Serving our country can be extremely stressful and certainly takes a toll on the body. Even though cannabinoids could be helpful to those who serve, it is a military no-no. Though the United States government strictly prohibits cannabis use by military personnel, the government has been researching cannabis for military applications for over one hundred years. After service, many veterans turn to cannabis for its therapeutic effects in favor of heavier pharmaceutical medications. Like star-crossed lovers, veterans and marijuana seem destined to find each other. Continue reading to learn a bit more about the government’s sorted history with cannabis, the effects the Vietnam War has had on cannabis culture, and why many veterans turn to cannabis after service. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some history stuff.
Uncle Sam’s Curiosity with Weed
The government’s curiosity with weed may have started in the mid 1910’s when Frank Meyer, known as the plant hunter, introduced indicas to the United States for the first time after an expedition to Asia on behalf of the USDA and began comparative research of indica and sativa strains. By WWII, Harry J Anslinger’s propaganda campaign had swayed government attention away from possible medical applications and toward a strict no tolerance policy of the plant.
Against the grain, Roger Adams began isolating cannabinoids for possible military use as an in-battle sedative for wounded soldiers and a possible treatment for shell shock (early term for PTSD). Though they had no interest in the medical research Adams conducted, they needed him to win the war and allowed him to continue his research into cannabis. They would never use his cannabinoid research for official military applications.
In 1974, D. Gold synthesized THC acetate ester, also known as THC-O, when the country was still at war with Vietnam. The First War was extensively covered on television, and it painted the horrors of war in technicolor and led to research into non-lethal incapacitants. So, Uncle Sam set out to weaponize THC-O. Tests on its effectiveness were run during the dying days of the shameful Edgewood Arsenal experiments, which ran from 1948-1975. In those experiments, Uncle Sam tested low-level chemical warfare on human subjects. This program was the predecessor of the much more recognized project MKUltra.
Heroes Among Heroes
The Vietnam War was instrumental in cannabis culture and future medicinal research. 1/3 of our troops were drafted and not ready for a gruesome war and even those who volunteered weren’t ready for what they saw. Troops needed something to help them cope after battle and would find a new type of cannabis to them but one common to locals, we call it indica. They found it so effective they would smuggle seeds back and introduce indica flowers to the USA on a large scale when they returned stateside, but they were coming home with a shell shock, now coined PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. Shell shock had a new name and PTSD was officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980. The US Department of Veterans Affairs estimates at least 7% of veterans will battle PTSD at some point after service with the number significantly increasing among combat vets.
What Happens When Johnny Comes Marching Home?
Being veteran owned, RiverBluff employs several veterans and sees the obstacles they deal with. Military veterans are accustomed to living a regimented life. When relieved of service, their bodies can be beaten up and their minds weary. The VA’s first line of treatment usually involves opiates and heavy psychotropic medications which can be invasive on the regimented lives they’ve grown to know. DJ Loeffelholz, a co-owner of RiverBluff and former member of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, described his PTSD medical experience like this:
“When I finished up and got home, I looked for help treating my PTSD. They gave me pills and I didn’t like how they made me feel. I didn’t feel like me. After a bit, I asked my doctor if they were any other options and though he couldn’t prescribe it to me he recommended cannabis.”
Corey Anderson, general manager of RiverBluff, served 22 years in United States Coast Guard. He retired as part of the Deployable Specialized Forces as a Senior Chief Petty Officer and had this to say about his experience and his of cannabis:
“I didn’t really consume cannabis before I enlisted, maybe a couple of times, and certainly didn’t smoke while enlisted. After 22 years, my body and mind were worn out. My body ached and I struggled to sleep. I wasn’t happy with the course of treatment I as taking, so I looked elsewhere and found cannabis. I only smoke socially but consume edibles to sleep and use topicals for aches and pains.”
DJ’s story, and ones like Corey’s, echoed that of many other veterans and played a factor in the founding of this company, so we could make THC products and other cannabinoids more accessible for everyone regardless of ailment. RiverBluff is proud of our armed services, and we salute their efforts. We hope you enjoyed this article, and, and if you have story to share, please post it in the comments. We’d love to hear it!
Who doesn’t like THC products? THC products are great. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Chocolate is great. Naturally, they’d make wonderful companions and boy do they. If you have ever tried a Delta 9 THC chocolate or a Delta 8 THC chocolate, you may have noticed that it felt like it hit you harder than gummies and wondered why. There are a few scientific answers to this question. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some weed stuff.
Chocolates Produces Endocannabinoids Gummies Do not
There have long been tales that dark chocolate enhances your THC high. There are no doubts chocolate affects your endocannabinoid system. Chocolate produces small amounts of Anandamide. Anandamide is a naturally produced endocannabinoid within the brain and has a similar potency to THC. This is probably where the theory that dark chocolate can enhance your buzz unknowingly stems from. Gummies do not contain other endocannabinoids. While both THC products get you high, the chocolate will have a greater effect on your endocannabinoid system.
