Garden Patches

PTSD and Medical Marijuana “My unit was deployed to Afghanistan for about 14 months. We saw and heard a lot of combat… “Our convoy was traveling to our next location for patrol when an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) hit one Humvee and an IED (improvised explosive device) went off on another… Chaos everywhere. It felt like we were surrounded by insurgents wherever we looked. Bullets zipping past our heads. “As a medic I searched for the easy-to-care first, patched up the two and into the

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a component found in the cannabis plant in upwards of 40 percent of the plant’s dry weight. Smoking, or ingesting CBD oils in any form or fashion will not impart the “high” that is typically thought of when one considers the effects of cannabis. Five thousand years of cannabis burning and use merits some clear-eyed examination of its benefits. Once upon a time, there were landraces, pure examples of Cannabis Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis. Each was unique in both

In the recent hullabaloo over the benefits of medical cannabis and THC, what’s been absent from the conversation is the recognition of CBD, an important contributing factor for cannabis treatments. First, we know that both CBDs and THC are phytocannabinoids; plant-based cannabinoids that, when introduced into the human body, react similarly to endocannabinoids, or cannabinoids produced by one’s own body. Next, what are CBD and THC? For cannabis neophytes, CBD stands for cannabidiol, a

NOTE: This is an expanded version of an article that first appeared in the: floridamarijuanainfo.com website. I have added details and other information that could not be fitted into the 500-word length of the article. Especially, I discuss the use of CBD in pregnancy, something I had no room for in the previous story. Read on and get informed about the real info available for pregnant women and cannabis use. Pregnancy and Cannabis Use Cannabis is the most commonly used, illicit drug by

Florida Medical Cannabis Conference and Exhibition When the alarm clock went off at 2 a.m., I couldn’t understand what the noise was all about. AH, then the old memory bank fired and I knew why my wife and I were wakening up at that ungodly hour. To go to the Florida Medical Cannabis Conference and Exhibition, in Wesley Chapel, a four-hour drive south for “cannacon”, my name for this Medical Cannabis conference. Held at the beautiful Saddlebrook Resort and Spa on May 19 to 21, 2017, the

Gorilla Glue Strain Review This potent hybrid strain has quite the reputation to uphold. First place in both the Michigan and LA Cannabis Cup. Plus, first place in High Times Jamaican World Cup. What a pedigree, eh? Purported parents: Chem’s Sister, Sour Dub and Chocolate Diesel developed by GG seeds. The strain is also known as “420” or “420 Glue” or “Gorilla Glue No. 4”. This hybrid slightly favors Sativa genetics with a 65 percent to 35 percent Indica mix. And that probably accounts for

Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana Did you know that one out of three people in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain? One hundred million Americans have intractable, constant pain that affects their quality of life. Per the Institute of Medicine, chronic pain absences and lost work productivity cost approximately 560 to 635 billion dollars a year to the states. By all accounts, pain is a very complex function. It is the body’s way of saying, “Something is wrong.” The most common reason why

Dravet Syndrome: Causes This disease has many theorized causes for this medication-resistant seizure disorder. From a genetic-based disorder to a nerve transmission problem, the theories are as varied as cannabis has helpful qualities. Dravet is often associated with febrile seizures – triggers which include elevated body temperatures; emotional stressors; flashing lights and excitement. Myoclonic seizures may occur. This involves involuntary muscle spasms. Some may experience seizures that

Chernobyl This Sativa-dominant strain is well known for its long-lasting effects and energetic, euphoric high with a bit of pain relief without paranoia. It was voted one of High Time’s Top Ten Strains of the Year in 2010 and worth taking a taste. It has nice pain-handling characteristics with a strong cerebral buzz which lasts for two to three hours. The wide-ranging medical cannabis relief powers make it a popular choice among medical marijuana patients. This 60/40 Sativa-dominant strain --

Girl Scout Cookies   This medical strain is complex; an OG Kush combined with Durban Poison (F1), and possibly Cherry Kush crossed again with an OG Kush male. Durban Poison is a landrace strain, of one of a few 100 percent Sativas originating out of Africa. OG Kush is Indica dominant, a very potent strain. Girl Scout Cookies is Indica dominant with heavy Sativa influence, probably a 60/40 hybrid. You get the best of both worlds with a ratio like this.    Believe what you want, the results

