Smoking a joint or taking CBD gummies are generally useful techniques to help quell anxiety. Of course, these techniques only provide short-term relief from any mental turbulence that throws you off-course during the day. One way to deepen the calming effects of cannabis and extend your peace of mind is to integrate meditation into the routine.

Meditation on its own is known to have many benefits: it helps you learn to manage stress, draws you to the present moment, slowly melts away negativity, builds self-awareness and perspective, fosters creativity, and releases any mental and physical tension from your current state. In addition, it is an essential element of yoga and several religious practices.

An important aspect of meditation to note is that it doesn’t only fix your present anxiety. Meditation cultivates feelings of calmness, mindfulness, and appreciation that follow you into the future. It’s a harvest of tranquility and introspection. While cannabis doesn’t have the ability to actively alter your mindset when you’re not using it, it’s the perfect tool to accompany and deepen your meditation practice. If you take a mood-lifting strain, negativity is melted away much faster. If you take advantage of the clarity that your strain induces, your self-awareness and ability to concentrate on the present will be magnified. Creativity and inspiration will also arrive more easily.

Here are 5 cannabis strains to try out with your meditation session.

Granddaddy Purple (Indica-dominant hybrid)
With aromas of sweet berries and purple flowers, Granddaddy Purple is a full-body relaxing strain. It delivers a soothing sense of calm to the mind, providing relief to any mental or physical tension during meditation. This THC-dominant strain will not only clear the user's head but also activate the ability to feel present and in the moment.

Hindu Kush (Indica)
Hindu Kush is known to induce a trance-like mindset, which is good if you want to enjoy a hypnotic effect during meditation. It has flavors of citrus and sandalwood and is able to generate a deep sense of calm within the mind.

Lamb’s Bread (Sativa-dominant hybrid)
Lamb’s Bread is used for its mood-lifting abilities, as well as for the simultaneously positive yet peaceful vibes it sets within the mind. It is the perfect strain for focusing on positivity and gratitude during meditation and contains an earthy, herbal aroma.

Blue Dream (Sativa-dominant hybrid)
With hints of blueberry and floral notes, Blue Dream is usually described as a good strain for euphoria. It awakens the mind and induces alertness, which pairs well with focusing on the present and controlling breath rhythm during meditation.

Mars OG (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Mars OG possesses a pungent, peppery aroma, and is able to induce a peaceful state of mind capable of pulling the user back into the current moment. It has been described as a perfect strain for staying grounded during meditation.

Try it out! Grab one of our recommended strains, or use one of your personal favorites, and light up a joint before you meditate. While your senses are heightened, try to observe all the ways that meditation with weed feels different than both cannabis and meditation as separate experiences. When you’re done with your practice, try to take note of whether or not your mindfulness follows you back into the real world. The next time you encounter any anxiety or mental obstacles in your day, aim to draw yourself back to a meditative state, even if only for a few deep breaths.

When we think of weed, we naturally think of the color green. However, buying weed is actually more like picking paint colors to put on a palette — cannabis flowers take on a whole spectrum of colors from red to blue and black to white. The natural instinct is to reach for whatever has the prettiest color and catches the eye most easily. You’ll buy the purple one not because it’s the most potent, but because it looks cool. Marijuana comes in a kaleidoscope of different hues, and the diversity among colors is due to a wide range of genetic and environmental factors. Cannabis breeders have noted this, and even strategically breed their strains to display more vibrant colors that will appeal to users. 

All marijuana is green from the beginning. The green color remains with the plant through its infancy but then starts to change when the plant matures. The colors expressed in marijuana are all influenced by multiple factors: nutrients, environmental pH (soil alkalinity), sunlight, and temperature. For example, cooler temperatures tend to inhibit chlorophyll production, and chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. As a result, new hues have the chance to reveal themselves as seasons change and plants mature. 

All plants contain compounds called phytochemicals, which are responsible for the expression of these different colors. Anthocyanins belong to a class of phytochemicals called flavonoids that influence the colors of weed, and varying levels of anthocyanins color the plant in shades from red to black. An important note — weed with richer color is not necessarily more potent than weed with less pronounced color, nor does it have anything to do with the quality of your psychoactive high if you smoke it. Here are some brief explanations of the various hues found in marijuana and why they appear.

