STRAIN OF THE DAY 05/30/2016: BLUE WIDOW (HYBRID)

CANNABIS STRAIN OF THE DAY 05/30/2016: BLUE WIDOW (HYBRID)

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by Potbox, Inc.

How to Pair Fresh Spring and Summer Produce with Cannabis

Enjoying seasonal produce can be a joyous sensory overload. Not only do we nourish ourselves with every bite, we’re offered a cerebral indulgence at the same time: we taste the abundant flavor, we touch each item as we hand-pick what’s in season, we smell what’s ripe, and we spot the perfect selections by their vibrant colors. Each selection ends with the sound of satisfaction as we consume the produce, so what better way to heighten the entire sensory and cerebral experience than through cannabis strain pairings?

We invite you to take your dining to the next level and savor what’s in season with the following pairing suggestions, which match seasonally fresh fruits and veggies with the perfect strains to complement them. The terpenes that give these strains their unique aroma and flavor profiles accentuate flavor nuances in late spring and early summer produce, while cannabinoids augment your enjoyment of flavors and textures. Suddenly, getting the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies doesn’t seem like such a chore, does it?

 

Mangoes

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Myrcene, Limonene

Strain Flavors: citrus, earthy, sweet

Whether you enjoy your mangoes fresh, in a salsa poured over fish, or stirred into your gelato, the flavor will almost certainly meet your lips at some point this season. This exotic fruit needs something that can keep up, so we’ve paired it with Green Crack. The sativa keeps you alert and the citrus notes of the strain coincide beautifully with the sweet notes of the mango.

 

Tomatoes

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene

Strain Flavors: sweet, earthy, pungent

Juicy plump tomatoes are in abundance this season, and we can’t get enough of them. Girl Scout Cookies fits right in with tomato dishes: the acid from the tomatoes cuts those potent notes of pepper, wood, and spice in the strain.

 

Blueberries

Strain Pairing:

Terpene Profile: Myrcene

Strain Flavors: grape, sweet, berry

Blueberries are bountiful during this time of year. The purple-black pigment always stains your hands in a satisfying moment of tasty tart deliciousness. Enjoy them fresh, or nestled inside a decadent pastry, and consume with Grape Ape for the ultimate cerebral experience.

 

Peaches

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Linalool, Limonene

Strain Flavors: mango, tropical, sweet

Peaches are one of the best stone fruits on the market, and we can’t get enough of these furry, succulent gems. Whether you eat them fresh or incorporate them into a recipe, they're best enjoyed with summer just around the corner. Connect those sweet flavors with a tropical finish characteristic of Mango Kush.

 

Lemons

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Limonene, Linalool

Strain Flavors: earthy, sweet, honey

Lemons are bright and bursting with acidity. They're tart to the taste and begging to be paired with something sweet. As such, they’re best enjoyed by making fresh-squeezed lemonade. Pair your beverage with Willy’s Wonder: this indica strain offers a sweet, honeyed flavor to balance everything out.

 

Avocados

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Linalool, Pinene

Strain Flavors: butter, flowery, sweet

Bumpy creamy avocados pair perfectly with Liquid Butter (or anything else, for that matter). You can taste the sweet buttery notes in the cannabis right alongside the healthy fats in this rich green fruit. The strain’s indica effects keep you mellow, but its pinene-laden terpene profile ensures continued alertness as you savor this moment.

 

Cherries

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Limonene, Pinene

Strain Flavors: citrus, lemon, sweet

Pairing cherries with the Cherry Pie strain was too easy, so we thought outside the box. Naturally, Lemon Pie brings a sweet lemon taste to the table, playing in the cherries’ juicy sweetness. This pairing offers a strong limonene terpene presence, relieving your stress and naturally making you happy. And really, who wouldn’t be happy consuming cannabis with fresh seasonal cherries?

