New Moon Rituals and How to Use Astrology to Manifest All of Your Desires + A Playlist by DJ .Moonflower.

This new moon in Cancer is the perfect time to reflect on your relationships with yourself and others. It is a divinely feminine one and asks us to receive and interpret, rather than do or plan. Read further to learn more about new moon rituals and how to best use astrology to guide your manifestations.

What Do Moon Rituals Do?

If you're reading this, you know that you are the Creator of your own reality.  You're intuitive and empathic AF and you know that you have the power to work with the Moon's monthly cycles to co-create the life your future self deserves using moon rituals.

In fact, I'm like 99.3% sure that you drew me and this New Moon Guide into your vortex. Meaning, your energy is aligning with information to help you manifest your intentions this year!

I’m Iman The Alchemist. I’m an astrologer who uses spiritual-material formulas help you better understand yourself and co-create with the stars rather than be directed by them.

What is a New Moon?

A New Moon is the beginning of the lunar cycle and it's the most cosmically appropriate time to rest, reflect and set intentions for what you would like to manifest. I like to frame New Moon Manifestation Rituals for my clients as an opportunity to perform sacred activities that allow your inner desires to become outer realities.

New moon rituals are an ancient tradition that many people still practice today. They are meant to be a way for us to start anew, in order to get rid of any negative energy that we might have been accumulating before the new moon.

How Do You Manifest New Moon Intentions?

It’s important to visualize and connect with the energy of your intentions during your ritual. Journaling is one of the best ways to work with the energy of the new moon because the moon rules our subconscious inner world. Taking time and space to reflect allows you to integrate the inner wisdom you need to operate as your highest self. Visualization and getting clear on exactly what you want is also incredibly powerful during this time.

Here’s a New Moon Ritual You Can Use to Manifest Your Goals

1. How Manifest your Dream Future…

Step 1: Start by Creating a Sacred Space. Cleanse + Clear. Get Still. Connect to your Breath. Start a high frequency vibe playlist like this one from DJ .Moonflower.

Step 2: Write down all of your Long-Term Goals. Read them to yourself a few times and make sure each Goal Resonates.

Step 3: Then visualize each goal in your 3rd Eye as if it's happening now for about 1 minute. Fill in The Who, What, + Where, Etc... Feel it happening in your bones. Imagine a bright white light enveloping your spirit + physical body as you float amongst the cosmic dust.

2. Make time to Create a 2022 Monthly Career Plan

On this Cancer New Moon, make time and space to focus on how you have been treating yourself and how your interpersonal relationships affect your life.
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We spend so much time focusing on what we can see. But I challenge us all to begin focusing on what we cannot see. Only feel. And to do this successfully, we must learn to trust ourselves in service of our evolution on a soul level.

Bring this into your mind’s eye and see how what you project out into the world has affected what you are bringing into your life.

3. Use a Mantra

… When I make time and space to visualize my ideal relationships, the universe helps to guide me.

If you or someone you know would be interested in learning about what will come up this year, send an email to me at imanthealchemist@gmail.com to book a session with me.
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I'm also offering Birthday Astrology Readings for all signs. This reading will come in two parts:​
​In part 1, I read your Birth Chart.
​In part 2, we do a Ritual to Manifest what you want this year.

The New Moon is always a powerful time in the astrological calendar. It's a time when the moon is at its closest point to the earth, creating an intense energy that can have a profound effect on us all. This Aries New Moon will be particularly important as it will help you to take action and make changes in your life.

Conclusion: The best time of year for starting something fresh or creating something amazing has arrived!

Try This Playlist for Your Manifestation Rituals + Listen in the Days Around the New Moon

.moonflower. is an mystical DJ who created a New Moon playlist for your rituals!

Music is an incredible tool for aligning with the power of the moon. I collaborated with .moonflower., a divine feminine healer and DJ, who created a New Moon playlist for you to vibe out to and absorb the energy of the moon during your rituals.

You can use this playlist while journaling, visualizing and as .moonflower. recommends, dancing in the mirror and admiring the way your body moves as you manifest your sense of self and prepare for all the beauty that is in store for you in 2022. Try listening to it throughout the day during the New Moon.

Click here to open the playlist in Spotify.

How Can I Learn More About This New Moon?

You can follow Iman on Tik Tok for video breakdowns on New Moons and other astrology events.

What New Moons are happening in 2022?

I’ve mapped out every New Moon this year and listed suggestions on how you can frame your ritual to best suite each New Moon.

1. January 2nd @1:35 PM Capricorn

• Themes: Career Expansion + Success

• Ritual Idea: Write an Article featuring the Future You in Dec 2022. What will you be doing? Wearing? Try to get as specific and detailed as possible as you write it.
  

2. February 1st @12:49 AM Aquarius

• Themes: Community/Network/Teamwork + Social Media Success

• Ritual Idea: Create the Agenda for an Imagined Meeting with your Future Creative Team or Group.
  

3. March 2nd @ 12:38 PM Pisces

• Themes: Spirituality + Creativity

• Ritual Idea: Create a piece of Art (Song, Painting, Poem, Sculpture) that Represents your Goal Achieved
  

4. Current Moon: April: 1st @2:27 AM Aries

• Themes: New Business + Side Hustle Biz +Self-Focus

• Ritual Idea: Create a 2022 Monthly Career Plan
  

5. April: 30th @4:30 PM Taurus (SOLAR ECLIPSE)

• Themes: Financial Abundance+ Security

• Ritual Idea: Write your Future Self a Check for a Specific Amount
  

6. May: 30th @7:32 AM Gemini

• Themes: Network + Outreach + Communication

• Ritual Idea: Plan an Imagined Future Cocktail Party Invite List
  

7. June: 28th @10:53 PM Cancer

• Themes: Career Family + Career Ancestors + Living Space

• Ritual Idea: Buy a Plant + Program with Intention + Nurture Each Day 
  

8. July: 28th @1:55 PM Leo

• Themes: Creativity + Fame

• Ritual Idea: Write an Acceptance Speech for a Future Award in your Professional Field
  

9. August: 27th @4:16 AM Virgo

• Themes: Daily Schedule + Health

• Ritual Idea: Create an Imagined To Do List for your Future Self

10. September: 25th @ 5:54PM Libra

• Themes: Partnership

• Ritual Idea: Write an Email from your Partner to the Future You

11. October: 25th @6:48 AM Scorpio (SOLAR ECLIPSE)

• Themes: Regeneration + Money from Others 

• Ritual Idea: Build an Altar Representing your Transformation from Old Self to New Self
  

12. November: 23rd @5:57 PM  Sagittarius 

• Themes: Higher Wisdom + Intuition + Publishing + Pilgrimage 

• Ritual Idea: Commit to Learning + Publishing Content  
  

13. December: 23rd @ 5:17 AM Capricorn 

• Themes: Career Expansion + Success

• Ritual Idea: Write an Imagined Future Review Detailing your Successes

What is a Solar Eclipse?

During an Eclipse, the light of the sun is temporarily blocked by the Moon so it is best to go within until the light returns. Back when Times were Ancient our ancestors were worried about Eclipses because the Celestial Lights went out for a moment. Eclipses are intense bc they are connected to the nodes of fate. It’s the universe's time to course correct our trajectories. Do your best to align with this energy rather than fight it.

How Long Does the New Moon Last?

You have three days after the full moon to do your ritual. I recommend starting at least eight hours after the New Moon placement occurs.

Do You Need Help Creating a New Moon Ritual?

A New Moon Ritual is as unique and specific as the person doing the ritual. I’m here to help you curate a tailored ritual to manifest all of your intentions this year!

Meet Your New Moon + Manifestation Mentors

.moonflower. is a Los Angeles based DJ and healer.

Through her .mystical sensual. sound curations and dynamic ability to empower those she encounters, her main goal is to experience an authentically bold life. She's a published author, root chakra activator, self-care/self-love guru, mental health advocate, and mystical sensual DJ.

You can book .moonflower. for mystical services including divine feminine consultations and as a DJ for your next event (virtual or in person).

Iman the Alchemist is a New York based astrologer

As an astrologer, Iman’s practice is soul-centered, practical and fun. Her spiritual-material formulas help you better understand yourself and co-create with the stars rather than be directed by them.

Book a session with Iman to learn about using your birth chart and astrology in a practical way to help you achieve success and abundance as creative.

How Can Astrology Help You Achieve Your Goals?

You might want to consider working with an astrologer if you need help with any of the following:

🌚Use the Moon's Power Cycles to Manifest Specific Goals

🌚Navigate Career Changes, Cycles + Decisions in Service of your Future Self

🌚Time your Career Plans in Alignment with Planetary Cycles

🌚Identify + Heal Energetic Blocks to your Career Success

🌚Define, Polish + Leverage what makes you Uniquely Bookable

🌚Integrate Spirituality into your Daily Professional Life

Subscribe to Iman’s mailing list to get a free New Moon calendar to keep on your phone and astrology tips directly to your inbox.

Guide To Our Favorite New Cannabis Brands

Every day a new exciting cannabis brand seems to pop up in our Instagram feed! We are so thrilled that there are so many weed brands that are innovating and creating new products for the cannabis enthusiasts of the world. We’ve decided to rounded up some of our favorite new cannabis brands and their products to share with you. Many of these 420 brands are female-owned and operated, which is another reason to keep your eyes peeled for these up-and-comers in the cannabis space. We love supporting brands that have a clear ethos of making the world a better place and we think these are some of the best new cannabis brands out there today.

Don’t see a new cannabis brand you love? Send us an email and tell us about it!

1. Guardians of the Ganja™ the perfect accessory for keeping your vape cartridge safe.

The Ganja Guard™ can fit most 510-thread cylinder-sized 1 gram vape cartridges and protects your vape cartridge from shattering and breaking.

Guardians of the Ganja™ is the brainchild of founder Sarah Hershberger-Valencia. When she started using vape carts, she found herself constantly dropping and breaking them. And because no one has time to be breaking and rebuying, she created the Ganja Guard™ out of a personal need. We love that this Latina-owned cannabis brand is focused on supporting the growing cannabis industry by meeting basic needs, promoting accessibility, and creating space for womxn to build community and continue to thrive. 

Baby Root Crop Tee is the cutest layering top ever.

They also offer apparel and accessories that feature the Guardians of the Ganja™, who are characters created by Hershberger-Valencia and brought to life by character artist Kristopher Satterwhite. This mighty team of guardians has banded together to protect the galaxy’s most valued resource – ganja. The life-giving and healing properties of this magical plant are treasured by everyone across the galaxy. However, there are some who wish to take the ganja for themselves and exploit its usefulness for their own profit and gains. It is the job of the guardians to ensure that the ganja is protected and remains accessible for all. We love the Baby Root Crop Top, it’s a perfect piece for layering and the quality of the t-shirt makes it an instant classic.

2. Keep your handbag ash and smell free with Hautebox by Charlotte Welch.

A handmade case with a space for a mini Bic lighter, it is perfect to go in a purse or a pocket.

Charlotte Welch brings fashion and cannabis together in a smart, contained and beautiful box so that everyone can be rolling in style. She created Hautebox, (pronouced HǑT-bäks) which is a discreet, smell proof, water proof and burn proof case to hold your joints. The cases come in a variety of colors and is perfect to hold a few joints and a mini lighter. It keeps your cannabis accessories cutely tucked away and keeps the smell of ganja from permeating your bag. Charlotte Welch has shaped the style of elite fashion faces, recognizable commercial clients, and select business professionals for nearly a decade and now she has created a brand that recognizes that cannabis smokers don’t want their toking to be everyone’s business.

3. PRETTYHIGH® is a luxury cannabis and fashion brand that is classy af.

Vintage inspired, high design smoking accessories like this brass roller from PRETTYHIGH® are truly forever pieces.

We love this brand’s ethos of making smoking pretty and high end with gorgeous and timeless designs. We also love the array of one-of-kind pieces in the Curated X PRETTYHIGH® store. Where else could one find a Vintage Mirror Top Jewelry Box perfect for tucking away your stash into something elegant and stylish? Founder, Katy Reddy, created PRETTYHIGH® to celebrate her passion for uniting vintage and new, casual and haute, and simple and edgy. We love her retro yet elegant vibes and cannot wait to see more from the Texas based cannabis brand.

4. Proof Cannabis creates affordable, high quality cannabis products for those who rely on them.

Proof’s face and body serums are perfectly moisturizing for normal to dry skin and contain CBD and THC.

All Proof products are vegan, sugar free, gluten free, and cruelty-free, made by hand in their small facility in Northern California. Proof is a woman-owned and operated company that believes in the medical and therapeutic qualities of their products. Their amazingly hydrating serums are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. They include therapeutic amounts of both THC and CBD for anti-aging, skin health, and radiance. This product earns “true believers” who, once they find it, never use anything else! You purchase Proof at your local dispensary, you can find out where to buy Proof here.

5. These Sugarhigh Lovestoned Graphic T’s make for a cheeky gift.

In a world of over-processed, poly-saturated and yellow number 5...eat your greens - it does a body good.

Sugarhigh Lovestoned is a lifestyle brand that creates their tees in small batches using non-toxic, water-based inks in their screen printing. We love that they capture the free-spirit of the modern cannabis enthusiast. Their clothes are classic, yet modern. For example, these Stoned As Folk Coveralls in the color champagne, will be covetable for all eternity. Their gift shop has cute cards, mugs and stickers that play up the hippie esthetic but in a cool and accessible way.

6. The Best Luxury Cannabis Accessories from Flower by Edie Parker

Slim Jean Lighter - Pot is hot! This multi-use piece is made with a built-in lighter for toking up on the go.

Since the brand’s inception, Edie Parker has used the highest quality materials to create original pieces that speak for themselves. Enter Flower: a line of colorful collectibles for friends in high places. The first brand to fully merge the worlds of fashion and flower, Edie Parker Flower offers fresh ways to entertain at home or light up a night out. Flower products are made of the highest quality materials, elevating and expanding the way we approach the good life. Shop their Stash It Line and you’ll find pieces that will spruce up the joint and spark conversation. So, clear your calendar, call your friends and let the good times roll.

7. Elyon Cannabis & Lifestyle Apparel is ideal for Weed Lovers

Show your personality with the Elyon Logo “Most High Hoodie”.

At Elyon Cannabis, optimal, pristine growing conditions, decades of cultivation experience, a tight-nit team, and keeping the customer experience top of mind helps us grow the most flavorful and potent cannabis available on the legal market. Not only does Elyon Cannabis craft beautiful bud, they also have a dope apparel shop with thoughtful items that cannabis smokers will love; from gold lighter chains to stoner approved coffee mugs, that hold about 11oz of fluid with a separate section for you to pack a bowl and take a nice hit in the morning. Your wake and bake is about to get elevated!

We’ll be updating this list periodically, so if there’s someone you feel we left out, send us an email and let us know! We love to hear from you all! If you take us up on any of these cannabis brands recommendations let us know on social media! Feel free to DM us about anything cannabis related, we’re always around to talk about women in the weed industry.

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This CEO found herself dissatisfied with the cannabis options available to her, so she created a brand: Nidhi Lucky Handa of LEUNE

LEUNE is a California-born lifestyle brand on a mission to elevate cannabis culture and the conversation that surrounds it. Through purpose-driven plant products that meet the highest quality standards, LEUNE is designed for everyone — seasoned pot fans and newcomers alike.

As LEUNE’s founder and CEO, Nidhi Lucky Handa is a WOC entrepreneur and cannabis consumer, who found herself dissatisfied with the options available to her and sought to create a brand that would appeal to a wider demographic, not just men and "super stoners." Now hailed as a "Woman Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Weed" by Forbes and a "Woman of Weed" by High Times Magazine, Nidhi has dedicated her career to building a cannabis company that will raise industry standards for workplace culture, representation and social equity. 

We sat down with Nidhi to learn more about how she started her brand and advice she has for building a career in the cannabis industry:

High Herstory: Nidhi, it’s an honor to speak with you. We greatly admire your work to disrupt the cannabis industry and raise standards for equity and inclusion. Can you tell us more about your journey founding LEUNE and what makes your brand different? 

Nidhi Lucky Handa: My journey is similar to a lot of others in that I came consumer first. I was living in LA during recreational legalization and was super excited to go to the dispensary and buy legally. I've been a consumer since I was a teenager a lot of people.

