 When it comes to choosing a cannabis strain, many people focus on the THC content to determine the high they will experience. However, the terpenes in a strain can play an even more significant role in whether it has indica or sativa effects. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that are found in many plants, including cannabis. They are responsible for the plant's distinct aroma and can also have various effects on the body when consumed. Cannabis strains contain different combinations and concentrations of terpenes, which can significantly impact the overall experience. Indica strains are generally known for their relaxing and sedative effects, while sativa strains are associated with more energizing and uplifting effects. However, research suggests that terpenes play a more significant role in these effects than the THC content. For example, the terpene myrcene, which is commonly found in indica strains, has sedative effects and can help to relax the body. Limonene, on the other hand, is a terpene that is found in many sativa strains and has energizing effects. Pinene, which is found in both indica and sativa strains, can have a stimulating effect on the mind.  Other terpenes, such as linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and terpinolene, can also influence the overall effects of a strain. Understanding the different terpenes and their effects can help consumers choose a strain that will provide the desired effects.
In conclusion, while THC content is undoubtedly essential when choosing a cannabis strain, terpenes play an equally significant role in determining whether a strain has indica or sativa effects. By considering the terpene profile of a strain, consumers can make a more informed decision about the experience they can expect.  An announcement has been made today by the Government of Canada discussing the launch of a new legislative review of the current Cannabis Act in Canada. Since the Cannabis Act was introduced by Canadian Parliament in 2017, there have been many challenges faced by consumers and businesses alike. One of the common complaints from the public and industry has been the 10mg limit on THC content in cannabis edibles and beverages. It is sad to still see the stigmatization of cannabis in Canadian cannabis regulations when compared to the regulation of alcohol consumption. For example, adult Canadians can purchase alcohol legally from stores with no limit on how much they can purchase, with no need to show ID (unless suspected as underage), with no restrictions on packaging design and can even purchase their alcohol with their kids present. None of these privileges are available to the cannabis consumer, despite cannabis being far less dangerous than alcohol and even used as a medicine by many. As you can see from just these points, the Cannabis Act could do with a few revisions. Let's hope this Cannabis Act review brings some positive changes. For more information visit www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2022/09/government-of-canada-launches-legislative-review-of-the-cannabis-act.html
 The Jamaican beef patty is a staple street food snack in Toronto, introduced to Canada during the migration of Jamaican and Caribbean peoples in the 1960's and 70's. Originally based on the Cornish pasty from United Kingdom, the Jamaican beef patty uses different seasonings transforming it into the spicy and infamous snack it has now become. So popular in Toronto, in fact, that you can grab one at practically every subway station downtown. But with Jamaican patties available all around the city, the everlong debate continues... Who makes the best Jamaican patty in the city? As a long time stoner and die-hard foodie, being on the hunt for new eats and tasty munchies around the city is a weekly tradition, and trying a patty or two along the journey is an activity that is simply unavoidable. Coming from Gibraltar I had never seen a Jamaican patty until I was studying and living in Toronto, but over the last 20 years it has become a part of my Canadian culture as much as maple syrup and poutine. And if one likes patties, wherever you go, one must try the patty sandwich supreme, where your patty is sandwiched in between sweet coco bread with spicy jerk chicken and creamy coleslaw! There is nothing like it! There are three key factors that make the best patty... the pastry, the filling and the flavour. The pastry should be light, flakey, buttery and slightly crunchy. The filling should be a substantial amount and of high quality ingredients. The flavour should be savoury and spicy, with the distinct taste of scotch bonnet peppers. How long it's been heated in the toaster oven also makes a big difference, which most places seem to ignore.. Not baked enough means a floppy, soft patty. Heated for too long gives you a dry, crusty solid patty. Just like in the story of Goldilocks, it has to be just right. I've done the leg work (or mouth work!) and tried patties from almost every corner of the city, so to steer you in the right direction I'll give you my recommendations for the top 3 in Toronto:
Ora Murphy is a writer and artist based in Los Angeles, USA, and has published several books and pieces of art. Recently, one of her projects has been scribing and painting Hebrew letters in her own unique and Mandala-like style and decided to release the letters as a colouring book children and adults could purchase to view her work and colour their own versions. Ora approached us for a consultation and provided specific instructions to create a design for her title "Ora's Happy Hebrew Tangles" that she could use, design a book cover that reflected her unique style, and laying out the book for different methods of production. All we received were scanned images of all her letters which we retouched and cleaned up digitally. We also had to create black and white versions of her coloured letters. While designing the book cover, we used some of her artistic borders she illustrated as elements for the design. We had to create two different book layouts for the publication as one would be printed in colour by an independent printer, while the other format was to be black and white and for sale through Amazon's print-on-demand service (which had its own specific submission requirements). We were stoked when we received photos of the first batch of books that were sent from their printer. The books looked great, inside and out! Want to learn more about Ora Murphy? Visit www.AuraByOra.com .       EverLush Company is a Toronto-based business that specializes in natural food supplements, with their staple product being natural sea moss. After recently expanding their distribution channels by getting their products on Amazon, they seeked our help in sprucing up their logo and package design. At the time, they had not finalized their logo brand design and were using plain pouches for their products that they would label with stickers. After our free consultation, we got to learn more about EverLush who wanted to create custom pouches for their sea moss products and create a final logo they could use consistently going forward. We realized that by entering the Amazon marketplace, their competition would be high and would need to ensure that their brand and packages stood out amongst the rest. We began by providing various logo concepts that were based on the sample designs they were playing with. Once a logo was finalized, we looked at various packages and designs as examples and started playing with different layouts and mockups for their packages that we suggested. We also helped them with ideas on how they could add any Best Before date information on each package efficiently. We requested custom package templates from the printer which we used to layout our designs. EverLush were very happy with our work and got their packages manufactured immediately. We were very happy with how the results came out, and we can proudly say that their sea moss packaging is far better than any of their competitors. Want to learn more about EverLush? Visit www.EverlushCompany.com
