BY SEAN SEURATTAN

A few short years ago, thinking that cannabis would become a legal and booming industry seemed like sheer fantasy but here we are. So, thinking that cannabis can be a regular resident of the virtual space known as the metaverse does not have to be science fiction.

The cannabis industry being born near the pinnacle of the technological revolution has ensured that an online presence is part of its DNA. Currently to most this is simply constituted by having a website and some social media accounts. However this is only the smallest fraction of what is possible. Here we will discuss some important components of the Metaverse, and how these could be applied to the cannabis community.

The biggest thing to understand about WEB3 (the metaverse’s proper name) is that it is a place where things can exist indefinitely in a virtual form.  In some cases, these are things that exist purely virtually, or in other cases they are virtual representations of real-world things. The simple fact that there is an online space that entire communities can exist in is an incredible leap forward, but is also familiar territory for the cannabis enthusiasts. Being able to virtually share information, ask questions and engage with others in real time are time-honoured traditions practiced by the cannabis community. . This has led to the creation of online marketplaces and forums about cannabis, which are pushing towards the creation of apps and other resources. This makes the entire cannabis experience easier and more informed.

While NFTs have been a heavy tech buzzword surrounding the Metaverse for the last few years, they actually comprise a small aspect of it: ownership. A non-fungible token is used to designate a digital asset as undeniably official and impossible to recreate. The ridiculously superficial bubble market of selling juvenile cartoon animal images will give way to the true purpose for this technology.

NFTs can give real world value to digital items. This is beneficial to cannabis in a multitude of ways. Beyond using them just to create digital trading cards of cannabis imagery, they can be used to unite decentralized individuals towards a common goal. For instance, a company could offer NFTs as a way to crowdfund a new experimental strain and NFT holders would get free samples or early access to reward their initial purchase. Experience based NFTs gained by attending specific events are another way cannabis could find value in this technology. A person’s virtual avatar could easily display an NFT confirming their attendance to a special conference, convention or seminar validating them for specific tasks. For example, owning a special NFT could designate someone as certified to grow an exotic cannabis strain.

Crypto currency is a much more complicated concept for WEB3, but can ultimately be liberation for the entire cannabis market. In the most obscenely simple terms, crypto currency is digital money independent of any centralized banking construct. It is created online, stored online, and spent online without ever materializing in the physical world. Its strength is solely based on the amount of users willing to accept, and use it.

Cannabis still holds a negative stigma, and many banks that still refuse to accept funds from this previously illegal industry perpetuate this. Crypto is a way to bypass this and future gatekeeping. In essence, anyone with the knowledge could create a currency that could be used solely for cannabis. With enough confidence from the community, it would be safe, secure and infallible. It could also provide financial equity within this new industry while simultaneously keeping it free from the current stagnant group holding most of the world’s capital.

It is truly a wonder to witness a community originating from the most analog place ascend to unimaginable heights through the strength of technology. While it is always wise to be cautious in unfamiliar territory, the benefits possible far outweigh the fear of risks. Cannabis can use the metaverse as a way to cement itself into the foundation of the future.

BY SEAN SEURATTAN

Is there really a difference between the many kinds of rolling papers for cannabis? You bet your sweet sheets there are! While there are a myriad of brands and styles to choose from, we’ll try to rank the most common ones you’ll see without visiting a speciality store. Working our way towards the best papers (in this humble journalist’s opinion), we will contrast their pros and cons to help you make the surprisingly important decision of what to use for best results when lighting up.

Using rolling papers to inhale cannabis is only predated by the use of a pipe or chalice device. Its history is lengthy and its track record as a consistently viable method of consumption is unshakable. Perhaps it is the most ubiquitous because of the ease and accessibility it provides to consumers. Not to trivialize the art of rolling, but it can be done by almost any person at any time. Of course as one becomes more skilled and familiar with rolling, higher standards may begin to apply for the choice of medium for their creations. That being said, there are rolling papers for the most basic user to the most accomplished and everything on the spectrum between.

To begin, we will visit the brand I began my own journey with many moons ago.

ZigZag
Like the Ghost of Spliffs Past, that old familiar bearded pirate on its cover could tell hundreds of tales about cannabis adventures and misadventures. This brand is the bare minimum of acceptability for any self-respecting smoker.

ZigZag papers are excellent for novice users because the paper stock is durable and the glue strip is strong making it hard to tear or come undone while consuming. At the same time the strengths of this brand to novices are also its weaknesses for connoisseurs. The papers are durable because they’re thicker than most, adding unwanted flavour and smoke to your cannabis. The glue is stronger because it uses animal by-products instead of vegetable ones, which is intolerable to some. ZigZag has come out with several different styles to address the shortcomings of its original style as well as the desires of its customers.

