C.E. Hutton A minority-focused business development and management firm, provides a variety of tools, including capital-raise support to cannabis entrepreneurs and companies.
Key Takeaways
In this blog we’ll discuss what our label means and how that translates into all your favorite products. We’ll also discuss:
Get Educated
Cannabis or hemp plants are natural bio-accumulators, meaning the plant will absorb and take up through their root systems anything existing in the soils where they are planted. Because of this, it is critical that the soils in which cannabis is planted for human or animal consumption are free from toxins, such as pesticides or heavy metals, otherwise these materials have the potential to transfer into your products.
To prevent these materials from entering your body, we have committed to a holistic approach to healthy economies and landscapes. We see this practice manifested in a variety of ways by:
Agriculture experts caution that it could take years for the U.S. hemp market to mature and stabilize. They say hemp is a specialty crop, like cherries or tulips, rather than competing with major commodities such as corn and soybeans.
Hemp Matters to Meristem Farms
We became a product manufacturer because we wanted to create products that modeled what we wanted to see in the world. We believe paradigm shifting starts on the land, and on the shelf and advocating at the state, federal and grassroots level.
The Bottom Line
At Meristem Farms we believe that hemp production is an opportunity for ecological and social justice — and we want to be a part of this change.
Subscribe to our mailing list to find out how you can support Meristem Farms and purchase our latest products.
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Editor's Note
In the first part of our series: Why We Started at the Soil, we discussed a brief history of hemp, common misconceptions, and the effect that historical racism has had in the industry.
For this reason, Meristem Farms’ products always reflect the interconnectedness of healthy landscapes, resilient economies and prosperous communities fueled by the ancient legacy of an extraordinary plant.
Key Takeaways
Get Educated
Challenges in Farming Hemp
Each season, our farm partners plant our proprietary, Vermont-bred, cannabidiol- and terpene-rich varieties. Farming hemp is a relatively straightforward agricultural endeavor akin to traditional farming practices and a great entry point to sustainable, climate smart agriculture.
Yet, hemp is still new enough that farmers face a host of basic challenges from a lack of reliable seeds that deliver consistent crop yields, plant calendars that battle unexpected climate conditions and tried and true growing techniques.
Each year, we monitor and record plant performance based on each varieties’ response to soil types, climate variations, water use and pest management practices also reflected in the final medicinal profile verified by third-party tests.
While all farming is subject to the uncertainty of climate, there are a few hurdles unique to hemp farming. One tricky step is culling for male plants, since a male plant can pollinate an entire crop of female plants which will cause the female plant to cease her cannabinoid production, thus rendering a crop useless.
Did you know? Hermaphroditic plants, which develop both male and female flowers, self-pollinate and also need to be removed.
Marrying The Right Genetics
Another much more nuanced step is marrying the right genetics (plant varieties) with the right growing conditions; i.e. air flow, soil, sun. A whole host of destructive conditions can be triggered due to climate conditions or genetics not suitable for a particular geographic condition. A single cold snap can weaken the plant’s cell walls allowing for mold or pest infestations (depending on the genetic makeup of the plant.).
Plants can also grow “hot,” meaning THC levels exceed the legal limit of 0.3% THC. Keen observation of your plants allows for finding that harvest sweet spot ensuring your plants have reached a perfect level of maturation to produce a rich combination of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Our farm partners typically harvest later in the fall when the crisp night air pushes the plants trichomes (appendages along the plant’s surface acting as a first line of defense and the site of cannabinoid production) to accumulate a richer expression of cannabinoids and terpenes.
As you can see, farming hemp has its twists and turns due to its many complexities.
Hemp Farming for Meristem
At Meristem Farms our partners start with clean stock clones for consistency of plant performance. We work with a young-plant producer to propagate our plant varieties using non-GMO methods perfected through decades of experience in ornamental plant horticulture. This helps to remove nearly all viruses and pathogens from the mother stock, yielding clones of unparalleled consistency and disease resistance.
Whether farms choose to go through the USDA organic certification process or choose another certification, there is a fundamental approach to the land that Meristem Farms — and many other farms in Vermont and across the country — subscribe to, because it is proven that healthy soils and a robust and sustainable agricultural economy is critical to our planet’s survival.
Stay tuned for next week’s part three on our latest blog series: Why We Started at The Soil.
]]>Editor’s Note
As Meristem Farms grows and enters new lives, we care about staying rooted, remembering why we started it all and why we wake up every day feeling hopeful and excited to create new products. Our love for the industry starts with the plant but extends beyond — it’s about the impact, the history, and the changes that mindful products can bring into our society.
Want to learn more about the history of hemp, and other key points that will help you understand the cannabis industry? Sign up for our newsletter!
