Ew, weed stems...those small (or sometimes rather large) sticks at the end of the cannabis flower.

Sometimes when you buy cannabis flowers or buds from a dispensary or online at a cannabis provider like CannaSaver.com, there may be extensive stem—depending on the quality of the product. 

Weed stems contain little to no THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Why Are Weed Stems Not Used? 

Because they contain little THC, weed stems have often been discarded as worthless. However, these parts of the cannabis plant can be used for several products.

Why Not Smoke Weed Stems?

Although it may be tempting to use every bit of the cannabis you’ve paid for or grown, avoid smoking weed stems.

Low in THC, weed stems will not get you high. 

There are also negative side effects. Healthline.com outlines some of them.

• Smoke inhalation damages your lungs.

• Toxins and carcinogens are released through smoking. These can cause cancer.

• Breathing toxins can also increase the risk of heart disease.

• Smoking stems can cause severe headaches.

• Stem smoking may result in a sore throat.

• Smoking stems may trigger uncontrollable and/or persistent coughing.

• The smoke from stems is not pleasant. It tastes like charred wood chips.

• Some stem smokers reported uncomfortable gas.

Uses of Weed Stems

Even though smoking weed stems is not recommended, there are some products that can be made using the stems.

"CannaTea"

Thrillist.com (https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/how-to-make-cannabis-tea-recipe) provides a recipe for making weed stem tea.

Grind a gram of weed stems

Add:

• A tablespoon of unsalted butter or coconut oil

• Teabag in the flavor of your choice 

• Four cups of water

• Flavor ingredients like honey, lemon, mint, milk, sugar, or cinnamon

• Cheesecloth, coffee filter, or a fine strainer

Boil water in a medium-sized pot. Add butter or coconut oil to boiling water. Allow to dissolve completely. 

Add ground cannabis. Turn the temperature to simmer.

Simmer for fifteen minutes. 

Use a cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain the mixture into an empty teapot. 

Add the teabag and extras. Steep for three minutes.

Remove the teabag. Stir well. Pour and enjoy.

Decarboxylation

Decarboxylation is the removal of the carboxyl group from cannabis stems. The process toasts the stems converting THC into a psychoactive form called Delta 9-THC. This increases the consistency and the potency of the weed. The heat acts as a catalyst. You can use your oven.

• Pre-heat oven to 215° F.

• Put weed stems on a cookie sheet.

• Toast for 15 minutes.

• Raise oven setting to 240° F.

• Toast for 45 minutes more.

• Remove from oven.

• Cool.

• Fine grind toasted stems.

• Use immediately or store in a light-tight/air-tight container.

Kief

Break off weed stems. Place in Ziploc plastic bags. Put bags in the freezer. Let sit.  Add additional stems as they become available. Give the bag a thorough shake each time you add stems. A pile will build at the bottom of the bag. The frozen resin crystals will detach from the stems. Sift the stems out of the residue and discard them. What’s left at the bottom of the bag is kief. You can smoke this or you can cook with it.

Hash

Separating the trichomes from the cannabis plant produces hashish. Trichomes are hair-like structures on the surface of the buds. Hash can also be made from kief.

RoyalQueenSeeds.com provides a step-by-step guide to creating hash.

Using solvents like butane, propane, or CO₂ extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the trichomes or kief.

Before using, it is vital to purge the solvent. Whip it into a wax form, over a hot plate, or use a vacuum desiccation chamber. Be careful. The substance is highly flammable!

The Shoe Method is much safer.

Start with five grams of kief. You will also need a small piece of tape, parchment paper, and a pin.

• Wrap kief tightly in parchment paper. Tape closed.

• With the pin, punch a small hole through the package. This lets trapped air out. 

• Place package inside the heel of a hard-soled, closed-toed shoe. 

• As you walk, your weight will press the hash into a slab. This takes between fifteen and sixty minutes.

Cannabutter

As the name suggests, cannabutter is a product created by infusing butter with cannabis.

HerbieHeadshop.com offers this cannabutter recipe using weed stems. Have a coffee maker? That can work, too!

Preheat oven to 200 F. Grind stems. Lay ground-up stems on a cookie sheet. Bake for 40 minutes.

Melt butter at medium temperature. Add ten ounces of water and simmer. Add ground, toasted stems. Soak for three or four hours stirring every fifteen minutes. Add a half cup of water every hour. 

Set cheesecloth or a coffee filter over a heatproof container. Secure with string or elastic. Pour liquid slowly through the strainer. Bundle the edges of the strainer and squeeze tightly to extract all the cannabutter.

Place the container in the fridge. Let set. Collect the butter. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

There are many ways to use cannabutter in the kitchen. This is an easy recipe from Emily Kyle. You can use kief or weed stems to create cannabutter.

This cannabutter won’t be as potent as cannabutter made from bud or leaf. But, cannabutter made from stems is less likely to cause an overdose.

When it comes to making edibles with cannabutter, you are limited only by your imagination. 

Infused Liquor

Start with a bottle of strong clear vodka. For every ounce of liquid, grind one and a half grams of stems. Place the stems or kief in the bottle and leave it in a dark room for three weeks. Stir contents occasionally.

Strain the stems from the liquid. Serve the infused liquor as you would regular vodka. Blend with your favorite mix or fruit juice. This makes an awesome bloody mary, martini, or margarita.
 

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If you’ve ever looked at a piece of cannabis bud closely, chances are you’ve seen the layer of frost-like crystals covering the leaves and stems of the flower. But just what are trichomes and what do they do?

That frost-like substance is also known as Trichomes -- they are tiny biological cannabinoid epicenters found on the flowers and leaves of cannabis plants.

They’re a treat for the weed lover’s senses as they tend to be shiny, sticky, and emit a variety of aromas depending on the strain. 

The Purpose of Trichomes

Trichome is defined as “fine outgrowths or appendages on the epidermis of a plant,” and they can be observed in a variety of plant species throughout nature. Originating from the Greek word “Tríchōma,” meaning “growth of hair,” trichomes are small resin glands that look like tiny hairs with a round and bulbous tip. They range in 10 to 100 micrometers and give marijuana buds their frosty, shiny, and sticky appearance. 

Protection Barrier

Trichomes serve many different functions for plants such as keeping them safe, healthy, and functional. In Cannabis, trichomes function as protection from difficult climate and outside elements such as harmful UV rays, strong winds, and fungal growth. 

Trichomes also deter animals and insects away from the marijuana plant by emitting a strong aroma and bitter taste.  

Cannabinoid Factories

Trichomes manufacture the hundreds of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that make each cannabis strain potent and unique. They are an essential part of the cannabis plant and without them, there wouldn’t be any THC, CBD, terpenes, or extracts for weed enthusiasts to enjoy. 

Types of Trichomes

Three types of Trichomes appear most often on cannabis plants. However, it is the third group that catches the weed lover’s attention. 

