HIGHLY LIKELY

Highly Likely highlights Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.

14 >> SUSAN BLACKMORE

Memetics refers to the SUSAN BLACKMORE IS before any sort of In the same lecture, she went on to talk about how study of information and A RENOWNED BRITISH recreational legalization societies have developed relationships to mindculture, and is based on WRITER, LECTURER, in America, Blackmore altering substances: the concept of Darwinian PROFESSOR AND admitted to a largely “In just about every human society there has ever evolution. One of the best BROADCASTER WHOSE academic audience that been, people have used dangerous drugs - but ways to simply look at what FIELD OF RESEARCH she consumes Cannabis: most have developed rituals that bring an element memetics studies is the INCLUDES MEMETICS, “Some people may of control or safety to the experience,” noted concept of the ‘meme’ in PARAPSYCHOLOGY smoke dope just to relax Blackmore. “In more primitive societies, it is shamans internet culture. One can AND CONSCIOUSNESS. or have fun, but for me and healers who control the use of dangerous drugs, study what effect memes the reason goes deeper. choose appropriate settings in which to take them created and shared (and edited) online In fact, I can honestly say that without and teach people how to appreciate the visions can have in the real world; say, on social Cannabis, most of my scientific research and insights that they can bring. In our own society, justice movements or the rise of neowould never have been done and most criminals control all drug sales. This means that fascism. of my books on psychology and evolution users have no way of knowing exactly what they are

Parapsychology is the study of processes would not have been written,” she said. buying and no one to teach them how to use these typically considered outside of scientific “Some evenings, after a long day at my dangerous tools…” knowledge of the capacity of the human desk, I’ll slip into the bath, light a candle “It’s an old metaphor, but people often liken the brain. Processes like telepathy, telekinesis and a spliff, and let the ideas flow - that task to climbing a mountain. The drugs can take and hypnosis. lecture I have to give to 500 people next you up in a helicopter to see what’s there, but you

That said, listening to a lecture from week, that article I’m writing can’t stay. In the end, you have to climb Blackmore can be a heady experience. But it’s Blackmore’s wit and colloquial style of interpretation of big subjects (like, for example – consciousness) that has made her such a popular lecturer and essayist. I recommend a seven minute YouTube video called “Consciousness – A Short Introduction” to see how easy she makes big, sweeping concepts understandable to lay people. But what might be Blackmore’s most compelling thoughts on Cannabis (and for New Scientist, those tricky last words of a book I’ve been working on for months. This is the time when the sentences seem to write themselves. Or I might sit out in my greenhouse on a summer evening among my tomatoes and peach trees, struggling with questions about free will or the nature of the universe, “I can honestly say that without Cannabis, most of my scientific research would never have been done and most of my books on psychology the mountain yourself - the hard way. Even so, the drugs may provide the inspiration to keep climbing.” This is only an introduction to you, dear reader, of one of the many subjects (61, by my count) that this column has covered over the past five years. It is my hope that this small introduction will pique your interest enough to learn a little bit more about her and about your own consciousness - and what beneficial things that Cannabis does for other mind-altering drugs) can be taken and find that a smoke gives and evolution it. If a leading scientist can be helped from her 2005 speech at the Cheltenham me new ways of thinking would not have by this remarkable plant, let’s see what Science Festival. There, a full 10 years about them.” been written.” we can do!

GOT A FAVORITE BUDTENDER? TELL US WHY! WYATT@LEAFNATIONMD.COM Raul Rodriguez

maryland leaf budtender of the month

“CANNABIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY GO-TO MEDICINE.”

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN BECOMING A BUDTENDER? The ability to help people through Cannabis. Cannabis has always been my goto medicine and now it is my pleasure to help patients find the right products to help them in their daily lives.

WHERE DOES YOUR TECHNICAL/SCIENTIFIC CANNABIS KNOWLEDGE COME FROM? Most of my knowledge has come from the extensive training from Peake, which actually introduced me to the knowledge of terpenes and their potential medical benefits. As well as keeping up with scientific studies from across the world on Cannabis. I get most of my scientific studies from Google Scholar. The layout makes it really easy to find different studies and sorts it by the year it was published.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT WORKING WITH PATIENTS ON A DAILY BASIS? Showing a patient a new favorite item. It’s definitely a great feeling to show someone a new item on the market or something they haven’t tried yet, and have that be exactly what they’ve been looking for. Also the feedback, especially from the patients who are new to Cannabis, since they’re still figuring out what works best for them.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH PEAKE RELEAF? The team. They are the absolute best and make the experience of being at Peake Releaf like no other. Also, the fact that we are a family. We all share an enormous amount of respect for each other and the work that we do.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO CONNECT WITH PATIENTS ON? I really enjoy connecting with patients about their past life experiences. Learning about the different experiences that patients have gone through is certainly an eye opener, and has left me excited to see what else life has to offer.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF WORK? My favorite hobbies outside of work have been music and video games. I really want to put the time and effort into learning the piano. My love for jazz and bossa nova really put me on to how beautiful the piano is and sparked the need to learn it. I also have a lot of friends that make music and that really inspired me to go for it. As far as video games, I’ve been playing a lot of FIFA and Call of Duty recently.

Peake ReLeaf 2001 Chapman Ave, Rockville, MD (301) 703-2400 | peakereleaf.com @peakestagram

Flower to the People.

Mindful medicine & compassionate care.

Locally-owned and operated, Kannavis is committed to educating and empowering patients to live healthier, fuller lives through cannabis. Visit us in Frederick, just off I-270, and explore our extensive product selection with one-on-one guidance from the incredible Kannavis team— or order online with Weedmaps!

RANKED “BEST OF WEEDMAPS”

with over a thousand 5-Star reviews and counting!

LOYALTY PROGRAM & GUEST REWARDS:

25% off

for First-Time Patients

20% off

on Your Second Visit

15% off

on Your Third Visit

PLUS, 15% OFF FOR VETS & ACTIVE MILITARY EVERY DAY!

8709 Fingerboard Road, Frederick, Maryland KANNAVIS.ORG