I was so excited to see what the experience was going to be at a retail level and was really disappointed to quickly be like - “Hey, where's me and all of this”?

There were seemingly a lot of brands that were focused on men, or I would say leaning into the stigma of, of weed and anything that we should as an industry, be trying to like a hurdle that we should be trying to get over. On the other end of the spectrum, it was all wellness brands, which wellness is a valid vertical. I'm a consumer of it, but it's a niche. I love the challenge and a puzzle and I guess have a little bit of a proclivity for liking to sort of figure things out that aren't totally clear. So that's kind of, it that's really the Genesis of what got me inspired to think about starting a brand. 

I think the other piece is, is that I got to market really fast.  I started conceiving of this idea in the spring of 2018 and we launched the brand in November of the same year with force. So in hindsight, I think that if the path had been longer and if the brand didn't take off as quickly as it did, I don't think I would have known what I know now about how complex this industry is and how complicated everything is. I think that there was a little bit of ignorance is bliss that got me off the ground. Fortunately, I was focused on spending my money on things that I see now were very critical, like compliance, understanding the regulatory environment, really putting a focus on the brand. At a moment in time when everyone was telling me brand doesn't matter in weed, nobody cares like, you know, deli-style is the future and I don't think I was the only one clearly, but many of us did not agree with that.

It's a hard industry to get any sort of forward momentum in, but I think it was a combination of timing and that I wasn't focusing on a lot of the things that my peers were. I was focusing on completely different things that seemed really irrelevant at the time, like consumer arc and creating an architecture for the brands that made sense and would be built to sort of reverse engineer for scale. 

I was very, very interested in that from the beginning. To me, California was never going to be the be-all end-all. It was always like, okay, if I'm going to take this brand to all of these other states and all these other countries in the future, how am I going to build it, to do that?

Understanding that the regulatory environment is so volatile and different everywhere. That how I started. You know, I don't like to over-romanticize anything because I think it doesn't help anyone. I spent a lot of my time in mentorship, you know, mentoring other people. We tend to glamorize the way that things happen. It’s equal parts luck and a lot of hard work. And also just doubling down on the things that you really feel passionate about. Either you're going to be right, or you're going to be wrong. Either you're going to stick to your guns or you're gonna pivot These are the decisions that are going to determine your outcome. 

Then, you know, just honestly the universe, because this industry is bananas and there's a lot of things that none of us can control. So, you know, cannabis wasn’t deemed essential during the pandemic, I think this industry, would look a hell of a lot different right now.

High Herstory: We are still getting over the fact that you conceived the idea for LEUNE in Spring of 2018 and launched in market in November that same year…seriously impressive.

Nidhi Lucky Handa: Thank you. There were a few things that I was very passionate about. One was I wanted the brand to be vertical agnostic, meaning I don't want to be that vape brand or that, you know, gummy brand, I want to be that cannabis brand. And that was really a practical thing. I mean, you know, the counterargument to that is. You should be a specialist and not a generalist, right?

We're in such a weird industry where storytelling in cannabis right now is very chill, wag the dog. It's like, what are you, what are we allowed to sell in it in a specific regulatory environment versus what's the best product for the consumer? Everything is a little bit backward. So that was one thing I was very passionate about.

The other was I wanted the brand to be very IP driven and the architecture of the brand speaks to that. So everything inside LEUNE is our own IP, this word loon, I made it up. I won the federal trademark for it. I was like watching all these other brands and watching a lot of the bad actors in our industry, stealing IP from CPG brands and I mean, I think any of us who have operated a day of our life outside of, weed know that there's only so long that it's gonna work for. When the lawsuits started coming down. 

Outside of that, I felt very passionate and I still do, that the brand is not female. I don't believe in this gendering of the weed business. And I feel very like impassioned by it. And I think it is the feminist in me that feels that I think we pay the pink tax at the drug store because of that. LEUNE for me was always about being smart and thinking about, hey, if we know that women make 80% of the spending decisions in the American households but we're in an industry that is very dynamic in that we've all been socialized for the last few decades to not interact with the transaction of weed. I think most women can relate to this. Like I've been consuming since I was a teenager, but I was always taught like, no, no, let your boyfriend deal with the drug dealer. You consume it, but don't deal with the person selling it. 

That hurdle is something that we get over very quickly in every market but it screws up the data. So it gives this very wrong impression that you know, this is a some heavily weighted male consuming industry. It's like, no, it's not, it's heavily weighted. This is an important data point that starting to become more clear. But as a result, we got a lot of brands that were hyper-targeted to men or fewer that were hyper-targeted to women. 

LEUNEis very much like the people I could care less what your gender is. I could care less, like as long as you're of legal age, like I think that the brand stands for what it stands for. We're mission-driven super aesthetic, super creative, but there's never going to be this thing about it. Gender or exclusion at LEUNE. And, you know, I see the virtue for certain products being that way, but certainly not what I was interested in building it LEUNE.

We think a lot about the consumer, I think because we're all consumers and we all are heavily invested in this notion that the 3.0 consumer doesn't see herself yet in our industry.

High Herstory: How do you see the 3.0 consumer? 

Nidhi Lucky Handa: You know, I think now it's funny. I see that I've been talking about this for a long time and I'm starting to see this phrase being used a lot more now, and I think we're there. So if you think about the 2.0 consumer, the one that we've been marketed to for the last couple of decades is, you know, is the meme of the guy just super stoned on a sofa with his belly hanging out and eating a big pizza, right. That meme is exclusionary, and that has shaped the way that we think about, and I don't think the sophistication has necessarily been there historically, but it has shaped the way that we've thought about branding use case consumer arc because we're just catering to that one, consumer that in one sort of archetype of the consumer.

I think the 3.0 consumer is often new to legal weed, meaning these are not people who have never tried the plant, but they wouldn't describe themselves as daily or professional users. I also don't think these people are canna-curious, meaning. Sure. They're curious, but they're also like consuming. Just having a hard time finding themselves in the product they're, you know, often being fully employed and, you know, don't have the sort of financial hiccups of waiting till Friday, payday to buy weed, which again, factors into the marketing piece, right?

Because if we're all building brands marketing to the same one person and the same demographic we're leaving everybody else out. And I think the sort of the middle lane, the masses, the people who are eager to get past the stigma curve, over the hump of weed being like a taboo thing and ready and willing to bring cannabis into their daily world or dealing consumption habits.

They're struggling to see themselves. They struggled to see themselves in the marketing. They struggled to see themselves in the product types. They struggled to see themselves because we're not doing a good job as an industry, or historically we haven't, we're doing a lot better job now. I'd say in the last 12 to 18 months, things have really, they feel different particularly out here in California.

It's interesting because particularly as a woman, it's very easy for me to have these conversations with investors and for those conversations to sound very pie in the sky. But the reality is they're very backed up by data. You know, data suggests that if we're going to build an industry that is solid and that can carry itself forward, we need to be investing in consumers that are able to consume regularly.

When you're building any kind of brand or any kind of business, the best evangelist you can have is your customer. To earn the respect of somebody who's willing to consume your product. Not just once, but again, and again, that's a privilege that I think we all should be taking a lot more seriously, you know, and I, I certainly do at LEUNE.

When we think about the 3.0 consumer, we think about that person who's very eager to consume but might not have the time, or might even feel intimidated by the dispensary experience and might not understand right out the gate the difference between resident rosin might not be super tuned into what their dosage is for an edible. But they want to be. 

I go to dispensaries all the time and I'm constantly surprised by the narrative of budtenders often not understanding that their consumption habits are probably not the same as the consumers, right?

We still don't understand why two people that have the same height and weight have completely different tolerances. I'm somebody who consumes cannabis pretty much on a daily basis. And my tolerance for say an edible hasn't really grown past five milligrams. I've got coworkers who have similar sort of body type and all the other things that you would think would play into metabolism who are now being able to tolerate 40 milligrams at a time, right? 

The education piece and the ability to not shame the consumer at the dispensary and give them the space. I always remember this story of a friend of mine whose mother was visiting town a couple of years ago. She said, she wants to go to the dispensary and buy some gummies for sleep. This was before LEUNE had gummies on the market. 

And she said, “What should she buy?” I said, “Look for the microdose product. She should ask the budtender about, you know, ratios.” And, you know, at that time the CBN was all the rage for sleep. Even after all those nuggets of perspective, she walked out of there with a thousand-milligram tincture from a budtender. She got so stoned out of her mind because she had no perspective of her tolerance or dosage. It was such a bad experience.

Not only is that a lost consumer. But, that's also a very correctable thing. For a lot of 3.0 consumers, you know, maybe it's like, yeah, I want to go to dinner and I want to be able to take a vape because I'm not drinking alcohol, but it's really important to me that it doesn't smell because it wouldn't be a good look to show up at some dinner with smelling like weed, right?

That consumer maybe has the same hunger appetite tolerance for cannabis as someone else, but use case looks different.

“Similarly, I think a 3.0 consumer often is really eager to figure out how to use cannabis, to make their lives more efficient, not to just zone out. We know this now more as, as we get more data points about cannabinoids and terpenes and all of these things, there's an efficiency to using cannabis. You know, we hear all the time from our consumers, anecdotes about using certain LEUNE products before exercising or before cleaning the house versus using other ones before they go out for dinner or before going to a party.”

It’s the folks who are looking to use weed for many, many different reasons to most enhance their lives versus to check out from it.

High Herstory: What is your favorite product that LEUNE has created?

Nidhi Lucky Handa: Well, I can't show favoritism to any of my children, but I will say this, our gummies, I am, I'm an edible consumer. We did three years doing R and D trying to get that product right. I am extremely proud of the end result. They're rosin-based. I am a believer in the distillate hangover. I think input in edibles in particular makes a really big difference.

And I did not understand it until I really started doing all this R and D work. There's a really big difference in how I feel the next day after a distillate gummy versus rosin-based gummy or a live resin-based gummy. We set the bar very high for ourselves on these gummies. They're gluten-free and vegan and all-natural and all the things.

We heat tested them to 150 degrees because we wanted to make sure they wouldn't melt. Everyone who consumes gummies knows what it's like to buy gummies at the dispensary or get them delivered and they are all melted into one sheet, you know? They are micro-dosed in two into and a half and fives. We just launched one that is a ratio that has THC, CBD, and CBG. I think that most people can tolerate two and a half milligrams and the rosin creates a much softer high because it's a full spectrum experience. 

Where to Find Chic Cannabis Inspired Home Decor

Julia Blanchard is the Brooklyn-based Founder and Head Designer at Blanchard Design LLC., where she manages global design projects with varying budgets from start to completion.

Most notably, Julia has worked on properties like The Hudson Field House for a private gym, half court, and wellness center, as well as numerous multi-million dollar homes ranging from Park Ave to the Hamptons.

Julia draws influence from her client’s personality and lifestyle while mixing in timeless architecture and style, with a nod to her favorite designers, Dorothy Draper and Axel Vervort.

Keeping in mind our love for cannabis here at High Herstory, Julia curated an interior design must-have list for the chic stoner; so you can browse and shop from home (while smoking, of course,) to slowly improve the comfort and appearance of your space.

Shop Blanchard Design Cannabis Homeware Selects Below:

1. ) The Green Jay is a single carrier comes in black, white, and pink (which is really more of rose gold.) It’s airtight, waterproof, and childproof, with a push and turn cap. Throw this joint case inside your purse for mess and smell-free travel, or lay it across a rolling tray at home for a pop of chrome color.

2.) The Tortoise Lighter by Tsubota Pearl is a gorgeous Japanese refillable lighter with gold accents. It couldn’t hurt to reduce your consumption by adding another reusable item to your arsenal, and plus, it just screams class.

3.) Emily Flake’s “Don’t think of me as a weed dealer—think of me as Little Pharma” throw pillow is bound to get giggles out of anyone who keeps up with cannabis media. It’s funny, light-hearted, and bright.

4.) Jonathan Adler’s Vice CBD Canister celebrates life’s guilty pleasures while giving you a polished, designated space for your CBD flower or products. It is a super stylish way to store your stash.

5.) While we’re talking Jonathan Adler, you may as well indulge in the Druggist Weed Square Tray, as well. The porcelain square is adorned with vintage-inspired painting in gorgeous blue and gold hues.

6.) This Glass Rolling Tray displays iconic drawings by the legendary Keith Haring. What’s not to love?

7.) This Adorable Print of nuns consuming flower. Seeing nuns smoke reminds us that cannabis is not unholy. Display it and embrace it. Look up sisters of the valley and thank us later!

8.) You can “burn” this Homesick Candle for 60-80 hours alongside your smoke. With top notes of bergamot and cannabis, mid notes of patchouli and cedarwood, and base notes of sandalwood and musk, this candle is a wonderful addition to any cannabis lover’s sanctuary.

9.) The Ring Pipe by Lindsay Hampton adds a pop of color and geometric play to any space. It also has a great hand feel and the center hole makes it harder to drop. Yes, please!

Interested in keeping up with Blanchard Design? Follow them on Instagram, or book a free 15 minute design consultation with Julia here. 

How Founder of Edie Parker Flower, Brett Heyman, is Speaking to Cannabis Consumers in a Way No One Has Before

Founded in 2010 in New York City by Brett Heyman, Edie Parker, a luxury cannabis home and accessory brand, sprang from the founder’s love of mid-century style. Inspired by acrylic bags made in America in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Heyman collected the vintage handbags and researched their long-lost designers. When she could no longer find the clutches she coveted at vintage and second hand shops, she decided to remake them for a new generation.

Since the brand’s inception, Edie Parker has used the highest quality materials to create original pieces that speak for themselves. Produced exclusively in America and Italy by skilled artisans, Edie Parker crafts pretty things to make you happy.

They also have moved into the cannabis space more directly with Edie Parker Flower which offers fresh ways to entertain at home or light up a night out. We were lucky enough to interview their founder, Brett Heyman, and get her thoughts about the luxury cannabis space and learn more about how her brand is creating space for consumers who love high quality flower and high fashion accessories.

HH: What was your “a-ha” moment when you decided you wanted to start your brand, Edie Parker?

Brett Heyman: I had been working in fashion, I started working at Gucci right out of college and had always collected vintage. I grew up in L.A. and when I was in high school my mom used to drop me off at Melrose and Fairfax early on a Saturday morning. I would walk up and down Melrose for hours browsing and buying vintage. I was sort of obsessed. 

When I moved to New York, my living spaces got smaller and smaller and I had to get rid of stuff but I always hung on to these acrylic clutches that I had bought in high school. Anytime I wore one out there was this real sense of nostalgia and recognition from people saying things like “my Grandma has a bag like that” or “that’s interesting, what is that?” I loved it.

Over the next several years, I accumulated all this fashion experience covering accessories for Dolce and Gabbana and Gucci. When I had my first child, who is named Edie Parker, I thought, “I’m always going to be a woman who works, but if I’m going to work so hard and be away from my child, I want to do it for something that feels more fulfilling and meaningful to me”. 

I had a passion for anything acrylic or from the post war period in America. I combined that passion with the realization that no one in fashion was really focused on Evening as a category. I thought, “alright, I’m going to try this.”

HH: You mentioned that Edie Parker is named after your daughter, and I was wondering if that had any historical or familial significance to the brand’s ideology?

BH: None, basically. I just was exhausted from trying to name my child, (laughs) it was very hard with me, my husband, my parents and his parent’s all weighing in. Everyone had opinions. So, after I picked Edie Parker for my daughter, I thought, “well, I’m done for the year. I’m naming the business after her”. (laughs)

But obviously I love vintage, and the name Edie is very reminiscent of the 1960’s. Edie Beale, Edie Sedgwick, etc. So, I think it was evocative of what we were trying to do.

HH: The name fits so perfectly I have to agree. Can you tell us a little more about Flower by Edie Parker and how that came about?

BH: We had launched a few categories for Edie Parker, including a home collection in 2016, and were always thinking about other categories that we wanted to enter. We always wanted to go places where it didn’t feel saturated. We weren’t piling on or following, we were trying to do something new. 