 

Cucumbers

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Limonene

Strain Flavors: lemon, citrus, sweet

Cucumbers are invariably refreshing: you can slice them up and infuse your water, sneak them into a salad, or use them to accent fresh ceviche dishes. My favorite way to take advantage of this seasonal favorite is to place chilled slices over my eyelids and spark up a joint loaded with Super Lemon Haze. As the citrus notes of the strain burst into a sweet lemon taste and mingle with the cucumber aromas, your mood is guaranteed to be elevated.

 

Oranges

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Limonene

Strain Flavors: diesel, pungent, earthy

We’re sure this isn’t the first time you’ve been told to eat an orange while consuming cannabis. One moment with this pairing and you'll understand why. The sweetness of the orange balances out the Sour Diesel as the pungent, earthy flavors of this strain work in sync with the citrus.

 

Beet Greens

Strain Pairing: 

Terpene Profile: Caryophyllene, Myrcene

Strain Flavors: earthy, diesel, pungent

Beet greens plus roasted beets, goat cheese, and candied walnuts make for a delicious summer-ready salad, and the hybrid strain Chemdawg is the perfect companion to these greens. The earthiness of the bud plays into the peppery notes of the greens, and it all finishes with a little spice. The combo creates a pungent, woodsy aroma that is simply intoxicating. 

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by Michelle Slieff at Leafly News & Culture

Indoor vs. Outdoor Cannabis Growing: 3 Key Differences

Cannabis has long been cultivated outdoors and is one of the oldest agricultural crops in existence. Growing indoors, however, has been around for less than a century and came about as a result of prohibition. Most advancements in cannabis production have occurred during the era of indoor cultivation; staying out of sight was initially a way to protect the grower from the laws against cannabis. As technology advanced, the industry was able to expand its knowledge of the plant by leaps and bounds, and this was also true for areas where outdoor farming managed to succeed like Southern Oregon and Northern California.

The differences are not only important to aspiring cannabis farmers, but to the consumer comparing outdoor and indoor grown products at the dispensary counter. How does the environment affect the outcome of a strain, and what considerations must a grower make when choosing between the two?

Controlled vs. Natural Climates

There are many reasons to grow indoors over outdoors. The freedom to choose your location with minimal constraints and the ability control of your environment are just a few. Indoor farming allows for complete control of your environment. Controlling temperature, light source, CO2 production, and humidity creates a stable habitat to optimize your plants’ growth without having to risk outdoor elements. The indoor grower typically finds cosmetically pristine flowers with higher THC percentages. On the other hand, no bulb can produce the same spectrum of light unique to the sun which, in turn, limits indoor gardens with smaller yields and less vigorous plants. Outdoor farming, however, requires a climate suitable for cannabis production – good sun exposure, hot days, warm nights, and low humidity.

Nevertheless, growing indoors has complications as well. When the grower tries to create a natural environment indoors, there are factors in the natural process that cannot be replicated. For example, plants grown outside have substantial help against mites from natural predators who share the habitat. Wasps, ants, and ladybugs are some of “nature’s helpers” that keep mite populations at bay. Indoors, the grower cannot hope to completely mimic the incredibly complicated natural environment. If mites appear in an indoor grow space, they can be a challenge to control. With the ever-increasing consumer concerns about the overuse of pesticides and insecticides, some cultivators might find the trade-offs of growing outdoors worth investigating.

Cost Comparison of Indoor and Outdoor Gardens

Both indoor and outdoor grows demand substantial up-front costs, but the difference becomes apparent long-term. Indoor climate control systems can cost a small fortune to operate, whereas a majority of the costs associated with outdoor grows are in the startup of the operation.

Labor costs for indoor and outdoor gardens also varies drastically. With continual turnover in an indoor garden, there's always work to be done. Pruning, trellising, watering, feeding, and harvest work are ongoing and more demanding for smaller yields. Outdoors, the grower is working one crop throughout the season. Many outdoor farms with large outputs can operate with up to four employees full-time until harvest, when additional workers need to be brought in.

