Cannabis 101: Understanding THC, CBD & Everyday Cannabis Wellness with Penny Barthel

00;00;07;12 - 00;00;42;04
Maria
Hello and welcome to Just Say KNOW. That's KNOW with a K-N-O-W. I'm your host, Maria Calabrese, and you're listening to KCAA Radio 10:50 a.m. 106.5 FM and online everywhere you get your favorite podcast. Today's conversation is one I think many people have been quietly waiting to have. Because whether you're completely new to cannabis, returning to it after many years, or simply curious about all the new products and terminology out there, it can feel overwhelming.

00;00;42;05 - 00;01;13;29
Maria
Fast. THC, CBD edibles, tinctures, gummies, topical smoking, vaping, terpenes, cannabinoids. Oi! For many of us, walking into a dispensary today can feel like being dropped into the middle of a conversation. Everyone else is already understanding. Honestly, it reminds me of walking into an Apple Store for the first time in the late 90s and thinking, how does everybody else already know what all of this means?

00;01;14;02 - 00;01;44;15
Maria
For many adults, navigating cannabis today can feel very much the same way. And somewhere in the middle of all the confusion, the noise. Most of us are simply asking, how does this plant actually work? Had a different cannabis products affect you differently? What's the safest and most predictable way to explore cannabis responsibly? And maybe most importantly, how do I make informed choices that feel right for me?

00;01;44;21 - 00;02;26;25
Maria
Because cannabis, it turns out, is very different from how we came to know it., from the conversations many of us grew up with for years, decades, really our understanding or perhaps misunderstanding of this once taboo and highly stigmatized plan. It was shaped by fear, misinformation, prohibition and cultural conditioning. And now, almost overnight, many of us suddenly find ourselves trying to navigate a marketplace filled with products, potency, labels, wellness claims, social media trends and advice coming from every which direction.

00;02;26;28 - 00;03;01;10
Maria
At the same time, there's also been a major cultural shift happening. Many people are questioning their relationship with alcohol. More people are becoming interested in plant based wellness. More adults are looking for natural alternatives that feel more intentional, more balanced, and perhaps more connected to self-care, creativity, relaxation, sleep recovery, and just overall well-being. But education matters because cannabis, it turns out, is very nuanced.

00;03;01;14 - 00;03;32;11
Maria
Different delivery methods create different experiences. Onset matters. Duration matters. Dosage matters, and understanding how cannabis interacts with your own body matters. Honestly, one of the biggest things I hear from listeners, especially adults who are curious or returning to cannabis after decades away is this. I just don't know how it's going to make me feel. Not necessarily fear, not judgment.

00;03;32;12 - 00;04;12;22
Maria
But the major concern is the uncertainty around it. And honestly, that certainty is understandable. Even after seeing the profound impact cannabis had on my own aging dog, which first challenged a lot of my assumptions and sparked my curiosity. It still took me years before I personally felt comfortable enough to explore CBD and eventually see for myself. You know, as someone raised as a child of deer during that generation and then later trained as a law school graduate.

00;04;12;24 - 00;05;00;22
Maria
Cannabis was not something I initially approached easily or casually, let alone at all. But after surviving a serious car accident and multiple spinal surgeries, my own search for natural alternatives for relief, understanding and better quality of life eventually led me to explore cannabis more deeply. What began as a skepticism slowly evolved into curiosity, then education and experience, and ultimately a genuine passion for understanding how this plant works and how informed, responsible cannabis use may help improve people's lives.

00;05;00;24 - 00;05;30;15
Maria
The journey is a big part of why I created Green Bee Life to help bridge the gap between confusion and credible information, and to create a space where people could explore emerging plant based wellness with less stigma, more education, and more confidence. Because cannabis doesn't have to feel intimidating when it's approached thoughtfully, intentionally, and with good sound information.

00;05;30;18 - 00;06;08;12
Maria
Today, consumers have more choices than ever before based on desired experiences cannabinoids, terpenes, delivery methods, dosage, and even their own individual biochemistry. But many people still feel overwhelmed. And that's exactly why conversations like today's matter so much. Joining us today is Penny Barthel, author of The Cannabis Gardener educator, Home Grower, and someone who brings a uniquely thoughtful, grounded and approachable perspective to cannabis wellness and home cultivation.

00;06;08;18 - 00;06;37;06
Maria
You know, Penny came into cannabis, as she says, sideways through gardening, food, curiosity and education. And today she helps others better understand not only how to grow cannabis, but how to build a more informed, that intentional relationship with the plant itself. Together, we'll be talking about the differences between THC and CBD. How smoking, vaping, tinctures, edibles, and topicals affect the body differently.

00;06;37;08 - 00;07;08;24
Maria
Why onset and duration matter. How to think about responsible use in dosing and how cannabis literacy can help replace uncertainty with confidence. We'll also talk about home cultivation, freshness, terpenes, cannabinoids, and why understanding the intention behind your cannabis use. Maybe one of the most important starting points of all. And if terms like cannabinoids and terpenes still sound unfamiliar, don't worry, they won't for long.

00;07;08;25 - 00;07;41;06
Maria
Whether you're completely new to cannabis, cautiously curious, or simply looking to better understand this rapidly evolving space. Today's episode is all about practical cannabis education, responsible exploration, and helping you feel more empowered to make informed choices. So selling. Exhale. Or maybe inhale if you're ahead of me. And let's learn together. This is Just Say KNOW. Let's get started.

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Intro Music
By 2020. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch estimate that will grow to $35 billion, and many experts believe it could eventually reach $200 billion each and every year.

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Intro Music
Like no other. I just want everyone to see what happens by the time when I'm with you. I just feel it's me up now. I can be so much further. You're not like this.

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Intro Music
Young man, I.

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Intro Music
I'm a better fly who has only begun taking me a while to get it. Had to live and cry, to appreciate life. Then what you give is worth it. When you're holding me. When you hold me so close. Someone better and under your skin. Wanna leave a mark so that I can be sure to remember. Widespread.

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Maria
Just Say KNOW. Let's get started. Welcome, Penny. Thank you so much for joining us today.

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Penny Barthel
I am delighted to be here with you, Maria.

00;09;01;16 - 00;09;18;21
Maria
Oh, wow. Well, we're privileged, and I know everybody's dying to know a little bit about yourself and how you came to discover cannabis and what listeners can learn from your amazing book, The Cannabis Gardener.

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Penny Barthel
Yeah, thank you for that. I'm going to say this. I came into cannabis very much sideways. I have been spent a lot of my adult life. I've always loved food. I've been total nerd, I love plants, I am a lifelong gardener, a cook, and actually sort of got myself going with a food blog. And on that I had a couple of awesome recipes.

