Category: Cannabis

Vacationing without your meds

We’re back after a week in Maine visiting family. It was a good visit, and I’m glad we went, but I’m thrilled to be home. Our cat, Riley, had lots to say upon our arrival. Dale calls it the Kittysburg Address.

This might be the terpenes talking, but I’ve started to think of cannabis as medicine, and it was rough traveling without my meds. Possessing cannabis in any form within U.S. airports or on commercial aircraft falls under federal jurisdiction. That means it’s illegal to pack it in carry-on or checked bags.

I don’t like the feds messing with my meds! If there’s criminal intent here, it’s on the part of the federal government for failing to acknowledge the powerful therapeutic value of cannabis. No laws against traveling with opioids, right?

Presumably, lots of people risk traveling with cannabis, but that’s not how I roll. Why, yes, I watch Orange is the New Black, and that’s as close as I want to get to women’s prison. Dale and I had a lengthy discussion about what dogs can smell. Can they detect an unopened cannabis oil cartridge? My sister-in-law said dogs are focused on explosives and don’t bother with cannabis anymore. I do not want to be the one to test her theory.

Although I do vape cannabis recreationally from time to time or take a couple of hits off the occasional joint, I principally use three types of cannabis products to treat different conditions:

  • Wellness – One daily dropperful of homemade alcohol-based cannabis tincture stirred into a small glass of juice reduces anxiety, lifts my mood and just makes me feel better overall.
  • Sleep – I buy cartridges of Granddaddy Purple concentrate. The cartridge screws onto a vape pen, and a couple of hits off the vape pen helps me sleep through the night. I also like Kiva chocolate-covered blueberries and Kikoko tea. I gifted Tranquili-Tea to my neighbor, who has serious medical issues but is wary of cannabis, and she LOVES it.
  • Pain – In addition to post-mastectomy pain, I have a lot of age-related creaky body parts. I apply homemade cannabis balm twice a day. A week without it, and my mastectomy scars started burning and sciatica returned.

I am careful to microdose and do not get high from the tincture or the concentrate. Topical balms have no psychotropic effect. If they did, I would be super sloppy stoned, because I use balm liberally on my mastectomy scars, knees, elbows and spine.

Traveling without these products was a bummer. I missed my tincture the most. I think of it as a vitamin but better. A little tincture makes me feel like a happier, better version of myself. I was explaining the concept of microdosing to someone, and I said you want just enough so you begin to feel the crack of a smile on your face.

For older adults who are interested in cannabis as medicine, I highly recommend starting with tincture. Some tincture is made with glycerin, and you can put a few drops under your tongue. I made mine with alcohol, because the shelf life is basically forever, but it burns when applied sublingually. That’s why I add it to juice.

I gave serious thought to putting a small bottle of tincture in my checked bag but decided it wasn’t worth the risk. As I unpacked when we got home, I found a love letter from TSA stating they searched my bag. Maybe they knew I thought about it! Anyway, I don’t know if it’s a manual search or if they use dogs or if they even care whether you have cannabis, but I was glad I erred on the side of caution.

A goody two-shoe’s guide to legal cannabis

I attended a four-day cannabis industry seminar and learned even sweet retirees and law-abiding citizens like you and me can make innocent mistakes and get in trouble with the police.

Cannabis, in my view, is safe and effective medicine. I’m a true believer, and I’d like to be part of the legal cannabis industry that is emerging across the country. I attended the seminar to see how I might use my skills and talents in this realm, my second act so to speak. The course covers everything from cultivating plants to running a dispensary. I was shocked to find myself practicing what to say to the police.

Say what?

Well, the laws regarding cannabis are iffy at best. While medical and recreational use is legal in California, where I live, it’s not legal at the federal level. Mostly the feds don’t mess with states, but they’ve been known to raid a dispensary here and there. It’s important to play by the rules, or you might attract unwanted attention. And at a minimum, that’s going to be a pain the the ass.

Let’s talk about you, who probably has nothing to do with the cannabis industry. You might be a casual cannabis consumer. Sloppy behavior might attract the attention of local police.

