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#WCW-Illinois Women In Cannabis 2nd Annual Summer Social

High and Happy #WCW! Here at Clear As Smoke, WCW stands for #WomeninCannabisWednesday. Whatever crush you have is totally for your own hashtag, although these women are certainly ones to adore!

This week I’m featuring the women of the Illinois Women in Cannabis, some of whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the 2nd Annual IWC Summer Social. Perfect weather, patio setting, vendors, employers, and investors all brought together by women seeking to empower both women and men in the cannabis industry! For more information on this great organization, please visit their website:

Illinois Women In Cannabis Website

Along with the individuals I met, the sponsors were among the vendors who were ready and willing to answer questions and exchange contact information. NETWORKING.

That’s right, if you are trying to enter the cannabis industry, it isn’t a piece of cake. But this FREE event was pure sugar. I will be featuring the businesses and individuals I met in posts to come.  Some great places to start are websites like Eventbrite, joining cannabis-centered event pages on Facebook and Instagram, and getting involved with local and national organizations who are truly passionate about the legalization, regulation, and education of cannabis.

Like I said, I’m no professional or expert. Yet 😉
Pictured from left: Kiana Hughes and Fenesha Hubbard of Two Dope Chicks Cannabis Sensitivity Training, and myself.  (Found out Fenesha went to my elementary school!)

 

Pictured from left: Fenesha, myself, and my friend Tracy Fox (who I ran into that night after not seeing her since second grade…becauseshe ALSO went to my elementary school LOL!!)

 

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Mind BLOWN! You’ll never know who you already know and may meet at cannabis events!
Additionally, I met representatives from Alternative Vibes, Cresco Labs, MedMar Dispensaries, Dispense First cannabis software, and endless members of IWC.

“I think hard drugs are disgusting. But I must say, I think marijuana is pretty lightweight.”  —Linda McCartney

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Senator Cory Booker…All Heroes Don’t Wear Capes

The importance of cannabis legalization on a national level seems extreme, but so necessary in today’s society.  Politicians have a responsibility to citizens to explore ALL possible solutions to issues that have long-standing negative impact over the people that chose them.

Cory Booker rose to that challenge today. It’s time for federal law to accept cannabis as a medicinal and recreational substance and not a harmful, illegal drug. Please take some time to watch Senator Booker’s Faceboook Live explanation of his #MarijuanaJusticeLaw, where he also answers questions from viewers.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/08/01/cory-booker-puts-marijuana-legalization-at-the-center-of-his-new-racial-justice-bil/?utm_term=.d8cdfc7bc939

For the full Washington Post article click the link above.

I’ve been arrested for cannabis-related offenses. Fortunately, none on a federal level. But even the misdemeanors landed me on probation and loss of employment. All before I completed college. Meanwhile, many of my collegiate counterparts were drinking liquor like fishes and smoking tobacco with chimney-like precision. I would never judge…

But come on. Who am I REALLY hurting by toking my spliff? (That means smoking my joint, usually marijuana rolled in a paper joint)

There’s more money in cannabis regulation and legalization than prohibition and criminalization. America is no good without its vices. Because this is a stressful, beautiful, complex, ugly, remarkable place that is a melting pot of cultures, it should be a governmental obligation for a government to embrace any societal agent that relieves people, and brings them together.

LEGALIZE IT.

Thank you, Senator Booker.

 

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Gov. Bruce Rauner…stop fighting this! #Legalizeit

High there!

Tomorrow, a tax will be implemented in the Illinois county of Cook that will tax sweetened beverages $0.01 per ounce. Yup, a 12 oz can of pop, juice, sports drinks, or fruit juice will be $0.12 extra on top of regular food taxes. When this tax was postponed last month, over 300 state jobs were terminated to make up the revenue that would have come from the beverage tax. So this month, the tax is back. What does this mean?

Illinois is BROKE, if you didn’t already know.

So my confidence in the full legalization of medical cannabis is pretty high. But what about recreational? How will it be regulated lawfully and fiscally?

Check out this short article from DNAinfo.com about the push to legalize cannabis in Illinois!

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170710/edgewater/legal-marijuana-pot-legalization-weed-recreational-state-law-heather-steans-kelly-cassidy-gov-bruce-rauner

“What is weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.”                                                –Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

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App Alert! Leafly Is A Great Place To Start

You use apps to find locations, dates, and even places to pee. (No joke.)

Why not grab an app that elevates your knowledge about cannabis? I suggest starting out with Leafly, available on Android, iPhone, and I think even a few trap phones, aye!

Hit your app store before hitting the bong (a pipe shaped device used to smoke different substances, but mostly cannabis).

Leafly is highly recommended, pun intended.

http://www.Leafly.com


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Happy #MedicalMonday!!

I’m typing this in the sauna at the gym, so if the words start to jumble, or just stop, I passed out. CALL 911 FOR ME.

Anywhoo, just finished a pretty good workout, with a pretty good amount of THC in my system. Ok don’t tell me you already forgot what THC is, I’m supposed to be the pothead here! Lol THC is the cannabinoid in cannabis that gives that high feeling.

