Treats! Magazine Issue Thirteen | Page 33

like Anslinger and Nixon, stems from a need to control things. Our need for control is rooted in a fear of losing relevance, which is akin to our fear of death. If one considers that cannabis got its start during burial rituals, one might conclude that history is not without irony. Nevertheless, fear can have a lasting impact when reinforced with the full weight of the law. However, countries that have legalized cannabis have determined numerous health benefits, including relief from seizures caused by epilepsy as well as analgesic properties for those in chronic pain. We’re just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of discovering the benefits, and now that the Schedule 1 stigma is lifting, researchers can dive deeper into understanding the plant. Ever since full legalization in California, brands have been helping to destigmatize cannabis. For instance, take Dosit. The Venice Beach-based company produces a palm-sized vape with a futuristic white case that, along with its clean-lined branding of a mountain, evokes a sense of healthy living. Dosit rigged its device with a signal, a gentle vibration, that alerts the user when they’ve received a dose, about 2.5mg worth of THC. Given that Dosit is a vape, it has taken steps to assure people that they don’t use adulterants, stating on its website: “we never utilize any cutting agents like Vitamin E acetate.” Dosit is lab-tested for safety, and names its blends after various uses, like sleep, calm, arouse and relief. This is a smart branding play, but it also shows something else that’s happening as a result of legalization. As more strains develop, more variety and benefits are being discovered and refined. Back in the day, when buying a bag of weed, one was subject to whatever the dealer had. Who cared about the various strains? The goal was to get the weed, and leave the house before the cops arrived… Or, at least before another episode aired on the dealer’s TV. Of course, seasoned smokers may have thought to ask for something more relaxing, like indica, or something peppy, like sativa. But the casual smoker never really considered this. They just bought the dank weed with comical names, like AK-47 and Sour Diesel. Those names are still around, and give cannabis a dorm-room vibe that brands like Dosit are obviously attempting to elevate. Yet, here at Fountain of Wellbeing, they’re growing Wedding Cake, Z Cubed and Garlic Cookies. The latter strain is a new one for them, one they’ve been cultivating for a while. It’s a hybrid strain that’s testing at about 40% THC. It’s a clean, sweet taste that leaves one upbeat and focused for about four hours. “Every so often you come across a strain that’s just a winner,” says Gabriel. “And Garlic Cookies is definitely one of those. As a heavy user, I can get used to most strains. Like, say for one week I’ll smoke one strain of weed, and then I won’t get as high at the end of the week. With this strain, I stay the same level of medicated the whole entire time. It’s just the genetics. Something about it.” But these names come from the growers, who are either having a laugh or just naming it after what it tastes like. Skittles — Rhody and Gabriel joke — tastes like a mouthful of fruity candy. Gabriel isn’t a marketing guy; he’s an electrician and contractor. “I kept building grows out for people,” he says. “I did electrical for some places and I was like, ‘man, these guys are just goofing around all day playing video games and getting high.’ I was like, ‘I can do this,’ so I did.” Slowly, as California went from illegal to medical to fully legal, he found his job became more professional. Lisa Detamore and her husband Jason came to Los Angeles from West Virginia with knowledge of the illegal world. Jason’s mother grew cannabis in West Virginia, and they entered medical community in 2009, starting Grace, one of the longest standing dispensaries in West Los Angeles. “Now, it’s a lot more thought out now than it used to be,” says Lisa Detamore. “Growing up, you never knew what you were getting in that joint. I think that the clarity of what the product is has a lot to do with why it’s changing.” Grace makes its own formulas, helping patients with pain, anxiety and sleep disorders. “CBD IS SUCH A BIG THING, IT’S SO HELPFUL.” treatsmagazine.com 27