Water-Soluble THC vs Oil Soluble THC
Water soluble THC has been a breakthrough for THC edibles. It can’t be used in chocolate, but it is becoming the new go-to in gummies and drinks. If you’ve seen a THC product labeled “fast acting”, it contains water-soluble THC. Water-soluble THC bypasses what is known as first-pass effect or first-pass metabolism and allows for quick absorption with a more predictable onset time and shorter duration. This has been great for people who need immediate relief but for those looking for longer duration they don’t seem to hit. Gummies are the royalty of THC edibles, they dominate the shelves, and are the first thing many people ask for, so when they try chocolate, they are unprepared. Chocolates use oil soluble THC and must go through first-pass metabolism which leaves duration longer but the duration as well as the onset time is more unpredictable.
Summation
If you’ve never tried chocolate THC products before this is your sign to give it a go! We suggest testing out the effects for yourself with our 5mg Delta 9 THC/CBG gummies and our 5mg chocolate crunchy balls. There is no downside to finding out if they hit harder than gummies. Either you discover that chocolate indeed does hit harder than gummies, or you just get high as usual and get to eat chocolate and your normal gummies. We don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good day to us.
The fundamental differences between cannabis and hemp were accepted for years. Cannabis gets you high and hemp does not. All hemp was cannabis but not all cannabis was hemp. With the rise in hemp-derived Delta 9 THC and THC-A flower, the lines have become more blurred. Science and politics have left many long-time consumers confused. We’re going to try to clean up some of that confusion by explaining what hemp and cannabis are today as well as how the line became so blurred. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up and let’s learn about some weed stuff.
What is Hemp?
Hemp belongs to the cannabis sativa family. That’s right – hemp is sativa. Traditionally, hemp carried very low levels of cannabinoids making it near useless for recreational or medicinal usages. Hemp grows faster than any other plant on earth other than bamboo1. Early civilizations discovered hemp could produce very strong textiles. Hemp textiles have been found dating back 50,000 years and are still used to make cloth, paper, and biodegradable packaging. Hemp may have become bigger than plastic if it weren’t for Harry J Anslinger and the Du Pont family (Villains of Weed). Hemp was primarily used as windbreaks for crops which led to the term ditch weed as wild hemp would start to spread along roadside2s, but hemp would evolve into so much more.
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is a genus of flower belonging to the Cannabaceae family. Cannabis can be broken up into several species but the most common are indica and sativa. Unlike early hemp, cannabis produced much higher levels of cannabinoids specifically, the fun one, THC3. For that reason, it has been used for recreational and medicinal properties since its discovery. It was used in rituals, it became the symbol of counterculture, and a hero to those looking for alternative medications. In fact, cannabis was legal in the United States until the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, when Harry J Anslinger pushed through the legislation. Cannabis wouldn’t become recreationally legal again for anyone in the United States until states started selling recreational cannabis in 2012.
How Did the Lines Get Blurred?
The lines became blurred in 2018 with the passing of the Hemp Farming Act4. The act at last gave a government distinction between hemp and cannabis. The act defined hemp as containing less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight. This oversight led to a revolution in the hemp market. For starters, Delta 9 THC already has low levels in cannabis; THC-A is the primary form of THC in cannabis causing the psychoactive effects. This led cannabis growers to crossbreed with CBG plants (a type of hemp bred to yield high CBG counts). This gave birth to THC-A flower. THC-A flower maintains the high level found in cannabis while keeping the Delta 9 THC level just low enough to be classified as hemp.
While hemp traditionally produces low level cannabinoids, that didn’t mean it didn’t produce any. Growers would breed plants to get higher levels of certain cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG, but they still produce low levels of Delta 9 THC. Extractors started pulling the Delta 9 THC from most of the industrial hemp grown in the United States for use in edibles. Hemp dispensaries soon started carrying edibles and flower that were every bit as good as their cannabis counterparts, which is where we find ourselves now.
Walking in a Weed Wonderland
Today, weed is everywhere! We are living in the golden age of cannabis. Hemp gets us high now. So, if feel uncomfortable with the sterile, guarded environment of most cannabis dispensaries, you can now walk into most hemp dispensaries and your needs will be completely satisfied. No longer is hemp a dirty word amongst cannaconsumers. Now, it is what it was meant to be, it is just weed, and we get the pleasure of walking in a weed wonderland.
If you are a cannaconsumer, there is a high likelihood you have been too high at some point.It happens to all of us. It doesn’t matter if you are new to cannabis or have been smoking for years, almost everyone falls victim to getting too high. Weed is awesome but being overconfident or underestimating it can be a mistake. In this article, we will go over some different levels of being too high and the things you can do to come down. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn what to do when you take too much weed stuff.
