Not everyone is into carrot cake, but it’s my favorite cake by far. I always have carrot cake on my birthday, and even had carrot cake cupcakes at my wedding. If you like carrot cake too, you will love the recipe below:
Ingredients:
For the Cake- 1 1/4 cup cannabis oil 4 eggs 2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 3/4 cups grated carrots
For the Frosting- 1/2 cup cannabis butter melted 8 oz cream cheese 4 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cake: In a large bowl, beat the cannabis oil, eggs, sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Add and mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Once thoroughly mixed, stir in the carrots. Pour mixture into a greased and floured 9″x13″ baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes. Remove and let pan cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool on a rack.
Frosting: In a large bowl, combine the cannabis butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat on high until mixture is completely smooth. Use mixture to frost the cooled cake.
Sour Diesel cross with Sensi Star, Death Star’s effects are a building pressure in the eyes and around the back of the head and temples to start off, with an increase in heart rate and some perspiration happening at times. The body started buzzing early on and this keeps up throughout the experience, though it turns to more of a warming feeling as it goes on.
“Date Acquired: July 22, 2011
Grade: B+/A-
Type: Indica
Looks: “Thick,” fat deep green nugs fluffy nugs with ample orange/red hair. A real nice two finger sticky bounce.
Smell: A mix of Khuynh-Deip Eucalyptus oil and nutmeg
Taste: Very smooth with similarities to sour lemon and fuel on the top of the palate. Hints of pink lemonade on the after taste that changes up to sour lip puckering lemon causing dry mouth.
Buzz Type: Heady with full body tingle and a bit of pressure sensation (behind the eyes). Euphoric.
Buzz Length: Average to Above Average (1 to 1.5 hours)
Summary:
* Talk about an “interesting” strain…
Death Star OG does not always hit right away. The moment you think, “Ah man… this bud is not…” then BAM! Out of nowhere I was encased in full body tingle quickly followed by dry mouth. This strain hit me more like a really solid hybrid with that kush quality of “eye pressure” relief combined with a tingly, euphoric full body experience that actually provided me with energy. Around half a hour into a bowl, I felt very “jumpy” – Full tingle experiences is most intense around this time.
But… not enough “legs,” but at peak intensity “buzz” is very good. About half hour at most. The intensity of buzz varied slightly with the one larger nug not hitting as hard as the others.
Pinching the fresh nug left a stickiness on my fingers and when needing to clear my allergy ridden nostrils, all I needed to do is take a deep sniff of the jar that this strain was stored in. Death Star OG did give me a serious case of “Yuck Mouth,” so make sure to have gum and/or liquid or hand. If at home and leaving, I just felt the need to brush my teeth if medicating with this strain.
Worth a try if a “Marijuana Connoisseur” to experience what I felt overall was an “interesting” and a bit of a “trippy” buzz.” – ie420patient
Girl Scout Cookies Cannabis Strain Review And Pictures
If you live in the Bay Area, you’ve likely heard of Girl Scout Cookies. Whether it’s from one of the songs by the famous San Francisco rapper, Berner or actually trying it yourself, Girl Scout Cookies is a can’t-miss strain that will medicate you beyond your wildest dreams. A potent mix of an OG Kush x Durban Poison x Cherry Kush mother backcrossed with a prime-looking OG Kush father created possibly one of the best Northern California strains of all time. For those of you who are into the Bay Area rap scene, you’ve likely already smoked some of this off-the-charts weed after hearing some of the songs by San Francisco rapper and collective owner, Berner.
“Date Acquired: December 18, 2011
Grade: A++
Type: Hybrid
Looks: Frost covered tight and very light weight marijuana nuggets with areas of deep “dark”spotting encased in orange/rust colored hair.
Smell: A slight hint of pepper with a sweet evergreen funk hitting over the top clearing out the nostrils. Smell can be describe as “minty,” but I had to really “detect” it.
Taste: A light, but sweet evergreen/spearmint fruit enhanced flavor with a bit of sweet tea leaf after taste.
Buzz Type: A combination of heady and heaviness providing some solid focus and spatial awareness along with good pain management and relaxation.
Buzz Length: Long to Very Long (2 to 2+ hours)
Summary:
* Girl Scout Cookies, “Original Thin Mints” somewhat threw me for a loop when I first started medicating with it. On my very first bowl, my first thought was; “YES! A Sativa that’s straight up FIRE!” Fact is, Girl Scout Cookies, “Original Thin Mints” (GSC-OTM) is a hybrid strain that was mostly heavy, but also quite heady; headier than most hybrids I’ve medicated with going as far back as I can remember. That initial shot of Sativa like headiness stuck with me on the first bowl for a good while until the more dominant heavy and relaxing Indica qualities take over.
