This collage is intended to remind us of:
(1) the ORIGINAL, wild, pre-administrative relationship humans enjoyed with cannabis sativa, from the beginning of their earthly lives;
(2) the documented therapeutic role it has ALREADY, safely, widely played in human lives, prior to 1935; and
(3) the role it plays in catalyzing and activating our sapient POTENTIAL through homeostatic health, in mind, body and public life.
We could benefit from clearing our minds -- at least for a moment -- of the superimposed images of Industry, Legality and Laboratories.
Before all that, there was just us, and the fresh fruits and vines of the earth. I remind us of those natural origins, to put us all more AT EASE.
Remember, before aspirin was Aspirin(R)... it was plain ol' WILLOWBARK. Don't let 'em fool ya... get you to thinking they innovate when really, all they do, is imitate (unpatentable nature). And, not very well.
In the YouTube comments of this video, unraveling the cannabis conspiracy, with Jeff Berwick, this question came through:
"I wish Erika would have spoke about how much cannabis to consume for optimal benefit."
I wanted to share my answer here, 'cause while it will piss off traditionalists and canna-conservatives (yup, made that up, but I bet you get my point), it will also be a freeing help to others who are ripe for, or curious about, a more natural and less clinical path with cannabis:
"My dosing recommendations are not conventional.
I suggest you EXPERIMENT (safely and responsibly, of course, as in not before heading out on a long road trip, where you're the first driver, lol).
EXPERIMENT with yourself, and with the plants available to you.
Notice how you feel, and adjust... similarly to flavoring your coffee, or building a salad at a buffet... according to your taste, needs and suitability.
With cannabis, you can (and will) become the captain of your own ship, and you needn't worry about fatally shipwrecking yourself, because you can't. Not fatally, anyway.
In truth, relationships, careers, even your physical appearance may all change drastically with optimal cannabinoid health, but those are simply functions of allowing yourself, and your life to be "true-d up."
This is a good thing. In advance, I encourage you to disregard the miserable naysayers.Legal, and unhealthy. Compliant, and depressed af. I used to be that way, too. Til sanity came, and gave that crap-thinking THE BOOT. lol
So, I'm not the source to cite Western metrics, and say "start small, with 10 mg, blah blah..."
Because I know our ancestors were imbibing this plant to the flourishing of everyone's health and happiness centuries before 'laboratory' was even a WORD!
So I don't align with that white-coat dispensing mentality.
Instead, I offer this nearly primal way of going about dosing beautiful, benign cannabis:
If you tend to be low-energy or depressed, you might prefer a sativa-dominant strain.
If you tend to be anxious, nervous, restless or in physical pain, you might prefer an indica-dominant strain.
Know the feeling state you seek. This makes you a more active participant in your own successful outcome. The time you take to know, name and influence your own developments BEFORE dosing, the far more amazing your results will be.
Have some. Puff. Nibble. Sip. However you like best.
Assess... does that amount help you meet your goal? What IS your goal? To be free of pain? To see things as they truly are? To restore cannabinoid balance? To create epic art?
Be clear, about what you want to achieve/experience.
Then, determine if that amount you have taken is helping you reach that goal.
Adjust accordingly.
It ain't perfect, but eventually it will be. And it's as good a start as a guesstimated number from an outside source.
I already know this un-method will make the analysts, engineers and exacting types want to barf.
It's okay :-)
The point, is that it needn't be feared. Just respected.
Do that, and you will find your right dose (if this is even an ideal plant for you to work with). A right relationship will leave you more whole and in greater joy and strength than before. Let that, or something similar/decidely positive, be your gauge as to whether you're avoiding, or ascending with your dosage.
Stay tuned for "You Have The Right To Fully, Freely BE IN YOUR BODY: The Origin Story Of SativaYoga."