1. Bulbous Trichomes

2. Capitate sessile Trichomes

3. Capitate-stalked trichomes

Capitate-stalked trichomes

Capitate-stalked trichomes appear in abundance around the calyxes of budding flowers. They also measure much larger than their counterparts and is visible to the naked eye. Due to their size, capitate-stalked trichomes produce the highest concentration of essential oils -- from which all your favorite oily medicinal and recreational goodies are made. 

Although trichomes do produce cannabinoids, plants containing higher concentrations of trichomes don’t always produce high concentrations of cannabinoids. Factors such as UV light can impact the rate of cannabinoid and terpene synthesis. Usually, plants exposed to a broader spectrum of light will produce more cannabinoids and/ or terpenes, however, this can be strain specific. 

Do Trichomes Get You High?

To simply put it, yes. 

To further break it down, the compounds THCA and CBD are found within the trichomes of a cannabis plant. They are then heated and undergo a chemical reaction, producing the medicinal and psychoactive properties of your favorite strains. 

During combustion, THCA is converted into THC. When you consume marijuana, THC interacts with the cannabinoid receptors found in the brain resulting in the ‘high’ feeling we get after consuming cannabis.

Concentrates & Extracts

Cannabis concentrates and extracts including hash, shatter, cannabis oil, and wax all rely on trichomes that are harvested from cannabis plants. Weed growers use a method referred to as ‘solvent extraction’ to separate cannabinoids and terpenes from their plant tissues by using solvents such as ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. 

All solvents must be completely removed before cannabis extracts are safe to use. 

There are other methods to collect extract without the use of solvents. Rosin, can be made by pressing dry cannabis flower between heated metal plates. While hash, on the other hand, can be made through various methods including the water/ice method and hand rolling. 

Harvesting Trichomes

Most growers examine their plants with magnifying glasses, making it easier for the naked eye to see developing trichomes. Growers can also monitor the changes in their plants by analyzing their visual appearance and aroma. When it comes to harvesting trichomes, for most growers -- the denser the trichomes, the better. However, it’s really up to personal preference. 

Stages of Harvest

Early harvest offers a lively, energetic type of high. During this stage, trichomes will still appear clear and colorless and their yields are not yet at their peak.

Most growers wait until the majority of their trichomes (70%) start to turn cloudy in appearance, the high from this type of harvest is more profound with increased body effects. 

Some growers choose to wait until most of the trichomes start to display an amber or reddish tint. The high from late-harvested trichomes can be heavy with strong body effects. In simpler terms, this is the type of weed that will get you couch-locked stoned. 

Lighting Conditions and Trichome Yield

When growing your own plants, the quality of your crop is heavily dependent on seed quality. Good quality cannabis seeds will result in a higher trichome production yield, resulting in a crop of high-quality cannabis. Environmental conditions also impact trichome levels on cannabis plants, many modern growers have switched to LED grow lights to help them cultivate the most THC from their crops. 

Additionally, supplementing LED light with UVB light is another way to boost cannabis trichome production. This is a technique used by professional growers as the rate of trichome production increases as a defense to UVB radiation, so adding UVB will increase your trichome yield. UVB light can severely damage human eyes and skin, therefore it’s important to be extremely vigilant. Never look or enter any area where UVB lights are on. 

With marijuana being legal in some capacity in more than half of the U.S. states, more people are leaning towards growing and harvesting their plants. To grow the best cannabis, high-quality seeds supplemented with an optimal growing environment are needed along with proper care and dedication.

Thank you, Trichomes

The magic of cannabis is found within its trichomes, they are the prime source of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that characterize the quality and ‘high’ of our favorite cannabis strains. Without trichomes, the cannabis plant wouldn’t have its amazing healing and euphoric properties.

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For those about to dab, we salute you.

Concentrates are definitely fun for veteran smokers. Concentrates such as wax were made for a modern stoner wanting smoking potency and efficiency. Cannabis concentrates often hit between 60-80% in THC potency, sometimes hitting higher numbers.
With an onset time of 1-3 minutes, the effects can last a few hours. Concentrates maintain the terpenes from the marijuana plant thus adding to the overall cannabinoids being absorbed, natural taste involved, and controlling your overall high. 

But which wax strains are best when considering concentrates to dab or produce from? We’re so very glad you asked.

How To Choose Wax Strains

Marijuana strains with a wide spectrum of compounds and good flavor/aroma are typically chosen for high-quality cannabis concentrate. Dispensary extraction specialists prefer to use strains producing a mass amount of trichomes (kief). But best strains are often subjective. So here’s a list of a mixture of Sativa, Indica, and hybrid concentrates that are guaranteed to be making you feel good.

Grape Ape

One of the rare purple strains, Grape Ape is an often sought-out Indica strain. Grape Ape is a much beloved and popular strain with some to do with its legendary Grand Daddy Purp and Afghani lineage. 

The strain in its wax form hits high potencies much like its flower form. The wax can reach between 70-80+% THC. Grape Ape is also a fast grower, only taking between 7-8 weeks to flower. This can lead to more wax being produced.
The grape Ape concentrate has a grape-like smell and flavor. The strain provides pain-relief and is a great sleepy time high.

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express in its wax form will, simply put, make your day better. As Saul from the movie, Pineapple Express (2008) once said, “It’s hands down the dopest dope I’ve ever smoked.” 

The one and only satisfying Sativa is a cross between Trainwreck and Hawaiian. The strain, in its concentrated form, astonished with thrilling smells; comparable to an apple or mango. How yummy does that sound? The taste is as close to pineapple, pine, and cedar as you can get.

Pineapple Express wax gifts you with a long-lasting, energetic high while heightening the senses to their absolute fullest. The concentrate provides productivity and creativity to flow and flow. “It’s almost a shame to smoke it. It’s like killing a unicorn, with like, a bomb”.

Wedding Cake

Don’t worry, we don’t have to sit at a wedding for this one. Wedding Cake is one of the newest crowd favorites on this wax list. The strain is a hybrid. It’s a cross between Cherry Pie and Girl Scout Cookies. 

Wedding Cake concentrate is very potent, anywhere between 80-90%. With vanilla smells and berry taste, the strain provides long-lasting euphoria and happiness. It provides pain relief, reduces insomnia, and helps with appetite. 

Green Crack

Though sometimes an off-putting name, Green Crack is a Sativa fan’s best friend. Not letting the name fool you, this Sativa is 100% energizing marijuana and delectable flavor, especially in wax form. The strain has a fast 7-8 week flowering time which is always nice with production. Outdoor grows can reach up to 20 ounces per plant.

Green Crack wax is the definition of pure energy. Green Crack wax has a super surge of cerebral ripples and sharpened focus. The concentrate has mouth-watering fruity/mango flavors and smells potent enough to blast you into space. 

Green Crack wax is a great daytime concentrate which aids in the fight against fatigue and stress. We think we could all use a little of that these days.