           I recently had the privilege to review the Karma Cup Judges Kit for the team at Skunk Magazine, which was filled with tons of great smokeables and edibles from producers all around the country. As a seasoned smoker, I've come across quite a few cool cannabis creations in my time, but there definitely were quite a few things in the kit that surprised me and left an impression. An unforgettable chocolate by Tribal Delights was one of them, and it will forever be etched in my mind as one of the prettiest and tastiest chocolates I've ever had the opportunity to try, infused or not! Tribal Delights is a British Columbia based edible company, specializing in handcrafted, artisan chocolates and gummies. Unlike many edible makers today that infuse their food with THC distillate, Tribal Delights infuse their edibles with traditional methods, medicating their chocolates with infused coconut butter, and their gummies with cannabis tincture. They have 3 main products:  Their Rainbow Delight is a heavy-hitting, large-sized gummy coin. It's made of three gummy layers, with the top layer forming a beautiful green marijuana leaf. Colourful, pretty, and heavy, this dense gummy takes a few bites to finish, and it's a good thing too! Coming in three large doses, you won't want to eat the whole thing at once like I did! Instead of a nice hazy afternoon, I was left pleasantly groggy and unproductive after a couple hours.  Their other fine edible in their product line is their Karma Cup-winning Thunder Bar which comes in 150/300/450mg doses in white, dark, and milk chocolate, Following the tribal theme and the artistic vibe, these chocolate bars have custom moulds, reminiscent of native totem poles adorned with cannabis leaves. Packaged by hand in different coloured foil wrapping for each kind of chocolate, the bars are labelled with nicely designed sleeves. But what really impressed me were the chocolates' simple and natural ingredients, using nothing but cacao butter, infused coconut butter and honey. This is refreshing to see when so many edibles out there are ladened with many colourings, preservatives and artificial ingredients.  Saving my favourite for last, are their incredible Spirit Squares. This was the edible that I felt really stood out amongst all others in the Karma Cup Judges Kit. I was truly impressed to see what lied beneath the foil wrapping when I opened it up for the first time. A cute chocolate tile, made with dark chocolate, topped with a layer of white chocolate with a two-tone picture printed on it! Each tile has a different tribal picture on it, from abstract designs, to native toques and turqoise marijuana leaves, appearing more like luxury, commercial-grade chocolates than common artisan handcrafted edibles. These squares are so pretty in fact, you almost feel bad eating them! But, once they melt in your mouth, that won't matter. The blend of white chocolate and dark chocolate have a really smooth and rich flavour, hiding the cannabis taste very well despite these small tiles having a dose of 100mgs and 150mgs of THC! Coming in boxes of four, it's a perfect edible to share and surprise friends with or give as an elegant gift to someone very deserving. Although a relative newcomer to the cannabis edible industry, with products like these and a Karma Cup under their belt, you know they mean business! Check out their online store on TribalDelights.ca and make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@tribaldelights) where they often post special promotions and giveaways. Appearance/Packaging: 7/10 Smell/Texture/Taste: 9/10 Effects: 10/10 Final Score: 8/10 For further information, contact https://www.facebook.com/TribalDelightsTreats/
 AS WE ALL KNOW, the medicinal and recreational cannabis industry is one that is fast developing across the whole world, with Canada aiming for recreational legalization later in 2018. Anyone doing a little bit of research will see that while cannabis access has improved over the last decade in Canada through the Government medical licensing programs or with upcoming legalization for recreational use, the Government have always made every attempt to control its production, distribution and profits, continually arresting individuals and raiding dispensaries across the country. Despite BC having an effective private dispensary model, Provinces are now in talks of setting up a whole new standard for distribution where the Government and liquor boards can get the pieces of the pie. A membership driven cooperative, the National lndigenous Medical Cannabis Association (NIMCA) is a non-profit corporation developed by lndigenous peoples, for lndigenous peoples. Established in January 2017, NIMCA’s purpose is to educate, promote, advocate and defend the interests and rights of lndigenous people, communities and businesses involved or wishing to be involved in the cannabis industry throughout Canada and its Treaty territories. NIMCA also represents a growing network of cannabis and hemp growers and farmers, hemp processors and manufacturers, dispensary owners and other cannabis industry related operations, with 21 businesses currently on board. Now, as the U.N. Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples states, Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flor oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. Arguably, there is more traditional and historical knowledge and use of the hemp and cannabis plant within Indigenous or First Nation communities than in common colonial society, and given the increasing value of hemp and cannabis in the current emerging global market, it is of utmost importance we protect not only what is a vital part of our cultural history, but a highly valuable asset that can allow our communities to thrive in this booming economy, while potentially strengthening our negotiating power when dealing with Government. But as Natives know all too well (in any country), many of our rights and resources get unfairly taken away from us by those ultimately in positions of power. Currently, each Province is setting their own regulations for the legalization of recreational cannabis, and when looking at current regulations for medicinal cannabis production and distribution, or even proposed regulations within a recreational context, one thing is for certain… very few privileges are being given to the private market, with strict regulations and extremely high penalties for infractions. NIMCA has a vision to standardize the legal cannabis industry within Indigenous cannabis communities not only in philosophy and education, but in true practice with a safe and fully traceable production and distribution model that is up to Government standard (and higher!). In doing so, it offers the Government no reason to interfere. Instead, NIMCA plans to develop a model so effective, it allows for lucrative business relationships to be developed between the Indigenous people and Canada, as well as with the global cannabis market. NIMCA currently boasts a facility that rivals those of current Canadian cannabis Licensed Producers and makes every effort to follow all their proposed facility, security and production procedures. In accordance with their vision to create a fully traceable system for their community, NIMCA works with only a select few designated medical cannabis growers and own a commercial facility that offers every service under one roof that any cannabis-related business could ever possibly need. In an effort to ensure Government standards or higher, the facility was set up following similar guidelines set out by the Canadian government for legal Licensed Producers, while also creating departments for quality concentrate production, edible production, and even on-site testing. With access to these services, NIMCA offers Indigenous communities the ability to create a standardized and safe cannabis industry to thrive in and self-regulate. Their facility is already prepared for the expansion of cannabis access options for the public and houses a food-grade kitchen for creating commercial-grade quality edibles, a cannabis extraction department capable of making several kinds of concentrates, an inventory warehouse for smoking accessories and apparel, a packaging department with professional grade packaging and labeling equipment, a highly secure vault for safe cannabis storage, on-site security and surveillance, and even a fully equipped lab department capable of doing on-site batch testing of products! NIMCA also plans to develop a cooperative growing project allowing the cultivation of cannabis and hemp plants in one secure and regulated location in order to further ensure traceability and standardization across all Indigenous cannabis businesses, keeping the industry out of the hands of criminals and the black market. With NIMCA’s model, any cannabis business that is part of the organization will be able to provide records that track every product from seed to sale, which will support a thriving and protected Indigenous cannabis market, and using this healing plant to restore, revitalize and heal native communities across Canada by securing their place within the emerging cannabis market.