This idea of cannabis started coming up for us in 2018. We were cannabis users in the office and we liked cannabis and were excited about what was happening out West. So we started thinking about cannabis accessories as an extension of our home collection. We thought it would be really neat to have cannabis accessories that feel like Edie Parker. Which is to say, vintage-inspired, romantic, feminine, meant to be displayed, playful and meant to be gifted. 

From there we started really working in earnest on an accessories collection. And as we were researching that, we went to a bunch of dispensaries and realized there was really nothing on the shelves, actual cannabis flower, that speaks to us as women or shares our ethos. So we thought, wouldn’t it be cool if we could have a line of flower? 

Since we had been a brand for 9 years at that point, we thought people might feel comfortable buying cannabis from a brand that they know and trust. We felt like we had something different to say and could reach people who weren’t necessarily being spoken to. That’s really how it started.

Edie Parker Flower Pre-Rolls

“In the Spring of 2019 we launched a line of cannabis accessories nationwide and our first flower product in California, these Flower Pots that were basically these beautifully colored gram jars with gold foil. And with that we were off to the races.”

- Brett Heyman, Founder of Edie Parker

HH: That’s amazing. I tried your pre-rolls for the first time in Massachusetts, can you tell us a little about moving out into the Massachusetts cannabis market?

BH: Well, very candidly, California was really difficult for us. California is tricky to begin with, but we didn’t work with a distribution partner or a sales team, so we white labeled from an outdoor, organic sun-grown farm and then handled everything ourselves. Which in California is virtually impossible. 

We started thinking it would be smart for us to focus East of the Mississippi, where we thought there was a lot of opportunity and a lot less noise. We hope to make our way back West when it feels a little less chaotic. So, yes, we work with a partner called Ascend Wellness Holdings and we make pre-rolls in MA and IL right now and we hope to be in New York as soon as we can. I think New York is going to change what the landscape of cannabis looks like.

Edie Parker Flower Heart One-Hitter Necklace

HH: It’s gonna be beautiful, I can’t wait. We love your ashtrays and lighters! Do you have any personal favorites from your home line of cannabis accessories?

BH: I think of two different items on two different ends of the spectrum. 

Obviously, the table top lighter and nesting ashtray is so beautiful. It’s what I would dream to find in a vintage shop. It just feels so kind of retro but so beautiful. It’s handmade in the U.S. and made to be passed on for generations, even if you don’t smoke. It’s a centerpiece for a table, it’s something you light a candle with. It’s a conversation piece. I love it. You can personalize it, but it’s also perfect on its own. I think it’s an aspirational gift or home purchase that just makes me happy every time I see it. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum is our new heart glass pipes, which are one-hitters, and I love them because they are necklaces. We’re trying to pioneer new categories when we talk about the intersection of fashion and flower and that’s a perfect example to me. It’s an item that is meant to be worn and it’s really fun. It nods to these Lalique glass necklaces from the 90’s that I used to covet. So if you just love colored glass, it’s a necklace and you wear it and you never have to think about it again. But if you do love cannabis and you love a one-hitter, it's also a functional necklace. I think that’s so cool and I’m just jazzed about that kind of dual function item.

HH: What is next for Edie Parker and Flower by Edie Parker?

BH: Hopefully launching new cannabis SKUs. We developed a really beautiful disposable vape, so we’d like to launch that soon. And then just releasing a lot more accessories. We have some unbelievable glass in development. We have more ideas for a sort of hybrid fashion and function items. 

We have a new handbag coming out that is more for the Flower girl, thinking about what the Flower girl wants out of a purse, how she wears a purse and where her cannabis goes in her purse. We see so many possibilities as more people are discovering cannabis. Cannabis is a lifestyle and we want to outfit it.

HH: We think it’s brilliant, and we love that you have a brick and mortar in New York on Bond St. in Soho where people can walk in and see things in person.

BH: Thank you. That space is really beautiful, it’s on a really charming street. It really is meant to be a place where you’d want to come and smoke and hang out. There are little touches everywhere and it paints a tangible picture of the brand. 

HH: Is there any advice you would give to any new cannabis entrepreneurs?

BH: Don’t. (laughs) Look, it’s not hyperbolic when people say that cannabis is the wild wild west. It is crazy. It’s extremely exciting because a lot of us feel like cannabis is the future and there’s a lot of opportunity. There are also the health and wellness benefits and the incredible support in the community for social justice activism. But working in a field that is not federally legal and trying to launch in different states is extremely complicated and extremely capital intensive. Whatever cannabis looks like now and whatever cannabis brands exist now will shift over the next few years. The landscape will look very different. 

So my advice is tread cautiously and honestly. I give this advice when I talk to people about fashion and entering fashion. I really feel like everyone should go get a job first, learn the business and learn what’s missing. Don’t just launch a business because you love cannabis. If you have something to say that’s different, or if you know the business and you know people, great. But you have to be very careful and thoughtful.

HH: Thank you so much for that. Is there anything coming up for your brand that you’d like to share with our readers?

BH: We recently launched this really cool 4/20 campaign and I’m really proud of it and excited about it. We were inspired by the old Virginia Slims ad with the most famous advertising tagline in advertising history “You’ve come a long way, Baby.” Even though they feel so retro and dated now, at the time when they launched in the 60’s, Phillip Morris was speaking to women in a way that nobody had ever spoken to women in advertising before. 

They talked about feminist women, and women out of the house and professional women. So we interpreted that for the modern female cannabis customer and we shot these gorgeous high fashion pictures and they all say, “Weed’s come a long way, Baby.” They are just awesome and I’m very proud of them. There are out of home postings in New York, Chicago and Boston and there are billboards in LA and Chicago. 

This is how we talk to consumers of cannabis. We think they’re really smart and want to see beautiful things. That’s what we aim to bring to the table.

HH: We can’t wait to see them!

Shop the full Edie Parker line of home accessories here, you should also check out Edie Parker Flower for some of the best accessories for flower girls. Be sure to follow them on Instagram for all the latest news about the brand.

Introducing Freshly Baked Company: An Edible Brand Started by Veterans Suffering from PTSD with a Mission to Help Fellow Veterans Have Access to the Healing Powers of the Plant.

Freshly Baked was founded in 2018 by disabled veterans Philip Smith and Jenny Roseman who found cannabis to be an effective way of managing PTSD associated with their service to our country. Philip is a service connected Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq while Jenny who was an Air Force Medic, is also a service connected veteran and 9/11 first responder at the Pentagon. The gummy recipe that they forged in their kitchen to help them sleep at night is the base of the Freshly Baked gummy today. 

Motivated by their experience with cannabis, they aspired to start a cannabis company that could help others who suffer from PTSD and thus Freshly Baked Company was born. Their main goal was to bring access to cannabis medicine to other people and specifically to veterans. Freshly Baked received it’s provisional state licenses for cultivation and manufacturing in 2019, and has been off to the races ever since.

Freshly Baked Company is a vertically integrated social equity company in the state of Massachusetts whose mission is to give back to the community, help fellow veterans, bring access to cannabis, and lead the expansion of social equity company participation in adult use cannabis in Massachusetts and beyond. They are currently the number 8 gummy in the state of Massachusetts, a huge feat considering they are a micro-cannabis Mom and Pop shop going toe to toe with large heavily funded multi-state operators.

Freshly Baked Gummies & Pre-rolls

Freshly Baked makes around 30,000 gummies a day and their team ensures the highest quality is brought to their customers at every step of the process. If you live on the East Coast, you have probably seen their delicious gummies with the astronaut logo for sale in dispensaries. Check out where you can find where Freshly Baked Company Gummies near you.

Freshly Baked was also the first home delivery company on the Easy Coast. Smith and Roseman hope their homegrown business can help veterans who may be uncomfortable in crowded dispensaries, among others. “It felt really good to be the first ones, we worked very hard and long to get here, going back to when we were making gummies in our kitchen and dreaming about this day.” Smith said in an interview.

Freshly Baked Company is currently seeking investment on Mainvest, to help grow their business even further. Their plan is to expand their product distribution and launch new exciting product lines such as Biscotti, Macaroons, and Vapes. They also are the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of all Montel Williams THC products in Massachusetts. They recently launched Inspire by Montel, an exclusive Vape line formulated by Montel and available at retailers now. They also have plans to move into New York State. We cannot think of a better company to invest in. You can learn more about their campaign here. 

With flavors like strawberry-lemonade and pineapple-mango, next time you see Freshly Baked Company in a dispensary, grab a couple of bags because they truly are a cannabis company with a whole lot of heart. Freshly Baked is one of the few operational Black owned, Female owned, Social Equity Micro companies in the state and we cannot wait to see what’s next for them.

How to Make a Ginger & Lime THC Cocktail with Hi5 Cannabis Infused Seltzer

I gotta say, I love a cannabis cocktail. As a former bartender, I also love the art of mixology, but what I don’t love is the hangovers that come with a night of drinking. With THC infused drinks, you never have to worry about feeling terrible the next day and that’s something I’ve truly come to appreciate.

Lately, I love bringing Hi5 Cannabis Infused Seltzers along with me to parties instead a 6-pack or liquor. I love the social aspect of Hi5’s seltzer line and the flavors (which are seasonal) and the fact that they are made with zero-sugar using natural ingredients.

On a recent trip to Boston, Massachusetts to find The Best Cannabis Products in MA, I wanted to impress my friends so I created a riff on a Moscow Mule using Hi5 Cannabis Infused Seltzer in the flavor lime. I am sharing the recipe for this THC laced drink below so you can make it at home. You can also watch this IG Reel to learn how to make this “cannabis cocktail” or you can just get the full recipe below.

Ginger & Lime Infused Cannabis Cocktail Recipe

You Will Need:

• A Cocktail Shaker

• Ice

• 1 Hi5 Cannabis Infused Seltzer in Lime

• .5 oz Mint Syrup (recipe below)

• .5 oz Ginger Tea (recipe below)

• .5 oz Lime Juice (freshly squeezed)

• Lime Wedge or fresh mint for garnish

• Large Ice Cube

First, you will need to juice the limes if you are using fresh lime juice, then you will need to create a ginger tea (recipe below) and the mint syrup (recipe below). Set these three ingredients aside as you add a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker. next add the mint syrup, ginger tea and fresh lime juice to the shaker. Place the lid on the shaker and shake for about thirty seconds. Strain the mixture into a glass with a large ice cube in it. Top with Hi5 Cannabis Infused Seltzer in Lime and garnish with a lime wheel or mint sprig. Cheers and enjoy my fellow cannabis lovers.

Mint Syrup Recipe

You will need:

Equal parts:

• Fresh Mint

• Granulated Sugar

• Hot Water

Using a french press, or just a heat resistant glass, add equal parts mint, sugar and hot water. Stir, and let cool. I love to use this mint syrup in a number of mocktails, cocktails and lemonades. You can be creative with this versatile mint syrup and if you store it in a sealed glass container it will last 7 days in the fridge.

Ginger Tea Recipe

You will need:

• A french press or strainer

• 2-3 knobs of Fresh Ginger, peeled and chopped

• 2 cups Boiling Water

Place the chopped ginger into a french press or a pan, pour boiling water over the top and close with a lid. Let steep for 30-40 mins. Strain and let cool. This is a great tea to add to your morning ritual, I like to take a shot of leftover ginger tea in the am when I make it. It will last about 7 days in the fridge in a sealed glass container.

If you are looking to re-create this cannabis cocktail, here you can see all the dispensaries where Hi5 is available. Also, feel free to share a pic to Instagram and tag @highherstory if you make this THC take on a Moscow Mule and we will share it in our stories!

The Science Behind Creativity and Cannabis: An Interview With Shawn Gold of Pilgrim Soul

Have you ever wondered if cannabis is actually helpful for the creative process or if it just feels like weed is giving you a creative boost?

We had the pleasure of interviewing cannabis creativity expert Shawn Gold of Pilgrim Soul, a mission-driven company focused on optimizing human creative performance to gain a competitive edge in business and life. Shawn lives his life with the notion that where there is an open mind, there is always a frontier - that everything we've learned is not necessarily an answer but precedence - a jumping-off point for new ideas. Professionally, he uses creative flow for empathetic understanding, hyper-focus, imagination, and idea generation. He developed advertising campaigns for some of America's best-known brands, wrote relationship advice columns for top women's magazines, and helped scale some of Americas' most popular news, entertainment, and social networking websites.

Shawn breaks down what strains of weed are the best for creativity, how you can use weed to get out of your own way and shares some tools for heightening your creativity!

Shawn also created this Pilgrim Soul Cannabis Creative Thinking Guided Journal, filled with over 50 creative thinking exercises that will provide hours of fun, increase your creativity, and build more productive habits.

High Herstory: Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your own creative process? 

Shawn Gold: I’m a father, husband, former tech, and now cannabis entrepreneur who has used cannabis for personal fulfillment and to gain a competitive edge in my work. My 30-year career has been about imagining new businesses and creating new business models.  From Social networking with MySpace to Blogs with Engadget to storytelling with Wattpad to the subscription fashion business with Fabletics and SavageXFenty.

The four stages of the creative process are preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification.

For me, the preparation phase is about learning and consuming information to become as much of an expert as possible. The incubation phase is about playing with that information to find new patterns and opportunities. And the illumination phase is about those epiphanies that happen when you make nonlinear connections that others might not see. I am not great at consuming a lot of information while high, so I don’t use cannabis for preparation.

Where cannabis has offered a significant advantage in my career is in the incubation and illumination phases. I like to consume cannabis and write down all the ideas that flow through my mind around a given subject. This is known as divergent thinking. It is essential not to judge your ideas as they come out - that is 100% the enemy of creativity.  Cannabis helps me generate ideas without judgment. I will often use cannabis to factually meditate on the information. It helps me empathize with a target audience and make new connections that create illuminations. Of course, the evaluation phase is about convergent thinking, testing those ideas to see if they make sense - this is something I do without cannabis. However, I certainly use cannabis to build on ideas that come out of this process.

High Herstory: How would you define creativity?

Shawn Gold: Great question because people get caught up in the definition of creativity. And that is where the research on creativity is a bit unreliable. The classic definition of creativity is about “creating something new that has value.” But it is not that simple. Creativity is often a trigger and not a result. And what has value? Especially when it comes to art. 

Like happiness, creativity is a way of traveling more than a destination. Creativity is an individual thing; it is about opening up the aperture of understanding and seeing things in new ways. It is about empathizing with others, experiencing new feelings, expressing yourself, making non-linear connections, experimenting, reinventing, breaking the rules, making mistakes, and having fun. Cannabis can help with all these things.

I break creativity into four categories of thinking: 

Creative Imagination deals mostly with divergent thinking by removing barriers and judgment for more free-flowing and effective brainstorming. 

Creative Awareness, which sees an increase in pattern recognition, allows for a newfound sensitivity to the aesthetic of the world around you. 

Creative Reflection involves looking inwards for self-discovery or memory recollections, which can result in deeper connections of empathy. 

Creative Focus helps make ‘out of the box’ connections possible while rumination on a specific, complex problem. 

3.  What kind of role does weed play when you’re trying to expand your creativity?

Shawn Gold: Cannabis can be a shortcut to unlocking your innate creative ability and increasing your creative output if you choose. 

Cannabis has been used by artists, scientists, and thinkers for thousands of years to help provide the proper mindset to express new ideas. It allows you to live in the moment and embrace new thoughts as they come to you. People tend to feel less inhibited on Cannabis because they can relax and connect more deeply with themselves and their surroundings.

We believe that everyone is born creative; we just repress it. Cannabis can be a great shortcut or 'hack' into one's creative flow state. It tends to stimulate the frontal lobe, which is the brain's area attributed to idea product, and it represses the dorsolateral cortex, which is an area of the brain associated with judgment.

High Herstory: How do empathy and judgment affect the creative process?

Shawn Gold: Cannabis is a creativity maximizer in how it helps you empathize, ideate, reduce judgment and make connections. Cannabis users often experience an enhancement of their empathic skills during a high. Writers may feel that they are better able to slip into another personality and write fiction involving various characters' feelings creatively. For many people, cannabis creates an enhanced ability to see the world through the eyes of others can help to come up with new perspectives and ideas.

Creative thinking exists in a balance between the familiar and the new. It requires exploring the range of possibilities and pushing boundaries everywhere to figure out what works. Creativity is about emotional risk, and judgment becomes a significant inhibitor.

