Author: Grace Hyde

As of October 1, Colorado joined many other states in cracking down on infused product safety regulations. When recreational sales began in the Centennial State in 2014, edibles and other marijuana infused products (MIPs) became far more popular than legislators had planned for. Concerns were quickly raised about things such as overconsumption, dose consistency and accidental ingestion. Trips to the hospital and calls to poison control increased, with the general public being fairly uneducated about what it feels like to over-consume cannabis edibles, and what to do when it happens (spoiler alert: you aren’t going to die!). The state got to work revising their rules and regulations and have since issued several rounds of improvements.

Products quickly had to be put in childproof packages, were required to undergo more rigorous testing for things like pesticide and mold residues, as well as potency, and items could be no more than 10mg of THC per serving size, with a total maximum of 100mg THC per package. Manufacturers are also required to include educational disclaimers on their packages about the delayed onset effect of edibles, something that can easily lead to a novice user overdoing it. Producers are also required to imprint the assigned THC warning symbol (a red diamond around “! THC”) on each 10mg item, and no item can be labeled with the word “candy” or “candies.”

The newest round of regulations prohibits edibles from being shaped like common candies, so you won’t be seeing any more gummy bears or peach rings on dispensary shelves. The packages also are required to more prominently display potency information. These new rules closely align with the restriction in place here in Rhode Island. Edible products can be no more than 10mg THC each, with a maximum of 50mg THC total in an opaque, childproof package that has been sealed without an easy-rip tab. While new regulation may feel constricting at first, the general consensus in the cannabis community is that it is for the overall benefit of this movement long-term. Safe, responsible cannabis legalization does not make space for children accidentally ingesting infused products, mistaking them for a sweet they might find at the grocery store.

What if you take too much?

It can be easy to exceed your threshold for a fun edibles high, and it requires trial and error to find your sweet spot. A person’s tolerance for edibles is completely individual, and is not correlated to your smoking tolerance. Some people can only tolerate 3-5mg THC at a time, whereas the next person of identical size and stature may need up to 100mg THC to feel any kind of buzz. “Start low, go slow” is the motto in Colorado and other states when beginning to use edibles. The effects can take up to two hours to kick in, so impatiently eating another cookie or two after a half hour can lead to an unpleasant experience. If you do happen to take too much, the best thing to do is find something relaxing to do while you wait it out. Drink water, take a nap, watch a movie — the only answer for this problem is time. Most edible highs wear off within 4 to 8 hours, so don’t try it for the first time before work or a busy day. There are no cannabinoid receptors in the brainstem (the region of the brain that controls heartbeat and respiration) so it is physically impossible to overdose. Many consumers find that edibles with some amount of CBD in them provide a more balanced, manageable effect, making it a better option for daytime use.

As the summer winds down, there is still an abundance of delicious local produce available for fresh, colorful meals. The following recipes use cannabis-infused olive oil, which you can pick up at your local dispensary or make with the easy recipe included.

Green Gazpacho with Shrimp

Serves: 4

1 1/2 cups plain low-fat yogurt

1/4 cup cannabis-infused olive oil

1 teaspoon plain olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3/4 cup coarsely chopped seeded poblano chile

1/2 cup coarsely chopped green onions

2 cups whole-wheat bread, crusts removed and torn into bite-sized pieces

2 cups chopped seeded English cucumber

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

4 large tomatillos, husks removed, rinsed and quartered (about 1 lb.)

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1. Whisk together yogurt, 3 tablespoons cannabis oil and lime juice in a large bowl
2. Add in poblano, green onions and bread; let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Place yogurt mixture in a blender with cucumber, sugar, salt, black pepper and tomatillos; blend until smooth.
4. Heat 1 teaspoon un-infused oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high.
5. Add shrimp to pan; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until done.
6. Place 1 3/4 cups cucumber mixture in each of four bowls.
7. Top evenly with shrimp and remaining 1 tablespoon cannabis oil.

Watermelon Caprese Salad

Serves: 2-3

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cups of watermelon cut into 3/4-inch cubes

8 ounces small mozzarella balls, halved

8-10 large basil leaves, chopped

3/4-1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons cannabis infused olive oil

Add the tomatoes, watermelon, mozzarella and basil to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with oil and vinegar, and gently toss to coat. Season to taste.