 Hello fellow tokers, Have you ever heard of kief? It's that dusty stuff that collects at the bottom of your weed grinder that most people tend to ignore or throw out when that grinder starts getting stuck. To be more specific, "kief" is made up mostly of the broken trichomes and plant debris that fall off the cannabis buds and leaves, which some could call the first ever solventless concentrate of cannabis! The technical term is called, "Dry-sift extraction".  "Trichomes" are the tiny, sticky stalks or "crystals" on your cannabis buds and leaves that contain a high amount of THC (the cannabis compound responsible for the psychoactive high), and it's this fine powder that infamous Moroccan hashish is made with, using a process of beating the buds over a tightly bound screen. So no, do not throw out that powder that collects on the edges of your grinder!  What many cannabis smokers don't know is that kief not only comes from buds, but also from leftover stems and shake that many would otherwise throw away, and there are some easier methods to collect it aside from using your grinder. In this article, we're going to show you how you can still make good use of your stems and leftover shake, and the many things you can do with your kief!  Many years ago, I came across a cannabis accessory called the "Pollen Shaker", and it's probably one of the most valued cannabis accessories I have ever owned. It's lasted me so many years, it's fool-proof to use and it's blessed me with the opportunity to toke when there were days I had no cannabis left at all. The "Pollen Shaker" is essentially a handheld aluminium or PVC tube that can be opened from both ends and has a fine screen built-in halfway inside. Used as a handheld kief shaker, one can put their ground up buds, trim and shake into one end, freeze the tube for 20minutes (rendering the trichomes on the cannabis brittle and easily breakable), and with a good 5 minute shake produce a sizeable mound of powdery kief on the other side. This process can be repeated a couple times until you notice that the powder becomes more green in colour as more plant material (and less trichomes) starts passing through the fine screen mesh. This not only makes your kief less potent and pure, but the flavour also becomes far more plant-like when smoked.  There are quite a few kief-makers on the market that typically tend to be more tray-like in fashion, making them too bulky to freeze in a common freezer and makes it difficult to efficiently shake the kief from the cannabis. The "Pollen Shaker" on the other hand, can be shaken vigorously and is far more efficient as a kief separator than the alternatives. The amazing thing is that we often underestimate how much kief we can actually produce from the weed stems we would typically throw away! Start collecting your stems, and after a few joints, you could have enough stems to collect a gram of high quality kief! Now, did I mention that Kief can sometimes be as high as 60% in THC? Not bad for some stems and leafy shake! So what can we do with this kief? Well, there are a number of ways we can make use of this powdery gold:
When I was once a budtender, I was fortunate enough to keep all the stems and floor buds (yes, buds that fell on the floor, lol) at the end of every day. After accumulating bags of the stuff over a few months, I collected enough kief to fill my largest tupperware tub in my home. I would bong this with a few flakes of weed (to help it burn) and essentially toked free for almost a year! So now that you know a little more about kief, what are you going to do with it?
 Stoney Creek Oils is hosting this awesome giveaway to promote Midtown Express Delivery in Toronto where you can win ECHO THC and CBD gummies, Dragon Elixir Breathe, Stoney Creek Oils cannabis-infused olive oil, Weedmaps swag, and some cannabis accessories when you enter! For your chance to win:
(Winner must be Canadian resident of adult age. Contest ends June 30 2020.)  The Baked Shop is a craft cannabis edible company located in Toronto that specializes in small-batch, gluten-free edibles available online in Canada for mail order. We met The Baked Shop team at a networking event in the Toronto Yongesterdam Lounge and were fortunate enough to go home with a few of their edibles in hand! Thanks guys! The Baked Shop has a full menu of dessert items to choose from, all ranging in different doses of THC distillate, and today we are reviewing their "Sucka-Dees" gummies, their "Brownie Bite" and their Cookies & Creme Rice Crispy Square. The Baked Shop use lab tested THC distillate in their edible creations, ensuring accurate dosing and no cannabis flavour to interfere with the flavour of the edibles.
Summary
I really enjoyed having these Baked Shop treats, but the Sucka-Dees were by far my favourite. Many edibles in the legacy market (and even the legal market!) are often made with cheap and artificial ingredients, so it's nice to see that The Baked Shop make all their desserts gluten-free and with quality-sourced ingredients. What I also appreciated was the detailed labeling that not only listed all ingredients, but nutritional information as well. You'll be surprised how many legacy market edibles out there don't list either. Accessing The Baked Shop The Baked Shop can be purchased and ordered online on www.thebakedshop.co or on the online mail order site www.westcoastsupply.ca. They can also be found on instagram @the_baked_shop. Appearance/Packaging: 7/10 Smell/Texture/Taste: 8/10 Effects: 7/10 Final Score: 7/10 Woohoo! Our first music video is out and it was made for all the marijuana lovers out there!