We don't want to risk failing, so we avoid it. This is ironic because very often, success rises out of the ashes of our previous failures.

Here are some guidelines from my creative thinking Journal to avoid some pitfalls:

Limit Judgement. When focusing on creative thinking, it is essential to focus on output and let ideas flow without judgment. Just see what happens and push yourself to challenge your imagination.

Take More Risks. Creative thinking requires a willingness to fail and make mistakes. Very often, the mistake is the creativity.

 Challenge default thinking. We become so accustomed to doing things in a certain way that we lose the ability to break away and think differently. Creative ideas exist in a balance between the familiar and the new.

Minimize Negative Thinking. From an early age, we've learned to analyze and criticize anything new. As an adult, it becomes second nature. Don't let this hold you back.

 Go With your gut. If you feel whimsical, then be whimsical; if irreverent, then be irreverent...but don't pressure yourself to get it right or perfect the creative experiment.

High Herstory: What studies have been done on cannabis and creativity and what is your analysis of the results?

Shawn Gold: Well, when it comes to cannabis and creativity, the case studies are immense. If you think about it, half the songs on Spotify would be gone without cannabis.

However, the science behind cannabis and creativity is relatively light. Studies on cannabis have been limited because it is in a schedule one drug classification.

Another significant issue with studying cannabis and creativity is defining what creativity is and how to measure it. Creativity does not often happen in an isolated moment. Your creativity results from all of your experiences. Your relationship with your parents, the knowledge we have accumulated, your fear of judgment, and so many other things we bring to each moment. So, it isn't easy to have a control group in studying creativity, as we all approach creativity differently.

One study I read recently was trying to understand if cannabis could make entrepreneurs more creative.  They took twenty entrepreneurs and gave them a task. Ten of them consumed cannabis, and ten of them (the control group) did not.  They looked at the results in this restrictive time period. Maybe experiments work that way - but life certainly does not, and neither does the creative process.

High Herstory: Does focusing on creative thinking apply only to artists and writers?

 Shawn Gold: There is an excellent Twyla Tharp quote that answers your question.

"Creativity is not just for artists. It's for business people looking for a new way to close a sale; it's for engineers trying to solve a problem; it's for parents who want their children to see the world in more than one way. In the future of AI and outsourcing, creativity will be an essential skill that means job security."

We live in an explosion of creativity, and it's only accelerating. Each human has the capacity to drink in the world and produce something that has never existed before.

So, artists, writers, and designers are a very small subset of creative thinkers. Anyone who creates and innovates in their job or life is a creative thinker. They can be scientists, engineers, educators, computer programmers, doctors, shop clerks, or police officers.  People who solve problems are creative thinkers. Our economy is propelled forward by creativity and technology.

High Herstory: What kind of cannabis products would you suggest for heightened creativity?

Shawn Gold: While cannabis, and the million variations of strains, can affect everyone differently, there tend to be a variety of strains (based on survey data) the more consistently enhance imagination.

Together with the scientists at AbstraxLabs, we have analyzed hundreds of cannabis strains that index high for creativity, along with secondary and tertiary states of mind. After identifying the common cannabinoid and terpene profiles of each cannabis strain, we’ve built a matrix of strains that we blend together for specific creative impact. This ongoing research is supported by focus groups and feedback from iconic creative leaders.

Creativity is a competitive edge in both life and work. It defines us as individuals and gives us a sense of accomplishment in everything we do.

Keep in mind that before you rush into using cannabis to elevate your creative output, be mindful of your strain of choice, dosage and environment. Yes scientific and anecdotal evidence from cannabis users suggest that it enhances creativity.

Remember the Steve Jobs quote: “The best way I could describe the effect of the marijuana and hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.” Research agrees and suggests that aspects of creative performance can be improved with cannabis but…..

Start with a lower THC dose and build from there. Studies have shown that higher THC content can actually impair divergent thinking, promote anxiety or cause racing thoughts. Some creative experiences will call for an edible (long painting or sculpting sessions) while another vaporizing (brainstorming or writing).

Strains that contain a ratio of THC to CBD can be helpful, as CBD can stimulate a more focused and productive session. A sleepy strain will not motivate creative work nor will a strain that makes you feel couch-locked. You want to feel open and ready, with stamina and composure to get things done.

Finally, make sure your surroundings are conducive to creativity. For some, this might mean an organized, de-cluttered space brightly lit with music, while others may prefer to explore a messy desk, making connections between various items, and listen to ambient sounds.

While science suggests that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a crucial role in the cognitive functions necessary for creative thinking and cannabis can enhance that experience, the mind tools you choose will help determine how far you can push your creative boundaries. 

Check out Pilgrim Soul’s Cannabis Products:

You find a store that carries Pilgrim Soul’s products here.

RESEARCH: HOW CANNABIS WORKS ON THE BRAIN

Article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4336648/

https://medmen.com/blog/lifestyle/how-weed-enhances-creativity

Divergent & convergent thinking study on cannabis

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound present in the Cannabis sativa plant, has been found to reduce inhibitory control (McDonald et al. 2003) and stimulate striatal dopamine (DA) release (Bossong et al. 2009; Kuepper et al. 2013). These features of THC intoxication, in turn, are expected to play a role in particular aspects of creative thinking (Akbari Chermahini and Hommel 2010; Hommel 2012).

Mother's Day Gift Guide For Mom’s Who Enjoy Cannabis or Who Want to Try it For the First Time

Honor your Mama always, but especially on Mother’s Day! Whether you’re holding space for a cherished soul with some extra self-care on this day, or if you’re lucky enough to be meeting up with your mom to spoil her in person, we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts for the canna-curious lady in your life. Long gone are the days where we have to hide our cannabis consumption from Mom, so maybe this is the year you get your Mother to try some of Mother Nature’s Herb.

This guide will help you find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for Cannabis Moms who are experienced with the plant or for those Moms who may want to try it for the first time. From our family at High Herstory, we wish all the moms out there Happy Mother’s Day! 

Full disclosure, some of the links in this article may be affiliate links for which we receive a commission, but rest assured we truly love every product we promote on our website. We got you.

1. These Pre- Rolls or Herb Blend Flower in Sex Pot by Perfect Blends

We know many of your moms may be canna-curious or even may be “canna-experienced”, but are still looking for a weed experience that doesn’t overwhelm them. Perfect Herbal Blends has come up with one perfect solution. They have just released a proprietary infused cannabis blend in a formula called ‘Sexpot,’ and it comes in a Blended Flower Jar with Micropipe and a Mini Pre-Roll 3-Pack. This latest addition to their lineup is Perfect's first to be formulated with a blend of rare cannabis flowers and CBD buffers that tame the THC effect – encouraging the ability to have a welcome experience, while enabling clarity and control.

We happen to love Perfect because they design blended formulations using 100% cannabis and cannabis oil, combined with breakthrough terpene preservation methods resulting in extended shelf life and product consistency. Rated #1 on Proper, Perfect blends terpene-rich cannabis varieties to do what no single plant or strain can do. A consistently quality product and experience is something you want for your mom’s first cannabis experience.

2. This Gorgeous Session Goods Bong or Pipe with Silicone Holder

If your Mom loves to smoke cannabis and she likes to do it in style, she might love a piece from Session Goods limited edition Designer Series featuring their iconic Bong and Pipe in the always timeless shades of black and white. From the clean, sleek lines and soft rounded edges to the pipes' tapered shape and smooth silicone base - every piece in the Designer Series has a flair of edgy sophistication and drips of cool that'll never go out of style. This is one of the easiest bongs to clean and we know that is something every cannabis user can appreciate. They also have the best stash jars, cleaning solution and ashtrays if you want to complete Mom’s arsenal of smoking tools.

3. THC Infused Macaroons from Hervé

The gift of Herve is just as luxurious as it is indulgent. Their French edibles, particularly their high-end macarons, contain 10 mgs of THC per cookie and 30 mgs total per gift box. They’ve also developed a discreet dosing “stick” of sorts called Le Mirage, which looks as simple as a tube of lipstick, but with child-proof packaging. Take off pre-dosed bites of infused, sour candy, then retract the candy, close the tube, and toss it back in your purse or diaper bag for quiet, on-the-go dosing at any time. They are also gluten-free, which is perfect for any gluten adverse Mommas out there.

4. A Gorgeous and Customizable Chill Steel Pipe

Chill Steel Pipes make the coolest bongs on Earth. Literally? Yes. Literally. Their patented double-wall vacuum insulated bongs prevent heat from entering the smoke chamber, keeping your bong water and ice nice and chilly for hours on end. We love the marble one, and think it would look so stunning in your Mom’s home. The Chill Steel Pipe also comes apart in three places making so easy to clean! Plus, you can mix and match your base and neck piece for a fully custom gifting experience. Use link chill.store/highherstory to get $20 off your first Chill order.

5. An Elegant Lucite Dugout they can take with them anywhere.

Elegance has a name, and it is “Doug”! This small and beautiful carrying case holds a one-hitter pipe and has a chamber for your mom’s ground-up weed. We love that dugouts are convenient, all-in-one kits but we are so over the wooden design. That’s why PRETTYHIGH® came up with this gorgeous, designer-worthy version! PRETTYHIGH® is a luxury cannabis and fashion brand that have exactly what every fancy stoner wants. We know your cannabis loving Mom would be thrilled to receive the compact black lucite “Doug”, crafted for the coolest and chicest stoner you know.

6. The Ardent FX slash Easy Bake Oven for adults 

Ardent makes the world’s most efficient all-in-one portable cannabis kitchen. Both their Nova ($260) and FX ($350) devices give you between 97-100% activation of THC, CBD, and CBG cannabinoids inside an air-tight, discreet appliance. But how is it that different than the old-fashioned oven? Or other kitchen appliances? Well, those are much less precise, costing you about 40% loss in cannabinoids present in your starting material. Imagine literally throwing away bud? After de-carb, you can infuse right inside the device, and even bake tasty edibles right inside the unit too. How’s that for easy bake? Check out Ardent’s latest deals on their website, and use code HERSTORY at checkout for $30 off any full-priced de-carboxylators.

7. Vertly CBD Bath Salts and Lip Balms that are addictive

Vertly’s CBD Bath Salts is the perfect way to relax after doing all the things a Mom has to do. We love these bath salts after a long day of running around on set and we bet your mom will too. The salts are also the winner of Glamour Beauty A
Awards Best Bath Product. We also recommend their Lip Butter which makes lips feel so soft and hydrated and well, like butter! It comes in sheer and a sheer red, we can’t decide which one we love more. Their Glowing Face Serum is also a great way to help mom engage in some well deserved self care time. The feel of their serum is lightweight and the smell is to die for. Mom will be so grateful you thought about her pampering needs!

8. Molly J Confections - Delicious CBD Gummies that are beautiful

In unique flavors like Blackberry Rose, Elderflower Grapefruit, Lemon Lavender, and Plum Cardamom, Molly J Confections makes possibly *the* most giftable CBD gumdrops in the game. If you’re in the process of de-stigmatizing cannabinoids, or making them more desirable to the canna-curious mom in your life, they also offer gift cards and mini sampler kits, so you don’t have to overwhelm your recipient with too many options or something that isn’t a perfect fit. They taste as beautiful as they look too!

9. Luxury THC Edibles - 1906 Chocolates

1906’s mission is to create a new category of premium edibles, marrying the benefits of cacao, cannabis, and ethnobotanical ingredients and designed to appeal to responsible, informed, health conscious adults. Products that deliver absolutely safe, consistent and predictable experiences, helping you reconnect with your senses and addressing five different experiences with five truly exceptional tastes. Perfect for Mom’s who want to experience cannabis the way they would a glass of wine.

10. An Artisinal Bong from My Bud Vase

This is for the artistically-inclined mother who has always taken a pro-stance on pot. Each bong is a handcrafted art piece and stands out in a room but never screams “bong!”. Artist Doreen Sullivan transforms stunning one of a kind vases into discreet smoking devices perfect for the sophisticated smoker. She’ll love all the little details including the flower poker that can clean her bowl or disguise her vase! There are tons of styles to choose from but it may be hard not to get one for Mom and one one for yourself.

Grabbing any of these brands to spoil the mother figure in your life? Tag us on Instagram for the chance to be featured on our page!

8 Hacks for Planning a 420 Friendly Camping (or Glamping!) Trip

Camping: you either love it or hate it. Personally, a camping trip is one of the highlights of my year. I’ve spend years honing the craft of optimizing my camping packing for sustainability, practicality, comfort, safety, and of course, fun. Now that I’ve moved to the Pacific Northwest, I’ve truly mastered the art of weed camping. If you or your friends are looking for a new adventure, consider taking a stoner girl camping trip for all the beautiful, outdoor vibes.

With these ideas, and your favorite flower along for the ride, you might actually like camping a lot more than you think…and be able to convince your anti-camping trip friends to enjoy it as well. So whether you are a seasoned veteran, or just starting out in the world of the great outdoors, take a look at these tips to stay safe and have the highest time.

What you need to know about 420 friendly camping:

1. Take a look at the Campground’s smoking rules

Not all campgrounds are created equally! Make sure you take a look at your campsite’s rules when it comes to consuming cannabis. You want to be especially careful on federal property and national parks, which are most definitely not 420-friendly. Also, be sure you make reservations in advance if necessary!

2. Pack travel-friendly smoking accessories

Get an unbreakable and forest-fire safe smoking device like the Chill Bong

If we’ve learned anything over the past few years from brush fires causing so much destruction to the planet, it’s that we need to take extra precautions when using fire in nature: joints, blunts, and cigarettes included. That’s why we love bringing a piece with us instead of using paper that might endanger the ecosystem in the event of a forgotten lit butt. Traveling with a piece of glass can be precarious. So, if you’re clumsy like us and have been looking for a truly unbreakable bong that hits as smooth as glass, the Chill Bong is for you! The Chill Steel Pipe is made out of food-grade stainless steel and is double-wall vacuum insulated making it as sturdy as your favorite premium reusable water bottle. The interior has a patented ceramic coating that hits and cleans like glass. Each Chill Steel Pipe includes an unbreakable aluminum downstem and bowl, and all gaskets are made of food-grade silicone. This baby was so fun to have while camping at the lake! No worries about breaking glass everywhere, The Chill is a blast at any campsite!

Tip: fill the base with ice from the cooler and add water from the lake and equal some ecstatic bong rips in a canoe.

3. Bears have a great sense of smell. Keep your stash safe and organized

With the delicious aromas of terpenes in your weed, it’s important to keep your stash safe from wildlife, whether they be critters great or small. Put your bud and smoking accessories in StashLogix’s ultra-secure, smell-proof carrying cases

When traveling with cannabis, discretion and safety are key. The fun can’t start if you’re prematurely stopped or your weed is eaten by bears! Knowing where your bud is and being respectful with your consumption, is super important no matter where you are. We recommend bringing along a carrying case for your greens that isn't a mason jar. No hate on the jars, but we’re all grown-ups here.

These cases are super easy to pack. They come with a (literal) silver lining and odor absorption packs to lock in odors, a poker for packing those bowls and joints, plenty of pockets and nooks for storage, and even a custom 3-digit combination lock to keep unwanted hands out of your stash.

I cannot tell you how thankful I have been to bring these bags with me on the road. The Alma, with its slim yet sturdy style, gave me plenty of designated spaces to keep my pokers, lighters, pipe, etc organized and scent free. The little poker it comes with is perfect for even the smallest one hitter, and has its own little spot in the case that has a hidden message encouraging everyone to protect their freedom and vote.

The Highland bag is a traveler's dream, as it locks and truly keeps the scent of the flower contained, while keeping it to a very packable size. Natural tones and gender-neutral color choices make it attractive and flexible. The handheld size of the Highland is deceiving, as I was able to fit both flower and edibles for myself and my friends for over 10 days. The Stashlogix bags fit seamlessly with my camping gear and toiletries bag, where they had the pleasure of being packed up next to my toothbrush.

Tip: Pack alcohol pads to sanitize your piece on the go.

4. Try infusing food with cannabis from your campsite

Bring a portable decarb machine aka the “cannabis easy bake oven”

The Ardent is great for my travel preppers who want to infuse and discreetly package up their cannabis goodies pre-baked.  The hard shell carry case on the Ardent FX is one of my favorite additional features!  It feels so secure, looks cute and discrete and fits in the car easily.

