marcel O. Bonn-Mill er, Coordinating Principal Investigator and study lead author, this was “the first randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing the therapeutic poten tial of varying ratios of THC and CBD for treating symptoms of PTSD.” Dr. Bonn-Miller recommends larger trials to determine the effective minimal THC dose a PTSD sufferer would need without becoming addicted. Many will continue to turn to can nabis to treat their PTSD symptoms-even if relief is only temporary. More studies will continue to be done in the USA, as well as other countries, as cannabis is found to be an effective and viable treatment for PTSD.
A Washington State University study looked at the effectiveness of the short and long-term effects of cannabis.
The medical profession has studied the use of cannabis to treat PTSD for quite some time. And since anyone can suffer from PTSD, which occurs as a result of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, cannabis could be a viable and affordable option for many. After all, anyone can buy weed from an online dispensary or authorized seller. PTSD symptoms can be overwhelm ing: mood changes, sleep disorders, nightmares, anxiety, flashbacks, and irritability are some of the most com mon. Researchers have studied the effectiveness of cannabis as a treat ment for PTSD and found encouraging results.AColorado Department of Public Health and Environment-funded study of 150 participants found those who used cannabis were 2.57 times more likely than the non-cannabis users to no longer medically qualify as having PTSD. Researchers seem optimistic that recreational and medical cannabis found in dispensaries may be a viable treatment for PTSD. However, they recommend that randomized place bo-controlled trials should be done for safety and performance issues.
Research shows how cannabis can help treat PTSD Post Traumatic Syndrome (PTSD) is often associated with military veterans struggling to live normal lives after experiencing the horrors of warfare. And while some members of the armed forces have this potentially crippling disorder, many people are surprised to learn that most PTSD sufferers are not soldiers or sailors but everyday people. Also surprising is one of the most effec tive treatments for PTSD: Cannabis.
Participants showed a more than 50% improvement of their symptoms short ly after the treatment. The study found cannabis can be effective in treating PTSD at least in the short term. It also revealed more PTSD sufferers are increasingly turning to cannabis on their own when traditional therapies and mainstream medications prove ineffective.
The study focused on delta-9-tetra hydrocannibinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which are extracts of cannabis known as cannabinoids. THC is the psy choactive cannabinoid responsible for the “high” associated with recreational cannabis use. CBD is a non-psychoac tive cannabinoid that may weaken the effects of THC in certain people. Re searchers suggest more studies need to be done on how the entire cannabis plant impacts PSTD symptoms, as most people use the whole plant.
— DGO Pufnstuf weird, a lot stoned, with Boo
18 | September 2022 Listen, friends. This is your warn ing that I’m about to talk about some seriously weird things in this review. If you’re weirded out by the idea of an ice phallus, now is the time to exit this review.A’ight.
I’m not sure how long this cycle lasted, to be honest — but at some point the munchies kicked in and I knew I was done for. A few bags of chips and a few more ice dongs and I was down for the count. Out. Asleep, dreaming of these artistic creations like they were sugar plums dancing in my head. When I finally woke from my slumber, though, it was business as usual. No foggy brain, no embarrassment, and no regrets. Just the remnants of one weird Google search and the memories of one hell of a strain. Now, do I think it was to tally the fault of Boo Kush that I decided to Google such a terrible but glorious search term? Of course not. That’s just how my brain works. But what Boo Kush did do was free my brain of the static from work and life, which gave me the freedom to look up the weirdest junk on the net. And for that, I am grateful.
