FEATURE 
7 Quick Reasons For Cannabis Criminal Justice Reform
By: Forest Palmer
KC CHRONICLE
November 2022 Newsletter
Cannabis is arguably the most confusing plant on Earth. The nature of this plant isn’t what mystifies me though, it’s the drastic and polarizing views from both ends of the spectrum whenever cannabis comes up in conversation. As an avid and open cannabis user who has made a living out of loving this plant, I have spent many awkward conversations with extended family members or high school classmates trying to deflect the ludicrous ideas or thoughts revolving around cannabis. If you talk to someone about their favorite flower, they might not even have an answer for you, but if you talk to them about cannabis, well they have a PHD in Hypothetical Fact Calculation with an emphasis in Cannabis Pseudoscience. My point is that everyone has an opinion on this plant and no one has it 100% right, but everyone is starting to agree, we shouldn’t be caging, fining, or legally harassing other people for using cannabis. So here are 7 talking points that you can use the next time you find yourself in an awkward legal debate.
1. Cannabis is legal, in one way or another, in 39 states. That is 39 states whose governing bodies have collectively decided that cannabis is far less harmful than Reefer Madness once taught us. If you include the 8 other states that have at least taken steps toward lessening the punishment for cannabis possession, that leaves only 3 states that remain fully illegal with no medical use allowed.
BRADEN
Originally from Liberty, Braden Smith is a near-local to Excelsior Springs and has been a member of our team since March of this year. Braden has proven to be the type of budtender that can blow you away with how much he knows about cannabis and the products on our shelves. Over the past 7 months Braden has sharpened his skills in multiple areas and has recently accepted a leadership position as Excelsior Springs’ assistant manager. On top of his cannabis career, Braden has been in the National Guard for 5 years and has a side hustle breeding and selling fresh water fish and snails out of 17 aquariums. (If you’re in the market for cichlids, basheers, or plecos, hit Braden up.)
Like many of us, Braden started using cannabis in high school. Cannabis helped him get through social situations that he might not otherwise enjoy along with aiding in his sleep cycle and appetite. As he continued using cannabis in its many varieties and forms, he started to consume strains without referencing information about them first so as to not dampen the experience. This allows him to form his own opinion before being swayed by secondary information which gives him a more genuine first hand experience to pass along to the patients.
Through his experimental mindset Braden has also landed on his personal favorites in each category. He praised Proper and Sinse flower for their quality and consistency and his favorite hash makers are the ever popular Headchange team referencing their affordable top shelf quality and the exciting new products they are able to pump out. When asked what his favorite part of working in the cannabis industry was, Braden referenced witnessing patient improvements. “I really like working with patients and seeing their ability to overcome a lot of the same things that I’ve tried to deal with. Seeing their improvement through cannabis is a beautiful thing.” He went on to explain how important it is to listen to the patient and help them find the right product for the situation they are looking for help with. Braden’s conversational nature, passion for helping people and his vast product knowledge has turned Braden into a patient favorite.
STAFF REVIEWS
Our helpful staff is happy to advise something similar, if items are out of stock
Proper: Fruit Cut live rosin
“Fruit Cup, a cross of Apple Fritter x Banana OG, is the first release of Proper’s line of live rosin. As opposed to a live badder, rosin is a solventless product made by using heat and pressure to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes. The result is an appearance unlike other concentrates, a thick paste with a color palette of cream and light wood tones. The scent is predominantly lemon with notes of sweet pine. In contrast, the flavor palette showcases a banana on the inhale and a mellow, earthy taste on the exhale. The experience starts with a heavy eye sensation, slowly leading to a relaxed, warm body melt. While the piquancy of this strain is closer to Apple Fritter, the effects are in line with Banana OG. Fruit Cup rosin would be best utilized in the evening as a way to relax and unwind. ” - Kassie Ferrero
DOC
Ask Dr. Feeze
By: Cody Freeze, PharmD RPh
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 first portion, we will address cannabis extract types.
