Science fiction and cannabis are a match made in the cosmos. They both allow a chance for the mind to escape and wonder, so naturally they’d come together. Science fiction is a beloved genre, and the Star Wars Universe may be the most beloved of all. If you are Star Wars fan, a cannabis smoker, or both, there is high likelihood you’ve had a lengthy conversation about Star Wars. In this article, we will cover just how closely weed and Star Wars are linked by recalling some past stories about the cast, and the weed smoking antics that influenced a movie that inspired a generation. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up and let’s learn about some Star Wars stuff.
Han Solo Sold Weed?
Before becoming Han Solo and Indiana Jones, the megastar, Harrison Ford, spent ten years in Hollywood working as a carpenter, taking bit roles, and selling weed to LA’s most elite. Michele Phillips of the iconic 60’s band, The Mamas and The Papas, went to the theater to Star Wars and when seeing Ford on screen she exclaimed, “That’s My Pot Dealer!” Philips wasn’t the only high-profile music act Ford supplied in the 60’s though it is also believed he supplied Jim Morrison and the Doors1. How cool is that?!
Princess Leia Was Down to Smoke!
Princess Leia and Han Solo provided one of the most recognizable love stories in science fiction history. Their chemistry came off so effortlessly because behind the scenes they were getting high AF and getting busy like bunnies for three months. Carrie would go on to claim the Ford’s weed was so powerful it made her forget the year 19762.
Even The Wookies Were Stoned?
There has been a long-standing rumor among some Star Wars fans that the specie’s name for Chewbacca, Wookie, was adlibbed by voice actor Terry McGovern while stoned on the Star Wars set. This is factually false. Terry McGovern did indeed coin the term “Wookie”, while under the influence but it came while filming Lucas’s earlier film THX 1138. Terry was describing a wild animal he had hit with his car and told Lucas, “It was a Wookie.”3 Lucas liked the term so much he kept it to use in a future movie.
Why Does the Villain of This Kevin Smith Movie Look Like a Jedi?
Mark Hamill is not known to smoke marijuana, but he did appear as a jedi of sorts in the beloved stoner classic Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back directed by regular High Times cover boy, Kevin Smith. Hamill played Cockknocker a nostalgic spoof of his most famous character. As the villain, Hamill battled Bluntman and Chronic with bong-sabers and force like abilities. Carrie Fisher also appeared in the film making the film play like a pothead’s love letter to Star Wars.
A Connection That Will Last Forever
Star Wars has embedded itself in cannabis culture so much that there are many strains named after the franchise: Skywalker, Master Yoda, Death Star, Ewok, C3PO, and the list goes on and on4. Even if you’ve never seen one of the films there is good chance you smoked a strain with Star Wars lineage. No matter where you fall in Venn diagram of cannabis enthusiasts and Star Wars fans, remember Star Wars Day is day to relax and let your mind wonder about the spectacles of what is possible. Stop by to get in our deals for 5/4 and 5/5 and 15% off our hemp-derived Delta 9 THC 50mg Starmen Gummies and 5mg Crunchy Balls to celebrate. Have a happy holiday from RiverBluff and may the fourth be with you.
We’ve already talked about some Heroes of Weed (check that out here) but there can’t be heroes without antagonists. For false narratives to spread there needs to be the propagandists, those who place the roadblocks for the heroes to overcome. Cannabis and hemp have had their fair share of villains. The list is long and highly distinguished, but we are going to narrow it down to three for this article: The man that started the war of weed, the rich people who financed it, and the beloved first lady that propagated their message decades later. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some weed stuff.
Harry J Anslinger
Harry J Anslinger was the first and longest running Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Harry used his position to start the war on “marihuana” to help further his racist agenda. For example, marihuana was changed to marijuana in propaganda to make it sound more foreign. He used the war on drugs to target minority and immigrant groups1 and jazz musicians specifically, many of which were also minorities. He even kept a file titled, “Marijuana and Musicians”2. Harry drafted and helped rally support for the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 prohibiting cannabis in the United States for the first time. He painted a picture of cannabis being of the highest public concern with quotes like this, “The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerated races3.” He held office from 1930-1962 continuing to spread hate and hysteria and would be the primary influence on almost all the villains of weed.
