THE BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESOURCEÂ IN OKLAHOMA NOV. 2019
EXCLUSIVE!
TOMMY CHONG STEROTYPE TO ADVOCATE
CAMOFLAUGE AND CANNABIS
TURKEY DAY TREAT THANKFUL FOR THIS CANNA RECIPE
Smart TV Giveaway Page 24
WWW.THEOKLAHOMACHRONIC.COM
CHRONIC OKLAHOMA
The Oklahoma Chronic Magazine STAFF
Therin Miller || Chief Editor Instagram: @oklahomachronicmagazine
Kayla Johnson || Writer Instagram: @ladyofhousej
Dusty Hayes || VP of Sales Instagram: @OklahomaChronicKing
Veronica Castillo || Writer Instagram: @v2_traveling_veg_canna_writer
Carisa Rowe || Writer
Melissa Hall || Writer
Instagram: @snarkyscreenname
Instagram: @okcannacritic
Chef Buz Deliere || CannaChef Instagram: @medibles_ok
CONTENTS OKLAHOMA
CHRONIC
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NOV.
2019
05
CAMOFLAUGE AND CANNABIS
How Veterans are Finding New Meaning in the Industry
09
ARE WE THERE YET?
A Year in the Oklahoma Cannabis Boom
13
TURKEY DAY TREAT
Cannabis Pumpkin Pie
17
TOP TENDER
Extrodinary Individuals in the Industry
FROM THE OKLAHOMA CHRONIC TEAM Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at The Oklahoma Chronic. In 3 short months we have become the number one most distributed cannabis publication in the state. This is due to your outstanding support and feedback. We truly appreciate all of you and hope that you have a great time with family and friends this hoilday season.
"When you smoke marijuana, you are in the moment and you are happy. You forget about any worries of the past or the future." -Tommy Chong OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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18
STEREOTYPE TO ADVOCATE
25
CANNABIS AND PTSD
Exclusive Tommy Chong Interview
An Indepth look
30
CANNABASICS
Beginner Guide to Cannabis
42
MONTHLY CANNABIS REVIEW
Harlequin Grandaddy Purple
Nov. 2019
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PROJECT 1620
DID YOU KNOW? WE PAY FOR VETERANS RECOMMENDATION, FILING FEES AND OMMA CARD. ASK US FOR DETAILS. THEOKLAHOMACHRONIC@OUTLOOK.COM
OKLAHOMACHRONIC you’d be hard pressed to find a business that doesn’t have at least one veteran employed there in some way, assuming they’re not the owners themselves. From grower, the processor, to owner or budtender, veterans play a big role in this industry, but if you ask them, they’ll probably tell you that it’s not just for themselves; it’s for every veteran who comes home from the service struggling in one way or another, and it’s for their families.
LIKE SO MANY OF US,
CAMOUFLAGE AND CANNABIS WRITTEN BY KAYLA JOHNSON Medical cannabis has brought countless opportunities to Oklahomans from all walks of life. Many of them find both relief and work in the industry, and for many, it’s brought on the awakening of a new passion in life. For the veterans among us here in the state, this is especially true;
OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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a large number of those who have served in the armed forces have one or more medical conditions. 29% of veterans age 21-64 have a disability, and 12% of those disabilities were declared service connected. As it’s well known by now, many veterans struggle with their mental health as often as their physical health, and it’s been documented more than once that at least twenty-two a day commit suicide, leaving their families to wonder what more they could have done. Once discharged or retired from the service, many veterans find that they struggle to find new interests and activities that they enjoy, often due in part to the potential limitations they have due to their health.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC That’s where cannabis has come in, in a big way. It’s hard to say exactly how many veterans have turned to cannabis for relief, because the VA doesn’t currently monitor or track that information. However, it’s estimated that upwards of 80% of veterans support cannabis use, despite the fact that the Department of Veteran’s Affairs doesn’t allow its physicians to make the referrals for eligible patients, or even allow its use on VA grounds, as VA facilities are federal property. Instead of the nearly-endless cycle of pills and prescriptions, veterans are finding relief of both physical and mental pain in cannabis or cannabis products. Some use it to relieve their PTSD, so they can relax during the day, or sleep better at night. Some use it for their depression, to help keep their mind on their present and future, rather than their past. Others rely on balms or creams to help with muscle spasms or phantom pains, while others couldn’t make it through their workday without an edible on their lunch break. While each veteran has a different story and different needs, they all have one thing in common: they lacked hope before they tried cannabis. Pain, grief, shame, even anger are all common emotions that many veterans find themselves faced with once they'rejoining the civilian world, and often, each emotion compounds on the others, until one’s swept under by the mess. Whereas many opioids and other substances often only add to the suffering, cannabis offers a lifeline, a ladder to climb out of the pit, and veteran after veteran in our state has been able to make that climb.
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THE FREEDOM THAT CANNABIS OFFERS veterans doesn’t end at the medical benefits; veteran owned and operated businesses are flourishing, all across the state, and the veterans that are working in this industry credit the work with saving their lives as much as the medicine. Having a purpose, or work that you enjoy can make all the difference, and being able to go to work, and do something that will end up helping others is one of the most gratifying feelings a human can have. For some, it’s the start of an exciting new career, far different than the one they joined after the service. For others, it’s a new beginning, a new opportunity to rebuild their life after falling on hard times. Whatever their situation, Veterans are impacting cannabis in a big way, simply due to their generosity with one another. It’s been said more than once that half of the healing power of cannabis is in the growing of it, and that seems to be true for more than just the growers. Everywhere you look across the state, veterans are working hard to help other veterans get access to a referral for their card, or affordable medicine, or a certain type of cannabis product, or even find a job within the industry. It’s a lot of work, as anyone in the industry can attest to, and while there always hard days, if you ask, the veterans who are working to give back wouldn’t change a thing. Their new mission, one they’ve gladly accepted, is to help their brothers and sisters find their own way, and for so many, cannabis is a key part of that journey.
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O U T
O U R
M E N U
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
ARE WE THERE YET?
A YEAR IN THE OKIE CANNABIS BOOM By Carisa Rowe This time last year, Oklahoma was literally buzzing thanks to the deftly written verbiage of State Question 788, the law voted into effect by a 57% showing of proponents for the legalization of medical cannabis. The law required Oklahoma authorities to move at light speed to enact the newly passed legislation. Lawmakers were given roughly two months to create and enable the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and start issuing business and patient licenses at breakneck speed with next to zero infrastructure. At that time, curious onlookers were watching the birth of Oklahoma’s cannabis industry with bated breath. Seasoned veterans in the legal industry from states such as Colorado, California, and Washington seemed unsure about Oklahoma’s ability to get up to speed so quickly. What those folks didn’t know then is that they don’t call us the Sooner State for nothing. Early numbers from the freshly anointed Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority reflected roughly 5,000 approved patients this time last fall. With thousands of businesses throwing their doors open at lightning speed, the pulse of the industry seemed strong but wary eyes watched closely and made note of the fact that those early patient numbers, while exciting, weren’t painting a pretty picture for businesses hopeful for a great green rush. With only one in every 800 or so Oklahomans holding a medical marijuana patient licenses, the profit margins didn’t seem to be as large as everyone had hoped. The state, however, had already benefitted immensely from the influx of licensing fees, to the tune of nearly $4 million in the first few weeks of accepting patient and business applications.
