Posted by Lori Ann Reese on 07/02/2021 in Medical Marijuana
Ahhh.. do you feel that? Another long weekend. And unless you are working over a holiday weekend, that means some extra rays and days to enjoy hanging out with your friends and family. Especially with the right strains of cannabis.
Some people travel over special holiday weekends. But since the COVID-19 health emergency, international travel is way down. And domestic travel (or a vacation to another state) might not be a big priority for you. A stay-cation can be just as relaxing.
If you are staying home, you may want to head to your local medical cannabis dispensary for some suggestions on new strains. A long weekend is a great time to try a new strain.
Every year there are more cannabis hybrids are developed. And some become rising stars in dispensaries nationally. Some of the best strains can be a little hard to find or sold out. Depending on the mood and vibe of your holiday weekend, we’ve put together a list of strains you may want to explore.
That may sound a little strange until you think about it. If you are having a bunch of friends over to grill and chill, you want to be awake. Or at least, primarily awake for a good portion of the day. Would you want to smoke or take a heavy Indica? Lights out! And the possibility of your friends mocking you relentlessly the next morning.
A friend of mine in Canada smoked an Indica right before hopping into an Uber with his girlfriend, who happened to love opera. I thought it was a pretty ingenious strategy, at least until she figured out why he kept falling asleep during the performance. Busted!
Take a little time and consider what you will be doing this long weekend. Is sleep high on your list of priorities? Have you been avoiding Indica strains that can help with pain relief? Or maybe you find large crowds of people stressful, but you want to stay in a light, cheerful and energetic mood?
It all starts with choosing the right strain at your medical dispensary.
Is your Google calendar so crammed, you can’t find time to play Xbox? That’s serious! Many people have schedules for their schedules, and it gets more than a little hectic when you are constantly on the go. It was a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to stay home. It’s an even bigger problem now, with the lines of work and home life being blurred like never before.
So, if a long weekend means you get that ‘slow down’ time you need and deserve, it may be harder than you think. You see, quieting yourself to enjoy some rest and relaxation is a skill that doesn’t come naturally. And if you suffer from anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, you may have higher than normal cortisol levels. You can’t just shut that down overnight.
But what might be helpful is trying a new strain specifically for relaxation. Indica’s are the opposite of energetic when it comes to cannabis. Some of the strains that are commonly used for anxiety and pain relief include:
Not able to find one of the holy grails of relaxing herb at your local dispensary? There are many strains that can help you relax—looking to avoid “couch-lock” or the infamous “in da couch” side effect of a strong Indica strain? Find one with a lower THC but higher CBD level, which can help you feel relaxed but not sedated.
It’s a long weekend, and you are a warrior when it comes to one glorious extra day off work! That means you’ll be heading to the lake, hiking, camping, or traveling with your friends and family. And to enjoy every second of it, you’ll want to supercharge your energy and prevent pain and other symptoms from slowing you down.
How can cannabis strains stimulate creativity? It might (not) surprise you to learn that some of the world’s greatest creative talents use cannabis to elevate their muse—musicians like Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Jerry Garcia, and Willie Nelson. And contemporary artists like Brazilian Fernando de la Rocque actually use cannabis smoke and resin to create beautiful paintings. Of course, there are also the business moguls and captains of industry CEOs who swear by it too.
There is some science to back it up too. A recent 2011 study published in Consciousness and Cognition looked at the magnification effect that cannabis could have on creative expression.
The study found that:
There are many other factors that could exponentially increase (or decrease) creative output. But it appears that ‘your brain on cannabis’ likes to be a font of ideas and broad concepts. And for some, cannabis also helps shut down the ‘inner critic’ or that voice in your head that stops you from taking chances or new paths and ideas.
Some popular strains that may enhance your creativity include:
If you are ready to get Van Goghing on your long weekend, stick to lower potency strains. Other studies have found that concentrates or the highest potency cannabis products can decrease creative thought. Or, any ideas really.
While people have their own opinions about types of cannabis that can make you feel more social, White Widow is almost always included on the list. There are many reasons that you may feel withdrawn when family or friends gather.
Some of it could be social anxiety, in which case, cannabis could help bring you out of your shell. At least enough to enjoy some tremendous divergent conversations. Like, was it always “Froot Loops?” or was the cereal at one time called “Fruit Loops?”
White Widow averages 18% THC. It is a very popular strain at cannabis cafes in Europe (and probably will be here too, in post-pandemic smoke circles. It provides a happy, euphoric, and uplifted psychoactive experience. With a side-order of “extremely talkative”.
Other strains of cannabis that might make you the ‘life of the party on a long weekend include Haze, Girl Scout Cookies, Papaya, Gelato, and Wedding Cake. Watch for the strains that have a rapid acceleration to ‘happy’ followed by an equally rapid descent into “couch crash.”
Maybe your idea of the perfect weekend has nothing to do with ‘peopling’ and everything to do with a lovely, quiet house. Working on a project by yourself. Dusting off the Rosetta Stone and practicing your conversational Spanish? The borders will open up for travel someday soon, and that could come in handy.
So, if getting focused and working diligently on something without distraction is your cup of tea, ask your medical dispensary about ‘smart strains’ that can increase concentration and productivity. They are also commonly used by people who have ADD or ADHD.
Some of the cannabis strains that can have a positive impact on focus and concentration include:
Saturday afternoon is probably not the best time to visit your local medical dispensary. Particularly on a long weekend. So, if you are venturing at peak times over the weekend, be prepared to wait. And be kind to your hard-working and helpful budtenders who are taking it for the team to help everyone have a happy, pain-free, and worry-free long weekend.
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