While feeling “up,” GSC-OTM provided me some intense focus and clarity. I was able to get of work done in a short amount of time. I was able to work quite fast. When the heaviness builds up, it feels like someone is taking three of their fingers and pressing against the inside corners of my eyes and bridge of nose. The relief I felt around my eyes was awesome. Very similar to most Kush varieties I’ve medicated with, but with a little added euphoric feeling.
GSC-OTM has a nice initial scent, but the lingering scent can get funky from broken up marijuana nuggets. I found I had to light candles and use spray; not from smoking inside my house, but from after snipping a marijuana nugget. The lingering scent is STRONGER. My wife commented on that several times and although I do not smoke flowers inside my home, I might as well given this flowers lingering smell; which I actually like, but is very noticeable to the “non-user.”
The majority of the time, GSC-OTM did not couch lock me, but the overall buzz effect could be a bit to heavy for some for day use and this buzz is long; with a typical full bowl consistently hitting the 2+ hour mark with me. Knowing that my overall tolerance could be higher due to more concentrate use, having this long buzz term meant a longer duration of use before depleting supply (a good thing). With GSC-OTM, a little goes a long way.
The heaviness of GSC-OTM provided me with great pain relief. I’ve even made note where my head was pounding me one day from limited sleep and after a bowl of GSC-OTM, I was feeling fine. I really like how this strain was mellowing and relaxing while attacking pain while still providing mental awareness. I enjoyed many “happy hours” while medicated with this strain.
When medicating heavy (multiple bowls in a short time span), the come down is noticeable “harder.” This is when I get hit with watery eyes and the case of the yawns. A heavier “come down” made me a bit lethargic.
Crafted in Northern California, I was very happy to get this strain knowing I received the original directly from SAN FRANCISO. An interesting name for a marijuana strain, sometimes I sit back and wonder how it was named. Is it because the dark spotting makes some marijuana nuggets look like green chocolate chip cookies under the camera? Is it because it crumbles like cookie crumbs when breaking up the marijuana nuggets? When breaking off into little “crumbs,” GSC-OTM also burns like a Kingsford charcoal; to a flaky white.
Girl Scout Cookies, “Original Thin Mints,” has been hyped up quite a bit through the Internet and Pop Culture. But this is one strain that DOES live up the hype. Straight FIRE and my first IE420 “Certified Fire” strain of 2012! There are several variations this “Cookie” strain and do hope I am fortunate enough to come across ALL of them!” – ie420patient
When it comes to the size of pots for cannabis plants, the general rule is 'The Bigger, The Better'. And that's correct when you have a lot of space. The bigger the pot, the more roots your plant can make, the bigger your plant will get, the bigger your harvest will be. Simple. But sometimes there's not a lot of space available, or maybe you just don't want to get some giant plants. So what happens when you put a seed in an extremely small pot? Well, Jiggs put a seed of an autoflowering 'Quick Fruit' from 'AC Genetics' in one of his traditional beer glasses (0.5 liter) and he created the coolest 'Bonsai' cannabis plant ever. Plant grows a firm, sweet and sticky cola and reaches a height of only 29.5 cm!
I love joints. To me there is no other method of smoking that makes me feel as connected to the whole smoking experience. With joints its about the process of rolling it as much as it is with smoking it. The feel of the paper sliding between my fingers, the deliberate calculated manipulation of the buds, grinding the weed to the perfect size - its a ritual that brings the smoker and their goods together. This being said I am not a one trick pony, I recognize and enjoy other forms of smoking as well. How ever to me Its all about the joints. This brings me to today's review of Raw Brand 100% organic Vegan Unbleached Hemp rolling papers.
The first thing You should know is that the name says its all. These papers are 100% organic Unbleached Hemp rolling papers. They also claim to be vegan, which I assume means no animal based glutens in the glue. I kind of always assumed when i smoked a joint I wasn't smoking any animals but I suppose I could be wrong. When you first pull a paper out of the pack the first thing you notice about them is they are thin, really, really thin. So thin they are almost transparent.
As you can clearly see you are able to read the print of the Pack quite easily. You are also able to see the contents of your joint, which delights me very much. Being thin isn't just all fun and games thought it has another great benefit. Thin papers have very littler or in the case of these Raw papers almost no taste at all. Its as if you are holding a bud and smoking it. An absolute delight. There's nothing i hate more than a paper that adds to much of its self to my smoking experience. This is aided further by the fact that these papers are 100% organic and unbleached. This means no chemicals or additives are being burned along with your green.