Key Takeaways
Get Educated
In Vermont, where Meristem Farms was born, it has been legal to grow industrial hemp* since 2013. If you tracked the progression of permits and acres dedicated to hemp farming across the state, it would paint a picture of volatility and hard work in an industry striving to establish itself.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the significance of the CBD (or hemp) market has only been amplified by the trauma and stress, along with our country’s long overdue racial reckoning.
Even with all these struggles, hemp-derived CBD products continue to find their way into natural food stores, bodegas and CBD shops becoming a medicinal staple for those seeking to remedy pain, inflammation, stress and sleeplessness.
For that — and many other reasons — we created Meristem Farms.
A Long History of Hemp
It’s impossible to discuss why we do what we do without diving into farming practices that support an ethical and sustainable future for our landscapes and communities. Let’s start with a bit of history about the plant itself.
Hemp can be traced back to 8000 BCE in regions of Asia. Hemp spread across civilizations as vast as Asia, Europe, Africa, and later South America. It wasn’t until 1606 that hemp was introduced in North America. In 1700, the crop garnered enough respect whereby some colonies were required to farm hemp and historical documents were penned on its paper, including drafts of The Declaration of Independence.
Hemp continued to be grown in American fields until the 1930s but it was The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 that promulgated the major decline of the plant with heavy taxes, many believe deliberately imposed by powerful lobbyists, to allow for an increase in market share of other industries such as plastics and nylon controlled by the powerful elite. The Act was reversed to support war efforts during World War II and the Hemp for Victory campaign prompted a mini resurgence with farmers throughout the Midwest and South.
Hemp was eventually banned for good in 1970 with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act. Hemp was included as a Schedule 1 drug, grouping a crop alongside drugs like heroin and LSD. As Natalie Papillion describes, “this designation claimed that marijuana—which first appeared in the United States Pharmacopeia in 1850 and had been widely utilized as a patent medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries—had “absolutely no medical value” and represented “the highest potential for abuse”. It should be noted that no medical experts were involved in this categorization.
The Effect of America’s War on Drugs
The 70s also unleashed America’s ‘war on drugs’ that created deep and disproportionate outcomes for communities of color. In 2018, Black men were incarcerated 5.8 times the rate of white men, and black women were incarcerated at a rate of 1.8 times the rate of white women.
There have been attempts to stitch together a more equitable response to the chasm between the multibillion dollar, predominantly white, male, cannabis industry and the devastating multigenerational impact the war on drugs has had on predominantly black and brown, men and woman and communities in the U.S., but a response that reflects acknowledgement and accountability has yet to come. Few if any states have been able to create a model that is bold, reparative and consistently enforced.
Grassroot-level efforts strive for a paradigm shift in how they approach and educate their communities; programs of note include, The Innocence Project, Minority Cannabis Business Association, Last Prisoner Project, EJI, National Bail Out and brands like 40Tons, cannaclusive, and publications like broccolimag and Anti Racism Daily (ARD)
It wasn't until 2018 that hemp and all its derivatives became fully legalized through the passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill). This distinction ushered in a wave of entrants to the hemp market and kicked off the CBD craze, with a waterfall of CBD products touted as cure-all elixirs for every kind of ailment.
Uninitiated ‘CBD users’ tapped into the power of this multifunctional plant and just like that hemp, and its most prominent compound, CBD, was reaffirmed as the botanical remedy it had been for millenia. And, while the CBD craze has opened up a dialogue dispelling some of the outrageous myths associated with cannabis, the hemp and cannabis industry writ large still have a long way to go where products and information are reliable and trustworthy.
Want to learn more about the history of hemp, and other key points that will help you understand the cannabis industry? Sign up for our newsletter!
Stay tuned for next week’s part two on our latest blog series: Why We Started at The Soil.
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If you’ve ever tried hemp products in any form, you’ve probably experienced some of the benefits associated with it. Relief, peace of mind, happiness, focus … the list goes on.
When it comes to achieving the benefits of smoking hemp, hemp smokes are an excellent way to consume hemp, as they offer an alternative to cigarettes, and are easy to consume.
In this blog we’ll go over the benefits of choosing hemp smokes over cigarettes, and why the organic components of Meristem Farms’ products are preferred across the country.
What are Hemp Smokes?
At Meristem Farms, we have created a chemical-free, organically-farmed, alternative to tobacco cigarettes: hemp smokes. Our hemp smokes look and feel like real cigarettes but are made without tobacco and nicotine. With 25 mg of CBD per smoke, you will experience an almost instant sigh of relief.
