It is cold outside, which means it time to turn to a classic warm drink – cocoa. Except this modern version has marijuana and turmeric
When the temperatures drop, people turns to they’re a classic love. A survey of those over 21 or found the nation’s favorite winter drink is a cocoa classic: hot chocolate. It is the top choice of women (35%), men (30%), and adults under the age of 50 (34%). So why not give it al modern flair – make some marijuana-infused turmeric hot cocoa.
In India’s Ayurvedic medical culture, turmeric powder or juice is given to people with many gripes, particularly for pain and inflammation. Somewhere in the internet, golden milk was touted as an ‘ancient Indian secret’ and though it’s often added to milk in India, this concept seems to be an interpretation rather than an authentic classic. Interpretation being the specialty of any chef looking to stash the power of cannabis, a desire to take hot cocoa to the next level spawned this awesome take on two favorites.
What you end up with is quite delicious and is the perfect vehicle to get maximum benefit from turmeric. Combining it with hot cocoa is utterly divine, adding the devils lettuce, makes it not only literally intoxicating, it’s ingredients push through both the THC and turmeric’s curcumin faster and better than most consumables. Black pepper and cardamom, both enhance your stone and help the turmeric work its magic, and since everything is fat soluble, it will play nicely together.
Cannabis Infused Golden Hot Cocoa
Recipe by Danielle Guercio
2 T Cocoa
1 T Demerara sugar
1 tsp Turmeric
3-5 Black cardamom pods (OR dip a toothpick in essential oil and then dip in milk)
A few cracks of a black pepper grinder
A ½ inch nub of fresh ginger
¼ c Half and half (you can use any milk here dairy or not)
½ tsp Cannabis coconut oil or butter*
⅔ c Boiling water
In a mug, add cocoa and sugar put aside. If you are using a milk frother, lightly crack spices except turmeric and add to mug with cocoa. Without a milk frother, use a dry saucepan to lightly toast the cardamom and pepper before heating milk, do not boil, do not pour milk over flame.
While milk is heating, boil water separately and pour over cocoa, stirring thoroughly. Remove milk from heat and stir in infused oil and turmeric. Let stand for a few seconds, then slowly pour over cocoa.
*Cannabis Infused Coconut Oil
Put ¼ cup coconut oil in a clean mason jar with decarboxylated starting material (20 min at 225 in a sealed container for raw cannabis, 10 for hash and wax). Seal the Mason jar and placed in a warm water bath for 1 hour. Cool the Mason jar to room temperature and place in a freezer overnight. The next day, defrost and place in a water bath once more, just to heat through. Strain if using raw cannabis. If using a concentrate or hash you won’t have to strain the material.
If you want to get really weird, you can use some boozy rum cream with the milk, and it will be mildly alcoholic, but incredibly tasty. Drink up when you’re feeling under the weather in any way–inflammation doesn’t just mean injuries and sore muscles, it counts for sinuses and PMS too.
It is the time of year when things tend to speed up at work, at home, and in politics….but can a gummy help you stop and take a breath?
Politics are dominating the news, more people are back to the office and it seems the work load is heavier. Sometimes you just need a little down time. While marijuana has a reputation of getting stoned, can a gummy help you relax and unwind? Well, science says yes. Gen Z has embraced the trend as they are the first generation to be experiencing anxiety at an alarming rate.
Some people reach for alcohol, a scented candle, or music to relax, but a study at John Hopkins has shown using marijuana at a lower dose can help the body and mind relax.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid found in cannabis. It is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids in the plant. identified in the plant. It interacts with receptors in the brain to produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria. But indulging too much can have a negative impact.
While more research needs to be done, it is clear from research dosage it a key compartment with marijuana. Gummies tend to have 5-10 mg, a lower amount than in a joint and easier to control than taking several hits off a vape. Microdosing, which has become popular, provides an opportunity to take part of gummies just to smooth the rough edges of the day.
“People use cannabis to help reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but since THC levels vary widely, if a person overshoots their tolerance of THC, cannabis can induce anxiety rather than relieve it,” says study senior author Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Our study demonstrates d-limonene can modulate the effects of THC in a meaningful way and make THC more tolerable to people using it for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes.”