00;09;44;00 - 00;10;06;20
Penny Barthel
One of them made it into Sunset Magazine in 2017. From that, I kind of got acquainted with the gardening culture. I always knew that there was weed in the Bay Area. I was neither for it nor against. I was just kind of beside it. But about a decade ago, I discovered that a friend of mine was put in a brand new garden,

00;10;06;21 - 00;10;26;20
Penny Barthel
tons of sun. And the person who was helping her put that garden in had stage four cancer, and he revealed to her how much he used cannabis for his own well-being and to be able to help him withstand the rigors of chemotherapy. And although she and I were neither for or against cannabis, she thought, look, I've got this great new garden.

00;10;26;20 - 00;10;45;29
Penny Barthel
Why don't I grow some cannabis for him and gift it to him? And so she passed me with figuring out how to grow it, because I'm just sort of an experimental gardener. I'm like, sure, I'll try that. And I had some friends in the Bay Area. I we grew up a couple of plants together. We had a terrible grow.

00;10;46;01 - 00;11;08;17
Penny Barthel
We did not know what we were doing, but through that I decided to do the research to figure out, well, how can she grow this plant? I fell deep in love with this plant, just fell in love with it, started taking my own notes and went looking for a book that I could give to her. And there was not a book out there.

00;11;08;17 - 00;11;28;28
Penny Barthel
There was lots of information for the commercial grower, lots of information for indoor grows, but nothing that situated this plant where I wanted to grow, which was in my garden since that time of a decade ago, or a little bit less than that, I have been on a journey of my own, growing the plant and then enjoying it and using and experimenting with it.

00;11;28;28 - 00;11;56;21
Penny Barthel
I decided to go a little deeper in and I went to Oaksterdam , which is a school here in Oakland that teaches the cannabis industry, teaches people to go and work in the cannabis industry. So I took a horticulture semester, so I'm a certified cannabis horticulturist. At that same time, I started a business called Wondering About Weed. And I teach adults how to enjoy cannabis, how to go to a dispensary, how to grow it, harvest and make things with cannabis in their own home.

00;11;56;21 - 00;12;03;11
Penny Barthel
So I came in sideways as a gardener and a cook, and I ended up a cannabis author and educator.

00;12;03;13 - 00;12;39;27
Maria
And look at all of the knowledge and information you were able to learn and, and what I just have love that you do. And in your book is where you yourself, you were solving a pain point for yourself, an information gap. You got curious. You want me to know about it? And you saw there was this education vacuum, this information gap, and you were, as you said, lucky to be in a state where there was some education and training, and you just took that and ran with it.

00;12;39;28 - 00;13;05;00
Maria
A lot of people say, yeah, it's as easy as growing tomatoes. Yeah, but tomatoes aren't always that easy. So there's there is an art to growing. It is a weed, but you've really mastered the art and you've, you've you've mastered creating it into your own edibles. Tinker tinctures I like to say herbal teas. You've educated me. It's called tisanes, right?

00;13;05;01 - 00;13;06;26
Penny Barthel
Yes. A tisane.

00;13;06;29 - 00;13;25;22
Maria
That this is the fun part. Using it. So how do we savor the fruits of our cannabis garden? Yeah, I mean, I, I, I'm going to let you run with this, but I saw something in here that caught my attention. Something called a vanilla bean infused CBD gummy. Whoa.

00;13;25;25 - 00;13;48;06
Penny Barthel
It's. You know, I came in, like I said at the beginning, I came into the sideways, and I came in as a cook and a gardener. Those are two of the best skills you could possibly have for understanding and enjoying cannabis. I also have a degree in nutrition and food science from UC Berkeley, so that helped me with a bit of the biochemistry that this fabulous plant gives us.

00;13;48;08 - 00;14;13;08
Penny Barthel
But that does not mean that you need to have any education in food or gardening aren't anything you can start out as a. I've never gardened before. I don't know what I'm doing in the kitchen and I'm like, fine, you are in good company. You don't need to. Once you grow this plant, there are a couple of key things in which you take the goodness of the resin on the flower, and you make it available to our bodies.

00;14;13;08 - 00;14;39;14
Penny Barthel
So in my book we talk about how to make a tincture. So that's my number one product that you would make super easy to make. And it's very flexible. A tincture is something that is probably the oldest way that people have consumed cannabis, other than smoking it or inhaling the the charred vapor. A tincture is just you take some sort of spirit.

00;14;39;14 - 00;15;04;22
Penny Barthel
I like to use Everclear or green alcohol, and you soak your cannabis bud in it. And then the the resin from the cannabis moves into the alcohol portion of that. You get rid of the plant material. You've got this neat little very potent tincture. If you just make one thing from your cannabis flower, make a tincture. But with any given flower, you can make two tinctures.

00;15;04;24 - 00;15;28;03
Penny Barthel
You can make one tincture with with bud that's just dried, but it has not been heat treated or decarboxylase. So you get access to the raw cannabis, the raw cannabinoids in that one, or you decarboxylase it, which is a pretty simple thing to do. You just put it in the oven for a certain amount of time, and then you make a tincture.

00;15;28;03 - 00;15;48;22
Penny Barthel
With that, you get a very different cannabinoid profile. We like to call it. So you have two different products from one type of, from one type of plant. Just to say, let's just say you grew one plant. Well, you have a sweet of you have two different main cannabinoids going on there. One is the acid form and the other is the stable form, the one that we are more familiar with.

00;15;48;23 - 00;15;50;16
Penny Barthel
So that's a tincture.

00;15;50;18 - 00;16;10;10
Maria
You have in the raw form from the CBD plant. You have CBDA, that in your tincture. Or you could have THCA and that in your tincture. Or you were saying you can apply heat to them, decarboxylase them, put them in your oven and then have CBD or THC.

00;16;10;11 - 00;16;10;28
Maria
So

00;16;11;04 - 00;16;11;13
Penny Barthel
exactly.

00;16;11;17 - 00;16;23;28
Maria
in theory you could have a raw form tincture or you could have or... I like to take tinctures that mix THCA with THC and CBDA with CBD.

00;16;24;00 - 00;16;24;13
Penny Barthel
Yes.

00;16;24;14 - 00;16;27;13
Maria
I feel I feel a real benefit for pain doing.

00;16;27;13 - 00;16;48;11
Penny Barthel
You are. And you have intuited something that cannabis cannabis science is starting to reveal in the lab as well. So having both raw and cannabinoids or stable form cannabinoids together, our founding researchers are finding the best and most profound health benefits from the combination of those cannabinoids.

00;16;48;12 - 00;16;51;15
Maria
Wow, I experienced that.

00;16;51;17 - 00;17;14;04
Penny Barthel
Isn't that wonderful? So that's like, let's just think about that. You grow this, you soak it in some alcohol. After a couple of days, you strain it out. There's a little bit more to it, but not a whole lot more to it than that. You've got this delightful, potent little transportable stuff. One of my favorite things to do with it that you cannot do with cannabis oil drops, is to put it in a sparkling beverage.