When road tripping, I use a power inverter and plug the Ardent directly into my car's power. I found this handy on particularly rainy PNW nights because I didn't need a fire to make something yummy!  With just access to an outlet, the Ardent FX allows you to decarboxylate your CBD or THC flower (activating over 97% of cannabinoids in your material, where the oven only gets about 60% activation,) infuse your herb into butters or oils, and bake or cook directly inside the same unit. Sautéed foraged mushrooms in cannabutter?  Use code HERSTORY for a discount at ArdentCannabis.com

Tip: If you’re going foraging on your trip, you’ll have plenty of fresh mushrooms, berries, and herbs to infuse, bake, and even boil in the Ardent.

Here’s a recipe for campfire blueberry cobbler:

5. Take time for yourself

Camping gives you time to start new rituals, like journaling.

Camping is about fun, fresh air and relaxing into self-care rituals you normally don’t have time for. Instead of reaching for your phone, take time to check in with yourself. For cannabis lovers, nothing aids in moments of herbal reflection like the Goldleaf Journal. While you’re reflecting on your thoughts and sense of self, why not record how cannabis plays into your day-to-day mood and pain management while recording how each strain is affecting you differently? Plus, regular reflection is allowed, too. I find that when I’m in nature away from technology, its easier to tap into how my body is doing. Keeping up with your GoldLeaf Journal is a great place to start from when seeing what strains work best for you.

Tip: Goldleaf incorporates timelines that help you forecast the duration of a dose.

6. Why bother lighting a fire for your morning brew when you could enjoy your wake and bake while serving CBD coffee on tap?

CBD coffee takes away the jitters and feels like a special treat.

A CBD infused coffee is a morning treat that everyone will appreciate after sleeping under the stars. We recommend Jibby because in addition to it being delicious, you know that farmers are paid a premium and the hemp they use is 100% American grown and pesticide-free. It’s processed in Colorado, isolated carefully, and fully stripped of all unwanted ingredients (including THC) to deliver a 25 mg serving of CBD per can. Taste-wise, it’s a deliciously rich Colombian blend from the Nariño and Huila regions, cold-brewed for 18 hours, and infused with American grown hemp-derived CBD. Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, no added sugar and no compromises—made in the US and 100% recyclable. Jibby is sustainably sourced and makes you feel good. Cheers!

Tip: When camping with a group, bring along a 10 serving box of cold brew on tap and treat everyone or throw some 11oz cans of cold brew in the cooler for an easy afternoon pick me up.

7. Instead of bringing paper, opt for stylish and sustainable cloth napkins

These Edie Parker napkins are better for the environment and cute as f*ck

Edie Parker collaborated with STATE the Label to bring these adorable and functional two-tone napkins to life. Made in the US, each set of six has an Ice Cream Sandwich reminiscent of color blocking and comes with a delightful sprinkle of contrast thread coloring. You can eat your ice cream and wipe it with something equally as sweet.

Tip: To get rid of flies, fill up a glass with water and put pennies inside. It repels picnic pests!

8. Camping not your thing? Try smoking-friendly glamping in Maine

Camp Laughing Grass Campground offers a relaxing Cannabis Friendly retreat in the tranquil settings of Maine's Lake Region. Tucked into a private 17-acre riverfront forest, bordered by beautiful scenic wetlands with trails throughout. Minutes from Naples & Bridgton, our 21 and over campground is the ideal summer vacation destination. With an array of thoughtful amenities, fun activities, spacious grounds, and tent sites right on the Crooked River, this is camping!  There are hiking trails, biking trails on-site and kayaks and canoe available as well!

The Glamping sites on the property might be our favorite. are our retreats in the woods. Each is uniquely designed and features a distinctive style and décor, including:

• Queen-size bed

• Bed linens, bath towels

• Firepit w/grill

• Outdoor seating area

• Smoking Apparatuses

• Bathhouse

Even the bougiest friend will love glamping in Maine with these camping amenities.

Try any of our camping tips? Let us know on Instagram.

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

Other Articles You Might Enjoy:

How This Female Entrepreneur Aims to Change the Industry Standards with Minimalistic and Approachable Weed Accessories

As our readers have probably come to realize, we absolutely love Session Goods! The smoking accessory brand has revolutionized ancillary pieces by creating lines that are sophisticated, sleek, and that look gorgeous in the home. 

Since its launch in 2017, Session Goods has introduced multiple products like a pipe, bong, and one-hitter, that are thoughtfully designed and don’t feel taboo. We were lucky enough to interview their CEO & Founding Partner, Esther LeNoir Ramirez about the ideology behind the brand and about what’s next for them.  

High Herstory: Esther, we know you have a background in design, can you tell us how that helped contribute to creating your award-winning bong? 

Esther: I have a design background in apparel and textiles. In 2014, I left the fashion world and co-founded an online headshop called Billowby. While at Billowby I had the opportunity to try every new gadget that came on the market, but more importantly I learned that, for me, there is nothing better than smoking out of a bong.

However, I never found a bong that checked all the boxes: clean hit; minimal branding; good quality; easy to clean; could fit in the modern home of a woman in her 30s. etc. etc.

I had the dream of creating a line of accessories but quickly learned that having a Pinterest board of beautiful glass was not enough to make me an industrial designer, so that is where my partners came in. Sam Bertain, Camden Foley, and Vinh Pho at the time were working at IDEO. We met through mutual friends, and they had the industrial design chops and design talent I needed. We all loved weed and we got to work from there. 

Sam, Camden, and Vinh took my meticulous lists of “must-haves” and “wouldn’t it be cool”s, and added their own glass inspiration to the Pinterest board. Because of my role at Billowby, I had the industry knowledge, merchandising plan, price points, and design background to help me navigate and communicate the needs for the piece to be successfully brought to life. At the time I was likely the biggest smoker in the group and raised my hand for the tough job of user-testing each piece during the developmental stages. They don’t call it “high design” for nothin’.

HH: Your bongs have gained quite the cult following and we are big fans! What has been your favorite bit of feedback about them? 

E: My favorite note of feedback I received focused on the accessibility of the piece.

It was 2019-ish, we were still really small and I was managing customer service under an alias. I received a ticket from a woman with a picture of man holding the Bong with a massive grin. She pointed to her husband’s smile saying that the Bong was the first one he’d been able to use on his own {due to the compact bowl design}. Her husband was a medical patient that had been suffering from a muscular condtion.

It was such a memorable note, because a man, for a brief pause in time, regained some of his independence. I had a heart-bursting feeling of pride, and we are forever grateful to share in that moment with them.

HH: That is such a touching anecdote! We also love your newest additions to the Session Goods family, the stash jar and ashtray are not only beautiful but also functional. Can you share with us more about what the process of expanding your line of cannabis smoking accessories has been like? 

E: Our aesthetic skews towards minimalism, and as a result, our product roadmap is simple. We view our products as an ecosystem or family, and as such, they need to seamlessly interact with each other. We made a bong and a pipe, so it was time to start expanding the line to begin rounding out more elements of the individual smoking ritual. 

The Ashtray was a no-brainer, I had owned a Debolwer for years but I hated both the smell and sight of built-up ash. We’d never seen an ashtray that had both a lid + a poker. It immediately clicked.

The Stash Jar took slightly longer to realize. Initially, the jar profile was quite similar to the Ashtray. We were playing with proportions and had a few 3-D prints in the office. During a design session, we noticed the base of the stash jar fit perfectly into our silicone accessory. It felt cool to use the same piece we used for the bong to create a secret compartment; however, after a couple of glass samples, we realized our silicone accessory base was too flimsy to hold the weight so the new stash base was created. 

Essentially, our meticulous and thoughtful design process translates into all of our products. We kick it off with a brainstorm on needs vs wants > inspiration finding > rough concept sketching > refined concept sketching > focus group and 1:1 interview sessions > 3-D modeling & printing > glass prototypes > then more user testing > final design refinement > ending in production.

As for the Stashjar and Ashtray, we began sketching these products in February 2020 with a full launch in August 2021. Something that looks simple takes a considerable amount of time to actualize. With regards to the future, we are pushing to expand our current product ecosystem towards housewares that aren’t directly tied to smoking but are still within the same sphere of relaxation, pleasure, and leisure.

HH: Can you tell us about any upcoming products or give us a hint as to what your company really wants to focus on next? 

E: This summer we are expanding our collection of small portable accessories, and in early fall we will be dropping our first collaboration piece with our friends at Weed Feed. By Holiday we will have made our first foray into soft goods. In total, we have major 4 collections in the works for 2022 and will be adding another 20+ SKUs to our line.

Outside of product, our team is in growth mode. We’ve been hiring, growing our wholesale arm, and leveling up all operations of the business.

HH: Do you have a personal favorite item that you and your team have created?

E: I’ve spoken a lot about the Bong, but I am super excited about our Cleaning Solution. This is near and dear to my heart for a few reasons:

This product fits perfectly into the ecosystem and helps solve a massive user pain-point of, “How the heck do I clean my pieces?” We get the purists who argue all you need is ISO + Salt, and I used to be one of them. I also wanted to address the people who desperately want to know if they are dishwasher safe. Is it dishwasher safe? Yes. Should you put it in the dishwasher? Only if you don’t mind resin spraying all over your dishes and the outside of your bong. We designed the Cleaning Solution to be a much simpler, and less messy, process.

The Cleaning Solution is specially formulated to bond with the resin and rinse off the glass in virtually no soaking. It’s concentrated, so the same 3oz of cleaning solution may be used for 3-4 cleanings without having to add more. After application, it just needs a good rinse with hot water. My favorite detail, and definitely the most frivolous, is that we specifically designed the scent profile so that when the solution is rinsed, a delicate aroma will bloom and compliment the scent of the resin. So after a good cleaning, your hands smell like fancy soap.

For me, a dirty piece is a real letdown. It sours the taste of anything you’re smoking, and it also can be full of other harmful bacteria. I generally think of it similarly to eating or drinking out of dirty dinnerware. We don’t eat off of dirty plates, so why would you smoke out of something coated in resin?

HH: We are so excited about whatever is coming next for ya’ll! As a business owner in the cannabis industry, is there any advice you would give to someone who is thinking about entering the cannabis space now?

E: Be flexible. Starting a business is hard. Starting a business in a highly regulated environment without access to basic tools is harder. There is often a disconnect between traditional forms of business and the cannabis industry, and this disconnect can be jarring for aspiring entrepreneurs. Almost every business owner I know of has had to build each element of the business twice. Ex: Start an online store using Stripe for merchant processing. The business gets to a size that Stripe notices, and the company gets kicked off. Everyone has a story about being kicked off a platform or banned because of the industry affiliation. 

Raising money can be difficult when there is only a small pool of institutional investors able to invest in cannabis brands. Debt options are often scarce and can carry heavy repayment terms.

Everything takes twice as long as you think it should. Pile on the potential for customs seizures, counterfeiting, or the dreaded IG/FB de-activations that are rampant in the industry. It will soon feel that you have to be absolutely nuts to want to build a business in this space. But, in signing up to take on these struggles, there is a unique camaraderie that I’ve only experienced in this industry. I love what we do, and despite the struggles we experience, we know that they are shared struggles and that in itself makes it all worth it.

There is nothing that makes me prouder than figuring out loopholes or “work arounds” when some agency tells me “No.” The foundations of this industry are rooted in DIY ethics, so it’s no surprise that often time we’re left to our own agency; however, because we are on our own, we often rely on each other to navigate the waters, so-to-speak, of how to obtain necessities that are normal in other industries. These tips of the trade are passed through the community of entrepreneurs in the space and are shared openly between companies that in any other industry would be considered competitors. We are still in the pre-legalization era, and right now our community of business owners and operators is stronger because of how we work together. It’s truly an amazing time to be a part of the industry.

HH: When you and your team started Session Goods, did you all instantly know you had a great concept and that your pieces would be such a welcome addition to the cannabis community? 

E: We knew we had something unique and we trusted in our own design sensibilities to make something that was both beautiful and functional. Having already owned a brand in the space, I knew people were looking for something modern, but the options on the market were priced at a premium which alienated a large base of casual consumers. 

My biggest fear during pre-launch was that the brand would not resonate with the core base of stoners. Our main positioning is towards a more casual smoker, but, naturally, we were overjoyed to receive such a glowing recommendation from the die-hard stoners. We set out to create an experience that celebrates weed, from the unboxing to the final cleaning, to good design. We owe a great deal to the people that have been pilars of support during the process, as we have been unbelievably lucky to be involved in such a dynamic and inclusive community.

We see Session as your “daily driver.” You can live in a world where you own both a Jerome Baker {or insert your glass-blower of choice} and a Session piece. One is used for special occasions, and the other is what you keep on your coffee table. Everything is designed to be modular and consistent so every glass piece can be replaced or repurchased. If your cat or your friends happen to be clumsy, rest easy that you’ll never have to buy a new bong just because the neck broke.

HH: Do you have any trend forecasts about where the luxury cannabis accessory market is heading or is there a place where you would like to see it head?  

E: I don’t necessarily want to see more expansion of the luxury cannabis market. I feel that the term “luxury” connotes exclusivity. It conjures images of wellness-focused once-a-day cure-all vitamins, diet cannabis that misses the mark on what this plant means to the vast majority of stoners. Where is the joy in that? Everyone would do better with a little more silliness in their life.

Cannabis, like coffee, is shared and celebrated across many socio-economic backgrounds, races, genders, and identities. I want to see more brands expanding into these spaces and communities. I would love to see the industry, especially the ancillary products like our own, become something seen more of an everyday appliance versus a luxury item.

A coffee pot, for example, is a vessel much like a bong. People purchase one over the other because of their preferred method of consumption and perceived functionality: pour-over, espresso, drip…etc. These products are not genderized, they aren’t selling “coffee pots for women” because in reality they know that both men and women drink coffee. So why are we so focused on building brands will only result in division of consumers?

My hope is that, as the industry progresses toward legitimacy in the eyes of the government, we hold on tight to the things that make cannabis fun. I say that we push brands to communicate to wider audiences and bring forward products that unite and foster community.

Session Goods is now having a huge 4/20 sale! They are offering 20% off site wide with the code: FOUR2022. Offer good till 4/20/22. See their website for details.

More About Esther LeNoir Ramirez

After studying apparel design, Esther LeNoir Ramirez began her career in New York working for fashion labels such as Lucky Brand, Tommy Hilfiger, and VPL. 

In 2013, she moved to San Francisco to join the early team at Everlane where she led the product development and technical design of the accessories collections. In 2014, she saw an opportunity in the emerging cannabis market and left Everlane to co-found her first company, a playful e-commerce marketplace for cannabis accessories.

After years of selling unbranded products, Esther partnered up with a few friends to create a line of smoking accessories that would fit into the modern home. This project came to be known as Session. Since its launch in 2018, the Session Bong has won 3 awards for packaging and excellence in product design. Session has been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, Buzzfeed, Thrillist, and more. Esther currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two rescue dogs.

This page may feature affiliate links, but never fear, we only promote products we truly love and have enjoyed ourselves.

Weed & Writing: Creating a Solo Cannabis Writing Retreat

Written by Hannah Eko

I started smoking weed when I was twenty-nine. 

Fresh out of five years of military school and six years in the Coast Guard, I was keen to sample the Schedule 1 substance of my dreams—I appreciated the easy esoteric vibes of stoner culture even during the sober, random drug-test era of my life. 

Twenty-nine was when I began grad school for my (eventual) Masters in Creative Writing. I spent four years learning from the best living writers, building my literary craft, and reading more books than God.  

There is a gorgeous alchemy between the worlds of weed and writing. Cannabis is a portal into creative experimentation, play, and deeper connection to our bodies.

Weed and writing makes me think of the late great Maya Angelou.

Angelou was open about her creative influences in ways that were unheard of when she published I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in 1969. As a writer and speaker, she courageously detailed her early childhood trauma, her sex worker past, and her appreciation for cannabis.

Writing requires a loving fearlessness, a tenacious dedication to transmitting one’s truth. When approached with intention, weed can expand your writing life on and off the page and bring you closer to honest expression.

