Tuesday 31 May 2016
15 Ingenious Stoner Hacks You Need To Know
As herb enthusiasts, we deal with having to solve our smoking problems on the fly. We can’t just check out a book at the local library on how to deal with the issue of bong smell or keeping herb fresh. Thank goodness for the internet!
Tips, tricks, and treats
Whisper is an anonymous confession app where people go to divulge the secrets of their hearts. Thankfully, cannabis lovers also like to go there to share their latest smoking achievement and hacks for living the life.
These honest and sometimes humorous insights reveal the tricks that some people use for getting by while getting high, and making the most out of what they have. From heartwarming treats to one’s self in different states of mind to homemade grinders, you are sure to find something you haven’t thought of before.
You will also cringe at the lengths someone will go to in order to solve a problem. Who hasn’t had cottonmouth before? But would you drink your bong water?
Help yourself and help others
Get on Whisper and check out more stoner confessions, or even better, share some of you own. The more we talk about it, the less taboo it will be. Plus it looks like some of the rookies need a little help now and then.
What extreme measures have you taken to solve a stoner problem before? What is your best weed life hack? Share with us on social media or in the comments below.
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What It’s Like To Be High In Virtual Reality
Add this to you list of things to do while high, because virtual reality games are coming, and the immersion is getting pretty intense! BuzzFeed continues to mess with people’s highs, and in this installment, they give them a virtual trip.
Virtual happy place
One guy is asked before hand, what is your virtual reality happy place?
It’d be a Denny’s with a whole bunch of BBW models. Dancing for him, making it rain pancakes on him.
Hmm… I could get on board with that, but some of the places these guys visit are even more spectacular.
The chair
This VR simulator is designed to register head movement, but nothing else. First on the menu is a medieval meadow, filled with butterflies.
I feel like from the neck up, I’m in the meadow, but from the neck down, I’m not. I can’t just tell if it’s cuz I’m really high or not.
The body that supports your head is sitting in a chair with its hands on its lap. As a generic person, it only has one design, which surprises one guy looking down.
My… I’m caucasian! Oh snap!
Now that is a trip!
Other trips
Next, the world changes to a city street with rain pouring down, and finally, into outer space as asteroids break up over the atmosphere. The visual is pretty impressive as far as simulators are concerned, but these guys aren’t fooled.
And not to sound like a Nazi, but the Earth kinda does look flat.
And of course, other obvious breaks with reality are readily apparent, as well as some shortcomings on the part of the designers.
I feel like there should be an objective, like I should get away from the Sun, but there’s no way to do this, right? This game is just here to panic you, is that what it is?
Nice try, but no cigar
That’s right. Despite the proliferate stereotype, stoners aren’t easily fooled, or stupid. They will pick apart flaws quickly but still have fun. Maybe this should be the standard testing program for all video games? Attention: Stoner Gamers Wanted! Sign me up!
Would you play virtual reality games while high? Do you find video games, in general, to be better or worse when you blaze first? What are your favorite games to play while high? (Spyro the Dragon gets my vote) Share with us on social media or in the comments below.
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19 Weed Smokers Who Are Proud To Go Against The Lazy Stoner Stereotype
The words “pothead” and “stoner” give the impression of someone who is frozen to the couch with only one thing on their mind: getting high. The truth is that stoners are creative, outgoing, exciting, playful, loving, and just as ambitious as anyone else.
Why we have to turn the image around
Unfortunately, for the people who show the best of what weed can do in their lives, the stereotypical image of those who smoke weed can ruin what they have worked so hard to achieve. From lawyers and politicians to pastors and parents, if one were to come out of the cannabis closet, mayhem would ensue. Cannabis lovers are treated with the same ten-foot pole that crackheads and junkies are when it comes to responsibility, reliability, and trust.
Cannabis lovers are treated with the same ten-foot pole that crackheads and junkies are when it comes to responsibility, reliability, and trust.
Slowly but surely, we are proving that cannabis is not the destroyer of lives it was once believed, but a life enhancer.
Making us better
Whisper is an anonymous confession app that lets users tell the unbridled truth without fear of persecution. Pot smokers have come together to share the secrets of successful stoners the world over. Chefs are more creative. CEO’s smoke to unwind and still lead successful companies. Nurses, moms, teachers, college students… People from all walks of life can do anything they set their sights on.