What’s sloppy?

  • Selling cannabis to a friend (or undercover cop)
  • Smoking or vaping in public
  • Driving under the influence
  • Exceeding possession limits
  • Keeping an open stash in the car
  • Decorating your car with cannabis stickers

While there’s no law against cannabis stickers, it’s like a neon light saying, “Hey! I might have illegal stuff in here!”

Staying safe shouldn’t be hard. Don’t sell it, do use it at home, don’t drive high, only buy what’s allowed, put it in the trunk when you leave the dispensary and take it out when you get home. However, let’s say you are coming home after a cannabis purchase and get stopped for a broken tail light. The policeman says he smells pot and asks to search your car.

This is when I got scared. We had to practice saying in our polite police voice, “Officer, I don’t consent to searches.” Even if they ultimately search your car, the lawyers advised never consent. Not allowing searches without a warrant also applies to your home. Our study materials included the embedded video on how to deal with the police.

You may not use cannabis. You may think there’s nothing in your car or home that would trouble the police, but most of us are vulnerable in some way. Friends and family members, including children and grandchildren, have been known to borrow the car and leave drug paraphernalia behind. Or hide illegal substances or even unregistered guns in your home.

A cannabis attorney who was lecturing talked about the potential legal ramifications of growing cannabis or selling cannabis products. I’m thinking, holy crap, I’m writing about it. Is that a risk? I waited until a break and approached him.

I explained my position, and he said no problem, you’re just exercising your first amendment rights. You don’t actually touch the product for business purposes. I’m like, OK, you’re sure? Because I respect and appreciate the police, but I don’t want anything to do with them. Ever. He’s like, yeah, got it.

Watching the police video seemed like a ridiculous idea to me, a complete straight arrow and goody two-shoes when it comes to the law, but my husband and I watched it together, and we learned a few things that hopefully will NOT come in handy someday.

Even if you have nothing to do with cannabis, life comes with many opportunities for interacting with the police. The video is worth a few minutes of your time.

And remember – when driving home from the dispensary, keep your cannabis sealed and put in the trunk or storage area of a hatchback.

More cannabis balm, please

Back in the kitchen this week making more cannabis balm. I first wrote about my experience making cannabis topicals here and thought I’d share an update.

In my first post, I mentioned that I gifted free samples to my focus group — two neighbors. They are wonderful people but apparently slackers when it comes to focus group norms. I’ve heard nothing. However, I’ve been using it twice a day, and it’s life-changing. Dale has been using it on arthritis in his hands, and he said it helps a lot.

It’s kind of crazy how much I use — it seems like practically my whole body is crying out for help. I really need a paint roller. But here’s my routine:

  • Knees (routine problematic knees)
  • Spine (bulging discs, etc. common in older adults)
  • Left hip (sciatica related to the bulging discs)
  • Mastectomy scars (post-mastectomy pain and inflammation, especially around the lymph nodes)
  • Elbows (too much golf)

I’m pretty active, and using cannabis balm on creaky body parts keeps me moving with minimal pain. I notice it if I miss a dose or two. I told Dale if you’re not using it twice a day, you’re wasting it, so now I have him on board and we’re going through more.

No problem. I have all the stuff, so it’s easier this time around. And this time around, no freebies for the neighbors, so it should last longer.

If you are not a cannabis user and don’t want to be, I still urge you to consider cannabis topicals if they are legal in your state. This is medicine, and it can make a real difference. You will not get high, although you may turn up positive on a drug test.

Some people swear by CBD, which is a cannabinoid in the cannabis plant that doesn’t get you high. Pure CBD products are for sale in all states, I believe. The literature says CBD works better with at least small doses of THC, which is the cannabinoid that does have the potential to get you high. The two working together is called the entourage effect. But if all you can get is 100 percent CBD, I think it’s worth a shot.

I’ll close with kind of a funny anecdote. I played golf last week with some men in their 70s. I didn’t know them. I showed up as a single and they paired me up with a threesome. So, the one guy is complaining about his aches and pains and said he has to get in the hot tub for 10 minutes to loosen up before he can play golf.

