Bob Marley: Exposing the Man Behind the Myth

Marley:  The Myth

There must be enough articles & books written about Bob Marley to fill the Grand Canyon.  And rightfully so.  He's become a symbol of Third World triumph in the face of immense adversity...of unity & peace among all people regardless of race or political leanings.  He brought reggae out of Jamaica & to the world at large, spreading his message of the Rastafarian faith to millions & coming to be seen almost as a prophet or Christ-like figure.

His charitable nature was unmatched; he gave away much of his wealth to the poor who gathered at his home at 56 Hope Road in Jamaica & never got caught up in the trappings of "Babylon," aka the capitalist system of materialism & wealth.  His only expensive possession was his BMW which he claimed to have purchased because the letters stood for "Bob Marley & the Wailers".  And he never locked its doors.

And yet, the stoic face we see on T-shirts, posters, weed grinders & so many other pieces of merch was that of a mere mortal.  A human being with the same flaws as the rest of us.  It can be hard to remember that when watching fawning documentaries or looking at pictures of the man with his face lit as if Heaven itself were shining its light on him.  He succumbed to poorly treated cancer (acral lentiginous melanoma) at the age of 36 as a result of ignoring its presence too long & then refusing to amputate the affected toe due his spiritual beliefs.  When he passed he left no will behind, which caused much stress for his many children & their mothers scattered all over the globe.  But more on that subject later.


Music / Business

The original group Bob belonged to was called 'The Wailers' & consisted of Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer & Bob Marley.  All three were equal partners--there was to be no lead singer or breakout star.  But as time went on, Bunny & Peter could tell that Bob was being groomed to be the leader by label executives like Chris Blackwell, whom they thought favored Bob due to his light complexion.  Eventually they would be proven right when the band's name was changed to "Bob Marley & The Wailers".

All three men were Rastafarians, meaning they had conservative views on things like drugs, sexuality, manner of dress & other worldly issues.  (Cannabis was considered a holy sacrament...an herb rather than a drug).  While Peter & Bunny stood steadfast in their refusal to play clubs like The Roxy where punks, gays & drug users would be present, Bob was all too willing to play to any crowd in their opinion.  This lead to a major rift between the band & eventually a breakup in 1974.  They also felt like their contributions weren't recognized as much as they should've been--whether it was album covers or song credits, they were relegated to background status.

According to the biographical book So Much Things To Say, Bob was at times a user who ripped off some of the people who worked with him.  He once begged Joe Higgs to come on tour with him at the last minute after Bunny dropped out.  He never thanked him or offered a salary for his work.  Upon returning to Jamaica, Higgs' brother died & he couldn't afford the funeral costs, so he confronted Bob about the situation, asking for "anything" he could spare.  Bob offered a $2000 check.  When Higgs went to cash it, he received only $1500.

Joe Higgs

Another instance in which a bandmate felt used was when Lee Jaffe, sometimes referred to as the "white Wailer," wasn't given any credit for his contributions to the Natty Dread album on which he played harmonica on the hit "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)".  He got into a physical altercation with Bob after the industry bigwigs changed the spelling of the album's title from "Knotty Dread" to "Natty Dread," the latter of which had an entirely different meaning.  Jaffe felt the change was unacceptable while Bob didn't want to raise a stink.  They ended up in a shoving match that ended in blows being thrown & not speaking to each other for over a year.  At this point, Jaffe went to join Peter Tosh on his Legalize It album & came to understand why Tosh felt Bob had betrayed him by failing to acknowledge his contributions.  It appeared to be a pattern with him.

Marley with Lee Jaffe

Violence

But Bob's violent side could get even darker.  After being shot in his home in 1976, he tracked down the alleged assassin & had him tortured & killed right in front of him.  (According to the ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff? documentary on Netflix).  He also beat friend & manager Don Taylor bloody with a stick for allegedly stealing from him before firing him.  These situations may be justified as "an eye for an eye" or karmic retribution, but it certainly doesn't jibe with the image of peace & one love we all think of when we see Marley's smiling countenance.  Marley also hired violent enforcers to go around to radio stations & have his music played in Jamaica...or else.

Don Taylor, Marley's manager

Perhaps the worst allegation is from Bob's own wife.  In No Woman, No Cry, Rita Marley claims that Bob raped her one night after she refused to sleep with him.  He'd been cheating on her with numerous women & she wanted no part of any sexual relations with him, but Bob said it was her "duty as his wife" so he forced her as she sobbed in disgust, screaming "I hate you!" after the act.  How ironic that he acknowledges Rita as his wife when he wants something from her, because in interviews he can be clearly heard saying he's NOT married & is entitled to "all the queens".  In her book she also claims that he physically assaulted her at times.  This is unforgivable.