William Randolph Hearst & The Du Pont Family
William Randolph Hearst was a newspaper magnet and one of the richest people of the 1900’s. Hearst’s papers employed the tactic of “yellow journalism” which focused on shock value more than reporting actual news4. Though not proven, many believe Hearst to have had a large stake in the timber industry and worried hemp would replace wood as pulp for paper. William Randolph Hearst wasn’t the only rich aristocrat with something to gain by a hemp prohibition. Enter the Du Pont family, currently one of the richest families in the world. Du Pont started development on a new synthetic fiber known as nylon in 19275. The rising popularity of hemp as a quick growing easy to harvest textile posed an issue for Du Pont just like it had for Hearst. Together they solved their problems the way most rich people who want to flex their power solve problems. They threw money at it by helping to finance Anslinger’s crazy propaganda campaign that left cannabis prohibited for recreational use until 2012.
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan is one of the most beloved first ladies of modern times. Always smiling and wearing a red dress, she became an institution in our country. Nancy seems like a nice lady, but she falls on this list due to toeing the party line. Nancy was First Lady of California from 1967-1975. During this time, California Senator Richard Nixon, soon to be President Richard Nixon, started his war on counterculture6 in the state targeting hippies, and as per usual in the crusade against cannabis, minorities. As Nixon rose to presidency, the Reagan’s continued the counterculture battle with Nancy particularly invested in demonizing marijuana. When Ronald Reagan became president, Nancy became First Lady of the United States, and her mission was to continue the war on drugs. Nancy coined the phrase, “Just Say No” which would become one of the most recognizable anti-drug campaigns ever7. The campaign ignored the medicinal effects of marijuana. It spawned the program D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Program) which taught children that cannabis was just as dangerous as cocaine and heroin. During her time as first lady, a new wave of propaganda was spread that would have made Anslinger blush. Cannabis consumers were painted as the dreads of society, dumb, lazy, and unemployable. Those stereotypes are still battled by canna-consumers today.
A Final Note on The Villains of Weed
These are just a few of the villains of weed. They were some of the most powerful people in the country if not the world, and yet, we are finally starting to get out of the shadows of their propaganda. One thing is undeniable, if the love of a plant can overcome obstacles put in place by dominant foes, with hard work and dedication, almost anything is possible.
LA Kush Cake seems otherworldly like something from a faraway planet that we just happen to find on earth. An intoxicating flower born of mad science and possibly alchemy, the plant traces its lineage back to the geniuses at Seed Junkie Genetics. The strain spread like wildfire because it is fire! LA Kush Cake is a juggernaut in the cannabis industry finding its way into all sorts of THC products but is most readily available as flower. It doesn’t matter if you eat edibles infused with it, vape it, dab it, or smoke it, LA Kush Cake aims to please. So, is LA Kush Cake the strain for you? Maybe but let’s find out as we look closer into our strain of the month.
LA Kush Cake rapidly became a staple of the cannabis industry due to its genetics (Kush Mints x Wedding Cake). Winners breed winners. Its parents were carefully selected after long phenotype hunts and had dominant runs of their own in most dispensaries where they are still commonly found to this day. LA Kush Cake went through a long phenotype hunt of its own to find its best example before following in the footsteps of its famous parents to become a powerhouse of its own. LA Kush Cake can also be found in most dispensaries and in many consumers homes. It has far exceeded the reputation of its parents.
Basics
LA Kush Cake is an indica-dominant hybrid producing THC levels between 21-25% but has achieved much higher percentages under ideal growing conditions.LA Kush Cake flowers are uber photogenic known for their dense and frosty nugs, and they show up in a variety of media from your friend’s socials to music videos to movies. The bag appeal for this strain is outstanding You’’ want to show it and share it with your friends It serves both newcomers and cannabis veterans well.
Aroma and Taste
It is known for its wildly exotic flavor profile, mixing the super sweet citrusy vanilla confectionary delight of Wedding Cake with more of the classic earthy pine and subtle mint taste of Kush Mints. Even with that flavor profile, it has a much different aroma. It smells of ground spices and skunk with just minor hits of citrus.
