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The Unifying Power of Cannabis: A Green Wave of Unity, Business, and Economic Prosperity

The word ‘cannabis’ evokes various reactions from different people – some associate it with relaxation, some with medical relief, while others view it as a means of recreation. However, as the world is witnessing, cannabis is more than just a plant; it’s a force that brings people from all walks of life together. It knits communities, bridges businesses, and plays a significant role in boosting economies.

Unity in Diversity: Cannabis as a Societal Glue

Across the globe, cannabis enthusiasts come from various cultural, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds. They share stories, experiences, and the joy that the plant brings. Whether it’s a group of friends sharing a joint on a weekend or patients discussing their relief from specific medical conditions, cannabis is a common ground that often sees no boundaries.

From Growers to Consumers: The Business Chain

The cannabis industry, as vast and diversified as its user base, sees collaborations between cultivators, distributors, retailers, and ancillary businesses. Brands, like North Dispensaries with their clear mission – helping individuals live their best lives through cannabis relief, serve as hubs where the magic happens.

North doesn’t just sell cannabis; they believe in it. Their range of high-grade products from flowers, vapes, edibles, concentrates, to topicals ensures that there’s something for everyone. And with a friendly and knowledgeable team at hand, North ensures that everyone, from novices to seasoned users, feels welcome and at ease.

Economic Boost and Beyond

Legal cannabis has brought in a flood of tax revenues, job opportunities, and business growth in regions where it’s permitted. Missouri, for instance, has welcomed businesses like North Dispensaries, which cater not only to medical cardholders but to all adults aged 21 and up. This inclusivity ensures a broader market reach, stimulating local economies and fostering community growth.

The North Experience

What sets North apart is their dedication to the customer experience. Their diverse options like online shopping, drive-thru pickup, and delivery make purchasing convenient for all. Additionally, for those just beginning their cannabis journey, North’s consultants are ever-ready to guide, ensuring that everyone finds what they’re looking for.

For the regulars and loyal customers, the North Loyalty Program is a treasure trove, offering rewards, discounts, and exclusive perks.

A Greener Future Awaits

The unifying power of cannabis is undeniable. From creating social bonds to forging business collaborations, and driving economic growth, the green wave is here to stay.

If you’re in Missouri and curious about starting your cannabis journey or simply looking for quality products, North Dispensaries is your go-to place. Embrace the freedom of mind, therapeutic benefits, and the sheer joy that cannabis brings.

Start your journey today. Head North.


Influential Cannabis Icons

For as long as cannabis has consumed the minds of prohibitionists, politicians, and lawmakers, there have been influential cannabis icons that have popularized the drug, bringing it into the mainstream.

These icons play a momentous role in cannabis legalization for states nationwide. Their continued support for cannabis use and the cannabis industry is only creating a brighter future for cannabis in the U.S. and those who use it.

Keep reading to learn about some of the most influential cannabis icons.

Jack Herer

Herer is known as the “father of marijuana legalization” and “the emperor of hemp” and even has a cannabis strain named after him.

In 1973 he opened his first head shop, called High Country, and began compiling information about the Cannabis plant, including its uses as hemp and as a drug.

After a dozen years of research, in 1985, he published his non-fiction book “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.”

Many mark the release of this book as the beginning of the cannabis legalization movement, and the text is still used today to promote legalization and cannabis law reform. Herer was so confident in the claims made in the book that he included an offer of $100,000 to anyone who could disprove them.

Wanting everyone to have access to the book, Herer published it online for free. However, editions are also available for purchase on Kindle and paperback.

Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong

These two are easily the funniest cannabis campaigners in history. The comedians performed together in the 1970s and 1980s when cannabis was considered taboo among general audiences.

In 1978, they released their first featured film, “Up In Smoke,” which is widely credited as the first stoner comedy film.

The characters they played while performing standup, acting in films, and recording comedy records were major successes with audiences.

The two created hyperbolic versions of the people the audience was already seeing in the growing hippie counterculture. They were trailblazers for the stoner tropes still portrayed in media today.

Both run independent cannabis companies, Tommy Chong’s Hemp and Cheech’s Stash.

Willie Nelson

“Roll me up and smoke me when I die.”

This iconic opening line of Willie Nelson’s 2012 song “Roll Me Up” is an excellent example of just how big a role cannabis plays in Nelson’s self-identity.

Throughout his career, Nelson has promoted cannabis and its uses. When touring from gig to gig, he was notorious for swapping his stash with fans who offered him some of their Mary Jane. For him, cannabis culture is a way of life, and he lives by the philosophy, “my stash is your stash.”

In 2015, he released a line of cannabis called “Willie’s Reserve,” By 2016, he had stores in Colorado, Washington, Las Vegas, and Oregon. True to his philosophy, Willie’s Reserve® “pays tribute to the tradition of sharing, caring, and toking.”

Beyond his love for cannabis and the community, Nelson is also one of the cannabis revolution’s most passionate and dedicated supporters. While he is undoubtedly a renowned and timeless American country musician, Nelson is also Co-Chair of the National Organizational for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has always been very open about his cannabis use. Countless references to cannabis are found throughout his discography, from his earliest work to newer hits.

Allegedly, Snoop was introduced to cannabis by Tupac Shakur at a 1994 party for the movie Poetic Justice. That night he smoked his first blunt. Ever since he has preferred blunts over any other consumption method.

