​In a previous post we talked about terpenes in protabs and how they work with cannabinoids to enhance the strain’s/cultivar’s effects. Many are unfamiliar with terpenes, although they are all around us. There are more than 30,000 terpenes found in plants all over the world. In cannabis, there are over 200 terpenes. Rather than discuss terpenes as a whole, we’ll take a look at individual terpenes so that our community can understand which cultivars are right for them. The terpene we’ll focus on today is beta-caryophyllene (BCP).   

BCP’s medical benefits have been know for some time now. A 2008 study found a positive correlation between BCP and therapeutic treatments. Many spices and ingredients such as basil, oregano, lavender, rosemary, cinnamon, black pepper, and cloves contain the essential oil. This led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve BCP as a food additive because of its ability to activate the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is found throughout our body. There are two cannabinoid receptors appropriately named cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). BCP binds to the CB2, which are located on white blood cells. CB2 differs than that of CB1 as no psychoactive effects are produced. Beta-caryophyllene can help regulate the immune and nervous system by providing aid/relief from pain, inflammation, digestion, depression, anxiety, insomnia, cancer development, weight loss, and many more.

​Many well know strains contain high levels of BCP such as Bubba Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, OG Kush, Pineapple Express, Super Sour Diesel, Trainwreck, Candyland, Cookies and Cream, Gorilla Glue #4, Super Silver Haze, Wedding Cake, and so much more. At the moment, our high BCP strains include Mimosa, Orange Cream Cake. We used to carry Pre-98 Bubba Kush. Many from the Bento Family purchased that strain because the effects were exactly what they were looking far. As time goes on, our menu changes so be sure to keep a look out for any of these strains and many others high in beta-caryophyllene!

​We hope this discussion was informative. If you learned something new, let us know! Are there any cultivars you want us to carry, any terpenes you want us to cover, questions you have, suggestions for topics or improvement for Bento in general let us know by emailing us at peter@bentodelivery.com or by commenting below. We’d love to hear your thoughts and further the conversation. 

​With more and more people trying cannabis each day, we thought it’d be a great idea to discuss the differences between being recreational vs a medical patient in California. 

To start, we’ll briefly mention the laws that allowed each in California. Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, allowed physicians to recommend cannabis for severely ill Californians to provide relief and treatment. Fast forward to 2016, Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, passed which allowed the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older.

​It wasn’t until January 1, 2018 when recreational use was legalized. That’s when the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) went into law. The MAUCRSA established the regulatory and commercial framework for California’s medical and adult-use cannabis market. 

Besides the heavy taxes, the law outlines what recreational users and medical patients can buy and possess. Medical patients can be 18 and older. They can buy and possess up to 8 ounces of dried cannabis or concentrates. Recreational users are 21 years or older and are limited to 1 ounce of dried flower and eight grams of concentrates. Although, there’s no limit on the amount of CBD products anyone can buy.
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Understanding the legal, California cannabis rules can help in making purchasing decisions as well as deciding whether to seek a doctor’s recommendation for medical use. We hope you learned something new and if there’s something unclear or you want to know more about please feel free to email us at peter@bentodelivery.com or by commenting below. We enjoy hearing your thoughts! 

As our first discussion mentioned, we are at the early beginnings of the legal cannabis industry locally and globally. That leaves opportunities for creative solutions to enter the market. In this discussion, I want to focus on a relatively new product category for the cannabis industry created by the San Francisco company Level; protabs. New items like these may leave many hesitant to give them a try. Many have praised protabs and added them to their go to list. To see if protabs are right for you we’ll break down what protabs are, how they are made, and who might enjoy them.  

​Protabs are cannabinoid specific tablets infused with steam distilled cannabis terpenoids. Breaking that down, Level blends a specific chemical compounds of the plant with fragrant oils. For example, the sativa, indica, and hybrid protabs contain Delta-9-THC; the central psychoactive compound in cannabis. Other protabs contain CBD, Delta-8 THC, THCA, and CBG.
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Protabs are not considered edibles. They are small, circular, mint-sized tablets categorized as capsules or orally consumable concentrates. That sets them out of the 100 mg limit placed on edibles. That’s why they come in 250 mg packages; ten capsules dosed at 25 mg each. Protabs are cannabinoid specific and scored down the middle, allowing for smaller doses. Protabs are swallowed with water followed by a 30-to-60-minute activation delay 

Steam distillation allows Level to isolate terpenes. The process starts by converting solid, cannabis material into vapor and then turning the terpene profile into a liquid oil. The steam distilled terpenoids are infused with the cannabinoid to create the entourage effect. The taste and smell of terpenes like myrcene and pinene interact with cannabinoids such as THC or CBD to enhance the intended results; a stronger high or medicated effect.
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Chris Emerson, PH.D., Cofounder, and Chief Scientist at Level understands everyone has a unique endocannabinoid system. Because of this, he encourages people to experiment with cannabis as they build confidence with what works for them. A single cannabinoid can be an effective treatment; however, combining cannabinoids can provide the most therapeutic benefits through the entourage effect. 

​Protabs can be attractive for multiple reasons. The higher mg count can appeal to those with higher tolerances. Bentonians who want to understand how specific cannabinoids affect them in isolation. Level appeals to the growing trend of microdosing by providing a discreet way to relive stress, enter the flow state, or maintain the high while being able to control the dosage. Someone who doesn’t smoke and/or is tired of eating candy or chocolate covered edibles can rejoice with the small, potent protabs. As you can tell, there are many reasons why someone may be attracted to protabs. 