00;17;14;05 - 00;17;15;20
Penny Barthel
It is delicious.

00;17;15;21 - 00;17;35;25
Maria
Especially, you know, if people are cutting down on alcohol. You know, you talk about sleep, pain and anxiety. Alcohol's not so good for any of those three. So a lot of people are are looking for something different. So wow wow.

00;17;35;27 - 00;17;57;22
Penny Barthel
And the second thing now a lot of people might be familiar with cannabis brownies, right? There was a woman named Brownie Mary who was super famous in the cannabis world for sneaking in cannabis infused brownies. To those patients who are suffering from Aids. Miserable. She'd bring them in brownies. All of a sudden they felt better. They could eat.

00;17;57;23 - 00;18;07;12
Penny Barthel
They had better lives as a result. She was quite a maverick in the day. But that pot brownie is a thing, right? We've all heard about it. Well guess what?

00;18;07;14 - 00;18;19;15
Maria
Many people are afraid when I talk to people and tell them what I'm doing here with cannabis education, they're horrified. Many people of my generation. Your generation?

00;18;19;17 - 00;18;47;06
Penny Barthel
Yeah, well, there's some basis for that. So, brownies. Pot brownies. I'll say this if you if you grow it and you understand what's in your cannabis, and you apply just a little bit of math and you make your own infused cannabis oil or cannabis butter, then you can do some math and make your own most delicious brownie recipe or cookie or just about anything.

00;18;47;07 - 00;19;09;02
Penny Barthel
I think I could actually infuse anything that we could eat, but you can do so with an eye towards how much THC and that's the big one to watch out for, is in each serving. So by doing a little bit of math, you can control exactly how much THC is in any given serving of that batch of brownies.

00;19;09;02 - 00;19;35;22
Penny Barthel
And I give some some easy to use formulas for trying to predict the potency of your cannabis butter, and then using that in just the right amount to get the right effect. Now, one of my favorite treats, and it's very gift recipes in my book is you make a cannabis butter or infuse fat. Then you use a certain amount of that and you make delicious chocolate sauce.

00;19;35;23 - 00;19;55;20
Penny Barthel
You can put it in the jars you label it with just exactly how much is in there, and then people will know, oh, I'm going to have one ounce of this or a little scoop on my ice cream. It'll be a just perfect dose to be just the elevation I want. Now, those people who are more experienced with cannabis have a little bit higher tolerance.

00;19;55;20 - 00;20;20;21
Penny Barthel
They can make their stronger. But the reason why people were scared about cannabis gummies is because people were not calculating just how potent those brownies could be. And as you and I both know with edibles, they take a long time to kick in. And by the time you've it's kicked in, you might have had too many brownies. So it's real important to get that dosing just right.

00;20;20;23 - 00;20;47;22
Maria
Yeah. And the chocolates also mean some people will say to me and this makes sense. Oh yeah, but if you have brownies and the dosing is minimal, you'll have maybe 2mg to 5mg of THC per brownie. But I want to eat five brownies. Well, okay, have one pop brownie and then he eat a couple of other non and non spiked brownies.

00;20;47;25 - 00;20;48;20
Penny Barthel
That's right.

00;20;48;21 - 00;20;50;08
Maria
It is, right?

00;20;50;10 - 00;21;12;22
Penny Barthel
And I think once you grow the plant and you spend time with it and you harvest it and then you do a little bit of research, it really demystifies this plant. And by mystifying taking the fear out of it, you're able then to get a little bit more real and enjoy its health and enjoyment benefits without being worried about being overexposed to this.

00;21;12;25 - 00;21;25;24
Maria
And it's like cooking with anything else where I know how much hot sauce I could tolerate. I you know, I know some people are like, is there pepper in that? I can't eat it? Okay, well, you know, you said you learned.

00;21;25;25 - 00;21;33;24
Penny Barthel
Absolutely. I think that hot peppers is a perfect analogy. But imagine a hot pepper where you eat it and the heat doesn't kick in for an hour.

00;21;33;25 - 00;21;35;07
Maria
Oh that's great.

00;21;35;08 - 00;21;36;13
Speaker 5
So we get immediate.

00;21;36;13 - 00;22;02;02
Penny Barthel
Feedback with every other thing we taste. But canvas is not like that. It takes a long time for edibles, especially fat based edibles, to kick in, and then it's got a long duration. So that's a great thing for other applications, like sleeping is an ideal time to have just the right little edible because it lasts the whole night, or a good portion of it, but not so at a social event.

00;22;02;02 - 00;22;25;10
Penny Barthel
So but that's something you can do. The and there's, there's another little gift that's a little bit more advanced is I make a cannabis oil. Some people might know as Rick Simpson, oil is just a pure cannabis concentrate. I use a special piece of equipment for that. That's not all that complicated, but it just allows me to concentrate my cannabis and I put it in.

00;22;25;10 - 00;22;39;20
Penny Barthel
My favorite, favorite is a salve that I like to call Magic Salve, and I've provided a simple recipe for that in my book. But that's like the third way and that cannot get you. Hi. But it's incredibly soothing, and it's something you use on your skin.

00;22;39;23 - 00;22;53;03
Maria
As a topical. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love I love a nice Magic Salve for aches and pains. I've even used it for mosquito bites. And it's. It's incredible.

00;22;53;09 - 00;22;55;03
Penny Barthel
For sure.

00;22;55;05 - 00;22;55;16
Maria
Yeah.

00;22;55;17 - 00;23;30;10
Penny Barthel
You know, if you are giving people the gift that gives them the ability to have a little bit less anxiety, a little bit less pain, a little bit less sort of existential suffering in their lives. And then if you calm down and have some CBD gummy get a little bit elevated in the evening, I think it's actually going to break cycles of anxiety and worry and feeling this, I don't know, push to outdo one another, perhaps especially for those who I feel the effects of social anxiety.

00;23;30;10 - 00;23;55;19
Penny Barthel
And I think all of us get that to a greater or lesser extent. There are some who people who just have a little bit more sensitivity to. Oh, I got to go to the office party or it's going to be a big group. And for whatever reason, I'm feeling a little nervous. I actually think that a low dose edible or a low dose little tincture can really help offset that in a way that alcohol doesn't.

00;23;55;21 - 00;24;17;15
Penny Barthel
It hits differently. I make a low dose gummies, and I have named them. And for my husband, I'll just say I make them for him. I call them mood lifters because. I was a party girl. There is nothing that will make me nervous going to a party. But you know when you go to a you just having one of those days and you need a little bit of mood switch.

00;24;17;17 - 00;24;30;16
Penny Barthel
It's subtle and it's nothing you want to rely upon overly much, but it's just subtle and it breaks. A cycle of negativity sometimes helps you to enjoy situations rather than just enduring them.