The hemp used in our smokes is not mass produced industrial hemp that you may find at many farms today; our hemp is harvested in Northern Vermont’s crisp October air when the plant’s aromatic terpenes are at their highest. After our hemp plants are harvested, we air-dry the plant, which allows for the characteristic terpenes (aromas) and cannabinoids to bring countless benefits to you. When the cannabinoids and terpenes work together, they are more powerful and effective than when they are isolated, also called the ‘entourage effect’. All Meristem Farms products are full-spectrum, meaning our products contain all the original compounds found in the plant; cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Full-spectrum products preserve as much of the chemical diversity as possible. And, because you are decarboxylating, which simply means heat is being applied to make the healing compounds bioavailable for your body to intake, your daily dose is direct, powerful, immediate plant action.
Hemp Smokes When Quitting Smoking
In the United States, over 34 million adults still smoke cigarettes. While this number is down substantially from years past, it’s still outrageously high, especially considering the many negative effects linked with smoking tobacco, such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and more (1).
Hemp products are a great way to replace smoking tobacco and limit the feelings of withdrawal associated with quitting smoking.
Our products go directly from our fields to your fingertips and while they are made with no fillers, no pesticides, and are non-GMO, you still get the smoking experience you would with cigarettes, but with no negative side effects. One of the main reasons that people continue smoking cigarettes when trying to quit is the nagging feelings of withdrawal. From irritation to restlessness, jumpy feelings to cravings, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and depression, it’s no wonder many people cannot get over the hurdle of breaking the nicotine habit..
Added Benefits
Our hemp smokes can help to treat, cure, or prevent withdrawal feelings. As they reduce anxiety, help you fall asleep, and bring a sense of calmness to your day, many people looking to quit smoking have found relief. Hemp is known to be a non-addictive product (2) so it is unlikely that you’ll switch from a tobacco addiction to a hemp one. While many people smoke hemp often because of the benefits, there are no known addictive ingredients that cause this. People have simply decided to incorporate hemp into their daily routines for a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Many customers love the soothing aspect of hemp smokes, which is the exact opposite feeling you get from smoking cigarettes. One customer said, “Great smokes for relaxing. I gave up tobacco years ago, but can smoke these without fear of addiction. A carton lasts a while — the smokes are good quality and even one makes a difference.” Take it from current users, smokable hemp is a great alternative to smoking cigarettes and it allows you to live a tobacco-free life.
The Bottom Line
While smoking CBD hemp cigarettes can’t counteract or prevent any disease caused by years of using tobacco products, you may see health benefits across the board once you replace your tobacco with hemp or CBD content. Meristem Farm’s organically grown hemp can help to rebalance your endocannabinoid system (ECS) which helps your body function correctly, control pain, stabilize your mood, energy levels, and more (3). The calming effects can help your mind and body to relax, feel better, and function correctly.
If you’re looking to transition from tobacco to hemp or CBD products, Meristem Farms is your answer. Take a look at all of the organic hemp products we create, from hemp smokes to CBD lip balm, hemp-infused CBD coconut oil, hemp pre-rolls, and so much more, we’re here to help you live a happier and healthier life.
Click here to shop our hemp smokes!
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How Many Ways Do We Love Thee or Why We Love Our Hemp-Infused Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil + Hemp a simple marriage of botanical wellness.
We use organically grown, unrefined coconut oil sometimes called virgin coconut oil.
We started here because, well, coconut oil is an easily accessible and economical oil to buy in bulk and available organically.
Our family members needed relief and they weren't able to to smoke, so we crafted our first batches in the kitchen by infusing the oil with our first harvest of hemp.
We went on to develop a highly potent formulation that we finish off in the lab to ensure its potency hits 1200 mg per jar, but we are proud to say this was kitchen-tested and family and friends' approved before it hit the market!
Sweet, smooth flavors remind us of warm sands and salty ocean, particularly poignant during the dark, cold days of northern winters.
Highly emollient base oil derived from the coconut and solid at temperatures below 76 degrees F (24 degrees C).
The challenge with creating a product with no added preservatives, is that it reacts to the temperatures surrounding it, but we are committed to purity, so prefer to present our products with only the most critical ingredients possible while also keeping costs reasonable.
Coconut oil has a devoted following for its all-over, multifunctional use inside and outside of the body. For some, it is the ultimate skin moisturizer and post-sun treatment.
Coconut oil is a great carrier oil for CBD and all the other cannabinoids and terpenes because of its saturated fat content. Molecularly, cannabinoids work best when they are suffused into a high lipid content since they become absorbed more efficiently.
As such, coconut oil, with its near 90% saturated fat content, is a better choice for carrier oil than hemp seed or olive oil, with relatively lower concentrations. What’s more, the effects of coconut oil carries minimal health concerns, since its fat content is largely comprised of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are easy to break down and absorb.
Here are some of the reasons and the ways we are experimenting with this multifunctional oil:
SKIN...
vitamins for skin repair for the face, hair and all-over body balm
sooth and calm (anti-inflammatory) for skin flare-ups
anti-oxidant
pain relief
therapeutic massage
sensual massage
arousal
INGEST IN...
smoothies
coffee, cocoa, matcha, tea
tonics
spreads
sauces and rubs
...get creative!