Rita's book.  A must-read.

Then there's the womanizing, which produced upwards of 11 children by nearly as many women...many of which Rita graciously took in as her own to raise during and after Bob's life.  After the assassination attempt (during which Rita was shot in the head), Bob fled to London & left Rita and the kids behind in Jamaica.  He soon started a relationship with Miss World Cindy Breakspeare which made tabloid headlines around the world.  Imagine how Rita must've felt!  Yet like all strong & loyal women in history, she's relegated to a distant second place in the story of Marley's life despite her contributions to raising his talented & well-rounded kids Ziggy, Stephen & Cedella who Bob was rarely around to see.  The kids' take on their father's parenting can be seen in the 2012 documentary "Marley".

Daughter Cedella's segment is perhaps the most interesting.  She recalls not having many friends because locals thought her parents just sat around "smoking weed & playing music" which made for a lonely existence.  And watching her mother's sadness as Bob loved other women was difficult for her too.  His absence in general seems to have affected all his kids; even as he lay dying Cedella tearfully recalls that she wasn't able to "have him to herself" because of all the hangers-on.  Ziggy recalls him being rather cold as a father... not "lovey-dovey" in his words.


The Point?

My intention isn't to slander Marley here.  I've been a fan for years & credit his music with getting me through some tough transitional periods.  But it gets under my skin when ANY human being is deified, their flaws glossed over for the sake of historical brevity or, in this case, mass marketing.  It's highly doubtful whether Marley himself would've approved all the merchandise that came out after his death anyway.

His focus was the music and the message, but even that has been watered down to include only his most palatable hits like those found on the Legend compilation album released after his death.  Marley's music was as much about toppling racism & classism as promoting abstract concepts like peace & love, but somehow fiery songs like "War" & "Rat Race" get put on the back burner in favor of "Three Little Birds" and "One Love / People Get Ready".  This is no accident.  Revolutionary messages are harder to market than feel-good ditties with simple, repetitive hooks.  This is the same machine that's pushing out all this Marley-worshiping memorabilia.

Like all people, Bob was a product of his genes + upbringing.  And his upbringing was traumatic by any measure.  His 60-year-old father impregnated his 15-year-old mother & abandoned them, leaving Bob to grow up without a strong male influence in his life.  He was taunted for his mixed race heritage even by some in his own family, sometimes denied food & forced to sleep on the ground with a stone for a pillow.  The country village where he grew up had no electricity or running water & his home had dirt floors.  His grandfather--the only male role model in his life--had 30 children himself which undoubtedly influenced Bob's womanizing behavior as an adult.

These things aren't excuses for bad behavior but contributing factors to the person Bob became.  Like John Lennon & Jimi Hendrix, both of whom engaged in battering women while preaching peace & love, Bob Marley had a dark side that was as much a part of him as the positive side.  Censoring or downplaying this aspect of his personality is disingenuous at best & hurtful to his surviving family members at worst.  Ironically, Bob himself worshiped a mere mortal in the form of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I who had plenty of flaws himself.  This is how cults begin--attributing divine qualities to regular human beings.

In the end, it was Bob's superstition & distrust of Western medicine (due largely to his Rasta faith) that killed him.  His melanoma was treatable when it was discovered in 1977 but he chose to forego treatment because "Rasta no abide amputation."  He opted instead for a skin graft, telling doctors "I & I don't allow a man to be dismantled.  Haile Selassie I...will heal me wit de meditations of me ganja chalice or take me as a son into his kingdom.  No scalpel shall crease me flesh.  Dem can't kill Rasta.  Rastaman live out."  (from Catch A Fire by Timothy White).  Perhaps most disgusting of all, he had the gall to blame Rita for his cancer, telling his mother that Rita's brief infidelity during his own absence had somehow magically caused the disease.

If infidelity could cause cancer, Rita would've been dead many times over.


______________________________________________________________________________

The Wailers:  Bob, Peter & Bunny

Bob at 16

 

Bob's children

Bob's absent father, Norval Marley

Bob & Rita's wedding

Rita Marley with her bio children

[Review] - Blazin Okie RSO: Papayahuasca (1 gram)

Rick Simpson Oil, known as "RSO" for short, has been touted as everything from a pain reliever to a cancer cure (dubious) in films like Run From the Cure.  I like oral cannabis preparations so I decided to pick some up during my first dispensary trip.  The brand they gave me was Blazin' Okie Farms & the strain is Papayahuasca, which doesn't have an entry on Leafly.com yet but is on Allbud.com.  They describe it as a 60/40 Indica-dominant cross between Headband & Papaya.  Some key terms I'm seeing are "heady high," "tingly euphoria," "hazy dreams" and "couch locked".  Great for migraines too which is right up my alley.  Sounds like an interesting mix of stimulation & sedation and, at 23% THC it's bound to be potent.  Hopefully not too potent for this lightweight.