00;24;30;19 - 00;24;56;13
Maria
It does, but I can say anecdotally, you don't rely on it. I haven't relied on it, and the fact that it is changed my mood or lift that negativity, that I might be knee-jerk concerned situations or that anxiety in a certain social having the experience of it lift it it it becomes experientially you've had this like corrective emotional experience.

00;24;56;14 - 00;25;13;03
Maria
Once you experience it and it helps you to experience it, then it's easier to not need it to get to that space. But unless you've been to that space of relaxation, you don't know how to get there. You know, I mean, know what you're seeking?

00;25;13;05 - 00;25;16;17
Penny Barthel
Yes. For sure. Agreed with that.

00;25;16;19 - 00;25;45;04
Maria
Now there is, in terms of gifting, you guys have given some some wonderful gifts to the last prisoner project, right when you were talking about your Magic Salve. Yes. Can you tell us a little bit of Steve D'Angelo's Last Prisoner project? A great organization for people to support and and yeah, a little bit about your involvement and and gifting your flower and your magic's have.

00;25;45;10 - 00;26;04;19
Penny Barthel
Now the last business project. Why? Well, they are a nonprofit that's devoted exclusively on providing justice for those who are victimless or nonviolent offenses, and they are in jail for or in prison for cannabis. That is still happening to this day in our country.

00;26;04;19 - 00;26;08;12
Maria
Sometimes that's proportionately minorities.

00;26;08;14 - 00;26;27;23
Penny Barthel
They are it's it's it's awful to me. And it's something that I just it hurts my heart. I think it's bad for society generally. These are people who have done no harm to other people, and sometimes even for just simple possession. You're not like a joint or to on you. You can be arrested in certain states and put in jail.

00;26;27;23 - 00;26;43;22
Penny Barthel
So the last prisoner project really gets at that. They do policy, they offer direct relief, they help get people's records expunged. So even if after people serve their time, they still have penalties associated with having a felony conviction on their record and.

00;26;43;25 - 00;26;54;17
Maria
Love it. And so the chocolate sauce, the salve, the tisanes. What are some of your fans favorites?

00;26;54;21 - 00;26;55;27
Penny Barthel
Oh, fan.

00;26;55;28 - 00;26;57;06
Maria
Go ahead, go ahead

00;26;57;07 - 00;27;06;19
Penny Barthel
Gosh. So much. Well, I have to just say my number one fan favorite once people have tried it. Definitely the Magic Salve. So that is huge.

00;27;06;21 - 00;27;08;23
Maria
Chocolate sauce over the chocolate sauce.

00;27;08;23 - 00;27;09;08
Speaker 5

00;27;09;08 - 00;27;24;07
Penny Barthel
Over the chocolate sauce because that's for everybody, even people who have really had a number done on them by the war on drugs. And I'll just say that's everybody over the age of 40, everyone and even those.

00;27;24;10 - 00;27;24;23
Maria
Trickle down..

00;27;24;28 - 00;27;26;03
Speaker 5
You know, they're like, oh.

00;27;26;04 - 00;27;50;19
Penny Barthel
I can't take it. Or or you know what? God bless them. They may have jobs that strictly prohibit any use of cannabis. Some people who just can't risk their livelihood. And so they're very important. This no drug detect. There's actually a NIH study that I site on my on my website for that. Number two would have to be the chocolate sauce.

00;27;50;20 - 00;28;15;19
Penny Barthel
It's just absolutely delicious. It's super simple to make. It's easy to make cannabis butter or cannabis infused coconut oils. Normally what I do, you just need a saucepan or I actually use a super tiny cheap crock pot. It's done in an hour. It's it's really nice and easy to use. Probably the third thing would be one of my many flavors of gummies.

00;28;15;20 - 00;28;31;28
Penny Barthel
Now we are aware of gummies at the store. The ones that I have in my recipe in my book are a little lighter and fresher. I always rely upon natural ingredients. Like yesterday in my class, we made Meyer Lemon Gummies and they were just exquisite.

00;28;32;00 - 00;28;34;01
Penny Barthel
So they used gelatin, they used some sugar.

00;28;34;01 - 00;28;55;05
Penny Barthel
And it uses a cannabis tincture in the gummy recipe. So it's a way of getting a low dose of cannabis, and you're in charge of what's in that tincture. It could be raw. It could be decarb, it could be THC, it could be CBD, it could be the both. You can make custom gummies, and they're fast to make and really delicious and quite low dose.

00;28;55;05 - 00;29;01;07
Penny Barthel
So there's little risk of overconsumption because they're just one little gummy at a time.

00;29;01;10 - 00;29;05;13
Maria
Yeah. And it's just it's it's fun thing.

00;29;05;16 - 00;29;34;06
Penny Barthel
And in my book there is oh gosh gosh. The, I have a recipe for giant cheesy goldfish. And they look like goldfish crackers. They taste absolutely delicious. And so again, they're they're one serving is one big cracker. So as long as you're like, how many crackers do I think people are going to make? Or maybe you package them up in like two little gum, you know, crackers and make sure that they're just like two milligrams each so people feel confident.

00;29;34;08 - 00;29;39;28
Penny Barthel
Oh, they'll get a nice little buzz after a while. But, you know, just eat that so you can do savory too.

00;29;40;00 - 00;30;06;20
Maria
And for beginners, that's a really good starting dose. I mean, I've got to really I'm very inspired by your book and by you, but I'm going to admit I'm guilty of going to a dispensary and buying chocolate covered blueberries. And I it's very hard to find them under five milligrams each. I like to get a two milligram one because as a beginner, I'd like to start with two milligrams and wait an hour.

00;30;06;20 - 00;30;35;07
Maria
And because you're not going to be able to back out of an edible. That's right. So, you know, you then you increase to the desired effect. But when it comes to the edible, the onset and duration that you talked about, you have to be patient. And yes, it tastes good. If I want additional chocolate covered blueberries while I'm waiting for that onset, I just have non infused ones.

00;30;35;07 - 00;31;06;12
Maria
But talking about predicting effects on set and duration, there's two other two other topics I want to talk about. I want to talk about the use case for fresh cannabis, which I know you define as six months or earlier, fresh flower. And I want to talk about, you know, in these consumption methods, we've talked about topicals and edibles.

00;31;06;13 - 00;31;27;17
Maria
I do want to just hit on smoking and some tips about lung health. So just if you could talk to me a little bit about a use case for fresh cannabis, and then we're going to just talk about the consumption method of smoking. And and then we're going to move on from there.

00;31;27;18 - 00;31;32;22
Penny Barthel
That sounds sounds great. So fresh cannabis. What is fresh cannabis.

00;31;32;24 - 00;31;34;04
Maria
What is fresh cannabis.

00;31;34;05 - 00;31;34;26
Penny Barthel
So that's.

00;31;34;26 - 00;31;51;09
Penny Barthel
In my in in my yard. In my world I consider cannabis to be fresh for up to a year. And that is not true how most people think about dried cannabis. They think kind of like spices in your cabinet. Well, as long as there's something there, it's good, right? Well, it's good in that ...