The following is the testimony read aloud to the session and submitted into record on 02/10/2022 :
Good Morning!
*Examples of land trust and equity models
(thanks also to Grace Gershuney for compiling a portion of this list):
]]>At Meristem Farms, we believe that to truly enjoy hemp flower, you should first understand why it works, and how it can positively impact your life.
In this article, we'll discuss:
Let's dig in!
So, what are the benefits of Hemp?
Hemp is increasingly popular as a potential remedy for a range of conditions including anxiety, inflammation, skin issues and stress. It is common for people to introduce hemp for a variety of reasons in their path to wellness. A few benefits are:
Hemp vs. Marijuana: What's the difference?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions, and the basic answer is fairly simple: Marijuana gets people “high” and hemp does not. But of course there’s a bit more to it!
First, it’s important to understand that “hemp” and “marijuana” are the common names of two different varieties of the same plant species: Cannabis sativa. Though they are the same species, the two varieties have significantly different traits: Think St. Bernards vs. Labrador Retrievers, which are the common names of two different varieties of Canis lupus.
The principal difference between hemp and marijuana is the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it produces. “Hemp” is defined in US law (and similarly in many other countries) as cannabis that does not contain more than 0.3% THC, while “marijuana” refers to cannabis that does. THC is the compound that produces the “high” associated with marijuana.
It is also worth pointing out that the term “marijuana” is sometimes associated with derogatory and racist connotations owing to the history of the term’s usage. The term “cannabis” has come into broader usage in place of ‘marijuana,’ but that is a misnomer because cannabis also includes hemp. Other alternatives have been proposed such as ‘low-THC cannabis’ and ‘high-THC cannabis,’ but no common terms other than ‘hemp’ and ‘marijuana’ have taken hold thus far. So for our purposes, at least for now, we’ve decided to stick with “hemp” and “marijuana” Nevertheless, we remind our readers it is critical to understand the racial injustices committed in the name of the War on Drugs and in association with the term "marijuana."
How does hemp help with Nicotine and Tobacco addiction?
Hemp smokes are popular with people trying to quit tobacco and nicotine. It’s thought that the CBD, and other cannabinoids they contain, interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) to produce varying effects. One of which is helping to reduce drug addiction.
CBD may offer extra support as you go through your nicotine withdrawal phase because it has the potential to decrease anxiety, support better sleep, lower blood pressure, alleviate pain (2), and reduce nausea (3).
Additionally, CBD is a non-addictive substance (4), so when swapping from using tobacco to taking CBD, rest assured, you’re not going to get addicted to CBD.
Meristem Farms Smokes
The Meristem Farms smokes are extremely popular for their many benefits, as they contain 25 mg of CBD per smoke — making them smooth, tasty, and won't make you feel high. And, they look and feel just like a regular cigarette between your fingers.
Our smokes are 100% organic made with our Vermont-grown hemp, contain no tobacco, no nicotine, and are free of fillers and pesticides.
You can learn more about purchasing Meristem Farms’ Premium CBD Hemp Smokes here.
Meristem Farms Pre-Rolls
At Meristem we also offer six ready-for-consumption pre-rolls packaged in reusable glass tubes that will help you receive all the benefits hemp has to offer:
Additionally, we have developed an organic, ‘do-everything’ hemp-infused coconut oil that is potent and easy to consume.
Conclusion
Whether you're introducing hemp into your life because you prefer the immediate effect of smoking hemp plants, or the slow release effect of hemp-derived CBD oils, the health benefits are numerous. In the United States, the usage of hemp —oftentimes in place of high-THC cannabis — has significantly increased in the last few years due to this realization.
If you're ready to add some clarity, patience, and calm in your life, shop our products today!
About Meristem Farms
A family-owned business, Meristem Farms supplies hemp plants and crops for holistic products that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and other beneficial, non-intoxicating cannabinoids and terpenes. We grow them in northern Vermont, and with partner farms using specially bred cannabis plants to produce oils that feature the unique biochemical profiles of each individual variety.
In addition to farming and distributing organic hemp products, we distribute clean-stock clones and provide consulting services in regulatory compliance and capacity-building. Our goal is to serve our broader industry through policy leadership and public-private partnerships to build equity and effective governance throughout the hemp value chain.
We are a company of learners, in service to customers and partners who seek to realize the promise and power of this plant to heal ourselves and our world. The cure for what ails us doesn’t come in a box, but some good medicine just might help!
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and new products!
Disclaimer:
Representations regarding the efficacy and safety of Meristem Farms products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. Consult your physician prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing or using other medications.
The information presented here is not intended to substitute for information from health care practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.
All CBD and hemp-derived products on this site are third-party lab tested and contain less than 0.3% THC in accordance with Federal regulations.