Anyone left? Good. Let’s get to it. So I’m just going to be straight up with you guys and tell you that I recently spent way too many hours googling the phrase “snow penis.” Why did I do such a terrible thing to my mind, you ask? Well, it all started with a bowl of Boo Kush from Prohibition Herb. If you haven’t made the connection yet, that’s the strain I’m reviewing this issue for Prohibition, and (spoiler alert) it’s a good one. A realllllly good one. Boo Kush is a premium strain on the shelves at Prohibition, and if you haven’t stumbled across it yet, here’s what you should know. This strain is generalized as an indica, and its genetics came from two killer strains: Ghost OG and OG Kush. The first thing I noticed about this strain is incredibly green—like, the greenest ever—and it is quite the stinker. Literally. This strain smells very, very potent, to the point where the closed container made my entire living room reek of weed, pine, and freshly cut grass. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I like the smell of weed, and I like the smell of the great outdoors, so I don’t mind my whole house reeking of cannabis. But if you’re trying to be discreet about your habits, this is not the right strain for you. You will get busted just having it on you, and if you smoke it? Well. There is no ozone spray on the planet that can cover that stench up. Oh, but if you just power through the stink lines that this strain emits, you’ll wind up stoned, a little weird, and happy as a freaking clam. Well, as evidenced by what happened to me, anyway. Your Boo Kush mileage mayLet’svary.talk about that little experience now, shall we? So, as I mentioned, I spent a lot of time Googling one very obscure and dumb term, and it’s all due to this strain. That’s because, after I smoked a bowl of Kush,BooIwas very, very high. Like the highest in the room high. It started off with my feeling like my arms were covered in a million tiny little ants, none of which were aggressive — but all of which were quite content to tickle me. That feeling quickly trickled down to the rest of my appendages — and up to my scalp — in a rush of THC-in ducedFromtrippiness.there,the head high kicked in. I started getting super chatty and inter ested in any and everything. I wanted to TALK. Didn’t matter what the subject matter was. I just needed to tell every one my Despitethoughts.theserious body high, though, things stayed pretty typical (but high) for a while. I chatted and perused Reddit, content with checking out some of the weirder subs I subscribe to as entertain ment when I’m high. (Pro tip: If you’re a Redditor, you have to subscribe to Curb Finds. It’s wild when you’re high.) But that didn’t last. Things took a turn for the weird (surprise!) when I remem bered that we were supposed to get a torrential downpour of snow later that day.How did that snow memory get weird, you ask? Well, because I am a freaking juvenile, I started to wonder what the internet thought the worst versions of a good old snowman were. Cause, you know,Like,reasons.dopeople build snow Eiffel tow ers? Snow Olafs? Has anyone created a snow moose? Has anyone even tried to recreate the very NSFW “garden” that Laszlo from “What We Do in the Shad ows” takes so much freaking pride in? After all, who wouldn’t think it hilarious to create THAT out of snow? And then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me. I wonder if anyone has made any epic snow peni. So, I did what any good pot writer would do: I googled it. Turns out that yes, yes people do, in fact, take the time to erect — pun intended — snow phallus’, and it’s not just in Colorado. It’s everywhere — from the good-natured Canadians to the 200 bored people who live in the snowy state of North Dakota to the weirdos in our fair weed state. Snow penises are everywhere. (Don’t believe me? Please search it up.) That discovery would have been enough to set me off on a belly-busting bout of laughter in a completely sober state, but the massive head high that I was rocking made it even freaking funnier. I could not look away. It felt like I scrolled these images for an eternity, looking at the admittedly disgusting, but also hilarious, dong artwork made of snow.And as I scrolled, I smoked bowl after bowl of this strain. It became a nonstop loop, with me taking hits, scrolling snow dongs, and then laughing hysterically at my finds. In between, my skin would tick le with the pleasant feeling of tiny ants.
Getting a little
and
Kush MAKE SURE THEY’RE IN THE RIGHT CAR NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeatSEAT
That’s a freaking win if I’ve ever heard one.So, if you’re looking for a quick pickme- up that reminds you of sum mer and fun and being ever so slightly carefree, Tooty Fruity may be the way to go. You’ll have to buy a metric ton of it if you want to indulge, but it’s a solid strain that you’ll want to keep around anyway — so don’t worry about that part. If you grab some, I have a feeling you’ll be staring at an empty bag of Tooty Fruity in no time flat. I certainly will be. Pufnstuf
— DGO
But before we all start daydreaming of dragging an ounce of Tooty Fruity to some tropical sands at a place well outside of Southwest Colorado, let’s talk a little bit about WHY you’d want this strain on your side. And it all starts with theAsfruit.you may have gathered by the name, Tooty Fruity, or Tutti Frutti, as it’s sometimes called, is a strain that tastes and smells like it should have been grown among the pineapples and dragonfruits of some tropical paradise — not in the grow ops from some Colorado dispensary.I’mnotkidding, you guys. This strain is a fruity flavor that reeks of melons and berries in a fruit salad — not your typical ol’ skunk weed. In fact, that’s the first thing I noticed when I picked this strain up: the smell. It reminded me of a life outside of my four walls, outside of Colorado — and way outside of a global pandemic. In a dumb way, it kind of reminded me of what it is to be free as a bird in the summer air. (Let me live!) The second thing I noticed was the sheer amount of tiny popcorn nugs in the bag of weed. At The Green House, this strain is only available in half-ounc es or ounces, so I had to grab a halfounce to review it. So, be aware that you’ll have to really commit to this one if you want to try it. You’ll have enough to last for Luckily,weeks.that commitment was no skin off of my teeth, because I loved this strain as soon as I tried it.