By 2015, the rapper entered the world of cannabis education and business:

  • April 2015 – invests in Eaze, the Uber of weed delivery that advertises delivery within ten minutes; delivery is currently available in California and Michigan
  • September 2015 – launches the cannabis-focused digital media platform MERRY JANE; the platform features a database for identifying cannabis strains and dispensaries, an original video series, and editorial content on the business and politics of the cannabis industry
  • November 2015 – launches his line of cannabis products, Leafs by Snoop (rebranded as LBS in the Canadian cannabis market)

Snoop also partially owns Canopy Growth, the largest global cannabis and CPG organization in the world.

North Dispensaries

At North, we know we wouldn’t be where we are today without the cannabis cultural icons that have paved the way for cannabis legalization and industry.

Even though we did our best to include some of the most notable cannabis icons in our list, many others have and continue to work to decriminalize and destigmatize cannabis.

There are so many ways that cannabis can benefit individuals. That’s why we sell only premium medical cannabis products at our Pevely and Hillsboro locations.

If you need medicinal cannabis, check out our locations and hours.


Cannabis & Horror Movies

Halloween is just around the corner!

There are many reasons why people love the holiday. Still, for the most part, Halloween attracts those who go nuts for the macabre, gory, terrifying, and mystifying.

One thing that marks the Halloween season is the scores of horror movie marathons that litter all sorts of TV channels and streaming platforms during this time of year.

Now, we know that not everybody is a fan of horror films, and the idea of using cannabis to help enhance the experience of watching one may be the last thing you want to do. But there’s no denying that the horror genre and cannabis use has been linked in some way or another for decades now.

Keep reading to learn more about the interesting relationship between cannabis and horror and what movies you should check out this Halloween.

The Counterculture

Now, you may be wondering why people have created a connection between the horror genre and cannabis. 

Some suggest that this connection is because horror films and cannabis and those who enjoy them are considered outliers, forbidden fruits of the social norm. Throughout history, both have attracted unique and interesting people from all walks of life that are just looking for a way to process emotions, ideas, and trauma.

While it may seem unconventional to some that someone would turn to a terrifying horror movie or a perception-altering substance, there’s still no denying that the catharsis both provide is real.

The Pros of Mixing Cannabis Use with Horror Movies

We know it’s not for everyone, but those who do like to smoke some flower or eat an edible before getting comfortable for a night of jump scares and more have their reasons.

If you already love horror movies without using cannabis, you’ll probably like it while using cannabis.

Cannabis enhances the experience by heightening your senses, suspending your disbelief, adjusting your focus, and funneling any paranoia through a thrilling lens.

Classics For The Film Aficionado

It’s easy to get caught up in all the new horror films released every year. Don’t forget that those films are inspired by the classics that set the stage for the horror genre to take off.

“Psycho” (1960)

Watching this Hitchcock classic is the perfect way to start a horror movie marathon. Who hasn’t heard of Norman Bates and his murderess mother? If you have never seen this thriller full of twists and turns, we highly recommend you pop some popcorn (for the munchies) and get ready for a film that will have you checking your back; you know, just in case.

“The Exorcist” (1973)

While some people prefer gory and grisly murders, others prefer a more supernatural approach. “The Exorcist” is a story of a battle between good and evil, as an exorcist is sent to help save a young girl possessed by demonic spirits.

Although a controversial film, audiences marveled at the storytelling and special effects that ultimately made “The Exorcist” one of the film industry’s first ‘blockbusters’ and one of the only horror movies ever to be nominated for Best Picture.

“Night Of the Living Dead” (1968)

Directed by George Romero, this film cemented him in film history as the master of the modern ‘zombie film.’ Unlike the modern interpretation of zombies, these cannibalistic, re-animated dead were once depicted as trance-like undead slaves produced by voodoo rites.

While it was a low-budget, independent debut film, for 96 minutes, audiences experienced groundbreaking, genre-defining work as Romero conveyed his interpretation of a dehumanized society with the film’s explicit violence, rawness, cannibalism, and somber ending.

We could go on forever about what classics you should watch this Halloween. Some honorable mentions include:

  • “Dracula” (1931)
  • “The Birds” (1963)
  • “Nosferatu” (1922)
  • “Poltergeist” (1982)
  • “Halloween” (1978)
  • “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)

Modern Horror Classics

We could include so many movies on this list, so we’ll do our best to fit the best ones in.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

A quintessential teen slasher, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” stars Freddy Krueger, one of the most well-known antagonists of all time. A child murderer in life and demonic child murderer in death, Freddy terrorizes the screen by invading the dreams of teens and causing a mind-altering sequence of horrifying encounters.

This film will have your mind turning from start to finish, as even the ending, ever ambiguous, leaves more for your imagination to assume. 

“The Shining” (1980)

A mix of paranormal and human horror, this film was Stanley Kubrick’s masterful take on the traditional concept of a haunted house. While its title is that of its source material, Stephen King’s third novel under his name, Kubrick’s creation carries little resemblance to King’s work.

The film follows a father (Jack) and his descent into madness, fueled by both physical and intangible forces, while isolated with his family (his wife Wendy and young son Danny) in a snowed-in resort. The family soon finds themselves affected by a “psychic photograph” that depicts a series of historic murders that occurred on the resort’s property.