Harlequin

For those with a need for a CBD-rich strain, Harlequin is the gal for you. This strain is a high yield producer. With a 2:1 THC: CBD ratio, Harlequin provides a flavorful and balanced wax.

Harlequin is low on THC potency but very high in CBD. With some THC present, you can still get a little THC high but it's more there to interact with the CBD (entourage effect). 

Harlequin concentrate has aromas of cherry, pepper, with a slight earthiness. Medicinal users often use it for pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.

Chemdawg

Ah, Chemdawg. This beautiful strain is a classic. It’s continually crossed to create some of the best strains around today. With a good yield, Chemdawg was basically made for concentrate production.

Enhanced Diesel scents spread throughout the room when the strain became an extract. It has an orange and earthy taste to it. Chemdawg also drips in the terpene caryophyllene which gives the concentrate some spice. 

The terpene also provides the benefits of being an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anxiety/depression reducer.

Chemdawg is a well-known, euphoric strain; only enhanced through concentrate.

Sour Diesel

Incredibly popular, Sour Diesel is a 90% Sativa dominant strain with effects that are only enhanced through the concentrate process. Sour Diesel is a cross of Chemdawg and Super Skunk, making for one heck of a great smell. Sour Diesel flower can be produced as quickly as 11 weeks. 

Sour Diesel concentrates are typically full of citrus flavor and gassy smells. Really gassy! 

This fast-acting Sativa is great for an all-day bake of creativity and energy. Sour diesel is a long-lasting concentrate that will leave you happy, stress-free, and relieving any pain you may have.

OG Kush

Now if we may, I’d like to introduce a strain that needs no introduction really, the legendary OG Kush. OG Kush is a 75% Indica, 25% Sativa hybrid strain. With medium to large dense buds, OG Kush is perfect for making concentrates.

The concentrate packs high potency without ever feeling overly intense. OG Kush has very earthy smells with rich citrus, pine, and faint fruit flavors. 

OG Kush is great for the end of the day. Perfect for relaxing your body, surrounding you in calm, and leaves a smile on your face.

Strawberry Banana

For me, taste and flavor are the number one factors I’ll choose a certain kind of wax/concentrate. That said, for those who value flavor in dabbing we bring to you, Strawberry Banana. This Indica heavy concentrate is rich in trichome/resin production. Also being a cross between Bubblegum and Banana Kush, this strain is the perfect candidate for a premiere cannabis concentrate.

Strawberry Banana has vibrant aromas of strawberry, banana, and other tropical fruits. The flavor follows suit, often being compared to the taste of a fruit smoothie. Yum!

Strawberry Banana provides a dreamlike head high, inducing creativity and sensory awareness. Sometimes even providing a slightly psychedelic experience. A lovely concentrate indeed.

Sweet Sweet

Speaking of such sweetness, we now bring to you a great strain of that “good good,” Sweet Sweet. This strain mirrors Strawberry Banana but for the Sativa lovers out there. The strain is high-yielding while producing beautiful trichomes. Perfect concentrate fit!

Sweet Sweet has a bubble gum aroma with tropical fruit flavors. It provides an energized and euphoric high that lasts for a long time.

Concentrates of Sweet Sweet can help combat headaches/migraines and drastically reduce stress.
So now we hope we’ve helped you select the best concentrate strains for you.

This is just a small list -- there are even more marijuana strains that are good for making wax.

Check out Cannasaver for the best concentrate deals out there. Select wisely and based on what kind of high will suit you best.

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Some smoke to take a little off the edge while others smoke to “amp” them up. For most people, weed helps to enhance whatever they’re doing, feeling, eating, etc. It seems that music sounds better, food tastes better, and overall experiences are better when you’re stoned. But does weed make sex better?

Although a general consensus regarding marijuana and sex has yet to emerge, if you know how to do it right, marijuana can definitely enhance your sex life in many ways. Lusty stoners everywhere have a long history of pairing marijuana consumption and sex, and many with great results. 

From reducing stress, increasing libido, lowering inhibitions, and even prolonging one’s staying power, marijuana offers many benefits to those who are looking for ways to improve their sex lives. 

Here’s how to use marijuana to enhance your sex life and how to avoid the pitfalls of marijuana consumption that can actually inhibit your sexual desire.

How Marijuana Makes Sex Better

Ever had that awkward moment with a partner – maybe it was the first time you were about to have sex – and you just needed to relax a bit to get in the mood? Or perhaps the mood just felt awkward and you were both looking to change that?

No? Just me? Okay, noted.

While some may turn to alcohol to take that edge off, there is a better, healthier (and safer) way of doing so – turn to weed.

By smoking just the right amount of marijuana prior to sex, stress levels decline and mundane thoughts more easily drift away, giving you much more headspace to devote to the intimacy, magic, and pleasure of sex. 

When we’re thinking about work, or chores, or bills that need to be paid, it’s hard to turn the brain off or to even contemplate something as fun and exciting as sex. Indulging in marijuana before sex will clear your mind and invite more pleasant, blissful thoughts to develop.

Marijuana can also enhance sex by lowering one’s inhibitions. We sometimes automatically reject the notion of trying something new, or perhaps we feel a bit shy when faced with the prospect of getting exactly what we want--whatever the reason, such inhibitions can stand in the way of having a good time. 

Marijuana can help you to loosen up and put fears, insecurities, and preconceived notions aside. 

Mixing marijuana and sex can help open your mind to new experiences and discoveries that may bring a lot more pleasure to your life.

Marijuana can even potentially increase your staying power, helping to prolong the moment of climax. If you or your partner are getting too excited too quickly and you want to slow things down a bit so that you can enjoy each other for longer, take a break to get some water and smoke a little bowl of marijuana. 

Just be sure your partner is fully agreeable so they won’t get the wrong impression. Touch your partner softly as you smoke the bowl, and don’t wait too long before you get back to it. You just want to back up a bit but not diminish the passion completely.

But don’t just take my word for it – according to a study, a majority (67%) of the ones surveyed had said that weed does make sex better. However, it’s important to note that you must take caution when pairing weed with sex. Consider a few things when you’re experimenting with sex and weed.

Things to Consider When Pairing Weed and Sex

Hold your horses there, Casanova. Take things slow when it comes to experimenting with weed and “gettin’ jiggy with it.”

Consider Weed Prior to the Night Of

There’s nothing worse than saving it for that magical night, all for it to blow up in your face – that is to say, have a bad experience. Let’s avoid the “This has never happened to me before!” phrase.

Test yourself with different portions. Start small and monitor how you feel. Introduce CBD to the mix if you end up taking too much, to counteract or balance out the effects.

Experiment with different types of cannabis, like concentrates, edibles, flower, etc. to see what your reaction is to each. Pay attention to how you feel with each variation of marijuana. Think about sex and see how you react to that thought. 

Consider Your Sexuality

Obviously, everyone is different when it comes to sexuality. It’s hard (see what I did there?) to measure how weed makes sex better because sex is so different for everyone. 