Ginger Blackberry and Plum Shortcakes

Serves: 6

Biscuits:

2 cups flour (plus more for work surface)

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1 ¼ cups plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Filling:

4 plums, halved, pitted and sliced thinly

1 package blackberries (about 1 cup)

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch of salt

3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated

2 tablespoons infused olive oil

1 cup heavy cream

Biscuits:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and 1 tablespoon sugar.
2. Add 1 ¼ cups cream, and mix until just moistened.
3. Turn dough onto a floured surface, and roll to ¾-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter or glass, cut 6 biscuits.
4. Transfer to baking sheet and brush tops with remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
5. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Filling:

1. Combine plums, blackberries, ¼ cup sugar and salt.
2. Squeeze grated ginger over fruit, discard pulp. Toss gently with olive oil and let sit for 15 minutes to an hour.
3. Just before serving, whip cream in electric mixer or with hand mixer and add remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar.
4. Cut biscuits in half and serve topped with fruit and whipped cream.

Cannabis Cooking Oil

1 cup ground cannabis flower

1 cup cooking oil (olive, coconut, sunflower)

Cheesecloth

Double boiler or saucepan

Combine the cannabis flower and cooking oil in your pan and heat over low heat for 1 to 2 hours. Strain through cheesecloth and store in cool, dark area.

If you like a little cannabis included in your body care routine, you’re not likely to find what you’re looking for at your local CVS. So make it yourself! Below are some recipes for cannabis-enhanced summer essentials that’ll keep you comfortable all season long.

Sunburn Relief Lotion

This lotion combines the hydrating and healing properties of shea butter and aloe vera gel with analgesics like cannabis and peppermint, and the antimicrobial properties of lavender.

¼ cup raw shea butter

¼ cup aloe vera gel

¼ cup infused cannabis coconut oil

½ tsp vitamin E oil

4 – 5 drops peppermint essential oil

4 – 5 drops lavender essential oil

1. Soften shea butter in a microwave or over a double boiler (should be texture of room-temperature butter)
2. Whip shea butter in an electric mixer or with handheld mixer until fluffy and smooth
3. Add aloe vera gel, coconut oil, vitamin E and essential oils and combine
4. Place bowl in refrigerator for 15 minutes
5. Remove and whip again for 5 minutes
6. Store finished lotion in a glass jar or container in a cool, dry place

*natural butters and oil can become rancid in warmer months; store lotion in the refrigerator if not used within a month

Cannabis Insect Repellent

Vegetable glycerin is added to this recipe to help the essential oils bind to your skin. Using a cold processed tincture is vital for this mixture, as it preserves the terpenes in the cannabis that are used by the plant as an insect repellent during its life cycle.

4 oz distilled or boiled water

3 oz witch hazel

1 T cannabis alcohol tincture (cold processed)

1 T vegetable glycerin

20 drops tea tree essential oil

20 drops cedar wood essential oil

20 drops geranium essential oil

Combine all ingredients in an 8oz spray bottle and shake thoroughly.

Arnica Balm

This ointment is a must-have for gardeners, landscapers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds because it provides relief from bumps and bruises, sore muscles and overworked bodies at the end of a summer day.

1 cup coconut oil

3 T dried arnica flowers

1 tsp menthol crystals

2 oz beeswax

½ cup infused cannabis coconut oil

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

10 drops calendula essential oil

1. Combine 1 cup coconut oil with arnica flowers in a double boiler and simmer for 30 – 60 minutes
2. Strain mixture through a cheese cloth and return arnica-infused oil to double boiler with the beeswax and cannabis oil
3. When melted, cool slightly and add menthol crystals and essential oils
4. Store in a clean glass container in a cool, dark place

The influence of cannabis on music and its listeners in the U.S. goes back almost a century, beginning in the brothels of the red light district of New Orleans. In these establishments, jazz ensembles would play late into the night and often partook in smoking cannabis to stay awake. The band members weren’t alone: The audience found the addition of cannabis to greatly enhance their musical experience. Louis Armstrong once said, “We always looked at pot as a sort of medicine, a cheap drunk and with much better thoughts than one that’s full of liquor.” Armstrong and his bandmates later coined the term “vipers,” which applied to any person who enjoys cannabis, and many recordings from this time in the beginnings of the jazz era directly referred to marijuana. White authorities, threatened by liberating qualities of both the drug and music, linked the two together claiming that black jazz musicians were playing “voodoo” music and launched an anti-marijuana campaign. New Orleans subsequently banned cannabis in 1923, and the rest of Louisiana in 1927. National alcohol prohibition had taken effect in 1920.