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Industry professionals weren’t the only people watching. Oklahoma citizens were trying to keep up with what this new industry meant for them. Curious citizens visited the first Green on Greenwood event in Tulsa last year. Many attendees came out to the expo just to see what this new industry was all about. There were proud patients showing off their medical cards and inquisitive seniors asking questions about pain management and dozens upon dozens of industry hopefuls but most attendees seemed to just want answers about the medicine, the industry, and what the future was going to look like now that the devil’s lettuce had earned government sanctioning. Outside of cannabis events, conversations surrounding medical cannabis reflected a range of emotions: genuine elation from cannabis advocates and eager-tomedicate patients to downright disdain from naysayers and every mood in between, including fear.
Social media groups popped up left and right. Activists and business owners eager to grab a foothold in digital consumership created special interest pages and groups on Facebook and Instagram, hopeful to pool together Oklahomans with a common, green interest. No matter the cannabis kink, there was and remains an outlet in the Oklahoma market. Cannabis enthusiasts need look no further than their local Facebook events page to find a gathering that is friendly to or downright celebrating cannabis use (may we suggest Oklahoma Marijuana Events & News on Facebook). Instagram offers a wealth of #weedporn for consumers wanting to get an eyeful of their favorite varietals in every stage of the plant’s life, clear through watching other people medicate on camera and now those people are Oklahoma residents – doing their best to cultivate a presence in this burgeoning *local* market.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC “I can’t even believe how many marijuana businesses there are. I see dispensaries everywhere I go! It is exciting because I know that so many people need access to medical marijuana,” say Crystal K. of Anadarko. The medical marijuana scene exploded overnight with cannabis dispensaries opening every few blocks last fall. With few patients and even less legal medicine in a market that hadn’t been sanctioned long enough for many to harvest plants, Fall 2018 put on a weak showing. Over time, especially after the spring of 2019, more product began to arrive in stores and more patients began applying for their medical patient licenses from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Enough of the confusion surrounding the entire process had settled that residents began to embrace what Oklahoma was going to look like going forward as a medical cannabis state. Nathan Wood of Medicann-Ok wrote: “Even though we have had quite a few speed bumps and road blocks along the way, the first year of [State Question] 788 has felt like an enlightening experience for many that I have worked with along the way. The biggest surprise to me personally has been the farreaching acceptance of medical marijuana. Yes, there are still people against it but even country-wide, what 788 has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time shows how ready the general public are for a better life through more holistic means.” That seems to be the intent of the vast majority of businesses in the year since doors started flying open: get cannabis into the hands of every patient that will try. Dispensaries with patients in mind first were looking for tested product that could demonstrate to consumers how safe it was to medicate with this plant. Over time, the OMMA adopted a formal set of rules that went into effect at the end of the summer which ensure that testing requirements be met prior to the sale of medical marijuana to consumers. Growers are expected to provide testing for molds and mildews, pesticides, and heavy metals that might have been in the growing medium as the plant grew. During this testing process, cannabinoid levels and terpene profiles can be identified. “Testing is so important for growers; it shows off their hard work, especially if they produce medicine with high cannabinoid levels, like THC. Good testing can drive prices per pound up substantially,” explained Traci M. of Yukon. Getting a great payout after a season’s hard work is the collective dream of every grower but unlike last fall, this harvest season was bountiful for growers who were able to overcome the challenges of growing commercially in a new industry in a newly legalized state. The next worry is how long the market will be flooded after harvest season and how it will ultimately affect pricing.
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“Too many people wanted in on the green rush, so to speak. It doesn’t seem like as many people knew what they were getting into as they thought they did,” remarked Lucas C. of Oklahoma City. He went on, “I saw two good friends throw everything they had into launching their dispensary and still they couldn’t keep up with the big companies.” Lucas named some companies he expected were from out of state but admitted he hadn’t researched them. He’s suspicious of any organization that was able to launch multiple locations within such a short time. Although State Question 788 was written expressly to prevent such things, Lucas could be on to something. One respondent said that the biggest surprise to him is how many of the companies were started by people from out of state and how easily they got their business licenses. Issues such as taxes, compliance costs, staffing problems, and miscommunications have taken their toll on some local businesses who weren’t adequately prepared for them. Business relationships have disintegrated in some cases leaving entrepreneurs to scramble to fill the gap. Early in the year, the rumors in the industry indicated quite a bit of predatory behavior from out-of-state interlopers eager to exploit a naïve market. Shrewd business owners stayed the course and worked diligently to build strong relationships across each facet of the industry. New challenges for cannabis businesses will include more stringent safety requirements and inspections that may uproot operations not able to keep themselves in compliance with new laws. Challenges facing consumers haven’t changed much over the last year. There is still debate as to where patients are able to medicate and many find it hard to believe that they can openly smoke marijuana in public as a medical patient. Law enforcement seems unperturbed by the swarm of medicated patients in public, likely due to notably polite consumption practices by most cannabis smokers – a skill honed by years of medicating illegally. “I got pulled over and I know my car smelled like it [cannabis]. The officer was cool and asked if I was a patient and if I had my patient card. Since I hadn’t smoked recently and the only reason it smelled was because I had been opening the containers to sniff them, he had nothing else to say about it except to change my tag light. It completely blew my mind,” wrote Daniel G. of Broken Arrow. While it is still very against the law to drive under the influence of medical marijuana in this state, patients can expect to puff out a sigh of relief regarding logistics for medicating. “All the officer asked us was if we were all patients. We were and offered to show our licenses but he didn’t bother. We were sure he’d at least harass us for a little while,” tells Jake P. of Warr Acres about an officer stopping by his smoking circle while disc golfing.
With very little legal muscle to flex, law enforcement seemed wholly unconcerned with patients squeezing in a little toke before darting into The Raconteurs concert on October 12th in the chilly breeze outside the Criterion in Oklahoma City. “You can’t really do this in California. I mean, it is so different there because people don’t smoke cigarettes like they do here, but marijuana is mostly a private thing back home even where people are smoking cigarettes,” Laurie M. explains before ducking in for the show. In the last year, several bars around the city and Tulsa have established that they are cannabis friendly and graciously allow patrons who are patients to medicate in designated areas. Even with widening acceptance, Oklahomans are still struggling with the choice to obtain their medical marijuana patient licenses. Doctor’s recommendations can be pricey – ranging from $50 to $150 which is then met with a $100 licensing cost paid to OMMA. This seems a bit much to Jeremiah P. of Tulsa. He doesn’t like the thought of paying the government so that he can access safe medicine that he is able to grow himself. He does explain that he recognizes the benefit to having his patient license, at least regarding law enforcement, “If they want to mess with me, they’re going to mess with me, you know? But I know if I have that license then at least they can’t do much to me if they even wanted to. Either way, it’s not really their business what I am doing; I am just glad that it is so much easier for all the people who really need this medicine like I do.” Jeremiah is particularly concerned that the VA may see that he is a patient and use that information in some manner that would affect his quality of care.
“Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.” ― Bob Marley
OKLAHOMACHRONIC The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) should protect Oklahomans from being exposed as medical marijuana patients and representatives from OMMA have stated that the records are not public but the apprehension remains. Ambiguous language in the legislation enacted to better regulate the industry has created confusion surrounding “safety sensitive positions” in the workforce. The verbiage permits employers to excuse an employee from a safety sensitive position if they use cannabis, either unlicensed or licensed, but the verbiage does not provide parameters by which a safety sensitive position could be clearly identified. For now, this stops plenty of Oklahomans from risking employment over medicating. Being outed as a cannabis patient can have reaching implications for residents. Not every Oklahoman has embraced medical cannabis and some are still vocally disapproving. Hyperbolic arguments have been made against cannabis since the implementation of State Question 788. Complaints have ranged from offensive odors to intentionally or accidentally giving THC-infused candies to trick-or-treating children to ridiculous positions claiming that cannabis is a gateway drug, even as researchers disprove that misinformation. As more anecdotal and clinical evidence is introduced to patients regarding the safety and health benefits of cannabinoids, cannabis acceptance should become the norm rather than a pleasant surprise. This benefits the industry because the more patients who enter the market, the faster the country can move toward national legalization of adult use cannabis, effectively removing barriers for any person in need of cannabis therapy for their illnesses but who may still currently be unable to access it by virtue of location or inability to overcome hurdles placed in the way by misinformed lawmakers. Now that businesses have had a full year to dial in their products and processes, Oklahomans can expect to see more consistent quality. As to better pricing, that’s all market dependent. There are hacks that can be implemented for budget conscious consumers in the meantime. Several Oklahomies are launching social media personalities for a variety of interests and offer suggestions such as grabbing an eighth of shake from a trusted dispensary and topping it off with a gram of top quality bud to improve the potency or effect. With Croptober coming to a close, dispensaries and producers can expect an influx of product which should help to lower the patient cost through some of the holidays. OMMA now reflects more than 200,000 Oklahomans hold patient or caregiver licenses, an increase in licensees of more than 40%. With nearly 20% of Oklahomans holding their patient license and thousands more invested in Oklahoma’s economy through the cannabis industry, the green wave is here to stay and it appears more riders are hopping on board as it swells.
“The biggest killer on the planet is stress, and I still think the best medicine is and always has been cannabis.” — Willie Nelson
Each cog in the medical marijuana machine must turn smoothly for patients to have the most rewarding experience and the only way cogs keep spinning is if they are properly greased. Be it through elbow-grease or financially greasing the wheel, the only way to thrive in this industry has been through strong partnerships and hard, goal-oriented, patient-focused team work. From the early work of activists to the grueling work of growers, producers, and dispensaries, alongside the OMMA, law makers, and law enforcement, Oklahoma has demonstrated, in true Sooner fashion, that sometimes the most effective way to get a job done is to do it first and ask questions later.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC
THANKSGIVING INFUSED DESSERT CANNABIS PUMPKIN PIE By Chef Buz Deliere
Chef Buz, graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Pittsburgh culinary school in 2001, He immediately started making edibles and infusing oils. He spent the next several years working in Ohiopyle, Pa as a chef of Highwaters Grill and BBQ. He Spent 2014-2018 in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he was chef at Big Kahuna Rum Shack, and sous chef Margaritaville, went thru two category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, before moving back to OKC just before the legalization. He has partnered with a couple grows and a dispensaries, where he has been making high potency edibles, tinctures and topicals.
There’s no better way to end your Thanksgiving feast then with this cannabis infused pumpkin pie recipe!
INGREDIENTS:
1 16-oz. can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix!) 2 eggs (beaten) 1 tsp. molasses 1/4 cup of condensed milk 1/2 stick of cannabutter 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. vanilla 1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
COOKING DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350º degrees. Start by melting your Cannabutter over low heat until it has completely melted. Next combine the beaten eggs, milk, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, brown sugar and pumpkin in a large bowl, and beat. Add the cannabutter to the mixture, mix and pour the mixture into the pastry pie crust. Cook pie for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted is clean. Let cool and enjoy!
HAPPY HOLIDAZE! OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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CHRONIC EVENTS NOV. 6, 2019
CANNABIS POTPOURRI
COX CONVENTION CENTER, 1 MYRIAD GDNSOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
OCIA POLICY & PINTS OKC — OKLAHOMA CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
51ST STREET SPEAKEASY
NOV. 14, 2019
OKLAHOMA CANNABIS DAY OF LEARNING TULSA
NOV. 16 - 17, 2019
MARRIOTT TULSA HOTEL SOUTHERN HILLS1902 EAST 71ST STREETTULSA, OK 74136
COWBOY CUP
DEC. 13-15, 2019
CHRISTMAS IN SMØKLAHOMA
DEC 20-21, 2019
TUMBLEWEED DANCEHALL & CONCERT VENUE
10300 S SOONER RDOKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73165
IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT THE YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED PLEASE EMAIL THEOKLAHOMACHRONIC@OUTLOOK.COM
@OKLAHOMACHRONICMAGAZINE THEOKLAHOMACHRONIC.COM
TOP TENDER
Dredz at 405BUDZ He has been working in the industry since legalization and has enjoyed learning the science behind different strains that really help his patients. Dredz takes his time and provides professional recommendations based off each patients individual needs. He also researches symptoms to ensure that he is providing the best medicine possible. On his free time he enjoys hanging with his friends @soudwessdes and @jpoe405. These artisit make up Knight Life Society which always throws industry parties. His goal in the industry is to "partner up with some people" and open his own dispensary. His favorite strain: "Gashouse Gushers" His recommendation to anybody new to the cannabis world would be to try hybrids because you get the best of both world.
@Dredz__
Ask for Dredz on your next visit.
CONTINUED ON PAGE XX
FROM STEREOTYPE TO ADVOCATE
Tommy Chong
WRITTEN BY KAYLA JOHNSON There are a few names that, as soon as you hear them, you think of cannabis, or cannabis culture. Tommy Chong is one ofthose names, for obvious reasons; Up inSmoke is a movie that helped begin to bring cannabis culture into the light, and for the first time, Cheech and Chong put a real, personable face on the people of cannabis culture, rather than sticking to the usual narrative of crime and violence.