It has also been proven to regulate metabolism and aid in weight loss. Yea, munchies and all. (Cannabis doesn’t really increase your appetite, just your sense of smell. So that desire for food is really your high nose giving your brain the “good food is here” signal)

There’s sooooo many benefits to cannabis, that it needs its own day. Pain relief, anti-depressant, sleep aid, MS treatment, cancer cell killer…I could go on but I really am about to pass the f*ck out. Be right back…

… …

…Oh my gawd water never tasted so good. So in order to understand the benefits of marijuana, lets talk about its basic effects. When it comes to marijuana you have 3 main strains, or types: indica, sativa, or hybrid (of both). I’m a sativa lady myself, but I enjoy a nice indica at the end of a long day with a nice glass of merl-

YOU DON’T CARE, I KNOW. Ok here’s the definitions lol:

But if you want something more basic, with less colors, I got ya! (So picky, sheesh!)

So when being prescribed cannabis, it’s important to be honest about your symptoms, or desired feeling, because just like every woman, all Mary Jane is not the same, but ALL have its own set of unique, wonderful benefits!

NOW, when you discuss cannabis you have at least a few fancy words to throw in the conversation. All jokes aside, this basic difference is the blueprint for the development of so many different cannabis treatments, and counting!

Speaking of treatment, where is that damned ambulance?

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Guess I Gotta Tell You About Me Now, right?

High there!

So without revealing my age, I’ll avoid the “back in my day” banter when it comes to how the cannabis culture used to be. But rest assured, when I started using marijuana, it was illegal EVERYWHERE and wasn’t recognized in any form as medicine.

But up until that point, I was 100% ANTI-marijuana. I was a poster child for the D.A.R.E. program, straight up.

I recall being staunch in my stance that weed was a drug, as terrible as cocaine or heroine, and made people dumber. Even though I had plenty of friends who were already dabbling in drugs and alcohol, I was steadfast. I was going to go to college, be drug free, and save the world from all drugs everywhere. Yup, that was me.

I experienced deep, long periods of depression while in junior high and high school. Finally, my curiosity gave in. I didn’t really want to get into drinking, because I hate vomit lol. I was going to counseling, but it wasn’t filling that empty void. So, one day I picked up my 20 lb blue Nokia brick cell phone and texted my friend:

Me: Yo

Him: Sup

Me: You got some dro? I’m tryna smoke.

Him: Stop playin.

Me: I’m serious, I got money.

Him: WOW, ok. You sure you want DRO?

ME: Yea, that’s what you smoke, right? Dro? Yea, get me that.

Him: Ok, see you in 20.

Just like that. Now please understand I knew NOTHING about smoking marijuana, or the fact that dro (short for hydro, which describes any type of weed grown hydroponically instead of in soil. Isn’t that funny? People thought that the WAY cannabis was grown described the actual TYPE of cannabis it was. Carrying on…) was a much stronger type of marijuana than that known as “Reggie”, or regular marijuana and “Mid-Grade,” which was one step above but still not knock you down, stoner strong.

Loooooong story short, he picks me up, we smoke, I feel NOTHING. We decide to drive to the park. I still feel no effect.

For like 45 minutes.

Then, I look out the window, and the car was flying above the expressway, which was no longer an expressway, but a checkerboard and the cars were being played like an actual game of checkers. Put that in your pipe and smoke it lol. I was TRIPPING. I look over at my friend and I tell him, “Yo, I’m feeling it.” He replies, “Good.” From that point on, I was a stoner, but would take another decade for me to truly have pride in that. Yes, pride.

I jumped head first into the culture. Lol I had a guilty conscious, if you will. I knocked marijuana for so long, and here I am enjoying it! Wanting to learn more about it! And boy, did I. From arrests to actual dealing, protesting and experimentation I became more than just a “pothead.” Cannabis became my mission, I just had no freaking clue what that mission was yet.

Marijuana made me happy, hungry, sometimes sleepy, and really, REALLY creative. It took me on adventures I couldn’t even describe. Or maybe I just can’t remember lol. Had some great recipes develop during those times, mmm…foooood…..sorry. Back to the story.

Then, in 2014, I visited Denver, CO. I visited California before and knew it was the American mecca of cannabis. But I was able to see Denver in the early stages. I met dispensary owners, I attended events, tasted edibles, and basked in the excitement of a newly legalized state. It was then I knew Illinois had a long way to go, and the need for legalization was necessary far beyond people wanting to get high. People were using cannabis ointments for skin and muscle pain, oils and tinctures for seizures or insomnia, tablets for the side effects of chemotherapy; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The state of Colorado saw shooting increases in cannabis tax revenue, job opportunities, and more healthcare resources.

Once all the haze from my joint cleared, I saw my idea light bulb illuminate. Illinois not only has to legalize marijuana recreationally and medically, but they have to educate their residents on this plant. People have a right to know about all opportunities afforded to them as citizens, and cannabis is a grand one.

You don’t have to light up to be up on this, people. And I’m here to help. Until then, it’s 4:20 somewhere, and I don’t want to be late 😉

Have an elevated Sunday, folks.