Fast-forward to the 1960s and we find the time where cannabis use was at its apex of polarization. The decade’s biggest star, Bob Dylan, had a large following, many of whom enjoyed the benefits of marijuana. Dylan is also famously known for turning The Beatles on to pot on one historic day at their hotel on August 28, 1964. After that, The Beatles were infatuated. John Lennon later said, “The Beatles had gone beyond comprehension. We were smoking marijuana for breakfast. We were well into marijuana and nobody could communicate with us, because we were just glazed eyes, giggling all the time.” Needless to say, their indulgence in the herb produced enough world-famous albums to make them one of the best-regarded bands of all time. The group had various run-ins with the law, and members Lennon and Paul McCartney were fined for possession more than five times. During the “Summer of Love” in 1967, flower power and the cannabis consumption that typically accompanied it grew exponentially in and around the San Francisco area. As the hippie era progressed, the tradition of smoking marijuana at music festivals was established and is still popular today.

Meanwhile, on the island of Jamaica, the Wailers, a group including Bob Marley, were rising to local fame. The Wailers were one of the first bands to publicly adopt Rastafarianism, a religion that among other beliefs holds cannabis sacred. In 1972, the Wailers secured their first recording deal with Island Records. After recording a number of albums, members Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh left the band in 1974. Tosh went on to record the song “Legalize It” that would become a staple for cannabis activists and enthusiasts everywhere: The song lists many of the plant’s medicinal benefits and references the many types of people who enjoy cannabis.

As rock and roll became the dominant musical genre of the ‘70s, moving into the ‘80s with metal and grunge music cannabis took a back seat to heavier drugs and was no longer the method of choice for musicians to enhance their music. It still remains a central theme in some genres, particularly reggae, and its impact on jazz and everything else in between is essential in musical history.

Women are setting the cannabis industry apart from typical business in the U.S. because they refuse to let this sector be dominated by men. In 2016, women made up 36% of executives in the legal cannabis industry. This number may not seem high at first, but it is impressive compared to the 22% of female executives in other industries. As the cannabis sector grows, women are blazing trails (literally and figuratively) to create an industry balanced between men and women. Artisan product lines, policy and legislative reform, lab research and clinical trials, and professional networking are just a few of the areas in this expanding trade where women have made their mark. Read below to see what some amazing women have been curating.

Jane West: Co-founder of Women Grow, the largest professional network in the cannabis business, Jane embraced the cannabis industry after being fired from her position at CNBC. Not only did she create a massive organization that empowers women in all stages of cannabis entrepreneurship, she also has her own lifestyle brand, aptly named Jane West. On her website www.janewest.com, consumers can purchase quality cannabis accessories as well as view how-to videos on using the products themselves.

Jazmin Hupp: The other co-founder of Women Grow, Jazmin Hupp has been described as a “genius entrepreneur” and delivers powerfully inspiring speeches to the attendees at the leadership conferences her company holds. Jazmin was previously a media director for a company that helps women start high-growth businesses, so the transition to female-centric cannabis business was natural. Look for a Women Grow meeting near you, held the first week of every month across the nation.

Amy Poinsett: In 2010, Amy and a co-founder created MJ Freeway, one of the leading cannabis software systems. Programs such as MJ Freeway allow for transparency and accountability in the cannabis sector, helping businesses prove credibility in the face of obstacles such as not having access to banking.

Suzanne Sisley: Sue is a psychiatrist and was previously a clinical professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She is best known for her research on the medicinal uses of cannabis. In 2014, she was awarded an $8 million grant funded by Colorado taxes to research the effects of cannabis on PTSD. This research project was approved by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is a difficult task, and will provide some much needed clinical evidence on the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

Ah Warner: The CEO and founder of Cannabis Basics, a topicals company based in Washington state, Ah has cultivated a business that truly stands out. The company is staffed entirely by women and was awarded one of the first trademarked logo registrations for a cannabis product company. This is especially impressive given the company includes the word “cannabis” in the name, something that could lower the chance of approval.

Dr. Lakisha Jenkins: With a doctorate in naturopathy, Dr. Jenkins combines traditional and holistic medicines with cannabis for a wellness experience of the mind and body. Dr. Jenkins is also a founding board member of the California Cannabis Industry Association.

Amanda Reiman: Amanda is the manager of marijuana law and policy at the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization that promotes drug policies based in science and human rights. Amanda is organizing research to support cannabis at a substitute for opioid use. With the growing nationwide opioid epidemic, research projects such as this are crucial.