If you are looking to expand your creativity and utilize cannabis for art making, here are some tips to create your own self-styled cannabis writing retreat.

Rest. 

People like to skip this part, but if you are alive right now and reading this you just lived through a pandemic. If you are the artistic/creative type, there is high chance that you are sensitive/introspective and that your system needs reprieve. Retreat means to go back, to withdraw from the world. Before you start your solo writing retreat, check in with yourself. Would you benefit from a nap? Moving slower? Set aside some hours or even days before your retreat to actively rest. CBD, THC’s sober cousin is a great place to start with rest. There are so many ways to enjoy this non-intoxicating portion cannabis sativa plant. I particularly enjoy smoking (makes me feel all old school romantic), gummies, and tinctures. Writing is hard work and if you’re not resting hard, you are basically courting the universe for burnout. 

Soothe. 

Now that you’re all rested and rejuvenated, it’s time to bring some comfort to your writing practice.. Our nervous systems are resilient and amazing, but they need love too. How you can you soothe your system into writing? I love getting away from it all if I can. Staycations in hotel rooms are great for solo writing retreats. Maya Angelou was an avowed hotel room writer. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings was drafted in hotel rooms on a yellow legal pads. Note their smoking policy though, I don’t want you to get arrested. And how about a THC bath soaks or massage oil rub while you’re at it? Yoga, meditation, exercise—do what makes you feel good.

Care. 

This is time to play doting mother to your writing self. Do you have all your craft books, pens, and that one vetiver candle? Have you told people you’re disappearing to write for some hours or days? If you’re creating your writing retreat at home, have you organized your writing area and blocked off a good amount of time? And finally, what amount/strain/type of weed works for your writing retreat? What cannabis will result in committed innovative expansion? What cannabis will have you knocked out for half a day or analyzing obscure zamrock lyrics for hours? If concreate writing goals are your thing, make them SMART, you know—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based, etc. And if you’re retreating in LA check out 64 and Hope, they have two locations for all your cannabis needs, questions, and supply.

Please.

Time to get high! Whether you’re smoking, enjoying an edible treat, or using tinctures—enjoy yourself. Are you in clothes that feel good? Is there a lo-fi playlist on or are you basking in a delightful cloak of silence? Writing is also a pleasure. You are channeling thoughts and visions from some unseen otherworld onto a tangible page. Pretty cool. For my monthly Women, Writing, Weed & Wine class we have a signature cocktail I have dubbed the Proseko 39. It’s half prosecco, half Guinness Stout, and topped with a cannabis tincture. Raise a toast to your writing goals.

Write.

It’s time to get that pen moving. If you are looking for cannabis-friendly writing prompts, I recommend Pilgrim Soul’s Creative Thinking Journal. Let the words be messy. Best of luck, writer. Give yourself breaks to rest, soothe, or care as needed and best of luck creating your work of art. 

Love,

Hannah

Agonizing over that messy first draft currently collecting dusty shame in Microsoft Word? Procrastinating on starting your memoir or novel? I’m an editor and book coach who’ll help you start or finish your book (for real this time). I am also the hostess of Women, Writing, Weed & Wine, a monthly writing class/literary party. Our next event will be May 7th, 2022. Sign up for my weeklyish Moonletter, it’s how to stay connected to my slice of of mystical, sensual, intellectual heaven. 

10 Famous Women Who Have Used Weed

If you’ve ever wondered which celebrities have used cannabis, you’ve come to the right place. Ellen Komp, who blogs about famous females and cannabis at TokinWoman.blogspot.com and is the author of the book Tokin’ Women: A 4000-Year Herstory has compiled her research into a list that will remind you that celebrities enjoy weed, just like us!

You won’t find more well-researched material on women and weed than from Ellen. She’s also a cannabis advocate, herstorian, and Deputy Director of California NRML (a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to reforming California’s marijuana laws). So, if you’re curious - does Kendall Jenner really smoke weed? You’ll find the answer below.

Enjoy this list of famous ladies who have “come out” as cannabis users, and learn more about them by clicking on the links to the Tokin Women blog. Let us know if any of these names surprise you!

1. Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

Revered author Maya Angelou wrote about her experiences with cannabis in Gather Together in My Name, the second installment of her autobiography after the acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

2. Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler

Interviewed in May 2019 at The Hall of Flowers, a "B2B Premium Cannabis Trade Show" in Santa Rosa, California, Chelsea Handler looked great in a "Feminized" T-shirt, pencil jeans and purple pumps. To the first question, "What is your relationship with cannabis?" Handler replied unequivocally, "It's strong.”

3. Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner

Model and businesswoman Kendall Jenner outed herself as a stoner on a 2020 episode of the “Sibling Revelry” podcast with Kate Hudson.

4. Gweneyth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow

An admitted inhaler, Paltrow has invested in a cannabis drink company and spoofed herself as an entitled pot puffer in “The Politician” on Netflix.

5. Kasey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves

The country singer hit the charts with her song “Follow Your Arrow,” containing a pot-smoking admission. Another song of hers is “Burn One with John Prine.”

6. Grace Slick

Grace Slick

The iconic rocker took us back to Alice in Wonderland with her song “White Rabbit” and now paints a character named “Rescue Rabbit” who, in one painting, carries cannabis to the US Capital building.

7. Diane di Primi

Diane di Prima

Beat poetess di Prima was the mother of five children and became a Lioness of Letters while using weed at a time when poets mostly belonged to boys’ clubs.

8. Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday

Holiday, whose name was synonymous with marijuana in the 1930s, was hounded to death by drug warriors over her political views.

9. George Eliot

George Eliot

English author Mary Ann Evans wrote epic books like Middlemach under the pseudonym George Eliot, and mentioned hashish in her intriguing novel The Lifted Veil, published in 1859.

10. Harriet Martineau

Harriet Martineau

An ancestor of Princess Kate Middleton, Martineau was a sociologist who traveled to the East in the 1840s where she smoked cannabis and recorded the first known shotgun: Arab women blowing smoke at Jewesses in harems so that they could enjoy their Sabbaths.

About the Author

Ellen Komp has been a hemp/marijuana activist since 1991. She began in Los Angeles where she helped plan quarterly hemp rallies and volunteered for LA NORML after being elected to the California NRML board of directors in 1992. She edited the 9th edition of The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer and was a volunteer petitioner for the California Hemp Initiative (1993, 1994) and Proposition 215 (1995). She worked as an advertising salesperson and editor at HempWorld magazine, the first trade journal for the hemp industry.

In 1997/98 Komp served on the San Luis Obispo County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board, which advised the county Drug and Alcohol Services agency on community standards and practices. She also co-founded The 215 Reporter, the first journal covering California’s medical marijuana law and its aftermath.

In 1999, Komp became a Program Associate at The Lindesmith Center in San Francisco (now Drug Policy Alliance). As Deputy Director of Community Outreach & Communications she planned and promoted conferences and a forum series on drug war issues, and sat on various committees at the San Francisco public health department. In 2001, she developed a website to assist attorneys in medical marijuana defenses for the DPA Office of Legal Affairs in Oakland and was named High Times’s Freedom Fighter of the Month.

In 2002, Komp moved to Humboldt County where she worked for the Civil Liberties Monitoring Project in Garberville. She sat on the Humboldt County medical marijuana task force, resulting in a county ordinance to implement SB420.

Komp has a B.S. in Biochemistry (Penn State, 1980) and worked in advertising and publishing in Los Angeles. She has contributed articles and op-eds to various publications such as High Times, In These Times, Alternet, O’Shaughnessy’s, California NORML Report, Eureka Times-Standard and Cannabis Culture. 

Komp founded the website VeryImportantPotheads.com in 2001, and she blogs about famous females and cannabis at TokinWoman.blogspot.com. She is the author of the book Tokin’ Women: A 4000-Year Herstory. 

Introducing PRETTYHIGH®: The New Luxury Brand Defining Cannabis Lifestyle

PRETTYHIGH® is our latest brand obsession and was created specifically for people who love life and find joy in the journey. A lifestyle brand, PRETTYHIGH® offers vintage aesthetic rooted in integrity and love. Of course we adore her luxury cannabis accessories, but PRETTYHIGH® is more than a product, it’s a way of thinking, a way of living. PRETTYHIGH® is… ever evolving!

We were lucky enough to interview the founder of PRETTYHIGH® about her luxe smoking accessories and curated one of a kind vintage pieces. We were absolutely blown away by the simple, edgy design of DOUG, a bold, black and brass dug out complete with a golden pipe and poker. We also love the PRETTYHIGH ROLLER, a brass and leather roller with a brass tray, which would look stunning on any boss lady’s desk. We wanted to know more about how the design and craftsmanship came together to create these one of a kind accessories.

High Herstory: Katy, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some of our questions about your luxury fashion and cannabis brand, PRETTYHIGH®. Your designs are breathtaking. What made you first decide to step into the world of luxury cannabis accessories?

PRETTYHIGH®: I wanted something beautiful to smoke with. I think back to the 20’s, 30s, 40’s… when smoking was social. It was stylish and sophisticated! It was a way of connecting. Even if you weren’t a smoker, you had a nice lighter or ashtray to offer… I wanted that same feeling but with my pipe. 

I could no longer tolerate my “college days” Mario brothers mushroom looking pipe. Ha. I wanted something elegant, yet solid. I dreamed of something equally as beautiful as my antique, hand-cut crystal glassware. A pipe too pretty to even use.

NOOR X PRETTYHIGH®

Built with craftsman’s integrity, PRETTYHIGH® - gifts vintage inspiration and high-design, with the NOOR Crystal Pipe.

HH: Can you tell us about “Doug” and why it is such a unique piece?

P: I’ve always loved “a dug”. The original dugout was a little, wooden, hippie-dippie box that had a cigarette painted pipe in it. It was always a functional piece, but it really wasn’t very cute! ha. I wrapped my old dugout in strands of vintage rhinestones to “dress it up,” and make it feel more stylish! (DRESS YOU UP DOUG) ha. It was when my girlfriend asked, “why aren’t you selling THOSE?!!” that I thought to myself, "Why aren't you selling THOSE??!!”. Well, I actually sang to myself in my Madonna voice, "I'm gonna dress you up in my love......" And so it started. The journey of connection through creation, PRETTYHIGH®.

“Ahhhh, Doug. He’s my best friend. He’s always there when I need him. He likes all my ideas. He thinks I’m funny….”

The Original G, DOUG is a compact black lucite dug out with effortless style. Showcasing a birch wood lined pocket, solid brass accents with a golden, single use pipe and poker, ONE HIT WONDER.  Everyone needs Doug. “Doug, party of two.”

HH: What is your latest creation and how long have you been working on it?

P: Latest? PRETTYHIGH® creation is present. Persistent. Ever evolving. Pursuit of an idea is constant for me until, at some point in time, the design manifests and the piece is sitting in my hand. As for a specific design, I’ll ask you to come see the NEXT SHOWING!

HH: How do you see the brand, PRETTYHIGH®, continuing to evolve?

P: Ever evolving, PRETTYHIGH® is more than a product, it’s a way of thinking, a way of living. I hold dear the idea of PRETTYHIGH HOSPICE™ where I can be of service to life’s most special transition. Annnnnddd, PRETTYHIGHCECREAM™.

HH: Who would you say you design these accessories and pieces for? Who is your ideal consumer?

P: I design for myself…to create is to keep spirit conscious. My ideal consumer (friend, ha) has a style both playful and edgy, sees value in the details, and appreciates the quality of a timeless gift.

PRETTYHIGH® ROLLER

This vintage-inspired, solid brass roller and tray are a perfect way to roll your herbal cigarette like an old fashioned movie star.

HH: What are some of the inspirations behind your brand?

P: Inspiration comes in many forms, that to others, may appear random. For me, inspiration comes from different moments in time…through people, music, things…a series of non-coincidences, leading to my creation of a concept. PRETTYHIGH® is vintage-inspired, high-design.

HH: Where did your love of vintage come from?

P: Old is gold. I grew up with parents who always appreciated antiques for their durability, quality and design. Their collected pieces are featured in our home and some are incorporated into our renovation projects around town. Aside from their influence, I was once gifted a collection of vintage and antique jewelry that markedly inspired my love for all things costume!

HH: If I was in the market to buy a gift from PRETTYHIGH® for my “smoking” girlfriend or boyfriend, are there any standout show pieces you’d recommend?

P: Each showpiece has a style and story of its own. The best gifts to give reflect the beholder’s style, personality and mood.

HH: Is there any upcoming news or projects that you would like to share with our readers?

P: PRETTYHIGH is a gift. I hope you love it enough to share it. I’m excited to share that PRETTYHIGH® will be participating in an upcoming giveaway with High Herstory. You can follow the PRETTYHIGH® Instagram for more details about it.

Cannabis-Infused Cocktails: How to Make a healthy THC Pina Colada…that doesn’t taste like weed.

Enjoying cocktails with your pals is seriously so much fun. But between hangovers, headaches, and the dehydrating effects of alcohol, it sometimes just doesn’t feel worth it.

We love to raise a glass in celebration but hate feeling bad the next day. That’s why we’ve been experimenting with cannabis cocktails! Whether you are Cali Sober Curious or just want another option, cannabis-infused cocktails are a great way to enjoy your drink while still being responsible. They are a way to consume THC without the harmful effects of alcohol and they're delicious.

There are many different cannabis-infused cocktails out there, but this article will focus on one in particular - the THC Pina Colada. This is a great mocktail for those who want to have their cocktail and drink it too.

One of our favorite brands to try for cannabis mixology is Proof Wellness. They make excellent cannabis oil tinctures that are great for cocktails!

Proof is owned and operated by women, so of course, they get it. All Proof products are vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, made by hand in their small facility in Northern California.

What is a Cannabis Cocktail?

A cannabis cocktail is a drink that contains THC instead of alcohol. THC is the psychoactive component in marijuana, which makes you high. The cannabis industry is a booming one. With more states legalizing recreational and medical marijuana, it’s no surprise that people are looking for new ways to consume that help minimize their alcohol consumption. One of the latest trends is infusing drinks with THC or CBD.

How To Make Weed-Infused Cocktails

The easiest way to make a weed drink is by adding cannabis oil from a tincture to your favorite cocktail recipe. You can buy cannabis oil or even make your own oil! Just pay attention to the amount of weed you put into your cocktail. Keep reading to learn the best way to dose your weed.

How to Dose Your Cannabis Cocktail

The first thing to consider when dosing cannabis is how experienced you are with it. Do you have a high or low tolerance when you smoke weed? Have you had a lot of experience ingesting weed or have you never tried it before? Do you have a memory of getting really high on an edible and feeling like the room was spinning? Or are you the type to take a 10mg edible and head to the beach on the regular?

The best advice for anyone interested in trying more cannabis consumption methods is to go low and slow. Some might call it micro-doing and it’s the best way to test your system without overexerting it.

Try using the tincture a little at a time, so you still get the calming, focusing, energizing, or restoring effects of weed but its intoxicating effects are minimized. Many of Proof’s customers (from high-performing executives to seriously ill patients) use Proof on a near-constant basis but at low levels. This can take some experimentation to learn the best potency for your tolerance and application. Try the 20:1 tincture. It has .5 mg THC and 10 mg CBD. It’s the lowest potency tincture.

If you have a high tolerance level, you’ll want to try Proof’s 1:1 which has 10 mg THC and 10 mg CBD. We love using this one for cannabis cocktails. This is a great ratio for multi-course dinners for consumers with higher tolerance levels.

You just put 1/2 a dropper or less (depending on how much THC you want) of THC tincture on top of each drink!

THC Pina Colada Recipe

3 cups frozen or fresh pineapple chunks

1 can of light coconut milk (15oz)

1/2 cup pineapple juice

Proof THC rich tincture*

Pineapple wedge for garnish

Add the pineapple chunks, coconut milk and pineapple juice to a blender. Blend until smooth and thick.

Pour into serving glasses and put 1/2 a dropper or less (depending on how much THC you want) of Proof THC rich tincture on top of each drink. Add garnish and serve! Or better yet, let your guests dose themselves according to their preference!

*Dosage: we recommend starting at a low level relative to your normal consumption. You can always add more. Proof makes it easy to understand dosing and choose the product that’s right for you.