The film’s title refers to the psychic abilities of the resort’s head cook (Halloran) and Jack’s son, which add an otherworldly point of view into the world beyond the living.

“Shaun Of the Dead” (2004)

What would be a list of must-see horror movies without acknowledging the horror/comedy genre?

Written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, Wright directed this romantic zombie comedy (a “rom-zom-com”) while Pegg played the role of Shaun, a downtrodden London salesman that must deal with his girlfriend, mother, and stepfather all while he and his friend Ed, try to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Inspired by classics like George Romero’s (we mentioned him earlier) “Dead” trilogy, Wright and Pegg’s film initially had commercial success, having grossed $30 million worldwide on a $6.1 million budget. It then went on to receive two nominations at the British Academy Film Awards, with some calling it one of the greatest comedy films ever made. It only makes sense that this gem quickly acquired a cult following.

“Get Out” (2017)

Written, directed, and co-produced by actor, comedian, and filmmaker Jordan Peele, “Get Out” was his directorial debut, and a box-office hit. Peele would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Daniel Kaluuya).

This psychological thriller is equal parts horror, social commentary, and even comedy. While the story innocently starts with a young black man (Kaluuya) meeting his white girlfriend’s family for the first time, shocking secrets soon come to light that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Ranked by the Writer’s Guild of America as the greatest screenplay of the 21st century, the film creatively explores the implications and historical relevance of “covert” racism in modern society by depicting the antagonists as white, “New York liberal” types. Lanre Bakare wrote in The Guardian, “It exposes a liberal ignorance and hubris that has been allowed to fester.”

Ultimately, this film will have your mind whirling in circles with insane plot twists, murder, mind control, and more.

Modern horror film honorable mentions include:

  • “Us” (2019)
  • “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)
  • “The Ring” (2002)
  • “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Celebrate Halloween with North

Are you ready for Halloween? Whether you’re planning a night in or need a way to relax and recuperate after a day out celebrating, we can help!

North’s premier medical cannabis products are just what you need to get your body and mind feeling right, even when you’re watching a horror movie.

Check out our Pevely and Hillsboro menus to see what might work best for you. You can come in and purchase your products, order them and pick them up with our drive-thru, or have them delivered.


The Benefits of Keeping a Cannabis Journal

You can keep a cannabis journal for several reasons. Not only does journaling your experiences make you more mindful, but it also helps identify and achieve your goals regarding consuming cannabis. This is especially helpful for medical cannabis patients.

Overall, every human body is different. That means everyone will react differently to the same or similar products. You may even respond differently to the same product if taken on a different day.

Journaling your experiences makes it easier for yourself and your patient consultant to identify which products can reproduce the perfect experience. Keep reading to learn more about cannabis journaling and how it can help you achieve all your cannabis goals.

How To Cannabis Journal

Cannabis journaling isn’t very difficult. The most challenging part is ensuring that you record your experience each time you use cannabis. By being consistent, you’ll find it easier to determine patterns that can help you maintain successful sessions.

Follow the steps below to learn how to cannabis journal:

What Type of Journal Are You Using?

Do you prefer writing longhand or simply using a memo app on your cellphone? Pick a version that will allow you to keep up with it daily.

If you prefer to write out your experiences by hand, you can purchase physical strain journals like Goldleaf’s Patient Journal. Please keep them in your house where you won’t forget about them.

Journaling the old-fashioned way, while not the most convenient method for some, has its benefits, as studies show that it keeps your mind sharp and helps you retain information. However, keep in mind that journaling is supposed to be stress-free. So, do what feels right for you.

Before Dosing

Now that you know what type of journal you want, you can get down to business. First, you’ll want to assess your baseline. Include the basics, like:

  • Date
  • Time
  • Cannabis product name and where you purchased it
  • Delivery method
  • Symptoms (pain, insomnia, nausea, anxiety, etc.)
  • What other medications you’re on
  • If and what you’ve eaten/drank before your session
  • Overall mood (powerful emotions can influence your experience)

After Dosing

Depending on your delivery method (smoking, edibles, etc.), you may feel the effects immediately, or it may take a while (sometimes up to two hours). Allow your body to fully experience the cannabis before recording your findings.

You should note:

  • Dosage consumed and be specific (“one half-gram pre-roll” is better than “smoking a joint”)
  • How you feel
  • How long the effects lasted
  • Symptom relief (if any)
  • Side effects
  • Current state of mind (did the session change anything?)

It’s paramount that you are specific about the outcomes and symptom relief that you feel.

Why Should You Keep a Cannabis Journal?

You should keep a cannabis journal for many reasons, especially if you’re a medical cannabis patient. Some of the reasons you should keep a cannabis journal include:

It Helps Your Caregiver or Patient Consultant

It’s impossible to ask yourself to keep up with the latest trends in cannabis research, products, and genetics. To do that all is a full-time job! Instead, as a medical cannabis user, you should rely on your caregiver or patient consultant.

Providing a detailed log of what products and delivery methods have worked and haven’t worked is the best way to ensure your caregiver or patient consultant has all the necessary information to succeed you succeed in your treatment plan.

It Helps Repeat Successes

If you want to repeat the successful sessions, you must have the ability to remember which cultivars, dosages, and delivery methods work best for you. It can be difficult to remember everything from one session to the next. (A cultivar is a plant that has been selectively bred to have distinct, desirable characteristics)

By having a physical journal, you don’t risk losing any of your valuable information to technology that’s gone haywire.