The high costs of indoor farming may be recouped through breeding projects, year-round harvests, and potent products that have higher selling points. Furthermore, manufactured indoor environments allow growers to cultivate strains that would otherwise be unsuitable for their local outdoor environment and climate. However, with the rising cost of energy and an increasing demand for more flower in the marketplace, outdoor farming may be able supply the market with quality products at a more reasonable price.

Quality of Cannabis Grown Indoors vs. Outdoors

Indoor flower has long been recognized as the top-of-the-line product. Being able to control your environment and expedite breeding has resulted in aesthetically beautiful strains with magnificent flavor profiles. Introducing higher CO2 levels than in the natural environment increases bud growth and produces THC levels that are difficult to obtain outdoors. Additionally, indoor cannabis does not have to deal with rain, wind, or any of the other natural elements that can damage an outdoor crop. The buds remain in pristine condition and only start to degrade once handling begins. The scale of most indoor operations generally allows for crops to be harvested in peak conditions and for the product to be cured in a controlled climate.

Outdoor flower is, of course, subject to the whims of the natural environment. Though the end product may not look as perfect, the taste, effects, and aroma should still be there. Some consumers find sun-grown organic cannabis to be preferable to the cosmetically pristine indoor alternative. Many stereotypes about outdoor cannabis exist for one key reason: legality. A large majority of outdoor cannabis seen by consumers has gone through a gauntlet of post-harvest abuse. Partly due to conflicts between state and federal law, many outdoor cannabis farms have to take risks to cultivate their product. As a result, oftentimes the harvest is rapid, curing is nearly non-existent, and aggressive handling is necessary to get it to market. As the laws change and outdoor facilities are able to take their time in processing, the market should see an increase in quality from outdoor grows.

Recently there has been an emergence of commercial greenhouse farming that strikes a balance between the two methods. This style of farming is producing quality results, which is exciting to see in this emerging industry. As we have seen, all styles of farming offer positives and negatives, and as a consumer or a producer, it's always important to continually educate yourself. Step outside of your routine to try something new, and keep an open mind.

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by Leafly Staff at Leafly News & Culture

STRAIN OF THE DAY 05/29/2016: HAWAIIAN PUNCH (SATIVA)

CANNABIS STRAIN OF THE DAY 05/29/2016: HAWAIIAN PUNCH (SATIVA)

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by Potbox, Inc.

Congressmen Admits Using Marijuana for Pain Relief

While chatting with a group of pro-cannabis supporters, U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) admitted that he has used cannabis to treat his arthritis pain – it worked. Rohrabacher was quoted saying:

…the first time in a year and a half that I had a decent night’s sleep because the arthritis pain was gone

This shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise as Rohrabacher has lead the GOP push for medical marijuana. However, this is rather signifiant news as this is the first time in decades that a congressmen has admitted to consuming marijuana while holding a seat in office.

Cannabis still remains illegal for the majority of Americans who need access to it. The DEA is currently reviewing cannabis drug scheduling, as it is a schedule 1 substance, lowering the scheduling classification could allow more Americans access.

More from the The Washington Post

The post Congressmen Admits Using Marijuana for Pain Relief appeared first on Potbox.

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by Austin Heap at Potbox

How Does Cannabis Consumption Affect Insomnia?

There’s a reason more insomnia sufferers are turning to cannabis. You toss and turn, count sheep, and negotiate (“If I can fall asleep by 3 a.m., I’ll at least get four hours of sleep”). Ten minutes becomes a half hour. A half hour becomes an hour. Before you know it, the sun is coming up. Insomnia is its own unique agony, but now that the stigma of cannabis is slowly lifting, more people are seeking out its therapeutic sedating properties.

Acute insomnia — which usually only lasts a night or two — happens to nearly all of us. It’s usually triggered by a stressful external event. But, chronic insomnia — regularly having three or more restless nights per week over the course of the month — affects a billion people worldwide.