00;31;51;09 - 00;31;51;26
Speaker 5

00;31;51;28 - 00;32;15;04
Penny Barthel
It's not going to hurt you necessarily. But there is something to know that cannabis bud in a jar, that dried flower bud we talked about, which is where the resins are, it does change over time. And in particular for that cannabis, which is most common, high THC. We talked a little bit about the acid form of cannabis cannabinoids.

00;32;15;04 - 00;32;20;09
Penny Barthel
There's no THC in fresh dried cannabis flower. It's THCA but that ...

00;32;20;09 - 00;32;21;13
Maria
Can you eat it raw?

00;32;21;15 - 00;32;23;22
Penny Barthel
THCA, what’s that?

00;32;23;24 - 00;32;25;17
Maria
Can you eat it raw. Can you put it in a smoothie..

00;32;25;18 - 00;32;26;09
Speaker 5

00;32;26;10 - 00;32;45;13
Penny Barthel
You can absolutely eat it raw. And when you eat, let's just say you finally chopped it up. It wouldn't have the greatest texture because it's dried. But you, you know, grind it up and you put it on a salad, for example, you will get a huge hit of THCA, it is active in the body, but it's very unlikely to make you feel high.

00;32;45;15 - 00;32;57;14
Penny Barthel
But if that cannabis is older than six months, the THCA type that THCA will start to transform over time into THC. So you might have.

00;32;57;15 - 00;32;58;29
Maria
Ohhh...

00;32;59;03 - 00;33;24;07
Penny Barthel
You might have cannabis that's dried and in a jar. Even if you store it properly, a certain portion of that might actually be THC. It's likely to after a year. How much? I don't know. You could you could send it in and have it tested. But I would say most certainly even under very good storage conditions, some of that cannabis will have started to have enough time on it.

00;33;24;07 - 00;33;48;17
Penny Barthel
And exposure to light, heat, oxygen, all those things where some of that THC will transform to TH, THC,A will transform to THC. All to say this, if you want to be sure to have a nice storehouse of THCA for your own use, because it's great for a variety of inflammation and other things, you should make that tinker with your freshest weed.

00;33;48;17 - 00;34;16;07
Penny Barthel
So that's the first thing I do with my cannabis is make a tincture to capture those fresh cannabinoids. And that's that's important. So that's using up fresh cannabis. The second thing that happens over time is that even if you're going to, you want all the THCA to turn into THC, whether you vape it or smoke it or it, to put it in something, you're going to actually start losing terpenes because they are pretty volatile and they will evaporate.

00;34;16;07 - 00;34;40;22
Penny Barthel
That's why we when smell cannabis, it smells good because those terpenes are actually moving into the air. They are evaporating. And so if you want to have that ideal smoke, that ideal experience with like blueberry muffin or orange cream pop or Berkeley Joyride, whatever variety to maximize the deliciousness of those terpenes, and they do actually have an impact on the body as well.

00;34;40;23 - 00;35;01;21
Penny Barthel
Enjoy your cannabis within a year, and then guess what? Grow more for next season. It is an it's a renewable resource. You just put another seed in the soil and you grow it again. So that's how I view fresh versus unfriend. If you have weed that's two three years old. You don't know how old it is. It's still not going to hurt you.

00;35;01;22 - 00;35;26;24
Penny Barthel
You can still enjoy it. It'll just have less terpenes. And it might not smell quite as good. I tend to use cannabis that's older than a year in my making a concentrate to put on topicals, because I put so much in that I don't want to have a huge load of terpenes in it. I actually like to reduce the odor in my topical, so that's one thing I do with that.

00;35;26;26 - 00;35;32;21
Maria
It's is is the quickest onset in terms of forms of consumption, smoking.

00;35;32;21 - 00;35;34;13
Penny Barthel
Oh yes. Now so...

00;35;34;14 - 00;35;58;00
Penny Barthel
Onset and duration are two very important concepts. And so for beginners I get an assumption from people coming in. They're like, man I haven't smoked a long time. I don't like smoking. So I'm at a beginner. I should start with an edible, right? And I'll say, no, that is actually not the ideal thing for you to start with, or people who don't know how cannabis is going to impact them.

00;35;58;00 - 00;36;23;18
Penny Barthel
They want to give it a try. I'll say, well, you should inhale your cannabis. And I say inhale specifically. Yes, you could smoke it, but I think it's a little safer. And to do what's called a whole flower vape. And I have one and I love it. And I take cannabis bud that's dried. I grind it up just like I was going to roll it into a joint, but instead I put it in my electronic vaporizer.

00;36;23;18 - 00;36;25;16
Penny Barthel
I use...

00;36;25;18 - 00;36;28;04
Maria
They have portable and they have desktop ones, right?

00;36;28;05 - 00;36;28;17
Penny Barthel
Yes.

00;36;28;17 - 00;36;53;23
Penny Barthel
And mine is portable and it's very precise. It's quick to heat up. And then what happens is that I, I inhale the the vapors without the smoke has a very similar effect to smoking a joint. And that here's the cool thing about that. The onset is almost instant. It's within ten minutes you're going to get all of the impact of that inhaled vapor.

00;36;53;26 - 00;37;14;10
Penny Barthel
So you know, pretty quickly kind of like, you know, taste in a hot pepper. How hot is it? Well, you know, real fast, right. This is going to be like, how does this one hit me. And so I actually advise my clients and friends if let's just say they grew something new, they haven't tried it before. Well give it put it in your vaporizer and inhale it.

00;37;14;10 - 00;37;39;11
Penny Barthel
You're going to know quickly what the onset is. And you're also going to know, does it make me sleepy? Does it make me feel like I want to giggle? Does it make me want to, you know, go out and do something very focused and task oriented? Or is it just like, oh, so relaxing? You now have a benchmark for how that cannabis hits your body, and you're going to be able to use that to predict how it's going to hit in other preparations that might have a longer onset.

00;37;39;11 - 00;37;40;00
Penny Barthel
And then.

00;37;40;00 - 00;37;41;12
Maria
There's is ... go ahead ....

00;37;41;14 - 00;38;01;05
Penny Barthel
There's duration. Duration is the second half of that. And so when you inhale something the duration is short. You're out of the experience within an hour and a half to two hours. So it's great for social settings. That's why you'll find people I'm going to drop another gummy. No. They're going to be in a social situation. They'll smoke because it's an instant onset just about.

00;38;01;05 - 00;38;04;07
Penny Barthel
And then it's over ...

00;38;04;07 - 00;38;36;28
Maria
It’s nuance, and I've never heard anyone explain it as well as you just have. And this is why I just love talking to you, because I talk to people and, you know, I'm new to it, came into it sideways as well. But, I people will say to me, I just the predictability. I don't like that. I don't know how it's going to make me feel or people will talk about, well, I'm not sure I'm for legalization because I don't know how I feel about people getting behind the wheel in it.