Experiment with what you like, what your partner likes, and try new things. Introduce new things, other than marijuana, just to measure comfort levels.

Consider Different Weed Strains

Not all strains are created equal. Some strains may be better than others when it comes to sex, just as they are with things like creativity, stress, etc. Not only should you experiment with different types of cannabis, but strains. 

How do Sativa strains make you feel? How do Indica strains make you feel? What about hybrid strains? Try all spectrums and compare. We do have a few suggestions on which weed strains may make sex better for you and your partner.

Best Marijuana Strains for Enhancing Sex

Yes, terpenes make a difference when it comes to the effects of marijuana, so consider a few different strains. Take note that any strain that contains the terpene linalool, which is known to take a load off.

SIDE NOTE: When it comes to using marijuana to improve your sex life, using marijuana in moderation is far more important than exactly what type of weed you choose. 

If you over blaze and get too stoned, you will have neither the motivation nor the energy to have sex. Smoke just enough to take the edge off, and no more. That said, there are some marijuana products that are decidedly better than others when it comes to enhancing sex. 

Marijuana-infused massage oils have become a popular choice, although they won’t actually get you stoned. 

Avoid edibles as these tend to lead to a heavier, more sleep-inducing high. 

Indica strains can also lead to sleepiness, so it’s best to avoid those as well. 

While a pure Sativa won’t put you to sleep, it might be a bit too much of a head high, leaving you too spaced out to really focus on the act at hand. 

What you want is a Sativa-dominant hybrid. 

This will provide a well-balanced high with just the right level of mind and body relaxation. 

Blue Dream

One good Sativa-dominant hybrid strain to try is Blue Dream. This strain is known to boost your confidence, lower your inhibitions, and get you to be a bit more social and talkative than you usually are. Those may help make sex better.

Skywalker OG Kush

Not too heavy of an Indica, as it’s an Indica-dominant hybrid, this strain is known for relieving anxiety and pressure. Relax – you got this. Walk on the clouds and enjoy the ride. Use a little Kush’n for the pushin’.

Super Lemon Haze

This Sativa strain is like a healthy energy drink. Tryin’ to go the distance? Super Lemon Haze may help with giving you energy and libido, so you can actually last as long as you say you will, without falling asleep after round 1.

Animal Cookies

This one’s a nice, balanced hybrid strain that won’t have you bouncing off the walls, nor falling asleep on your partners. It’s known for relaxation and for being a mood enhancer – in more than one way.

A few other notable strains to consider (as they all have qualities to help you enjoy sex a bit better:

• LA Confidential

• Jilly Bean

• Cheese Quake

• Grandaddy Purple

• Sour Diesel

• Mimosa

And last but not least, be safe you horny stoners!

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It happens to everyone. Maybe you misplaced a joint or forgot about the jar you keep in the top left cupboard, or maybe life just got too busy. And now you’re wondering: “Is the weed I stashed away for a while is still any good?”

Does Weed Go Bad?

Short answer—yes. Weed doesn’t really "go bad" like other produce but, unfortunately, it isn’t like a fine wine that gets better with age. Marijuana can actually lose potency and flavor over time, so keep that in mind next time you’re deciding whether or not you need a full ounce.

Why Does It Go Bad?

Cannabinoids are the chemicals inside marijuana that give its trademark high. One of the cannabinoids, THCA, morphs into the well-known THC when smoked or vaped. As time passes, these chemicals inside the plant break down, decreasing the high attained when consumed.

The terpenes in the bud supply flavor and smell. As with the cannabinoids, the terpenes break down after time. This causes flavor to become muted and lose that ‘fresh’ taste. It can also make the smoke harsher and more difficult to inhale.

Research has found that there are 113 different cannabinoids inside the marijuana plant, and there can potentially be many more. The breakdown of all these cannabinoids contributes to the old bud’s lack of flavor and potency.

How Long Will My Weed Last?

Generally speaking, weed should be smoked sometime within six months after buying it. This reduces the risk of any loss in flavor or potency. As with most pot smokers, it likely won’t last that long. But if you plan on stocking up so you don’t need to buy more for a spell, here’s what you should know.

Properly stored, weed can keep its potency for about six months to one year.

Healthline website reported that weed will lose about 16 percent of its THC after one year. This effect gets worse with time with roughly 41 percent of THC lost after four years. Light, oxygen, and moisture all contribute to the breakdown of cannabinoids.

• Light: Weed that has been sitting in direct sunlight for too long becomes dry and flaky. Too much light can also heat up the container the weed is in, creating moisture.
• Moisture: Marijuana that sits in a wet or damp place for too long can produce mold, which can lead to negative effects when consumed. Don’t smoke moldy weed.
• Oxygen: Weed is a plant after all, and as with all plants, oxygen breaks down the chemicals inside over time.

How to Store Weed

If you’ve been smoking for a while, you remember the days of small plastic baggies and tin Altoid cans. One time even a crumpled CVS receipt. That worked at the time, and it will continue to work in a pinch, but it’s not the best way to stash your supply.

Weed lasts the longest in a dark, dry place with little oxygen intake and heat. To make weed last as long as possible, you’ll need an airtight container located in a place with the right temperature and relative humidity.

Container

The best storage container for bud is airtight glass or ceramic jars. These types of containers keep moisture and oxygen out and extend the shelf life of weed. Mason jars, which are relatively cheap and easy to get, are a perfect container for making weed last longer. Some dispensaries also sell containers designed specifically to store marijuana.

Temperature

The temperature of where the weed is kept also affects the shelf life. Too hot, and moisture can build up and cause mold. Too cold, and the trichomes could dry out and cause potency loss. A good place to store marijuana is in a dark, dry location like a kitchen cabinet. Don’t put your weed in the fridge or freezer. The cold temperatures can dry out or freeze the trichomes and reduce the weed’s potency.

Humidity

Researchers agree that weed is best kept between 59 and 63 percent relative humidity. Above that can cause mold, below that can cause the bud to dry out. There are products, such as humidors, that can keep your weed at the exact humidity needed to extend shelf life.

Is My Weed Still Good?

So, you’ve found an old stash and are wondering whether or not it’s good to smoke. The odds are, yes.

But if it’s been hidden for a particularly long amount of time, there are some things you should look out for before lighting it up.

Mold: If you find mold anywhere on or near the weed, toss it. Inhaling the spores of mold can lead to serious respiratory issues. Typically, the mold will look like small, white cobwebs growing on the plant. Be sure to check your bud carefully if it’s been sitting for a long time.

Dryness: Is the old weed you just found super dry and dusty? If so, it’s still okay to smoke; but don’t expect the best high you’ve ever had. The bud will have less flavor and potency. And be careful when inhaling, dry weed can hit harder than the fresh stuff.

But I’m Not Talking About Flower

If you’ve got cannabis in other forms such as concentrates or edibles, the rules change on how long the shelf life is.