In true noob fashion, this is my first time using RSO so I'm a bit apprehensive about it.  My plan is to start with a literal toothpick tip dipped in it & see what happens.  (You're supposed to generally start with a 'half-grain of rice' sized dose but even that seems daunting for someone like me who's prone to THC-induced paranoia).  My friend has severe health problems and takes tons of opiates every day.  When she tried RSO, she was able to go the entire day without an opioid for the first time in years.  While anecdotal, it's still impressive.  I personally use opiates (kratom & codeine at the moment) for self-medication/mood regulation & don't see myself stopping, but perhaps this RSO stuff can offer a good night's sleep if nothing else.  

Package label

The cap is very hard to unscrew which is probably a good thing to prevent leakage.  Once open, you can smell the cannabis goodness immediately.  This batch contains 100% THC and 0% CBD (sadly).  Some RSO contains a more even mix of the two, with CBD levels reaching up to 15% depending on the strain & extraction method.  Luckily I have some CBD isolate on hand in case things get too intense.  The total THC content in the syringe is 59%.  

I dosed with a toothpick, squirting the most microscopic amount on the tip & putting it directly in my mouth.  It tastes rancid.  Within minutes I begin to feel a body stone unlike anything I've felt before, though this could be due in part to the kratom I've just guzzled.  But it doesn't feel like my daily kratom dose--there's definitely more of a Jell-O sensation in my body...as if I could slide right off the bed onto the floor in a giant puddle of goo.  I break out another dose the same size to see what happens, this time adding a tiny chunk of CBD isolate to the mix to ensure I don't get TOO high.  

I put on a ridiculous slapstick '80s comedy called Pandemonium & can't stop smiling.  Okay, laughing like a schoolgirl.  I'm definitely feeling stoned from this black goop.  It's amazing how different the highs from various cannabis concentrates & products can be.  The RedBud vape cartridge I puffed all day had zero physical effect & was all soaring & cerebral; this is just the opposite.  The pain I was feeling in my lower half is dissipating; melting away with all my cares & worries.  

Syringe with cap in place

RSO is best as a night-time medicine--particularly for pain relief or as a sleep aid.  If you have anxiety or are suffering stress, this is exactly the product for you.  It's got an opium-like physical relaxation that is unmatched.  My mind is not racing in the slightest despite ingesting stimulants alongside it all day, and I'm prone to THC-induced anxiety/paranoia.  But beware: the high THC content is bound to cause ill effects if you take too much with a low tolerance.  

Overall, I give this product a 4.6 of 5 stars for quality & economical benefit.  Since the required dose is so low I expect it to last me a very long time.  However the taste is godawful & it can get kinda messy if you squirt too much out of the syringe, and I'm not entirely sure how to store it long-term to keep it fresh.  I can't see myself taking it on the go as it's not very convenient to dose.  To learn more about Rick Simpson the man & his intended method of using & producing RSO, check out www.phoenixtears.ca

Papayahuasca flower (photo credit: DOPE Magazine)

[Review] - Solgar: N-Acetylcysteine

Vendor:  vdcusa

Location:  Tampa, FL. USA

Items:  Vitamins, supplements, skin care products.

Review:  4.8 of 5 stars

Website:  eBay.com

I've been ingesting a lot of codeine with acetaminophen lately & thought I'd do something good for my liver, so I ordered some N-acetylcysteine (NAC) from eBay vendor vdcusa.  NAC is the compound administered in the hospital to save people from fatal acetaminophen overdoses & it's been shown to help protect the liver in cases of lower dose/chronic APAP overuse too.  But I've also seen reviews claiming the smell/taste are so bad they can cause vomiting, which will be a deal-breaker.  

Of course I'm doing cold water extraction on the codeine pills when I can, but it's time consuming, messy & indiscreet which means I'm also popping quite a few 500mg APAP pills per day in addition.  Thus the need for additional protective measures.  I discovered after some extensive Google-Fu that 200mg NAC essentially neutralizes the toxic effects of 500mg APAP, which means these 600mg capsules can possibly undo the damage of three of my codeine + APAP tablets (1,500mg).  Disclaimer:  I'm not taking that as hard science or recommending anyone be reckless with their acetaminophen intake...just something to keep in mind.  Liver damage is not something to fuck around with.