00;38;36;28 - 00;39;06;05
Maria
And it's it's nuanced. It is, but it's not. It's but so is everything. I mean, it's nothing new. It's not overwhelming. The only reason other stuff is not nuanced is because we've been doing it. We haven't had eight decades of prohibition and, and and censorship. Whereas drinking alcohol is nuance. You know, how much you could drink and how long you have to wait.

00;39;06;07 - 00;39;07;08
Penny Barthel
And the cool, yeah...

00;39;07;08 - 00;39;18;22
Penny Barthel
The the interesting thing about alcohol, we did have a period of alcohol prohibition in our country, and it messed it up for some people. We had to resold ourselves into appropriate drinking.

00;39;18;24 - 00;39;21;27
Penny Barthel
Right. But you got to remember that alcohol.

00;39;21;27 - 00;39;33;28
Penny Barthel
Is one molecule. It's ethanol. It is one molecule, whereas cannabis is 400. It's a lot more molecule. So it is more complex. It's far more nuanced than just about any euphoric....

00;39;33;29 - 00;39;34;19
Speaker 5

00;39;34;23 - 00;39;43;11
Maria
And it’s a medicinal natural substance. Whereas fentanyl what you just ethanol you just said is it's toxic. I mean, it kills brain cells.

00;39;43;11 - 00;39;44;17
Penny Barthel
But it does.

00;39;44;19 - 00;39;49;03
Penny Barthel
And most of us in small amounts in moderation, we can tolerate it just fine, but.

00;39;49;05 - 00;39;52;09
Maria
And we know what that is exactly.

00;39;52;11 - 00;39;53;19
Penny Barthel
It's well socialized.

00;39;53;21 - 00;40;14;29
Penny Barthel
So we are re socializing ourselves to what cannabis is today. In a post prohibition era era. We've got to figure out ways to do it. And I love learning from my friends who are more habitual cannabis users because it's totally well socialized. They know, oh, you take this hit of a joint, you share it. You know that you have an edible.

00;40;15;04 - 00;40;32;08
Penny Barthel
It's got to be this and that. And it's not hard to figure out. We are in a bold, new like Paradise of variety for cannabis with dispensaries and growing it at home. It's a great time, but you do have to reestablish your relationship with this plant and all that comes from it.

00;40;32;08 - 00;40;34;21
Penny Barthel
And that takes a little bit of work.

00;40;34;24 - 00;40;45;03
Maria
And you have to meet people like yourself who are a bridge to those people. If they just don't happen to be in your community, or they're still stigmatized and don't want to discuss it with you.

00;40;45;05 - 00;40;45;25
Penny Barthel
And Maria.

00;40;45;26 - 00;41;22;15
Penny Barthel
One more thing about duration. So we were talking about onset. So it's smoking a joint or whole flower vape fast onset, short duration. The second quickest onset is actually something called a sublingual. And so you can take that same tincture that I have a rest before. And if you instead of swallowing it in a drink, you put a dropper under your tongue and you don't swallow, then that those cannabinoids are going to many of them will go directly through the the thin membranous tissue under your tongue into your bloodstream.

00;41;22;15 - 00;41;43;16
Penny Barthel
So that's going to hit faster than if you swallowed it. And it had to go through your digestive tract first. So that's probably the second. It's not going to be as quick as inhalation, but it will be faster than an edible. And the duration on that is going to be longer though it'll be two three hours, something like that.

00;41;43;18 - 00;42;01;08
Penny Barthel
Let's just say you straight up take an edible in a brownie, a chocolate chocolate sauce, a gummy. Even in a beverage, the onset might be delayed for an hour to an hour and a half. You might actually not. How high? That's know how high that's going to make you for a little while. An hour to an hour and a half.

00;42;01;08 - 00;42;12;07
Penny Barthel
And with a certain dosing like a modest dose, you might still feel it after four, maybe even six hours. So that's why duration is as important as onset.

00;42;12;09 - 00;42;31;29
Maria
And it all comes back to the intention. What is the intention I'm taking it for? If I'm having acute pain or, God forbid, side effects from chemotherapy, you need a quick onset if if it's, you know, to relax and unwind and you want a longer duration, take it an hour and a half before you're going to go to sleep.

00;42;32;00 - 00;42;36;02
Maria
It'll last, get you through six hours or more of sleep.

00;42;36;07 - 00;42;36;25
Speaker 5
For sure.

00;42;36;26 - 00;42;37;07
Penny Barthel
And for those who suffer from

00;42;37;07 - 00;42;37;20
Penny Barthel

00;42;38;06 - 00;43;01;15
Penny Barthel
from particular issues in which they need to have both immediate and long lasting effect, you can do something called layering. If you are conscious about the total amount of THC and you're taking, it's very important for you to know that in advance. Let's just say you're having back spasm or something like that, and you are aware you've tried these things before.

00;43;01;16 - 00;43;21;02
Penny Barthel
You could eat a gummy knowing that that's going to kick in in an hour and hit your whole flower vape at the same time. And by the time your whole flower vape is wearing off, your gummy will be kicking in. You can also layer a topical on to any of your other consumption methods and it will not interfere.

00;43;21;04 - 00;43;29;26
Penny Barthel
It won't make them stronger because it won't enter your bloodstream. So layering for managing especially pain conditions is very important.

00;43;29;27 - 00;43;48;19
Maria
I've never, ever, ever thought about Penny, Barthel and Stoner in the same sentence. Not that you won't take it to elevate and on special occasions, but this, this you are the epitome of someone who uses it responsibly, so ...

00;43;48;19 - 00;43;50;14
Penny Barthel
Thank you I appreciate that.

00;43;50;15 - 00;44;00;26
Maria
Sorry guys. It's going to lead to having your own beautiful backyard garden and having the most popular gifts. Go ahead Penny, how do you any great it how do you take it daily.

00;44;00;29 - 00;44;01;06
Speaker 5

00;44;01;06 - 00;44;04;11
Maria
What has it been a gateway to, go ahead.

00;44;04;13 - 00;44;11;17
Penny Barthel
People who are who expressed surprise like you, you grow cannabis. I'm like, yeah. And though.

00;44;11;17 - 00;44;12;10
Penny Barthel
Some some get

00;44;12;10 - 00;44;17;09
Penny Barthel
Cheeky, you're like, why are you high right now, I'm like I'm not. But you know.

00;44;17;12 - 00;44;17;29
Penny Barthel

00;44;17;29 - 00;44;37;08
Penny Barthel
I like to say this I enjoy cannabis every day and I'm rarely stoned. If I want to be stoned, that's fine. But that's my reality. So I love the I make a raw tincture that has CBDA and THCA both in it. Every single morning I take a pint of water. I throw in some lemon juice from one of my trees.

