TRANSCENDENCE

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR TRANSITION. Well, I’ve Transcendence been on hormone replacement therapy for fourand-a-half years. I feel like it was missing from my body. My brain needed it, my body needed it. I was constantly hearing things like ‘you’re weird’ and ‘guys don’t do that.’ That’s what I’ve heard a lot, but I wasn’t a guy, although they thought I was. I tried to believe I was a guy because I was told I was, and I lived as one - but I believed there was a Santa Claus, too, until I learned that he doesn’t exist.

“I KNOW WHO MY PEOPLE ARE AND I’M REALLY PROUD OF THE SHOPS WHO AREN’T RUN BY BIGOTS.”

EFFIE LOU WARREN

STICKY BUDZ REGIONAL SALES MANAGER @EFFIE_MLM

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON EQUALITY IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? I don’t know a single owner that is LGBTQIA. I have heard a statistic that 30% of Cannabis users are LGBT, but I don’t know of any owners. People love to stereotype, stoners included, but I try to prove that wrong. Yes, I can!

IS THIS THE RIGHT COMMUNITY FOR YOU RIGHT NOW? Well, it’s the only place I want to be. And to be honest, I don’t think there is another industry that would accept me this well for who I am. I’m proud of MLM, the parent company for Sticky Budz. When I took many interviews before them, I always thought I was going to get a call back, but it never came. It was Tiffany Louie who gave me my shot. If it were not for her, I would not be in this business and now I’ve been a part of the organization for over two years - enjoying a lot of success.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE BEEN JUDGED AT ALL BY THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY? I know there are a certain amount of shops I shouldn’t go to. They won’t welcome me to have lunch with them, they won’t allow me to do a vendor day with them. And I have to keep my mouth shut so I don’t lose those accounts. Yet, I still have to win these shops over. I’m gonna get in your shop, Dude! You know why? Because I’m gonna have product you need. And you know what I’m gonna do when that happens? I’m gonna walk my flamingo ass in there so perched up and you’re not going to be able to say anything, because I’m making you money. I’m fucking gangster! Otherwise, I know who my people are and I’m really proud of the shops who aren’t run by bigots.

RIGHT ON. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR YOU, EFFIE. Actually, I’m not just gangster, but I’m gay and I’m proud - I’m a trans woman who deserves to exist just like any woman or man.

DIFFERENTIATION IS EVERYWHERE. No two organisms, due to the laws of physics, are truly identical. And obviously, when it comes to people, we are not above those laws. One can liken the varying differences of personality and appearance to a sky filled with clouds - from the naked eye they all appear white and similar, but to watch their existence unfold over time, one will see that they change form and directive in accordance with the elements from which they were borne.

But as society cannot directly control or change the course of a cloud, there is an overwhelming agenda to control people by manipulating parameters that go against our innate instinct to flow and evolve in congruence with nature.

From the time we are birthed, the lessons begin to shape us into what optimally benefits the greater collective by providing a system that keeps it simple: boys wear blue and girls wear pink, ad infinitum.

And as this pounding of information into impressionable minds is effective for most, for many who don’t fit into that narrow ideological picture-perfect frame, living their truth becomes paramount to their mental wellness, and ultimately their survival.

Here, we have two members of the Cannabis community who celebrate their individuality through the daily display of who they are at the very core - for us to recognize and embrace as we struggle to find the answers to our own existence.

Their mettle is an example of how we can all improve this rare miracle called the human experience, as we grasp for clarity with the intention of living the best, most authentic life possible.

ZANE VORENBERG

HIGH 5 CANNABIS BUDTENDER & CANNABIS JOURNALIST @EXPLODINGEGG

AS A CANNABIS JOURNALIST, WHAT HAVE YOU COVERED? Over the years I’ve written about Cannabis legalization in various states. I covered medical legalization in New Mexico, covered legalization for the Columbian here in Vancouver, and then jetted out on my own as a freelancer.

SO, I ASSUME YOU KNEW YOU WERE GAY AT A YOUNG AGE, BUT AT WHAT AGE DID CANNABIS COME INTO YOUR LIFE AND CHANGE EVERYTHING ELSE? Well, the term ‘gay’ is sort of strange for me as a trans guy because I was straight (laughs). I mean, I knew I was trans when I was four or five, but there were no words for it really. So I was kind of making it up as I went along - the ‘being me’ experience, I guess. I smoked in high school, blowing off steam, but then I gave it up for 30 years. Then, when legalization started, a friend of mine took an eighth of Master Kush and dumped it on my kitchen counter and said, “If you’re going to be writing about this, you’re going to have to know what you’re talking about.” So, I got a pipe, smoked some and thought to myself, ‘Wow, this is pretty nice.’

“I THINK THE CANNABIS WORLD AND THE JOURNALISM WORLD ARE MORE OPENMINDED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT OR QUIRKY.”

I found that it helps with PTSD and the pain of growing older. I got on board with that and started looking at the history of prohibition and became intrigued as a reporter to fight back against the false propaganda surrounding the plant. And I used to be a gourmet beer snob, so I quit drinking beer and translated that energy towards becoming a gourmet Cannabis smoker.