My first thoughts when I inhaled was that this strain tastes just as good as it smells. It’s a fruity punch straight to the skull — and the effects are just as chill as its mellow, tropical vibe. And, all it took was one bowl of this strain to get the ol’ noggin’ working well enough to start blabbering. After the bowl was cashed, I found I was chatty as hell, talking about everything and anything that I’d been keeping trapped in my brain as of late. (In other words, I was talking about utter nonsense.)
The only downside to this strain is that I got a little paranoid after a second bowl. Nothing major, but the giggles were traded in for more of a heightened awareness, I guess — which could quick ly turned uncomfortable if I’d overdone it. Luckily, I didn’t — so I was able to ride the occasional bouts of paranoia into happy territory once again. And, it all happened with basically no munchies.
Dreaming Of Tropical »Islands? The Tooty Fruity Strain Will Hook You Up With A Brain Vacation
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Are you feeling a little fruity these days? Well, join the club. And if that’s the case, I have the strain for you. This week we’re reviewing Tooty Fruity from The Green House Durango, and let me tell you, if you would rather be sitting on a tropical island with a drink in hand, you’ll probably want to grab some of this bad boy. (And who wouldn’t want to be doing that?)
Everything was funny, from the dog chasing its tiny, stumpy tail to him gnaw ing on the furniture. (Those teeth marks are not funny now that I’m sober, but they were absolutely funny then.) I laughed so hard at what would have otherwise been mundane or annoying that my abs still hurt as I type this. It was that much laughter.
I also found that I was also instantly happy, which is admittedly no small feat these days. I’m not depressed, but cabin fever has officially set in once again, between the snow and the cold and the other day to day nonsense we all deal with. As such, it’s tough to unlock the in ner zen sometimes. But this strain did it. In fact, it unlocked my inner optimist so well that I could not stop laughing.
So, as you may have gathered by the cannabinoids acronym, THCV is related to THC, but this cannabinoid acts a little differently than your everyday THC. Ac cording to the folks over at Leafly, here’s what makes it different: – THCV is an appetite suppressant and may dull the appetite, which can help with weight loss. – THCV may help also with diabetes because it shows promise when it comes to helping regulate blood sugar levels and reducing insulin resistance. – THCV may reduce panic attacks in PTSD patients without suppressing emotion.–THCV may help with Alzheimer’s, but research is in progress. – THCV stimulates bone growth and is being looked at for osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions.
20 | September 2022 OK, so it’s question time. How many of you would take an edible to curb your appetite (or the mid-day munchies)? Let’s see a show of hands. From here I see zero hands (and yes, it’s totally because I’m alone in my house writing this). And, zero hands make sense. When we think of weed, we typi cally think of eating all the freaking chips and tiny chocolate donuts our stoner asses stored in our emergency snack kits for when we’re high as a kite. The munchies are real.
Well, that’s what I think about, any way. Smoking weed makes me hungry. What can I say? That said, it apparently doesn’t have to make you hungry. Turns out certain can nabinoids can suppreses your appetite. Well, that’s the premise behind the new Cheeba Chews THCV Charged Chocolate Taffy, anyway. These new edibles are pretty freaking unique, if you ask me. Unlike your typical edibles that come with 10 milligrams of THC, these bad boys contain 5 milli grams of THC, 5 milligrams of caffeine, and 2.5 milligrams of THCV — a canna binoid that you don’t often find in your regular edibles.