Given the thin nature of these papers you would expect a quick burn. You would be mistaken. These papers are incredibly slow and even burning. Up until receiving these in the mail I had settled on Zig-Zag slow burning as my papers of choice after years and years and just as many brands. I had chosen them for their slow even burn while still being a thin paper. How ever no more for me. No thank you. I have been using the Raw papers for several weeks now and I tried the Zig Zag again last night. There is no comparison. the smoke is thick and heavy compared to the raw. In other words I noticed the paper.
I'm not going to lie how ever the Raw papers as awesome as they are aren't all puppies and rainbows. There is a down side. The gum is the weak point of any rolling paper and its the most detrimental of all if your have a failure. As mentioned above the Raw papers have a natural organic gum which is great and works well, once you realize how to work with it. Its a very thin application which can easily be removed by an over eager roller. One most apply very little moister to these to get them to work. Too much and you remove it or render it too wet to work well. This of course leads to catastrophic joint failure. You know, weed on your lap. That's never good. There's another down side which of course is also one of its many pro's as well. the thickness or thinness if you well. They are - not to beat a dead horse- really thin. Which means if you are not diligent during break up and remove any bits of stem, your going to puncture. If you do not have the right delicate touch, you will rip them.
How ever even after weighing the pro's and cons these are with out a doubt the best papers I have ever had the pleasure of smoking. I have used both the 1 1/4 and the giant king size. Both have the same pro's and suffer the same con's. The king size burn as long or longer than a blunt but suffer the gum issue even more. These papers are game changers in joint world where papers are as important as the stuff you fill them. But I would caution the inexperienced roll that before using these get a good grasp of rolling first or you will burn through a lot of these papers before you get your roll right. If you fancy your self an experienced roller please do your self a favor and buy your self a pack, no a box of these cause they truly are the papers you have been waiting for your whole life.
On Tuesday, voters in Washington state and Colorado legalized recreational marijuana
Roger Roffman: Washington state's historical measure deserve close attention
He says the state has offered the most compelling replacement to prohibition to date
Roffman: Prohibition has hindered more than it has helped good decision-making
Editor's note: Roger A. Roffman is a professor emeritus of social work at the University of Washington, a sponsor of I-502, and author of the forthcoming "A Marijuana Memoir."
(CNN) -- The historic measure to regulate and tax marijuana in Washington State deserves to be looked at closely as a model of how legalization ought to be designed and implemented elsewhere in America.
We've turned a significant corner with the approval of Initiative 502, which purposefully offers a true public health alternative to the criminal prohibition of pot.
For the first time in a very long time, the well-intended but failed criminal penalties to protect public health and safety will be set aside. Adults who choose to use marijuana and obtain it through legal outlets will no longer be faced with the threat of criminal sanctions. People of color will no longer face the egregious inequities in how marijuana criminal penalties are imposed. Parents, as they help prepare their children for the choices they face concerning marijuana, will no longer be hobbled by misinformation about the drug and the absence of effective supports to encourage abstinence.
Roger A. Roffman
"The great experiment" of alcohol prohibition became the national law in 1920. Its intentions were good, but it failed in a number of vitally important ways. In 1923, the state of New York repealed its alcohol prohibition law. Ten other states soon followed, and in 1933 national Prohibition ended.
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I believe Washington state has just played that pivotal role with regard to marijuana. Moreover, by borrowing from public health model principles known to be effective, the state has offered the most compelling replacement to prohibition considered to date.
What is a public health model? In brief, it's an approach that acknowledges use of marijuana can present harms to the user and to public safety, and includes provisions to prevent or ameliorate those harms.
A public health model includes six key elements. Washington state's new law incorporates each of them.
The first is accountable oversight by an agency of government. The Washington state legalization model assigns responsibility to a state agency for writing regulations concerning how the growing, producing and selling of marijuana will occur. Among those regulations are tight limitations on advertising and the prevention of access to marijuana by minors. Then, that agency will have the authority to issue licenses to growers, producers and sellers and to enforce adherence to the rules.
The second element is a well-funded multifaceted marijuana education program that is based on science rather than ideology. Far too few Americans are sufficiently informed about marijuana's effects on health and behavior, both the positive and the negative. A key to good decision-making is possessing accurate information.
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The third element is well-funded prevention programs widely available to all the state's geographical and demographic communities. We've learned a great deal about what knowledge, skills and community supports actually work in helping young people navigate a world in which drugs such as marijuana are readily available. Sadly, far too little funding has been devoted to putting such programs to work in our communities.
A fourth element is making treatment of marijuana dependence readily available. The new law dedicates funding to establish a statewide Marijuana Help Line. It also earmarks funding to state, county and local governments for the provision of services for those in need of help.