Just like his movies, Tommy Chong’s life has taken him for quite the adventure, from the big screen, to the big house with a certain Wolf of Wall Street, and back to freedom and family. While a lot of has changed for him over the years, one thing that hasn’t changed at all is his passion for cannabis. He’s turned that passioninto a successful cannabis brand, but more than that, he’s worked to advocatefor cannabis patients and the plant itself.
I was lucky enough to be able to speak with Tommy while he was catching an Uber to his place in Los Angeles back in August, to talk to him about how the culture surrounding cannabis has changed since his first movie, what he’s been up to lately, what he thinks about the current cannabis industry and how he thinks it can grow from here.
I have to be honest: as a small town, Oklahoma native, chatting on the phone with a well-known celebrity about something that was illegal here up until a year and a half ago while he’s Ubering around L.A. was pretty wild, but in a way, it was also incredibly normal. Despite being THE Tommy Chong, he was also just another patient and cannabis industry member, talking about how it’s changed his life for the better, just like so many of the Oklahomans I’ve been lucky enough to interview so far; he just happens to be far, far more experienced than most.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
The plant never changed, you know. It’s still the same. It’s got a different name, you know, it gets better care now, but the plant never changed. The people around it have changed, it’s more open now than it was. On September 15th, that’s forty-one years since Up in Smoke came out, that’s an icon of cannabis culture, but you were there for it. In your opinion, how has cannabis and the culture surrounding it changed since then? Well, a lot of the old folks have died. A lot of the younger folks have gotten older. That’s about it!
(Once we’d stopped laughing)That’s all that’s really changed, you think? The plant never changed, you know. It’s still the same. It’s got a different name, you know, it gets better care now, but the plant never changed. The people around it have changed, it’s more open now than it was.
What do you think has caused this shift in opinion after all these years? Well, it’s the change with Conservatives, for lack of a better term. The more conservative members of our population, they’ve turned on to it a little bit more than they have been before.
Yeah, we wouldn’t know anything about that here. (Laughing) It’s true, as soon as they started seeing it was good for people with epilepsy and cancer and all those ailments, and all of sudden, it’s - and it helps ladies sleep at night, it helps older ladies sleep at night, and that alone is an earth-shattering thing.”
You think that’s what’s helped legalization grow? Absolutely, and people are realizing, you know, that it helps people. It helps people with addiction, they use marijuana in rehab centers all over the place, it even helps people overcome heroin addictions. Once we figured out that it’s a medicine, that it does more good than harm, of course you legalize it.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC So do you think the stigma that’s always kind of been attached to cannabis is starting to fade away?
Yeahhhh, for the most part. There’s still a lot of people that have their mindset, and they’ll never change, and that’s the way it is, you know, we’ve got all sorts of species on this planet, some are more intelligent than others, and that’s just the way it goes.
"WHAT IF WE’RE RIGHT? WHAT IF EVERYTHING CHEECH AND CHONG IS DOING IS RIGHT AND EVERYONE ELSE IS WRONG?"
Your movie career was basically started during the early years of the war on drugs, and in a lot ways, your roles kind of offered a plain look at cannabis, rather than the stigmatized view that a lot of people got from that point on. What’s it been like, leaving the ‘old Chong’, if you will, of ‘Cheech and Chong’ days behind, as things have changed, and it’s become more open?
I get what you’re saying. The ‘old Chong’ was just that character, and the real Chong went to jail for that ‘old Chong’. (After laughing) I had no choice but to get real, everyone else was getting real, so I had to get real, and I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the ride because it’’s nice seeing that you’re right. Years ago, when people would ask me about the, you know, the evil weed, and I said one time,” What if we’re right? What if everything Cheech and Chong is doing is right and everyone else is wrong?” and that’s what happened! That’s exactly what’s happened. Have you kind of enjoyed that ‘I told you so’ feeling, even if you haven’t actually said it?
(Laughing) Ohhh, you know it. You know I have, it’s a good feeling. So now, you’re part of a legal industry with a few different businesses, I know you went to jail for a period of time, but now you’re part of a legal industry: how does that feel, after seeing and living through the prohibition of cannabis like so many others?
It’s vindicating, you know, very, very cleansing, it’s nice. I go to parties now with billionaires, and I’m invited to a lot of parties because I’ve become an icon to some of these people too now. A lot of them got their billions and billions by being influenced by Cheech and Chong in some way and what we did on screen. We influenced a whole generation of filmmakers, you know, like Tarantino for instance, he got a lot of his education watching Cheech and Chong videos, and Spike Lee and all those guys. We’ve influenced hip-hop people, you know, we were revered by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and we inspired them, and a whole lot of people, to just come out, be who you are and do what you do. I understand the influence and the impact we’ve had on people’s lives, and I’m just grateful that we can still do it.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC
Touching back a little bit on your jail time, I didn’t know this until I was doing a little more research on you, but you were actually cell mates with Jordan Belfort, the Wolf of Wall Street for a few months?
Oh yeah, we were together for a while, and he was quite intelligent, I’ve met a few geniuses in my life and he was definitely one of them. To show you what a genius he was, he took my advice. I’m sure he was an interesting cellmate, to say the least.
He really was, he was great, but what I did was challenge him. I showed him the way to make a buck legally, and how to get famous the good way, and he did. He’s enjoying his life now, very much. Looking back on that time you spent in jail, and knowing that there’s still so many people across the country that are in jail for cannabis charge, or paraphernalia charge, how do you think the legal system needs to adjust to legalization as it gains momentum and becomes more common across the country?
The thing is, we’ve had jail since the beginning of time in one way or
So now, prison in the past,
another, and if you’re in jail, there’s a good chance you’re in jail for a
what keeps you motivated to
reason. That’s the I Ching said to me while I was in prison, you know.
stay involved with cannabis
I rolled thecoins and it
as an advocate?
came out and the first sentence told me ‘You are in jail for areason.’ Jails are corrective institutions where you correct your behavior, and from that moment on, I enjoyed jail, because I was correcting my behavior. I got rid of a lot of bad habits, especially bad thinking happens, and so the people in jail, they’re in jail for a reason. Now, everyone’s individual, and there are some that are in there, and they know they deserve to be in there, and then of course you have many, many that are in there unjustly; however, they’re learning. Everyone’s learning, and that’s all you can really do, is learn, and do differently in the future.
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"I KNEW THAT POT SMOKING IS HEALTHY. WHEN YOU GET OLDER, THAT’S THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR HEALTH, AND THAT’S WHAT KEEPS ME DETERMINED TO KEEP WITH IT."