This entire song is constructed of only sounds from cannabis-related sources and all the song lyrics were written strictly using references to cannabis and marijuana! So spark one up, enjoy and see how many weed references you can pick up on! Produced by SpitShine for Highlifemedia.ca. Written and performed by SpitShine. All rights reserved. ©2020. DOWNLOAD THE SONG: https://music.cognitionstudios.net/track/blue-dreamin  I've been a fan of Cannabiscotti for a number of years now. There's not many infused biscottis to begin with so they are quite unique, but aside from these biscottis being tasty, potent, and packaged well, they're so amazingly consistent. Something very important when it comes to edibles. What I love about Cannabiscotti too is that aside from their typical menu, they're always trying out new flavoured biscottis of which many are made custom for holidays throughout the year! This time, I was fortunate enough to try their limited edition Nawty Neopolitan Gelato flavour, which just like Neopolitan ice cream, came as a striped biscotti with strawberry, vanilla and chocolate all in one bar!  I opened the packet and surprisingly, it smelled just like the ice cream which really brought me back! Unlike their other biscottis, this one is even more suited to a cannabis user with a lower tolerance as they can enjoy multiple flavours without having to open more than one biscotti package (and maybe regret it!). This biscotti is labelled as having 50 mg of THC from a full bud infusion using the Chem Dawg strain. So now, the only decision I had to make was which side I was going to start with! The chocolate section tasted like the classic chocolate Cannabiscotti flavour I typically adore. The vanilla tasted heavenly. And for someone who doesn't typically like strawberry flavoured things, I found the strawberry section flavourful and very similar to how strawberry ice cream would taste. The biscotti was rich in flavour, buttery, crunchy and not too sweet. So tasty in fact, one must be careful not to munch on too much at a time!!  I've been smoking cannabis daily for many years, but I ended up eating this biscotti after a short 2-day tolerance break. My edible tolerance is usually very high, and it wouldn't lower too significantly in just two days, but wow did this biscotti pack a punch. Within 1.5 hours, my thoughts began to scatter and I knew it was kicking in. I started to feel relaxed and became quite distracted from the work I was doing at the time. I then became engrossed in another project I had no intention of starting that night which I ended up almost completing in no time! By the 2 hour mark, I was already feeling the full effects of the Nawty Neopolitan Gelato, and nawty it was indeed. Usually I can have 50mg THC edibles without feeling any significant effect. Mind you, most of these edibles are using a THC distillate. Cannabiscotti on the other hand, use a full-bud extraction which results in producing a wide spectrum of cannabinoids (not just THC) which work synergistically to create a much stronger and more natural 'high', also resulting in far more health benefits. You can say I was floating and didn't have a care in the world. By then, I was no longer interested in my work and I blissfully melted in front of the TV with some munchies in hand.  So, if you're not a regular cannabis user, I would definitely recommend starting with just one flavour section (a third) and see how the effects play out over an hour or two. Otherwise, you may have to alter your evening plans, because I definitely had to!
Cannabiscotti does it again! Want to learn more about Cannabiscotti? Visit www.cannabiscotti.ca. Appearance/Packaging: 9/10 Smell/Texture/Taste: 10/10 Effects: 10/10 Score: 10/10  Products By Sec are a Vancouver based boutique infused cannabis edible company, specializing in artisan and handcrafted gummies with varying doses of lab-tested, solvent-free THC distillate. They even offer a useful “How To Find The Perfect Edible Treat” flowchart, and a “Cannabis Consumption FAQ” section on their website to educate and reinforce safe consumption for their customers. After coming across their beautiful gummies on instagram, I had to get in touch to express my praises and they were kind enough to send me two samples of every single kind of their edibles! With 6 kinds of gummies in their product line, I was in for a treat and had to make sure I rationed these out responsibly! As a graphic designer, I also have to say how much I love their labelling and their colourful designs, with each pack using different colour combinations in their logo and label design, with clear ingredient, warning, and dosing information. It's these finer touches that truly make products stand out above the rest.  Butterfly High with one in each pack it was this gummy that first caught my attention on instagram, not only for their size and tie-dye like combination of colours, but because each gummy is individually made by hand, making each one completely unique with its own pattern of colours. So beautiful in fact, I didnt know they were edible at first! I also love how they use the butterfly for emphasis in their marketing with their description of this goody, stating "experience the butterfly effect" which I believe I did with this heavy-hitter! You can say it floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee! Being a regular cannabis smoker and edible eater, my tolerance is high to say the least, so given that this was their strongest gummy in their line, I made sure to have this gummy first on an empty stomach early in the day. This made sure nothing interfered with its effects. It's texture was great. Not too soft or chewy with a sweet sherbert-like flavour. Effects slowly crept in after around an hour with effects peaking on the 2-hour mark. Infused with THC, the gummy gave me some body buzz and left me feeling quite hazy, with a strong cerebral high. I was very satisfied with the strength of the "high" so I would warn anyone inexperienced with edibles to try these with caution!  Lucky Dice With two in each pack, these 150mg THC dosed dice are cutely shaped like a large white and red dice. Perfect for any 420-friendly parties! The white is banana-flavour and the red reminded me of a strawberry jello. Being a gummy block, these are thick and chewy and I really enjoyed biting into these bad boys. Given my experience with the Butterfly High, I had a feeling I was in luck with these dice! With 150mg of THC in each, they are certainly not for the novice edible eater. I had planned to dedicate a whole afternoon to trying the Butterfly High and Lucky Dice gummies, so being brave, I had these around 3 hours after I ate the Butterfly High. This ensured that by the time my first gummy was beginning to wear off, the dice would prolong the effects and carry them into the late afternoon. I find the dice peaked at the 2-hour mark, consistent with the Butterfly High and my plan was quite the success. Any body buzz I didnt feel prior, was now quite present, putting me in a noticeable couch lock and watching TV like someone hypnotized for quite some time. The second time I tried these lucky dice it was on a day when I was sick with a cold and didn't want to smoke, so I decided to have them both in one sitting. It wasn't long before my eyes were feeling incredibly warm and heavy, and the two gummies combined made me feel almost comatosed during their peak. Not for the novice user indeed, and even those with a high tolerance should not gamble with these dice!  Hidden Gems These dense, gorgeous gummies are multi-coloured, gem-shaped and dosed at 100mg of THC in each. With two in each pack, there's always a backup if you find you're brave enough for the second. You can definitely say these precious stones will get you stoned. It's great to see that Sec make a real effort in creating a variety of unique molds and colour combinations to keep all their gummies interesting, and these gems certainly continue that trend. Given the shape of these gummies, I loved how dense and solid these were, making them very chewy and fun to bite on. They tasted sweet and had a blue raspberry flavour that was tasty and consistent with any commercial candies one would find in a regular store.  