For edibles, keep in line with the expiration date. The weed may not go bad, but the food surrounding it can, just like any other snack. If it looks like something you shouldn’t eat, don’t eat it.

As for concentrates like wax or live resin, California and Nevada have one-year expiration dates. It’s safe to follow those guidelines.

How Much Weed Should I Buy?

If you like smoking the freshest possible weed every time, use it up in under six months. If properly stored, the bud should retain its potency and flavor over that time. Of course, keeping weed that long creates all sorts of risks, like accidentally leaving the jar open or leaving it on a windowsill.

To be safe, buy for about a month or two at a time. That amount is different for everyone, so stock up accordingly.

Last Words

No, weed doesn’t go ‘bad’ like a gallon of milk. It will lose potency and flavor over time but is safe to consume as long as there’s no mold.

If you don’t want to risk it, check out Cannasaver to stock up on some fresh bud.

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Bongs are just lovely, aren’t they? You know you love smoking from your bong, heck, I think most of us “cannaisseurs” do. Cypress Hill wouldn’t write about the glass beauty if it weren’t true.

The art piece that is your bong – the smooth, silky intake, delightful flower taste. The cool way the juicy marijuana smoke hits your throat and lungs. Seeing all the gross stuff remain in the water instead of your lungs – priceless.

Time does roll on, however, and that pristine glass becomes a darker shade of brown and after every sesh – becoming a slimy, sea monster of what it once was. After a while, you might even have a friend pass on the disgusting looking object. What was once a shining beauty of glass mixing seamlessly with your marijuana, now a horrible, passable monster – we’ve all seen that monster. We all remember that monster. In short, gross.

Your marijuana deserves better.

So, how do you clean a bong? 

You’ve seen a friend do it once or twice. It seems like a complicated, drawn-out process. Changing out the water is enough, right?

Well, changing out the water does help, most definitely. Short term. The longer you’ve gone without changing the water or rinsing it out, the less the water change alone will help. The process of a thorough cleaning of a bong isn’t as complicated as one may think. With some easily obtainable items, you can keep that sparkling bong gunk-free.

Dirty Bong? Clean It Up!

Items Needed: 

• Coarse salt

• 99% isopropyl alcohol

• Sealable plastic bags

• Long-handled cleaning brush (optional)

• Rubber bong plugs

• A pre-mixed solution to replace salt/alcohol mixture

 

1. Take everything off. This includes ash catchers, bowls, dab attachments, etc. Be careful removing because some accessories may be glued into your piece with accumulated resin. Trust me, it happens.

2. Put the accessories in a sealable bag. If putting multiple pieces in one bag, use caution when stacking glass together. We’ll look at these pieces a little later.

3. Empty the water out of your bong and rinse. Then repeat based on the amount of residue in your bong. 3-4 rinses will ensure a cleaner end product. The use of warm water helps in aiding stubborn resin out of the bong. The use of a long-handled cleaning brush helps in speeding up this process though not necessarily needed.

4. After rinsing, place everything on a clean towel. Pour about ¼ of your bong with coarse salt (table salt works in a pinch) into the bong. The grainer that salt, the slower you should pour. Large ice cream ice can hit the glass uncomfortably hard. Pour slow.

5. Continue by filling your bong with about ½ warm water. Caution: Do not mix warm and cold water when cleaning your bong. It can break it.

6. To finish the solution, fill your bong ½ with the 99% isopropyl alcohol. Make sure the mixture doesn’t overflow out of your bong. This can cause messes. No one likes messes. When in doubt, have more alcohol than water if needed.

Solution Sidenote: Companies make pre-mixed solutions to cleaning bongs. If you wish to skip the salt/alcohol mixture, due to time crunches or otherwise, here are a few amazing pre-mixed solutions that are a great option as well:

Formula 420 is a non-toxic, quick cleaner. The formula allows you to skip the scrubbing and soaking processes. The cleaner is also biodegradable and will leave your bong deodorized.

Orange Chronic is a cleaner made from natural substances such as oranges. This cleaner has a refreshing smell while kicking your resin’s butt. All this while you know your piece is getting cleaned.

Resinate has a cleaning mixture that is just right, taking the guesswork out of making solutions yourself. It sterilizes while leaving your bong squeaky clean. It also comes in various cleaning phase bottles and grinder cleaner.

1. Use bong plugs and shake salt or pre-mixed mixture around the bong. If you have no bong plugs, simply seal the top of the bong with your palm and plug downstem with whichever finger plugs it. Depending on your situation, this may need to have two people involved. Not everyone can swing a bong around.

2. Whichever cleaning solution you decided to use, fill the bong accessory bag about ½ way and then seal completely closed. Making sure it is 100% sealed, shake around a bit. Also, make sure the accessories are completely submerged. The more the solution can get into the accessories, the cleaner each piece will come out.

3. To get some of the finer cleaning details, use pipe cleaners and/or cotton swabs for the mouthpiece, bowls, downstems, etc. Any residue left behind you may want more off of.

4. Rinse each piece generously through some warm water. Allow each piece to cool a little bit so as not to crack the glass. Fill with crisp, clean new water and enjoy your renewed glass beauty.

Simple Steps to Maintaining a Clean Bong

Now that we’ve got our crisp newly cleaned bong, let’s try to keep it cleaner for longer.

By keeping residue out of our bong, we are also eliminating any contaminants thus keeping your bong healthier to smoke on. Dumping the water you use after each use and rinsing with warm water will clean freshly-accumulated ash. Simple as that. 

Some cleaners such as Resinate offer resin “shields” which are supposed to keep your clean bong cleaner for long. Another useful tip would be to have a cover or case for your bong. It will keep dust and other airborne particles from invading your bong, adding to the cleaning chore.

So will you ever again have a dirty bong? Absolutely freaking not! 

With these simple bong cleaning steps, hopefully cleaning will seem less intimidating. Never again will you have the disgusting monster of a bong. The bong in which everyone talks about not wanting to touch let alone take a hit out of. Instead, you can lay back and bask in everyone thinking you just bought a new piece.

Remember, a clean bong is a happy bong.

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Sometimes flower just doesn’t cut it. Maybe you’ve built up a tolerance, or maybe you’re just looking for a better high. Good thing for concentrates. These are the best concentrates in Denver.

What are Concentrates?        

Whether you're a first-time or experienced dabber, you might still be wondering exactly what concentrates are. Deciding what concentrate to choose and knowing how to use it properly takes a little background knowledge.

Concentrates are where you isolate the most desirable parts of the cannabis plant through a process of heat and extraction. Basically, concentrates are the best part of marijuana in a convenient package. Scientifically, it’s a bit more complicated. Suffice it to say concentrates will get you higher than the average flower.

Types of Concentrates

         Concentrates come in a variety of forms:

·         Live Resin

·         Shatter

·         Wax

·         Budder

·         Crystalline (Diamonds)

Though there are many different types of concentrates, they are essentially all the same product—extracted, compounded marijuana oils. They are named differently based on the consistency, density, and texture of the end product, as well as differences in how the concentrates are prepared.