Rizla
Perhaps the oldest amongst its peers, dating all the way back to France 1796. Its name comes from the rice paper used to make it and the family name licensed by Napoleon himself to manufacture them for his troops.

Riz, is the French word for rice and la which is an abbreviation for Lacroix.

This brand holds claim to be the ones who revolutionized the field when they began putting a glue strip on the edge of their papers. Rizla papers are delicate and burn quickly but provide much less paper taste and much more cannabis taste when in use. You can find these papers in most stores but not all, so sometimes availability can be an issue. This brand also comes in a variety of styles and cuts to suit your needs. Most recently, Rizla introduced its first sustainable, biodegradable and completely chemical free papers made from bamboo in 2019.

Finally, we come to the pinnacle of commonplace rolling papers.

Raw
Relatively new to the field, Raw has made a huge impact by becoming a lifestyle brand you want to use rather than the rolling paper brand you have to use.

Recently the brand has come under fire for questions about its practices, but has risen above false claims and continues to be the gold standard for rolling papers. Pull out a pack of these and no one will refuse them. Most uniquely these brown coloured papers are unbleached and use vegan glue, immediately eliminating a huge amount of chemicals from their processing treatment. They also are created with a special crosshatch pattern stamped into the paper itself, which helps them burn more slowly than other papers.

While these papers can be slightly harder to use due to less processing, they are further distinguishing themselves by being built for cannabis consumers as opposed to tobacco users. Their popularity has allowed them to grow beyond just rolling papers to carrying many other cannabis accessories like pre roll cones, grinders and rolling trays.

Undoubtedly, if Raw papers are an option, they should be your top choice.

BY SEAN SEURATTAN

The season of love approaches and the city’s winter slumber is awakened by the hum of the birds and the bees. For some, perhaps this season could even be enhanced with the help of cannabis. Prior to legalization, scientific research on cannabis was notoriously hard to get approved so imperial data is scarce. However, anecdotal evidence and recent studies have proven that cannabis does undoubtedly have an effect on sex; both positive and negative.

A recent study from 2019 reported that among all of its participants more than half had used cannabis prior to sex. The focus was on how the endocannabinoid system, which actually functions in both cannabis consumption and sex is affected when doing both together. The same system that allows us to feel high is the same one that regulates our body’s pre and post sex. High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors are found in the areas of the brain that control sexual function including the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala and hippocampus.

While only less than 5% of those studied found the sexual experience to be worse after cannabis consumption, it is still important to identify what could be possible causes for this. Basically, cannabis is affecting each person on two levels: mentally and physically. Of course it’s important to note that cannabis affects each person slightly differently in general. The most obvious reason for a negative experience would be over usage. Too great an impairment could easily ruin such an objectively delicate process. Also, depending on a person’s method of consumption, it could further complicate a sexual encounter.

The three main options of consumption are: inhalation, ingestion and topical application. If choosing inhalation, there is no way around the fact that it negatively affects your lungs and ultimately how much oxygen your body can receive. In turn, this then affects your: strength, stamina and endurance. Ingestion avoids these issues but may also interfere through improper usage. It’s easy to use too much or underestimate how long the onset of effects may take without careful planning. Neither method can avoid some common side effects of cannabis like the drying of mucous membranes. Females that experience extremely dry eyes after consumption may also notice dryness elsewhere. Topical use avoids all the above issues but effectiveness is questionable from person to person.

Now with those out of the way, how can cannabis help during sex? By affecting you both mentally and physically, it can help in a multitude of ways. Physically, cannabis commonly assists with pain, which during sex is a game ender for most. For some, providing relief from this can open doors long thought closed by pain. A more natural and regular sex life improves a person’s overall quality of life. For those lucky enough, cannabis has also been reported to provide an enhanced sense of touch, most likely because of the abundance of cannabinoid receptors in the skin. This leads to increased sensitivity and arousal, which can even improve orgasm occurrence and duration!

Mentally, cannabis helps in several ways important to sex. First and foremost, it affects your perceptions. For example, your perception of time is delayed, which means pleasurable experiences seem longer. It can affect your perception of your partner creating more intense bonding during sex. Emotions can be heightened simply because you now feel more comfortable with yourself and the other person. With less inhibition, a person may be inclined to take risks by going outside of their comfort zone leading to a better, more fulfilling sex life. These factors can then be attributed to increased libido when using cannabis because a consumer knows that these effects will take place, which makes them want to have sex more. Most importantly, cannabis relieves anxiety and there is barely anything more detrimental to sex than anxiety. Being vulnerable and open is much easier in a fear free environment and critical to achieve orgasm.

Once again, cannabis and sex may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth trying! Just remember to start low and slow with dosage, maintain constant communication with your partner and have fun finding out which strains (and positions) work best for you!