Being open and honest about our love of the green herb is the first step to change. These people are proud to be stoners, going against the grain of what others think they can do, and many praise the herb as helping them along the way.
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Monday 30 May 2016
Children & Cannabis #5: Success Stories With Pediatric Cannabis
Thus far in our Children and Marijuana series, we’ve gone over the pros and cons of pediatric cannabis treatment, looked into potential effects on a child’s brain, and walked you through some of the known conditions marijuana can treat. Now, it’s time to share stories from those who have found success. Not every pediatric illness is effectively managed with cannabis, but these four anecdotes are proof that sick children need access to medical marijuana. Without further ado, here are some success stories with pediatric cannabis.
Zaki Jackson’s story
By the time Zaki was five-years-old, he had over 500,000 seizures. Zaki has Doose syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that caused thousands of seizures each day. His seizures began when he was only four months old. By the time he was 10, he had been on 17 different pharmaceutical medications.
Zaki’s doctor, Colorado-based Dr. Margaret Gedde, explained to reporters that prior to cannabis treatment, Zaki couldn’t be present. He had trouble being in contact with people. His medications caused weight gain, insomnia, and at times he became incoherent.
This was when they decided to try something different. The Jackson family turned to Charlotte’s Web.
Charlotte’s web is a form of high CBD cannabis bred by the Stanley Brother’s of Colorado. The strain is named after Charlotte Figi, a young girl with another rare form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. Once little Charlotte began using the high CBD marijuana strain, her seizures dropped from over 300 each week down to a few a month. Zaki’s mother, Heather Jackson, sought out the same medication.
Like many children who have turned to cannabis treatments, finding the right dosage for Zaki was a bit of a battle. In a piece published by Al Jazeera, Jackson says:
We saw immediate results. He was seizure-free for 48 hours after starting. Because of our history – almost a decade of (treating) this – I find it really hard to be cautiously optimistic. I was thankful, of course, for the result we were seeing, but I wasn’t sure how long that was going to last. It was a little bit crushing when the seizures came back. – Jackson
Still, the Jackson’s kept trying. They upped the dose of CBD and adjusted his pharmaceutical medicine. Zaki would be seizure free for 10 to 14 days, and then his seizures would begin again. Finally, after three months, Zaki was taken off of all pharmaceutical medicine and his seizures stopped completely.
After one year of CBD treatment, Zaki remained completely seizure free. For the first time in 10 years, he was able to begin developing like a normal child. The change was dramatic. Jackson writes:
Now I can have a conversation with my son. He’s sleeping better. He’s eating better. He’s learning. He knows his colors. He’s writing his name. The turn around is just absolutely incredible, and it’s not a honeymoon period. We are over a year into his healing. Our whole family can heal. – Jackson
Zaki’s incredible response to CBD oil inspired Jackson to launch Realm of Caring. Realm of Caring is a nonprofit organization located in Colorado Springs. The organization raises funds for research into cannabis medicines, work with clients to walk them through medical cannabis options, and advocate for medical marijuana research and access nationwide. Jackson is the Executive Director.
Hugh Hempel’s story
Hugh Hemple wasn’t a fan of marijuana. It took one of the biggest challenges of his life to change his mind. What was that challenge? His 11-year-old twin daughters were slowly dying. His daughters, Addison and Cassidy, have Niemann-Pick disease. Niemann-Pick is a rare condition with a disturbing nickname, “childhood Alzheimer’s”. In normal children, the brain continues to grow and develop through the mid-twenties. Yet, in those with Niemann-Pick, excessive build-ups of cholesterol around nerve cells. This causes neurodegeneration. Addison and Cassidy lost their ability to walk and talk.
In normal children, the brain continues to grow and develop through the mid-twenties. Yet, in those with Niemann-Pick, excessive build-ups of cholesterol around nerve cells. This causes neurodegeneration. Addison and Cassidy lost their ability to walk and talk.
Each week, both of the girls go through an eight-hour long infusion of cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrin is a sugar compound that miraculously helps the body clear out some of this unnecessary cholesterol. This procedure is accompanied by a biweekly lumbar puncture, to help the medication reach their brain. As you can imagine, this process is incredibly grueling and painful. This treatment, in theory, slows some of the neurodegeneration, hopefully prolonging the twins’ life.
As you can imagine, this process is incredibly grueling and painful. This treatment, in theory, slows some of the neurodegeneration, hopefully prolonging the twins’ life.