I initially felt a little glow, like a wash of energy running over my brain. I was waking up, despite it being about 9 p.m. on a And,Tuesday.thatwash of energy quickly became a tidal wave. I was awake, aware, and my brain was clear but also slightly high. Unusual? Yes. Rad? Of course! I basically went from being a lazy bump on a log to being wide the hell awake. Interesting, right? Even more interesting was that while I was high, I was indeed not very hungry! That is VERY unusual for me. I am the gotdang chip monster when I’m stoned. From there, things were pretty status quo. Because I was awake I wanted to clean. So, that’s what I did. At like 10 p.m. on a weeknight I decided, screw it, I’m putting away the pile of laundry I’ve been avoiding for weeks on end. From there, I scrubbed the kitchen and orga nized a bunch of junk in my office that had been piling up, too. Was it cool? Eh, not in the “I’m so stoned I can’t stop laughing at Nancy Grace’s demon face” kind of way. But it was cool in the “Hell yeah, look at me adulting like a boss” kind of way. So, you know. Perspective. I will tell you, though, that while I was not initially starving, that feeling did not last. I’m going to be unbiased here and say that I cleaned for hours, so it could have been that I just naturally worked up an appetite, or it could have been that the edibles wore off and THEN I was hungry, but at some point, I got into the cupcakes.AndIgot into them real bad.
Like, I probably ate six cupcakes in one sitting … and the freaking leftover red velvet cake I had stowed in the fridge. But, like I said, I can’t entirely blame that on the edibles. The weed may have made me hungry, but it also could have been the sweat equity I was putting into doing WORK, son. Or it could have been the fact that the edibles wore off and I was just hungry. I do not know for sure. What I do know is that I will be giving these bad boys another try — and next time I will do so earlier in the day. I’m not an edibles person overall, but if these Cheeba Chews can help me focus, push me into cleaning, and keep the munchies away for a while, I’m in. Even if they taste like coffee and weed.
Fighting back against
The idea behind adding the caffeine and the THCV is that the edibles will give you a burst of energy, like a weed stimulant, so you can focus on what you need to do. Cheeba Chews even promotes them as a partner for your morning routine, which makes sense. But what the heck is THCV, you ask? Well, I didn’t know either prior to trying out these edibles, so I had to Google it. Here’s what I learned.
Cheeba’s THCV
So, if you’re looking for an edible that won’t entice you to pack on the pounds, or an edible that may help you snap to attention when you need to, I’d check these out. I’m not an expert on THCV, but if half of the research on this canna binoid is correct, it’s an interesting one — and as such, these edibles could come in handy for so many reasons.
Pretty cool, right? Right. But I wasn’t taking it for osteoporosis or diabetes. I was taking it to get stoned and see if these new Cheeba Chews could really curb the munchies. So only the first list entry above really matters in thisAsequation.such,Ipopped two of these bad boys in my mouth as soon as I picked them up from Prohibition, where they’re new on the shelves. I opted for two be cause 5 milligrams ain’t gonna do nothin’ me at this point in my pothead life. And, my first thought was that yes, it was clear that there was caffeine in these edibles. They taste like a caffein ated tootsie roll. Not bad, but not quite what I expected. My second thought was that like many other Cheeba edibles, these had quite the weedy aftertaste. I’m not knocking it, but if you’re super adamant about your edibles not tasting like weed, these may not be the ones for you. Once I washed them down, I waited. And waited. And waited some more. It took about half an hour for me to start feeling the effects of these edibles, but once I did, it was very apparent that they were kicking in — and not in the normal edible way, either. Rather than hitting me straight in the frontal lobe, the effects of these new Cheeba Chews were a soft glaze to my brain.
— DGO Pufnstuf the munchie monster with edibles
Hi there! It’s time for another Q&A with our good buddies Blaze and Puf. These two potheads are here to answer all of the burning questions (pun intend ed) you’ve ever had about cannabis. Take advantage of it while you can; that’s basically all they’re good for — that and smoking weed — so you might as well take advantage of their useless knowl edge as you see fit. Have questions to ask these two fools? Send them to editor@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 ques tions about weed. Nothing shocks us at this point. And we do mean nothing.
What happens if you ask a couple of potheads some questions about weed?