I said, well, I use cannabis cream. He’s like, where do you get that? I said the local dispensary sells it, but I make it myself. He asked if I got the recipe off the Internet, and I said yes. He said, you know what? I might try that. I’ve got some old pot laying around.

Back to school for cannabis lessons

They say we need to keep our brains sharp as we age, so I went back to school. Cannabis school.

As I’ve previously shared, I became a cannabis fan when I had ovarian cancer in 1999. I hated the idea of smoking anything, but smoking pot during chemo probably saved my life. Still, I happily gave it up after I got a clean bill of health and went back to work full speed ahead. I never missed it.

I discovered cannabis again after I retired and was desperate for something to help with post-mastectomy pain after being treated for breast cancer. I got approved for using medical marijuana in California, where I live, and I began the great experiment. I learned you don’t have to smoke it, and you don’t have to get crazy high.

A small daily dose of cannabis tincture or cannabis-infused coconut oil eases my pain and makes me feel good. I use homemade cannabis balm to treat achy body parts, including my knees. A cup of cannabis tea or a hit or two off a vape pen helps me sleep. It sounds like a lot, but these are therapeutic doses that enhance my life.

For my second act, I’d like to be a part of this movement to make medicinal cannabis available to those who need it. I’m eager to explore how I can use my skills and talents to contribute. I’ve been reading a lot, but I wanted to broaden my education, so I signed up to attend Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California. I’m in a four-day seminar to learn more about cannabis overall, but this seminar focuses on the business side of this industry. I even got a 15 percent veteran’s discount!

Yesterday was the first day, and it was great. I’m like a sponge, furiously taking notes, asking the occasional question but mostly just learning, learning, learning. The class demographic is skewed to young men. Class pictures are posted on the walls, and I scanned them on a break looking for older women. There were a couple but not many. More than a few older men.

Other than continuing to write about cannabis, I’m not sure how I’ll use my new-found education. Expand my consulting? Maybe. For now, I think I’ll just enjoy the experience and see what happens.

In the meantime, I will say the trip has been good for my brain. Just driving in downtown Oakland was a jump start.

#7: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

Today wraps up my 7-day challenge to use cannabis-infused coconut oil as medicine by adding it to my daily diet.

The loveliness you see in this picture is my husband’s pizza. However, any pizza works well with cannabis oil. Our toppings are grated whole milk mozzarella, crumbled goat cheese, whole shrimp, diced tomatoes, sliced Kalamata olives, sliced habaneros and fresh basil. Top with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and your dose of cannabis-infused coconut oil.

I’m just going to go ahead and say it. Dale made the pizza last night, and I ate leftovers for breakfast this morning. We call this “Punishment Pizza” because of the habaneros. I usually pick them off, leaving a more bearable residual heat. I could not detect the taste or smell of either coconut or cannabis, but that might be the peppers talking.

Until recently, I read about cannabis-infused coconut oil and thought you had to bake with it or use it for topical creams. I’m like, I don’t need a pan of brownies or cookies. Adding oil to an individual portion of food I would eat anyway is an efficient and delicious way to medicate. I see it as a big win for caregivers and patients who want the benefits of cannabis without all the fuss. I had to smoke it when I had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy in 1999. This oil would have been a gift.

At first I thought portability might be an issue. Traveling with a mason jar full of cannabis-infused coconut oil? No, but you can easily fill a small dropper bottle and take it with you on your travels, as long as you’re not flying with cannabis or breaking any other laws! I’m planning a four-day trip within California, and I could easily add a dose of oil to coffee in my hotel room before heading out for the day.

As for downsides, cost could be an issue if you want a Magical Butter Machine, which is about $175. Personally, I would not bother to make the oil or tincture without one, but you can. I explain all that here. If you do want one, there’s a $25 discount on my FaceBook page. This is an affiliate link, and I would receive a small commission.

