FEATURE 
To Gift or Not to Gift:
The Cannabis Question
By: Forest Palmer
KC CHRONICLE
December 2022 Newsletter
Being a good gift giver is of vital importance to many people and the holidays bring on a type of self induced stress that is impossible to avoid. So many difficult questions swirl around in the cranium when deciding on a potential gift. Would this be a weird gift to give? Is it the right kind or color? Are they even going to like it? This article alone is enough to start building my own stress around gift giving. Alas, I have a simple solution for would-be gifters; ask yourself… Does this person use or enjoy cannabis? If the answer is yes, then you are well on your way to the perfect gift.
KYLE
A Blue Springs native and a team member since May of 2021, Kyle Davis has become a favorite in the KCC community. He is the type of person who has never met a stranger and his charismatic energy is infectious. Patients and vendors alike mention him by name and many patients followed Kyle to his new dispensary when he took on the manager role and opened our Lake Lotawana store back in January of this year.
Kyle’s favorite aspect of working in the dispensaries is meeting the wide range of people who utilize and enjoy cannabis. He pointed out instances of finding common interests with people he wouldn’t have otherwise interacted with if they hadn’t met through cannabis and those relationships tend to be friendly and genuine. Kyle also finds fulfillment in sharing victories with patients through their personal cannabis journeys. He has helped with everything from finding patients an alternative to their pain meds to helping patients with cancer find relief from some of their symptoms. He said, “When you see someone come in and it worked for them, that’s a victory for us.”
As far as Kyle’s personal preferences, he is a nighttime smoker who prefers to use a joint to help clear his mind and relax at the end of the day. When asked which brand he would choose to roll in that joint he praised Vibe’s flower and concentrates, saying that their quality is second to none and that they took the right approach to selling cannabis. Other than the physical benefits that we all enjoy about cannabis, Kyle also believes in the plant’s ability to help bridge social gaps saying, “Weed will bring you together. It’s one of the coolest things about it. People of all forms, backgrounds and religions.You can be in a room with 10 strangers and if you light a joint; you’re going to hit it off about something.”
Kyle is a joy for many patients and they love conversing with him so I’m going to squeeze some interesting points about him into this conclusion. In his down time Kyle likes to spend time with his wife, three sons, and grandson. He is a gamer who loves to get down on some Warzone and NBA 2K. He also has a “KC Royal” bloodline with his uncle being 1985 World Series champion Willie Wilson. To top it all off, Kyle has already left his own mark on Missouri cannabis history by coining the term “Vibe notes” for Vibe concentrates during a conversation with the Vibe team at a Chiefs game.
Over the past year and a half Kyle has left a lasting impression on KCC, our patients and the Missouri industry as a whole. He knows and loves the cannabis plant and enjoys the work he does at his dispensary. Anyone who crosses paths with Kyle leaves their conversation in a better mood than when they arrived and his vibe is a service to KCC patients alone. Nexttime you are making a dispensary run, consider heading down to Lake Lotawan and chopping it up with Kyle and his team.
STAFF REVIEWS
Our helpful staff is happy to advise something similar, if items are out of stock
Headchange: Heavy Metal Rainbow Live Hash Rosin
“Heavy Metal Rainbow Live Hash Rosin Concentrate, by Headchange, is a beautiful amalgamation of Rainbow Belts x ZKittles and Gummiez. As typical with hash rosin, it's got that reminiscent beige color. The flavor emerges with a spicy, hoppy, yet sweet and floral taste. One can expect to have a clear, relaxed mind, that is also stimulating, without the heart racing. Heavy Metal Rainbow makes for an excellent start to the morning or even a great quick break to keep motivations high.” - Braden Smith
DOC
Ask Dr. Feeze
By: Cody Freeze, PharmD RPh
Co-author: Jeff Krupkowski, B.S. in Geneticals, Horticulture Specialist
Meet our resident Director of Health & Wellness, Cody Freeze, PharmD RPH. In this monthly feature, he will field your questions around cannabis and the interactions with the human body. To submit a question, please send to info@kccannabis.org with the subject line "Ask Dr. Freeze."
Q: What are some commonly encountered cannabis concentrates? Isn't a concentrate the same thing as an extract? What is a solvent? What does full-extract or full-spectrum mean?
A: The answer for this is extensive, and with varying facets. We will explore these different points through the next couple articles, to touch on as much pertinent detail as possible. In this second portion, we will address types of cured concentrates.
Cured Concentrates
Cured concentrates are made from bud and trim that has been slowly dried after harvest, just the same as if it were going to be sold as flower. Typically when drying freshly-harvested plants for consumption, the plants are cut and hung up at 60℉ and 60% relative humidity, which can take up to 14 days to dry to the point the stems snap instead of bend. Once dried, flowers are placed in sealed containers, isolated from the external environment. This allows the inner moisture to evenly distribute throughout the flower. Once the inner moisture has been purged (cured) to the point the relative humidity in the container is ~60%, it is complete. When concentrates are made from this material, they are considered cured concentrates.
