Reeferfront Times

[STRAIN REVIEW]

Tommy Chims Smokes Illicit’s SFV OG

Written by THOMAS CHIMCHARDS

Contrary to the beliefs of some of the more skeptical among us, not every person who uses cannabis is looking to get stoned out of their mind.

In the medical marijuana community — the real one, where real people use weed to assist with real maladies — patients have to walk a tightrope, balancing cannabis’ health benefits against its propensity to send its users into outer space. Among this group, a high tolerance is regarded as a gift, one that enables a marijuana consumer to treat what ails them without a debilitating high coming along for the ride.

And for those who use cannabis to treat pain — present company included — things can be especially tricky. That’s because the vast majority of the strains that are most effective at pain management are indica dominants, meaning you’re likely to have to deal with couchlock and a serious case of the munchies as side effects of your medication. Oftentimes, when you really have to get some shit done, you’re forced to choose between working while hurting or working while you barely have the energy to do anything. It’s a no-win situation.

Or is it? Here’s where SFV OG comes in.

A sativa-dominant strain that is a phenotype of the famed OG Kush, SFV (or San Fernando Valley) OG is renowned for its ability to provide pain relief without knocking its user at on their ass. An energizing strain that helps you stay focused while soothing your ailments, SFV OG is so good at what it does that, in 2012, it took home awards in both High Times’ Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam as well as the Denver Cannabis Cup.

So naturally, when I saw that Missouri cultivator Illicit Gardens had grown some of the highly regarded strain, I knew I had to try it for myself. I picked up an eighth at Heya Wellness in St. Ann for $56.89 after taxes and was eager to get home and dig in.

Rated at 24.51 percent THC, these buds range in color from a dark hunter green to a keef-frosted light green, with pale to light orange hairs throughout. Upon opening the jar I was met with a grassy, earthy smell with an intriguing sourness to it. On breakup, it was a dry crumble, easily reduced to small pieces and dust, and while it wasn’t exactly sticky, it did leave a lot of keef on my fingers, which I then mistakenly used to rub my eyes. (For the record, I do not recommend ingesting cannabis in this way.) On inhale, that sour taste is present but not unpleasant; it’s quite distinct and somewhat di cult to pin down, bordering on sweet but not quite getting there, and not fruity or citrusy in the slightest.

As for effects, I’m delighted to report that this stuff delivers on its promise. The strain’s energizing effects were the first thing I noticed, with an upper of a head high bringing on a focused state of mind before the body high kicked in and wiped out my chronic pain. I felt none of the under-eye pu ness or fatigue that I might expect from an indica-dominant strain and crucially, none of the couchlock or debilitatingly high feeling. Instead, I was chatty and awake with a bit of euphoria, though it’s hard to know for sure whether the latter was due to the strain itself or just my excitement that it did indeed work as advertised. Overall, I found SFV OG to be exactly the type of weed I need to be able to stay alert while treating my pain, and that’s certainly something to celebrate.

It’s worth noting that I am a person with a fairly high tolerance to cannabis, so your mileage may vary. But for those in search of pain relief without the stoniness, SFV OG may be the one for you too.

As for those stoners seeking pain relief that comes with a trip to outer space? Well, there’s always Bubba Fett. n

SFV OG delivers considerable pain relief without glueing you to your couch. | TOMMY CHIMS

For those who use cannabis to treat pain things can be especially tricky. Oftentimes, when you really have to get some shit done, you’re forced to choose between working while hurting or working while you barely have the energy to do anything.

New rules allowing dispensaries to advertise sales may be coming. | COURTESY GREENLIGHT DISPENSARY

[WEED NEWS]

Medical Marijuana Promotion Rule Under Revision

Written by JENNA JONES

After news last month that dispensaries were unable to advertise discounts on medical marijuana sales, Missouri’s cannabis regulators are kicking around the idea of updating those laws.

In a draft regulation proposed this month and published on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ website, the law may be updated to allow promotions with one caveat: A disclaimer must be published alongside each advertisement. The disclaimer reads: “Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.”

Originally, the law simply stated “Dispensary facilities shall not disburse medical marijuana as part of a promotional event.” This meant advertising price discounts were banned for the dispensaries because, a letter from the DHSS obtained by Greenway Magazine noted, “that would result in disbursing medical marijuana as part of a promotional event.”

Andrew Mullins, MoCannTrade’s executive director, says in a statement that he appreciated “DHSS’ willingness to listen to Missouri’s hundreds of licensed medical cannabis business operators — and most importantly, the more than 152,000 patients and caregivers who were harmed by the former rule.

“Because Missouri’s medical cannabis program has so many product and location options, it is absolutely essential that patients have accurate, timely information and education that allows them to make good health decisions,” Mullins adds, “and that’s exactly what this rule rewrite will allow them to do. Robust patient education is crucial to the program’s continued success and we are thankful DHSS recognized and acted on patients’ behalf. The program is stronger today for that responsiveness.”

DHSS spokeswoman Lisa Cox says in an emailed statement the department “sent its guidance on the topic because they observed a fairly widespread misunderstanding of the existing rule.”

Among the updated promotional events policy, the DHSS also released rules on selling marijuana plants at dispensaries, drive-thru sales and payment on delivery orders.

Businesses will now be able to sell marijuana plants instead of the past regulation that only allowed the purchase of marijuana seeds. The draft rules say dispensaries are able to sell the plant as long as it does not exceed eight inches tall.

Drive-thru rules include a stipulation that windows “either do not open or remain closed and locked and that allow clear visibility for verification of patient identity.” Shops must also utilize a surveillance system in their drive-thru at all times.

Prepayment for delivery orders would also be a thing of the past, according to the draft rules. The product may be paid for at the person’s address as long as the dispensary delivers “to no more than two individuals at one address on the same day,” per draft regulations.

Cox adds in her email the draft regulations are to gather feedback from the public, and once they’ve reviewed the submissions, the department will consider all points of view and “submit rules for formal rulemaking that we believe are most consistent with Article XIV.”

Public comment on the draft will take place until November 18. n