00;44;37;08 - 00;45;00;07
Penny Barthel
I put in several squirts of my rock and boom, I'm hydrated. I'm feeling good, and I trust that those things will help to keep down. Chronic inflammation, basic chronic inflammation due to just getting older. So that that's one thing that I do, I don't I don't have a sense of that. It doesn't make me alter my perception of myself at all.

00;45;00;09 - 00;45;27;13
Penny Barthel
Often then times during the day I will rub a topical on my my joints, in my hands, my knee, if it's acting up. I mean, I was in a 10-K race this morning. I will be using salve on my knee later on today, I can tell you that. And then often before I go to bed, I'll have a little chocolate heart that I make that has a low dose of THC in it, which I find to be very helpful, and it helps to promote relaxing sleep.

00;45;27;13 - 00;45;49;15
Penny Barthel
For me, that is particular to me, and each of you will need to figure these things out for yourself. This is not a prescription, it's just my practice. And so with you and knowing what your health issues are, what your knees are, you have those things available to you. But that's just my baseline. And then there are times when I do want to like test out a new weed that I just grew.

00;45;49;15 - 00;46;08;25
Penny Barthel
And here's one. It's on my desk. This is a little sprig of Royal Highness, and it's really powerful. It's delicious. It's really cushy and love it. Oh, it has what I describe as a classic kush smell. So here. Can you hear it?

00;46;08;27 - 00;46;22;18
Penny Barthel
It smells great. It smells fresh. It smells. It has a lot of hits of, like, pine. And just like you walked out into a wet forest in the northwest, it smells amazing.

00;46;22;21 - 00;46;24;05
Maria
And the nose knows that.

00;46;24;10 - 00;46;25;05
Penny Barthel
The nose knows.

00;46;25;05 - 00;46;44;28
Maria
So that's another episode. But folks, when you're worried about, well, the predictability. Now, I don't know how it's going to affect me. Well, Penny just did smell it. Just like you smell, you know, and see how it hits. You see where it hits you. Getting to your baseline. We're not saying to give any of these things up, but.

00;46;44;28 - 00;47;08;07
Maria
Wow. To add that point of water with cannabinoids to my cup of coffee, instead of just having caffeine, which is also legal, I think would probably do me good to add the Magic Slave and cut down on the Ibuprofane. Oh, I think my gut would appreciate that so much.

00;47;08;09 - 00;47;08;26
Penny Barthel
Definitely.

00;47;08;27 - 00;47;47;27
Maria
And then in the evening to take a chocolate heart instead of a pharmaceutical sleeping pill or a bunch of wine. Nothing against that. And you could still have that. You might find you're having less and you're having less of something that serving you, but also has negative effects. And you're replacing it with, you know, cutting down on it, diluting it with something that's has the same effects and is actually can't make health claims.

00;47;47;27 - 00;48;12;28
Maria
But as the research will show, as we get even more and more studies. But there's a lot of peer reviewed studies about the antioxidant effects and the anti-inflammatory effects of of the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Well, Penny, and we have one other segment. We have consumer insights and tips. I mean, this entire interview was one big consumer insight and tip.

00;48;13;01 - 00;48;35;00
Maria
I really love knowing the intention behind what do you want to have your cannabis for and understanding who's behind it. Do you have any other like a quick consumer insight or tip that practical insights for tips and safe and responsible use you've hit on them, but is there any you'd like to add?

00;48;35;01 - 00;49;01;10
Penny Barthel
I think the cannabis industry has some of the most creative and integrity filled people in business today, but they are under duress. In terms of the licensed dispensaries. There's a pretty onerous tax burden that we, the people in California, have put on them, so be aware of how that impacts them. But there's some phenomenal products out there. Go to a really good dispensary and buy good.

00;49;01;10 - 00;49;20;25
Penny Barthel
I mean you get to know them. Who owns them? Are they serving their community? Are they owned by black people, by women, by queer people? You got to figure out what your values are and then go find a dispensary that meets them. So that's the first thing. And the second is then ask some questions. There are budtenders who are really well informed, and they can help you pick out products.

00;49;20;25 - 00;49;41;24
Penny Barthel
Let's just say you haven't grown your own cannabis, but you love using it. You can go try things at a dispensary and then thank then, then kind of DIY them yourself next year. That's kind of how I got started making my own products. I loved some of the things that I tried in dispensaries, and I still go to dispensaries and look at their offerings.

00;49;41;24 - 00;50;00;18
Penny Barthel
I'll buy them on occasion, so it's not mutually exclusive to go to a really good dispensary and try things there, and that will help inform what you make at home. It's sort of like going to a great restaurant. You get inspired, you can come home and go, wow, I can do things like that too.

00;50;00;20 - 00;50;24;02
Maria
Yeah. I love your consumer insight into guys. You got to know who's behind the product because these people need your support. Surviving legalization. For those who are doing it right, their backs are against the wall. They're pioneers. They're they're going against so many barriers to try to get because of their love for the plant, because they understand its potential.

00;50;24;04 - 00;50;27;20
Maria
So know who's behind the product and that's who you're going to support.

00;50;27;22 - 00;50;29;14
Maria
Well wow wow wow wow wow.

00;50;29;14 - 00;50;54;12
Maria
What an amazing conversation today with you. Penny. I got to get you in studio because I would like a hug. Virtual, you know? Yeah, we'll do a virtual hug. You want to make an impact on somebody? Buy this book, grow it from home. Make something. Yeah, you'll you'll be the most. I tell you, I've become the most popular aunt in our family.

00;50;54;12 - 00;50;58;28
Maria
But I'm sure you are, too. Penny. Yeah.

00;50;58;29 - 00;51;02;08
Penny Barthel
My ranking did go up several months, right?

00;51;02;11 - 00;51;03;18
Maria
Doesn't it go up?

00;51;03;19 - 00;51;05;18
Penny Barthel
What? Oh that's cool.

00;51;05;20 - 00;51;06;20
Maria
Yeah, and It is cool..

00;51;06;20 - 00;51;07;23
Speaker 8

00;51;07;24 - 00;51;33;20
Maria
So it's not about buying more stuff or chasing the sales. You know, we learned today from Penny, and she's so much to offer. I want you to just also hit on you routinely give workshops at is it at only at nurseries or libraries in the Bay Area and the LA area? Is that where people could. Well, we'll put up your website and they could see the schedule of your but is it is a California specific.

00;51;33;22 - 00;51;58;29
Penny Barthel
It is right now California specific. But there's always the potential for virtual classes. So I work with my own company wondering about weed. I partner with Emily Gogol. We have been giving talks throughout the Bay Area in Los Angeles, and I'm doing a four part class series in Northern California with garden designer Stefani Bittner, and we're calling it Herbal Magic, and it's the complete herbal garden.

00;51;59;02 - 00;52;00;04
Maria
Ohhhh...