Molecular view of NAC

So the NAC itself smells just as awful as expected: like stink bombs made from 3-day old deviled eggs left out in the sun.  The effects for me are thus:  extreme fatigue & mild nausea for the first 45 minutes followed by increased energy & alertness after the tiredness recedes.  I had planned to take this before bed but found it too stimulating--not in the traditional way amphetamines are but it does worsen my insomnia & already-light sleeping.  So now I take it mid-day before my short naps & it works great.  It's been promoted as a supportive therapy for autism, OCD & ADD; all of which I struggle with.  What a cool bonus!  I was just wanting it for the liver protecting effects.

Solgar brand is solid quality & comes in dark glass bottles to preserve the potency/freshness of their supplements.  I previously had their Vitamin D3 & found it more than satisfactory.  Overall, I give this order a 4.8 out of 5 stars for quality & freshness.  Many of the things sold on eBay are expired, so I requested a new bottle & got one marked 10/2020.  Sweet!  Can't really complain about much other than the smell of my farts, which have the aforementioned sulfur egg smell.


Update (12/1/19):  After a month or so of continuous nightly use, I've noticed some side effects with this stuff that I'm pretty sure can be attributed to it.  If I take 2 capsules (1,200mg) instead of one, I wake up with chest tightness & a sort of asthmatic wheezing sensation similar to the onset of bronchitis or the flu.  This stands out because I don't have asthma.  I also got extremely winded while attempting to turn my mattress one day after taking a double-dose of NAC.  From a little Googling I've gleaned that NAC can have airway side effects like wheezing & shortness of breath, which seems counterintuitive since it's touted as a treatment for COPD & cystic fibrosis.  There was a troubling article stating that it can promote lung cancer in rats--another eye-opener.  

Regardless, I'll continue taking NAC nightly as long as I take the codeine with acetaminophen.  My liver enzyme test came back normal, which it almost certainly wouldn't have if not for the NAC.  It helps that I don't drink alcohol I'm sure, but I am taking a lot of Tylenol every day if I'm being honest.  This won't go on forever because I'll eventually run out of the pills.  Will update with any additional side effects or troubling lab results that pop up. 

Update (4/27/2020):  After some research, it appears NAC might have some positive benefit for COVID & similar respiratory diseases.*  Its expectorant effects combined with its inhibition of pro-inflammatory molecules in the lungs could potentially prove useful in mild cases of COVID.  

When I was sick with suspected COVID, I was taking NAC daily at doses of around 1,200-1,800 mg in divided doses.  My symptoms remained in the "mild" category, with the worst of them including shortness of breath & dry coughing spells.  I take NAC to help offset liver damage from acetaminophen in the codeine pills I ingest (which I also took while sick)...who knows how all this affected the course of my illness.  I also take a whoooole lot of other meds & supplements daily so I'm a bit of a guinea pig in this regard.  If you get COVID symptoms, it's best to limit the amount of stuff you're taking as much as possible, but if you DO feel relatively healthy/strong & want to experiment on yourself, NAC would probably be a safe bet at low doses around 600 mg.  

*N-acetylcysteine should not be used without a doctor's supervision due to individual differences in immune response & the vast variance in severity of COVID from one patient to the next.  We still don't fully understand how the virus kills, though we know it does more than just damage the lungs.  COVID can cause blood clots as well as brain, kidney & heart problems, so it's important to not throw too many additional variables into the mix until more is known.        

[Review] - RedBud Extracts: Alaskan Thunderfuck Vape Cartridge

(Since these are reviews of medical marijuana products, I've changed the format a bit.  I won't list the storefront name since most of my followers probably don't live in my state or neck of the woods anyway.  You can find these brands by Googling or searching Leafly.com or Weedmaps.  Many of these brands are available at other dispensaries around the country so you can find them in several states where legal cannabis--recreational or medical--is sold).

My first dispensary trip was a fun one.  I already knew what I wanted to buy before going in after stalking their online menu for weeks.  They didn't have the strain of flower I wanted--Golden Goat--so I skipped the bud & went for a vape cartridge.  With all the scary stuff going on in the media about tainted vapes, I wanted to make sure & get a reliable/safe brand so I did my due diligence before buying.  I went with RedBud Extracts brand, which is cold-filtered & solventless.  It's even said to be "full-spectrum," meaning it's made from cannabis-derived terpenes rather than plant ones.  But I couldn't confirm that with the company themselves via email as they never responded.  Nor would they respond via Instagram when asked about the source of their terpenes.  Bummer.  I take that to mean they're NOT native cannabis terps or else they'd have answered in the affirmative.