While there is a lot of hope behind the cyclodextrin treatment, it does nothing to stop the seizures associated with the brain damage the girls now face. This is where medical marijuana comes in.
Three times a day, Addison and Cassidy are given high-CBD cannabis oil. They had tried treating the twins with solely pharmaceutical medicines, but the drugs turned the girls “into zombies.” Once they introduced CBD, things changed. Hemple explains:
Unfortunately, this oil doesn’t even completely, for our children, stop their seizures. So, we still use a small ammount of pharmacutical medicine, but we use less. We’ve reduced the number of drugs our kids take, and we’ve reduce the [dose] that we do give them.
And, consequently, our kids are not only having fewer seizures, and shorter seizures, they’re also bright-eyed and happy children again. They’re no longer little zombies.
After seeing a profound difference in his children, Hemple transformed from a try-everything father into a medical cannabis advocate. Hemple is now CEO of Nevada-based Strainz. Strainz is an up and coming major cannabis brand with operations beginning in Colorado, Nevada, and Washington. They will be launching tinctures, oil cartridges, and many other cannabis products.
Medicinal cannabis can be the health care success story of our lifetimes. But only if we all engage in learning the truth and ask our federal government to end our prohibition of cannabis.
Calvin Lockwood’s story
Calvin was in pain. As a teenager with autism, Calvin could not speak and was hitting his legs over and over again. He would bite them until he broke the skin. Like any concerned parent, Rebecca Lockwood took him to the hospital.
We kept being told it’s behavioral. We took him to the doctor over and over and they said he’s just behavioral.
Turns out, Calvin had femoral retroversion. Femoral retroversion is a painful condition in which the femur is rotated backward in the hip socket. Cavin needed surgery.
Once the Lockwoods found out that Calvin was in quite a bit of pain, he was put on oxycodone, Tylenol with codeine, and other pain medication. They would work for a while, but then he would start hitting again. Calvin could not sleep. Sometimes his insomnia would last for two days straight. So, the Lockwoods decided to give cannabis a try.
It’s really a shame that he qualifies [for medical cannabis] for pain.
But, before the pain, running around, beating his head until it bled, biting himself, puncturing his skin, horrible, horrible self-injurious behavior. He was super aggressive, he wasn’t sleeping, he was taking off at night and we back to a four-lane road. The whole thing was just really dangerous. For autism not to be considered a life-debilitating condtion, is beyond me. – Lockwood
These episodes would last about two hours every day. During these episodes, Calvin would have to be constrained with blankets, and kept away from walls. He has even developed scarring and is unable to grow hair at his hairline because of years of continued self-abuse. He flooded the house 60 times.
His anxiety was so bad he flushed anything that made him feel nervous. No matter what it was.
But, after the cannabis oil? The difference was night and day. Calvin was finally able to sleep. This gave his body a much-need rest and gave his parents some peace of mind.
We couldn’t sleep at night. One of us had to be with him. He was eloping. He’d come in through the living room door from our deck at one o’clock in the morning. He would just take off and one of us would have to stay awake. […] There was no peace.
Yet, improved sleep isn’t the most surprising benefit. While Calvin was once having episodes every single day, they have dropped down to a couple per week. The episodes are also significantly less severe. Calvin’s communication has improved, he has been better able to pay attention and understand things.
We refer to episodes as full-blown, head through the wall, blood. And we have had maybe three of those, other than detox, since starting cannabis. The first two months, we went 14 days without a single self-injurious behavior. And we thought, ‘what’s going on? Is the oil not working?’ and then he went another 13 days without a single self-injurious behavior.
The Lockwoods aren’t the only family who has found success with medical cannabis for autism. Other concerned mothers have created the advocacy group Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism (MAMMA). Though, it is still not possible for patients with autism to access cannabis in many states.
However, the willingness of mothers like Rebecca Lockwood to come out with their stories makes us one step closer to providing those in need with access to effective medicine.
Waldo Dwyer’s story:
Waldo had bilateral retinoblastoma. This rare form of eye cancer struck Waldo when he was a mere six months old. Retinoblastoma in children is associated with a specific gene mutation. There are only about 200 new cases of this cancer each year, and the impact can be devastating.
