Transdermal CBD Gel Trampled My Pain

A good friend was sharing her positive experiences with transdermal patches, and she whipped out the Mary’s Medicinals transdermal gel pens that she uses to boost the effects of the patches. The lotion-like gel is what gave me my initial first-hand experience with a transdermal CBD application.

Besides the pens, Mary’s Medicinals also makes transdermal patches in several formulas – THC Sativa, THC Indica, CBD, and more. Mary’s makes transdermal gel pens in similar formulas. Each pen dispenses a measured amount of medicated gel, that is similar in consistency to a skin lotion.

Mary's Medicinals Transdermal Gel Pens

I was experiencing severe pain in my left wrist, unable to support any weight with it in several different positions.  Traditional pain relievers (advil, aspirin, tylenol) didn’t make much of a dent in the pain. I tried ingesting THC and CBD tinctures which provided some general relief but didn’t target the pain. It had gone on for weeks and I was about to make an appointment with my doctor to see if it was arthritis or something more serious.

My friend suggested I try the transdermal lotion. I rubbed a nickel-sized portion of the CDB lotion on my wrist and within an hour the pain was completely gone. I have had no sign of the pain since then and it has been over 6 months. From that point on, I have been an advocate for transdermal CBD application. Whether as a topical gel or in transdermal patches, it works especially well for pain that is specific to one area.

My pain was likely from inflammation, which CBD can be great at reducing. I have also used the CBD gel rubbed on my temples to reduce headache pain or on the back of my neck at the base of the skull when I feel tension built up there. The great thing about the pen is that it dispenses small portions so it easier to control how much you use.

For general aches and pains, edibles and tinctures are fantastic. For pain in specific areas, transdermal gels and patches provide more targeted relief.

Read more about Mary’s Transdermal Pens and patches, including one of our favorites for sleep, Mary’s CBN transdermal patch.

Green Hornet Sativa, Indica & Hybrid Cannabis Gummies Review

From CheebaChew comes Green Hornet, a line of cannabis infused gummies. It’s great that they have a Sativa specific product, so consumers know what types of effect they are likely to experience. Like most adult-use edibles they come in a package of 10 pieces, each with 10mg of THC.

I found the package very difficult to open, so if you have limited mobility with your hands, arthritis or just a low boiling point, plan to get the scissors out so you can cut this bag open and store the edibles in a child-proof container that is easier to open.

Flavor – Hated It.

The Sativa gummies are Mixed fruit flavor. I am not a fan of the artificial cherry flavor that is prominent. It reminds me of cherry cough drops or that awful tasting cherry flavor some dentists use to clean your teeth. The other fruit flavors are indistinct to me, a mix of generic citrus, possibly some artificial pineapple flavor, it’s hard to tell. The dominant flavor is the cherry, which I find unappealing. It lingers as an artificial aftertaste even when the gummy dissolves. It does cover up most of the cannabis oil flavor, but I would rather taste the oil than the flavors used in this gummy.

Besides artificial flavors, these gummies contain artificial colors, carnuaba wax, and gelatin. They are free from dairy, gluten and fat, but are not all natural or vegan.

Effects

I definitely felt “stoned” with these edibles, so the strength is there. I didn’t experience most of the usual effects I expect with Sativa edibles – uplifted mood, energy and creativity. I just felt high with no impact on mood, no extra energy and without feeling especially “up”.

I found the effects to be more of a Hybrid type effect than a pure Sativa effect. It was a somewhat dreamy, spacey high. Perfect for just hanging out with friends, watching a movie or taking a bath. I was able to relax and space out. I did not have couch lock or become non functional, so it was not a heavy Indica type effect. I would not want to have to concentrate on anything while using these, I found them too spacey for that. They could be good for creative activities where you just let your mind wander. I’m not sure I would want to cook something where I had to follow a recipe as I felt too spacey for that.