September 2022 | 21
There’s no hard and fast rules for how marijuana is supposed to make you feel, think, etc. In fact, I think it’s pretty common for people to have various experiences de pending on the strain. I think it would actually be pretty bor ing if everyone had the same reactions, to be honest. I myself have had plenty of times when I’ve had a sativa and passed out on my couch immediately after or smoked an indica then proceeded to clean my entire kitchen. I say go with the flow and don’t let expectations ruin your experiences.
Whenever I smoke indicas I gain a lot of energy, but when I smoke sativas I get tired. When I researched, I found that it’s supposed to be the opposite. Is something wrong with me? Blaze: Absolutely not! The anticipated effects of a strain are pretty generalized.
Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out. (Hint: Nothing good, friends. Nothing good.)
Here’s the thing about weed. It kinda does what it wants in our bodies depending on the strain, the dosage (i.e. how much we smoked at the time), how much we’ve eaten (or drankety-drank), and other factors. It also totally depends on the mode of ingestion, too. For example, I say eff bongs. Bongs ruin my life. Or, rather, I ruin my life with bongs because I don’t know and or care about my limits when I’m smoking a fat bowl out of a bong. And then, 20 minutes after that thing is cashed, I’m sweating bullets, high out of my mind, and — on occasion — am also superSamenauseated.thinggoes for most edibles. I can smoke a ton, but if I eat a few edibles, I get very, very high to the point of non-functional and then find myself aimlessly wandering the aisles of a rural Nebraska gas station looking for a specific type of pickle popcorn. (Just ask Blaze.)Now, is that the weed’s fault? Nah. It’s my body’s fault. I overdo it and my body reacts accordingly. Or, in the case of the
Puf: Yes. Everything is wrong with you. (I kid! I kid! You’re totally normal.)
We’re all creatures of habit, and part of the problem I’ve had is that I really like to stick to what I know. That sounds borderline ridiculous, but if I’m not reviewing a product, I have my favorite two or three rigs or batteries I use. In other words, I’m lazy and don’t like to have to make changes to my stoned routine.Thatcan lead to ruts like the one you’re having. My body has become super tolerant of certain concentrates, for example. I find it super effing easy to grab a vape and cart when I’m laying around being super productive (i.e. watching junk on TV). The more I use that vape and cart, the less I notice the high.I’ve noticed, however, that when I am LESS lazy, like when I switch it up be tween concentrates, flower, and edibles, I am noticeably more aware of the high. Rather than getting relaxed, I get stoned like I used to. You can also take a break from THC, but honestly, that sounds like shit to me. If you decide to do this, you can essentially reset your THC clock. In fact, research shows that while THC can deplete your CB1 receptors, they can recover over time and return to their previous levels if you take breaks. And, you don’t even have to take them for that long. Two weeks is enough to get the job done. I’m not going to do it with you in solidarity, but that’s an easy way to start over — even after decades of Yousmoking.canalso try adding some CBD to the mix. I’ve found that flower with CBD and THC gets me a lot higher than just high-THC bud. That is purely anecdotal, mind you, but I swear that the entou rage effect is real as hell. It’s worth a try anyway. And there are lots of good flower options with CBD and THC. It may also be worth trying a new strain or six, or switching to another type of product in between old faithful. It may be less about the amount of THC and more about the mechanism. If you aren’t an edibles fan, try those. Or, you could choke down a tincture. You never know what will hit. Hell, a dry herb vape instead of a joint or pipe may be the key. In other words, switch it up and don’t just focus on the THC component. Swap your products, change your habits, and treat it like an experiment. And, if you find something that works, you better email us back. We need to know the results. Blaze: OOF. First of all, my condolences. I, too, have had that issue but with flower and found that if I took breaks or switched up my intake method (edibles in my case) I was back to that sweet, sweet high. Still, not a fun position to be in, especially if you already know what you like and you have a routine you’re comfortable with. If you’re smoking a specific strain, you may have built up a strain tolerance. Try a different type of strain, THC content, and method of smoking it. If you usually smoke sativas, try indicas, and so on and so forth. One of the beauties about the cannabis industry is that it’s so diverse. You could go weeks, even months with out using the same product twice should you choose. If nothing else, however, you could go on a tolerance fast, as much as a bummer as that sounds. Some people report feeling much more clear headed after taking a break from weed, though it still doesn’t sound worth it to me. I’ll keep my vape and my fog brain, thank you very much.