Waldo was immediately put on chemotherapy. Without it, he would have risked losing his eyesight or even his life. Shortly after beginning chemotherapy, his parents noticed a change for the worse. His father, Brian James Dwyer, explains:
He stopped crawling, he stopped laughing, he stopped eating, and he stopped sh*tting. Basically, everything we new about Waldo started to disappear. We were given no further instructions about what to do beyond ‘give him more drugs.’ – Dwyer
Waldo became violently ill. He was vomiting, crying all of the time, and started rapidly losing weight. Prior to the cancer diagnosis, Waldo had made headlines for weighing nearly 13 pounds at birth. So, this once heavy and healthy baby quickly began wasting away.
The Dwyers wouldn’t have it. After breaking the news about Waldo to a couple of close family friends, Brian Dwyer learned about cannabis oil. After a late night of research, he decided to take a risk. At the time, medical marijuana was not legal in their home state of Pensylvania. So, Dwyer flew cross country to find high-CBD cannabis oil and bring it home. Taking this risk and breaking the law saved his son’s life.
I thought maybe it would help his nausea. But within an hour he had stopped crying. Within four hours, he was crawling, even laughing… He didn’t puke once after we started giving it to him. – Dwyer tells Philly Voice.
Cannabis oil worked so well that they eventually stopped all prescription medications. Waldo continued with chemotherapy, but the extreme illness associated with the condition was controlled with cannabis oil alone. The best part? Now, at two-years-old, Waldo is tumor-free.
We believe that weed saved our family from the bottomless pits of dispair, pain, and hopelessness. It gave us a sense of control in a situation where we felt we had none. – Dwyer
Waldo’s battle with cancer has turned Dwyer into a medical marijuana advocate. He traveled within his state to fight for marijuana decriminalization. Pensylvania has recently legalized medical marijuana, but the bill does not allow access to plant forms of medication. So, the Dwyers are moving to Oregon.
I’ve got to be honest, if my son has a lifelong fight with cancer, we’ve got to do this. – Dwyer
The Dwyers are now making a documentary about Waldo’s journey. They plan on releasing it for free over the internet because the world needs to know about medical cannabis. If you’d like to donate to the documentary project, you can do so on their GoFundMe page.
Stories like these are becoming more and more common around the world. The children and conditions mentioned in this article are only a small sampling of those that medical marijuana has helped. Thanks to their courage to speak out, these parents have help to move the cannabis movement along little by little.
Patients and parents both deserve a round of applause for their willingness to take risks and fight for access to effective medicine. Thank you for sharing.
Do you know a pediatric cannabis success story that needs to be shared? Give us the details on social media or in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you!
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SpongeBong HempPants & The Stoner Stereotype
Putting a classic twist on the fan favourite Spongebob, SpongeBong HempPants is both funny and nostalgic. The animators obviously had spent quite a bit of time trying to make the show seem as similar to the original SpongeBob as possible. Even down to the voice actors, this rendition of the show could be mistaken for the original, if not for the constant stoner vibes.
Negative stereotype
Although this animation series was made over 8 years ago, most cannabis enthusiasts will think that it still gives a very negative image of the typical cannabis user. Whether the viewer has never consumed cannabis before or is a full-time medical patient, the show paints a very negative picture of the so-called “stoner”. We understand that the show is a total comedic take on the original, and has no seriousness in its entirety, but the premise still stands.
Here at HERB, we aim to smash the stereotype that accompanies cannabis use and to create a culture that embraces the wonderful plant. Unfortunately, SpongeBong HempPants goes in the entirely wrong direction, but we thought it’d still be funny to show you what it’s all about.
What did you think of the first 3 episodes? Do you enjoy the original more? Let us know on social media or in the comments below!
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How To Make An Awesome Lego Bong
Cannabis YouTuber Master Bong is back with another creative way to construct a homemade lego bong, using a classic childhood toy. With the correct Lego set, just about anybody can become an engineer, and with the right guidance, you’ll be on your way to creating your own water pipe as well.
Creativity shines with your Lego bong
Although following the video can be a good start to creating a simple water pipe out of lego, the most rewarding part is your own creativity. The great thing about lego is that almost everyone has different sets and pieces, meaning you can customize the hell out of your project.
You can use the video as a simple framework for the piece, and then see what blocks you have to make it even more outrageous. From Star Wars to Angry Birds, your Lego bong can be whatever theme you have in those old toy boxes.
The process of making a lego bong or pipe can definitely take more time than some people will want, so HERB recommends a creative Sativa kick before you begin the adventure. Here are some great strains that should help get the creative process started.
