Wyoming Winter

It's winter in Wyoming

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At twenty five below.

Oh, how I love Wyoming

When the snow is up to yer butt,

You take a breath of winter

And your nose freezes shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around.

I could never leave Wyoming,

'Cuz  I'm frozen to the ground.

Grow My Own? OK!

I never did get to thank the guy who wrote a comment on one of my first blogs, because I didn't know how, actually. I have since figured it out. So, after he told me to "grow my own", I discovered how hard it is to find a marijuana seed in Wyoming. It would be easier to find a set of chicken's teeth!

After a few months a lady friend sent me a few seeds. To make a very long four-months story a lot shorter, I ended my growing stretch with one very pretty 12" tall, Charlie Brown looking plant with little bitty buds on 14 branches. The Queen of Weed would have laughed her ass off, but I loved that little plant and couldn't wait to cut it down and make myself some happiness.

As I took the scissors to the base of my sweet little marijuana plant, my first thought was CANNABUTTER! My little honey plant was going to be a cooking experiment as soon as she dried. The days drying seemed as long as the growing period! Finally, with my best guess on how dry it was supposed to be, I stuffed the entire plant in the blender and chopped her fine as frog's hair. I had 5 tablespoons of yippee skippee! I was so excited to finally make some cannabutter, but I first had to try out my new pipe.

I felt like a little kid on Christmas, I wanted to do everything right NOW!  I had the most goofy and happy smile plastered on my face, and the happiest soul on the planet.  I am sure it would have been a very funny video. While the butter was cooking, I was reminiscent of the first time I visited Eve's Garden and she handed me the biggest pipe I've ever seen. (That was before my visit to a head shop!) While she loaded it, she spilled some crumbs of herb on the table. As I started picking up each little speck, she started laughing at me. How do you explain frugality to someone with an endless supply! There were enough trimmings just on the floor of her garden, I could have been set for life. Talk about living in a candy store!  It was the most wonderful visit of a lifetime.

I really do hope Weed Wyoming and NORML get enough people on the bandwagon that we can legalize marijuana within the next two years. I'm there!

Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Want Marijuana Legalized

I can see why pharmaceutical companies don't want marijuana legalized. Take a $4 blood pressure pill with a glass of grapefruit juice, and you might get the effects of $1.75 of that medicine. Wow, with a whopping 47% of medicine ineffectiveness, it seems like a giant waste of money for a product that won't do you any good if you eat certain foods or drink some juices. You are still depressed? What juices or caffeine products are you drinking with your meds? What foods are you eating with your meds? Antidepressants, antivirals, birth control pills, cholesterol and blood pressure meds are all affected by food and/or drinks, especially juices.  Oh forget that, just triple the dose! (Sorry for the sarcasm). 

Some meds are quite expensive, and if you eat or drink designated foods, you just threw the money out the window. Besides the cost, why take a medicine that has many contraindications? How about the side effects? Liver or kidney failure, heart arrhythmia. It is amazing how many people take meds that have to be increased because of ineffective results.

How many people don't know or think about telling their doctor about food/drink preferences, when there are a lot of foods or juices that make some medicines ineffective or slows the metabolism time so the med is not absorbed properly, therefore making it ineffective, therefore the need to be increased. What a vicious cycle! 

Most pharmacies give written information about the med ordered, but many people don't read or understand the jargon, and by the time they get to "don't take with juice", they are asleep or gave up reading. But they just can't figure out why they feel so crappy after their med dose was increased.

Marijuana is in the news, all over the internet, and people are just talkies, especially those who mj has helped,(like me). But the bottom line is that there is no bad press about marijuana. "Kills cancer cells", "Helps with depression", this one is a biggy to me--"Fights nausea"! It absolutely does, and I will (figuratively) go to the ground against anyone that says otherwise. I KNOW IT WORKS!

Why can't we pile on the money for cancer research with marijuana! Regulating blood pressure with marijuana, halting mood swings and depression, the list gets longer every day!  The beneficial effects of this plant are just beginning to surface. With REAL research and development, this may just be the new "Super Drug" that will replace many of our older medications, the ones with vast side effects and contraindications. Even doctors agree some medications need to be retired. 