Interestingly, insomnia affects women at twice the rate as men. And, it doesn’t get better with age. Half of all seniors are regularly affected by insomnia. Beyond feeling sleepy and irritable the next day, chronic insomnia is associated with some serious long-term health issues: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

So what causes insomnia, what are the traditional treatment options, and in what ways might cannabis be a healthier, viable alternative?

 

Causes of Insomnia

Insomniacs can have either primary or secondary insomnia.

• Primary insomnia is a standalone condition — it wasn’t caused by another health condition.
• Secondary insomnia is associated with a secondary health condition or substance (for example, depression, pain, alcohol, or a prescription medication).

The number one cause of insomnia is stress. While we can’t control every stressful external factor in our lives, there are healthy ways to deal with the stress. Dr. Rachna Patel, a physician from Walnut Creek, California, who has personally dealt with years of insomnia, notes, “Anything you can do to reduce stress will also help you sleep better. Get out for a jog. Swim. Eat better. Do relaxation exercises or meditate. Even if you still need a sleep aid like cannabis, lifestyle changes will improve your overall health!”

 

Traditional Treatment Options for Insomnia

Dr. Patel suggests, “Before trying medication, consider making lifestyle changes including setting a regular sleep schedule, getting more exercise, [and] eating healthier.” Nonetheless, Patel has observed that “some patients have so much difficulty sleeping that they just need a medication to help them.”

Prescription medications such as Zolpidem (Ambien) and Zaleplon (Sonata) have grown in popularity over the years, but they may not be that effective. One study by the National Institutes of Health found that sleeping pills, on average, only add 11 minutes of sleep time and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep by a mere 13 minutes.

Worse, they can come with serious adverse side effects and health consequences. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, over the last two decades there’s been a dramatic increase in prescription sleep aid-related emergency room visits.

Likewise, benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium, which are approved for sleep, are highly addictive and potentially dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 benzos were involved in 30% of lethal drug overdoses, second only to opioids.

Some also claim that natural supplements, such as melatonin, valerian root, lemon balm, or chamomile are helpful in falling asleep.

 

Can Cannabis Treat Insomnia?

Dr. Patel turned to cannabis after being prescribed Ambien. Afraid of the potential side effects, she found research validates what cannabis users have long suspected: cannabis helps people sleep.

Strangely, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Big Pharma’s Sanofi-Aventis may agree. They funded a study that showed consuming THC enabled subjects to fall asleep easier and more quickly.

Here’s more of the evidence:

• Easier time falling asleep. As far back as 1973, research has documented subjects falling asleep quicker after ingesting THC. More recently, a 2013 study of healthy subjects validated earlier findings.
• Sleep longer and better. Early studies have demonstrated the efficacy of cannabinoids in aiding sleep. One study of THC found that subjects experienced fewer interruptions over the night and some decrease in awakenings during the first half of the night.
• Enjoy deeper sleep. Cannabis can positively impact the sleep cycle. Studies prove THC can increase deep sleep. Why is this important? Because scientists believe deep sleep plays a vital role in our body’s natural restoration process.
• Better breathing while sleeping. Roughly 17% of men and 9% of women regularly have breathing problems when they sleep – a condition called sleep apnea – and most are never diagnosed. However, early research published in January 2013 by Frontiers in Psychology shows cannabis may help people breathe easier when they sleep. Who knows? Maybe someday sleep apnea sufferers can swap out their CPAP mask for a THC-infused brownie (but don’t count on Medicare to cover the cost yet).

 

How Does Cannabidiol (CBD) Affect Sleep?

Evidence of cannabidiol, or CBD, as a sleep aid has been contradictory. In one study, CBD – which is non-psychoactive – seemed to be effective as a “wake-inducing agent,” meaning it can make you feel more alert, the opposite effect of what an insomniac wants.

