What it is.

After a few months of false starts and missed opportunities the North Shore Cannabis Club is back.  We have found that the legacy of a decades long propaganda machine has left most business owners fearful of involvement with any group associated with the cannabis community.   After an exhausting search for a venue, we were happy to be contacted by an open-minded business owner.  She explained that she had a venue and that her tenant would be happy to host our meeting.  In fact, the tenant had been staging similar meetings at the venue for a while.  I met with the group and within the first few moments of the discussion in was obvious that we have found a perfect fit.

The North Shore Cannabis Club was created by a group of cannabis aficiandos to forward the concept of "Normalization" of all types of cannabis use.  Many of us have experienced the judgement and alienation that can occur in social situations based on our choice to consume cannabis(either medically or recreationally).   With the decriminalization of recreational cannabis, we now have an opportunity to find our place among the community at large.  As ambassadors to the benefits of this amazing plant, it is our responsibility to represent the substance, the growers and the life.  Tomorrow evening, we will be holding a mixer at the Michael Naimo Gallery in Salem.  This will be a semi-private, consumption-friendly BYO event.   This is a great way to meet the folks around your community that share your love for the green.  We will have live entertainment and kind vibes in a gallery/lounge setting.  Please see the link below:

https://www.naimogallery.com/master-calendar/2017/4/27/cannabis-industry-education-and-networking-event

RSVP Here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/722782027846946/

We hope to see you there.

Phoenix Tears - The benefits of RSO

The term “Rick Simpson Oil – RSO” refers to extremely potent decarboxylated extracts produced from strong sedative Indica strains, which have  THC levels in the 90% range. This harmless non addictive natural medication can be used with great success, to cure or control cancer, MS, pain, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, infections, inflammations, blood pressure, depression, sleeping problems and just about any other medical issues that one can imagine(taken from PhoenixTears.ca).

While the major focus of the NSCC has been on the world of recreational cannabis, we feel that there is always room to promote the benefits of medicinal cannabis solutions.  After the taping of our last podcast. Jay Scholle from Natural Solutions left me with a tube of the highly potent Rick Simpson Oil(aka RSO or Phoenix Tears).  This form of cannabis is one that I have read about for quite a while now but I have yet to experience this marvel of cannabis alchemy.  Jay first perfected the craft of making RSO in effort to provide treatment to one of his patients(his mother) with Multiple Sclerosis.  RSO has been identified as a highly-effective treatment for a number of diseases and Jay has found that many of his patients prefer this method of delivery.

   Just recently, Natural Solutions has partnered with a number of regional charities to make certain that RSO is available to those in need.  Unlike many conventional pharmaceuticals, RSO and cannabis treatments are not currently covered by most health care plans and HMOs.  In order to bridge the economic gap, Natural Solutions has decided to donate a percentage of their product to the members of our community who have the greatest need.   The NSCC will continue to provide updates and news regarding the recreational cannabis community but we feel the need to let folks know about the great work that continues to happen of the medicinal side.

RSO should not be overlooked as a great solution for the needs of the recreational community as well.  It's compact form provides an inconspicuous way to enjoy cannabis while on the go.  Just recently, I traveled out of town to partake in a family tradition that involves making a large quantity of Soppressata by hand.  The men from a number of families of Calabrese decent gather in late January to make dry-cured sausages for use in the traditional Easter frittata.  This event is an all-day affair that involves quite a bit of sustained alcohol consumption with a raucous, innuendo filled banter.   For the sake of my own sanity, I prepared for a long day of hard work by ingesting a small amount of RSO that I had stashed in my bib overalls.  This particular form of RSO comes in a small, needle-less syringe for ease of dosing.  The syringe can be quite off-putting to some who instantly associate the syringe with intravenous drug use.   After a few questions from the group, a number of willing participants stepped forward to try RSO for the first time.  One of the group referred to the taste and texture as "bong water syrup", while another ran for a Miller Lite to wash it down(RSO coats your mouth with a bit of a film that takes a few moments to dissipate).  Within minutes the group had refocussed it's attention to the tasks at hand and got back to the arduous process of sausage making.  This RSO was created from Amherst Sour Diesel and provided the group with an energetic, relaxed high that was the perfect enhancement for the work at hand.  From this point forward the entire tone of the group shifted from hyper-macho banter to a calm, almost subdued conversation.  In the past, the process would continue well into the evening hours but on this day we were finished by mid-afternoon.  There were no fights, no arguments and no fear of anyone driving away over the legal limit.  In other words, tranquillity prevailed.

The above story represents the thin line between recreational/medicinal cannabis consumption.  While we were not treating any medical condition with the use of this product, the RSO had an instant and noticeable effect on the psychology of the group.  Through Normalization efforts, I hope that we can reach a level of acceptability that is on par with the alcohol consuming community in the near future.   This small example represents a positive shift away from the socially-acceptale practice of binge drinking.  

It started with a wake and bake...