Level 1: Becoming an Inconvenience to Sober People.
This is really the lowest level of being too high. We become an inconvenience to sober people when we do the following:
1. Ramble on at long lengths about a subject no one in a 5ft radius cares about.
2. Because no one is listening to our stoned rants (however eloquent they may) we quit listening to them.
3. We use something akin to the phrase “remember when you were cool”.
What should you do
If you are enjoying your buzz and don’t mind being slightly annoying, just ride it out and apologize in the morning. If inconveniencing your friends is becoming a buzz kill, eat something. Order something for the group or ask the group to grab a bite with you. The fat content in the food should help to bring you down and the food keeps your mouth from talking.
Level 2: Becoming Anxious or Paranoid.
These feelings can ruin the best of times on the best of days. They are both semi-common, especially for new consumers. If you are amongst friends, they will grab you something to eat and talk you back down to reality. These feelings can spiral if you are alone, and that is why we are here.
What Should You Do
Social media has been ablaze with at home remedies for this such as chewing peppercorn, drinking lemon juice and even inhaling a little black pepper, which will help snap you back into reality! They also claim it will have the same effect CBD would and maybe they do1. There is no real dosage chart for these methods, but do you know what there is a dosage chart for? CBD! The things those methods try to mimic, and it is readily available. Don’t turn to TikTok for advice on weed-related matters. Go to your budtender or find a credible blog. Please!
Level 3: Panic
An onset of dread can come on quicker than the other levels and make you fear your own mortality. This is the rarest of feelings. This is more prevalent in consumers who use concentrates, new or old, but not limited to concentrate users. Concentrates are hard to judge when hitting. You can go from zero to lightspeed in the blink of an eye. You may have fainted. You may have heart palpitations. You may break out in a cold sweat. You might think you are dying. Chances are you won’t and if you did, it is highly unlikely the weed that did it2. You will be alright; we are here to help.
What Should You Do
Hopefully, you will be with friends if this happens, and they will assure you that you are alright. If you are alone, you can use the following methods.
Take your dosage of CBD by weight.
Contact a friend to come over and try to talk you back into reality.
Order food for several people and eat.
You can eat some peppercorn or drink some lemon juice while you wait for food if needed.
If those don’t do the trick, just go to sleep. When you wake up, you will be less high or not high at all and realize it wasn’t the weed’s fault.
Summation
As much as we all love cannabis/hemp, it is an intoxicant and should be respected as such. The plant should be used to heal and have fun not to do something excessive. Learn your limitations and remember them. Knowing those limitations will reduce the chances of the above-mentioned feelings. If you are new to cannabis culture, don’t let the possibility of getting too high detour you. Start off with something easy to control like water soluble THC drinks or low dose gummies using water soluble THC or by taking small hits of smokeable products until you find your sweet spot. If you are an old head, you’ve probably felt most of these feelings and probably already knew most of this information, and for that, we thank you for reading.
With increased scientific research on cannabis and hemp over the last 10+ years, many new cannabinoids are entering the recreational market. Wild claims have been made about THC-P, making it the most interesting cannabinoid to be isolated in many years. Naturally, consumers have questions and that is what we are here for. In this article we will cover: Where did it come from, why do people think it is so potent, and what kind of THC products you can find it in. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about weed stuff.
Where Did It Come From?
THC-P (also known as tetrahydrocannabiphorol) mysteriously started showing up in THC products more and more over the last 5 years and that is not by coincidence. Although the compound was relatively unknown until recently, it was studied as far back as 1942 by Roger Adams1 (Check out The Heroes of Weed). It was not until 2019 that THC-P was first isolated by an Italian research group led by Dr. Giuseppe Cannazz.2 For the first time in years, delta 8 THC product blends and delta 9 THC product blends had a new dance partner and research suggests it dances better than them.
Why Do People Think It is So Potent?
The short answer would be because it is – or at least we think it is. Cannabinoids bind receptors in our body’s natural endocannabinoid system. THC-P has a binding affinity (the rate at which compounds bind) 33x that of Delta 9 THC. You read that right – 33x3! However, THC-P naturally occurs in very small amounts making it difficult and costly to extract. So, most delta 8 products and delta 9 products that contain THC-P contain very small amounts. Not much credible research on the effects on humans has been released as most clinical trials last 6-7 years.
What Are the Effects of THC-P?
THC products containing high levels of THC-P can be very powerful and potentially more effective than Delta 9 THC. Some cannaconsumers have detailed their experience with THC-P by describing it as more psychedelic than Delta 9 THC claiming it amplified both sounds and colors. Even though THC-P has that 33x binding affinity, that doesn’t mean it will get you 33x as high. Most consumers claim it to be 5x to 10x as potent as Delta 9 THC.