Strain Effects
Though an indica-dominant hybrid, this is a strain you can still be active with if you have plans. This plant is all about the terpenes. It contains the terpenes limonene (known for providing an energizing buzz), caryophyllene (effective at treating/reducing anxiety and depression), and myrcene (effective for pain and inflammation relief). This strain works well for relaxation and pain relief without being overly lethargic. Keep an eye out for terpene focused blog coming soon!
Should You Try It?
LA Kush Cake is indica enough to satisfy the most hardcore indica smokers without complaint, but not so indica that a sativa smoker can’t enjoy it and go about their day. It has become legendary for those very reasons. Friends tell friends about LA Kush Cake. It rarely disappoints and generally exceeds even the loftiest of expectations. LA Kush Cake has made quite the name for itself in the industry for good reason, and it shows no signs of going away anytime soon. If you haven’t had the pleasure of its company, you have done yourself a great disservice. Fear not though; it can be rectified. We suggest you rush out to try it immediately and judge for yourself.
Have you ever wondered why weed gets you high? No mystery here. It is simply biological. We are programmed to be able to get high. We know this because of the endocannabinoid (ECS for short) system that runs through our bodies. In this article, we go over what the endocannabinoid system is and does, the two different receptors found in it and how it gets you high. So, kick back in the cut, fire one up, and let’s learn about some weed stuff.
What Is the Endocannabinoid System and What Does It Do?
The endocannabinoid system runs throughout our bodies and produces endocannabinoids which are molecularly similar to cannabinoids found cannabis and hemp. The first endocannabinoid discovered was named anandamide after the Sanskrit word for bliss.1 Since then, more endocannabinoids have been discovered. Endocannabinoids play a major role in our physiology. These endocannabinoids effect things such as memory2, appetite3, female reproduction4, thermoregulation5, and sleep6. In short, the endocannabinoid system is essential to our physical wellbeing.
The CB1 and CB2 Receptors
There are two endocannabinoid receptors known as CB1 and CB2. Both play major roles in our body’s development as well as its regulation. The CB1 receptor aids in many brain functions including the development of the hippocampus7. It also helps the central nervous system to interrupt stimuli8. The CB2 receptor helps regulate the immune system9, the gastrointestinal system10, and the peripheral nervous system11. These natural receptors allow cannabinoids to bind to them thus giving us the psychoactive effects we know and love.
How Does It Get Me High?
You may be wondering how this all adds up to you getting high. Think of the endocannabinoid system as a subway system running through your body and endocannabinoids as the trains. Because endocannabinoids and cannabinoids are so similar, when you ingest cannabinoids, they essentially hijack the trains. Some cannabinoids can hijack those trains easier than others, the most famous of which are the many variations of THC. The endocannabinoid system allows us to enjoy things like hemp-derived delta 9 THC gummies or delta 8 THC chocolates or HHC caramels. The better you know the endocannabinoid system the better you can tailor your personal cannabis experience. Without it, we wouldn’t know the joy of cannabis and that would be sad. So, give three cheers to the endocannabinoid system for it helps keeps us alive and have fun while being so.
RiverBluff, in partnership with 7 Hills Brewery, are proud to announce we have released our newest line of hemp-derived THC drinks. It is not a cider, it is not a seltzer, but behold – The RiverBluff Soda Pop!
Oh, did I say soda pop? I meant soda pops! We aren’t releasing 1 flavor with 1 dosage. We are dropping three flavors each with 2 different dosages for a total of 6. Each flavor will be dosed at both 10mg and 50mg per can. This project has had us excited for a long time now and at last it’s here! So, let us introduce you to your flavors.
Bluff Punch Pop- This one hits you right in the nostalgia. Either on vacation with your feet in the sand or a stressed-out graduate student pooling money to make jungle juice, almost everyone loves tropical punch. It is a modern American classic for good reason. Relive your college years or feel like you are taking a nap on the beach, now, while you enjoy our tropical punch with bubbles and D9 hemp-derived THC.