​What do you think about protabs after reading this post? Have you tried any of the protabs? If so, which is your favorite? What made you want to try it? We’d love to hear what you have to say by emailing us at peter@bentodelivery.com or by commenting below.  We enjoy furthering the conversation with our community. 

This week’s discussion stems from a conversation we had following the release of our second ever weekly discussion. With reports coming from over half of the USA, vape related illnesses and deaths are sweeping the nation. While the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has yet to state a conclusive cause, there is a common link between samples collected from those are/were affected and their use of THC vape cartridges. Please not these health issues and deaths are appearing in other vape related products outside of the cannabis industry. 

​Because we’re a cannabis company, we want to focus on what officials have found in samples of the victims’ THC vape products. The link is vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E acetate is commonly used in every day products like lotion. Some black market producers use honey cut as a thickener in cartridges to give off the appearance of a higher quality product. These producers trick unsuspecting consumers in thinking the gold colored liquid is safe to inhale in the liquid format.

The thickener has serious, life threatening effects on our respiratory system. Symptoms from hospitalized patients include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. A serious, life-threatening condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome could be developed where fluid fills up one’s lungs. As a result, preventing oxygen from flowing through the body. Death has resulted in some cases.

Luckily the California legal market requires testing of all cannabis products from licensed labs. Legal companies such as Bento Delivery receive a Certificates of Analysis (COA) for every product we sell. Therefore, making it nearly impossible for legal companies to sell products with life threating ingredients. That is why we recommend to not buy from products off the streets as they are untested.
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We are committed to being a positive force in the lives of each and every member of the Bento Family! Stop by our booth at Hempcon from September 13 – 15, 2019 at the Cow Palace in Daly City to learn more about us and our commitment to positive experiences! In the meantime, let us know your thoughts by commenting below or emailing us at peter@bentodelivery.com to further the discussion. 

​For the final installment of our three-part mini-series, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at concentrate storage. Concentrates differ than that of flower and cartridges because of available short, medium, and long-term storage options. This will be the longest discussion we’ve had so far, and it will follow the same format as the flower and cartridge discussion; the best storage conditions follow by factors to consider. Although, with a twist. Storage conditions are broken up in short, medium, and long-term sections. This may be a post you return to in the future as your taste and preferences change, you experiment with different products, or whatever may be the case. 

​Concentrates prefer a cold, dark place. Light, air, humidity, and temperature affect concentrates. Short-term and long-term options exist for frequent or occasional use. There are options for a week, a few weeks, or a few months. If you’d like to store multiple strains and/or consistencies, keep them in separate containers. Also, use an appropriately sized container for the right amount of air. 

​Currently on the menu are live resin sauce, live resin sugar, isolate, crumble, and shatter options. Some storage techniques may be more effective for some consistencies than others. For example, parchment paper is effective in handling sticky shatter, while silicone, airtight, and glass containers are effective in storing isolates and oleoresins. Oleoresins are essentially liquid concentrates such as live resin sauce/sugar, crumble, and budder. Although, containers may not be as effective if it is see-through. Direct light can penetrate and cause moisture related issues like sizzling dabs or a cracked nail. 

Silicone containers are effective for up to a week. To maximize results, the container should have minimal air space, opened as few times as possible, and stored in a cool, dark place like a cupboard. This reduces moisture development and product decay.
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For short-term parchment paper storage, separate shatter into smaller pieces and wrap each individual piece in their own parchment paper. Then set in a cool, dark place. 

A medium, 1-to-4-week, storage method for shatter includes placing the individually wrapped concentrate in a plastic freezer bag(s) i.e. Ziploc bag(s), setting the plastic freezer bag in an air tight container or in a glass jar with minimal air space when the bag is inside, and storing in a cold, dark place. A temperature-controlled environment with slightly lower than room temperature is ideal.
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Isolates and other nonstick concentrates can be placed directly in a vacuum-sealed or air tight jar and kept in a chilly, dark place. Just be aware to clean the jar in between uses. 

For long-term storage, concentrates can last anywhere from six to 12 months. Refrigerators and freezers can preserve the quality your oil. However, a cold, dark place is just as effective. If frozen, vacuum-sealed containers are your best bet. For added protection, the concentrate can be placed in one or two sealed Ziploc bag(s). These methods limit humidity issues caused by extra air. The most common humidity issue is moisture development. Sizzling dabs or a cracked nail are signs of moisture development. When the time comes to use the oil, take the jar out of storage and let it reach room temperature gradually. Keep the concentrate inside the jar for this part because added air can cause humidity and moisture issues. Sudden temperature changes can ruin the concentrate and all your hard work. Once it reaches room temperature, enjoy!

That wraps up our three-part mini-series on cannabis flower, cartridge, and concentrate storage. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this in-depth concentrate storage discussion as well as on the series as a whole. Our goal is to provide high quality content that is most relevant to you and all Bentonians. By emailing us your thoughts at peter@bentodelivery.com or commenting below, we’re better able to provide products and services that fit your needs and exceed your expectations.  If you want to tell us in person stop by our booth at Hempcon September 13 - 15 at the Cow Palace in Daly City. You'll see our commitment to meaningful experiences on display.