I’ve been smoking bud and taking edi bles for a while now, but concentrates have always intimidated me. What’s the difference between products like shatter, wax, and live resin?
The main differences, though, are in the way these extracts are created. There are different extraction process es, but most shatter, wax, and live resin is extracted using butane or a similar solvent to leech the good stuff from the plant matter. That leaves you with a concentrate high in THC and flavor that will, in fact, knock your dang socks off when you inhale it. Wax is produced using dry flower and is much easier to produce than shatter, which is the finickiest little beotch of concentrates. Shatter is also produced from dried flower but it’s notoriously hard to produce. However, there are tons of pros to it if you can pull it off. For example, shatter doesn’t degrade as quickly as wax. It’s pretty shelf-stable so it can be kept for a lot longer. Slight tweaks in the extraction process are how you get either wax or shatter. <Note: Feel free to Google a bunch of chemistry mumbo-jumbo if you must know more. The internet knows all. I know limited things.
SanExperienceJuanCollege. On-campus housing open this Fall! SAN JUAN COLLEGE Success Matters You belong here! Apply Today! 22 | September 2022 edibles, my body just processes them differently than other pe ople’s bodies process them. That said, I don’t have the same reac tion as you do to sativas and indicas, no matter how I ingest them. Sativas make me wired and hyper-focused, and can give me anxiety too. Pretty textbook. Indicas, on the other hand, make me sleepy as a mug. And hybrids? Well, who even knows what those do. Depends on theButstrain.just because your body reacts dif ferently doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It just means that you may process your weed a little different ly than I do. If I were you, I’d just swap the strains accordingly. When I want to get wired and focus, I’d smoke an indica. If I wanted to crash the heck out, I’d smoke a sativa. Does it sound weird? Yeah, kinda. But who cares. It’s a cool party trick. I’m impressed, anyway. This is a dumb question, but I’m a 48-year-old lady and I’ve been smok ing for 32 years now. I smoke more than three times a day — like it never leaves my hand. How can I get high now that I’ve been smoking for so long? I can get relaxed a bit but no more than that. I need help on what to do! Puf: Well, first of all, that isn’t a dumb question. I have had this question for my self many times over the last few years. Tolerance is a bitch, ain’t it. I’m going to insert the obligatory “I’m not a doctor so this is not medical advice” here, but I think I can help with some anecdotal information. So first of all, I’m guessing it’s been a while since you switched up your intake methods, right? Like, maybe you’re a ha bitual joint smoker or like to get relaxedbut-not-high by smoking out of a bong? Yeah, that happens to me, too.
Puf: Why you gotta make our lives so difficult?! These questions are hard today, man! I kid, I kid. Sort of. In general, there are a ton of differences between these products, but they all work to get you high — which is why they’re all fine in my book.
September 2022 | 23
Puf: Well, first of all, thank you for not berating us with a bunch of pro-vegan information. We love your people, and we love your love for animals and living things, but the vegan crusades are not the way.That said, you’d be surprised at how many edibles are vegan. Dude or dudette, you have so many freaking choices for your lifestyle! Cannabis manufacturers love to put out vegan products!Ifyou’re not sure where to start, I’m going to go basic here and tell you to ask a budtender. They know what’s up with their edibles. You can also keep certain product lines in mind, too. For example, I’m pretty sure most, if not all,
Wax tends to be less shelf stable and degrades much more quickly than shatter. How-so-ever, it’s easier to work with because it’s malleable. I like it cause I can just stick my dumb ol’ dab pen in the jar and take a hit. Easy freaking peasy.
Other than that, I really don’t think there’s much difference — but that’s based on my experience alone. Don’t come at me with some scientific jargon in our Instagram DMs. I’m sure that isn’t totally accurate. Either way, both get me blazed face, so I’m not going to complain.Samething goes for live resin. While this concentrate will ALSO get you super freaking high, it’s produced by dif ferent means. Rather than using dried flower, live resin is made by using the freshest cannabis possible. The buds are basically flash-frozen right after they’re picked, which helps to preserve the flavor of those good ol’ terpenes.