Writing Is Good for The Mind

Writing does terrific things for your memory and comprehension. By writing out everything you experience while taking cannabis, you’ll be more likely to thoroughly understand your own body’s response to cannabis, which will help you make more informed decisions.

Journaling Promotes Mindfulness

Writing, especially with a pen and some paper, helps the mind slow down and induces a certain level of focus. It’s almost like meditation. This focus is called mindfulness.

Mindfulness helps you to leave worrying emotions, like anxiety, at the door so you can better focus on the task at hand. You’ll be more attentive to your symptoms and treatment by being mindful.

You Get A Complete Picture

A journal is open-ended, meaning that you can add other essential factors along with writing down the obvious entry points like cultivar, dosage, and delivery method. These could include:

  • Sleep quality
  • Water intake
  • Food intake
  • Other medications/supplements you may be on
  • Coffee intake
  • Alcohol intake

Keeping detailed notes on the seemingly ordinary parts of your life can expose why you react to specific cultivars, dosages, and delivery methods the way you do. Even a stressful day at work can affect how you respond to cannabis. So, no matter how trivial something may seem, don’t think twice before writing it down.

You’re Creating A Database

If you’re a cannabis user, you must know how difficult it can be to compare one cannabis product to another. The lack of unified regulation on plant genetics, concentrations, grow practices, and more means that even the same strain can vary significantly in effects from dispensary to dispensary.

To try and replicate successful therapies, make notes of “where the product was acquired” or “how it was grown.”

Final Thoughts

For those looking to get the most out of our cannabis, keeping a cannabis journal is one of the best measures we can take to ensure we do just that. Your cannabis journal will help you discover and remember your preferences by having you log your experiences and usage.

A cannabis journal can help you discover patterns that can improve your symptoms, avoid products you dislike and find the most effective time of day to consume your cannabis.

Overall, cannabis journals can do wonders for your cannabis experiences and mental health. If you haven’t started one already, we highly recommend that you do!

North Dispensaries

At North Dispensaries, we care about the experiences of our customers. As a medical cannabis provider, we want our customers to find the perfect solution to their symptoms. That’s why we offer a wide variety of high-quality products.

From flower to edibles and everything between, we have exactly what you’re looking for; we guarantee it!

Check our menus for our Pevely and Hillsboro locations today. If you see something you like, stop by or order online and have it delivered right to your door. We can’t wait to help you!


The Benefits of Buying Legal Cannabis

Now that more states are legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, it’s time we take a hard look at why legally purchasing cannabis is better for you and those around you.

Cannabis has long been controversial, but it doesn’t have to be. Forget about the black market and illegal deals and opt for something that even the most strait-laced all of us can get on board with! Keep reading to learn the benefits of buying legal cannabis.

What Is Black-Market Cannabis?

When looking at why the United States should legalize cannabis, it’s helpful to look at a nation that already has. One of the reasons Canada legalized recreational cannabis use was to reduce black-market activity in the country.

The black market is any underground transaction where goods and services are illegally exchanged.

By legalizing cannabis, they were able to add more retail stores and increase quality control measures to ensure customer safety and satisfaction. These changes seem to be working because, as of 2020, the black-market supply dropped 21% since legalization in 2018.

Black market cannabis is typically obtained through the following channels:

  • Illegal websites that are selling cannabis
  • Unlicensed brick-and-mortar dispensaries
  • Street dealers

The suppliers of black-market cannabis often have strong ties to gangs and organized crime. Black-market cannabis also does not pay any taxes, meaning there is no public gain from its sale.

Why Should You Promote Legal Cannabis?

There are many reasons why you should legally obtain your cannabis products. These include:

  • Testing your products – there are regulations that legal cannabis providers must follow to make a profit. The legal market must test all cannabis products for molds, heavy metals, pesticides, fungus, and other microbials.
  • Maintaining product consistency – The testing on the product helps maintain its consistency and supply chain transparency.
  • Promoting socio-economic development – Illegal operations do not pay taxes on their profits. They do not participate in or help provide education, advocacy, social equality, living wages, or community programs.
  • Breaking the stigma – Not only does buying legal help cut down on crime, but it also helps ensure safe access to cannabis and propels cannabis research. The stigma is also broken when more and more people promote and train for cannabis careers.

Along with undergoing testing for safety purposes, legal dispensaries will indicate potency and other information like cannabinoids and terpene content on the label of your products. Now, you don’t have to second guess how much THC or CBD is in your cannabis, which is critical, especially for medical cannabis patients.

Legal Cannabis’ Largest Threat

The most significant threat to the legal cannabis industry is the illegal market. California collected 55% more tax revenue from legal cannabis sales in 2021 than it did in 2020. Yet, California is struggling compared to other states primarily because the illegal market in the state is at least twice the size of the legal market.

Some think the answer to this problem is to gut regulations and cut taxes on cannabis. However, all that will do is make it harder for people to obtain safe cannabis and take away money from schools, healthcare, equity programs, environmental programs, and essential childcare.

“The answer is to enforce laws against illegal growers, dealers, and unlicensed dispensaries,” according to Timmen L. Cermak, MD. If the United States can successfully regulate the production and sale of illegal alcohol, there is no reason it cannot protect the legal cannabis industry.