Pros

  • Easy to make.
  • Relatively inexpensive — my first batch weighed in at $2.50 an ounce.
  • Easy to microdose.
  • Minimal to no cannabis or coconut taste/smell.
  • No smoking involved.
  • No other paraphernalia required.
  • A simple and mindful way to medicate with cannabis daily.

Cons

  • Labor. Well, you do have to make it.
  • Cost.

Please be mindful ideal dosage varies, depending on your tolerance, what kind of high you are seeking and the potency of your cannabis. Start low and go slow!

#6: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

For those who are just tuning in, I’m on a 7-day challenge to medicate with cannabis-infused coconut oil by adding it to my daily diet. I use low doses of cannabis to ease anxiety and reduce inflammation associated with post-mastectomy pain, but I don’t like smoking it, and I don’t want to cook up a big pan of something with cannabis in it. Tincture is an excellent option for microdosing cannabis, but it’s less versatile.

I like to medicate in the morning or early afternoon, so my test meals are breakfast and lunch. The oil is easy to make and easy to add to foods you would eat anyway. Yesterday’s post was breakfast, so I wanted to feature lunch today, but I almost went with breakfast again because I was feeling sad about Anthony Bourdain passing away and wanted to feel better sooner. I find small doses of cannabis to be an excellent anti-depressant.

Tostadas!

  • Fried a corn tortilla until crisp.
  • Heated a spoon or two of leftover refried beans in the microwave — then added cannabis oil to the beans.
  • Spread beans on the tortilla, topped with a little cheddar cheese and put in under the broiler for a few seconds to melt.
  • Added a dollop of guacamole I made from the other half of Monday’s avocado. I use this holder to keep the avocado fresh for a few days after cutting it.
  • Garnished with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, radish, a bit more cheese and chopped carrots from a can of pickled jalapeños.

It was so good, and since I made it smallish, I didn’t even feel too full or guilty. Overall, a tostada is pretty wholesome food. Within 30 minutes, a gentle smile creeped up when I wasn’t looking. No taste or smell of either cannabis or coconut.

I’m still sad about Mr. Bourdain. Cooking my way through it. First I made that tasty tostada lunch, then a big batch of red lentil coconut spinach stew for the freezer. Somehow, I think he’d be OK with that.

Enjoy life, enjoy food.

#5: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

For readers who aren’t into cannabis, please hang in there, the challenge is almost over. For those of you who are interested in learning more about new ways to medicate with cannabis, only two more tasty meal ideas left! It will be hard to top #5.

All week, I’ve been thinking about a soft-boiled egg and speculating a little cannabis-infused coconut oil might be a perfect pairing. And it was. With tacos and tuna or even avocado toast, the coconut oil taste disappears. Perhaps it’s simply a matter of volume. Small portions are likely to reveal the taste of coconut. I found that to be true with peanut butter as well.

But runny egg yolk, soft egg whites and a little coconut oil? It’s a match made in heaven. I could only detect a hint of coconut, but it was just enough. No taste or smell of cannabis. Later, I wondered if a sprinkle of toasted salted coconut would be good on top, but maybe that’s gilding the lily. Or maybe for a poached egg?

As always, medicate carefully. I use only a scant dropperful, which is about 1/4 teaspoon.

Oh, and look at my cute oil dispenser! It’s glass, so if the oil firms up a bit, just take off the lid and microwave for a couple of seconds at low heat. It’s nice to have a dispenser on the counter top or at the table so you can easily add a bit of cannabis-infused coconut oil to individual portions.

I’ll do a proper wrap-up when the challenge is over, but for now, I’m a fan. It’s so simple to add a small amount of cannabis coconut oil to your daily diet, and I have found low doses to help me with post-mastectomy pain, inflammation and anxiety.

Overall, I just feel better and happier with a little cannabis in my system.

#4: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

One of the many things I love about retirement is fixing myself a tasty and healthy lunch at home. Yesterday I played golf, which is pretty much an all-day event, so it’s a treat to hang out with nothing big on the agenda. I love the balance, and that’s what retirement is all about!