My commitment to a healthy way of living, really, cause you know, I started getting involved with body building around the same time as Arnold Schwarzenegger did, and we became good friends, in fact I saw him today, and the only thing Arnold would do when he was training to be Mr. Olympia for the 5th or 6th time was he would smoke pot. He wouldn’t drink alcohol, or soda pop, he wouldn’t eat anything bad, but he would smoke a joint. And so I knew that pot smoking is healthy. When you get older, that’s the one thing that you have is your health, and that’s what keeps me determined to keep with it, because I’m living proof that this works, and that we’ve been right all along.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC I know we touched a little bit on you working in the legal industry now, but I’d like to go back to that, if I could. You have Chong’s Choice, and a couple of other businesses and companies that you’re involved in, but which one is really your passion project that gets your heart and soul poured into it?
It’s called ‘Chong Art’, I haven’t unveiled it to the public yet, but I’ve been doing some sculptures and doing some oil paintings, and some bongs, of course, quite a few bongs. So I’m going to presenting Chong Art very soon, there’ll be a lot of fanfare about that because we’re going to auction off a few pieces. The art itself won’t be for sale just yet until...well, until I get it right, which may never be. We also have a TV show coming up on PBS, so watch for that, that’ll be happening pretty quick. Just trying to stay alive and busy. The cannabis industry, especially here in Oklahoma, it is just booming. It is going absolutely crazy, but it doesn’t really seem to have any one set direction or heading. If there was some way or some direction that you would point the industry in and say ‘that’s a good route, just take off’, what do you think it would be?
Well, the hemp industry, actually. Hemp is devoid of THC, of course, which gets you high, but hemp is responsible for so many different things. For example, if we had kept the hemp all the years, we wouldn’t have the plastic problem we’re faced with today, and so I see the world going right back to hemp products, whether it’s packaging, building materials, because it’s biodegradable. Also, the CBD oil that they derive from hemp is the healthiest oil on the market today, being sold all over the world today. Chong’s Choice is even offering pure, labtested CBD oil. CBD oil helped me when I was just riddled with cancer, and I really believe it’s the future for everyone’s health. I won’t keep you much longer, I know you have another call scheduled shortly, but I do have one
In the end, our conversation was full of laughs, a few surprises,
final question: do you have an all-
and it was more inspiring than I expected when I sat down at
time favorite strain? If you could only
my desk that day in August. In many ways, some of what he said
have one strain from now until the
reminded me of the industry, both here in Oklahoma and as a
day you died, what would it be?
whole; despite the mistakes, despite the setbacks and
I haven’t found it yet. I’ve tried a bunch,
continued opposition, there’s still opportunity in the less-than-
I haven’t found it yet, but you know I’m
pleasant moments, because, as Tommy said, everyone’s
going to keep trying until I find it. As
learning, and the only thing you can do is learn, and move
long as it’s something good, I’ll find it.
forward.
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CANNABIS AND PTSD AN INDEPTH LOOK BY VERONICA CASTILLO In 1970, the federal government declared cannabis (marijuana) more dangerous than cocaine, meth, oxycodone, and fentanyl. A plant with 5000 years of healing proof- was placed on Schedule I. According to the government, schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse and the potential to create psychological and/or physical dependence. Schedule I Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse Heroin Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) Marijuana (cannabis) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) Methaqualone Peyote Schedule II Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous: Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin) Cocaine Methamphetamine Methadone Hydromorphone (Dilaudid Meperidine (Demerol) Oxycodone (OxyContin) Fentanyl Dexedrine Adderall Ritalin Disability Stats- US In the United States, 61 million adults have a medical condition/diagnosis that meets the definition of disabled. From a different view, 1 in 4 people, in the United States, has a disability. Of these figures, 19.1% experience mental health conditions/diagnoses. 19.1% represents 11.4 million people. Of the 61 million adults that have a disability, the unemployment rate was 8% in 2018, more than twice the rate of those with no disability3.7%. PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. PTSD can be associated with all people, all ethnicities, nationality or culture, and any age. Here are some statistics: 67% of people exposed to mass violence have been shown to develop PTSD- at a higher rate than those exposed to natural disasters or other types of traumatic events. 8 million adults have a PTSD diagnoses- 10 in every 100 women and 4 in every 100 men. An estimated 5.0% of adolescents had PTSD, and an estimated 1.5% had severe impairment. There are 18.8 million veterans in the United States (thank you for your service. )
OKLAHOMACHRONIC PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Continued About 11 to 20 out of every 100 veterans (or between 11 and 20%) who served in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year. About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam veterans (15%) diagnosed with PTSD when the most recent study of them (the National Vietnam Veteran Readjustment Study) was conducted in the late 1980’s. It’s believed that 30% of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime. Of the 18.8 million veterans in the U.S, 326,000 are unemployed (reported by the United Department of Labor). The Benefits of Cannabis for Mental Health and PTSD Cannabis remains on the federal government/DEA’s Schedule I list, therefore, there has been $0 funding for cannabis related research until recent years (much of the research conducted by states). CannaCon reports The treatment of PTSD requires the increase of serotonin levels. Cannabis is known to induce the creation of serotonin in the brain. It also helps in dealing with some of the symptoms associated with PTSD, including insomnia and recurrent nightmares. Psychology Today reports: Research published on Science Daily also looked at symptom reduction in patients with PTSD. As a result of taking medical marijuana, participants reported a decrease in re-experiencing the trauma, less avoidance of situations that reminded them of the trauma, and a decline in hyper-arousal. The U.S National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health report: In a study by Bonn-Miller et al, marijuana use positively correlated with PTSD symptoms and, according to self-reports, cannabis was used with intent to cope with these PTSD symptoms. In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, the effectiveness of medical marijuana in reducing symptoms of PTSD was examined. The results found that patients with PTSD experienced a 75% decrease in their symptoms upon using medical cannabis. Dr. George Greer, one of the researchers of the above-mentioned study stated the following: "Many PTSD patients report symptom reduction with cannabis, and a clinical trial needs to be done to see what proportion and what kind of PTSD patients benefit, with either cannabis or the main active ingredients of cannabis.”
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One Veteran, a friend of mine, who recently started using marijuana instead of prescription medication for PTSD, said that with the cannabis, he can feel his emotions, and experience them properly and safely. Before, he just felt numb.”
-DIANNA DONNELLY Hear from Veterans and Civilians that Treat Their PTSD w/ Cannabis Anonymous Person (2) Are you Veteran or Civilian, if veteran, what branch of the military did you serve? “I am a veteran of the United States Air Force.” How long have you been diagnosed with PTSD? “I was diagnosed with PTSD 3 years ago (2016).” How long have you been treating with cannabis? “I started treating with cannabis CBD 14 months ago. Cannabis has helped me with sleep/insomnia and lowering my stress levels so that I can handle situations that would otherwise cause panic attacks.” Anonymous Person (2) Are you Veteran or Civilian, if Veteran, what branch of the military did you serve? “I’m a Civilian.” Please describe how cannabis helps you? “I was able to stop taking 2 psychiatric medications for PTSD, when I started using cannabis It relaxes me and allows me to sleep without too much anxiety. My mind and body calm down. I used to have to sleep with multiple lights on, and I'd wake up in a panic every night. Or, sometimes I would get triggered and didn't have something to pull me back into reality. Cannabis has helped me with all of this.” What would you like to say to the FDA/DEA regarding cannabis as medicine? “Cannabis is one of the best medications out there. It helps treat so many different medical conditions, both physical and mental. It also has fewer side effects, and doesn't have the addictive qualities of many big pharmaceutical medications. I think that it should be legalized at the federal level and regulated, and that it should be available to medical patients in all 50 states.”