North Dispensaries

North Dispensaries provide medical cannabis to the individuals of Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri. We have dedicated ourselves to providing high-quality products to those who need them most.

The illegal cannabis market only adds to the negative stigma surrounding cannabis use and delegitimizes those who legally provide cannabis. Promote legal cannabis sellers today to ensure that cannabis continues to impact our communities positively!

Don’t have a medical cannabis card? No problem! Follow this link to learn how you can obtain one today.


A Beginner’s Guide to Edibles

Edibles are different foods or beverages infused with cannabinoids, like THC and CBD. They are a healthy and highly effective alternative to smoking, but there are some things first-time users should know.

A widespread mistake when consuming edibles is consuming too much at once. It’s crucial to understand what your edibles contain, their potency, and their effects on the body before ingesting them.

Once you know that edibles tend to produce a more potent body high as well as changes in cognition, perception of time, memory, and movement, you’ll be able to pick the dose that’s right for you.

Why Should You Take Edibles?

Many medical patients prefer to take edibles because they do not require patients to inhale smoke or use any extra equipment.

The prolonged effects of edibles are particularly beneficial for patients that are combating specific ailments like chronic pain.

Edibles are also a good option for consumers because you know exactly how much THC and/or CBD you are consuming. There’s no guessing game here.

What Do Edibles Taste Like?

The flavor of your edible depends on the potency and flavor profile of the cannabis products used when making it. Some edibles hide the taste of cannabis more than others.

There are also quite a variety of edibles available in today’s market. From fruity gummies to chocolate bars to sodas, there’s something for everyone.

Sativa vs. Indica

Sativa and Indica are the two primary strains of cannabis.

Sativa creates more of a head high, meaning it has more functional, uplifting, and energetic effects.

When thinking about the effects Indica has on the body, think about “In the couch.” This refers to the fact that Indica creates a more sedated body high. Most edibles are a mix of the two, called a hybrid.

When picking which edible you want to experiment with, first decide what type of high or relief you’re seeking. This will tell you which edibles to narrow your search down to.

Another form available is CBD edibles, which offer potential medical benefits and are non-psychoactive. This means you’ll experience relief without the high.

How Do Edibles Work?

Edibles are different from other forms of consumption because of how the THC enters the bloodstream. There are two categories of edibles:

  1. Sublingual– dissolves under the tongue (i.e., tinctures and hard candies)
  2. Orally ingested-ingested and processed by the liver (i.e., chocolate bars, gumdrops, and baked goods)

A sublingual has a faster onset, at about 15 minutes, and its effects will last for about two to three hours. However, an orally ingested edible takes anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours to kick in, about four hours to reach its peak effect, and can last as long as eight to ten hours. Why is this?

Well, when you orally ingest an edible like a gumdrop, it must be processed through the stomach and intestines before it makes its way to the liver.

Once in the liver, the THC within the edible breaks down into a substance thought to be about ten times stronger, called 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is smaller than THC and can more easily enter the brain than inhaled cannabis. This is what makes edibles both strong and long-lasting.

Keep in mind that everyone metabolizes THC differently and at different rates. We suggest that one should consume something fatty, like cheese or avocado, before eating an edible. This will help your body process THC oil. This is excellent advice for those that experience first-pass metabolism.

First-past metabolism is a problem that limits the effectiveness of many common substances. In the case of THC, instead of your body breaking it down into a more potent metabolite, the compound is cleared from the body without effect.

What Dosage Is Best for You?

A word of advice, go low and slow. If you are new to edibles, especially if you are new to cannabis consumption, you’ll want to start at a low dose and slowly move your way up in dosage until you reach one that fits your needs. The following is what you can generally expect from specific doses:

  • 1-2.5mg – for beginners; provides a mild effect and can help reduce pain, anxiety, and can act as a sleep aid
  • 2.5-10mg – has a more prominent effect; expect euphoria, laughter, and stronger symptoms of relief
  • 10-20mg – do not surpass 10mg if you are not an experienced cannabis consumer; expect strong euphoria and sedation
  • 20+mg – best for patients that warrant such a high dose

Start with a beginner’s dose and wait two hours. If you don’t feel anything after two hours, you may try upping your dosage by a small amount. However, if this is your first time consuming edibles, it is advised that you wait about 24 hours before trying more just to ensure that there is not a delayed reaction.

Help! I’ve Eaten Too Much!

Don’t panic. “Know what you’re doing is safe. You can’t overdose on it [cannabis]. As long as you keep telling yourself that, you’ll be much better off,” says Mike Heller, co-founder of MJ Wooly, which helps companies infuse their foods and beverages with cannabis. Heller is correct; you’re safe.

Drink a glass of water and try to take a nap. Others suggest that fresh air and chewing peppercorn balls may help bring you back to planet earth. If you feel like you can’t wait it out, try taking 15mg of CBD to counteract the THC in your system.

To avoid taking too much, make sure you know just how many milligrams of THC are in each product you buy. You should also know if you need to cut it into pieces or if you can eat the whole thing. Note how much you start with, how much time you wait for it to kick in, and how much you’re adding (if you choose to add more).

Edibles—An Overview

So, edibles, what are they? Edibles are a food or beverage infused with cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Most edibles are made with a hybrid strain, a mix of Sativa and Indica. This gives you a body high with characteristics of a head high.