Red and Pink
Red and pink strains of marijuana usually get their colors from anthocyanins, which also contain antioxidant qualities. These shades rarely occur naturally in weed buds, which makes them more desirable among certain cannabis users. It is more common to see red hairs (pistils) than it is to see red buds. Occasionally, the plant will take on a red or pink hue as a result of a phosphorous deficiency in the soil. 

Examples of red and pink strains: Red Poison, Red Dragon, Pink Panther, Pink Flower Shaman, Predator Pink, Pink Flamingo

Orange and Yellow
Carotenoids are another family of pigments that plays a role in coloring marijuana. They are responsible for yellow and orange colors found in plants. In the human body, they help facilitate vitamin A production. Marijuana strains with gold, yellow, and champagne hues usually grow in alkaline soils or environments where the pH is higher. Another factor that can cause yellow to orange tingeing in weed is nitrogen deficiency. In nitrogen-poor environments, chlorophyll production is stifled, resulting in yellowed leaves and buds.

Examples of yellow and orange strains: Orange Bud, Lemon Kush, Grapefruit, Nectarine, Olive Oyl, Kandy Skunk, Wicked OG

Green
While all immature marijuana plants start out green, only some retain their green hue through maturity. Chlorophyll, which causes the expression of green hues in plants, typically masks other pigments unless other environmental factors disrupt its function. In many cases, a true green color indicates that a marijuana plant was exposed to plenty of sunlight.

Examples of green strains: Green Crack, Green Haze, Green Goblin

Blue and Purple
Various shades of blue and purple found in marijuana contain large amounts of anthocyanins. This trend is expressed in other plants as well — berries, eggplant, and purple cabbage are all incredibly rich in anthocyanins. The cannabis plant remains green while it is still young, but with maturity changes color as anthocyanin production increases. If the buds and leaves of weed are purple in hue, it was probably grown in a more neutral pH environment. If they’re blue, they were likely grown in a higher pH environment (alkaline soil). In the cannabis industry, purple is one of the most common hues available. Purple and blue colors are also good indicators of the “fruitiness” of a particular marijuana strain.

Examples of blue and purple strains: Blueberry, Blue Dream, Blue Cheese, Purple Urkle, Granddaddy Purple, Purple Orangutan, Purple Haze

White
When buds on a cannabis plant have been cultivated to their absolute maximum potential, they are covered in white, frosty-looking trichomes. These trichomes are rich in cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as terpenes, which cause the flower to be especially potent. If you smoke a strain with white-looking buds, your psychoactive high is guaranteed to be much more powerful. Another factor that can cause white pigmentation in marijuana is a class of flavonoids called anthoxanthins, which possess colors ranging from cream to yellow.

Examples of white strains: White Widow, White Rhino

Black
There are a few rare strains of marijuana with black buds. This unusual coloring is due to an exceptional abundance of anthocyanins that turn the plant so dark it appears black. Something interesting to note about black strains is that they can induce very intense psychedelic highs. They are an ideal option for anyone looking for an extra kick during a session. 

Examples of black strains: Vietnamese Black, Black Willy, Black Tuna

What color can tell you about environmental factors
While color won’t always tell you the exact science behind a strain, it often serves as a good indicator of the environment in which the marijuana was harvested, as well as the general quality of the product. For example, vibrant colors suggest that the strain is still fresh, while faded colors of the same hue are a sign of diminished taste and potency. The presence of white trichomes points to extra potency in a strain. Buds rich in anthocyanins — namely, blue and purple flowers — may contain fruitier flavors.  Red or yellow hues that appear unexpectedly may indicate imperfections in the weed, such as a phosphorus or nitrogen deficiency in the environment. And, finally, the growing temperature can be gauged from the color of marijuana as well. Green variations probably had exposure to the most sunlight, while the presence of other colors suggests an inhibition of chlorophyll’s function, and therefore lower temperatures or a seasonal change.

Vape pens, the ultimate way to consume cannabis discreetly, are incredibly convenient for a number of reasons. They don't carry the same conspicuous odor as a joint, they can easily fit into pockets and bags, and instead of exhaling smoke, you exhale vapor. Standard vape pens have cartridges of cannabis oil that is vaporized upon use. Decarboxylation — the process in which the cannabinoids THC and CBD are activated through high heating — happens almost instantaneously when using a vape pen, either by pressing a small button or in other models, just by inhaling. 

What's going on under the surface of your vape pen? 
​Here are a few details on how such a small device helps deliver such a successful high. 

The Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is located at the front end of a vape pen and is the part through which you inhale. Mouthpieces can be made from glass, silicone, or plastic, and are available in several shapes and variations. A mouthpiece is also sometimes called a "drip tip," because vape juices would drip through it in older models of vape tanks. The name "drip tip" still remained even after the introduction of non-dripper vape tanks.

The Tank/Cartridge
This is the part of the pen that holds the cannabis oil. Although the names are relatively the same, a tank is usually an empty compartment with a marked fill-line that can be filled with oil manually, while a cartridge is a compartment that is already filled with oil by a cannabis manufacturer and then inserted into the pen.

The Atomizer
The atomizer is a small heating unit that turns the oil to vapor droplets and activates the THC or CBD in the process. The most common types of atomizers are cotton wick, quartz, and ceramic. The ceramic version is the most resilient of the three because it retains heat well and holds up to higher voltages. Quartz atomizers are also pretty reliable but don't retain heat at the same level as the ceramic versions. Cotton wick atomizers are the most sensitive, as they are prone to overheating and burning at higher voltages, and need to be replaced more frequently than ceramic or quartz ones.

The Activation Trigger 
A vape pen can either be activated with a power button or with a sensor that turns the device on when you inhale. Button-activated pens usually have a safety catch that requires you to click five times in a row to turn on the device, which helps prevent accidental activation. You can also adjust temperatures with the button.

The Battery
The battery takes up most of the vape pen's total volume. It is usually a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It can be charged through a charger that screws onto the back end of the pen and has a USB port. Your device can be easily charged by a computer, in the car, or anywhere else with a convenient outlet and USB adapter.

The next time you use a vape pen, your understanding of the whole process will be much deeper, and you might even find yourself appreciating the small details you'd never noticed before in your vaping experience.
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What exactly is the relationship between cannabis and anxiety or stress? Many users seek out cannabis to deal with anxiety and stress in a variety of forms, including sleeplessness and appetite loss. These five mood-boosting strains all tackle anxiety with different methods; some are meant to assist with peaceful sleeping and feeling refreshed in the morning, while others are more energizing and uplifting.

​Jack Herer (Sativa-dominant hybrid)
Jack Herer is a popular option for morning blues because of its ability to induce energized focus and happiness. Good for people with anxiety and depression, this strain also is linked to feelings of creativity and motivation. Jack Herer is THC-dominant, and its flavor profile includes aromas of freshly cut wood and pine.

Granddaddy Purple (Indica-dominant hybrid)
With aromas of sweet berries and purple flowers, Granddaddy Purple is a full-body relaxing strain that works well with insomnia and chronic pain. It delivers a soothing sense of calm to the mind, providing relief to any mental or physical tension before sleeping. This THC-dominant strain will not only clear the user's head but also activate the appetite, making it a competent remedy to appetite loss.

Northern Lights (Indica)
Northern Lights has been described as a perfect strain for people with bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia, or poor appetite. It delivers a sweet and earthy aroma and induces a peacefully euphoric feeling. While creating sensations of mellow laziness, it also works during sleep to help the user feel less groggy and more refreshed in the morning.

Harlequin (Sativa-dominant hybrid)
Harlequin contains a chill balance of THC and CBD, delivering the positives of both cannabinoids in healthy doses alongside flavors of mango and earthiness. The CBD helps counteract any negative anxiety-inducing effects of THC, making this strain perfect for anyone with heavy anxiety or stress by clearing the mind. It also works well with pain-relief. The high CBD profile in Harlequin may also create a sense of happiness without as much psychoactive high (which would be common in a THC-dominant strain).

Girl Scout Cookies (Indica-dominant hybrid)
Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) has a sweet yet earthy flavor profile and is associated with boosting positivity, a clear headspace, and euphoric feelings. With large concentrations of THC, GSC is also commonly used as relief for pain, nausea, and appetite loss. It is a highly recommended strain for those with heavy stress, anxiety, and depression.