Happy Hour These cute gummies are quite large and shaped like 3D cocktail drinks, even complimented with their own shaped gummy ice cubes or fruit slices on the rim! A perfect replacement for an alcoholic cocktail, these gummies are large and sold as single gummies dosed at 50mg of thc. Perfect as a starter to your Saturday night out! The first one I tried looked like an orange cocktail with its own orange slice on the rim and tasted just like an orange popsicle. Sweet and tangy, and ever so chewy given its thick 3D mold. The second one I tried was their "Old Fashioned", looking like a glass of brandy or rum with ice and the moment I opened the bag I could smell it too! I took a bite... Wow! Was this rum and coke I was tasting?! Amazing! A nice change from your typical cola bottle gummies and very innovative indeed. Definitely more appealing to the adult alcohol fans that you might be trying to bring to the green side! Given that I had two of these bad boys, I definitely didn't need a drink and just like their colourful butterfly counterparts, these gummies are individually handmade and come in varying colours!  Fruit Salad With 4 in a pack, these bite-size fruit-shaped gummies are the lightest dosed in the SEC line at 10mg of THC in each piece. Great for edible novices and people on the go, with each pack containing a lemon, a banana, a grape and a cherry flavour gummy, all shaped like cute, miniature fruit! These tasted great and were a nice snack while I was working, and given the lower dosage these ones gave me a light, functional buzz.  BC Pineapples
Don't be fooled by these adorable, tiny, golden pineapples! It's not often you come across pineapple flavoured gummies, let alone pineapple-shaped ones so I was eager to munch on these. More for the average cannabis user, these pineapples are moderately dosed at 50mg ofTHC. Given my high tolerance, I decided to bravely munch on both of these in one sitting and went on with my afternoon. I like that they didn't taste too sweet and tasted similar to a pina colada. To be honest, I had completely forgotten I ate these pineapples until almost two hours later when in the midst of my work, my mind became increasingly fuzzy, my ass felt heavier, and my spelling mistakes became more frequent! It was only then that I remembered I had eaten them earlier! I take that as a great sign, and to be honest they hit me much harder than I expected. I became far more ineterested in the music I was listening to than in the work I was supposed to be doing! I had smoked and dabbed earlier in the day too, so I was pleasently surprised at how effective these BC Pineapples were. I am ever so grateful and have to thank you SEC! As a person with a very high tolerance, it's not often edibles make me feel this good! Packaging: 9/10 Visual Appeal: 10/10 Taste/Texture: 9/10 Effects: 9/10 Overall: 9/10 If anyone is looking to find these gummy goodies, they can learn more and seeing their retailers by visiting www.ProductsBySec.com and feel free to reach out by emailing info@ProductsBySec.com. You can also find them on instagram at @productsbysec.  Dog Pound Concentrates - Northern Lights Shatter Overview Dog Pound Concentrates is a Toronto craft-cannabis extraction company specializing in several strains of high quality shatter. They officially launched in 2017 but have several years of cannabis extraction experience, even working with Marc Emery and companies such as Cannabis Culture. Dog Pound Concentrates offer shatter, budder, THC distillate and CBD isolate in their product line, and with a recent brand redesign by the infamous cannabis character illustrator, Beck, they've come out in 2018 stronger than ever. Unique to Dog Pound Concentrates Being a craft-cannabis extraction company, Dog Pound Concentrates is able to focus highly on the quality of the end-product before reaching shelves, producing highly potent, clean concentrates for cannabis users. Given their craft production, strain selections are always fresh and new making every customer purchase feel somewhat rare and special. What I also like are their package labels, showing a summarized profile of the strain and its effects, similar to that of Leafly. Being a smaller company, Dog Pound Concentrates is also able to personally assist and tend to vendors and even customers, ensuring quality control and customer satisfaction from production all the way through to the end-sale.  Smell, Appearance, Texture and Taste Upon opening the package, my nose was hit with light floral terpenes wafting from the parchment paper that encased big chunks of gold goodness. No detection of any solvent smell. The shatter I am used to is often a very thin piece on parchment paper, but these pieces of shatter were thick and chunky. Golden and yellow, completely translucent, and super-solid this shatter was stable to say the least. I took a small chunk on my dab tool and dropped it on my titanium nail set at 675 degrees Fahrenheit. I notice no sizzle, and inhaling is smooth, while the exhale was filled with intense floral flavour. Beautiful. Effects Listed appropriately as an indica, effects did not take long to take hold. Upon the exhale, my body was instantly met with a wave of relaxation that poured over my muscles and joints. Instantly calming, this strain was great for my anxiety and allowed me to rest my body as well as my thoughts. Overall Although only a small company, I continuously hear good things about Dog Pound Concentrates, and after trying this Northern Lights, I can see why! Quality shatter and locally made, with a constantly changing menu of strains, Dog Pound Concentrates is fast becoming the next big extract brand on Toronto's cannabis scene. Packaging: 65/100 Appearance: 90/100 Taste: 75/100 Effect: 80/100 Final Score - 8/10   With all the new cannabis products coming out in this wave of cannabis legalization, today we get the opportunity to review a cannabis accessory that we've seen popping up in some local head shops and caught our attention with its sleek design and application. Whether you're trying to hide your toking habit from a judgy roommate, or simply trying to keep the level of smoke down for the sake of any kids or pets in the home, the Eco Four Twenty Personal Air Filter might be the perfect thing for the 420 enthusiast with non-420 company.  Unlike similar products in the marketplace we've seen before that are bulky or one-time use, the Eco Four Twenty Personal Air Filter blew us away with it's solid and sleek build, as well as its clever design and reusability. Clearly built with quality materials, its made of black, aircraft-grade aluminium, has a removable mouthpiece for cleaning, and most importantly, houses a chamber that contains a replaceable 2-stage activated charcoal and HEPA filter. It fits nicely in the palm of the hand and looks completely inconspicuous. This is far more than that toilet paper roll stuffed with dryer sheets!  We tried it ourselves and were shocked with the results. After taking some big puffs off a skunky spliff, we exhaled through the filter and no smoke came out the other end! Not only did the Eco Four Twenty air filter trap the smoke, it trapped the smell too! Despite the filter being pretty small, it does a great job and packs around 500 uses in a single cartridge. Then all one has to do is replace the filter inside, which is as simple as unscrewing the filter and placing the new filter inside! So, goodbye, towels bunched up against the bottom crack of the door! Cheerio, neighbour complaints! The Eco Four Twenty Air Filter is currently on sale starting at just $27.95 USD, and two replacement filters now only cost $15 USD. They also offer a package option too which includes the filter unit plus an extra filter for $37 USD. Want to learn more? Visit www.ecofourtwenty.com!      Join us LIVE with April Anderson on the Sunday Morning Show this coming Sunday Nov 3rd at 9am (early, I know!) on AM800 CKLW where we'll be answering questions on the benefits and drawbacks of CBD topicals!