I did have heightened senses and strong food cravings, aka the munchies. Food tasted great and was extra enjoyable to eat. These gummies would be great for anyone who is trying to boost their appetite. Beyond that and the stoned feeling, I did not experience much of any other effects even after repeated tests.

Conclusion

There are so many cannabis infused edible gummies on the market that taste better and provide effects I find more desirable, that these won’t make my regular rotation. If you are not put off by an artificial cherry/generic fruit taste and you are looking for a straight up stoned feeling, these gummies may be great for you.

I like the Cheeba Chews brand and like their original product line. I also do like very much that they make these Green Hornet THC gummies with specific Sativa, Indica, Hybrid types. The flavor and the effects are not a good match for me, but if the taste and effects sound good to you, consider giving them a try as they certainly have an impact.

Taste: 2

Strength : 6

Website: https://cheebachews.com


Kanha Cannabis Infused Sativa Cherry Gummies Review

Kanha cannabis infused Sativa THC gummies contain the usual 10mg dose of THC per gummy. There are 10 pieces for a package total of 100mg THC.

Kanha gummies are made with gelatin, so they are not vegetarian or vegan friendly. They are gluten-free and contain no food allergens like dairy, nuts or soy. Each piece has 23 calories so the whole bag sets you back 230 calories.

Taste & Effects

The smell from the package is a generic cherry smell. Each gummy is covered in a fine sugar coating that provides an initial sweet taste. Once that disappears, there is an artificial cherry taste, mixed with a slight cannabis oil taste. Like other Kanha gummies I’ve tried, they are artificial tasting but perfectly edible. I don’t like cherry flavor to begin with, and I don’t like artificial flavors, but these have a soft enough flavor that they taste like other cherry gummy candies.

Kanha Cannabis Infused Sativa Cherry Gummies, package of 100mg THC
Kanha Cannabis Infused Sativa Cherry Gummies

Kanha gummies are robust, taking a good five minutes to dissolve in the mouth. As with all new edibles, I took half of my usual dose the first time to judge how strong they are. My usual dose is 10mg of THC, so I started with one half of a gummy, with 5mg THC. I took it first one evening at home. I didn’t feel much of an effect, even after 2 1/2 hours. I tried again the next day at the full 10 mg dose. I could feel a slight uplift effect, But I did not experience the energy boost, creative charge or the focus I experience with other sativa edibles.

Kanha Cannabis Infused Sativa Cherry Gummies

I usually find 10mg of THC is a good dose for me, but for many folks 5mg gives them the effects they want. I tried these again several times at my usual dose and just didn’t get the effects that I wanted. It may be the strain or the hybrid that went into making the cannabis oil or this could’ve just been a mild batch. Either way these are great for people who are sensitive to THC or who get the effects they want from a lower dose.

Always start low and go slow with edibles and judge the impact for yourself, as we all react a little differently.

Wrap Up

I love it when edibles are labeled as Sativa or Indica to give folks a better idea of the effects to expect. Kanha Sativa THC Cherry gummies are a good choice. While I find the flavor just okay, some folks love cherry. Overall a good choice if you are looking for mild effects in a Sativa THC gummy edible.

Now available in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Illinois.

Taste: 3

Strength: 4

Website: http://sunderstorm.com/kanhatreats/

Natural Cannabis Company THC Suckers Review

The Natural Cannabis Company has their own brand of THC suckers in a variety of flavors. Each sucker contains 10mg of THC and less than .1mg of CBD. These products are free of all animal products, so they are cruelty free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They are dairy-free and gluten-free with each sucker coming in at 35 calories.

I prefer THC edibles that are type specific (Indica, Sativa, Hybrid) or better yet, ones that are made with single strain, like Gorilla Glue 4, Blue Dream, Jack Herer or Grand Daddy Purple. These sucker’s packaging gives no indication of the type or strain. As a consumer, it makes it difficult to know what effects I can expect from this product. Will it give me energy and boost creativity? Will it give me a spacey, dreamy effect? I did ask the budtender about these and I was told that it is a Indica dominant hybrid mix

Flavors & Dosing

These suckers come in a variety of flavors. This review includes both the the sour green apple and watermelon flavors. Each sucker is a 10mg dose and they sell for $5 in 2019.