How are Concentrates Used?

Some concentrates can be used topically or taken orally, while others are used in a vaporizer commonly known as a vape pen. Dabbing is also popular. This is the process of heating up a small amount of concentrate such as live resin with a device called a dab rig, and inhaling the vapors.

Think heating up a drop of hash on a penknife and breathing in the smoke—same basic concept, only now you can buy an actual factory-made contraption for this. Concentrates can also be cooked into edibles, or you can go the old-fashioned route and top off a bowl of ordinary flower to give it an extra kick. 

Live Resin

Live resin is simply cannabis oil that has been extracted from fresh flowers that have been freeze-dried rather than air-dried and cured the typical way. This produces a different flavor in the resin, imparting a more aromatic and floral bouquet. Live resin is usually somewhat gooey in consistency and typically has a higher terpene content.

Shatter

Shatter is heat extracted or chemically extracted cannabis oil that has hardened into a glasslike substance that's usually amber colored and mostly transparent. When it's heated, it becomes a viscous liquid similar to thickened honey. Shatter can be relatively inexpensive, with deals as low as 15 dollars a gram.

Wax

Wax refers to concentrated marijuana oil that has been extracted--often with butane or other chemicals—to produce a thick, oily, and wax-like substance that can be smoked or vaporized. Unlike shatter which is see-through and hard, wax is soft and opaque.

Budder

Like the other concentrates, budder is extracted from flower to make a more potent product. Unlike wax or shatter, budder has the consistency of, well, butter. It’s a type of hash oil that can be up to 70 percent THC.

Crystalline

Also known as dust or diamonds, crystalline is concentrated THCA that comes in a solid form. Think kief. Crystalline often has little flavor because of the relatively low amount of terpenes but makes up for that lack of potency.

The Best of the Best Concentrates

Colorado is home to some of the best, award-winning concentrate companies in America. Recreational weed use has been legal in Colorado since 2012, allowing local businesses to branch out and perfect their extraction techniques. The use of concentrates by stoners continues to grow as time goes by.

Here are some extraction experts that make some of the best concentrates you can find in Colorado:

·         Green Dot Labs, based in Boulder, makes some of the best live resin in Colorado. Deals on their live resin can be found here.

·         Sano Gardens, based in Commerce City, specializes in cannabis extraction. Their live resin is popular among Coloradoans.

·         710 Labs makes some of the best concentrates for both Colorado and California.

·         VIOLA is a marijuana company started by former NBA player Al Harrington. Their concentrates can be found in dispensaries across Colorado.

·         Nomad Extracts make their concentrates from Colorado-grown cannabis. They’ve won awards for both their wax and shatter, among others. You can find their platinum wax for 30 dollars a gram at dispensaries in the Denver-metro area.

·         Lazercat Cannabis are Colorado-based growers and extractors. Their live rosin is a premium concentrate.

·         Kush Masters is an extraction company “nested in a log cabin next to Boulder’s Flatiron mountains.” You can get eight grams of their wax for 120 dollars in Denver.

Where to Find Concentrates in Colorado

         Most local dispensaries will have plenty of choices when it comes to concentrates. A budtender is always willing to help or answer any questions one might have. We’ve put together a list of some Colorado dispensaries that have great deals on concentrates:

·         The Lodge Cannabis has locations on Federal Blvd and High Street. There’s currently a deal for two grams of Green Dot live resin for 90 dollars or four grams of wax for 70 dollars.

·         Pure Marijuana Dispensary has five locations across the Denver-metro area. You can find deals on cartridges, wax, and shatter (among many others) at any location.

·         The Stone Dispensary, located in Denver, has a wide variety of concentrate deals for the frugal stoner. The previously-mentioned Kush Masters live resin is 24 dollars OTD per gram. There’s also a deal on all brands of wax or shatter.

·         Mary Jane’s House is located on Quentin Street just a little outside of Denver. They have deals on wax right now for just 27 dollars for two grams.

Which Concentrate is Right for Me?

The first time trying concentrates can be confusing. There are a ton of choices, but only you are going to know which is best for you. Trial and error, so to speak. No shame in trying them all.

Looking for More?

There are tons of places to buy concentrates or other marijuana products in Colorado. Cannasaver can be a fantastic tool for finding the right wax, live resin, or any other concentrate for you. 

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For as long as I can remember (see what I did there?), people in my life would say, ‘stay away from marijuana’. Often, the charges against cannabis would be tied in with other ideas such as laziness, poor work ethic, and reduced memory function. As research dollars continue to flow into cannabis, we are finding that several of the key ‘scare’ tactics used were based on outlier evidence and are not totally factual.

In this article, we will discuss some emerging research on how marijuana affects memory. Specifically, we will review how memory is affected by cannabis and hopefully learn once and for all if we may clear the haze from anti-weed tactics and lighten the mood around its use. 

Confronting Old Ideas on Cannabis and Memory

Cannabis use dates back thousands of years, yet its use, cultivation, and sale have been partly-legal for less than half a century. 

Untold thousands have been arrested and several billions of dollars have been collected due to laws around marijuana.

We punish people for using it, for growing it, for having it in their possession, or for selling it. It doesn’t matter the relative devastation caused by cannabis when compared to drugs such as cocaine or an opiate, because drugs are drugs. 

The resulting psychosocial process makes it easier for some individuals with hardline abstinence ideas to be seen as the ‘model’ - the person who stays in favor of the law, of family, and of society. This can magnify small issues to an enormous scale. 

Such is the concept of ‘Reefer Madness’; a rare piece of goofy, anti-drug propaganda, speaking to people as though any use or experimentation with marijuana will leave life unfulfilling and lonely. 

The Problem?

When an experience is awful or conflated, it tends to have an outsized effect on how we recall the experience and our willingness to do it again. As human beings, we all are able to coordinate with others, experience empathy, feel joy and sorrow, and make choices based on information available to us.

As marijuana became more popular in the years leading to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, so too did public misunderstandings of the plant. Ideas of madness and paranoia began to percolate around the subject of marijuana, and it was tacked on that significant impairment of memory was from cannabis. 

Back then, the media didn’t move as fast as it does now9 and it was scientifically valid to blame mothers for schizophrenia. Times have changed.

With more and more states legalizing cannabis after 80 years of prohibition, it is time to employ some of the advances in technological and scientific understanding to gain perspective. 

True: memory and reaction time are statistically correlated to cannabis use.

False: memory retrieval gets worse with cannabis use.

What is Working Memory?

Working memory is a lot like the RAM memory of a computer. It does not mean the information has been hard-coded into our memory. Instead, working memory implies a near-term function, where maybe only seconds to days have passed. 

On the topic of working memory and cannabis use, one recent study sticks out in particular. The study observed 75 participants, 60 of which have used cannabis while 15 had not. The objective was to determine whether the age of onset - that is, when in an individual’s life they first used cannabis - is related to working memory reaction time in the near-term.