HIV/AIDS and Medical Marijuana Remember the AIDS epidemic? Seems like ages ago? Well folks, looming on the horizon is this insidious beast, HIV/ AIDS. It has never left us – just gone underground because of the spectacular success of the antiretroviral cocktail. Not everyone has access to the healthcare necessary to acquire the meds or has the knowledge that they are HIV positive. By the end of 2015, there were 36.7 million cases of AIDS and HIV worldwide. Since the beginning of

Blue Dragon Strain This strong medical marijuana is an Indica-dominant (slightly) strain that is good for relieving pain and other ailments. With an average of about 14 percent THC, the high can be found around a whopping 24 percent. The mix of Indica and Sativa is about 60/40. Which makes for a powerful MMJ. A mix of Blueberry and Sour Diesel, this strain smokes a smooth berry taste with an undertone of Diesel. Buds are typical Indica – tight, dense nuggets. Typically, dark green with a

The Man Rebel…Evangelical Christian…Loves Country…Dogs…Guns…Purveyor of… WEED. Yeah, weed. Thus enter the dichotomy that was this man’s life until he found… Medical Marijuana. Profiteer turned caregiver…from non-initiated to true believer. From the age of 17, when he smoked his first joint (and like most of us, didn’t get high), he has been a weed warrior and has been growing pot incognito. That’s almost 40 years. Now he’s lead grower, with his wife, and operator of Psychedelic Purple

Lyme Disease and Cannabis Ah, the Great Outdoors! Fresh clean air, freshly rolled blunt, sun gently caressing your face. Every step an adventure as you hike deeper into the woods. But there is something small and fast stalking you through the grass and you better do something about it. Ticks love tall grass, all the better to hitch a ride on you, human. And ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to the tune of 300,000 new infections every year in the U.S. The Borelia burgdorferi

CP, MS, Epilepsy and Medical Marijuana Grouping these diseases together may seem capricious in an article about medical marijuana. But the truth of the matter is that these afflictions all involve tight muscle spasticity, seizures and chronic pain. So this blogger decided to write something that will, with hope, clarify the use of medical marijuana (MMJ) for these three different chronic illnesses. Definitions are in order because if you don’t suffer from these diseases, you probably have

Fire OG This Girl is On Fire! Okay, yeah, I know. The Overplayed Song….But really, with all the sparkling trichomes and the red hairs covering these luscious flowers, this girl earns her name! This clone-only specimen features an OG Kush x San Fernando Valley OG Kush, a F3 hybrid. Hence, the 70/30 ratio of Indica and Sativa mix. This is believed to be one of the best medical marijuana strains to grow and use. THC ranges from 19 to a brain-numbing 33 percent. Smoking this medicine is not

Purple Elephant Purple Elephant is a rare, clone-only strain, although there are now shops offering seeds with very high germination rates. Purple Urkle and an unknown cross make up this potent medical marijuana plant. For those of you unaware of the origins of Purple Urkle, it is either a 100 percent Granddaddy Purple or Mendocino Purps Indica phenotype. This California strain from the late 80s became a fan favorite. With its Indigo growth habit, Purple Elephant has notable high yields

Humboldt Ice Skunk This throwback to the mellow days of 70s Humboldt County is reminiscent of classic sinsemilla. Its origins may be a mystery but the outcome is a pungent, earthy smell with a nice Sativa buzz. One company sells Humboldt Ice created from a crossing of Super Silver Haze x Trainwreck x Green Crack with an estimated 25 percent THC. Now that’s whack! It is theorized that Humboldt Ice Skunk is an Afghani acclimatized to Humboldt County, Cali. It was then crossed with a

Open a container of this seizure-fighting medication and you will be pleasantly surprised at the lemon grass and hay fragrance. This is, surprisingly, a Sativa-dominant phenotype of the high CBD strain, Cannatonic. It is probably a hybrid of C. Ruderalis and Cannatonic. The THC and CBD ratio of this plant is 1:20 which translates into NO or negligible psychoactive properties. This strain is similar to Charlotte’s Web, which is a known effective seizure medication. With a CBD content as high

Qrazy Train It is said that the crazy quilt of strains in Qrazy Train is responsible for an appropriately mixed bag of buzzes. With crosses such as Train Wreck x Trinity x Purple Urkle x Space Queen, this cannabis offers a medium high with pleasant pain relief and relaxation characteristics. It is a true hybrid with a 50/50 balanced ratio of Indica and Sativa qualities. This medium to tall plant has a Sativa growth habit with Indica’s shortened flowering time. This girl is amenable to