Natural Cannabis Company Watermelon THC Sucker package with sucker laying on top of the package

As soon as you unwrap these suckers, a strong sweet smell rises from the package. The watermelon is especially fragrant. They have that classic “Jolly Rancher” hard candy watermelon flavor, with a little taste of vanilla thrown in. The ingredient list includes no flavor but vanilla, so I’m not sure where the flavor comes from. They don’t even list citric acid or any extract other than vanilla. Maybe they infuse the soybean oil or the corn syrup or the thc with the flavor. There is almost no thc taste, just a hint of it, if anything. The flavoring does a great job of masking any unpleasant taste. These taste very good and lasts a good long time if you don’t crunch it.

As you see from the image, the sucker cracked after being sucked on for a minute or so. Since this is a hard candy, it can be difficult to cut it into pieces or control your dose if you want less than 10mg of THC. The cracks actually helped break it up, as I always only try half of any new edible to judge the effects. Especially with an Indica dominant hybrid, since I am sensitive to the relaxing, stoned and sleepy effects you get from many strains of Indicas. Always start low and go slow with thc edibles.

Effects

These are nicely potent edibles. I found the effects very noticeable but not overwhelming. The experience was one of an Indica – dominant Hybrid effect.

Head effect was definitely a bit cloudy and dreamy. Not stoned or stupid, but not sharp at all. It was not energetic or focused, more like a floaty head. Concentrating was not as easy as letting the mind wander. I would not want to do intricate work requiring focus on these, but something creative and mellow would suit these well.

Body effects were a good relaxed feeling. A tiny bit of sleepiness was there but nothing overpowering. It also would not put up a fight if the urge to zone out on the couch was felt. I didn’t experience any pain relief for muscle aches as I sometimes do if there is CBD present with the THC. I wasn’t expecting any pain relief, but it is sometimes a bonus depending on the cannabis strain(s) used.

Result

This is a very tasty THC sucker with no bad aftertaste. Tastes just like traditional lollipops but with a serious flavor boost. Effects are a mellow, dreamy, relaxed feeling. Great for unwinding at the end of the day, to help combat anxiety or stress, to help with getting to sleep, or just zoning out and decompressing.

Natural Cannabis Company products are only available in California in 2019.

Taste: 8

Strength: 7

Website: Natural Cannabis Flat Suckers

ZootDrops Premium Cannabis Infused Concentrate – Sativa High Energy “Yippee Ki-Yay” Mandarin Lime Flavored Blend Review

ZootDrops are a cannabis-infused liquid that can be added to drinks or taken straight. The cap is used to measure out one dose (1/2 teaspoon), which provides 5mg of THC. The green coffee bean extract and green tea in the Sativa High Energy Blend give this “drinkable” a real caffeine punch, that along with the THC produces an amazing, uplifting high.

ZootDrops

The Mandarin Lime High Energy Blend ZootDrops are sugar free, vegan, gluten free and contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They contain 100mg THC per bottle and have a child-resistant measuring cap. You can mix ZootDrops concentrates with any favorite drink like tea, lemonade, soda or you can put it directly under your tongue.

The Sativa Concentrate looks like cloudy orange juice. The cap is similar to the top of a Visine bottle. Very easy to measure dosing. It’s a good idea to rinse off the cap after pouring, as it could get very sticky.

I tried it straight, no mixer to get a taste of the product by itself. It had the distinct taste of bottled mandarin orange juice plus lime with a strong medicinal flavor. I mixed it in orange juice and was unable to detect any medicinal taste.