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"One potential way to make quitting easier and more fun is by switching to pre-made cannabis joints (pre-rolls) that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), marijuana’s secondary active ingredient. In a small 2013 study,1 CBD users cut cigarette intake by 40%."
]]>"There’s never a bad time to leave your tobacco-using days behind—for good.
One potential way to make quitting easier and more fun is by switching to pre-made cannabis joints (pre-rolls) that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), marijuana’s secondary active ingredient. In a small 2013 study,1 CBD users cut cigarette intake by 40%.
CBD comes from the cannabis plant, but it doesn’t make you feel high like pot’s main active ingredient, THC. Instead, studies indicate CBD can reduce social anxiety, inflammation, and create a calm feeling without much euphoria.
CBD is also empowering plenty of smokers to step down from highly addictive and carcinogenic tobacco. The World Health Organization concludes CBD is not habit-forming. And NIDA-funded research failed to find an association between cannabis smoking and lung disease or cancer. These CBD-rich pre-rolls help people quit by offering a similar experience for when intense cravings hit, such as during social occasions, right after sex, or other times when you might habitually light up a cigarette.
A 2019 review of early clinical studies finds that “animal and human studies suggest that [CBD has] the potential to reduce craving and relapse in abstinent substance users, by impairing reconsolidation of drug-reward memory, salience of drug cues, and inhibiting the reward-facilitating effect of drugs.”
A 2018 double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a mega-dose of CBD (800 mg) for tobacco cessation found that it helped quitters pay less attention to tobacco around them. That is, CBD reduced salience and pleasantness of cigarette cues,2 but didn’t lessen cravings or withdrawal.
Federal cannabis prohibition stymies further research, but legal cannabis markets like California have surged ahead in offering CBD-rich products aimed at everyone age 21 and up, including ex-smokers.
Some of the brands listed here blend CBD with THC to deliver effects all along the spectrum from “slightly high” to “kinda high,” so make sure to seek out 100% CBD products if you don’t want to your state of mind altered. You can find CBD-rich pre-rolls across California in the state’s 600-plus licensed stores and more than 135 licensed delivery services."
Read the rest of the article on Leafly:
https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/quitting-cigarettes-joints-rolled-with-cbd-might-help#:~:text=One%20potential%20way%20to%20make,cut%20cigarette%20intake%20by%2040%25.
1. Morgan CJ, Das RK, Joye A, Curran HV, Kamboj SK. Cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption in tobacco smokers: preliminary findings. Addict Behav. 2013;38(9):2433-2436. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.03.011
2. Hindocha C, Freeman TP, Grabski M, et al. Cannabidiol reverses attentional bias to cigarette cues in a human experimental model of tobacco withdrawal [published online ahead of print, 2018 May 1]. Addiction. 2018;113(9):1696-1705. doi:10.1111/add.14243
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ONE. BE HAPPY NOT HIGH. As a friend once shared, I am already dazed, anxious and hungry. I need the opposite to get through my days.
TWO. INSTANT GRATIFICATION. Smoking is one of the fastest delivery methods for moments of acute need; smokes can rapidly deliver CBD to relieve pain, anxiety, inflammation and more.
THREE. BIOAVAILABILITY. Bioavailability is the proportion of a substance that enters your circulation and has an active effect; in other words, your body's ability to access the wellness opportunities in the plant. Inhalation allows for that rapid and efficient uptake into your body of CBD and hemp's other cannabinoids and terpenes compared to other methods of consumption.
FOUR. POWERFUL. Each smoke delivers a high % of CBD compared to other pre-rolls. Clarity packs a powerful 195 mg, Patience 91 mg, Mirth 112 mg, Reverie 180 mg, Tranquility 92 mg and Presence 172 mg. While you need to find what works for you, a suggested daily dose is approximately 50mg. That means, a few puffs will do ya.
SOURCES: Huestis, Marilyn A. “Human cannabinoid pharmacokinetics.” Chemistry & biodiversity vol. 4,8 (2007): 1770-804. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200790152
]]>Black Past is dedicated to providing a global audience with reliable and accurate information on the history of African America and of people of African ancestry around the world. We aim to promote greater understanding through this knowledge to generate constructive change in our society. https://www.blackpast.org/
The Neutral Ground, C.J. Hunt includes robust support for curriculum resoures
Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources - Educational tools especially relevant for white anti-racist allies
Marijuana and the Fight for Racial Justice4 - Op-Ed from Marijuana Moment detailing the deeply racist history of marijuana in the US
Black Lives Matter - What Matters Podcast
Equal Justice Initiative - Committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Antiracist Research and Policy Center - A university-based research center bringing together scholars, policymakers, journalists, and advocates around a collection of broad and shifting issue areas like—education, economy, environment, health, politics, and justice reform—to research how best to dismantle racist structures, practices, and institutions that reproduce racial inequities.