“It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics… dope and all that crap. It’s a thousand times better than whiskey – it’s an assistant – a friend.”―Louis Armstrong

Me and the lovely Miss High Times 2014 in Seattle, WA

 

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Cannabis, Marijuana, Weed, Pot, Bud, Mary Jane…

Oh sweet, sweet sensimilla…

Ahem, my bad. Didn’t notice you reading there. That’s probably because I’m high.

High, my name is Canna Lady and I have much to tell you. Is this just another blog about pot? Well, yeah. And you’ll find many more because this beautiful, complex plant is not only the solution to many medical and economic issues, but is also what brings so many people together. I literally saw a rainbow as I typed that, you’re welcome.

Because I live in Chicago, my focus is educating on Illinois policy, the Compassionate Care Cannabis (insert 5 more words) Program, patient rights and benefits, employment opportunities, and my experience being an Illinois non-patient cannabis lover, advocate, and educator.

Mmmkay so why should you care what I think? Well, I know more than you, that’s why. Lol just kidding. I probably know just as much if not less than many people reading this. Hopefully their input will enlighten me as I seek to enlighten others. Nevertheless, I’ve been privileged to have been to legal states, cannabis events, even volunteered with industry organizations. It’s been fun, to say the least, but when I return home I see how unexposed many communities are in regards to medical cannabis. Not hard to see why, living in Illinois. So, I decided to answer all the questions I get asked by people here and other places that simply want to learn more or are ready to jump head first into the industry. That means:

  1. Becoming an Illinois medical cannabis patient or caregiver
  2. Being employed in the Illinois medical cannabis industry

Notice my emphasis on MEDICAL. Don’t play no games now…Illinois, just like any other state, is not a FEDERALLY legal cannabis state. And in Illinois, the only legal cannabis is medical, meaning it is administered by a licensed facility to a licensed, card-holding patient.

We’ll get to ALL that fun stuff later. For right now, let’s get back to basics.

WHAT IS CANNABIS?

Cannabis is the herb derived from the plant Cannabis Sativa. Its psychoactive effects come from THC, or delta-9 tetrahydro-cannabinol, which is a naturally occurring cannabinoid. Its healing effects come from CBD, or cannabidiol, another cannabinoid. It’s leaves and buds are dried and used for smoking, cooking, medicines, and oils.

Historically cannabis gained many names, some from users, others from government propaganda. So to be PC or whatever, cannabis is known as medical marijuana and is still considered a drug. But this is my blog, and I say cannabis is not a drug.

It’s medicine.

And so far, zero deaths have resulted from the use of it. So take that, National Institute on Drug Abuse!

Because I sincerely see Illinois becoming a legally recreational cannabis state, meaning people who don’t qualify to be a patient can still purchase cannabis products, it’s time that people who don’t know get in the know. Ask me what you wish, and if it isn’t answered here, I’ll find the answer.

IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THE USAGE, SMOKING, OR DISCUSSION OF MARIJUANA, THIS IS NOT THE BLOG FOR YOU. FRANKLY, I WONDER WHY YOU’VE READ THIS FAR. BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, YOU COULD BE READING ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.

Alrighty, I hope whoever left didn’t take all the cookies and punch I brought for you guys. There’s no cookies and punch. We’re online.

So how can YOU become a medical cannabis patient in Illinois, allowing you to legally purchase and use that sweet mary jane without any heat from authorities?

  1. You must have one of the following conditions, diagnosed by a medical professional:
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Arnold-Chiari malformation
  • Cancer
  • Causalgia
  • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
  • Crohn’s disease
  • CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
  • Dystonia
  • Fibrous Dysplasia
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hydromyelia
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Lupus
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Myoclonus
  • Nail-patella syndrome
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • Residual limb pain
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Seizures (including those characteristic of Epilepsy)
  • Severe fibromyalgia
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
  • Spinal cord injury is damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
  • Spinocerebellar ataxia
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tarlov cysts
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Cachexia/wasting syndrome

Source: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis/debilitating-conditions

2. Complete the application:

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis/medical-cannabis-registry-application

3. Come up off that change bruh, this is Illinois! You knew there was going to be a fee:

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis/registry-card-application-fees

4. Find a dispensary, these are all licensed:

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis/select-a-medical-cannabis-dispensary

It’s some work, but necessary. The more people who qualify and obtain their cards, the more participation the state sees with this pilot program, the better.

Look, cannabis isn’t for everyone. Lol I’m not talking about myself of course. Heck I love it. I’ve been a user since the age of 17. Stoner teen, thinking I could change the world with a Bob Marley cd and a few rolled joints. Then I met people whose lives were improved by medical cannabis, and realized how people in my own community can do the same.

I’m here to show you why YOU (Smokey the Bear finger point) are absolutely necessary to the movement. Like I said, I’m no expert. But I’m passionate and prepared to be your trusty liaison to the cannabis world.  One toke at a time!

Welcome to Clear As Smoke.

“Hey, hey, hey, hey…smoke weed everyday.”–Nate Dogg.

medcannabis