Evaluation of the new law's impact is the fifth element. An independent state agency will receive funding to conduct periodic assessments of how the new system affects behaviors, attitudes and knowledge. Using the findings of these evaluative studies, the state agency overseeing the pricing and taxing of marijuana can adjust those costs to maximize undercutting of the black market and deterrence of youth access to marijuana.
The sixth element is research. The new law earmarks funding to the state's two major research universities for the purpose of conducting marijuana-focused studies. As we gradually learn how to live more healthfully and safely with marijuana, the knowledge derived from those studies will inform education, prevention, treatment and refinements in the law.
In more than 40 years of research -- primarily marijuana dependence counseling interventions for adults and adolescents -- it has seemed to me that prohibition has hindered more than it has helped good decision-making. Far too many teens think smoking pot is "no big deal," greatly underestimating the risk of being derailed from social, psychological and educational attainment. Far too many adults don't take seriously enough the risk of marijuana dependence that accompanies very frequent use.
We can do better. By regulating and taxing marijuana based on a set of strong public health principles, I believe our cultural norms concerning marijuana will shift and the harms we've witnessed will greatly reduce.
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(CNN) -- On Tuesday, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational use of marijuana. The referendums come at a time when more than a third of states have approved the cannabis plant for medicinal purposes.
Proponents for legalizing marijuana tout its pain-relieving benefits and use by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments; opponents stress that science has yet to prove the drug is safe.
It's a bit like the fairytale, "Jack and the Beanstalk." This "magic" plant that could help with everything from glaucoma to Lou Gehrig's disease could also contain unknown dangers to our heart, lungs and brain.
The real question is, if we legalize marijuana, will we all live happily ever after?
The Drug Enforcement Administration lists (PDF) marijuana under the Schedule I category of controlled substances, meaning it has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical purpose in the United States and is not deemed safe for use.
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The DEA's stance has made it difficult for scientists to push forward national clinical trials on the drug. In 2009, the American Medical Association urged the government to review marijuana's classification with "the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines" to no avail.
Still, in the last three years, more than 6,000 studies have been published in scientific journals about the cannabis plant, according to NORML, an organization that works to legalize marijuana. Much of the research has focused on the plant's effects on the body's endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system acts like a bridge between mind and body, helping different types of cells communicate with each other.
Our bodies make natural cannabinoids, or active chemicals that cause drug-like effects through the body,according to the National Cancer Institute. The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC -- works in the same way as these natural chemicals.
Dr. Julie Holland, editor of "The Pot Book," says medicinal cannabis is most often prescribed to combat nausea and stimulate appetite. It is also prescribed to manage chronic pain.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved two synthetic cannabinoid drugs for use in patients with extreme nausea: dronabinol and nabilone. Another, Sativex, is undergoing phase III clinical trials in the United States for the treatment of cancer pain.
A series of trials published by the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research in May showed cannabis can help patients suffering from neuropathic pain, commonly caused by degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia. Neuropathic pain is also a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation.
Study participants on cannabis reported a 34 to 40% decrease in pain compared to the 17 to 20% decrease seen from patients on a placebo drug.
Another study, published in the British Medical Journal in February, found a lower prevalence of Type II diabetes in marijuana users. The researchers hypothesized that cannabis lowers the risk for diabetes due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
Even with all its potential benefits, cannabis should not be viewed as a harmless substance, NORML says.
The drug's active constituents "may produce a variety of physiological and euphoric effects," the organization's website states. "As a result, there may be some populations that are susceptible to increased risks."
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that marijuana causes an increase in heart rate, which could put users at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Marijuana smoke also contains carcinogens similar to tobacco smoke.
A 2011 study published in the journal Addiction found marijuana has little long-term effect on learning and memory, according to TIME.com. The study authors followed nearly 2,000 Australian adults, aged 20 to 24, for eight years. They concluded that the adverse impacts of cannabis use (shown in earlier studies) were either related to pre-existing factors or were reversible after even extended periods of use.
Yet a similar study out of New Zealand earlier this year showed the opposite may be true for adolescent marijuana users.
The New Zealand researchers found that teens who smoked pot heavily (at least four days a week) lost an average of eight IQ points between the ages of 13 and 38. Adults who had smoked as teens tended to show more pronounced deficits in memory, concentration, and overall brainpower in relation to their peers.
Kids and teens' brains are still developing, Holland says, which is why they may be more vulnerable to the drug's effects.
People with a family history of mental illness are also at a greater risk for seeing the drug's mind-altering effects. A number of studies have linked chronic marijuana use to increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, according to DrugAbuse.gov.