Cannabis extracts come in a wide variety of colors and consistencies based on a number of factors. Aside from the different qualities of cannabis used to make the extract, many different extraction techniques can be utilized, each resulting in a different product with varying medicinal characteristics and applications. These extracts can be used directly or as an ingredient in other products. While not necessary for everyone, cannabis extracts can offer powerful, immediate relief for those with high tolerance. Understanding these products can help a patient choose the one best for their medicinal needs.
Cured Extracts vs. Live Extracts
With all the different methods of cannabis extraction, most methods can be done with plant material that is either cured (dried) or plant material that is flash-frozen upon harvest (live). Flash-frozen/live extraction has become the dominant extraction technique as it offers a number of advantages to ‘cured’ extracts.
Figure 1: Anatomy of a cannabis trichome.
As shown above, the trichome of a cannabis plant is composed of numerous parts. The part of most interest to us is the ‘secretory vesicle’ which contains the vast majority of terpenes and cannabinoids. All the rest of the trichome amounts to contamination of the extract, and the different extraction techniques will results in different amounts of contamination. The benefit of live extraction is flash-frozen trichomes are brittle which allows for the cuticle to brake easier, allowing for better separation from the desired resin. Also, since the plants are flash-frozen from the time of harvest, the terpenes are immediately captured resulting in less loss.
Solvent vs. Solventless Extract
A solvent is a substance (chemical) that aides in the separation of terpenes/cannabinoids from the rest of the plant. A solvent can be an alcohol (typically ethanol), a hydrocarbon (butane, hexane, etc.), or a common gas (CO2, Nitrogen). While solvents have garnered a poor reputation amongst the purists, they are not without their benefits. Some solvents will extract certain classifications of terpenes better than other solvents, resulting in greatly different products.
Solventless extraction is simply an extraction method that doesn’t use any sort of chemical. It is typically accomplished with physics, such as using pressure and heat to make ‘Rosin’, or a fine mesh screen and gravity to make dry sift kif or bubble hash, respectively. Both types of extract mentioned can be incredibly flavorful, without the potential harm of residual solvents in the end product.
Stay tuned for as we dive deeper into forms of concentrates, and how they're derived, in next months issue of KC Chronicle.
“It’s not magic or mysticism, it’s biochemistry!”
PATIENT REVIEWS
Our helpful staff is happy to advise something similar, if items are out of stock
Heartland Holistics: 50mg FECO Transdermal Patch
“Simply one of the best medicinal products on the Missouri medical market; Heartland Holistics' 50mg FECO transdermal patch is a fantastic way to direct the right medicine to the right area for over 24 hours. Comes complete with an alcohol wipe to clean your skin before applying, helping it adhere. I have sciatica issues and regularly apply one to the area before flying or driving long distances. One instance I had a debilitating migraine so I applied one to the back of my neck... half an hour later the migraine was no more and never returned. I couldn't recommend this product more highly. 100%.
CHEF
Infused Cooking with KCC
This month, we're going with a Thanksgiving crowd favorite that can be used with a varitey of dishes.
CANNABIS INFUSED TURKEY GRAVY
What you'll need:
- Saucepan
(one for cannabutter, one for gravy)
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp Cannabis butter (infused)
- 1/4 Cup fat skimmed from drippings
- 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Cups liquid (juices from roasted turkey, broth, water)
- 1/2 Tsp salt
- 1/2 Tsp pepper
Steps:
1. Transfer the fat to a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Let the fat melt and then sprinkle on the flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir continuously until the fat and flour have formed a homogeneous mixture. Continue stirring for 2-3 minutes.
3. Whisk in the hot drippings slowly into the roux. Keep whisking until the liquids are fully incorporated.
4. Bring the gravy to a simmer and continue simmering until it reaches your desired consistency.
5. Season with salt and pepper and 1 tbsp of cannabis butter.
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.