Working memory reaction time was measured using a system of cues and responses which imitated the typical functioning of memory in our environment. With regard to memory and cannabis use, the series of cues made by researchers additionally evaluated the following:

• Memory Encoding: This was evaluated by showing one or three stimuli to be recollected.

• Memory Maintenance: Using advanced imaging technology (fMRI), memory maintenance was evaluated by showing where the information was held and maintained in the brain. 

• Memory retrieval: This was measured by showing four stimuli and evaluated by matching cues to the previous stimuli.

As the main focus of the study was to determine if the reaction time of an individual’s working memory relates to cannabis use IF exposed during adolescence, the true results of the study provide evidence that cannabis and memory have a highly variable, if not totally illogical, relationship. 

So How Does Marijuana Affect Memory?

By using an fMRI scanner, researchers were able to show the parts of the brain which are most active when supplied with the encoding, maintenance, and retrieval stimuli. 

As was consistent with previous research, the areas of the brain researchers focused on include the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which help regulate executive function and control in the near-term. 

The results found three relationships regarding working memory and cannabis use worth noting. 

First and most, unfortunately, the research reinforced the idea that individuals who began using cannabis earlier in life had longer reaction times than both cannabis users who began using after adolescence and non-users. This suggests broadly that cannabis use may impact the development of encoding information if used early in life. 

(Note: this does not mean cannabis use is a predictive factor for memory issues, rather working memory and cannabis use may have a relationship.)

Second, the age an individual first uses cannabis and whether they have used cannabis once or repeatedly had no relationship to the behavior of the brain. 

According to researchers, this may suggest the age a person initially uses cannabis may reflect substance use risk characteristics rather than a cannabis-exposure effect (such as impaired memory) on brain development. 

And last but not least, among the group of 75 participants, the researchers were able to show repeated cannabis use AND greater levels of overall cannabis use were associated with increases of performance in the activation (i.e. - working of) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the maintenance period.

Additionally, across all 75 participants, users of cannabis generally performed better than non-users, which includes a faster reaction time and higher memory retrieval accuracy.

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and everyone is wondering what exactly they should get their partner to make it extra special. And yes, that includes all the stoners out there. And if you’re feeling like just buying your partner’s favorite strain might not be enough this year, then here are some products to liven it up a little – the icing on the cake, as they say. These are some of our favorite stoner Valentine’s Day gifts.

Best Stoner Valentine’s Day Gifts

We get it, it’s hard to think about what your significant other may appreciate this time of year, especially if you’re too stoned. We got you! Light up that joint and read on for some good inspiration!

Cannabis Chocolates

What more could anyone ask for? Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day staple and adding a little bit of weed into the cocoa mix gives the gift that “little extra” that regular chocolate just can’t deliver. You can find some coupons on chocolates here.

Flowers

“Flowers don’t tell, they show.” – Stephanie Skeem

Generally speaking, roses are a go-to for Valentine’s Day. That being said, there are definitely better types of flower out there. Can’t really smoke roses, can you? However we have heard of rolling blunts with rose petals, so you could try that! Class it up by turning your flowers into a weed bouquet. 

Couples’ Massage

There are very few people that don’t enjoy a nice, relaxing massage. Double the relaxation by maybe enjoying the chocolates you got your partner before going in. It’s worth it. 

Cannabis Lotion

Okay, so maybe you don’t want someone else rubbing up on your sweetheart. Fair enough. But keeping them from getting a massage seems cruel, so try giving them one yourself. Coupling a massage with a cannabis skin lotion can really elevate it to the next level.

Edibles

Food! Everyone loves food. If you’re smart, you’ll be making your significant other a romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day. Liven it up with some edibles in the mix. Get baking and get baked.

Cannabis Candles

What better way to set the mood than with some romantic, cannabis-infused candles? It is Valentine’s day after all. Turn up the charm with candles that have a little extra kick.

New Glass

Back in the day, “fine China” used to be a great way to show your sweetie some love. Certainly, we’ve evolved a bit. In this case, don’t think of flatware as plates and bowls; at least not the bowls you eat out of. Grabbing a new glass pipe to smoke out of together is a better way of keeping up with the times.

Pre-rolled Love

Some people like to roll their own joints. A lot of people don’t. If your partner prefers to smoke without the work, a pack of pre-rolls is a perfect way to show you care. 

Cannabis Seeds

“Love grows by giving.” – Elbert Hubbard 

Growth is an important facet of any relationship. Why not symbolize that with a couple of seeds of your own, that grow in tandem with your relationship? Easier than raising other things.

Homemade Crafts

It’s hard to beat an old-fashioned joint. Be that as it may, Valentine’s Day is a special occasion. Trying your hand at rolling unique joints, like the tulip joint, is a great way to show your partner that they were on your mind. 

Weekend Getaway

Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, perfect for a nice 420-friendly getaway with your stoner beau. The COVID-19 pandemic has made travel harder this year, but a nice alternative to a hotel is finding somewhere warm, packing a tent, some food, and a bowl, and camping the weekend away.

Vaporizers

No one likes to admit it, but packing a bowl or rolling a joint can sometimes be a chore, especially when you just want a quick toke. Good thing vaporizers exist. Perfect for an easy smoke, they can fit in your pocket and work like a charm. 

Cannabis Lube

It’s pretty easy to explain this one. 

• Weed? Check. 

• Lube? Check.

I’m fairly sure everyone knows why this gift is sure to make your partner happy.

Soda Pop for Your Sweetheart

Is it soda or pop in Denver? Asking for a friend. Regardless of what it’s called, a nice way to switch it up is with some Keef Cola, a cannabis-infused soda (pop)? If Michael Bublé is singing about it, you know it’s a good Valentine’s Day gift. 

Weed Apparel

Yes, it can give a “Yeah I totally smoke weed” vibe sometimes, but there’s nothing wrong with showing a little love for your favorite honey by getting them something that shows a little love for their favorite flower. Things like pot leaf underwear can make for a funny, yet charming Valentine’s gift.

Marijuana Cookbooks

Weed and food go hand in hand. There are very few combinations that can stack up. Peanut butter and jelly? Close second. If your partner loves to cook and loves to smoke, a prime gift would be one that combines both. You can find marijuana cookbooks that can merge cooking and weed. Really, it’s a gift for both of you.

A Night In

No doubt that we’ve all been spending plenty of nights in, over the past year. With that in mind, it’s certainly possible to spice it up a bit. A romantic dinner, a romantic blunt, and a romantic movie can make for a fantastic quarantined Valentine’s Day. 

Stoner Flicks

Being high can make mostly anything fun. But one of the best activities is chilling out and watching classic stoner movies, like Half-Baked or Pineapple Express. A night in doesn’t have to be limited to rom-com. 