Go low and slow. For a beginner, you should experiment with a starting dose of about 2.5mg, wait two hours and then add more if you feel the effects aren’t powerful enough. If you don’t feel anything, wait 24 hours before ingesting any more edibles to ensure that you will not experience a delayed reaction.

Don’t take edibles on an empty stomach. Preferably, consume your edibles after eating something with a healthy amount of fat. And remember that edibles naturally take longer to take effect. They reach their peak at around four hours and wear off anywhere between six and eight hours.

Overall, edibles are a great alternative to smoking or vaping cannabis as you know exactly how much THC you are consuming in a sitting, and often it’s more cost-friendly, as you get more bang for your buck.

Start Your Journey with North Today!

Shop North today at our Hillsboro or Pevely locations. We offer a wide variety of premium cannabis products at a competitive price. Plus, we’ll even deliver your products straight to your door!

If you’re new to edibles, a great product to start with is Honeybee edibles. Check out the Hillsboro and Pevely menus to see which Honeybee gumdrops are available at your location. Honeybee is powered by Proper Cannabis, a facility in St. Louis that cultivates premium cannabis and processes it into a pure, tasteless distillate. It is then passed to their culinary team to make all sorts of tasty treats. We can promise an exceptional variety of gumdrops for any consumer looking for all kinds of benefits.

For more information, please call or reach out to us here. Our patient consultants are highly experienced and happy to talk through any questions you may have!


All About Concentrates

Concentrates are the products of extracting plant matter from cannabis, leaving behind cannabinoids with unique properties. This includes THC, which is known for its euphoric experiences, CBD, which is responsible for healing, and terpenes, which provide the aroma. The whole goal of creating concentrates is to keep the desirable elements of the plants but to eliminate the plant matter.

Why Go with Concentrates?

Concentrates are known for their flavor, potency, and wide variety of products. They are great for medical cannabis users looking for immediate pain relief, experienced cannabis users, and people looking to try something new.

The versatility of concentrates is a great reason to give them a try. For starters, you don’t just have to smoke concentrates; there are many ways you can consume them. They are also very effective, meaning a little goes a long way. And, finally, the extracts that concentrates are made from are refined. This creates a smooth, clean inhale when vaporized.

So, just how are cannabis concentrates made?

How are Concentrates Made?

There are two categories that concentrates fall under. These are solvent or solventless. However, each category has a couple of subcategories that you need to know about.

Solvent Concentrates

  1. Butane- also know as BHO (Butane Hash Oil), extractors add butane solvent to fresh, frozen flower or cured bud to strip the essential oils from the plant. The final product is an extract that retains all the cannabinoids and terpenes. However, it’s not done there. This extract then must be purged in a vacuum over. During this process the remaining chemical solvents evaporate from the extract.
  2. Carbon Dioxide- By exposing a combination of cannabis and gas at high temperatures and pressures, you get a crude extract that needs to undergo distillation. Distillation further refines the product and allows manufactures to isolate cannabinoids.

Solventless Concentrates

Solventless concentrates are made when heat and pressure is applied to the cannabis flower. There are two different categories of extracts that come from this process.

  1. Dry sift/dry sieve- this is process of rubbing or rolling dried flower over a sieve to collect trichomes (the resin glands of cannabis). This product is also known as kief and looks like a crumbly, off-white powder.
  2. Ice water hash/bubble hash- the extraction process involves tumbling cannabis flower through ice water, filtering it through fine mesh, and letting it dry. It can be dry, chalky, or greasy.

Textures

Every concentrate falls into a category of textures or consistencies. Here are the different textures you can see with different concentrates.

Sauce

Sauce is a runny, terpene-rich concentrate that occurs when the cannabinoids and terpenes are separated. Some products are labeled HTFSE (high-terpene full-spectrum extract), which means it’s a terpene-rich concentrate that still maintains a well-rounded cannabinoid profile. Sauce is thicker, stickier, and more viscous in texture than sugar, and has a more uniform structure.

Sugar

Sugar is used to describe any concentrate that has a similar consistency to a wet, sappy sugar. This texture is not uniform in nature and typically is colored anywhere between bright yellow and deep amber.

Rosin

Rosin is pure and has no solvent residue. This shatter-like concentrate retains more terpenes and flavonoids and is great for people looking for flavor and purity. It is made by heating and pressing dried flower, hash, or kief together.

Live Rosin

Live rosin has no solvent residue and is made by pressing bubble hash that came from freshly frozen flower

Live Resin

Live resin is a solvent-based (usually BHO), high-quality concentrate. The extreme flavor is achieved by flash-freezing the whole cannabis flowers and then extracting them.

(“Live” products are frozen immediately after harvest.)

Budder

Budder is an amber/yellowish concentrate that resembles butter. Its flavor, colorfulness, and aromatic properties separate it from other concentrates. The creamy texture makes it easy to consume and store. The high THC levels produce a joyful and euphoric experience.

Hash

Hash is kief compressed into a block and has been used for thousands of years by different civilizations.

Ice wax

Ice wax is a subcategory of bubble hash, this concentrate is the highest grade of bubble hash and can be dabbed. Identified by its fine, grainy, sand-like texture.

Wax

Wax has a gooey, candle wax-like texture achieved by whipping it during the purging process. Usually a yellowish-brown color, these concentrates are very potent and can be used to relieve several health issues, like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Shatter

This concentrate looks like glass and shatters into tiny pieces. It should be a clear-thin sheet that is amber or gold in color. Its potency (50%-90% THC) makes it ideal for medical use. It’s excellent for chronic pain and may also help with mood swings, depression, and stress.