WAS IT HARD FOR YOU TO COME OUT AS TRANS? I came out to my dad after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016, because I was really torn up about that - my dad is gay. And then I came out as trans to the public in 2018. I think I have an advantage over some gay men because I grew up straight without the torment of being a gay person, because I was a girl who liked boys. So, the torment was from being a guy in a girl’s body. Being gay is new because I’ve always been trans. But the world is now defining me as gay by sexual preferences. I’m not too into labels anyway.

SPEAKING OF LABELS, DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THEY ARE ATTACHED BETWEEN STANDARD SOCIETY AND THE CANNABIS SOCIETY? Yes, to a certain degree. I think the Cannabis world and the journalism world are more open-minded to people who are different or quirky. This world has been really welcoming for me as I transition. High 5 is a very diverse workplace. There’s another gay guy on the staff, there are Black and brown staffers, bisexual folks, and many of the crew speak multiple languages - including sign language, which helps a lot with our equally diverse customer base. It’s a very nice fit for me, with a lot of open-minded people.

COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY THAT WOULD BE AS ACCEPTING FOR WHO YOU ARE? Not really. It’s nice to be treated with respect because nobody in this industry really cares about your differences. And I’m open about being trans. I like being open about being trans, because people will make up their own preconceived notions about things they have no experience with, so it gives me the opportunity to be a positive example for people who don’t know anyone who is trans. I’d like to change people’s misconception that a trans person is supposed to be weird or different. We are a normal part of human society that has always existed.

fragile warrior

Meet Theon Preston, a pediatric patient from Oregon battling Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 1, better known as Brittle Bone Disease. Coupled with ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, Theon is a fragile yet ferocious warrior. Watch out world - with the help of the Cannabis plant alongside a loving and supportive family - Theon lives his best life playing with his cat and dog, admiring crystals, and enjoying movies like Star Wars and Transformers.

HOW DOES YOUR MEDICINE MAKE YOU FEEL? Theon takes different strains at different times of Theon: It makes me feel better, better all over. the day, and different doses depending on the level It makes my pain go away and my brain focus, of pain he is in. For example, he needs a larger so my body does what I want it to do. I don’t like dose after a break than he does on a daily basis when my body does not listen. to deal with his daily pain. In the daytime he uses WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE TRANSFORMER AND WHY? appetite and motor coordination. At night he uses Theon: Bumblebee is my favorite Transformer, but a strain high in the terpene myrcene to help ease I would like an Optimus Prime toy. I like Bumblehis muscle spasms and inflammation, while also bee the best because he talks using the radio and helping him to relax into sleep. music, and I love music. strains and doses, that work for your child specifically. Everyone has a unique endocannabinoid system, and thus needs a different dose and strain a strain high in the terpene limonene to help his WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE WORLD TO KNOW WHEN DID YOU FIRST START INTRODUCING CANNAMORE ABOUT THEON AND OSTEOGENESIS IMPERBIS INTO THEON’S LIFE? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FECTA TYPE 1 + SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER? IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED SINCE? Jessi: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI aka Brittle Bone Theon’s Mother Jessi: I first started introducing Disease) is a genetic disorder that is caused by a Cannabis into Theon’s life two years ago, after he mutation in the gene that affects bone formation broke both his arms and had to have a rod placed and strength. Though it is most commonly associin each arm while they were healing. The docated with the skeletal system, it does affect other tors gave him painkillers that made him feel very body tissue as well. OI is a lifelong condition, aggravated and incoherent. If meaning there is no cure for he was to take the painkillers at the rate he was, for every break he sustained, his liver “IT MAKES MY PAIN GO AWAY AND MY it and very limited treatment is available. Some notable traits in would be damaged before puberty. I did not want to risk him BRAIN FOCUS, SO MY children with OI are short stature, bone deformity having long term health problems for temporary pain relief. BODY DOES WHAT and pain, low bone density, loose joints and ligament Cannabis helped his pain while making his mind clearer, I WANT IT TO DO.” laxity. Theon deals with all those traits. not incoherent. Cannabis He has a rare combidoes not damage his liver and nation of OI, ADHD and actually has side effects that are beneficial for him, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which puts him such as inducing his appetite. at higher risk for injury. His brain is telling him to WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER to handle the stimulus. PARENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERING GIVING THEIR My job as his mom is to keep him safe, at the CHILDREN CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL REASONS? same time keeping his mind occupied with body Jessi: I would suggest parents do research into safe activities. As he says, his medicine helps him what has worked for other children with the same feel better all over and really changed his quality diagnosis as their child. When you hear success of life. Since he has been on Cannabis, he has not stories it takes the fear away. I would also suggest had any breaks because it helps him focus and starting off with a small dose and try different make safer decisions. Because of Cannabis he is a strains until you find one, or a combination of happy boy with what I hope will be a bright future. seek sensory stimulus, while his body is too fragile to help them. FACEBOOK.COM/THEONSMEDICALNEEDS