The research team concluded combining d-limonene with THC significantly reduced subjective indicators/reports of THC-induced anxiety in participants. These reductions were greater as the dose of d-limonene was increased.
Additionally, they saw no interference with THC’s subjective, cognitive or physiological effects when co-administered with d-limonene, as well as no effects from d-limonene alone that differed from the placebo test.
If anxiety is frequent, it is important speak to a health professional to develop a routine for long term help.
The cannabis has been suffering for the last two years…but do the presidential candidates really care?
The last two years has been brutal for the cannabis industry. Consumer use continues to climb, but the cost of doing business is outpacing the profit. Filled with mainly mom and pop small business owners, it has become tougher and tougher as more and more people consume. But does either political parties care and what are they actually going to do? The marijuana industry seeks positive signs from candidates, and more than just statements, they want sound policy.
Legal states have reaped the benefits of making the plant safely available. ncreased tax revenue, a decreased in youth use, and a variable options for medical marijuana patients from addictive opioids. But the businesses themselves are battling high taxes, no tax benefits, increase in crime and a massive federal restrictions. Even with a growing customer base, hope is dwindling the government will act. And both parties have not been helpful.
Vice President Harris expressed support for legalizing marijuana, speaking publicly about where she stands for the first time she became the Democratic nominee.
“I just think we have come to a point where we have to understand that we need to legalize it and stop criminalizing this behavior,” Harris said during a nearly hourlong interview on the sports and culture podcast “All the Smoke” released Monday.
But what does it mean? Biden promised to help in 2020. The seasoned policy maker waited to the last moment to make the move, and then didn’t push the gas petal. While 2024 looked like a turning point year, nothing will happen. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) postponed their rescheduling announcement to December, after the election and a potential change in priorities, legalization actions, and executive orders.
Walz, as governor of Minnesota, saw the introduction of legal marijuana and how the state’s citizen’s embraced it in large numbers. But recently he shared he believed it should be a “states rights” issue but he still wants to Democrats to win Congress to help SAFE Banking.
The GOP Presidential candidate has given a nod to the industry, but under his previous term, nothing happened. Party leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have made it clear they want a regression of marijuana legality. The Senate GOP blocked the SAFER BANKING ACT 7 times. And the chaos over the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as speaker ruined the last big chance before camping started.
It seems all the states want the revenue, but no political leader wants to support the growth of the industry. The industry is just hoping something will hold candidates to their promises.
It is a jaw dropping scandal flooding the news…but the cannabis industry is avoiding it because the big investment deal fell through.
The entertainment industry and the public is general have been shocked by the scandal around Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy, Sean Combs, etc). The tentacles of his being charged at a federal level is making causing X in the music, entertainment, fashion, alcohol and monied worlds…but one industry is breathing a sigh of relief. There is a flood of celebrates who worried they will be pulled down including Ashton Kutcher, actor and Silicon Valley investor, Kevin Hart, Usher, Jay-Z, and more. But Diddy’s failed cannabis investment saves industry a scandal, right as it seems to waiting for good news.
Combs was arrested on Sept. 16 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. He is depicted as the leader of an alleged criminal enterprise, subjecting women and men to a pattern of physical and sexual abuse, according to federal prosecutors.
Investigators allege over a span of years, Combs would ply victims with narcotics and even resort to violence and intimidation during days-long sex sessions in events called “freak offs”. Big names were at these events and it has people running scared.
Diddy deeply dove into being part of the merge of cannabis companies Cresco Labs Inc. and Columbia Care Inc. They are currently two of the largest cannabis companies and were exploring a joint operations while adding additional investors. Diddy’s $155 million part would have given him a huge foothold into the growing market. His reach, wealth, and connections could have helped the industry. Luckily, in August 2023, the $ merger was terminated, canceling and voiding his deal with them.
But what next? Other people near him have a role in the industry including Jay-Z. He Jay-Z started a $10 million investment for minority-owned cannabis startups. He is the Chief Visionary Officer of TPCO Holding.
Wiz Khalifa, Method Man, and Snoop Dog all have fingers in marijuana. Time will tell how the Diddy indictments plays out for all the players.