What Kind of Product Can I find It In?
THC-P is being blended into an ever-increasing number of products due to our fascination of what it could be. It is usually found in gummies such as our RiverBluff Knockout Blend (available at our Illinois and Iowa locations) and vapes such as our RiverBluff 2g Mega Blend vape (available at our Illinois location). As cannabis science advances and it becomes cheaper and more readily available, there is no doubt THC-P will be blended into more delta 9 THC gummies and delta 8 THC gummies as well as vapes. Though the jury may still be out on THC-P, we are comfortable adding it to products, so that those who want to explore the unknown can and be the weedstranauts venturing into what may be one the last unknowns.
Whether you are new to cannabis or a longtime canna-consumer chances are you’ve never heard of terpenes and that is perfectly okay. If you are smoking purely for recreational purposes, you may want to investigate terpenes to find a flavor profile you like. If you are smoking for therapeutic purposes, investigating terpenes can lead you down a road that produces a list of strains better suited to your ailments or specific tastes. In this article, we will cover what terpenes are and what specific terpenes do. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some weed stuff.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds or substances produced in plants and even some animals. Cannabis contains a staggering 100+ compounds that provide it with its flavor and aroma. Most of these are terpenes or sesquiterpenes1. There are 11 primary terpenes and 20 secondary terpenes that make up how a cannabis strain will taste and smell2 but many of them also provide therapeutic effects. Now, we don’t aim to keep you here all day, so we will cover the 11 primary terpenes to keep it simple!
Myrcene
Myrcene is the most commonly found terpene in cannabis. It can make up over 60% of the terp profile in some strains. Myrcene gives marijuana its dank, skunky aroma. Myrcene can be found in several other plants but is most prevalent in Mangos. Strains that contain high levels of Myrcene provide relaxing sedative like effects and aid in pain management.
Limonene
Limonene is the second most commonly found terpene in cannabis. It gives cannabis the citrusy taste and aroma. Limonene can be found in many citrus fruits as well as spices like rosemary. It is often added to cleaning products for its lemon smell3. Strains high in Limonene are known for their energetic buzz and creative stimulation.
Linalool
Linalool can be found in various plants such as lavender. If you have smoked or smelled a strain that smelled like typical flowers, chances are it was high in Linalool. Strains containing a high level of Linalool may aid in relaxation and even sleep.
Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene gives some strains their spice rack aroma and flavor as it can also be found in many spices such as black pepper and oregano, just to name a few. It also provides a subtle earthy taste of wood. Caryophyllene has anti-inflammatory properties and possibly helps curb impulsive and addictive behaviors such as nail-biting.
Pinene
Pinene, not so surprisingly, tastes and smells just like it sounds, of Pine. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked to reducing risk or memory loss caused by excessive THC consumption. That doesn’t mean we suggest you try to smoke your way to a stable memory but that also doesn’t mean we’d discourage it in the name of science.
Humulene
Humulene, much like Caryophyllene, gives off the spice rack taste and aroma and is also found in many spices such as sage and clove. Also an anti-inflammatory4, Humulene has been linked to appetite suppression. We know what you’re thinking and yes, that is possible.
Terpineol
This rare terpene is often found in strains also containing high levels of Linalool. It gives off a lilac taste that is often masked by the lavender taste of Linalool. If you have smoked a strain that tastes floral and grape, it probably contained both terpenes. Terpineol is known for its calming mood enhancing properties good in helping fight anxiety.
Valencene
Valencene is another rare terpene often found in citrus fruits giving bud that citrusy flavor5 like Limonene. Valencene is an anti-inflammatory and shows signs of being an anti-allergen. This terp can often be found in cosmetics and cleaning products.
Terpinolene
This terpene can be found in soaps and perfumes. Terpinolene tastes and smells like a combination of a Pinene with Humulene or Caryophyllene giving off flavors of spice rack and pine. This has also been linked to anti-inflammatory benefits.
Geraniol
This terpene gives off hints of Tabaco and has been linked to having neuroprotective benefits.
Ocimene
Ocimene provides dank aromas like Myrcene and flavors of tropical fruit. Like most terpenes on this list, it is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Terpenes can be very important for specific people. If you need something therapeutic, there is probably a terpene for what ails you. If you are very selective about how your bud tastes, you can find strains with similar profiles to ones you like. The cannabis industry has blown up in the last ten or so years and cannabis breeding has come a long way in dialing specific effects and flavors. It seems like weed growers went to Baskin-Robbins and told them to hold their joint, and it is strangely coincidental Baskin-Robbins originally carried 31 flavors and there are 31 primary and secondary terpenes in cannabis. Stoners and ice cream; a match destined to happen. So, the next time you go to buy some THC products ask about the terp profile and help tailor your own experience.
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