We hope you enjoy this recipe and start experimenting with more cannabis cocktails!

Here are some other articles you might enjoy:

Black Women Herbalists: 7 Women Making History in Herbalism

Herbalism is a field with a long and storied history. In the U.S., herbalism has been practiced by many groups, including Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and early European immigrants, who brought their love of plant-centered medicine with them. Black women herbalists have always been a part of herbalism, but they are in the spotlight now more than ever as herbalism has gained popularity in the U.S.

Below are black women herbalists to follow on social media for a look inside both ancient and modern techniques to create a personalized, balanced regimen to maintain health.

1. Alexis Nikole Nelson (she/her) @blackforager 

“Foraging for wild food was an integral part of the black experience, whether free or enslaved, for our first 250 years on this land” -Alexis Nelson 

Alexis is from Columbus Ohio and says that for as long as she can remember she was eating foraged food. Foraging can feel very intimidating and does take practice, experience, and great teachers like Alexis to build your confidence. Alexis has been using Social Media to educate and connect to her regional community of herbalists and foragers for awhile now, but last year when the pandemic hit, her following began to grow and grow! When you watch her educational & funny videos it’s easy to see why! 

2. Sade Musa (she/her) @rootsofresistance

A folk herbalist, wellness educator, and activist, Sade Musa founded Roots of Resistance, a project aiming to reconnect people with their ancestral healing practices, and address health injustices impacting marginalized communities. A powerful storyteller, Sade uses her platform to help reframe for us all how subtle and overt racism exists within herbalism texts and resources. Like so many other topics, appropriation of black herbal wisdom is rampant throughout Herbalism.   I think this quote from her sums up the root of her work beautifully.

“Bodily autonomy is really key for anti-colonialism resistance, but particularly Black resistance. Whether we’re talking about emancipation from slavery or incarceration or medical apartheid, we’re talking about bodily autonomy. When we give people the skills to heal themselves as much as possible and connect that to how our ancestors would heal themselves as an act of resistance and self-determination, they gain the confidence to push back against the running narrative.” – Sade Musa

3. Jamesa Hawthorne (they/them) @jam_haw 

Founder of Jam Haw Herbals, Jamesa Hawthorn is a black, femme, queer Herbalist who speaks to the importance of the representation of marginalized people in the wellness community.  On their Website , Jamesa offers a beautiful range of blended tinctures to help support your immunity as well as your emotional and mental wellness.  

Raised in the Pacific Northwest (the unceded lands of the Clackamas, Cowlitz and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Jamesa began their love affair with nature as a child & their herbal medicine studies nearly a decade ago. They practice as a community & creative herbalist, participating in herbal mutual aid, markets, events, & teaching workshops.

Studying herbalism in different parts of the country has informed their perspective on bioregional & seasonal herbalism. While they appreciate & weave clinical & scientific ways of knowing into their craft, New Orleans (traditionally known as Bulbancha ) nurtures the bulk of their herbal studies & community building, bringing them closer to ancestral & folk practices.

Jamesa is a triple earth sign (taurus rising, taurus sun, & capricorn moon) who cultivates a Venusian intimacy with the earth element whether in their garden or in their potion studio. Outside (& inside) of being an herbalist, they are also an artist of life, dancer, writer, pleasure activist, & dog parent.

4. Karen M. Rose (she/her) @empresskarenmrose @sacredvibesapothocary

Karen Rose is trained both in eastern and western Herbal Medicine and owns three apothecaries around Brooklyn. As a child in her native home of Guyana, she was first inspired by the power of plant medicine. Karen experienced how African, Caribbean, and Latin American traditions deeply influence plant medicine as well as community healing.  She has developed an incredible amount of educational materials and you can sign up for her apprenticeship and mentor programs through her website.  Shop her powerful medicinal herbal blends as well.

5. Leah Penniman (Li*/Ya/She/He) @LeahPenniman @soulfirefarms     

Leah is a food sovereignty activist and soil steward.  She founded Soul Fire Farms in 2010 with the intention to “reclaim our inherent right to belong to the earth and have agency in the food system as Black and Brown people.”  We cannot recommend her book Farming While Black enough!  It is her love song to the earth as well as her people. The Food Sovereignty Programs she has created reach over 10,000 people a year.  Head over to the Soul Fire Farms website, to learn about Leah and her team’s work in the areas of farmer training for Black and Brown growers, reparations and land return initiatives for northeast farmers, food justice workshops for urban youth, home gardens for city-dwellers living under food apartheid, doorstep harvest delivery for food insecure households, and systems and policy education for public decision-makers.

6. Amanda David (she/her) @rootworkherbals

Amanda David is a community herbalist and founder of Root Work Herbals. The various projects they take on are all centered around building mutually beneficial relationships between people, plants, and the planet. Under the guidance of Amanda, The Rootwork Herbals community has grown to offer  a herbal product line available at Bramble, herbal health consultations, and a  BIPOC free clinic. She focuses her educational offerings at the People’s Medicine School and Woke Without the Work, and a BIPOC community garden.  With deep love and a sense of play Amanda works to ensure that BIPOC folks have equal access to opportunities to reclaim healing through herbalism.

7. Nikki Minor (she/they) @chicoryzine 

Nikki Minor is an Herbalist and founder of Chicory Botanicals, a self-published zine and line of small-batch herbal goods handmade in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Nikki’s Zine works as a mini primer, with simple affordable recipes, it makes herbalism accessible throughout marginalized communities. Their passion lies in demystifying Herbalism and using plants as tools for liberation.

We’ve also made a list of herb supply shops to get your started on your herbalism journey. We may receive a small commission from some of the following links, but don’t worry we only recommend products and places we truly love. If you’d like more herbalist content send us an email at hello@highherstory.com and tell us what you’d us to cover next!

Herbalist Shops We Love:

Mountain Rose Herbs

At Mountain Rose Herbs, they work from the fundamental belief that it is an honor and responsibility to strive for excellence as human beings and as a company: to live by ethical principles and to set ourselves always on a path of growth and learning in our ever-changing world. They also believe in the profoundly healing beauty of nature and the natural gifts of the botanical world.

Starwest Botanicals

Starwest Botanicals started as a small retail herb shop in 1975 in Sacramento, California. Today, Starwest is one of the largest suppliers of organic herbs in the United States, with over 150,000 sq. ft. of modern warehouse and production space and over one million pounds of herbs and spices in stock. They have many loyal customers who have been returning to Starwest for their botanical needs for decades.

Nine Stars Botanicals

Nine Stars offers healing solutions and cultivations for people seeking new alignments and balance in themselves. Their products are informed by the wisdom of Chinese herbal medicine and philosophy. The solutions are poised to work for your health and wellbeing-inside and out.

How to Throw a “Joint” Birthday Party with Your BFF

High Herstory co-founders @nettyflowers and @jennyjoslin with Chill bongs. Photos by Chris Ungco.

What is a Joint Birthday?

If you’ve been craving some time with your bestie and need an excuse to celebrate - why not plan a joint birthday celebration by planning a weekend getaway together for BOTH of your birthdays in one.

Celebrating your birthdays together makes it so much more fun. High Herstory co-founders @nettyflowers and @jennyjoslin, curated this birthday extravaganza featuring the most exciting cannabis products out there. From glassware + artisan bongs, mints, pre-roll cigarettes, luxury edibles, cannabis cards, and more, these products make the perfect gifts and party favors.

How To Plan A Joint Birthday

First of all, there’s no rule that says you have to celebrate your birthday on the actual date of your birthday.

We happened to choose a date that falls in the middle of both our birthdays but you could plan for any time of year! In fact, you could even sub a birthday celebration for any holiday…ask us about our plans for a “Lonely” Valentine’s Day that’s anything but lonely (more on that another time).

The best part, besides spending time together, was that we took the joint part literally. I mean, really literally.

Please note, this post contains sponsorship to cover the costs of the shoot but we never feature brands we don’t genuinely love.

Why Cannabis?

Well, we kinda love getting high - in a responsible, fun, grown-up way. We’ve been exploring our relationship with the plant for years now so we know what dosage and consumption methods work for us now. Though we drink sometimes (you might notice a glass of champagne next to our designer bongs) we have found much more fulfillment with weed. Cannabis can help open up your perspective to new ideas. It can actually help decrease judgment in the brain (read more about the Science Behind Cannabis and Creativity here). What could be better than getting silly and weird with your best friend?

While others might enjoy knocking back a few drinks to unwind, we prefer giggling over inside jokes and having a dance party to Lana Del Rey (yes, you can dance to Lana if you really try) and Lizzy Jeff.

And there’s no risk of having to hold back each other’s hair if someone imbibes a little too much. One of the very best things about utilizing cannabis for your celebration instead of the more traditional partaking of booze is that you won’t be hungover.

We loved waking up in the morning after our party and feeling fresh! No headaches, no dehydration, and no feeling like you want to sleep all day. The hours you will never get back from being hungover really become apparent as you begin to enjoy cannabis and get used to not having to worry about hangovers.

One important thing to note is to always start small with weed until you are familiar with how your body reacts. Listen to your body and keep track of what products you’re using/how much you’re consuming and you will start to understand what’s right for you.

Where To Have Your Party

We chose a city getaway for our party because we have so many incredible memories in New York City - and consuming cannabis has been decriminalized there! How could we not celebrate that as well? Make sure you are following rules when it comes to smoking, but we chose a boutique hotel on Manhattan’s west side with an epic terrace so we could adhere to smoking rules...With age comes wisdom, we guess.

Who To Invite

Whoever the hell you want. It’s your party and if want to have a few select friends join you, why not? But if you just want it to be the two of you, don’t feel like you have to invite anyone. Sometimes you just want to get high with your bestie and no one else is invited!

Celebration Essentials + Our Itenirary

Finding cool weed stuff is one of our very favorite activities. This party was particularly exciting because we got to show each other some of our finds that the other one hadn’t tried. Just to be super real with you, we pride ourselves on finding the best products and companies out there, this post may contain affiliate links and sponsorship to cover the costs of the shoot. You can rest assured we only promote products we genuinely have tried and believe in and if you click the link to purchase, you’ll be supporting great brands and our small female-run company. A win-win for everyone!

Here are the cannabis products we chose to celebrate with and how we used them:

1. Hotel Pre-Game with Session Goods

   We kicked off the weekend by meeting at our hotel suite for the biggest hug ever and marveling at how cool our room was. The Maritime Hotel in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District was the perfect spot because it has the biggest balcony we’ve ever seen in a hotel. After exploring the room, we went outside to pack a bowl in our one-hitter and bong from Session.

We love Session Goods glass bongs but their one-hitters and new line of stash-jars and ashtrays take the brand to the next level.

Why we like it:

The one-hitters are the perfect smoking accessory to hold your joint, or just to have a special piece on hand for when your bestie visits. The silicon holder makes us feel extra fancy when we use it to hold joints, and it works as a great stopper to keep your tiny glass one-hitter from rolling away from you. Now, let’s talk about these stash jars…what can we say about perfection? You can hold your joint or one-hitter in the bottom while the beautiful glass containers keeps your green fresh and the lid sits on top creating a scent barrier between you and your smoking device. Chef’s kiss.

2. Freshening Up with Mr. Moxey’s

We had a lot of celebrating ahead of us but we were a little tired from traveling. Refreshment was needed so we decided to catch up with a long chat and Energizing Mr. Moxey’s. Not only did these put an extra spring in our step but they were the perfect treat to have after traveling when you just need to feel fresh.

Why we like it:

We love micro-dosing and these portable and oh-so-discreet mints are not going to be in our bags going forward. Mr. Moxey’s mints are our favorite because we can tailor our experience based on the mint. Our faves are Energize, Balance, and Relax best. The small dose makes it easy for us to know what we will be experiencing and it is always fun after a meal to have a mint! We love everything about Mr. Moxey’s, from the philosophy of their brand to the tea they use to infuse flavors into their herbal pastilles. Their mints are vegan, gluten-free and handcrafted in small batches. They come 20 in a pack and are great to share with friends after a meal.

3. Getting fancy with My Bud Vase

Why is getting ready to go out the most fun part of the evening? We put on our sparkly dresses and took some glamorous photos with these matching My Bud Vase Vamp bongs.

Is there a better way to show who your best friend forever is than matching bongs? If there is, we haven’t found it yet.

Why we like it:

My Bud Vase is legendary for unique, artisan pieces that you can display around your home. No one would ever know this work of art is a bong! The Vamp piece is toooo pretty just like your bestie. We felt like fabulous flappers using these gorgeous pieces. It’s a good thing that there are two, or we might have had to fight over them! We also loved the joint holders emblazoned with My Bud Vase at the top. We felt so sophisticated smoking our pre-rolls using these dual gold joint clip and poker. Look out, Audrey Hepburn, there are two new “it” girls in town!

4. Cake and Farnsworth Fine Cannabis Cigarettes

We decided it was most certainly time for cake and beautiful pre-rolls! Our manicures from Nailed by Ninoska featured a joint holder (yes, you heard that right - you can check out a video of it here) so of course, we had to light it with cake candles before blowing them out.

Why we like it:

Farnsworth in Great Barrington, Massachusetts has elevated the luxury cannabis dispensary experience. We have never visited a more beautiful and thoughtful store.

Seriously, if you are ever in the area you must stop in because it is a one of kind retail space. Usually, a personal shopper greets the guest at the door and walks them through answering any questions the patient or recreational user has while keeping your order in their head until your order is filled and they meet you at the register.

Their pre-rolls are our favorites, we hate to even share this with you, as they also tend to sell out. Coming in three distinct styles; Light, Classic, and Bold, they are our favorite pre-rolls. Not only do they come in a gorgeous box, but they are made with hemp papers and special filters that keep your THC intake intact.

We also highly recommend their Body Oil for aches and their Reserve Fine Cannabis Cigars for special occasions, which a joint birthday with your BFF most certainly is.

5. Gift Giving with Puff Cards

We love spoiling each other and after being away from each other during the pandemic, we needed something really special to exchange.

These adorable Puff Cards come with a tube to put your joint in!

Why we like it:

Puff Cards greeting cards are perfect if you and your best friend both love to consume cannabis. The cards are discretely enclosed with a smell-resistant tube, keeping your gift safe and secure within. Every card includes a custom envelope and sticker. We love that Puff Cards is a female majority-equity company in the cannabis space that believes in wellness and making memories.

We know the memories of your joint birthday party will come rushing back to you when you find this card sitting in your kitchen drawer in a few years.

6. Going out and about with Manna Tabs

In full transparency, we were around many nightclubs but we had no interest in that kind of party. Instead, we walked around Manhattan by dark and took these sublingual tabs with us! It was so fun people watching, grabbing an outdoor dinner, and getting to laugh over all the crazy stories from birthdays past.

Why we like it:

These are @nettyflowers ‘s favorite new sublingual (meaning it absorbs under your tongue!). They are a game changer - the on set time is only five minutes and it’s cool to be able to carry something so discreet and tiny in your bag.

“I never worry when I have these on my person when I’m traveling and it really does feel medicinal to me. It reminds me to consume conscientiously because the flavor is really unique and not like a gummy or candy, but I like that for times when I need just a little anxiety relief.” - @nettyflowers

We loved the ease of carrying these tiny tabs in tiny tubes in our tiny bags as we roamed the city streets of NYC without worrying about them getting crushed because of their genius packaging.

7. Getting “witchy” with Chill Steel Pipes

Hanging out on our terrace, enjoying deep talks about astrology and life was the perfect way to wrap up the evening. If we had been drunk our conversation might not have had the same depth or weirdness. The tarot cards came out, we did a gratitude spell, and played lots of Stevie Nicks.

Chill is the easiest bong to clean because they come apart so easily and you can also customize the colors and design your bowl and neck, the possibilities to show your personality are endless.

Why we like it:

A Scorpio and Libra Joint Birthday Party would be nothing without a nod to astrology. The sexy black constellation steel pipe is all Scorpio sexiness wrapped in the stars and a moon. The pink constellation steel pipe is all romantic and bubbly libra with gold accents. Trés Chic! The Chill Steel Pipe is made out of food-grade stainless steel and is double-wall vacuum insulated, like a premium reusable water bottle. They make the perfect gift for your stoner bestie.

