Weed Wyoming

I recently watched the induction of Cheech and Chong into the Hall of Fame. During this, I reminisced about the first time I was introduced to marijuana. I didn't know it was illegal, because I didn't know what it was. I came from a Wyoming family that didn't drink or dance, and since drugs were a part of the "other side of world", never had a discussion on drugs.

After college, I got a job in Houston, the "other side of the world", for three years. That first summer in Houston was a revelation into the brilliant lights that were going to always be a part of my life. I discovered Reggae and Marijuana (what a combo!) and I played my first game of pool. At 25 years young, I was having the best (sex-free) time of my life. But since I hadn't really LIVED, every experience was a wow factor. With my upbringing, everything I was doing was deemed wrong, so there were a few things I wouldn't do out of fear of the unknown. Funny, everything I did was an unknown. I have never done IV drugs or cocaine, because I am totally content with weed. I was able to see other drugs and the effect, and just wasn't interested.

Aren't we all amazed how things have changed since our parents' young adulthood's! (Ha, I mean anyone over 50). On the news this morning, my ears shot forward and my head snapped toward the tv as I heard the word "marijuana". Hooray! Wyoming IS a progressive state! However, mj still has such a stigma, I swear I could hear sarcasm in the announcers voice as he told about NORML working on getting mj on the 2016 ballot. That announcement made my day, and I did a happy dance in the kitchen and hoped I live long enough to smoke my first legal bowl. I will certainly show up to vote!

Thank you NORML and WEED WYOMING. Happy Holidays!

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!

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.

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

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.