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
CANNABIS AND PTSD Continued by Veronica Castillo
Veteran Affairs and Cannabis
Many states in the U.S. have approved the use of marijuana for medical and/or recreational use. Because federal law classifies cannabis as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, it makes it illegal in the eyes of the federal government, therefore, veterans cannot discuss treatment of their medical conditions with their VA doctors/physicians. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is required to follow all federal laws including those regarding cannabis. As long as the government classifies marijuana as Schedule I, VA health care providers may not recommend it or assist Veterans to obtain it.
Active and Upcoming Studies for Cannabis and PTSD Sue Sisley, MD, Internist and Telemedicine Physician designed and aimed an FDA-approved phase 2 study of cannabis for PTSD in U.S. military veterans. The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) at UC San Diego will be conducting a study on: The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Regulating Meal Time Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa: Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics. The Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute (ADAI), a multidisciplinary research center at the University of Washington’s Health Sciences Administration has received funding to conduct studies on the long- and short-term effect of marijuana use. Steps That Government Can Take to Legalize the Medicinal Use of Cannabis Canada and Uruguay are two countries that have legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis. Canada’s program can be a great guide to the United States. Canada’s model includes some of the following: Under the Cannabis Act, Canadian provinces have the ability to ban recreational use. Residents of provinces that ban recreational use can still order cannabis online from a government-run website. That removes the act of illegal purchases. Canada’s model is an example of modest taxes on cannabis. The government imposes an excise tax of 10% or $1 per gram, whichever is higher, and gives provinces 75% of the revenue. The Canadian government seals conviction records for cannabis consumers who were charged for crimes that have since become legal, without fees and waiting periods. America is called and/or referred to as the greatest country; however, plant cannabis, even medicinal cannabis is held hostage. Because cannabis is illegal at the federal level- even as medicine, many of our active military, veterans, federal employees, civilians, doctors, lawyers, etc. are unable to treat with cannabis, without the action and/or fear of losing their jobs. In many places, doctors and nurses can lose their licenses for even discussing. Other countries and many states in America, have shown the extreme benefit of legalizing cannabis. The small cases where cannabis has caused harm is because of a black market that exists, because people have to go that route for medication that works. This should not be the way that residents of the United Stated should live- with restrictive laws and plant medicine being on a higher schedule that cocaine.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC
The Cannabasics
Photography @rsg.sexymama - www.rsgokc.com
If you’re reading this magazine, there’s a distinct possibility that cannabis has made a significant impact on your life in one way or another. Maybe you’ve seen how it makes such a positive change in the life of one of your friends or loved ones, or maybe you’ve seen that change in your own life as a patient. Maybe
by Kayla Johnson
you’ve been consuming cannabis for decades through the canna-prohibition, or maybe you ate
“We need to legalize now so both patients and consumers can share in the gifts of cannabis” – Diane Fornbacher OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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your first gummy two days ago. Wherever you’re at in your cannabis journey, it seems like there’s always something new to learn, but if you’re new to cannabis, it can be especially overwhelming; from strain names to learning how to use different products and even just learning what to call them, there’s a lot to take in. We’ve worked hard to bring together a basic guide, a ‘Cannabis 101’ crash course to help share some of the basic information about the science behind cannabis, different products, consumption methods, and more.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
The Cannabasics: Types of Cannabis There are three main categories of cannabis available in Oklahoma’s medical market: sativas, indicas, and hybrids. Within each of these categories are hundreds of different strains, and every week, it seems, the number grows as strains are crossed and combined to create something new. Each strain type offers its own unique set of benefits that varies based on the exact strain, While this can be extremely overwhelming at first, it’s also an incredible opportunity for patients; with such variety available, it’s far more likely that you’ll be able to find a strain that offers the ideal balance of effects and benefits that better fits your personal needs. Below, we’ll break down each particular type, and share some examples of each strain type that you might find in your favorite dispensary.
Sativa: Sativa strains are known for being quite energizing. While all cannabis has the ability to help you relax and unwind, Photography @rsg.sexymama - www.rsgokc.com
sativa does it in a way that, rather than
Education is one of the most important aspects of cannabis
give you that heavy relaxation that
legalization, and continuing to information with patients, and even
makes you want to just kick back, will
non-patients, is key. In these paragraphs, we’ll go over the basic
instead help you power through your
types of cannabis strains, what terpenes offer, the most popular
day. With generally lower amounts of
methods of consumption, and what you’ll need to be able to try
CBD and higher THC levels, sativa
these methods yourself. For new patients, or those who are
strains offer what’s called a ‘mind high’,
considering trying cannabis for their health, this kind of basic
meaning you’ll feel far more energized
information is vital, but even if you’ve got a bit of green experience
and focused. It’s extremely common for
under your belt, a refresher in some of the basics can be useful,
people to feel much more creative or
especially if there’s a particular product that you’ve never tried
productive after consuming a sativa
before.
strain, meaning they’re a great fit for anyone artistic or creative, and if you’re a patient who microdoses before the gym or hitting the pavement for a run or
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walk, a sativa could help you bring new focus to your health
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC regiment. Because they are often so energizing, most people prefer to consume sativas during the day, when they need to be more alert than overly relaxed. From a medical standpoint, with its lower CBD, sativas are not always known for their pain relief, at least not physically. While indicas reign supreme in the world of appetite stimulation and pain relief, sativas, with their uplifting and energetic effects, can offer a lifeline to those struggling with any number of mental health concerns, especially depression or anxiety.
Indica: Where sativa strains are known for being uplifting and energizing, indica strains are their opposites; known for
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offering a more intense ‘body high’, these strains are most commonly used in the afternoons or evenings, when one is looking to slow down from the day. With their much higher CBD levels, these strains are also known for the pain relief they can offer patients, and many people also find that indicas bring on a wicked case of the munchies. For people who need appetite stimulation, especially patients going through cancer treatment, this benefit can be one of the biggest boons that cannabis can offer them for their health. Even those who aren’t in need of pain relief or that jumpstart to their appetite can benefit from the overall relaxation and calmness that indicas are known for. That relaxation is also one of the key reasons they recommend it for evening use: it makes a great sleep aid, one that won’t give you wild dreams. (Ambien, I’m looking at you.) That higher CBD level that many indica strains have makes them more of a physical-relief powerhouse than their siblings in the sativa department for some medical patients, especially those dealing with muscle spasms, seizures, or chronic pain. More potent strains can lead to a couch-locked feeling, which can be great, but overwhelming if you’re not careful or expecting it.