8. Skin Care Routine with Blunt Skincare

No slumber party would be complete without a skincare routine! Doing skincare with your best friend is pretty much our idea of heaven. No one to impress, just someone you trust to see you without your make-up and who you enjoy having around even if you are just trying to get hotter. Add hemp to the mix and you have taken the end of your night into the next-level territory. Also, forgot to tell you that we filled up our bathtub with balloons.

Why we like it:

Created by a cosmetic scientist, Blunt Skincare combines innovative cosmetic chemistry with hemp-derived extracts in their line of top-shelf green beauty oils. They look beautiful, with really fresh packing but also pack powerful plant medicine to enhance your skin. We used them as the last step in our skincare routine. These also come in trial sizes which are absolutely perfect for sealing in moisture on the road or on a plane.

9. Morning Chill with Camino Cannabis Infused Gummies

Even though we woke up without a hangover, we really just needed to chill for a little bit. We let ourselves sleep in and have a morning treat of fresh-squeezed orange juice, left-over cake, and infused gummies in our bathrobes.

Why we like it:

One of our favorite things about being cannabis enthusiasts is that we don’t get hangovers from cannabis consumption. That being said, after a night of partying in a penthouse with your best forever friend, you will probably want something the next day that helps your body recover from dancing the night away. Enter Camino Wild Berry Gummies - they were the perfect edible to get us ready for brunching in the meatpacking district. The calming, indica-like terpenes pair with notes of wild blackberry and fresh raspberry for a laid-back Sunday vibe.

10. Brunch with TONIC Zone CBD Vape Pen

It was time for a great brunch and though Manhattan is filled with trendy places, we opted for a quaint French cafe and a CBD pen for focus. We felt very European and dramatic sitting out on the sidewalk people-watching.

Why We Like It:

These CBD vape pens are gorgeous and we adored taking them with us to a Parisian cafe for brunch. Clean, high-quality CBD vaporizer, infused with limonene and pinene terpenes makes this a special vape experience. We felt balanced and focused and ready to take on a Sunday shopping trip. It was so damn fun to pull out matching vape pens while we enjoyed cappuccinos and croissants. We have big fans of the TONIC company for a long time, but these are so thoughtfully made gift-able they are a must-have luxury CBD vape pen. The charger comes in a beautiful case, that we also use for traveling with it.

11. Relaxing with Cannaflower CBD

Our lazy Sunday would not be complete without more luxury cannabis products. We went back to our hotel and prepared to check out, which was bitter-sweet. This delicious flower made the blow of leaving our fancy suite a little less painful but we made sure to tell everyone we saw in the lobby that we used to live in the Penthouse upon checking out.

Why We Like It:

We are huge fans of Cannaflower CBD, top-shelf, artisan-level CBD hemp flower, that is perfect for our Sunday relaxation situation. We’ve been lucky enough to have sampled their hemp in the past, but we were blown away by their pre-rolls. Each pack’s effect is a curated individual strain chosen for it’s distinct cannabinoid and terpene profile and they come in an adorable tin cigarette holder that makes them perfect for transport.

And if you’re looking for a gift for your best bud, may we recommend The Voyager Box. The box is brimming with 7 of their most popular strains so your friend can find the one she loves the best. They ship to all 50 states so you don’t have to worry about location in order to send this gift to yourself or your bestie.

Cannaflower is also offering 20% off storewide (excluding the Club Box) to our readers using the code: CFHighHerStory.

Extra Credit: Make a THC Cocktail

THC Spiked Spritzers Recipe

You will need:
Cherry or Pomegranate Juice
Cans of your THC sparkling soda (We used Hi5 made by Theory Wellness)
Orange peel for garnish
Champagne glasses

To build:
Add 1/4 an ounce of cherry or pomegranate juice to each champagne coup or glass.
Top off with sparkling seltzer and add an orange peel! Cute stirrers make it festive! Voila! A hangover free cocktail.

Would you have a Joint Birthday?

If you haven’t seen your best friends in awhile and need an excuse to celebrate, a joint birthday will be a memory you’ll cherish for years to come. Who knows, it might even become your new tradition! If you try it, please let us know so we can feature your celebration on our IG!

See The Full Photo Gallery from our celebration!

The Perfect Weed Experience For First Time Users

So, you’re cannabis curious? Or you’re looking to help a family-member, friend or co-worker benefit from the healing aspects of weed?

First time users, don’t let the language of THC and terpenes steer you away from a positive cannabis experience. While acquiring the perfect strain for your first weed experience might feel confusing, we’re here to help the beginners out there looking for guidance.

Low THC, High CBD Cannabis is legal, more easily accessible, and can help with treating pain, mood, inflammation and anxiety without any of the side effects commonly associated with prescription medications.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid and one of the most abundant constituents of hemp. CBD is safe to consume and is non-intoxicating. Because of this, it has been long prized for its beneficial health and wellness effects. You will not experience a “high” feeling from inhaling or ingesting CBD. Instead, its more notable attributes are potential health outcomes for treating pain, mood, inflammation, and anxiety without any of the side effects commonly associated with prescription medications.

Let’s bring the dispensary discreetly to your door and set you up for a sublime first time with high CBD, low THC weed. Cannaflower is your source for ultra-premium artisan CBD flower, and represents the full spectrum of low-THC cannabis. This means there’s a high chance you’ll have a new weed experience you enjoy, and a much lower chance of feeling overwhelmed throughout the process, or after smoking it. 

They’ve honed in on premium cannabis strains that are perfect for first time users. After all, first impressions really do matter. Cannaflower aims to produce the highest quality hemp flower available, from seedlings to the final step of packaging and shipping. Their offerings are grown in state-certified USDA hemp programs, which means they are federally legal and available to ship in all fifty states.

We got our hands on the Explorer Box, but depending on your journey, shop around their site to find the ideal box or individual flower that suits your taste! It’s an ideal way to purchase and enjoy weed from beginners to even the most seasoned weed professionals.

Cannaflower Subscription Boxes

Let’s start with the ideal box for beginners - the Explorer Box. It contains six of Cannaflower’s most popular strains. This includes four 1 gram bags of whole flower and two 1 gram pre rolls, all unique strains with distinctly different affects. 

This box is a prime selection for first time weed consumers. Each strain is clearly labeled, with their signature low-THC strains to ease you gently into your weed education. Your Explorer Box also includes a $20 gift card for your next order. So, once you’ve begun your sampling journey, you’ll be able to order more of what you love. 

And if you’re already a seasoned marijuana consumer (or if you loved your Explorer Box experience) then their Cannaflower Subscription Box might be more your speed. This box features their most exclusive strains and their selected farm favorites. This means you’ll be the first to try some of their small-batch strains before anyone else. It’s the perfect gift-to-self. 

How to use it?

You can smoke high CBD cannabis flower but you can also vape it, infuse it into an oil and cook with it (might we recommend the Ardent cooking device?).

Why Try Cannaflower?

As a company, there is no mystery about what you’re purchasing and how it makes it’s journey to you. Their product is naturally grown, ships discreetly, and arrives at your door with ultimate freshness guaranteed. They also include their latest certificate of analysis for each strain, as well as cannabinoid and terpene breakdowns on their site. That means if you are a first-time user, or you’re reintroducing weed into your lifestyle, you know exactly what you’re buying.

Why We Love It

We brought Cannaflower to our recent joint birthday celebration - you can read about it in this article: How to Throw A Joint Birthday Party with your BFF. We loved their box of pre-rolls and were so happy with the quality CBD flower of Space Invader and Berry Cobbler. We know there are many CBD flower companies out there, but Cannaflower is a cut above the rest and we absolutely love every product of theirs we have ever tried. The terpenes and flavor profiles are delicious and we know they will quickly become your favorite too! These boxes make fabulous gifts and we highly recommend getting one for your best bud who is canna-curious!

Cannaflower is also offering 20% off storewide (excluding the Club Box) to our readers using the code: CFHighHerStory. Definitely keep an eye out for their upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales!

Music Sounds Better With Weed: A Series, by Brice Birdsall

My name is Brice and I’m the founder of In Between Agencies, an online magazine that focuses on emerging artists with an emphasis on musicians based in the UK. Prior to writing about music, I was in the process of opening a dispensary in my hometown Portland, Oregon. When that endeavor ended up being something that I needed to walk away from (more on this another time), I turned to my other passions to carry me forward. 

By focusing on emerging artists, I am able to catch them in their purest forms as creative beings. In this stage, they are still figuring out who they are, what works, and what doesn’t. It’s at this specific moment we are able to learn from each artist’s processes and see exactly how they find their way amidst the noise surrounding them. 

In this column, we’ll focus on my two endeavors - music and weed, pairing strains with songs to compliment your smoking sessions. Music is a tool the same way that weed is. Both can enhance an experience and when used together there’s a moment where the listening experience transcends the realms it was previously bound to.

An excerpt from an article written by Justin Chandler from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sums up the subtleties of this experience from a scientific perspective, “According to Daniel Levitin, a professor of neuroscience at McGill University, "music combined with weed tends to produce feelings of euphoria and connectedness to the music and the musicians." That said, music — with or without the influence of cannabis — enhances activity in the mesolimbic dopamine system.

Occasionally referred to as the nervous system's reward pathway, this system in the brain releases dopamine to chemically reinforce gratifying behavior.” It’s no wonder that something that has such a profound effect on our brains is amplified when weed is introduced.

This week - we’ll be smoking Sour Diesel and listening to a few of my favorite songs. Sour Diesel is known for its uplifting effects. It’s an energizing Sativa that helps to ease anxiety, depression, and the effects of stress, much like the below songs. 

Music Sounds Better With Weed: The Playlist

Somethings Never Change by Marc E. Bassy

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. Every time I hear it, my brain is flooded with memories from my favorite road trips and it’s what I listen to to soothe my soul after a long day. The concept of some things never changing helps me let go of my perceived control.

Like That by Clbrks 

I listen to this song in every type of scenario - from my lowest moments to my celebratory ones. Clbrks is an emerging artist from London. Not only is he one of the most talented artists that I’ve encountered, he’s also one of the most beautiful humans. He effortlessly presents himself in full form, regardless of who he is surrounded by. This track inspires the confidence to be yourself, the way Clbrks is. 

You by Mk.gee

The production and general thoughtfulness that went into the musical arrangement Mk.gee created for this song is simply magical. It’s a song that you can feel in your bones before you start smoking and is only amplified in the best way once that joint is lit. 

Growing Pains by Alessia Cara

This song is for the moment when you’ve lost perspective and need a reminder that this is just a phase - something we all need from time to time.

Link to playlist via Spotify

Does Cannabis Help with Cramps? 6 Products to Try

We’ve all heard the hype around CBD and cannabis products being used for period cramps and endometriosis pain. While there is still research being done on the topic, we have anecdotally heard from many women that some CBD and cannabis products have been found to give them relief during that oh so fun time of the month. Endometriosis affects roughly ten percent of reproductive aged women and yet there is little offered in terms of pain relief. Many women these days are turning to plant medicine as an alternative to pain pills and finding relief with an array of topicals, oils, creams and tinctures containing CBD and/or cannabis.

As with any cannabis products, we know that not everything will work for everybody, but we’ve rounded up a few of our faves to share with you. There’s plenty out there to try if you’re looking for relief from period or endometriosis pain. We have personally tried the products mentioned in this article and would love to hear from you if you have too! DM us on IG if there is healing herb story you’d like to share. To be real with you, we may receive a commission on items purchased in this article, but rest assured we only shout out products we truly love.

Mad Ritual CBD Recovery Balm

This award winning balm is our number one fave to soothe those body aches and pains. Mad Ritual uses the highest quality broad-spectrum oil in these balms. We love that their CBD balms are organic, vegan and basically “TLC in a tin”. We recently were gifted their Rest + Relief Balm Set and we cannot stress how impressed we were! I first tried it for a pulled back muscle that has been chronic and found instant relief from their Eucalyptus +Peppermint balm. My favorite thing about the balm is that it did not feel greasy and absorbed into the skin almost instantly. A little of the balm really goes a long way and it doesn’t feel chemical like lidocaine creams. I noticed that the pain I was feeling subsided instantly. I feel like it really energized me and had me ready for writing emails at my makeshift standing desk.

I then used it for my PMS cramps which have gotten worse during this pandemic, can anyone relate? Anyway, my recommendation for relief from cramps and general nighttime use is their Lavender + Chill Balm. It was the perfect antidote for the stomach cramps I experience monthly and the scent of the balm seemed to really help me relax and get some much-needed rest and recovery. This balm is not going to be leaving my nightstand anytime soon, it is a must-have if you struggle with sleep during your period like I do.

There are hundreds of positive third-party reviews on their site if you want more than just my word for it! They also carry a line of CBD bath bombs that would make an excellent gift.

You can use code HighHerstory for 20% off at Mad Ritual.

TONIC Zone CBD Vape Pens

One of the symptoms of endometriosis is nausea and stomach issues and a puff of a good CBD vape pen has helped us deal with these issues. I have the great luck of suffering from tummy troubles during my period including decreased appetite and nausea. I use CBD vapes as a way to combat that feeling in my stomach and to help me eat when I am feeling nauseous. I am a big fan of the TONIC Zone CBD Vape, it looks as classy as I feel and is so portable. CBD is non intoxicating and helps me get through my day without the “high” feeling while still reaping the benefits of plant medicine. This clean, high quality CBD vaporizer, infused with limonene and pinene terpenes to get you in the zone when you have a lot going on and can’t be bogged down by period pain.

Farnsworth Body Oil

Luxury has a name and it’s Farnsworth. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of the most expensive smelling THC Body Oil made by Farnsworth. With a 1:1 of THC to CBD and notes of lavender, this body oil is like the holy grail of cannabis oils. It absorbs and gets to work so quickly, it is like instant muscle and joint relief. I use it when my body or back feels inflamed and it brings me such quick soothing relief I often wonder how. I also would recommend putting this oil all over your body or adding a few drops to your favorite lotion as cannabis can be seen by many as an anti-aging ingredient. Honestly, my skin feels so supple after using this oil that it makes it hard to share this product with the world. Move over olive oil, we’re betting money that cannabis oil becomes the next big thing for the stars to start incorporating into their beauty routines.

Her HighnessNYC “Sleeping Beauty” Tincture

I mentioned earlier that I can have trouble sleeping which means I am super dubious of anything claiming to help with sleep. When Her HighnessNYC sent me some of their Sleeping Beauty Tincture, I was excited to try but I didn’t get my hopes up. Well, I should have because this has quickly become my go to tincture when the mean reds make it difficult to sleep. The combination CBD and CBN in their Sleeping Beauty tincture is my personal sleep saver. It has helped me combat my insomnia while also seeming to help my body relax. I put about a quarter to half filled dropper under my tongue and hold it for 30 seconds before swallowing. I personally love the spearmint taste and it usually puts me to sleep in 30 minutes or less. A miracle in a bottle for this insomniac.

Foria CBD Suppositories

These all-natural CBD suppositories, which deliver 50mg of organic broad-spectrum CBD, give you relief where you really need it if you are experience endometriosis pain you know where. Sometimes, a gal just needs a little relief up there, you know what I’m saying? These suppositories are multi-purpose, but many women who suffer with vaginal pain or tightness agree, they provide relaxation of the vaginal muscles when you need it most. They can also be used as a lubricant for sex, and many women who feel pain during the deed have reported that Foria suppositories make the act much more enjoyable, especially for those who are pre and post menopausal.

LadyKind’s Tough Love Pain Relieving Cream

Meticulously formulated to put a pause in your pain, the hemp-derived Broad Spectrum CBD cannabinoids in this LadyKind’s formula are combined with soothing cramp bark and anti-inflammatory turmeric to help calm your cramps and ease your aches.

Don’t take our word for it, the reviews are in! “I absolutely LOVE the Tough Love Pain Relieving Cream from LadyKind! I work long hours where I stand the entire time. My back and feet are a mess at the end of the day and this pain relieving cream with CBD knocked my pain out so quickly! I have used pain relieving products in the past and they work for a short time but never last very long but this stuff works!!!”

We hope this round up of our favorite CBD and cannabis products to try for period pain and endometriosis was helpful. If you’ve tried any of these products and want to share with us feel free to DM us on our IG! We’d love to hear from you!