Another concern with older adults-- they take their meds, get busy or get out of routine, and don't remember if they took their meds, then go get another dose. Numerous older adults are hospitalized for that very reason. Give them a daily cannapill for their blood pressure, and it won't hurt them if they take another. When I get old enough to start having problems, I will take marijuana products, legal or not. I can see a lot of senior citizens who would benefit from a morning dose of cannabis, they can eat or drink anything, and it would improve their appetites. I am 63 and mj takes the hurt out of my hips and stops my post chemo nausea in its tracks.

I really think this little plant is going to make a big change in the medication world, especially with the new younger generation coming on who are ready to challenge and change old world of medicine. Hooray! 

Marijuana Channel One Presents: WSLCB 502 Applicants Workshop (+playlist)

Draconian Wyoming Legislature

The Wyoming legislature adjourned without having any discussion for reforms of the state's draconian marijuana laws. How disappointing. Lawmakers should be encouraged to review outdated policies in light of the ever growing public support for legal marijuana. At the very least, legislators should consider changing the criminal penalties for those over 21. I see where WEED WYOMING has published on their website that they plan to file a state ballot initiative for 2016. YAY! LET'S GO!! Too bad it can't happen sooner.

I believe with advertisement and enlightenment, enough people will vote for something this important. We just need to make awareness happen for good changes. Encourage people to vote for their rights! Everyone has the right to smoke, I want to have the right to choose WHAT I smoke. Besides, I want to make some cannabutter!

I think there is still too much "fear factor" in Wyoming for many of us to step forward and start "carrying the flag". I would love to speak up and start marching for legal changes for marijuana laws, but I would first lose my job. It isn't fair, but that is how the law works, for now. I would like to honestly know how many of the legislature smoke weed, it would certainly make me more brave!

I don't want Alzheimer's Disease

Well my goodness, I do learn something new every day. Did you know the cannabinoid HU 210 has been shown to prevent amyloid beta-promoted inflammation? The endocannabinoids anandamide and noladin ether have also been shown the be neuroprotective against amyloid beta in vitro. That means blocking amyloids in early Alzheimer's has a profound effect on slowing the disease progression of Alzheimer's!

Does this mean it could be-- possibly--a cure for Alzheimer's? Another notch on the medical marijuana belt! I was very interested in the research with mj with Alzheimer's, but why is it I just find this info? This should be blown wide open for Alzheimer"s research! I wish I had a bunch of money to donate to that research, because Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. I think this is wonderful news! It sure beats a pill that has crappy side effects and unsure results.

People my age should start with mj products! I don't want Alzheimer's, so I definitely need weed in my life. Come on Wyoming! Let's get on with it so we can put some money back into the state as well. Legalize it and decriminalize it for those over 21.I sure would like to be one of the FDA's guinea pigs with the research and testing!

Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership in the U.S.- no permit required to conceal or open-carry a firearm. No assault weapons ban, high capacity ban, or background checks. We have never had a mass shooting and have the 7th lowest crime rate in the nation. So, why can't we have marijuana? We have alcohol! Stupid crimes are committed because of alcohol. If they were high, would they still do it? I doubt it, I don't get nuts on mj like I do when I drink.

Marijuana Sleeping Pills... Where Are They?

On the Casper news this morning, the poor overused sleeping pill was being bashed. "Too many women are taking sleeping pills. Older, educated females take more than men." I wonder why!! No, I'm not going to man-bash. I just think it is mindless that marijuana isn't legal. It is a great sleep aid, and a whole lot cheaper than pills without the side effects. There is even a strain of weed grown specifically for sleep. I learned that form the Queen of All Things Weed. One doesn't even have to smoke it anymore! I was absolutely tickled when she introduced me to mj butter. Sure wish I could have brought some home!

Sleeping pills are so highly addictive, pot is not. They didn't say that on the newscast. Didn't even mention weed as an alternative to prescription drugs, and it is legal there, (Denver news). Maybe someday.  I think it is great when the side effects of pills are mentioned. The advertiser talks as fast as possible, hoping you will not be paying attention, those 20 seconds.  An ad for marijuana would go like this. Side effect from marijuana, ummm, none.