Hybrids: These strains are exactly what you’d think they are by the name: they’re combinations and hybrids of parent strains to create a whole new one, with different effects and benefits based on the parents.
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The Cannabasics: Terpenes Terpenes are something we’ve only just scratched the surface of in regards to cannabis, and this topic really deserves its own article, simply because there is so much to share and learn. While we won’t go too far down the terpene rabbit-hole here, it’s an important topic that more patients need to be able to learn about, so stay tuned, folks. In the mean time, we’ll discuss the basics, starting with the obvious: what exactly are terpenes?
A vast majority of the new strains that have been grown and produced in the last two decades are hybrids, and they’re increasingly common in our Oklahoma market as well. Part of the reason they’re becoming so popular and widely grown is that they tend to offer the best ofboth parental worlds. This means that there are more strains available that offer specific benefits without other drawbacks or effects that the patient doesn’t want. For example, a potent indica strain crossed with a sativa strain may produce a new plant that offers great pain relief and relaxation, whilestill allowing the patient
Photography @rsg.sexymama - www.rsgokc.com
to remain alert and energized. The resulting plant, depending on the genetics
The short explanation is that terpenes are organic compounds
and effects, is either an indica dominant
found in the plant’s resin that are extremely aromatic. They’re
strain, or a sativa dominant strain,
found in many different plants, including cannabis, which
without being wholly one or the other.
naturally has quite high levels of terpenes. To put it simply: terpenes are what give your cannabis its distinct, and often
Because breeders and growers can
potent, scent and flavor. More than that, we’re discovering that
refine strains so closely, there are hybrids
in many ways, they enhance the effects that cannabis already
being created practically daily across the
offers. For example, Lemon Haze is a energizing sativa-
country, so if you haven’t found your ‘soul
dominant strain, and because it’s high in a terpene called
strain’ connection yet, don’t fret; with
limonene, it has a distinctly citrus, lemony scent that much like
Oklahoma’s booming industry showing no
the smell of lemon essential oils, boosts that energetic effect, in
signs of slowing down, the selection will
the way that the scent of lavender oil relaxes many people.
continue to grow.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC While there’s still a lot of research to be done in how terpenes can benefit us from a medical standpoint, there is already research that shows that there’s incredible potential, as many of the terpenes that have been identified in cannabis are also either anti-inflammatory or anti-pain, or analgesic. Some of the most common terpenes include myrcene, the previously mentioned limonene, pinene, and humulene, a terpene also found in hops. With the lingering federal status of the plant, research into terpenes is just beginning to pick up momentum, but what we’ve learned already tells us that they’re an important part of why cannabis is so beneficial to us.
The Cannabasics: Consumption methods This is the part where you, the patient, can really begin to create a medical cannabis routine that truly works for you. working in the cannabis industries around the country (including here at home) are some incredibly talented people; because of this, there are new products and methods available every year, to make cannabis more accessible to every patient who needs it, regardless of their medical conditions. Even with the the new improvements and developments, there are a few that are considered fairly standard. Smoking: The classic standby that goes back approximately 2500 years, smoking your cannabis is one of the oldest methods out there. One of the biggest advantages of smoking your cannabis is the fact that you feel the effects and benefits quite quickly, since it enters the bloodstream within seconds. Not only does it take effect rapidly, but it’s also incredibly easy; all you need is your bud of choice, a lighter (plus hempwick, if you prefer), a grinder if you wish, and a method of smoking it. The most common ways that people smoke their flower is with a pipe of some kind, like a glass spoon pipe, bong, or bubbler, wooden pipes, or with their strain of choice broken down/ground up and rolled into a joint in a wide variety of available papers and wraps. Many dispensaries offer a variety of pipes and papers for patients to choose from while they’re picking up their product, making it even more convenient. For those who have never tried it before, it’s important to note that cannabis smoke has a fairly distinct smell, so be aware of this before smoking inside your home or apartment. Despite this, there’s something comforting about smoking for a lot of patients, and even just the routine of getting everything ready can be therapeutic in its own way. OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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Photography @rsg.sexymama - www.rsgokc.com
Cannabis is an incredibly versatile plant, and the people
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
It’s also important to remember that your infused edibles should be kept separate from the other goodies in your home, so that unsuspecting snackers don’t end upwith a hefty dose of your medicine. Dabs: While concentrates are fairly new to the cannabis scene, they’re kind of like that new friend that somehow, you feel like you’ve known them forever. Dabbing concentrates involves heating up a nail of some kind, whether quartz or metal, with a torch, then placing your preferred amount of the product on the heated nail and inhaling the vaporized concentrates, usually using a water pipe of some kind with the nail in place instead of a traditional bowl. One reason they’ve risen in popularity is the fact that because it’s concentrated cannabis extract, it’s far more potent than flower, and as a bonus, there’s little to no smell
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The Cannabasics Continued... Edibles: This is another method that’s a bit of a classic; everyone, even those who don’t support cannabis, knows what a pot brownie is. Today, just about any type of food or snack can be turned into a cannabis-infused treat, leaving the door wide open for patients to have a truly precise dosing method for their medicine of choice if they need. Edibles also offer a distinct perk; you can make them however you want in your own kitchen. Once you make infused butter or oil, you can add it to any recipe you wish, and just like that, you’ve got an edible. If you’d rather buy something, there’s an incredible variety of different edibles and infused treats available in Oklahoma, everything from infused honey and jam to cake truffles, brittle, beverages and more. Gummies in particular are popular, because they can be as high or low dosed as you want, without having to eat a larger brownie or cookie. While they can be enjoyable, they do have one downside; they take longer to take
from dabbing. Many people find that they only need to dab a very small amount for their first time, but for patients with extremely low tolerance to the plant, it can be difficult to find a low enough dose, so keep that in mind. There are several different types that are becoming fairly common in Oklahoma’s cannabis market: shatter, wax/crumble, diamonds, and distillate, most often in cartridges. Most dispensaries offer at least one kind of concentrate, even in cartridge form*, and usually offer at least a basic dab rig setup, but a dedicated headshop would definitely be able to help you select what you need to hit your first dab.
effect. Because your body has to digest them first, it doesn’t hit you
*Note: With the current issues around
right away, but many people find it lasts significantly longer. Be
the country involving health concerns
warned; if you eat an edible, and don’t feel anything, don’t keep
and vaporizer cartridges, always
eating. Wait several hours before trying to eat slightly more than
make sure that the carts you buy are
you did before, and go from there.
from a medical company here in the
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state, and that the product is lab tested for contaminants.