Do you have a cool lego set that could be turned into a water pipe? Do you enjoy the engineering side of using lego? Let us know on social media or in the comments below!
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Spliffigami: How To Make A Flying Dutchman
If you ever wanted to be a pirate, then this is the joint smoking device for you! A ship that rides on the clouds, this device can burn 7 joints at once: I give you the Flying Dutchman.
Step 1: Hull of the Flying Dutchman
Cut out 2 foot-long-or-longer arched shapes from cardboard. To draw it out, you can use a rectangle, and extend one side out half the length of the rectangle to a single point, then draw curved arches from the end of the rectangle to the point. This will give you the basic hull shape. Now take one of the pieces and cut about a quarter of the length off of the square end. The shorter piece will be your base, the longer one your deck.
Now take one of the pieces and cut about a quarter of the length off of the square end. The shorter piece will be your base, the longer one your deck.
Step 2: Posts
Cut three identical posts of 3-4 inches in height from rigid plastic straws. Use poster putty to position the three posts on the larger hull piece, so that there are 2 at the flat end, and one in the middle towards the pointed end. Keep them an inch from the edges, and put the smaller hull piece on top. The third post should be an inch behind the tip of the shorter hull point. Use putty to secure the posts to this part as well.
Step 3: Sides
Cut 2 strips of poster board paper. Make one side the length of the short hull piece’s curved side, and the other side the length of the longer hull piece’s curved side. Measuring with string is easiest. Assemble these pieces on the sides of the ship, using tape to seal the edges. Then cut and fit another piece on the back end of the ship.
Step 4: Masts
You will put 4 holes in the ship.
- 1 at the prow, or nose of the ship
- 2 where the masts will go
- 1 in the back panel
The masts you will make out of plastic straws of normal diameter. Cut and fit as you would a basic cross joint. Insert a thicker straw post (like your support beams) into the back to inhale from.
Step 5: Start rolling joints
Hopefully, while you were constructing the ship, a friend was rolling all the joints needed. If not, then you have more work to do.
Place the Dutch Tulip on the prow of the ship, with the joints on the masts, and you have yourself a Flying Dutchman, ladies and gentlemen. Go sail the High Seas with ease.
What party contraptions have you designed for getting the ultimate smoking experience? Are multi-joint devices amazing, or a waste? Share with us on social media or in the comments below.
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Sunday 29 May 2016
8 Incredible Moms Fighting For Their Kids Lives
These eight moms have risked it all to save their kids with medical cannabis. Their stories may be difficult to hear, but their determination and willingness to keep fighting for effective pediatric medicine are beyond admirable. These moms have risen up to confront politicians, spoken on national news about their treatment decisions, and have bravely shared their stories for others to learn from.
Paula Joana
In December of 2013, Paula Joana and her family faced one of the darkest days of their lives. Their 15-month-old daughter, Sabina Rose Joana, passed away. She died while awaiting access to medical cannabis in New Jersey.
Sabina was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome when she was six months old. Dravet is a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy. It’s often unresponsive to medication. Sabina’s final seizure lasted over 24 hours and damaged her brain to the point of no return. The Joana’s had been planning a move to Colorado, where they could access the herb. But, Sabina did not have that much time.
“I would sit in prison my entire life if she were still here and on cannabis. I would sit in there gladly. But it was too late.” – Joana told WNYC
Suffering pain that no mother should ever experience, Joana turned to activism as an outlet. It became necessary to confront Governor Chris Christie (R) directly. New Jersey has had medical cannabis legislation since before Christie took office, but the governor had refused to budge on compassionate access to medical cannabis for children. Medical patients have to work through a significant amount of red tape.
Due to the holdup, sick children like Sabina were unable to access the potentially life-saving medicines they needed. In 2014, Joana got her wish. At a town hall meeting, this small town mom stood up to the governor in a big way:
“[Y]ou made a speech about [stating that] you won’t expand the medical marijuana program. The very hour you did that I took my baby off a ventilator.” – Joana
Meiko Perez
Meiko Perez and her son Joey have become leaders in the fight for medical marijuana for autism. Before giving her son edible marijuana brownies, Joey was unable to eat and dropped to a mere 46 pounds.