The next step is to choose an extraction method to make a raw/crude concentrate that can then be further refined into the desired product, if desired.
THC distillate
Ethanol
Ethanol (EtOH) extraction is used to create ‘THC distillate’ which can be nearly 100% Δ9 THC. Ethanol is added to the plant matter which breaks it down into its individual components, then evaporated off to isolate the THC. This fully decarboxylated THC can then be put into a cartridge to vaporize or into an edible for ingestion. If put into a cartridge, different terpenes are added, either from cannabis/hemp that was rendered in another extraction or from botanical terpenes, i.e. terpenes that were isolated from plants that are not cannabis such as lavender, oranges etc.
Shatter
Butane
Butane extraction is used to create ‘Shatter’, a full-spectrum concentrate that varies in consistency from a taffy-like substance to something that could nearly be mistaken for glass. This substance is typically very high in cannabinoids and low in terpenes, which gives it its firm consistency (terpenes make a concentrate more ‘runny’. Shatter is often turned into a wax or crumble by gently heating and physically agitated for a period of time. This allows the THC to crystalize together into small aggregates. When these small aggregates are heaped together there is space in between them allowing for more room for air. This essentially fluffs up the shatter, helping it vaporize off hot surfaces easier, which allows for a more flavorful experience.
Rosin
Rosin
Rosin is an extract made by using heat and pressure to force plant resin through a fine screen. This is considered ‘solventless’ as no chemical (ethanol, butane, etc.) was used in the process. When cured flower is at ~62% it can be ‘squished’ to create cured rosin. While it does not have any contamination from solvents, it does have a high wax (paraffin) concentration that may have other health consequences.
Bubble Hash
Bubble hash
Bubble hash or sift is created in a similar fashion as rosin however no heat is involved. Trichomes are separated through agitation then separated with a filter screen. If this is done in cold water the trichomes fuse together when drying and bubble hash is created; if done on a dry screen the trichomes loosely come together to create dry sift. This is a very traditional way of making a very simple concentrate.
Cured concentrates are an economical option with great medicinal properties. The reason they are more economical is they can be made with dried trim or unsold flower. They often contain a lower concentration of terpenes, which are more economically valuable than cannabinoids, meaning they cannot command the same elevated sticker price. If cost is not a concern and terpenes are your medicine of choice, live extracts are probably the best option.
Stay tuned for as we dive deeper into the subject of concentrates, and how they're derived, in next months issue of KC Chronicle.
CHEF
Infused Cooking with KCC
This month is filled with treats and fun with loved ones. This recipe is perfectly tailored to easily adjust the amount of medication you'd like!
CANNABIS INFUSED SNOWBALL COOKIES
What you'll need:
- Saucepan (for cannabutter)
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Mixing Soons
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring Cup
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (regular & softened)
- 1/2 cup cannabutter (softened)
Note: adjust the above butter ratio to fine-tune preferred medication level.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (choose your fav or use 2-3 combined)
- 1/4 tsp Himalayan salt
Steps:
1. Pre heat your oven to 400F
2. Mix regular butter and cannabutter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
3. Shape your dough into little balls and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes – don't let them get brown!
5. Let them cool a bit, and while still warm, roll them in powdered sugar. Wait a few minutes,and roll them in again!
INFUSION INSTRUCTIONS
Canna-Butter
What you'll need:
- Double Boiler or Saucepan
- 1 Cup Butter
- 1 Cup ground Cannabis Flower
- 1 Cup water (if using saucepan)
- Cheesecloth or fine strainer
Steps:
*Decarb cannabis before using for infustion*
1. Set a double boiler to a low simmer
2. Combine cannabis, Butter, and water.
3. Simmer on low for 2-3 hours, keeping oil temp between 160º-200ºF. (Do not exceed 200ºF)
4. Once cooled, remove plant matter by straining.
TIP: Do not press too hard when straining - this will add chlorophyll, giving it more of a plant taste.
*Refrigerate few hours/overnight, remove any excess water that forms at bottom of container*
To calculate dosage for your infused product, there are online calculators like this one featured at hempster.com.
Decarboxylation (Flower)
What you'll need:
- Baking Sheet
- Cannabis Flower
- Grinder
Steps:
1. Grind Cannabis flower.
2. Spread evenly on baking sheet, lined with parchment.
3. Preheat oven to 230ºF
4. "Bake" Cannabis for 30min. Cannabis should look toasted.
Decarboxylation (Wax)
What you'll need:
- Baking Sheet
- Concentrate
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 200ºF
2. Place concentrate in oven safe dish or silicone
3. "Bake" Concentrate for 20-25min, until wax is done bubbling.
Please email info@kccannabis.org to submit feedback, questions, or recipe requests.