Alaskan Thunderfuck is a classic Sativa strain known for its cerebral, euphoric & somewhat slow-onset "creeper" high.  According to Leafly.com, it appears to have been born of a Northern California Sativa + a Russian ruderalis and then crossed with Afghani genes in the 1970's.  ATF flower itself is kinda hard to come by these days, so I figured a vape cart would be the next best thing.

Front of box

The THC content is 93.8% and it's labeled as a "sativa distillate".  I'm really digging the wooden mouthpiece, which is way fancier than the plastic one I was using with the Moon Mix vape cart.  I paid $45.99 plus tax for this half-gram cart, which is pretty high in the scheme of things.  But what's a little more dough for peace of mind?  I'd rather buy a solid brand than something shady that might be cut with carrier oils, solvents or god-knows-what.  And as a light-weight toker, this badboy will last me plenty long enough.

As for the taste & effects: they're magnificent.  It tastes like actual ganja--somewhat minty & fruity--and the cartridge hits very smoothly with no clogging thus far.  (Again, unlike the Moon Mix cart which is badly clogged).  After a couple puffs I'm feeling a combo of mental stimulation & physical relaxation like I do with good weed, so I'd say she's pretty high quality.  The packaging itself is kinda suspect though:  major misspellings ("Consumption of cannabis prodzzucts") on the back and a Made in China insignia on the bottom.  Still, I'm impressed with the taste & effects so I'd definitely buy this product again.

This brand/strain definitely feels more full-spectrum than the Moon Mix cart.  I get the same munchies, body relaxation & comedown drowsiness as I do from whole flower.  The taste is so much more subtle & less fake-tasting than the plain THC distillate carts too.  It's the closest thing to smoking bud that I've found in a vape cartridge.  That said, it's more of a night-time product for me since all weed makes me tired & groggy to a degree.  I prefer the pure THC carts for daytime puffing.  

Connected to 510-threaded battery

Overall, I give RedBud Extracts Alaskan Thunderfuck vape cart a 4.7 out of 5 stars for taste, effects & vape cart quality.  It hits smoothly & gets the job done very quickly & discreetly.  I'd prefer if they specified which kind of terpenes they used & whether this is truly a "full-spectrum" product, but in the end the effects are really what count.  And the effects are very good.  If the price would come down even by $5 my review would be higher.

Am planning to pick up a Sour Diesel, Jackie Girl or Blue Dream cart from RedBud next time I'm out.  Will be sure to let y'all know how it hits. 

[Review] - Phytodabs: CBD Isolate Slab, 1 gram

Vendor:  PhytoFamily
Location:  Tucson, AZ
Items:  CBD concentrates, drops, pet treats.
Rating:  4.3 of 5 stars
Website:  Phytodabs.com

So I know I've reviewed this company at least a couple times before, but not this product.  It's a pretty straightforward item:  99% CBD isolate slabs, which usually come in little thin "sheets" for lack of a better explanation.  They work great in my Yocan Evolve Plus or under the tongue & have no added terpenes or other flavors.  Just a slight bitterness.  The sheets are generally brittle & break easily with the smallest amount of pressure.

This time, my "slab" was more of a "rock" which made it harder to work with.  This is the first time I've seen it come in this format which is a little odd.  And it was hard as a rock too.  Had to use my sharp dabbing tool to chip off smaller pieces which aren't very thin.  Doesn't seem to be anything different about the product itself, though I'm gonna let it "breathe" with the lid off for 24 hours just to be sure they didn't rush these pre-orders out the door or something.  (I know nothing about how these concentrates are made, which solvents are used, etc. so forgive me if I'm being overly cautious).  I paid the sale price of $19.99 + $4.99 for this 1 gram of pure CBD, which is great in this market. 

Broken up a bit

As far as I can tell, the isolate still works the same as its old incarnation.  It has a slight hempy aftertaste but nothing weird or chemical.  I like putting a couple "pebbles" of it under my tongue at bedtime after hitting my Pineapple Express THC vape.  Still melts just as well in my Yocan vape despite the difference in consistency. 

Overall I give this order a 4.3 out of 5 stars for price & effectiveness.  I'd like to see the old "slabs" return in the future if they're gonna continue calling this product by that name; otherwise I have no complaints.  It's still easier to work with than the powdery isolate & you can't beat the price for a gram.  Other CBD vendors need to get on board with Phytodabs' competitive pricing if they want to stay in business.  There are far too many of the same or more diluted items selling for double or even triple the cost of this.  Adding a couple drops of (food-derived/non-cannabis) terpenes shouldn't push the price up to $50/gram either.  Not calling out any names this time, but these vendors know who they are.  If you want to charge that much you need to be testing every batch for pesticides, residual solvents & heavy metals. 

