420 & ME "Think Cannabis Care"

by Rhonda Cowan

Honesty – Yes, I was the only girl who did not smoke weed amongst my girlfriends and boyfriends as a teen and young adult. But I was cool with being the oddball and had NO JUDGEMENT! Reality – One year after my brain surgery (2016), I had the potential to be addicted to opioids. Referred to as PAIN MANAGEMENT! Sincerity – There must be a better way! I enrolled in a 6-month Cannabis Certification Program. FACTS vs. FICTION!

"A friend with weed is a friend indeed…" ― Pops O'Donnell

Back in the DAY! The Marijuana street names: Just Weed or Reefer or Maryjane. "Reefer" first appeared in the famous song "Reefer Man. My favorite street name was Maryjane, and the most popular in the African American community, depending on the generation. I remember partying to Rick James's song: Mary Jane - his love song to Marijuana, released in September 1978. For me, the only thing I could relate to about weed was its recreational use to get high and to have the munchies to enjoy life.

"Struggle is the enemy, but weed is the remedy." – Kid Cudi

Miseducation of ME! – My pursuit to get the FACTS! Today, I AM Cannabis Certified (Cannabis University). So, my first point of reference was my little "Bro," who is an advocate smoker daily. Many years ago, he referred to his weed as his mediation. He gave me a lot of great street-recreational and holistic medicinal usage of marijuana information. "Bro" encouraged and pointed me in the direction of taking an online certification course at the Cannabis University in Northern California. Yes, I learned the history of the cannabis plants, marijuana prohibition, the meaning of 420, the cultivation of cannabis, edibles, and much more.

"That is not a drug, it's a leaf." – Arnold Schwarzenegger. And the best part is the medicinal properties: there are two cannabis plants, Marijuana, and Hemp; 3 species—Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The plant compounds are called cannabinoids. There is 100+ of these in the cannabis plants. The most common is CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is the compound that really helped ME! Okay. Enough science about these remarkable plants.

‎"The greatest service that can be rendered to any country is to add a useful plant to its culture." – Thomas Jefferson

My Holistic Journey to PAIN MANAGEMENT! My Wellness Truth "Think Cannabis Care". What Cannabis Plant is legal in NC? HEMP. Which was the best medicinal plant properties to help with my chronic pain and manage my cluster headache pain levels. Now that I have facts and information, I started my own clinical trial with the different dosage amounts of CBD (cannabidiol) contained in oils, salves, rubs, teas, drinks, capsules, edible treats, etc. I also did my product research with the brands and companies producing these products – Full Spectrum is the best. By the way, I did not forget to speak with my primary doctor and my neurologist about my holistic pain management plan to make sure that it would not affect any of the other meds I was prescribed. Just as I started educating and using cannabis, the HEMP products became more popular and well known to address chronic pain. My quest to be more knowledgeable regarding NC -HEMP encouraged me to attend the first Charlotte Cannabis Convention in 2019. It was there that I met an amazing African American Woman, Hemp Farmer, and Herbalist, "Nailah Ali" her gift of a green thumb and knowledge of medicinal plants, help me to look at other alternatives to supporting my holistic healing journey. That same year, HEMP Dispensaries started popping up all over the Charlotte Metropolitan area. That meant it was time for a field trip with my adopted daughter "Starlight" to a HEMP Dispensary. It was a wonderful experience. In 2019 I joined the cannabis organizations NORML (https://norml.org/about-norml/) and Marijuana Policy Project (https://www.mpp.org/). 

Being a part of these organizations keeps informed on the current legalization and decriminalization legislation in D.C. and at the state level. 

"Marijuana (cannabis) has been used medicinally for centuries. It has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of symptoms and conditions." American Nurses Association

Legal History Of Cannabis

The legal history of cannabis in the United States pertains to the regulation of cannabis (legal term marijuana or marihuana) for medical, recreational, and industrial purposes in the United States. Increased restrictions and labeling of cannabis as a poison began in many states from 1906 onward, and outright prohibitions began in the 1920s. By the mid-1930s cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state, including 35 states that adopted the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act. The first national regulation was the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Cannabis was officially outlawed for any use (medical included) with the passage of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA). (reference: Wikipedia)


History of 420

The most credible story traces 4/20 to Marin County, Calif. In 1971, five students at San Rafael High School would meet at 4:20 p.m. by the campus’ statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to partake. They chose that specific time because extracurricular activities had usually ended by then. This group — Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich — became known as the “Waldos” because they met at a wall. They would say “420” to each other as code for marijuana. Checkout this site to get the complete story.

https://time.com/4292844/420-april-20-marijuana-pot-holiday-history/

Cannabis – HEMP Plant

Hemp is a plant that represents abundance in more ways than one. It grows abundantly with thick, lush green foliage and offers a myriad number of benefits with its high nutrition and therapeutic benefits. Our ancestors realized its benefits thousands of years ago and it is being cultivated since then. Modern research has further attested to this plant’s constituents and nutritional profile and the numerous health benefit that it offers.


Cannabis Today!

  • As of April 2022, 37 states have legalized the medical use of cannabis (My hometown California)
  • 18 states have legalized the adult use of Marijuana for recreational purposes (My hometown California)
  • 13 states have a medical allowance for the legal possession of CBD (cannabidiol). Products with less than 3% THC (My home North Carolina). https://www.cnet.com/news/politics

"It's CANnabis, not CAN'Tabis." — Unknown

GOOD NEWS – 2022

  • There is a strong chance that Rhode Island will pass a recreational marijuana bill and South Carolina a medical marijuana measure. Recreational marijuana legalization in Delaware and MMJ (medical Marijuana) bills in Kansas and North Carolina are given medium-to-strong odds by industry experts. At the same time, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania are worth monitoring for progress in legalizing recreational Marijuana.

https://mjbizdaily.com/several-states-could-legalize-marijuana-through-legislatures-in-2022

Opioids & Cannabis 

  • Studies have been performed over the past 4 years that indicate - Medical Cannabis used as an alternative treatment for Chronic Pain Demonstrates a Reduction in Chronic Opioid use. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35051158/



Cannabis Purchasing Power

https://www.verilife.com/blog/millennials-vs-boomers


"When you smoke herb, it reveals you to yourself." – Bob Marley


REMEMBER to always consultant your primary physician or specialist before starting any holistic health and wellness products, therapies, or protocols. “What works for ME, may not work for YOU” RC 

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