Listen Here!  SpacedOut Extracts Overview: SpacedOut Extracts is a small edible company operating out of Toronto, specializing in THC and CBD infused gummies. I first met Spaced Out and got a chance to try their Space Drop gummies in 2017 at a local "cannabis farmer's market" featuring local edible vendors, and their gummies have only gotten better since then! Finding SpacedOut Extracts: Spaced Out Extracts can often be seen vending at local cannabis events and 'farmer's markets' such as the Canna Crawl in Hamilton or the Karma Cup that happened recently in Toronto. If you want to get in touch with or stay updated on SpacedOut Extracts, it's best to follow their facebook page at facebook.com/spacedoutgta. Space Drops Pricing: Pricing for Space Drops varies on the dosage and whether they are THC or CBD infused. The Space Drops we're reviewing contain 300mg of THC (100mg per gummy), and the pack typically retails for around $30. Space Drops Appearance & Packaging Unlike many of the legacy market edibles available online and in local markets, Space Drops stand out above the rest with their colourful and professional packaging. These gummies come in heat-sealed, custom-printed, plastic zip lock bags with detailed labeling and a window in the front. One of our biggest pet peeves with edibles is the lack of ingredient or nutritional information being included on the packaging, which is another reason why we love Space Drops. Their packaging displays dosage, flavours, ingredients, nutritional information and warnings very clearly. It's also a nice touch to be able to see the gummies in the packet without having to open it.  Space Drops Smell, Texture and Taste We've had many edible gummies made by craft producers in the legacy market, and not many of them can be compared to the quality one would expect from regular commercial gummies, either because of the texture, the appearance or the flavour. But Space Drops do a great job! They taste really sweet and fruity, and they're soft and chewy! Plus, did we mention each gummy contains a whopping 100mg of THC? As they're made with distillate and not something like RSO or full spectrum oil, they have no smell and have no cannabis taste making them perfect for your secret stash on the go.
The only thing we noticed is that the sugar didn't really stick to the gummies like others you've often seen, but aside from that, these gummies were great! Plus, they certainly pack a punch with no lethargic effects! Appearance/Packaging: 9/10 Smell/Texture/Taste: 10/10 Effects: 9/10 Overall: 9/10  Royal Highness is a Toronto-based cannabis edible company, specializing in handcrafted, high quality, cannabis-infused chocolates, desserts and treats. From chocolates, to candies, cookies and so much more, there's a great variety of things to choose from in their menu, all made by hand by a licensed Red Seal pastry chef. Customers can place orders online to have any of their items shipped right to their door and even book classes and parties! I came across Royal Highness visiting one of the local Toronto cannabis vendor markets a while ago where I tried their amazing infused Twix-style chocolate, and was recently fortunate enough to try some of her newest treats. I had seen updates from Royal Highness and was excited to try their new infused Oreo-style cookie I had seen them developing.
Summary
Consuming these edibles was such a pleasure, and after having the chocolate bar in one sitting, the M'Oreo cookie and Terple in another sitting, and the candies while travelling, I can happily say that each time, I was able to enjoy the wonderful effects of the cannabis, each time leaving me happy and relaxed. Thank you Royal Highness for the opportunity to review some of your wonderful artisanal goodies. For more information, visit www.royalhighnesstoronto.com to learn more.
 Strain Name: Death Pink
Strain Type: Indica Vendor: SeaOfGreenDispensary.com Death Pink is a heavy indica strain, grown by crossing Pink Kush and Death Bubba, both of which offer very sedating effects and a strong terpene profile. These buds were purchased from SeaOfGreenDispensary for a very reasonable price, and it definitely did not disappoint. Appearance These large, dense buds were dark green with orange hairs, covered in a thick layer of creamy-white trichomes, and manicured well. The buds were also cured nicely and had a good density and moisture level... not to dry, and not too wet. Smell & Taste One of the stinkier strains in our current collection, these buds exploded in gassy and earthy aromas when squeezing or cracking them open, capturing a nice balance of both Pink and Bubba Kush's typical scents. We enjoy smoking cannabis in small, tightly-rolled joints using very thin rolling papers. It is not uncommon to find strains of cannabis that may smell great when dried but offer little flavour and taste when smoking, but in this case the flavour was quite present, as well as consistent with the smell. Although not as strong as its scent, flavours were earthy with a pleasing hint of liquorice. Effects As this strain was smoked, a ring of resin would pool around the edge of the hot ash of the joint, displaying just how concentrated in oils this cannabis was. Consistent with effects from Pink Kush and Death Bubba, this strain of Death Pink took effect within only a few minutes of smoking, offering mind-numbing and almost body-numbing effects, resulting in a restful mind and some high levels of couch-lock. Although not in any pain at the time, we can almost be certain that this strain would be highly effective for pain relief, anxiety and as a sleep aid. Within just 45 minutes of smoking, it was easy to lie down and fall into a deep sleep quickly. Appearance: 7/10 Smell & Taste: 8/10 Effects: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Knowing how many sick people spend their hard-earned money on CBD products hoping that it may help with their health issues, it is important to know some truths about most CBD edibles and why they may be doing more harm than good. Although CBD is considered by many as a natural medicine, if you're consuming