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

It’s said that a hummingbird can flap its wings in one place and a hurricane will occur in another. Well, this hummingbird flapped all the way in Trinidad and a hurricane named Montrose Cannabis is here.

Owner and founder Nick Baksh opened his flagship location September of 2021 in Pickering, Ontario, impressively building intensity ever since. His interest in business began from an early age, and he has had a wide range of experience to draw from before ever venturing into the cannabis market.

This experience afforded him the foresight to be mindful and conscious of a great many things beyond just selling cannabis. This fact alone puts him and Montrose Cannabis far ahead of most other licensed retailers. Paired with Nick’s enthusiasm to put his fingerprint on every aspect of his business has led to a truly unique retail experience.

Starting from before cannabis was legal in Pickering, he knew his political awareness would be critical to the viability of Montrose. The weather of politics can shift and change dramatically affecting even well-established industries much less an entirely new one such as cannabis. He knew it would require collaboration and assurances from the local municipal government to ensure a proper environment in order to thrive. Once given the green light from Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe, Montrose Cannabis was born almost immediately.

From interior layout design to general contracting, to staff training, to product purchasing, it has all been purposefully thought out with a clear end goal, the best possible customer experience. When speaking with Nick it was easy to see that he was breaking the stereotypes associated with creating a boutique atmosphere for cannabis.

Montrose has business core values of providing fresh products, having eco conscious suppliers, giving tailored customer service and providing CBD as therapy. The retail experience is easily recognized as being elevated. Nick’s high involvement and close connections to licensed producers allows him to have a very curated inventory of products to service his clientele. Customers are rewarded with products and services unavailable elsewhere. When I was given a peek at the elaborate calculations used to determine how much of each product ends up on the shelves, I realized fresh product is never in question.

The second part of the Montrose sales strategy goes further than just selling cannabis in store by creating a community beyond its doors. Consciously forecasting current and future trends identified that e-commerce was an undeniable revenue stream. The majority of existing licensed retailers merely use their online presence for another point of sale and space to advertise. Montrose has an e-commerce award winning website adept at allowing customers to quickly locate their desires but does more by having a highly integrated online presence.

Montrose TV is a branch of the company that creates lifestyle online content promoting members of the community along with associated producers. All parties come out as winners; Montrose gets customers driven to visit the store after viewing the website, producers get their products promoted to a very receptive demographic, and the community wins by feeling more connected to the industry along with each other.  Even further than this Nick has taken the initiative to bring more of the community together by hosting many different types of events like business summits, new product launches or Paint & Vape nights within his retail space.

The more I spoke with Nick, the more similarities between us became evident. Similar upbringings, interests and past experiences made it extremely easy to relate both professionally and personally. Both of us being of Caribbean descent made certain influences within Montrose and its business philosophy obvious, but when I asked about the legacy he wanted to create, his answer was uniquely novel. “Bringing a legalized framework across the Caribbean islands is a passion project I’m focused on. Let’s bring out the best of our people in a new industry.” Giving back to the community that has given us all so much is a testament to the type of person Nick is and what we should all emulate from Montrose Cannabis.

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!