50mg: $12 10mg: $7
Bluff Lime Pop- More lines of lemon/lime soda have existed than any other flavor. That is because it is easy on the pallet and a timeless classic. It is what we are taught to drink if we have an upset stomach for crying out loud! We kept this timeless tradition but with our own flavor twists and, of course, hemp-derived THC.
50mg: $12 10mg: $7
Bluff Grape Pop- How could we not make a purple drink? The grape flavor profileis underutilized in the soda pop market, and that won’t stand. No longer shall the love of the grape be reserved for the whine snob. Get-highs, our day has come. There shall be Bluff Gape Pop for all (of age), and it will be glorious.
50mg: $12 10mg: $7
If you want to socially drink but not drink alcohol, these were made with you in mind. If you want to consume THC but can’t smoke, these were made with you in mind. If you are a longtime consumer looking for a new way to get high, these were made with you in mind! Crafted with water soluble hemp-derived THC, these drinks are fast-acting making it easy to monitor effects and dosage. With dosages for newcomers and old heads alike, RiverBluff and 7 Hills are pleased to now offer you the best in hemp-derived THC soda pops.
Throughout history, Cannabis and hemp have had their fair share of unsung heroes. Still, many of these heroes are forgotten by time for the most part, but without the unsung heroes, medicinal research of cannabis and hemp may not have happened and without the increase in the medicinal space, legal recreational use by adults would have been slowed greatly, if not stopped all together. In this article, we will cover 3 of those heroes today: a Victorian doctor who introduced Cannabis to western medicine, an organic chemist the government had no choice but to accept, and possibly the most famous name in Cannabis. These are 3 unsung heroes of weed.
W.B. O’Shaughnessy
A young Irish assistant surgeon set out for India in 1833 and ended up being the first noted cannabis researcher while introducing cannabis to western medicine. The 24-year-old O’Shaughnessy had failed to acquire his license to practice medicine from London College of Physicians and Surgeons and turned his focus to medical research. While in India, he would notice cannabis being used as an intoxicant by the natives. He witnessed the effects it displayed and started experimenting with the plant in hopes of using it as an anesthetic. In 1839, he published his findings in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 1. That article introduced cannabis as a medical treatment and set in motion the curiosity and love for the plant that has led us to where we stand today.
Roger Adams
In 1889, 50 years after O’Shaughnessy published his first medical findings on cannabis, Roger Adams, our first respected modern cannabis researcher, was born in Boston. Adams quickly rose in the ranks of organic chemistry. He and his team were the first to identify, isolate, and synthesize many of the compounds we all know and love today.2 Like O’Shaughnessy, he wanted to use these compounds as forms of anesthetic to be used in field combat. This didn’t come without adversity of course. Adams witnessed the tragedy that comes with world war and the second one was on the way. North America was gathering its top scientists for the war effort and Adams was near the top of that list. However, J Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI as a “Suspect American Citizen” and advised the Navy to refuse him security clearance. In the end, Adams would develop a synthetic rubber compound that helped win the war, he was granted security clearance, and allowed to continue his research as he saw fit.
Jack Herer
Most cannabis consumers have heard the name, but few know why. Jack Herer is known more for the strain of cannabis that bears his name than the deeds that inspired growers to name one after him. Commonly referred to as The Emperor of Hemp, Jack’s vocal activism for cannabis law reform made him legendary. He was a founding member of the organization Help End Marijuana Prohibition or simply H.E.M.P. In 1895, he published his book The Emperor Wears No Clothes.3It shined a light back on other uses of the plant aside from medicinal and recreational. He stressed the importance it could have in textiles as well as alternate fuel consumption. The Emperor Wears No Clothes reinvigorated national talks of cannabis decriminalization for the first time since the early 70s. Jack would live to see the medicinal marijuana market be born and grow but passed just two years before his dream of recreational marijuana became reality.
Summation
These are just 3 of the unsung heroes of weed. There are so many more (if you guys enjoy this maybe we’ll do part 2). Or maybe we will look at the villains of marijuana in the next profile. Who knows? From the plant’s humble beginnings, there have been voices demonizing the plant and voices praising it. Only one thing is certain today. The good guys are finally winning.
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