“You could see the bones in his chest. My son was going to die.” – Perez told Good Morning America
Within weeks after starting medical cannabis treatment, he became significantly less hostile, began to make sounds for the first time, and gained a whopping 38 pounds. Perez credits cannabis with saving her son’s life. While Perez is able to access medical cannabis for autism in California, most states don’t list autism as a qualifying condition. Inspired by her son’s remarkable improvement with the herb, Meiko began her own organization.
The Unconventional Foundation For Autism (UF4A) began in 2009 and has helped educate families all around the world. She receives hundreds of emails from supporters and parents of autistic children. In an interview, Meiko explains:
“I have families from South America, United Kingdom, Australia. We all resonate with the same story. We want to provide a better quality of life for our children.”
Perez also sits on the board of directors for NORML Women’s Alliance. But, Perez’s cannabis activism didn’t begin early in her life. It wasn’t until she saw the herb’s remarkable effect on her son that she became a dedicated convert.
“I actually come from a law enforcement/religious family. And I’m in the legal industry. So this [choosing cannabis] was completely out of my character.”
Medical marijuana for autism is indeed an unconventional treatment. But, since Perez has come out with her story, more and more parents are pushing state legislators to include autism as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis.
Susan Meehan
This March, we lost another child to Dravet syndrome. Cyndimae was thirteen years old when she passed away, but her mother Susan Meehan will not stop fighting for medical marijuana. Meehan had worked tirelessly to find access to medical marijuana in her home state of Connecticut, though she eventually had to move to Maine with Cyndimae in order to obtain the medical marijuana that so greatly improved Cyndimae’s quality of life. She was having four to five “big” seizures a day, with anywhere between 80 to 100 smaller seizures. Cannabis put these smaller seizures to rest.
“The move to Maine I’ll never regret. I gave up so much to get here. Our house in Connecticut is in foreclosure, I gave up a job that I loved, and I spent 24/7 with this girl, with my daughter, and I’ll never regret that decision. It was the best two and a half years of her life.”
A video of medical cannabis calming Cyndimae in the midst of seizure quickly spread around the internet, earning over 1.5 million views in seven days. Cyndimae’s story was followed by news reporters over her fight for medical cannabis.
“So many people across the world know her smile, and are learning the value of cannabis as a medicine.” – Susan
Meehan’s openness about her daughter’s struggles provided proof to the world that medical marijuana works, and it works well. So well that the state of Maine has adopted legislation inspired by Cyndimae’s story.
Angela Brown
Angela Brown broke the law to save her son’s life. Unlike many other children featured in this article, Brown’s son Trey wasn’t born with a debilitating medical condition. He developed extreme pain, swelling, seizures and muscle spasms after a severe baseball injury to the head in 2011. Trey dealt with this debilitating pain for nearly three years.
“He’s the shell of himself. He’s in so much pain, and that causes depression.” – Brown told CBS
They had tried 18 different medications, but nothing helped. Desperate for something to take the pain away, Brown purchased cannabis oil from Colorado. The herb is illegal in their home state of Minnesota.
“It’s a miracle in a bottle.” – Brown
The oil allowed Trey to go back to school, the pain stopped, and so did the muscle spasms. But, relief was only temporary. After finding out that Trey was taking a marijuana extract, school officials contacted the police and Trey’s medication was taken away. Brown then found herself facing two years of jail time and a $6000 fine. Minnesota had approved medical marijuana earlier that year, but the law was not effective until 2015.
By April of 2015, Brown and her attorney struck a deal with the state which dropped the charges against her. Since that time, the Brown family has decided to move to Colorado. The experience has made Brown a medical cannabis activist. She continues to fight for the right to access the herb.
Paige Figi
Charlotte Figi quickly became the face of pediatric medical cannabis when her mother, Paige Figi, took her daughter’s story to the national press. Back in 2013, Figi and her daughter Charlotte were featured in Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN special, Weed. Charlotte has Dravet syndrome. Children with Dravet often have seizures that last 20 to 30 minutes or longer, and they don’t stop on their own. Charlotte was having a seizure every 15 minutes.
“I said my goodbyes to her as I’m doing CPR on her or in the hospital, I kind of prepared myself for the worst. She’s still here, but she’s been through a lot to get to this point.”
When doctors told Figi that she was out of medical options, she decided to try cannabis. The Figi family uprooted from their Connecticut home and moved to Colorado. They gave Charlotte a high-CBD strain now named Charlotte’s Web.