This challenge is about medicating by adding cannabis-infused coconut oil to individual servings of foods I would eat anyway. What a great way to treat your medical conditions! So easy and so delicious.

For Day 4 of the challenge, I’ve made cannabis-infused tuna-stuffed tomato salad. I started with a small can of tuna and added chopped pickles, celery and mayonnaise. To that mix, I added my dose of cannabis-infused coconut oil, which is 1/4 teaspoon. I cored out a beautiful farmer’s market tomato and stuffed the tomato, sprinkling a bit of paprika on the top. Then I garnished with baby spinach, Kalamata olives and fresh orange slices.

For those who love tuna salad with mayo, this is a yummy way to eat it because the mayo seeps into the tomato, and it’s almost like a tomato sandwich without the bread. The tomato and the tuna then seep onto the spinach, and it’s the equivalent of salad dressing. I loved it and could not detect a hint of coconut or cannabis.

The perfect dose of cannabis coconut oil varies from person to person, depending on your tolerance, what kind of high you are seeking and the potency of your cannabis. I like microdosing for gentle effects. Starting to feel the little smile just about now …

Oh, exciting news. I’ve been keeping my oil in a large mason jar, but now that I am seeing how to use cannabis oil as a topping at the table, I wanted some sort of decorative dispenser. Found it on Amazon. Arrived today. So cool. Will share tomorrow.

#3: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

I like to microdose with medical cannabis at breakfast or lunch so I can enjoy pleasant feelings and pain relief all day long. I’m playing golf today and usually eat a hearty breakfast before a game. My husband, Dale, is the chief enabler, and he made breakfast tacos for day 3 of my cannabis coconut oil 7-day challenge.

We start with some pretty spectacular ingredients. Dale’s homemade Mexican-style chorizo and his zingy salsa verde. Both ingredients are usually available in U.S. markets. The corn tortillas are store bought — this would even be better with homemade torts, but sometimes you have to compromise.

To make the tacos, brown 1/4 pound chorizo in a pan over medium heat. Spritz another pan with cooking spray and set the burner to medium-high. Lightly whisk three eggs and pour them into the prepared pan. As the eggs start to set, add the chorizo and lightly scramble. Heat the tortilla on a griddle or in the microwave. Drizzle with salsa verde and a dose of cannabis-infused coconut oil. Fresh white nectarines and strawberries on the side.

Yum. Dag, we eat well. The flavorful chorizo is the stand-out in this dish. Dale says it’s easy to make. Modified from a Rick Bayless recipe, Dale makes a big batch and freezes it in 1/4 pound servings. I could not detect the smell or taste of cannabis in the tacos. I just drizzled the oil over the eggs and salsa.

I’m fortified but mellow — ready for golf. My ideal dose of cannabis oil is 1/4 teaspoon. Ideal dosage varies, depending on your tolerance, what kind of high you are seeking and the potency of your cannabis. I like microdosing for gentle effects.

So far, I would have to say adding a bit of infused oil to foods you would eat anyway is a great way to medicate with cannabis.

 

#2: The Cannabis Coconut Oil 7-day Challenge

Second day of the challenge to add a single dose of cannabis-infused coconut oil to foods I would eat anyway. Infused coconut oil is not new, but I wanted to explore how to use it in a daily diet. I suspect there are a lot of people, especially older adults, who would enjoy the benefits of medical cannabis if they knew it was this easy and doesn’t involve smoking or making big piles of cannabis-infused foods.

We won’t call it avocado toast because I didn’t toast the bread, which is described as multi-grain European loaf, and it is super yummy. Love those seeds on the crust! To the bread I added sliced up avocados squirted with a bit of fresh lime. Then I grated some radishes with a microplane and mixed in my cannabis-infused coconut oil, salt and a dash of rice wine vinegar. Topped the bread with this mixture, grated some pepper over the top and garnished with farmer’s market strawberries.

Oh, my. So fresh and delicious. I could not even taste the coconut this time around, and there was no hint of cannabis taste or odor. Radishes probably took care of that!

Tomorrow is golf, so I either need to think of something portable or medicate with breakfast.