Distillate

This concentrate undergoes a complex extraction, separation, and purification process to produce a potent oil. All that’s left after these processes is THC. This 99% THC concentrate has tremendous protentional for medical and recreational use and is often used in edibles and vape cartridges.

Crystalline

This concentrate is isolated cannabinoids in a pure crystal structure. These crystals have no flavor, color, or aroma and are very high in THC (99.9%).

How To Consume Your Concentrates

If you’re looking for something low maintenance, but still want a potency boost, we recommend you top your flower. Adding powdered kief to your bowl or wrapping wax around your joint can up the potency of your smokables with only a little extra effort.

Looking for a light high on the go? Use a vape pen! Pre-filled vape pens are a discreet and efficient way to consume cannabis concentrates. A major plus of this option is that the high sets in almost immediately.

For a long-lasting, smoke-free high, eat an edible. These don’t require any special equipment and they’re easy to consume. However, it may take up to two hours for the full high to kick in.

Finally, if you’re looking for targeted relief, we suggested you try a topical. When applied topically, concentrates may provide the relief you’re seeking, but without the head high.

Head North!

Head North for all your concentrate needs. We have a wide selection to choose from, so it’s guaranteed that you’ll find something perfect for you. Check out our website at https://north-life.303-dev.com/ for all your medical cannabis needs. Also, take the time to check out some of our blogs, here, for more information about cannabis and what it can do for you.


5 Ways Cannabis Positively Impacts the Planet

Humans have used cannabis for thousands of years for different reasons. From making clothes to creating medicine, cannabis has benefited society in many ways.

When you first think about cannabis, your mind probably goes straight to its medicinal purposes, but did you know that this plant, particularly hemp, can help the planet?

Just as cannabis use can help individuals with various medical conditions, its growth and use can also help keep our planet healthy. Keep reading to learn precisely how cannabis can positively impact the planet.

Cannabis Reduces Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas. As of 2019, it made up 80% of all greenhouse gases produced by human activity. As a significant contributor to global warming, we must develop ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Traditionally, we have relied on extensive forests, like the Amazon Rainforest, to absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, deforestation means we are using up trees faster than we can replace them. This means there is less greenery to counterbalance carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

This is where cannabis comes in. Cannabis can absorb more carbon dioxide per hectare than any forest or commercial crop. We call this process of taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil carbon sequestration.

Hemp is known to grow quickly in a wide range of nutrient-poor soils while only needing small amounts of water and little to no fertilizers. These properties make hemp one of the most efficient carbon dioxide converters.

Cannabis Paper

It takes trees longer to grow to maturity than it does cannabis. It’s estimated that over a 20-year cycle, one acre of hemp can produce as much paper as four to ten acres of trees.

Hemp paper can also be recycled eight times in its lifetime, compared to the three times for wood-pulp paper. Hemp also uses much less water and chemicals than wood-pulp paper.

Cannabis Fashion

Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of the global carbon dioxide emissions each year? “It also accounts for about a fifth of the 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year,” according to Rachael Dottle and Jackie Gu.

When you think about how much textiles are wasted each year (about 11.3 tons), it’s frightening to think about their effect on the environment.

While cotton production and manufacturing are not exactly eco-friendly, it’s better than the alternative the fashion industry seems so keen on using, polyester.

In 2015, polyester production for clothing emitted 282 billion tons of carbon dioxide, triple that of cotton.

The danger of polyester is that it’s a plastic that creates microplastics that pollute the oceans, freshwater, and land and endangers the animals that consume them. Unfortunately, Australian scientists estimate that there are between 9.25 to 15.86 million tons of microplastics sitting at the bottom of the ocean alone.

Hemp may just be our answer to these problems. One acre of hemp can produce as much material as two to three acres of cotton and is four times warmer.

Hemp fabric is also:

  • Odor-resistant
  • Breathable
  • Fire resistant
  • UV-protectant.

Hemp is also biodegradable, meaning that all the clothing that ends up in landfills will cause less damage to the planet if we make it with hemp.

Cannabis Plastic

Most of the plastic we use is created with fossil fuels and takes over 400 years to decompose. This fact is more than a little scary, considering we have about 9.2 billion tons of it to deal with.

You may be surprised to know that some of the earliest plastics we created used hemp cellulose fibers. While making a 100% hemp-based plastic alternative is hard, companies can use plastic made from hemp and other plant fibers. Coca-Cola and Lego are already doing such a thing.

Like in fashion, by switching to hemp, we can reduce the number of toxins we are exposed to and how much plastic ends up in our landfills.

Cannabis As Renewable Biofuel

Just as with plastics, we want to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. At the University of Connecticut, researchers have discovered that industrial hemp contains properties that make it an attractive raw material for making sustainable biofuel.

The study showed that hemp biodiesel has high conversion efficiency, as the researchers were able to convert 97% of the hemp oil into biodiesel. People can also use it at lower temperatures than any other biodiesel currently available.

We make hemp into biodiesel by pressing the hemp seeds into oil. The fermented stalk can also be used to make ethanol and methanol.

In any diesel engine, you can use hemp biodiesel fuel, completely unmodified.