And a more recent study published in The American Journal of Addictions showed an association between adolescent pot smoking and an increase risk of exhibiting anti-social behavior as an adult.
The good news is that marijuana has a low rate of addiction; estimates place it at about 9% of users. And as NORML points out, "the consumption of marijuana -- regardless of quantity or potency -- cannot induce a fatal overdose."
Experts say more research is needed to determine the true benefits and long-term side effects of marijuana.
The “munchies” may be triggered not only by marijuana hitting the brain, but also by its effects on the gut, according to new research that suggests intriguing possibilities for the development of new drugs to fight obesity.
It turns out that, biologically, the effect of marijuana on the gut mirrors that of eating fatty foods. Studying the digestive tract of rats, researchers led by Daniele Piomelli, professor of pharmacology at the University of California, Irvine, teased out why that first bite of fatty food spurs increased craving.
The taste of fatty food hitting the tongue sets off a cascade of cellular effects. Initially, it sends a message to the brain. The brain then sends a message to the gut, where intestinal receptors are stimulated to produce endocannabinoids. In turn, these chemicals affect hunger and satiety and ramp up your appetite for even more fat-laden foods. That’s why you can’t eat just one French fry.
The intestinal receptors, known as CB1 receptors, are the same type of receptors that interact in the brain with THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis. That helps explain why marijuana notoriously triggers the “munchies:” a desire to eat high-fat or sweet foods. But, until now, scientists had thought all the action was in the brain.
Piomelli’s group designed a clever experiment in rats to study where the munchies arose. The rats were given various liquid diets: a health shake, a sugar solution, a protein-heavy liquid and high-fat drink made with corn oil. The food was surgically prevented from staying in the rats’ stomachs; it was drained through a tube before it could reach the intestines. That allowed the researchers to figure out whether the signal to keep eating came from the brain based on the taste of fatty foods on the tongue, or whether the gut was somehow involved.
Since the food never reached the gut, the researchers expected to find that the signal occurred only in the brain. “We were looking everywhere and we were sure that somewhere in the brain CB1 would be activated,” says Piomelli. “Very much to our surprise, we saw nothing of the sort.”
Fortunately, after the feeding experiment, researchers had saved frozen organ tissues from the rats. By going back and examining them, they discovered that fatty food activated CB1 receptors in part of the upper intestine, the jejunum. Further investigation revealed that this occurs because tasting fat triggers the brain to want more — and this signals the gut to increase activity at CB1 receptors, making craving stronger.
The intestinal area affected was not a surprise. “The gut’s got a brain of own and that’s one of the very important regions,” says Piomelli. Indeed, the gut has more nerves than any other area of the body outside the brain (and even more of the mood-associated neurotransmitter serotonin than the brain does).
Piomelli notes that evolutionarily speaking, it would make sense for animals to gorge on as much fat as possible. You never know whether famine is around the corner. But the researchers were also surprised to find that it was only fat — not the sugar- or protein-laden liquids — that activated gut CB1 receptors. “Sugar and protein had no effect,” Piomelli says, noting that there must be other mechanisms aside from CB1 involved in the appetite pathway, because smoking marijuana can also produce sugar cravings.
The researchers found that when they blocked CB1 receptors with a drug, rats lost interest in eating additional fat (but not other types of food). If a drug could be developed to mimic that effect — to reduce the cravings spurred by having a single potato chip — it could be enormously helpful in fighting obesity and binge eating.
In fact, one such drug, rimonabant (Acomplia), which blocks CB1 receptors in both the brain and body, made it to market in Europe as an effective obesity fighter. But it was not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ultimately, due to safety concerns over increased risk of anxiety, depression and even suicide, it was pulled in Europe.
“Rimonabant … induced bad side effects like suicidal thoughts due to its activity [in the brain],” says Jonathan Farrimond, a researcher at the University of Reading who studies cannabinoids and feeding and was not associated with the study. So to avoid side effects, a new drug would have to block gut receptors without affecting the brain.
In Piomelli’s study, the researchers used just such an experimental drug, which blocks CB1 but does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Unfortunately, this chemical has toxic metabolites that prevents it from being used in humans. Still, the research supports the idea that a safer CB1-blocking compound is possible.
“Our research suggests that one can target binge eating with a peripheral CB1 antagonist,” says Piomelli. He says people might one day avoid or reduce obesity with a “pill to take when one has the urge to splurge on high-fat foods like French fries, potato chips or ice cream.”
Since Piomelli’s research was done only on rats and looked only at short-term feeding, rather than weight gain over time, much more work is required before a new drug could be developed. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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