Cannabis Concentrates 101

As a fair-weather pot smoker I had no idea just how many concentrates there are on the market today.  Back in my day we had weed & hash....that's it.  The weed was brown-tinged bricks and you only got hash if your friend went to Amsterdam & had the balls to mail or smuggle some back to you.  Today the list of concentrates & extracts is so long it could make a new medical marijuana patient's head spin.  Mine sure is.

Since getting my medical card I've been researching every form of concentrate in the dispensaries, and this is a very basic rundown of what I've found.  If you're a noob like me you may find it somewhat helpful.  If you're an expert, not so much.  Keep in mind this is the Concentrates & Extracts 101 version so don't expect any new or exciting epiphanies here:


Distillate:  This is the distilled liquid cannabis extract that's used in most vape cartridges & edibles.  It's usually pale to honey-colored & thick in viscosity.  Distillate generally contains mostly THC with a dash of CBD & plant-derived terpenes, which produces an effect different from the actual strain of the flower itself.  Some companies use full-spectrum & cannabis-derived terpenes but they're less common.  Distillate produces an effect that's an approximation of whole cannabis at best, which some users prefer as it's clearer-headed & has less of a drowsy comedown.

Shatter:  This one is exactly what it sounds like:  a glass-like concentrate that "shatters" when pressure is applied.  Sometimes.  It can also be more taffy-like in consistency depending on the THC vs. THCa content.  Either way, shatter is extremely high in THC & should be used with caution by new cannabis heads.  Storing it in the fridge or another cool, dry place is recommended to preserve its brittle texture & avoid a melted mess.

Rosin:  Rosin is a solvent-free extract that's produced when cannabis buds are compressed & heated.  It can be made with a commercial press or even a hair straightener.  It has a gooey consistency somewhat like distillate.  Properly made rosin rivals shatter in its flavor, aroma & terpene-profile.  Since it requires no solvents, rosin can be made safely at home using fully dried/cured cannabis flowers.

Budder/Badder:  These concentrates have a cake batter-like texture & can almost be stirred due to their softness.  They are produced by whipping high-quality cannabis extract under heat.  The difference between the two is a matter of subjective preference & spelling.  They're essentially one & the same.

Live Resin:  This is made by flash freezing the whole plant right after harvest to preserve terpenes, resulting in a more full-bodied experience.  Live resins can range in thickness from saps to jellies & butters or even shatter depending on how they're made.  It's called "live" resin because it smells just like the living cannabis plant.  Resin is slightly weaker than shatter or wax but has a more well-rounded effect due to its complex cannabinoid content.  It's as close to 'full-spectrum' as you can get with concentrates. 

Crumble:  Crumble is a type of wax with a honeycomb consistency that crumbles easily upon handling.  It's the driest extract on the market & is made by whipping the extract under extreme heat.  It generally comes pre-broken into small pieces & ready to vape, smoke or dab.

Crystalline:  This is the purest form of concentrate, consisting only of one cannabinoid such as THCa or CBD.  It contains no plant matter or terpenes & is sometimes referred to as "diamonds" or, in the CBD market, "isolate".  The THCa converts to THC at the time of decarboxylation (heating).


The main difference between all these concentrates is texture & terpene content...not potency or effects.  It's like comparing hard candy to soft candy--both are sweet & will satisfy your sugar craving but they each have a unique look & feel.  Most importantly, all of these options will get you effed up due to their high THC content so proceed with caution if you're used to working with plain flower or haven't smoked in a few years (or decades).


How To Consume

The above isn't a conclusive list of concentrates by any means.  I simply chose to focus on these because they can be vaped with a contraption like my Yocan Evolve Plus (or a cheap 510-threaded battery in the case of distillate).  This is my chosen method of consumption so yeah, I'm biased.  Dabbing is a whole other can of worms that I haven't gotten into so I'll leave that subject to the pros.  Not a huge fan of smoking either now that I know vaping comes with fewer side effects (for me anyway) & is much stealthier.  But everyone's different.  If one method of ingestion doesn't work for you, try another.  Play around with the dose but start low to avoid a freak-out.  Weed's never killed anyone but it has caused some absolutely terrifying panic attacks.

Some more concentrates & tips from Leafly

To vape the concentrates I listed above, simply scoop them up on your dabbing tool & place them on the heating element (coil or donut) of your vape.  Then press the button & inhale.  It's really that simple.  If you're using a vape cartridge full of distillate, you may not need to press a button at all.  The texture of some of them, such as badder & rosin, may be messier to handle than crystalline or shatter but it's definitely doable.  Start with a rice-sized piece of concentrate & work your way up to a pea-sized one if that's not enough.  Just be sure to keep your vape parts clean & replaced as needed to prevent clogging.  Some of these concentrates can really gum up your heating elements over time.  Everclear, distilled water or 90%+ isopropyl alcohol is recommended for cleaning vape parts, but they'll eventually need to be replaced in most cases.  Make sure to burn off the remnants of the alcohol or water before using the vape again so you get a clean hit.