ACLU Report on Race and the Drug War
Charged – The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration
Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
If you are not comfortable attending rallies during the pandemic, you can still support and defend Black Lives:
Floret Coalition - The Floret Coalition is an anti-racist collective of small businesses in the cannabis and cannabis-adjacent space supporting and funding equity-oriented actions via monthly donations and social campaigns. Together, we will raise funds and awareness for organizations prioritizing the needs of Black, Latin, and Indigenous communities.
Black Vision Collective (Minneapolis)
Donate to the Louisville Community Bail Fund (Louisville)
Black Lives Matter Greater Burlington (Vermont)
Roots Mutual Aid and Support Network - one of the only mutual aid networks that have centered on the needs, resources, abilities, and work of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in Vermont.
Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) envisions a future in which the residents East of the Anacostia River in DC experience vital, thriving communities characterized by social, cultural, economic and racial equity.
National Bailout - National Bail Out is a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers and activists building a community-based movement to end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration.
Cannabis industry assets for minority business opportunities, social equity (courtesy of MJ Biz Daily):
C.E. Hutton A minority-focused business development and management firm, provides a variety of tools, including capital-raise support to cannabis entrepreneurs and companies.
Justice for All Our mission is dismantle systemic racism, eliminate poverty and ensure racial equity through advocacy, education, and relationship-building.
Last Prisoner Project Core social justice focus is to release incarcerated cannabis prisoners.
Marijuana Policy Project The MPP lobbies for cannabis legislative reform across the U.S. The organization’s website includes information and resources related to race, justice and cannabis.
Minorities for Medical Marijuana M4MM is “focused on providing advocacy, outreach, research, and training as it relates to the business, social reform, public policy, and health/wellness in the cannabis industry.” Programs include cannabis industry apprenticeships and expungement of possession charges.
Minority Cannabis Business Association The MCBA’s mission is “to create equal access for cannabis businesses and promote economic empowerment for communities of color by creating policy considerations, social programming, and outreach initiatives to achieve equity for the communities most affected by the war on drugs.” MCBA has teamed with Merida Capital Partners to fund11minority-owned cannabis businesses and institutions.
National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance The NDICA was founded “to create social equity, social justice and diversity for those affected by the war on drugs.” The organization offers events and programs and is a qualified vendor for Los Angeles’ Social Equity Business Development Program. The L.A. program assists entrepreneurs and companies with business licensing applications and more.
NuLeaf Project The NuLeaf Project aims “to address the capital, education, and connection hurdles that people of color face when entering the cannabis industry.” The organization, according to its website, “invests cannabis tax and corporate revenue into Portland, Oregon-based businesses owned by people of color and Portland professionals of color.”
The Sentencing Project The Sentencing Project provides research and analysis meant to shape campaign priorities around criminal-justice reform, including disparities based on race.
Soul Simone - gorgeous, hand-crafted jewelry for your body! Vermont
Cafe Mamajuana, Burlington, Vermont
Stafford Creamery, Stafford, Vermont
ZAFA Wines, Burlington, Vermont
Groundswell Change, Vermont
JAG Productions: African-American Theatre in Vermont, White River Junction, Vermont
Pizzeria Verità, Burlington, Vermont
Conscious Homestead, Winooksi, Vermont
South Mountain Catering, Waitsfield, Vermont
Kismayo Kitchen, Burlington, Vermont
Manchester Maintenance, Manchester, Vermont
Upper Valley Racial Literacy Fellowship
#hazardpayforessentialworkers
...
While my family and I remain at home, relatively safe from the coronavirus pandemic, I marvel at the sacrifices being made by all those people who are putting themselves in harm's way simply by going to work every day, doing essential jobs in constant interaction with the general public, frequently for low wages. I would like to see the next stimulus package include extra government payments for these everyday heroes who are making it possible for us all to get through these trying times.
They are the heroes who are keeping the grocery stores and pharmacies and gas stations open, the bus drivers and garbage collectors, the school staffs making sure kids are getting school meals, the plumbers and electricians entering peoples homes, the delivery people, truck drivers and postal employees, and so many others who are doing their ordinary jobs under these extraordinary circumstances. And of course anyone working in healthcare, all the more.
Now that taxpayers are adding $600/week to people’s unemployment checks through the CARES Act I think we should also add at least that much to the wages paid to all those who risk the health and wellbeing of their families by exposing themselves to the virus every day in order to do jobs that meet our basic needs as a society.