The concept of consuming cannabis in the early parts of the day was an ethos that up until recently was associated with either the hard-core stoner or the casual smoker with a whole day off.  All one had to do was to roll out of bed,  grab a sack of the kind and hit the couch for a couple of hours.  This stereotype of the chronic pothead is embraced by Hollywood for obvious comical reasons.  Many folks from the non-consuming community unfairly associate this archetype as the standard for all cannabis use and I hope to show that this is far from the reality witnessed on the big screen.

We use cannabis for a multitude of reasons.  Today I want to touch on one area of treatment that is close to my heart, Focus.  It seems that in the modern age ADD/ADHD is a condition that seems to effect most people to some degree.  We are overloaded with stimulus from the time we wake until the time we go to sleep.  What bills are due?  What activities do the kids have this week?  What am I going to cook for dinner?  Are the Bruins playing tonight?  Facebook.  Twitter.  Blogs.  Porn.  Email. Television. Spotify.  There is a constant 24/7 feed of data, choice and obligation that seems to shackle us to our busy minds.  When the time comes to dig in and focus on a single task we find ourselves in a constant state of deflection from all distractions pinging though our minds.

Modern psychiatry has embraced the use of the heavy stimulants like Adderall(file under crank) for the treatment of ADD but I believe the longterm effects on the body and mind can be quite damaging.  The logic behind these drugs is that focus is gained by overloading the body with amphetamine to assist in increasing the level of dopamine in the brain.  During this process you may also experience:






A better approach to the treatment of attention disorders may be Cannabis.  Thanks to modern breading technologies, we now have a wide variety of cannabis strains to choose from and certain strains are better at treating ADD/ADHD than others.  A good strain for focus would be one that is a sativa-dominant hybrid.  Sativas are the go-to choice for the cerebral/creative high but you also need the dopamine increasing qualities of a good indica to complete the treatment.  One beautiful example of a strain that I use for focus is Blue Dream.  Below is a graphic that I lifted from Leafly.com(www.leafly.com/hybrid/blue-dream) that explains the effects of Blue Dream and below that is the little nugget that I rolled up prior to writing this blog.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream does not come without a couple of side effects including dry mouth, dry eyes and increased levels of anxiousness(a by-product of the raised dopamine levels in the brain).  These side effects are minimal compared to the potential side-effects of long-term stimulant use.  The active effects of cannabis consumption disappear after a few brief hours(one of the great pros of using cannabis as an ADD/ADHD treatment).  When your focus is no longer needed, you can go back to your "normal" self.  Our world is moving at a breakneck pace and as we evolve ADHD is going to become the standard.  In order to check out and be creative, we will need to seek out the refuge of our favorite gift from Mother Earth.  Next time you have a home improvement project, a paper to write or a mundane task that requires focus, I suggest you go for the green.

Branching out for positivity and growth

A few of the members of the NSCC ventured into the city proper to support the Cannabis Society of Boston and their Toasty Tuesday networking series at the Liquid Art House.  After a few seconds of shaking off the cold, I was met with warm and friendly greetings from the gathering.  The Cannabis Society is a member-based organization that is "dedicated to creating events around marijuana's social, medicinal and creative properties".  After a few self introductions, I found myself deeply engaged in conversation surrounding the future of the cannabis business industry.  The state is busily crafting a framework for for the retail sale of recreational cannabis but the individuals building a niche within this emerging industry are still gripped with concern.  It is truly unfortunate that the will of the people is being manipulated by a couple of closed-minded elected officials.  

All-in-all the Cannabis Society provided a fantastic venue for the exchange of knowledge between many of the players in the local cannabis community.  We were fortunate to have a space to identify connections for the continued growth of our industry.  One of the unfortunate consequences of prohibition is secrecy.  Conversations regarding cannabis cultivation between perfect strangers were uncommon prior to legalization and it is obvious that many are still reluctant to exchange all of the details of their efforts. As the prohibition of cannabis comes to a demise, we have to remind ourselves that Normalization will take time.  The days of "not talking on the phone" and worrying about undercover cops are gone but the uneasy lasting effects of prohibition are still around. 

The healing process will take a while.  By networking together, we can begin to wash away the stain of the failed policies of our past.  If a networking group of this type does not exist in your community make the effort to organize one yourself.  Meet up and talk story.  The fading anxiety of a failed war on drugs will eventually wash away if we all step out of the shadows and build unity.  I would like to extend a warm "Mahalo" to the Cannabis Society for their continued efforts of creating connections within our community.

What lies ahead...

The state of Massachusetts has successfully reached the two week mark since the adoption of legal, recreational cannabis.  The infrastructure is still intact, the sky hasn't fallen and the youth of the commonwealth are all safe.  The North Shore Cannabis Club took a brief hiatus from our efforts to pause, reflect and enjoy the bounty of 2016's last harvest.  Over the last few weeks, we have begun to outline a schedule of events for the upcoming year and I would like this blog to serve as a teaser for what lies ahead.