Grassy Gift Basket

Can’t decide on just one thing? Well luckily, you don’t have to. If you really want to step up your Valentine’s Day game, you can mix and match any of the above to really bring it home. Chocolates, lotion, and pre-rolls? You don’t have to be that charming, but it definitely isn’t going to hurt. 

All in all, you know best. It’s Valentine’s Day, and hopefully, you know what your stoner sweetie likes. Getting the right gift is a great way to show them that you really care. For specials on the above-mentioned products, you can check out websites like Cannasaver for deals that won’t break the bank. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, you crazy stoners!

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While marijuana isn’t necessarily unhealthy, smoking it may not be the healthiest way to consume. That’s why we’ve put together the healthiest ways to consume marijuana.

Why Search for the Healthiest Ways to Consume Marijuana?

There are many reasons to consume healthy products and to prepare them in a healthy manner.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that heart disease is the leading cause of American adult deaths. According to the American Heart Association, half the American population has some form of cardiac disease.

Many approaches to healthy eating including the DASH diet recommend eating a two-thousand-calorie-a-day diet that focuses on 

• Fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains

• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products

• Fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils

• Limiting saturated fats including full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils

• Limiting fatty meats

• Eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages and sweet snack foods

The National Cancer Institute recommends eating foods raw or lightly cooked. They caution against fried and battered foods. The institute also urges people to eat foods high in antioxidants and free radicals.

Why Choose Marijuana?

A 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health learned that one in five adolescents under 25 years old used marijuana. VeryWellMind.com outlines reasons youth and adults choose marijuana. Some use it to relieve anxiety or mood disorders.

Research has also found other therapeutic uses of cannabis. These include:

• Alleviating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

• The reduction of chronic pain symptoms.

• Short-term use of cannabinoids appears to improve multiple sclerosis-related spasticities.

• The use of cannabinoids is being examined as a treatment for such conditions as epilepsy and schizophrenia.

What are the Healthiest Ways to Consume Marijuana?

If you are worried about the effects of smoking or you don’t like the lingering taste or smell of marijuana, there are healthy alternatives.

Try Vaping

Vaping or vaporizing the flower isn’t the same as smoking. You’re actually heating the cannabis, not burning it. This significantly lowers smoking-related health hazards. Vaping allows the user to cook the bud at a chosen temperature. This allows various combinations of terpenes and cannabinoids without burning your throat or lungs.

Lower temperature settings release sweeter, lighter effects. Vaping also allows the combustion of oils and waxes from the plant.

Eat Edibles

Cannabis-infused foods are an increasingly popular way to ingest marijuana. If you are new to making edibles, try these dark chocolate hemp protein balls from the Minimalistbaker.com. 

If you are reluctant to create your own edibles, sample the increasing number of prepared varieties. Available in regular and gluten-free edibles from our trusted sources, you will discover an ever-widening selection of sugar-free, vegan, and kosher edibles.

If you want to skip the production stage, you can buy dried flower products. 

Whether you’re just getting started on baking edibles or you want to expand your methods of preparing munchies, sources like Sol Cannabis provide step-by-step directions. 

Create Cannabutter

You can get creative in the kitchen by creating cannabutter. You’ll find there are easy ways to make your own cannabutter. Emily Kyle offers this easy cannabutter recipe using your own dried product or with pre-dried cannabis.

Many cannabis chefs swear by this method of achieving a cannabis-rich infused butter as a base for baking. Using cannabutter to make edibles opens new product opportunities like those outlined in the recipes of MyEdiblesChef.com.

Experiment with Extracts and Oils

Oils and extracts preserve the medicinal goodness of marijuana. Those with allergies usually tolerate oils. These products are the fastest and easiest ways to enjoy the healthy benefits of marijuana. They are often consumed sublingually by placing the oil under the tongue. The substance then seeps into the bloodstream. Oils may also be injected.

Serve in Beverages

Cannabis oil may be added to the beverage of choice. Alcohol as a liquid is not recommended.

Try a cannabis smoothie. Place ice, fruit, and a little cannabis oil in your blender cup. Emulsify and enjoy.

A good way to enjoy cannabis oil in your coffee is to prepare a weekly supply of cream or milk. Add cannabis oil and puree. This works equally well with almond, hazelnut, or coconut milk. You can also stir in a dollop of cannabutter.

Create a relaxing cup of cannabis tea. Steep dry buds in boiling water just as you’d prepare tea using the leaves of your favorite brand. Using a tea strainer or a tea infuser ensures your brew will be leaf-free.

Blended non-alcoholic cocktails also accommodate cannabis oil for a tasty, healthy beverage.

Add cannabis oil to the juice of your choice by adding a drop or two to your juicer.

Experiment with Topicals

These weed-infused creams, balms, lotions, or salves provide pain relief for aching joints or muscles. They also help with skin conditions.

Chronic pain sufferers have experienced improved quality of life.

Topicals allow the cannabinoids to interact with targeted areas. The topical is absorbed by the skin. 

Topicals work best when the user directs them to a specific spot rather than as full-body consumption like edibles.

Topicals are the least invasive method of cannabis use. They don’t need to be inhaled, injected, eaten, or imbibed to feel their effects.

When selecting the most effective topical, Healthline.com suggests you pay attention to

• The company’s reputation

• The manufacturing process

• The topical ingredients

• What buyers say about the product

Explore Dabs using Wax, Shatter, etc.

Dabs, crumble, shatter, wax, and budder are all highly concentrated forms of cannabis. They differ in the way they are cooked.

Many users love the transparent sheen of shatter. Budder and crumble are both wax variations.

Dabbing involves using super-potent concentrated cannabis made from hash oil. Thus, there is little waste. First, a nail made of titanium or ceramic is heated. Then, shatter, crumble, or wax is placed on the heated nail. As it vaporizes, the user inhales it through a bong or a dab device. Dabbing is more like vaping because the user inhales the vapor, not smoke.

Consider marijuana smoking with a bowl, a joint, a blunt, a spliff, a bong, or a pipe.

Experienced smokers can control the degree of inhaling, the duration of smoking, and the effects they wish to achieve. 

A joint is a traditional way to consume marijuana. It involves rolling cannabis in thin rolling paper. Bigger than a joint, a blunt contains cannabis inside a cigar wrap. Made of tobacco, the wrap adds to the high.

Like a joint, a spliff is a mix of tobacco and cannabis. A bong is more efficient. Joints blunts and spliffs keep burning between hits. With a bong, smoking material burns only during the two or three hits you take. Bongs get you higher with the same amount of weed and do so with less smoke inhalation.

Bongs are harder to clean and less portable than pipes. But, bongs filter out the bad while retaining all the benefits of cannabis. Bongs burn cooler than pipes but you can experience water burns.

How Cannasaver Can Help

Shop from an online source that provides an illustrated, organized catalog of trusted products. Enjoy the savings of featured specials and coupons. 

Read more of our informative blogs. Take your time browsing our cannabis products. 

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