The benefits of biodiesel are that it is:

  • Biodegradable
  • Non-toxic
  • Produces fewer greenhouse gases

How Can You Help Protect the Planet?

As you can see, there are many benefits to using cannabis as an alternative for many things, from clothing to paper, fuel, plastic, and paper. However, that’s just all that cannabis can do.

Proper cannabis production can also stabilize and replenish damaged soil. Hemp can clear contaminated soil of metals, pesticides, solvents, oil, and other harmful materials.

To help our planet, you can help support bills and laws that promote the growth of cannabis for the reasons we pointed out in this blog.

This Earth Day, we can all take a moment to think about what we can do to help our planet last for billions of more years. Perhaps, adopting hemp as a part of our everyday life would be the next step in ensuring a bright future for planet Earth.

Shop North Today!

Are you looking for a reliable medicinal cannabis dispensary? Well, you’ve found two in North dispensaries. Visit one of our locations, either in Hillsboro or Pevely.

We care about our customers and their experience. That’s why we always have knowledgeable staff members to help guide you through the decision process. We also offer delivery!

Do you have questions about our services? Contact us today, and we’ll help you in any way we can.


Cannabis & Nausea Relief

There are countless anti-nausea medications available for use. From prescriptions to over-the-counter medicines like Dramamine and everything else between, there seems to be plenty of options for people in dire need of nausea relief. Unfortunately, many medications have adverse side effects like lightheadedness, drowsiness, headache, tiredness, dizziness, or constipation. And, even after enduring these side effects, sometimes the traditional anti-nausea medication doesn’t work well enough for patients.

Doctors realized early on that there had to be some alternative that worked better than these medications. That’s why they turned to cannabis. Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, doctors have studied the effectiveness of cannabis and synthetic cannabis on nausea and vomiting. Today, with promising results, many people turn to cannabis to seek relief from nausea.

What Is Nausea?

Nausea is stomach discomfort that usually occurs before vomiting. There are many different causes of nausea. Some people experience something as simple as motion sickness, while others may experience severe nausea from a particular medication or medical condition. Essentially, nausea and vomiting are the body’s way of expelling toxins from itself.

The Beginnings of Medicinal Cannabis & Nausea

One of the many reasons an individual may choose to take medicinal cannabis is that they experience chronic and severe nausea. This is commonly seen in cancer patients as a side effect of chemotherapy. In fact, nausea caused by chemotherapy has a name: chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This type of nausea and vomiting occurs within six to 24 hours of receiving chemotherapy. Patients have described it as overpowering and extreme. In scientific terms, this is called emesis.

In 1995, Abrahamov et al. evaluated the anti-emetic effectiveness of Δ8-THC, a close but less psychoactive relative of Δ9-THC, in children receiving chemotherapy treatment. After a total of 480 treatments, the only side effects reported were slight irritability in two of the youngest patients (3.5 and 4 years old). However, the treatment controlled both acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. However, this study observed the effects of synthetic cannabis. It wasn’t until 2021 that a study focused on the anti-emetic effects of natural cannabis.

Medicinal Cannabis & Nausea in 2021

In the 2021 study, “The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea,” researchers observed that most patients using cannabis to treat nausea experienced relief. More than 96% of the study sample reported nausea relief within one hour.

Researchers did see a difference in nausea relief depending on the product characteristics with flower and concentrates outperforming tinctures and edibles. This study also determined that Cannabis sativa and “hybrid” products exceeded Cannabis indica products.

Researchers found that joints resulted in more significant symptom relief among combustion products than consuming via a pipe or vaporizer.

While this study couldn’t completely describe the mechanisms behind cannabis’ ability to reduce nausea rapidly, it was able to assume that it likely involves the plant’s ability to activate CB1 receptor responses to other stimuli in the central nervous system. This includes the insular cortex, which is involved in conscious awareness of internal bodily states.

The insular cortex is also an example of a brain region naturally controlled by endocannabinoids that naturally develop in the human body. Therefore, it’s not surprising that phytocannabinoids that develop in the cannabis plant also stimulate similar brain regions.

Synthetic Cannabis

In 1985, the FDA approved dronabinol and nabilone, synthetic cannabinoids, not to be confused with K2 and spice. Both are available in oral and inhaled solutions and are authorized to treat CINV. While these are available for use, they’re typically considered secondary medication options. A patient must show that they are non-reactive to other anti-nausea medications.

Since being approved by the FDA, researchers have conducted more than 30 clinical trials that show that synthetic cannabinoids are superior to traditional dopamine receptor antagonist medications for CINV.

However, a review of research literature has concluded that cannabinoids effectively control cancer-induced nausea and vomiting, and oral THC and smoked cannabis have similar efficacy.

Synthetic cannabinoids indeed have side effects that differentiate them from natural cannabinoids. For this reason, we recommend that if you can get and utilize a medical cannabis card, you try different cannabis methods that suit your nausea symptoms.

Is Medicinal Cannabis Right for Your Nausea?

Cannabis can help treat many different types of nausea. There are plenty of consumption methods, so there’s no shortage of options for your specific needs. If you are interested in treating your nausea with medical cannabis, head North!

North Dispensaries offers high-quality products that help you with any of your medical cannabis needs. Our patient consultants will help you find the perfect solution for you. We even offer delivery for our patients that can’t make it in person. Don’t let your health sit on the back burner. Be proactive and visit one of our locations in Pevely or Hillsboro today.


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