-Our next networking social is coming up in a few weeks.  The venue has yet to be confirmed, but we are going to be conducting a first-ever yankee bud swap.  This event is open to anyone and has a very simple concept; bring a eighth to get an eighth.  We are going to draw numbers for cannabis, every body wins, no one goes home without a bit of the strange.  We will also be visited by the Massachusetts Cannabis Collective.  They will be on hand to discuss the products that they offer as part of their recreational cannabis delivery service.

-Our NSCC 420 Fest is right around the corner and we are looking for vendors and sponsors interested is participating in the first legal 4/20 celebration in the Commonwealth.  We will be conducting a North Shore Cannabis Competition for all of you budding growers as well.  North Shore bragging rights are going to be on the line for this event.  More details to follow.

-The NSCC is looking fort a few good cannabis enthusiasts to round out our board of directors.  If you are passionate about recreational use and want to be part of the future of our club please email me at NorthShoreCannabis@gmail.com for an application.  We currently have three vacancies that we would like to fill by the next social.

-We are looking for a few local home growers to take part in a growers profile for our Facebook Page.  The NSCC will showcase home growers throughout the North Shore Community and provide our members a view into the world of cultivation.  The grower will also get an opportunity to be interviewed for our upcoming 2 Morning Jays podcast.   Anonymity will be respected and aliases with be accepted(if necessary).

We have quite a busy schedule of events on tap for the 2017 calendar year.  I am looking forward to seeing you all at one of our upcoming events.  Until then,  keep your altitude high and your attitude kind.

JR

The Day After

Last evening the NSCC held it's first Networking Social at the Witch Dr Glassblowing Studio and Gallery in Salem, MA.  My intention in forming this group was to educate the public on the joys of recreational cannabis with a strong effort toward normalization. Our expectations were reasonable and we were far from disappointed.   The guest count rose rapidly within the first half hour and our well planned agenda was quickly tossed aside.   My intent was to give the group an update of the state of the cannabis union in the Commonwealth but that proved to be completely unnecessary.  The participants in our networking event were both incredibly aware of the new laws and widely experienced consumers(and growers) of cannabis.  Many of the guests were more than happy to break out there own strains for inspection and trade.

The variety of strains that were passed around our show-and-tell table were as diverse as the faces in the crowd.  There was a beautiful representation of all that the private grow world has to offer.  Mason jars of well-cured cough varieties that when opened left a lasting bouquet of citrus and earth and berry.  Carefully rolled ziplock bags were removed from puffy winter coats and ceremoniously laid out for display.  A large solo cup filled with canna-lollipops was on stationed on the counter for everyone to dig into.  Concentrates, cookies, oils and edibles were out and in the open to be discussed and shared.   The highlight of the evening was the active trading of cannabis between the experienced growers in the room.  I was able to bear witness to nug after nug of perfectly manicured cannabis changing hands in a free form fashion.  At the end of the night, myself and Jay from Natural Solutions sat down and shared a near etherial king-sized cone of a five strain salad mix(Orange Sky, Mazar Al Sherif, Amherst SD, Blue Dream and Gorilla Glue).

This first night of legal, recreational cannabis was an absolutely monumental experience and I am so excited to be part of this evolution(if not revolution) here in New England.  The NSCC is poised to support all facets of the use of recreational cannabis going forward and we hope to see you at our next event.

As Prohibition Wanes

Tomorrow morning when Massachusetts stirs from it's nightly pause, things will be a tad bit different.  This shift will be brought on by the decriminalization of cannabis in all forms for adults over the age of 21.  At first glance, this change should be of little consequence to majority of folks who do not find pleasure in the consumption of this wonderful plant, but to the roughly 900,000 state residents who regularly enjoy a toke this is a monumental moment.

The prohibition of cannabis has created a immense amount of undue stress and anxiety to those who willingly broke the law in the past.  Gone are the days of being in a constant state of fear while riding around with a $20 bag in your glovebox.  In the rearview mirror are those moments of doubt and shame felt while smelling of freshly burnt Blue Dream, OG Kush or Sour Deez in line at the grocery store.  All but eliminated are the fears that come from the sound of a distant helicopter in the September air.  It will take some time before we realize that we are welcome to spark one up after a hard day's work without worrying if the kids might catch us out in the garage.  The legacy of living under the constant threat of my local DARE program getting my kids to rat me out is history.

Now is the time for all of us pause and reflect on this victory.  Let the meaning sink in for a moment and realize the weight of this change but understand that we are not out of the woods yet.  Although you will be free to move from point A to point B within the borders of the Commonwealth, you are still subject to federal prohibition.  The powers that be have made their allegiances to big Pharma and Big Oil crystal clear and cannabis is certainly an enemy to their bottom line.  As long as our federal government ignores the benefits of this plant we will still be subject to a baseline threat to our medicine.

So take a moment to rejoice freely and openly.  Let the freedom wash away the guilt and emotional strain brought about by the negative propaganda of failed war of drugs.  Be a gleaming example for the next generation by being an ambassador of respectful and responsible consumption.   On the eve of legalization, I wish you all the kindest of times in the days to come.