KC CHRONICLE January 2023 Newsletter

FEATURE

Anxiety and How Cannabis Helps

By: Forest Palmer

Reasons for anxiety can span over a variety of roots and triggers, none less valid than the next. Whether it be due to difficulties surrounding sticking to a New Years resolution, or just starting to explore the medicinal benefits of cannabis in the new Missouri recreational market, we are here to help guide you in your journey to relief.

I’ve written, and rewritten this blog three times now, each time changing the subject and each time finding some reason to scrap it and start over. It’s a cycle that I have become familiar with; the need to perfect whatever task I have put my attention on in order to deliver, not what someone else expects of me, but what I expect of myself. A standard that I sometimes put so high that it becomes impossible to reach. It causes my heart to race and my thoughts to speed through my head faster than my words can keep up with. Then, by trying to catch just pieces of those thoughts, I start to feel the familiar swell start in the back of my head. My foot will start to tap and my jaw will tighten. If I don’t slow down by this point my hands will start to shake and I’ll get tunnel vision. After that, I have a panic attack. Simply put, I have anxiety, but cannabis helps.

Before I dive in, I wanted to acknowledge that cannabis isn’t for everyone. I understand that not everyone enjoys the effects or finds them therapeutic. At one point in my life cannabis sometimes gave me terrible anxiety, but after spending some time exploring what cannabis could do, I found what worked for me. If you are considering giving cannabis a first time try (or another try) for anxiety relief, here are some tips from someone who has done the “field testing” for you. What works for me may not work for you and I wouldn’t recommend cannabis to anyone who wasn’t comfortable with the idea of using it in the first place but I hope some of you find benefit from these tips.

Tip Number 1.   It’s not all about the THC. I started out by chasing the highest THC percentage that I could find. A high THC percentage tends to speed up my heart rate and that is absolutely not how my anxiety goes away. These days I find myself preferring around 18 percent THC.

Tip Number 2.   It’s very easy to use more but impossible to use less. Start with a small dose and work your way up in small increments. If you’re smoking, take a drag and wait a couple minutes before taking another. If you would prefer to try an edible, take ½ or even a ⅓ of what’s recommended. It is important not to speed through finding the proper dose for yourself.

Tip Number 3.   If it smells good, it will feel good. It sounds cheesy but it works for me most of the time. When I smell dried cannabis, I can feel my body relax a little when I find a terpene profile that will suit me best when smoked.

Tip Number 4.   Learn where your tipping point is. This is less about cannabis and more about knowing yourself. If your anxiety is working up and you don’t feel comfortable or at ease with the thought of medicating or medicating more, then don’t.

Tip Number 5.   Always remember, you won’t die from using cannabis. There has been exactly zero(0) deaths from cannabis overdose. Keeping that fact in mind will oftentimes help alleviate the anxiety caused from using cannabis… for anxiety.

Anxiety can present present itself at any time, and often is expressed in a variety of ways from one person to the next. Just as everyone's causes and reactions are different, the methods and doses are equally diverse. Come in to any of our locations to discuss with our knowledgable budtenders, so they can help you get on the right path to relief.

LEXI

Any patient who has come through our Blue Springs store is for sure familiar with the smile and positive energy beaming from Lexi Allen. She is a Renaissance woman who loves a challenge with interests in everything from machine work, to sewing, to self done tattoos. Lexi has now been killing it with the Blue Springs team for over a year now and has recently accepted a new challenge at KCC by being promoted to leadership as a 3rd Key manager at that store.

Like many of us, Lexi’s cannabis journey started in highschool, picking up her first joint from a stranger at a sketchy gas station. Now Lexi uses cannabis to combat Crohn’s Disease and chronic pain associated with an arthritic, twice-broken ankle and of course, to relax. She decided to get into the cannabis industry because of the positive effect cannabis has had on her life. When asked about her favorite part of working at KCC she immediately pointed to her team and patients. “The people are the best part. You get to connect with people in a real way... Everyone has their own unique story and everyone is a lot more chill.”

When asked about her personal usage, Lexi said she likes to start and end her days with an edible while smoking flower when she can throughout. She said, “It’s so weird to say but I love to smoke a blunt and clean my house.” When asked what she was smoking in those house-cleaning blunts, Lexi showed Vibe some love, “Vibe’s Gelato is absolute fire. I smoke it a lot and could pretty much smoke it all day.” She then continued to explain her love for Gron’s Pearls and Mega Pearls saying they were by far her go-to choice in edibles.

Lexi and I went on to talk about where she saw herself in 20 years. She explained that she hopes to have already found her perfect house which would be just the right size with a big backyard for her dog Harper, in some vacation destination while still working in the cannabis industry. Until then, you can link up with Lexi at our Blue Springs store and pick her brain about cannabis.

STAFF REVIEWS

Our helpful staff is happy to advise something similar, if items are out of stock

In The Flow: Donny Burger

“Donny Burger, the heavy-hitting combination of GMO and Han-Solo Burger, has made a few appearances in the Missouri market but nothing quite as high-level as the harvest from In The Flow. The flower itself has a medium green color with burnt orange hairs and a thick layer of trichomes, giving it a gilded appearance. The scent profile contains strong gas notes with citrus undertones, different from most burger strains which tend to have more earthy notes. However, on the inhale, that traditional earthy flavor comes through beautifully, attributed to its high beta-myrcene content. The exhale has a gas-heavy finish that is in line with its fragrance. The experience begins shortly after consumption, a weighted sensation that starts in the body and creeps up towards the mind. The aforementioned weight helps guide the consumer towards a deep state of relaxation, making it an ideal choice for pain and stress management as well as a sleep aid. ” - Kassie Ferrero

CHEF

Infused Cooking with KCC

The beginning of the new year often brings along a varitey of efforts toward healthier lifestyles and overall improvement. Whether your efforts are to eat more healthy, weight loss, or simply explore fun new recipie -the following diabetic friendly feature has you covered!

CANNABIS INFUSED THAI SHRIMP WRAPS (DIABETIC FRIENDLY)

What you'll need:
- Saucepan (for cannabutter)
- A large area to place your rice wraps
- Cutting Board, Sharp knife
- Bowls and dishes for your garnishes
- Garlic press if you don't have minced garlic in a jar
- Strainer, Large Bowl

Ingredients:
- 1-3 Tbsp cannabutter
Note: adjust the above butter ratio to fine-tune preferred medication level.
- 2 ounces rice vermicelli
- 8 large rice wraps
- 3 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- 1 large bag of cooked shrimp the bigger the better!
- 3 tbsp fresh mint leaves chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped.
- 2 leaves of lettuce cut into strips
- 4 tsp fish sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1-3 clove garlic minced
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 tsp garlic chili sauce sugar-free or use sriacha
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce sugar free
- 3 tbsp chopped peanuts un-salted

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.

Steps:
1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain. Set aside. You'll need this later. I used scissors to cut them up perfectly for these wraps.
2. Fill a large bowl with hot water. Dip one rice wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. I like to lay it on parchment paper on the counter so it doesn't sticlk.
Repeat with all wraps, and leave them to hang out for a while.
3. While the rice wraps are hanging out, put 1-2 tbsp cannabuter in a frying pan, (more if you need it) with a heavy helping of garlic. cook on med-high, and don't let garlic burn. Throw in your shrimps, and let them warm up for a minute or two tops. Set aside.
4. In a row across the center of each wrap, place 2 -3 shrimps, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
5. In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic and chili sauce.
6. In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.
7. Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures dipping or drizzling sauce overtop. Enjoy!

DECARBOXYLATION (DECARB) INSTRUCTIONS

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.