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
The Cannabasics Continued... Dry herb vaping: Another relatively new method, this is rapidly becoming a popular way to medicate for a variety of reasons. Dry herb vaping involves using a vaporizer to literally vape the goodness off of your cannabis flower, and because these vapes are battery operated, it’s an extremely portable and convenient way to medicate while you’re moving ahead with your day. One distinct advantage that this method has is, like dabbing, there’s very limited odor that lingers afterwards, and because it’s just vapor, it’s far less likely to irritate your lungs or throat. The ground or broken up flower, once it’s been vaped, is technically smokeable and still offers a slight effect, but it is incredible harsh; however, with a large amount stored, it can be added to cannabutter, because it’s essentially activate cannabis, or decarbed. Most vaporizers available today are rechargable, and the high quality ones can be
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extremely durable and long lasting. Because they’re
Beyond the basic methods mentioned here, there are
so efficient, many people find that they vape less
dozens of incredible products available for different
flower than they’d smoke, but often report equal or
needs. Cannabis inhalers are being created, there are
even greater effects and benefits. Most dispensaries
THC/CBD bath soaks and oils to help ease pain
and headshops in the state carry vaporizers, but you
without having to ingest, there are capsules, creams,
should take the time to do some research on different
tinctures, patches, and smoother inhalation devices,
vapes and features to find which one would work for
and every day, someone puts their mind to solving
you. If you need help finding a starting point for your
another problem. If you’re unsure of what method
research, see our article in last month’s issue with
might work best for you, don’t be afraid to talk to
PuffItUp.com for some suggestions of great brands
your budtender about what your options are. The
for canna-beginners and veterans alike.
beauty of cannabis is that you’re not limited to only one or two ways to take your medicine; if you haven’t
“That is not a drug, it’s a leaf.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger
found your perfect way to medicate, don’t be discouraged, and don’t hesitate to keep trying something new, until you find what works for you. There’s a lot of information to share about cannabis beyond just how to consume it, and the basics on selecting strains, so be sure to watch for upcoming articles on more Cannabasics.
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MONTHLY CANNABIS REVIEW by Melissa Hall
“WHEN YOU SMOKE THE HERB, IT REVEALS YOU TO YOURSELF.” – BOB MARLEY / MUSICIAN, ACTIVIST
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
MONTHLY CANNABIS REVIEW CHECK OUT OUR MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE "HGDP HARLEQUIN GRANDADDY PURPLE" FLOWER STRAIN by Melissa Hall
When any aspiring cannabis aficionado locks eyes with the glass jars in the proverbial lineup on a dispensary shelf, they will tell you their eyes automatically scan the green mounds that fill the jars, in hopes of spotting the purple hues, the fiery orange hairs, the extra frosty-ness; that stereo typically characterize the “good stuff”, the top shelf, the best of the best. Amidst the pretty boys and the beauty queens holding the line, there is always that one jar. The one that might be pushed out of the way, the one that gets a little attention, or for that matter, even many second glances. this is the CBD flower or CBD: THC ratio flower. Now, I will be the very first to admit I was a total CBD snob. Although I knew the medical benefits of CBD were exceptional, there was no good reason for not trying the now increasingly popular medical marvel. With the CBD ratio flower receiving so much awesome buzz, with so many readers taking that second look at; and wanting to know more about that cast to the side glass jar. I decided to get out of the groove of my normal quest for the best THC flower strain hunt. I wanted to take a closer look at the new, cool kid on the block the 1:1 ratio CBD: THC flower. There is only one strain that could possibly be appropriate for a CBD flower review following the Summer of 2019 in Oklahoma. You may have heard of a little cup show that blew thru Oklahoma City a few months ago. HGDP aka Harlequin Grandaddy Purple snatched the First Place High Times Cannabis Cup for CBD flower, making it an instant crowd favorite. The stunning grow of HGDP was by Craft Cannabis Company, out of Edmond, Oklahoma. The sample used for this review is also from the guys at Craft Cannabis Co.
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OKLAHOMACHRONIC
To see HGDP on the normal dispensary line, it would be hard to distinguish upon a glance, that this CBD hybrid is any different than the rest of the pack. Spindly tangerine hairs blur the forest and lime green highlights on the densely symmetrical nuggets. A dusting of trichomes sparkle intensely and are sure to catch your eye in true Grandaddy Purple style. The bag appeal is extraordinary and almost gives comfort to die hard THC lovers that are sacrificing their beloved high testing GDP numbers for the greater good of the medicine. The swift aroma of berries, the ever present hereditary grape, and even a pungent splash of good ole’ Skunk, come on strong to steal Harlequins thunder as a partner in this merger. Classic GDP flavor shines through and does not disappoint with a fruity yet gassy profile that will be reminiscent of your fave GDP grow with the first taste. This is not your Fathers CBD flower folks.
CBD provides The desired medical effects without the “high” that THC invokes. This allows pain relief, control over anxiety and depression, even used as therapy for Cancer patients; without putting the user in a permanent- couch like state. This makes the strain great for people that need to medicate during the daytime but cannot, due to thc heavy affects. The effects can vary from user, but are truly felt by the novice CBD user. Instant pressure is lifted off the extremities and muscles are soothed. Mood is lifted and lightened without any spacey side effects. HGDP is a true champion. Any patient could extremely benefit from implementing CBD into their regimen. It is now a must have in my daily routine. This extraordinary HGDP comes highly CannaCritic recommended. Remember, always medicate responsibly and stay lit Oklahoma.
But, it is Harlequin that flexes it’s genetic muscle and becomes the Yin to GDPs Yang, exhibiting a CBD flower that has the best of both worlds. The pull of the Sativa and push of an Indica. The ratio of CBD:THC can vary, Being a 3 to 1 in many grows. The ratio is 1:1 in the sample HGDP.. This simply means there is a balance of CBD that highlights the physical and psychoactive healing properties of cannabis.
"EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH A BAG OF WEED." —STEWIE GRIFFIN
Harlequin Grandaddy Purple Rating: 5
= Highest Rating
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OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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DAILY DEALS & STACKABLE DISCOUNTS
MEDICAL DISPENSARY & CBD
(405) 261-2123 8501 SW 59th Street Oklahoma City, OK
OKLAHOMACHRONIC
BY THE NUMBERS: OKLAHOMA'S CANNABIS INDUSTRY IS BOOMING. ARE WE IN A GREEN RUSH?
Growers Processors
As of Oct. 1 there are over 4,063 growers with in the state of Oklahoma
Since last month another 270 processor license have been approved bringing the total to 1,168
Dispensaries
Dispensary license numbers have grown since last month now reaching a total of 1,651
Approved Licenses: 205,899 patient, 1,922 caregiver Received Licenses: 197,084 patient, 1,804 caregiver OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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THE FACE OF "THE OKLAHOMA CHRONIC" DUSTIN HAYES Life as a Turkey... Cons: Everyone wants my legs I'm bad at bowling, I throw to many gutter balls I'm still bald Pros: Really starting to like stuffing These legs I have a great tan
CALL FOR A GOOD TIME... WITH YOUR ADVERTISING. (405) 310-0026 OKLAHOMA CHRONIC
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