HAZARD PAY FOR EVERYDAY HEROES! Pass it on…
Rick Fox
CEO & Co-Founder
Meristem Farms
first responders: https://www.change.org/p/concerned-citizens-first-responder-hazard-pay
first responders and essential workers: https://www.change.org/p/first-responders-hazard-pay
essential workers: https://www.change.org/p/governer-tom-wolf-hazard-pay-for-essential-workers-during-covid-19-pandemic
If you wish to create your own petition, here's the link: https://www.change.org/start-a-petition?source_location=search
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We did the work for you, try Meristem Farm's Hemp-Infused Coconut Oil.
But, here is your pathway to a DIY hemp-infused coconut oil. Read on...
Start with our 3.5g Organic Hemp Flower and you can create your own delicious CBD-rich hemp-infused coconut oil, save money and confidently take charge of wellness in your own kitchen.
Coconut oil is solid at room temperature; if semi-liquid, a half-hour in the freezer will solidify it. It can be taken orally just as you would a tincture; sublingually, or used directly on your skin as you would a salve or cream.
First you will need to apply heat to the hemp flower in order to convert the raw cannabinoids into activated, bioavailable cannabinoids. This is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from the precursor compounds and releases carbon dioxide.
I love the mason jar method because it helps preserve the terpenes in the plant by trapping them within the walls of the glass jar. This process will also minimize the odor (particularly helpful if you live in an apartment) and finally the plant is less likely to burn by keeping it out of direct contact with the air in the oven.
And, while there are many methods and nuances tucked into the recesses of the internet to explore and experiment until you find the right method to create your medicine cabinet, I have had success with the simplicity of the methods below...
Ingredients you will need for:
PART 1: DECARBOXYLATION*
Mason Jar with lid
Baking Sheet
(2) Kitchen Towels (one to rest jar on, second to handle jar in oven)
3.5g Meristem Farms Organic Hemp Flower
PART 2: COCONUT OIL INFUSION
Small Sauce pan
Cheese Cloth
1/4 cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Decarboxylated Hemp Flower*
Mason Jar (re-use from Step 1)
For decarbing your hemp flower:
1. Set your oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit with the oven rack in the middle position.
2. Open the jar of hemp flower and transfer it into the mason jar.
3. Gently break up the hemp flower into rice-size grains within the mason jar and then screw on the lid.
3. Lay the kitchen towel on the baking sheet and the mason jar on its side on top of the towel.
4. Bake for 60 minutes; pausing briefly every 15 minutes to open the oven and gently shake the jar to re-position the flower.
5. Remove jar after 60 minutes and let cool for at least 15 min.
For infusing your coconut oil:
1. Set a sauce pan on the lowest setting with a few inches of water such that your mason jar will sit inside the water bath.
2. Add 1/4 cup coconut oil to the jar of decarboxylated hemp from Part 1.
3. Close the lid of the mason jar.
4. Set the mason jar of coconut oil and hemp into the sauce pan and allow the coconut oil to melt and combine with the hemp flower.
5. Gently heat the herbs over 1 hour and up to 5 hours, checking frequently to make sure the oil does not burn and the water does not evaporate. Add water as it evaporates. Temperatures should stay between 100 degrees and 140 degrees. If the temperature becomes hard to maintain, turn off the heat and simply allow the herbs to infuse into the oil for up 5 hours. This is just as effective and the coconut oil will take on a beautifully rich green color.
6. Turn off the heat and allow the infusion to cool enough that you can handle the mason jar. If the coconut oil has hardened, return the oil to a liquid state in order to be able to pour off the liquid and strain the oil.
7. Set your cheesecloth securely over top of the original jar and strain the infusion carefully into the glass jar. The ratio should perfectly fit back within the original Meristem jar if using the proportions listed above.
8. Squeeze out the remainder of the oil from the cheesecloth.
9. Enjoy!
Gently crumble the flower into the bell jar.
Lay the bell jar on its side on a tea towel on the baking sheet.
A good organic coconut oil will make a delicious infusion. Unrefined or virgin is less processed and will provide a richer coconut flavor.
Coconut oil is added directly to the hemp flower to preserve the terpenes inside the jar.
Reuse the glass jar for your hemp infusion.
Once cool enough, carefully squeeze the remainder of the hemp infused oil into the glass jar.
Allow the infusion to cool and secure the lid. The oil will solidify once cooled in temperatures below 75 degrees. Popping the infusion into the fridge will maintain its solid state.
Voila! You have your own medicine cabinet of hemp infused coconut oil that can be used in place of tinctures and moisturizers. Personally, I take a 1/4-1/2 tsp. under the tongue every morning to start my day. The infusion of Mirth pictured here, using the ratios listed above, will have approximately 502.25 mg in the entire infusion with 41.85 mg CBD/tsp.
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Bioavailability: the portion of a cannabis dose that can be absorbed by the body.
Cannabinoids: compounds that activate cannibinoid receptors, including endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids.
CB1 (cannabinoid-1) receptor: A receptor believed to be located primarily in the central and peripheral nervous system, activated by all types of cannabinoids and largely responsible for the efficacy of THC.