Figi’s bravery and willingness to risk everything was the gas needed to fuel the medical marijuana movement. A cannabis supermom, Figi now travels around the United States sharing her daughter’s story. In a 2014 interview with The Gazette, she explained:
“I always stayed away from politics. I don’t feel like I’m an activist. I just feel other kids should have this chance.”
Jennie Stormes
Following other marijuana migrants, Jennie Stormes left her hometown of Home Township, New Jersey for Colorado to obtain medical marijuana for her son. Her now 17-year-old son, Jackson, is another child with Dravet syndrome. Epilepsy drastically impaired his daily functioning, and he tried over 50 different combinations of prescription medications before turning to cannabis.
“In November 2012, he started using cannabinoids and this is the best seizure control he’s ever had.’ – Stormes tells Lehigh Valley Live.
While some patients are able to access medical marijuana in New Jersey, the Stormes family had no ability to access the kind and forms of marijuana that are used to treat pediatric conditions. She was also limited to two ounces of dried bud a month. That’s only a 10 day supply for Jackson. So, she decided to ship it in from elsewhere. In an interview with WNYC, she explains:
“I run the risk of getting arrested every single day because his medicine comes from California.”
That risk hasn’t stopped Stormes from coming out and sharing her story with the world. It also hasn’t stopped her from uprooting her life and traveling to a new state, leaving her job, friends, and support networks behind. A super mom and medical cannabisa hero, Stormes won’t rest until she can give her son the medication that gives her son’s brain a much-needed rest.
Sarah Ellett
Sarah Ellett has raised her voice in a state deemed one of the most unlikely to see cannabis reform, Utah. Ellett’s daughter, Remie, has been fighting for her life from the moment she was born. Remie spent her first five months on earth in a neonatal intensive care unit, suffering from a multitude of life-threatening medical problems. Now three-years-old, Remie suffers from thyroid, respiratory, and digestive issues. She must be fed through a feeding tube. She was not expected to live. She’s now four-years-old.
When she began to give her daughter medical cannabis, things changed.
“I was blown away. Not only did she stop throwing up, she started walking, and she started saying little words, I was just blown away by the things she started to do.”
Ellett is a single mother of seven children, and Remie isn’t her only child with a disability. Two of Ellett’s other children also have medical issues, as well has herself. Earlier this year, she told reporters that she feels she and four of her other children could benefit from medical cannabis as well.
As if caring for seven children wasn’t stressful enough, Ellett also has to contend with marijuana’s illegality in her state. Back in January, social workers visited Ellett’s home after learning that she had been treating her daughter with cannabis oil. She procures medical cannabis from out-of-state sources, but this is a difficult process.
Now, she is considering moving to another state until medical marijuana laws in Utah loosen. In a state with an extremely conservative reputation about drugs, Ellett has gone above and beyond to get the word out about the power of medical cannabis.
Maria LaFrance
Quincy is 14-years-old. He has Dravet syndrome. Like many other Dravet patients, Quincy ran out of effective pharmaceutical options. He tried over 30 different medications to no avail.
“We think one of the drugs caused brain damage at the age of two. He used to walk and talk, climb the slide by himself, and put puzzles together by himself. And within four doses of the drug, he quit talking and walking.”
LaFrance decided to try cannabis. Quincy is not seizure free, but LaFrance says that cannabis has provided the best benefits with the least amount of side effects. He’s more interactive and his eye contact has improved significantly. Quincy currently uses two different kinds of cannabis oil to treat his illness.
In an incredibly touching video, LaFrance attempts to directly engage President Obama. She states:
“I have a question for President Obama. Why can’t you just issue an exectivive order rescheduling cannabis? Right now cannabis is scheduled as DEA Schedule 1, which means it has no medicinal value and it has the highest penalties on a federal level if someone is caught with it. So, instead of waiting around for congress which is like the biggest, slowest moving ship, why not just issue an executive order and say ‘Hey, lives are at stake here.'”
While LaFrance’s plea may be a long shot, her courage to share her story and ask state and federal legislators to make a change is impressive and sorely needed. It’s access to stories like Quincy’s that inches us closer to effective marijuana reform.
All of the mothers featured in this articles have taken considerable risks to provide their children with medical cannabis. But, that’s not the only risk they’re taking. It takes a lot to come out and talk publically about the challenges that you and your family have faced, and it takes even more, to come out for something that may have legal repercussions.