With the recent uptick of progressive legislation, cannabis-friendly vacations are now possible in more locations than just Amsterdam. With eight U.S. states having legalized cannabis (four with functioning recreational dispensaries) and foreign countries including Spain, Portugal and Holland – and possibly soon Canada as well – with decriminalized personal use, travelers are increasingly able to partake in their preferred recreational activities. Naturally, businesses are joining the movement and including cannabis wherever the law allows.

Lodging: Search for cannabis friendly hotels on Bud and Breakfast or The Travel Joint to find your ideal place of relaxation. These listings range from hotels that allow vaping in some areas of the rooms to small Airbnb homes where you can relax and enjoy your dispensary selections inside or in a private yard. Some of the listed dwellings even offer glassware and vaporizers for the travelers to use during their stay. The Travel Joint also offers reviews of local dispensaries and brands, so you can shop smart and find the right product for you.

Know the Law: Educating yourself on the current laws at your destination is crucial. Talk to your budtender to find out exactly what you are and are not allowed to do, or pick up a copy of The Citizens Guide to State By State Marijuana Laws, written by the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Local law enforcement will be on the lookout for tourists unaware of the rules and regulations in the area, and the last thing you want to get on vacation is a hefty fine for consuming somewhere you shouldn’t. Public consumption is still illegal in most areas, and trying to fly product to your home state could get you in trouble as cannabis is still illegal under federal law and prohibited in airports and on public transportation.

Destinations:

Denver – Cannabis legal cities have plenty of 420 themed activities to offer. While in Denver, tour the grow facility at Medicine Man, one of the largest commercial grow operations in the country; take a “puff, pass, paint” class and make some elevated art with a friend; or splurge for the full weekend package with My 420 Tours, including airport transportation and a two hour infused cooking class.

Seattle – When touring Seattle, visitors should sign up with Kush Tourism, whose three-and-a-half hour package includes a tour of Sky High Gardens’ grow facility, a glassblowing demonstration and workshop, a cannabis analytics laboratory, and a final stop at Uncle Ike’s, a legendary dispensary with a plethora of products to choose from.

Alaska – If you happen to find yourself in Alaska, be sure to take part in a 420-friendly whale-watching cruise. If the timing is right and the northern lights are visible, this would be an experience surely elevated by cannabis. Alaska’s stunning parks and natural features provide a beautiful landscape for hiking, canoeing and fishing – all made even more pleasurable with a little cannabis.

The Future: Legislative boundaries have prevented cannabis businesses from launching large scale cannabis tourism operations, but in the future we can expect the theme parks of cannabis to include many facets including growing, cooking, retail operations, education components and more.

One extremely controversial subject involving cannabis is use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. While cannabis has successfully been used as a treatment for a variety of ailments that occur during pregnancy for centuries, there is a stigma surrounding the practice. Due to its Schedule 1 status in the US, and similar legal standing worldwide, there is limited scientific research on the subject. However, the handful of trials that have been performed have been largely inconclusive.

The main reason women turn to cannabis during pregnancy is to help with morning sickness. Excessive vomiting can be dangerous to both mom and baby, and cannabis is well-known for its effects on nausea and vomiting. Other conditions such as mood irregularity, insomnia, headaches and body pain were also reported to be helped by cannabis use.

At this point, there is not a scientific study that has identified any kind of adverse effect directly linked to cannabis use. There are several problems with the trials that have occurred so far: First, the stigma surrounding cannabis use leads many women not to disclose their cannabis use to their obstetrician for fear of judgment or in some extreme cases, legal action via child protective services. Another issue with the validity of these reports is that many of the women who report using cannabis also smoke cigarettes, which has been definitively proven to harm the fetus and makes it very difficult to make any concrete conclusions. The most common side effect of cannabis consumption while pregnant is low birth weight, predominantly due to premature delivery. However, the risk of this happening is so low that no studies can conclusively determine it is a result of cannabis consumption.

There is no clear answer as to the safety of cannabis use while pregnant and mothers-to-be should weigh all the options before making a decision about their intake. For many women, cannabis use is the safer option over less effective pharmaceuticals or the risk of not treating symptoms at all. There are ways to make safer cannabis choices as well. For example, vaporizing cannabis instead of smoking it is definitely better for the health of mom and baby. Edibles typically aren’t a great option for nausea, but tinctures are fast acting and don’t have any impact on the lungs. Using CBD products for mood regulation and body pain is likely a better choice than THC-based products, as we know that THC does pass through the placenta during gestation. Topicals are also a great option for body pain, as they don’t enter the bloodstream at all. The best course of action is to make an educated decision based on what is right for you and your body, and hopefully the progress in the legal cannabis industry will allow for more in-depth studies on this subject.