it in candies or sugary treats, in this case, a spoonful of sugar does not help the medicine go down. CBD, or Cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive compound in both cannabis and hemp that so many health benefits are attributed to. While cannabis (often referred as the female of the plant) is more rich in the psychoactive THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) compound, hemp (often referred as the male of the plant) is richer in CBD, which is why most CBD extracts are made from hemp plants. Back in the day people made pot brownies and cookies to enjoy their psychoactive or sedating effects, but today many of the infused edibles available in the marketplace are made with non-psychoactive, hemp-derived CBD, for people looking for no 'high' at all. Rather, they seek the health benefits many studies have shown that this trendy compound might offer in a method that's safer and less intimidating than vaping or smoking. As cannabis and hemp extracts like CBD become more widely accepted and available as a potential natural health supplement, one will notice that many of the edible companies creating THC-infused candies and dessert snacks for the recreational market are simply swapping out the THC ingredient in their candy and dessert products for CBD. They are then sold to the medicinal market and to people looking towards CBD as a health supplement.  Unfortunately, many of the companies creating cannabis and CBD edibles might have lots of experience in methods of extraction and infusions but few have knowledge on food and its impacts on health, which is crucial information if creating CBD edible products as a possible medicine, especially to those who's health may already be compromised. One of the major health benefits of CBD is how it can assist in reducing swelling and inflammation. CBD is also an immune-suppressant, meaning it limits the immune system's ability to operate which is helpful for people with auto-immune disorders, such as HIV, Multiple Sclerosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and many more. Sugars on the other hand (especially processed sugars), when consumed cause insulin levels in the body to spike, which over time creates inflammation. Consuming sugars also affects white blood cell production and efficiency, meaning that the immune system is impaired for several hours. Some studies even show that sugar can impair your body's immune system's ability to function by up to 50%, making it twice as difficult for it to deal with any infection or virus (https://riordanclinic.org/2011/11/seasonal-defense-boosting-your-immune-system/). Given that CBD is already an immune-suppressant, consuming it with sugar will only further impact the body's immune system. When consuming sugar, especially in high amounts such as in CBD candies and desserts, it can cause almost a hyperactive response, which isn't ideal for those looking to calm their anxieties using CBD. Also, after the "sugar-crash" caused by the high spike in insulin, you may be left with less blood-sugar than you started, leaving you feeling less energetic and more fatigued than you began.  It's also important to note that around 70% of the body's immune system lives in the gut. So considering how many CBD edibles are actually candies or sugary treats, although a convenient way to consume, it's no surprise if your CBD edible may not be helping you as you expected. While CBD may help with inflammation, it's effects are hindered by the body's negative response to sugar, almost counteracting the health benefits one will receive from what could be an incredibly healing compound. So if possible, stick to savoury CBD edibles. CBD is an active compound that the body can absorb and make use of, but it is a fat-soluble compound, meaning that not only does it dissolve in fats and oils, but it is also stored in the fatty tissues in the body when consumed. This is why it's so easy to infuse into coconut oil or butter. If you're looking to get the most out of your CBD and increase the body's ability to absorb it ("bio-availability"), one should consume it with something fatty rather than something sugary. This doesn't mean that your CBD treats can't be sweet, it just means that sugars (especially processed) should be used sparingly with it. Dessert recipes appropriate for a low-carb or "ketogenic" diet can work well and can still contain tasty and fatty (healthy fats) ingredients like cacao butter, nuts/nut butters, seeds and so much more. Avocados are super-healthy, high in fat, stabilize blood sugar, and can be used as a healthier and lactose-free alternative to butter. If you're looking to sweeten it, go for a healthy sweetener that's low-glycemic, such as stevia, monkfruit or yakon syrup, or at least a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar. Alternatively, one can simply infuse pure CBD or CBD oil into the oil of your choice, which can then be added to any salad, meal or recipes (keep temperatures low or add the CBD post-cooking to prevent the compound from breaking down). Avoid canola and vegetable oils which offer no health benefits and are highly modified, and stick to healthier oils from coconuts, olives, grapeseeds or sunflowers to name a few.  Most CBD edibles available in the market also don't contain very high amounts of CBD and what many are not aware of is that most chronic health issues require very high amounts of CBD to be consumed regularly. Some natural health practitioners even recommend at least 100mg of CBD daily for chronic issues. But because the effects of CBD are harder to perceive and measure, despite there being no risk of overdose or over-consumption, most producers create CBD products with low amounts of CBD. Typically, for the price a customer pays for one CBD edible that is supposed to contain 300mg of CBD, they could get 1000mg of pure CBD and infuse it into their own food of choice.  Recently, there have also been some reports of CBD oils containing contaminants or not being as potent as labelled. So if purchasing pure CBD or CBD oils, try go with one that has a lab report.