CB2 (cannabinoid-2) receptor: A receptor believed to be located primarily in the peripheral tissues of the immune system, the gastrointestinal system, the peripheral nervous system, and to a lesser degree in the central nervous system.
CBD (cannabidiol): A major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40 percent of the cannabis plant's extract, with a wide scope of potential medical applications especially linked to the lack of psychoactivity and side effects.
CBDA (cannabidiolic acid): the raw form of CBD naturally occurring in the plant. CBDA is converted into CBD through the process of decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation: the process, typically with the use of heat, where the naturally occurring acidic versions of cannabinoids are converted into a form that is more bioavailable whereby a carboxyl group is removed from the molecule. The act of lighting up a hemp smoke triggers this activating or 'decarbing' which is why smoking is one of the most rapid delivery systems during acute flare-ups.
Endocannabinoid system (ECS): a system of neuromodulator chemicals and their receptors throughout the body that are involved in regulating appetite, pain, mood and memory.
Entourage effect: the synergy of pharmocalogical effects that occur
Resin: the sticky exudation of the cannabis plant produced by its trichomes
Terpenoids (Terpenes): volatile hydrocarbons found in the essential oils produced by many plants, including cannabis. It's what gives cannabis an aroma.
Trichomes: on cannabis; three types of tiny, specialized crystalline, epidermal hairs present on the buds, leaves, and stalks of late-stage cannabis plants that produce the cannabinoid-rich resin responsible for the medicinal effects.
SOURCES:
ProjectCBD; www.projectcbd.org
Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana, Backes,M., 2014, 2017
CBD: A Patient's Guide To Medicinal Cannabis, Leinow, L. and Birnbaum, J., 2017
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Now, imagine a complex series of musical notes inside your body. With a full spectrum hemp product, those notes are the bodies’ internal receptors that are struck by the phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant (or hemp). Rather than hitting one note with an isolated single compound phytocannabinoid; using a full-spectrum product to preserve the plants chemical diversity, the phytocannabinoids, terpenes (the compounds that give cannabis its smell, think aromatherapy) and flavonoids kick off an entire symphony within your ECS.
The phytocannabinoids along with all of the other compounds in hemp enhance your bodies’ endocannabinoid system by restoring balance in the face of illness and injury.
Check out our Hemp 101: Easy Vocab Cheat Sheet!
Meristem loves ProjectCBD, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical uses of cannabidiol (CBD)1 and other components of the cannabis plant.2
Image credit: ProjectCBD
1. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is defined as a common non-intoxicating compound produced by cannabis, with a wide range of medical applications. CBD is the second most commonly produced compound in cannabis varieties bred for their medicinal use, and the most common in varieties bred for agriculture (commonly known as hemp). It is of interest to many people for its medicinal value, especially its anti-epileptic, anti-anxiety, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Cannabidiol. (n.d.). https://www.projectcbd.org/cannabis-terms/cannabidiol
2. Cannabis, also known as weed, ganja and marijuana, is a common plant that has been utilized for food, fuel, fiber, and medicine for the last 12,000 years. The scientific name, cannabis sativa L., refers to the botanist, Carl Linneaus, who first identified cannabis in 1753.
Cannabis (n.d.). https://www.projectcbd.org/cannabis-terms/cannabis
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The difference is whether it contains a significant amount of (THC) tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the compound in the plant that produces euphoria or psychoactive “high”.
For centuries, certain types of cannabis have been bred for the production of fiber, textiles, paper, and food (particularly its protein-rich seeds). This came to be called hemp.
For just as many centuries, other types of cannabis were bred for the production of flower for medicinal purposes, because the flowers of the plant contain much higher concentrations of biochemicals called cannabinoids, such as THC, CBD, and many others. This came to be called marijuana.
In recent decades, cannabis breeders seeking to obtain the plant’s medicinal qualities (particularly CBD) but without the psychoactive “high” (i.e. THC) have been cross-breeding the types of cannabis historically bred for medicinal flower (marijuana) with the types of cannabis historically bred for fiber and textiles, etc. (hemp). This is the origin of the hemp varieties grown today for CBD and other non-psychoactive medicinal qualities.
Research, including a 2015 study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, underscores how full-spectrum CBD is more effective for clinical and medical purposes than CBD isolate. One of the most exciting points is the synergistic effects that result through cannabinoid and terpene interactions, dubbed the ‘entourage effect’. Again, think of a symphony made up of thousands of notes, rather than hitting one key.
CBD isolate (a 'one-note solution') literally contains ONLY the CBD molecule and though the research is in its nascent stages, it suggests that there are more potential drug interactions with CBD Isolate, compared to full-spectrum CBD products according to the Primer on Cannabinoid Drug Interactions, released by Project CBD in late 2018.