It is so pathetic that a great medicine like this can't be marketed for its proper use as to those who need it. Target sleep problems, target mood problems. I already know it works for nausea. Weed is a great sleep aid, non-habit forming, wake refreshed, not drug hung over. Women would use a dash of mj for a good night's sleep, instead of pills, if it was decriminalized. Let's get the mj sleeping pill on the market!

Casper, WY gets a Headshop

We have a headshop in our little hometown of Casper! Last one I knew of, was in Riverton back in the 70s, but it was closed down pretty quickly. Wyoming is progressive, but just a little slower than I prefer. I would love to see marijuana legalized, to take the "desire to try" away from youth, my future great grandkids, to be specific. I really think that being legal, more people will leave it alone. Now, it is exciting to try, fear factor thing.

After hearing the headshop ad, I was remembering the shop in Seattle. Great Scott! My head was on a swivel, and I couldn't look at everything fast enough. I was mesmerized with the beautiful pipes, and couldn't figure out half of what I was looking at behind the counter, but I was a willing student. I learned about vapor pipes of all kinds, and something I would like to learn how to use.  Couldn't afford one, but the education was priceless! I still wish I could have bought one of everything, then figure it out!

Now I know we have a store, I will go for a visit with the anticipation I may find some mj this year. I wish I wasn't such a chicken and just ask. One would think with the ache in my hips and feet and the nausea, I would be driven to ask.  I respect the law enough to use mj wisely when I have it, and not shop for it, but I would like to. I would not want to hurt my daughter or grandkids future, by being busted for such a small amount. So, I will go buy a pipe and set it on the shelf to admire, hopefully I will be able to use it before I get put it in the Old Folk's Home. Maybe my generation will change nursing home rules to allow pot use so we can be happy to our last breath. We just need to get started now with change, which will eventually happen anyway.

pretty pretty

Sugar Beets to Cannabis

Inspirational Garden

My mentor, the Queen of Weed, taught me more in 5 days than I had learned in my off and on passion with marijuana in 30 years. More off than on, because of the unavailability. After being in Seattle and seeing her garden, I now daydream of being a pot farmer. I always grow a nice vegetable garden and I was once upon a time a real farmer, complete with cows, horses, hay and oat crops. So, being an experienced farmer, I should be able to grow a pot plant. Just try to find a seed. Marijuana can't be too difficult to grow, it is a weed according to my grandson, and in my yard, weeds are quite prolific.

From watching the Hempress tend her medical grade marijuana garden, it really is a lot of work and quite expensive. The electric bill alone would choke me. She was explaining things to me that took me weeks to figure out what she said. It is a whole new world complete with its own lingo. It all finally started to fit together, although it did take me some weeks and internet searches to figure out the rest, after I got home. 

When marijuana becomes legal in Wyoming, I wonder how many oat/sugar beet/hay producers will switch crops, or at least supplement with marijuana crops. We would have a whole lot fewer poor farmers. Maybe the farm kids would be more inclined to follow in their parent's footsteps, instead of packing up and leaving the farm because it isn't making enough money. If they could grow hemp, which used to be a multi-million dollar business, why not raise it again? Farms are going broke. An acre of certified weed free (no pun intended) marijuana would save many farm families. There are too many farms being turned into motel parking lots.

Hemp Will Help Families

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I really do learn something new every day. My grandson came over for the weekend, and being so very proud of having my blog printed, I had to show him my, "Piece of My Mind". Pride in ownership thing. His response was just as I expected, but definitely not from the direction I thought it would come. He was quite angry and straightforward. "My kids are going to read this shit & think it's okay to use!"

He was very informative for the next few minutes. He is completely right about everything he said, and a lot were things I hadn't even considered. I didn't think about kids under 21 using marijuana any worse than they do now. Being regulated, I just figured it would be just like alcohol. Over time, people are going to become disinterested, desensitized, and mj will be no different than alcohol. Right now it is illegal and in the news. Kids who are going to try it are going to try it, and kids who have respect for the law will leave mj and alcohol alone until they are 21. Or, they will try it and leave it alone. Everybody has a choice and most know right from wrong, therefore most will abide by the alcohol/marijuana laws, and play by the rules. I would still be abiding by the marijuana laws in this state, but I found it helps my nausea profoundly. I just saw on the internet yesterday that a man died because he couldn't use his mj for his nausea. I almost cried. I know what he was going through. Makes me sad right now for him. That is such a shame.