As stated above, some of the concentrates can be smoked on a bowl or joint (crumble) or dabbed (shatter, crumble, rosin) as well as vaped.  Most don't work when ingested as-is, as they require heat to activate the active components.  The stealth-factor will vary depending on how terpene-rich the concentrate is & how hot you let the vape get.  Vaping distillate in a typical cartridge set-up is generally very stealthy while attempting to vape live resin at high temperatures in public might be a mistake due to the smell.  I'm not entirely sure as I haven't experimented with all of these.  Test it out in private at home before venturing out to a cannabis-unfriendly space to be safe. 

Vape cartridges full of distillate

The stealthiest options would be edibles, tinctures, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) & capsules as these can all be ingested orally & leave no scent.  There are also topical & rectal options but I'll let you look into those yourself if you're interested.  They tend to produce fewer psychoactive effects than either vaped, smoked or eaten cannabis but may still provide therapeutic effects.  For all my endometriosis & PCOS sufferers, there are even weed vaginal suppositories that supposedly help with cramps!  I've seen mixed reviews on those, so it might be better to stick with other less messy routes.       

Rick Simpson Oil ("RSO") - Usually comes in a syringe

I think that about covers it!  Anything I left out?  What's your favorite method of cannabis consumption & why?  I value stealth, lack of side effects like sedation & safety above all else.  It can be a balancing act finding a strain & product that is neither too paranoia/anxiety-inducing nor too drowsy.  That's my biggest challenge.  Any tips appreciated.  😎

A Guide to Sober Life

So you're ready to give up drugs...all of them, including the socially acceptable ones like booze.  Good for you.  That's a big decision.  I'm serious.  If you're one of the millions who has a true addiction--not just a pattern of binging on drugs or physical dependence but a deep psychological addiction & inability to moderate your use--quitting will be the best decision you ever made.  And also one of the hardest.  Actually, quitting isn't hard...it's staying sober that's tricky.  But being an addict is hard too.  As they say, you gotta pick your "hard."

As with any gargantuan task, getting clean must be broken down into short- and long-term steps & goals.  In the first "phase," you will be experiencing physical withdrawal & getting triggered to use everywhere you turn.  Nothing will feel fulfilling & you'll fear life will always feel this way.  (It won't).  In Phase 2, you'll feel physically better & the obsessing will have faded a bit.  But you'll realize unpleasant emotions like boredom & anxiety are an unavoidable part of life & will have to develop healthy coping skills to deal with them.  Most people need help with this part.  It's this 2nd phase that really makes or breaks a person's long-term chances of staying healthy.  Read on to find out how.


Phase One:  Acute (Short-Term) Success

Tips for acute/early sobriety

Stay Busy.  During the acute phase of quitting & withdrawal, you'll be focused on physical comfort & distracting your mind from the desire to use.  This is actually the easy part.  Once the physical withdrawals have passed & you feel up to it, immediately get back to work or volunteering, engaging in healthy hobbies or other things to keep busy.  "Idle hands are the devil's workshop" was a favorite saying of my grandma's, and it's especially true for addicts.

Can't think of anything to make the time pass?  Regardless of where you live, you can always:  exercise vigorously, read or watch something funny, masturbate, write in a journal, do artwork, meditate, prepare & eat a healthy meal or sit somewhere & watch people or cars go by.  These things won't feel very exciting at all right now; that's not the point.  Do them anyway.  Go through the motions & keep your attention occupied during these early weeks of sobriety so you can make it to Phase 2.  Keep your mind & body active unless you're asleep.  This will improve your chances of avoiding slip-ups early on.

Clean House.  Literally & figuratively.  Use your nervous energy to do some physical cleaning of your living space.  Ideally, you'd be able to move to an entire new home or city to start over, but if that's not feasible simply rearranging your furniture & redecorating can make things feel new.  Treat quitting drugs like a breakup:  throw out all the music you listened to while high.  Delete your accounts on drug forums; erase your dealer's number & get a whole new phone if your old one is full of druggie friends.  Do everything you can to identify & purge old triggers from your environment to reduce temptation.

Cleaning house also involves cutting contact with the people who supported you in your addiction & self-destruction...even if they were family or friends.  Anyone who's toxic or makes you feel shitty is a risk to your safety right now, so avoid them at all costs.  Tell everyone you're making some changes & need some time to yourself.  If they care about you at all they'll respect this request & support you however they can. 