These women and marijuana moms all over the world deserve a big “thank you” for all that they’ve done. Thank you for everything that you do to ease access to medical cannabis.
Do you know a marijuana mom who deserves recognition? Show them some appreciation on social media or in the comments below.
The post 8 Incredible Moms Fighting For Their Kids Lives appeared first on HERB.
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Saturday 28 May 2016
Friday 27 May 2016
Wednesday 25 May 2016
2 Chainz Takes The World’s Most Expensive Hit
Want to see just how upscale smoking herb has gone? Take a peek with 2 Chainz as he has a THC banquet worth half a million dollars! From high-end glass to wax sheets full of dab, this is the cream of the cannabis lover’s crop.
How to blaze an ounce in one hit
Showing 2 Chainz how to do dabs, Dr. Dina loads him up a dab worth about $250, and we get to see the famous artist barely keep his feet under him. The dab sweats spare no man. They explain that in that one dab, he smoked 3 cups of weed worth of weed!
Going for the gold
2 Chainz is notorious for his love of gold blunt wraps, and here he gets a few treats. First a microphone blunt with a gold grip and personalized inscription, and then an intricate pump-action shotgun blunt with working pump-action!
Special guests
The video features an appearance by 2 Chainz favorite “doctor”, Dr. Dina, the real-life inspiration for the character Nancy Botwin from Weeds. She gets him to hit a bowl out of a long stem face mask bong and has him saying:
That’s some evil get-high sh!t, man that’s some white people sh!t right there!
Then, out comes Adam Ill, to explain why this will be the most expensive smoke sesh he will ever have.
You took a $50,000 dollar hit out of a Banjo right there, you like it? You didn’t know that? The reason why some of these pieces are the way they are is just like any brand. Like fashion or alcohol. I could get like a regular cotton t-shirt from any store for like $5, or I could go into like the Versace store and get a cotton shirt and spend $500… It’s about that dabbin’, that lifestyle.
Would you blow that kind of cash on an upscale herbal lifestyle? Has the industry gone too far in its decadence, or is it genius to cater to the social elite to help shift attitudes and spur mainstream acceptance? Share your thoughts on social media or in the comments section below.
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How To Make Fresh Hash
Enjoyed all over the world, spliffs can be a great way to enjoy a functional high without using too much cannabis. But what if you wanted to make a spliff using some freshly collected hash? In this video by DailySmoker, the extraction, and pressing process is shown in its full glory!
Flower quality
The ideal situation for creating a hash spliff would be to have a large amount of lower quality cannabis as shown in the video. This is important because if you have some high-quality flower, most people would rather enjoy it by itself in a joint or a glass piece. But for the lower grade cannabis that still has substantial pollen, these spliffs can be a fun way to utilize all of the plant.
Once the kief is removed, the leftover flower can be decarboxylated for use in edibles and oils. It could also be soaked in grain alcohol to make some decent quality wax.
Could you see yourself rolling one of these more effective spliffs? Or does the classic spliff remain the best option for getting functionally baked? Let us know on social media or in the comments below!
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16 Reasons Why Masturbating While High Is So Great
Cannabis is great for the mind, body, and even the sex life. From new lubricants that stimulate and enhance orgasms to the intimacy that two people can share when they enjoy the herb together, cannabis can make good loving even better. Two great things that are even greater together! But what about when you just want to have some self-appreciation? Cannabis is one taboo, and masturbation is another. Do two forbidden things become worse when combined, or better?
If we keep talking about it, it won’t be taboo anymore
In today’s culture of image and reputation, having an open and honest conversation about subjects that are controversial or taboo can be awkward, damaging, or socially ostracizing. Sometimes, good fences make good neighbors.
The problem with this is it fosters fear instead of love, hate instead of acceptance, and ignorance instead of understanding. That’s where the Whisper app comes in. It’s like a public confessional, but completely anonymous. You can vent your inner secrets to the world, without personal reprisal. You can also see the confessions of other and realize that we are a lot more alike than we seem from the outside.
Getting in touch with yourself
People on Whisper open up about how pot and personal time go together… hand in hand. There are even products that specifically cater to the concept, like a sex toy you can smoke out of! For others, the perpetual habit of getting high and masturbating just rubs them the wrong way. Either way, the combination is more fun than you can shake a stick at.
How about you? Does it keep you up all night or give you the best sleep of your life? Let us know on social media or in the comments below.
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