The real difference is in the flavor. Live resin is a lot more flavorful than shatter or wax, and everyone loves the good terpenes. It usually costs you a bit more to buy, though. Whether the ter penes are worth the price hike is your call, but I think they can be. Depends on your budget and your must-haves for your cannabis products, I suppose. Anyway, that was a tangent. I’ll let Blaze weigh in with some dumb junk they Googled now to fill in the holes. After all that writing I am in need of a smoke break. I think I’ll bust out the live resin to stay on theme. Blaze: Hey now! I put a lot of effort skimming Google headlines! My brain hurts after reading all that, and yet I still somehow have more information to add.
24 | September 2022
Another big difference between products is consistency which can play a part in preference for some stoners. Shatter tends to be glossy and brittle. If you’re dabbing with shatter, it can feel like a guessing game as far as dosage because of its non-malleable texture. On the other hand, shatter has the ca pacity to make you so high, you’ll think you invented golf. Wax and crumble, however are more creamy and mal leable, making them a bit easier to use when you’re dabbing. Live resin is more glue-like and tends to be a helluva lot more expensive than shatter, wax, and crumble. RIP to my paycheck when I’m in the mood for live resin. I’m vegan but love edibles! How do I now which ones to get when I go to a dispensary?
Puf: Well, while I can’t say definitively that edibles will make you sleep like a gosh-darn
Blaze: Come to think of it, it seems like there’s more vegan-edible options than non-vegan these days. Puf is on the money with this one though. A GOOD budtender will help you navigate the shelves, especially if you have specific dietary needs. Puf has already touched on a lot of really great, common brands but I’ll add a few more here as well.In 2019, Incredibles, who has been a big cannabis player since it became legalized in Colorado, came out with a vegan fruit tart option. If you’re looking for something with awards, SuckIT Edibles by Canyon Cultiva tion are friggin delicious and they come in flavors like Boysenberry, Sour Watermel on, and Fruit Punch. There are also lots of companies that make solely vegan cannabis products, so not to worry! The world is your (very high) vegan oyster. I’m having trouble sleeping at night but don’t like to smoke. Will edibles help instead?
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of Wana’s Sour Gummies are 100 percent free of gelatin. That makes them vegan by default. So you have one ally right there, homie. Keef Sparkling is also vegan, and it’s freaking healthy, too! This THC-infused sparkling water has zero sugar, zero animal byproducts and no calories. You healthy fools will love CannaPunchit.also offers a ton of drink options that are vegan as well as options in their line of gummies, which are sold under the brand Highly Edible. There are probably a million others I’m forgetting, but that’s where the dang bud tender is more useful than I am. The good news is that there are plenty of options and your local dispensary gurus can tell you what is or isn’t vegan. They won’t steer you wrong. Promise. Now go forth with your animal-loving self and get high on some vegan edibles. They’re undoubtedly going to taste better than that quinoa you ate for dinner last night.
I’ve always been a little sensitive to the effects of edibles, so if I take an indi ca edible or a hybrid, it will almost cer tainly put me to sleep for long stretches of time. Like, we’re talking eight straight ass hours of time — which is unheard of for me. My brain is basically a spinning hamster wheel that goes all day, every day. But something in the edibles (hint: the THC) shuts it off. It’s awesome and I love it, but I also just opt to smoke an indica strain or concentrate before bed instead. I like to know that I’ll wake up with a clear head whenever I need to (there could be rob bers or something to contend with), and I can’t seem to do that with edibles. So I guess I’m not really the person to ask. That said, I do have a ton of friends and family members who rely on edibles for sleep. Freaking insomniacs every where! And, funny enough, they all love a certain type of edible for it (hint, the Wyld sleep line — I can’t remember what it’s called but your friendly neigh borhood budtender will know) to get the job Theredone.aretons of edible options out there, too — and a lot have been formulated for sleepytime, so the short answer is yes, I do think edibles will help. Just make sure you get some advice and choose the right ones. Don’t just blindly grab a sativa or something — or you could end up in the opposite boat instead. Blaze: Everybody’s a little different, but like for many people, edibles may just be the ticket you need to a good night’s sleep. Obviously, if you’re having serious sleep issues, like insomnia, you’ll want to consult your doctor, but in other instances, edibles might help. Both CBD and THC have properties that could help you sleep, but if you want to avoid getting stoned before you go to bed, go with cannabis products that have high CBD content and low THC. Some companies, like 1906, make edibles specifically to help users sleep. If you’re really struggling to find something that works for you, however, be sure to ask your friendly neighbor hood budtender for some suggestions.