So, at this point, now that I have seen marijuana from a different perspective,  I will be a complete and total advocate for education. It is a must for some of the tax money from sales be used for billboards,magazine ads, video games! Let everyone know the ill effects of mj and alcohol, all pros and cons should be known. But most of all, reminders, straightforward to the point ads, NO alcohol OR marijuana until you are 21.  Ads that will be targeted to that age group, media that they will see and that will reach them. 

Marijuana should at a minimum be decriminalized for those over 21. So, I hope by the time my grandson has kids, this marijuana war will be a thing of the past and every one over 21 will have a free choice - it just won't be a big deal anymore.

Is There Anybody Out There?

I love surprises! I just found out one of our local store owners is a weed smoker. Told me himself after looking a picture of me with a big brownie in my mouth and a bud in my hands. A very nice picture taken during my stay in Seattle. This was hanging next to the picture of Mt. Rainier, which I didn't get to see the whole week I was there, but I got a gorgeous picture flying by it on the way home.

Anyway, he was in my office for just a second before he spotted the picture. When he told me he enjoys weed, I could have been pushed over. I have since logged it in my memory bank to go chat with him about his opinion, which is pro, obviously. I am just amazed and happy to find out he is a smoker. There ARE others out there. I would have never, ever guessed and definitely would not have bet money on him enjoying marijuana. Responsible people are responsible with marijuana. Therefore, we should have a choice. A lot of people I know don't like it or have no interest in trying it. Good for them! I applaud my grandson for not smoking. It is so sad that marijuana has to be such a secret. I covered the picture to prevent any future accidents. It sure could have turned out quite differently.

I read another article on pain management with marijuana in an elderly woman. I'm glad she gave it a shot. She also proved that it works. My grandma would have tried it, but back then mom and dad would have had me arrested. I think my dad mellowed with age, but probably not enough to smoke marijuana, even at the end stage of his life, just to improve his mental status. My mom was a nurse who worked with aids patients She never mentioned weed, good or bad. Might have been impossible to get in our town, back then. I would think her patients would have mentioned it. Never thought about it before now.

Every day is such a gift! I learn something new every day without fail. I forget a lot, but it isn't like I'm learning something I forgot. I find the internet amazing with all the info out there. I did not know you could buy seeds online! I am still blown away with all the different recipes for marijuana, even hard candy. Simply amazing. I thought marijuana brownies was all there was to do. My trip to Seattle opened up a whole new world! I was truly impressed with the glass making skills it took to make some of the pipes. Beautiful glass artwork. I wouldn't be able to get those unusual pieces of art messy, but it would be a conversation starter!

I Like to Smoke

I like to smoke marijuana. 

I do not smoke cigarettes, because I don't like the smell, but I don't condemn because my daughter smokes. I am tired of drinking, I don't like how I feel anymore with booze on board.

I have learned through experimentation that weed works wonders on nausea from chemotherapy Been there, done that. It even helps with after chemo nausea. Mine hasn't gone away yet.  I would like to have access to marijuana, but can't because it is illegal in this state. 

I am 63. Why shouldn't I have a choice? It has to be such a secret! I can't afford to move to a state where it is legal, I have a business. There are numerous people in this town who smoke weed. They are responsible adults, but they have to keep it a secret. If everyone who smoked weed in this town were to come forward, I would put money on the fact there are more smokers than nonsmokers. Everyone has a different source, how silly. We should be able to buy from the same source and pay tax. Our state would love the infusion of money. We finally got the lottery!  We were the first state to give women the right to vote and one of the last states to outlaw prostitution, so we are in a forward moving state. I know some of our politicians smoke weed.

I went to Seattle last year and did not see a single lunatic, crazy from smoking weed. I was pleasantly surprised when people were smoking in public, discreetly, too. I learned quite a lot while I was there. It certainly gave me a different perspective!