However, others who participated in the study reported that ingesting CBD-rich extracts or tinctures a few hours prior to bed had a relaxing effect that allowed them to sleep better at night. According to Project CBD, some patients with sleep issues report that “ingesting a CBD-rich tincture or extract a few hours before bedtime has a balancing effect that facilitates a good night’s sleep.”

The key is finding the right strain, blend, product, and dose for you. Everyone’s body responds to cannabis differently, so it may take a little trial-and-error before finding the perfect fit. Try a heavy indica or an edible. Consider something with a little CBD. See what happens when you dose a little instead of a lot. You might be surprised to find that your ultimate sleep remedy isn’t what you thought it would be.

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by Jeremy Kossen at Leafly News & Culture

Colombia Close to Legalizing Medical Cannabis

Latin America is taking bold steps to break free of the failed war on drugs, and Colombia is leading the way. With an overwhelming majority of 84 lawmakers in favor and just four against, Colombia’s Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that will legalize cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes. 

The bill still needs the signature of President Juan Manuel Santos to become the law of the land.

The road to medical cannabis legalization has been long and winding in Colombia. It took Congress almost two years to pass all seven voting rounds needed to approve the new law. President Santos, a proponent of more lenient drug laws to reduce crime, stabilize the economy, and bring peace to the country, had decreed medical marijuana legal in December. That decree will now be replaced by the new law. 

Colombia is ahead of the Latin American pack in the effort to institute a well defined system to regulate medical cannabis.

In an interview with El Tiempo newspaper, Liberal Party senator Juan Manuel Galan, who sponsored the bill, explained why it was necessary to replace the decree with a proper law. “The government decree refers to a law that is quite old, the Statute of Narcotics or Law 30 of 1986, which in many respects had completed its life cycle,” he said. “Also the regulator of the licenses would be the Narcotics Council, which is a consultative entity and does not have regulatory or technical capacity.” 

Under the new law, three ministries will monitor the issuing of licenses for cultivation: justice, health, and agriculture. The real work starts now, Galan said: “After this comes a huge effort to train doctors. Ninety-eight percent of all doctors in Colombia have not investigated the issue of medical marijuana, are not familiar with it. So it's a huge challenge to work with them and with the pharmaceutical guilds.”

The law requires the state to protect and strengthen small- and medium-size cannabis producers and retailers. But some in the Colombian cannabis scene have little trust that the system will work out fairly, especially for former underground producers. 

Jorge Montoya is CEO of Cannalivio, a local company that’s been producing cannabis in a legal gray area since 2005. Montoya welcomes the changes, but stresses that many things are still unclear. “Local producers are confused, as it is unclear how this will be implemented,” Montoya said. “Seeing how the process has evolved up till now, unpleasant surprises can be expected by the hands of politicians and their hidden interests.”

Ahead of the vote, the government of the central Boyaca province announced it wants to become the first legal producer of medical marijuana, the website Colombia Reports recounted this week. The Boyaca government, Canadian laboratory Canavida, and the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC) have been promoting the project that seeks to grow cannabis in greenhouses across the province.

Until now, cultivation in Colombia took place in a legal gray area, as a 1986 law allowed medical and scientific use of marijuana, but this was never formally regulated until December 2015. The old law set a maximum of 20 plants as a legal amount for personal use. Using this limit, recreational and therapeutic users and underground medical growers produced their cannabinoids. The big question is what will happen to them now. 

The bill was discussed in four debates in the House of Representatives and authorizes export and import of cannabis for medical and scientific uses. To legally cultivate, candidates must apply for a license and meet requirements for security protocols, legal representation, and insurance. During the debates, the number of different licenses grew from four to 11 and now include: cultivation, production, manufacture, purchase, import, export, storage, transport, marketing, distribution, and possession and use of the seeds of the cannabis plant, its derivatives, and products containing active compounds — for scientific and medicinal use only.  

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by Jeronimo Gonzalez at Leafly News & Culture