00;52;00;06 - 00;52;32;21
Maria
And and we could find all that on your website and we'll we'll make that information available on our show page, guys. But as Penny said, cannabis just it isn't just about the plant. It's a way to nurture your well-being. It's it's whether it's through making a simple cannabis to sane, creating your own tinctures. You know, cannabis can be an ally in helping us to just wind, relax, and truly be present with your loved ones.

00;52;32;22 - 00;52;39;19
Maria
I mean that that is the best gift could be terrifying. Believe me, I know.

00;52;39;22 - 00;52;42;06
Maria
But, transformational as well.

00;52;42;06 - 00;52;43;23
Speaker 8

00;52;43;25 - 00;52;50;10
Maria
That's to to truly be present and anything that's a channel or portal for that.

00;52;50;12 - 00;53;12;15
Penny Barthel
It's creative. I know that I like. To to enjoy some cannabis. It helps me to unlock creativity. Sometimes it's just the right dose. And one other thing I've loved about cannabis, especially the tincture, is that, you know, there's a movement called the Kelly Sober movement. And I know people in my life who have just chosen not to drink alcohol for a period of time or forever.

00;53;12;21 - 00;53;27;15
Penny Barthel
You know, you take a sparkling beverage or you throw some tincture in and you get a little bit of elevation and you're part of the experience without the alcohol. So for some, that can be a real benefit. And I love having that on on tap as an option as I entertain.

00;53;27;17 - 00;54;02;23
Maria
Without the alcohol. Let me tell you something, guys. Without the calories, without the hangover. All right. So you know, before I go, I want to remind you to give to yourselves again with a copy of the Cannabis Gardner Penny's book. It's a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. It's perfect for anyone looking to take cannabis to the next level, you know, and what I love about this plant is it's it's got endless possibilities, which are book demonstrates.

00;54;02;23 - 00;54;25;07
Maria
And it's all about making the right choice for you. Well, that was such a great interview. And before we wrap, I want to do some cannabis questions that I hear all the time. We're going to do a rapid fire Q&A because so many questions are coming in. But that interview was so wonderful, and we only have time for about 1 or 2.

00;54;25;08 - 00;55;06;14
Maria
So we will start with one. Will CBD get me high? That is a great question and one of the most common misconceptions out there. CBD or cannabidiol is a non intoxicating cannabinoid, which means it generally does not produce the euphoric high associated with THC. Now, that said, not all CBD products are the same. Some full spectrum hemp products may contain small amounts of THC, so it's always important to read labels carefully and buy from reputable brands that provide third party lab testing.

00;55;06;15 - 00;55;36;07
Maria
But for many people, CBD is explored more for relaxation, calm, recovery and overall general wellness support rather than intoxication. Why do edibles hit differently and what's a safe starting dose? Oh all right. When it comes to edibles the golden rule guys start low and go slow from many beginners. A low dose somewhere around 2 to 5mg of THC is usually considered a cautious starting point.

00;55;36;08 - 00;56;04;25
Maria
2.5mg was the sweet spot for me, but just as important as dosage is patience. Edibles hit differently because they're processed through the digestive system and liver. Rather than entering the bloodstream quickly through inhalation. That means the onset can be delayed anywhere from 45 minutes to even two hours, but the effects may also last much longer. One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking it's not working and taking more too soon.

00;56;04;26 - 00;56;35;17
Maria
Different delivery methods create different experiences and understanding. Onset, duration and dosage is one of the keys to approaching cannabis more confidently and responsibly. Well, what I loved most about today's conversation with Penny Barthel is that it reminded us that cannabis doesn't have to feel overwhelming when you understand how different products, dosages, and delivery methods work. And maybe that's really the bigger takeaway here.

00;56;35;20 - 00;57;12;19
Maria
Cannabis literacy is personal. It's about it's not about following trends. It's not about pressure. And it's certainly not about trying to become someone you're not. It's about learning. Paying attention. Understanding your body, understanding intention, and giving yourself permission to explore thoughtfully, responsibly, and at your own pace. For some people, cannabis may simply become another wellness tool. For others, it may help support relaxation, creativity, better sleep, mindfulness, or recovery.

00;57;12;21 - 00;57;49;21
Maria
And for many people, especially those returning to cannabis after years or decades away, it starts with something much simpler. Curiosity. Curiosity about why this plan has resonated with so many people for so many generations. Curiosity about cannabinoids, terpenes, and the body's own systems. Curiosity about natural alternatives. Balance and feeling more connected to your own well-being. But as Penny said so beautifully today, intention matters.

00;57;49;22 - 00;58;24;16
Maria
How you use cannabis matters why you use cannabis matters. Understanding onset, duration, dosage, and delivery methods matters, and perhaps most importantly, replacing fear and confusion with education matters. Because once we begin removing stigma and misinformation from the conversation, we create space for more informed, more responsible, and more compassionate discussions around cannabis and wellness overall. And I think that's where real progress begins.

00;58;24;21 - 00;58;56;04
Maria
I also loved Penny's reminder that cannabis isn't only about consumption, it can also be about creativity, gardening, cooking, self-care, community, and developing a more personal and intentional relationship with the plan itself. So whether today's conversation simply sparked your curiosity helps answer questions you've quietly had for years or encouraged you to continue learning. I hope it reminded you that you don't have to navigate this evolving space alone.

00;58;56;06 - 00;59;24;07
Maria
Thank you again to Penny Barthel, author of The Cannabis Gardener, for joining us today and sharing her knowledge, perspective and thoughtful approach to cannabis education. And thank you, as always, to all of you for listening, learning and growing with us. Until next time, stay curious, stay informed, and keep choosing knowledge over stigma, fact over fiction. Because perhaps that's the bigger lesson here too.

00;59;24;09 - 00;59;47;20
Maria
When we replace fear fueled by misinformation with curiosity, education, and thoughtful conversation, we open the door to understanding not only cannabis, but so many other areas of life as well. This is Maria Calabrese, and you've been listening to Just Say KNOW.

00;59;47;23 - 01;00;22;07
Maria
Just say know is a greenbeelife presentation airing live weekly on Friday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m. Pacific on KCAA radio and KCAA TV. Archived audio episodes are on greenbeelife, greenbeelife.com, iHeart Radio, Spreaker and most third party major platforms. For archived videos, check them out on GBL TV on greenbeelife, YouTube and Rumble.

01;00;22;10 - 01;00;58;24
Maria
To follow us! Our Instagram and Facebook is at Just Say Know Radio to apply to be a guest on the show or for sponsorship and advertising opportunities, go to greenbeelife.com/just-say-know and feel free to reach out to me Maria for any questions. I’m at Maria@greenbeelife.com or call me at (818) 758-6925.

01;00;58;27 - 01;01;44;06
Outro Music
And what you give is worth it. When you're holding me. When you're.

01;01;44;08 - 01;04;12;10
Outro Music

01;04;12;12 - 01;05;15;22
Maria

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Maria

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Maria