----------- Written by Gideon Bentata for Highlifemedia.ca. Gideon Bentata is a graphic designer, consultant, writer and educator working extensively in the emerging cannabis industry. Learn more at www.GideonBentata.com  Company Overview: Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils is a small cannabis skincare company based out of Cambridge, Ontario. The company specializes in small-batch, craft-made personal care products, infused with THC. Their products are all natural, vegan and use high quality ingredients. In this review, we were fortunate enough to try out several of the products available in the Nattily Attired line! So, you can say we set a day aside for some self-care and pampering in order to give this review because we were lucky enough to try their Toasted Coconut Body Scrub, Citrus Blast Body Massage Oil, Memoirs of a Geisha Bath Salts, Vanilla Villain Tattoo Bomb and Sandalwood & Sox Beard Oil. Finding Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils: Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils products are only available in Canada and can be ordered online and purchased exclusively from the online dispensary site www.420leaf.ca. You can also learn more about Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils by following their facebook page: www.facebook.com/NattillyAttiredBodyPolish Pricing: Products by Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils are priced competitively with non-craft, non-infused skincare products available in regular stores, which makes them that much more special. Their oils range between $30-35 and their body products range between $35-40, and vary in levels of THC or CBD but all use natural and vegan ingredients. Unique to Nattilly Attired Body Polish & Oils: Given that this is a small company producing craft products, one can immediately see the care and passion that goes into the making of each product in their line, almost as if the products were being made for a close friend. It's these extra touches added which give the product line some personality to set it aside from the stale and clinical products on shelves people are typically used to. As can be seen in the photos, the Sandalwood & Sox Beard Oil actually contains a piece of tree branch in each bottle, the Toasted Coconut Body Scrub contains a ring of toasted coconut in each jar, the Citrus Blast Massage Oil contains an actual cannabis bud in each bottle, and the Vanilla Villain even has a pinch of glitter in it to make your fresh ink POP. Quite some thought has obviously been put into these products! When we were delivered these products to review, they came as a kit in a goodie bag that also contained a packaged loofah sponge scrub and a wooden applicator stick that was even branded with the company logo! Lovely and very professional! All the products came in commercial grade plastic bottle and jars with simple yet beautifully deigned business card labels attached to each one, displaying the name of the product and the milligrams of THC it contained. With any product I put in or on my body, especially today with so many people prone to allergies, I would like to see the ingredients clearly labeled on the product for easy viewing. We were initially given info sheets with our samples that displayed ingredients and directions on uses, but having this on the product itself would be far better and more convenient. Smell, Texture, Quality: Although I am not typically used to pampering myself with such exquisite bodycare products, trying out the Nattilly Attired line was a rare joy. The first product I tried was the Memoirs of a Geisha Bath Salts infused with 300mg of THC and intense mint and jasmine essential oils. At the time, I was going through a bad cold and my sinuses were quite congested, so an aromatherapeutic, steamy bath seemed quite appropriate. Boy, were these bath salts minty! The bathwater quickly turned a light green colour and my sinuses easily cleared in the dense fog of this minty bathroom mist. The added THC in the bath salts also helped to make my bathtime that much more relaxing as it absorbed through my skin while I bathed.  Next was the Toasted Coconut Body Scrub insfused with 250mg of THC. This is typically not something I ever use, but I was excited to try it out. Opening the jar was a nice surprise, as I was hit with an intense coconut and vanilla smell. The product also looks gorgeous, containing a real toasted coconut ring and salts sitting in a rich, golden oil. I applied the scrub in the shower as it can be quite messy to use. The oil mixed with salt and different herbs didn't exfoliate too much, but with the aid of the loofah scrubber, this product left my skin feeling very moisturized, smooth, and smelling of coconut and vanilla.  The Vanilla Villain Tattoo Bomb is a body oil infused with 200mg of THC and mixed with vanilla and glitter that's made for tattoos in order to aid in healing and to make them really pop in the light. I personally have no tattoos, but I love the idea behind the product. The oil smells heavenly, and comes in a roll-on vial, that even contains a real marijuana bud inside!
Next up is the the Citrus Blast Massage Oil. This bottle of oil also contains a real marijuana bud which is a lovely touch! Given the way the coconut scrub was presented, I was expecting to see some kind of citrus rind in the bottle too. Infused with 200mg of THC, this massage oil smells refreshing and was great to use for a body massage. Given that massages often lead to other things *wink*, and the fact that this oil contains THC, it would be nice to know if it's safe for sexual use, as a lube for example. Another reason why ingredient labeling can be so important.
Last but not least is a product more aligned with their male customer base, which is the Sandalwood & Sox Beard Oil. Also infused with 200mg of THC, this oil can be used to soften one's beard and give it some more shine and moisture, and in-line with the other products in the collection, comes with a piece of tree branch in the bottle for aesthetic. If it were actual Sandlwood, that would really be cool.  Overall:
I thoroughly enjoyed using this kit of Nattilly Attired products. I felt like I was having a makeover and my own personal spa day trying them all out! The products are high quality, and look good, though labeling could be improved. Aside from the bath salts, I'm not entirely sure on the purpose of THC for each product, as CBD or full spectrum extracts may be more effective for the skin and body. But overall, the brand is professional and presentable, and with a couple of tweaks to packaging and labelling could probably compete with high-end body products available commercially. Texture/Smell/Appearance: 9/10 Quality/Effects: 7/10 Labeling/Packaging: 6/10 Overall - 7/10
Overview
Gold Era Wellness is a new and emerging wellness company based out of Toronto, producing handcrafted CBD products for people and pets since 2017. Their product line includes CBD dog treats, Anubis CBD Drops for dogs, CBD capsules and their MCT369 CBD oil blend. MCT369 CBD Oil Most oils in the marketplace made to be taken orally, whether THC or CBD, tend to be mixed with an oil like MCT or grapeseed. But Gold Era Wellness takes their MCT369 CBD Oil a large step further by adding essential Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids to the mix! Essential Omega oils like these are highly beneficial and are contained in foods like fish and hemp oils, that aren't commonly present in a modern, highly processed diet. Combining these oils with CBD makes this a very useful natural supplement that can be used daily. Unlike most CBD products in the market, MCT369 CBD Oil contains a whopping 1500mg of CBD in every 30ml dropper bottle! This is quite unheard of, as most CBD products contain no where near the amount of CBD and are often very expensive despite this fact. What many also don't know is that most people suffering from serious or chronic health conditions need at least a daily dose of 100mg of CBD, which would make most CBD products in the market completely unaffordable for the average user. The oil comes in a 30ml tamper-evident dropper bottle with attractive gold labelling that is neatly detailed. Better packaging than I've seen on some commercially available products! Finding MCT369 CBD Oil Gold Era Wellness products can be purchased exclusively on the Canadian mail order site, www.metromeds.ca. Pricing & Selection The Gold Era Wellness product line includes CBD dog treats, Anubis CBD Drops for dogs, CBD capsules and their MCT369 CBD Oil. The MCT369 CBD Oil comes in a 30ml bottle and is priced extremely reasonably at $90. Given that CBD generally tends to retail for up to $100 per 1000mg, getting 1500mg combined with 3 essential omega oils for under $100 is incredible. Unique to Gold Era Wellness Given that CBD has no psychoactive effects, it's clear that any CBD user is only using it for medicinal reasons so it's painful to see when CBD products are overpriced, especially when hemp cultivation is so prevalent down south in the USA. It becomes evident that Gold Era Wellness, despite it being a small company with a small budget that makes such high quality products offered at such a low price, shows how much they care for their customers... or should I say 'patients'. Smell, Texture, Taste Gold Era Wellness MCT369 CBD Oil is odourless, colourless and flavourless. This makes incorporating it into one's diet quite easy as it can be added to a variety of drinks or food without it interfering with the flavour. Smell/Flavour: N/A Effects: 9/10 Appearance/Packaging: 8/10 Overall: 9/10 |