26 | September 2022 baby, I can tell you that they knock me the hell out — but not before making me a goofball of nonsensical ideas!
— DGO Pufnstuf — Sir Blaze Ridcully
| 27
The Green House, 730 S Camino Del Rio, 970-247-2420, thegreenhousecolo rado.com/durangoLOVACannaCO — Durango, 1135 S Camino Del Rio Suite 220, 970-4228029,Mammothlovaco.comFarms Dispensary, 927 CO-3, 970-422-3282, info@mammoth farms.comProhibition Herb, 1185 Camino del Rio, 970-385-8622, prohibitionherb. comKinfolk Farms, 83 Davidson Creek Road,Rocky970-759-8683MountainHigh, 120 E. 36th Street, 970-259-4093, rockymountain high.coSanté , 742 ½ Main Ave., 970-3752837,Telluridesantecolorado.comBudCompany, 3473 Main Ave., 970-422-8311, telluridebc.com Cortez Chronic Therapy, 1020 S. Broadway, 970-529-2045, chronictherapy.co Doobie Sisters, 695 N. Broadway, 970-565-2345, doobiesistersco.com Durango Organics Cortez, 1104 E. Main Street, 970-565-6500, durangoor ganics.comTheHerbal Alternative, 1531 Leba non Road, 970-529-7007, theherbal alternative.netLivWellCortez, 1819 E. Main Street, 970-565-9577, livwell.com/cortez
LivWell Mancos, 449 Railroad Ave. #1, 970-533-9848, livwell.com/mancos Pagosa Springs The Green House, 270 E. Pagosa Street, 970-264-4420, greenhousepa gosa.comPagosa Therapeutics, 235 Bastille Drive, 970-731-4420, pagosatherapeu tics.comSanJuan Strains, 365 E. Pagosa Street, Unit B, 970-264-5323, sanjuans trains.comSmokeRings, 266 E Pagosa Street, 970-264-0942PagosaCraft Dispensary, 127 Gold mine Dr., 970-264-0833, pagosacraft cannabis.comHighGrade Specialists, 600 Cloman Blvd. #1, 970-731-3202, highgradespe cialists.com Farmington, New Mexico Ultra Health Dispensary Farmington, 4251 E. Main St., Suite D, Farming ton, 505-258-4634, 4952Broadwaypurlifenm.comSt.,new-mexico-dispensaries/farmington-2ultrahealth.com/PurlifeFarmington,3024E.MainFarmington,505-433-2672,www.NewMexicoAlternativeCare,534E.Ave.,Farmington,505-258-
Trying to track down legal weed in the Four »Corners?
The Medicine Man, 310 E. Main Street, 970-564-5181, cortezmedicine man.comMountain Annie’s, 1644 CO Rd 203, 970-247-2190, bis.com/durangomountainanniescanna Mancos
The Bud Farm, 385 N. Willow Street, 970-533-9931, thebudfarm.net
The Beacon, 230 N. Oak, 970-5339848Blend, 198 S. Frontage Rd. E, 970533-5050, blendmancos.business.site
Don’t stress; these dispensaries have you covered
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970.759.8683 2022 Durango Acme Healing Center, 1644 Co Rd 203, 970-247-2190, acmehealingcenter. comColorado Grow Co., 965 1/2 Main Ave., 970-259-1647, coloradogrowcom pany.comDurango Organics - Bodo Park, 72 Suttle Street, Suite F, durangoorganics.com970-259-3674,DurangoOrganics-Grandview,37 Co Rd 232, 970-426-4381, durangoorgan ics.comDurango Rec Room, 145 E. College Drive, 970-764-4087, durangorecroom. comThe Greenery, 208 Parker Ave., Suite E, 970-403-3710, durangogreenery.com
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