Phase Two:  Chronic (Long-Term) Success

Seriously, go to therapy.

By now a few months will have passed & you'll be feeling more clear-headed & confident in your sobriety.  But for many addicts, there is a lingering feeling that something is missing... they don't feel quite "right" mentally or emotionally.  This can last months or even years in rare cases.  But it DOES get better the longer you're sober.  However, time doesn't heal all wounds.  Time + work is required to truly achieve sobriety rather than just being a "dry druggie" or drunk.

Find a professional (therapist, counselor, etc).  For the 2nd & most vital step, you'll ideally need a therapist, counselor, caseworker or sobriety coach to truly benefit.  If you can't afford that at the moment, that's okay.  But make it a priority as soon as you're able.  This is the long-term aspect that will ultimately determine whether you're able to not only stay clean but be successful in other ways, so you want to do it right.  To do that you'll need to gain healthy coping skills while changing your thought patterns & learning to set healthy boundaries with people.  Nobody can magically develop these skills all alone.  (Let me just take a minute to plug my therapist:  she's trained in CBT & is a miracle worker.  And she works at a sliding-scale state funded clinic where I pay $0 to attend & get my meds.  I've tried every psych med on the market practically & can honestly say that working with a good therapist is more effective than any single one of them.  With her help I've tackled situations I never thought possible before).  If you don't mesh with your first therapist, try another.  And another.

You can find a million & one reasons to avoid therapy but once you start you'll wonder why you waited so long.  With the advent of telemedicine & other forms of technology, it's never been more convenient to talk to a professional.  GO. 

Help Yourself.  If you can't get to a clinic right away you can always check out a self-help book on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or watch a TED Talk on addiction in the meantime (for instance).  However, the most vital thing is being able to vent your feelings, fears & darkest thoughts somewhere confidential like a journal.  Many harsh emotions & memories will come up during the detox/quitting process...let the journal serve as your sounding board.  These feelings must have an outlet.  Practice taking deep, calming breaths when you're feeling tense & take a physical time-out if necessary.  If you're anything like me you're scoffing at these "simple" fixes but they can really help slow down your parasympathetic nervous system when you're feeling frustrated or scared.  It's not a complete solution but it's a small step that helps. 

Whatever your path to sobriety, whether it's through a substitution program like methadone/Suboxone, a 12-step program, going it alone or a fancy retreat like Lindsay Lohan would attend, all addicts face the same stumbling blocks.  Loneliness, boredom, anger, depression, social anxiety & negative self-talk/traumatic memories are common triggers to relapse.  Which is often a part of recovery, by the way.  Just as someone who's dieting will sometimes slip up & take in too much, so will an addict on their path to sobriety.  Don't use it as an excuse to give up.  You've come so far & deserve to see this through.  You already know what the other path leads to.


Imagining a New Life

Any questions?

So what does life even look like without drugs as a constant companion?  There was a time in your life before you ever tried a substance, even if it was way back in childhood.  Try to recall it.  If that time was unpleasant it doesn't have to be that way now.  You can carve out a whole new path with healthy lifestyle choices & good habits.  The thing about childhood is we have no control over much of anything; as adults, we have the ability to kick toxic people out of our lives, to spend our free time as we wish, befriend anyone we want & so forth.  Freedom of choice is an awesome gift AND a huge responsibility.  It can be used or abused. 

I divide life up into 4 major categories:  1.) Emotional Health 2.) Hobbies, 3.) Physical Health/Work & 4.) Social Life.  Giving each of these attention as needed guarantees a healthy balance.  Be careful who you allow into your social circle, where you go & what you do.  Learn to manage your finances wisely.  Take care of your mental & physical health by getting regular checkups & getting enough healthy food, sleep & exercise.  Figure out what you're passionate about & go after it with your whole being.  A healthy life is all about balancing work & relaxation/recreation...solitude & socializing.  Self-care & helping others.  Remember that you're working for the delayed reward of continued health & happiness rather than the instant rush of a drug high.  That part can be challenging at first.  If you find yourself really craving that adrenaline rush in your life, you might enjoy a hobby like hang gliding, rafting, martial arts or surfing.

The possibilities for a happy, successful sober life really are endless.  If you can imagine it, you can create it.  Success is defined by YOU, by the way.  If acquiring a lot of wealth & all its trappings makes you feel fulfilled, go for it.  If you'd be happier living a minimalist life of traveling & service to others, that's awesome too.  There are no wrong answers.   The important thing is to make sure not to let anyone else define success for you.  If you don't truly want the thing you're working for, you're not as likely to succeed or feel fulfilled when you do.  Neither your parents, friends nor partner can make this decision for you.