I decided to "bite the bullet" and ask my neighbor what he thought of marijuana in Wyoming. He is a 75 year old, single, potbellied, retired government professional. He definitely likes his beer, he is friendly, and a nice guy. His response was really surprising to me, because I had him pegged for the "straight arrow" type. So, I asked him if he would use marijuana if it were legal.

His response, "Sure! I certainly wouldn't drink so much! The med thing is a big issue. It is stupid to try and stop it. People are going to use it. I think it is a huge waste of state money for incarceration, it screws up the lives of productive citizens after incarceration. Alcohol messes you up a lot more.  How about the money taxes and permits would generate!? That money could be used to help alcoholism!"

He laughed and we started onto something else. What you can find out by asking!

My daughter and grandson know I smoke when I can find it, because we are a close family.  I just don't want trouble, so I am afraid to ask anyone. Pretty stupid. My 22 year old grandson thinks it is "ridiculous" and "stupid people use it". He tried it while he was living in North Dakota, and didn't like it. I am damn happy about that! Leave it for the older generation.  He just says "Grandma, you are old, you should do what you want"  My daughter is against it, and she frowns at me as much as I frown on her smoking.  At least mine isn't laced with arsenic. 

Are there as many side effects with marijuana as there are with cigarettes? 

Think about it.

Piece of Mind

I am a professional in the medical field. I make $32 an hour, and I am 63 years-old. The state where I live – Wyoming — still believes marijuana should remain illegal, is bad for you, will make you insane, good-for-nothing, and anyone who uses it should go to jail.

Most people around here have not seen the little girl with epilepsy, with constant fits, fighting for her life. They have not seen that same little girl now almost seizure-free because of medical marijuana.

Weed has changed her life, as well as everyone around her! I find it wonderful that she doesn’t have to take two handfuls of pills anymore, the manmade chemical compounds which have numerous side effects and contraindications.

I find it amazing that people are so willing to condemn the parents for giving their child cannabis. Would they feel the same if it were their own son or daughter going through hell? Personally, I opt for a natural substance with proven qualities; it’s too bad they can’t experience the difference. I did.

Two years ago, I had breast cancer — surgery, chemo, radiation, the whole 9 yards. Me, and more than a million other men and women. My pain was pretty well controlled with Advil, or in my case an Advil clone that I chose for the price.

My nausea — Oh Boy! You don’t know puking! We started with Compazine, oh no–we won’t even discuss that med. Zofran, ok, that was my friend, when it worked. I am not a good pill-taker, and sometimes I would gag on the pill I was trying to swallow for my nausea.

So, I decided it was easier to throw up a few time a day than swallow that pill. Besides, I like to have a drink in the evenings, since I don’t have marijuana access, and I didn’t want the side effects of the medicine on my liver and kidneys.

Chemo was bad enough. Before one of my 4 hour oncology visits, I saw an “older” woman, (ha, my age), smoking a pipe. I went over and asked her if I could “visit”.

She let me in her car and for the next 15 minutes before our IV session, she told me about the effects of weed on nausea and how it has helped her. She gave me a small amount and a pipe to try when I got home. I was very nervous about it, because of my job.

Always, without fail, I would have to pull over and puke 45 minutes into my 1 1/2 hour trip, and again within a few hours of being home. That day was the same. When I got home, I put a hit in the pipe to get it ready when the nausea butterflies struck. Marijuana works for nausea! I know that it works, because I did the experiment myself.

Bye Bye Nasuea

The wait was only 3 hours. After I took the hit of weed, I just waited for the puking to begin. After a couple of minutes, I knew it wasn’t going to. Wow, nice! I had no more nausea for the next 7 hours.

Weed was my recourse for the next 3 days to control my vomiting. I no longer had dry heaves before breakfast for 3 days! It really messed with my diet plan, since it stopped my after breakfast puking. I did lose 15 pounds from puking, though…

We both finished chemo and radiation, but we didn’t keep in touch. I still have episodes of nausea, and wish I could have some marijuana when I need to control it. I sincerely hope in my lifetime that our state will allow the legalization of marijuana.

Marijuana works for nausea! I know that it works, because I did the experiment myself.