ZootDrops are very potent, so as with any new THC product you ingest, start with half of your normal dose. Normally 10 mg of THC provides the effects I prefer. I only used 5mg the first time trying ZootDrops and I was glad I did. I usually drink coffee or something with caffeine to help boost absorption of edibles. I am sensitive to caffeine and have at most 2 cups of coffee in one day. I felt a strong caffeinated effect just from the half a dose, as I already had half a cup of coffee in my system. I appreciated the energy and focus, though caffeine can produce an “edgy” feeling for me when I have too much, and that is what I started to feel. I stopped drinking the coffee and just let the ZootDrops do their thing, so I wasn’t uncomfortable, just felt a bit hyper-caffeinated. the effects subsided after a few hours.

I tried a 7.5mg dose next, using a measuring spoon to get 3/4 of a teaspoon. I had noticeable effects and had energy for a nice long walk. When I tried a full dose, I did so without caffeine as I think it would be too much for me. One serving contains the same amount of caffeine as half an espresso shot, so a full 10mg dose for me contained a full espresso shot and it feels like it.

ZootDrops Cannabis-Infused High Energy Sativa Blend Mandarin Lime flavor

It can take up to two hours to feel the effects of these concentrates, so be patient. Don’t up your dose because you don’t think it’s working.

After 20 minutes I could feel the caffeine buzz. By 70 minutes, I began to have a light buzz. Then I felt elevated in the most enjoyable way. Like the Zoots nuggets, this was a very up, happy high.

The high lasted 2 hours. There weren’t any munchies from this concentrate. When I tried this Concentrate again, I felt the same euphoric buzz. It was calming and uplifting at the same time. The second time I tried ZootDrops the high lasted a little over 2 hours.

ZootDrops Premium Cannabis Infused Concentrate is really convenient, just mix with your favorite drink. The small size makes it easy to take on the road and the self contained serving size cap means you can measure out a dose anywhere, even without a measuring spoon.

We recommend ZootDrops. The high is euphoric and consistent. The dosing is simple and I have never had a better glass of orange juice! Energetic nirvana is within reach!

Zoots edibles are available at licensed marijuana retailers in Illinois, Washington, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Strength: 8

Flavor: 6

Website: https://www.ionicbrands.com/our-brands

Love’s Oven Peanut Butter Cannabis Brownies Review

The last time I visited my local dispensary they had just finished stocking up a bunch of new edibles. I always ask my friendly budtender for recommendations. Her first suggestion was Love’s Oven Baked Peanut Butter Brownies. I’ve tried their Baklava before and loved it. So, I bought a container of Peanut Butter Brownies as well as another Baklava one and happily drove home.

Love’s Oven Baked Peanut Butter Brownies are individually wrapped pieces in 10mg doses. This is strain specific Sativa. The dose is a small rectangle that is very crumbly. The Brownies had just a hint of peanut butter. I was expecting a stronger, nutty taste. There’s also mild medicinal taste that’s not off-putting.

Loves Oven Peanut Butter Brownies

They use gluten-free flour, so there is no wheat or gluten in these brownies. They do contain dairy, so not suitable for vegans but okay for ovo-lacto vegetarians (vegetarians that consume dairy and eggs).

After one hour, Love’s Oven Baked Peanut Butter Brownies gave me an amazing, upbeat buzz. It’s great to find edibles that provide a euphoric high. The Peanut Butter Brownies provided a consistent, strong, heady high that lasted almost two hours. Throughout the time I felt active and energetic.

Loves Oven Peanut Butter Brownies in Package

Love’s Oven Baked Peanut Butter Brownies did give me the munchies. So be prepared, have a healthy snack supply ready!

It’s so important to ask your budtender’s recommendations and to be open to new edibles! I would definitely purchase more of Love’s Oven Baked Peanut Butter Brownies. The euphoric high is exactly what I look for in cannabis edibles.

Strength: 7

Taste: 7

Website: http://www.choosethelove.com