It is the last weekend of summer but it’s not too late to enjoy a cool dessert! This step-by-step recipe will take only 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients: 

• 1 Tablespoon (50mg) Cannavis Pineapple THC Syrup
• 2 Cups Whipping Cream
• 1 Can (14oz) Condensed Milk 
• 1 Cup Diced Pineapple 
• ½ Cup Pineapple Juice
• ½ Cup Coconut Flakes 

Instructions: 

1. Pour whipping cream into a large mixing bowl.
2. Whisk using a handheld mixer or whisk until thick and stiff peaks form. 
3. In a separate bowl combine condensed milk, pineapple juice, Cannavis Syrup, diced pineapple, and coconut flakes. Stir until it is incorporated.  
4. Carefully pour the mixture into the whipped cream. Using a flexible spatula, fold in ingredients until well combined. 
5. Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze for 6 hours. 
6. Serve and enjoy your creation!

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Tips:​​

1. Refrigerate the whipping cream and condensed milk before making the ice cream to ensure that the mixture will create the perfect consistency. 
2. Go slow when folding in the ingredients, you want to ensure that the cream mixture remains the same consistency.
3. The base of the ice cream is whipping cream and condensed milk. Keeping this base the same, you can change or add flavorings to your liking. 
4. This recipe calls for Cannavis Pineapple THC Syrup but you can substitute it with cannabis butter. 
5. When serving this homemade delight you can top it with any leftover infused treats you may have laying around! 

A lot of people with sleep issues and insomnia have tried melatonin as a solution, but not all of them were satisfied with the results. One issue, they reported, is that if melatonin works at all, it doesn’t leave them with a good feeling — instead, they feel lucid while sleeping and groggy or unrefreshed in the morning.

Is there a better solution to sleeping soundly at night and feeling sharper in the morning? Those who found melatonin to be unsatisfactory found surprising relief in cannabis. Bento Delivery interviewed several employees to find out how cannabis helps them sleep at night, and what kinds of routines they follow. If you’re looking to find an alternative sleeping aid with fewer negative impacts, try some of these suggestions. As always with cannabis, be mindful of dosage and THC:CBD ratios in whatever products you use.

Below are some reports from various employees at Bento who vouch for cannabis as their most reliable sleeping aid:

• “My nightly routine is that an hour before I am going to sleep I take a hit or two from a vape pen or bong. I opt for a hybrid or indica dominant strains. The cannabis helps me wind down from my day and let go of the stress of the day. After smoking I shower, brush my teeth, etc. Once I get into bed I fall asleep in about 10 minutes.”
  

• “I’ve always had mild sleep apnea and I typically wake up around 30-100 times in the evening, so I’m constantly tired. Since I have been utilizing cannabis as a sleep aid, I have been getting better and more consistent sleep.”
  

• “When I get home from work I like to unwind with a sativa or hybrid so I can relax but stay active. By the time I’m ready for bed I reach for a strong indica to help calm my mind and body until I drift off to sleep. I find that smoking before bed helps me fall asleep and stay asleep!”
  

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• “I use CBD and flower for sleep. Typically, I take about 5-10mg of Lightly Lifted Tincture or 1-2 Miss Miriam CBD Gummies. Then I smoke a joint and sleep throughout the night.”
  

Music sounds phenomenal when you're high. Maybe on a night when you and your friends got crazy lit and turned on some tunes, the first song was an instant hit. It just sounded so good. Then the next song started playing, and it was a bit mind-blowing how great this new song sounded after listening to the last song, which was just as great. The same thing happened with all the music you listened to that night. Even the smallest details in the music were super noticeable. What's going on here?

Here's what's going on in a nutshell: weed enhances the sound of music. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana known to stimulate feelings of euphoria and heightened sensitivity. The addition of music, which contains many complex layers such as instruments, mood, and pitch, appeals to those euphoric feelings and heightened senses. Daniel J. Levitin, a psychology professor at McGill University, suggested that music enhancement may also stem from marijuana's disruption of short-term memory in the brain. As short-term memory is moved to a back burner, it feels as if the past, present, and future are all blended together in a strange sensation of deepened self-awareness. As a result, people will take note of the smallest details in a song while "in the moment," and time will seem to pass much more slowly. What was originally a "good" song becomes a mind-blowing ride while high. In his book On Being Stoned: A Psychological Study of Marijuana Intoxication (1971), psychology Professor Charles Tart wrote a few findings on his research on being stoned while listening to music. One of his subjects reported, "I can hear more subtle changes in sounds; e.g., the notes of music are purer and more distinct, the rhythm stands out more." A few other side effects associated with listening to music while high include enhanced visual imagery and temporarily-induced synesthesia, or a blending of the senses that gives the music a visual and spatial aspect.

Many great musical artists through the decades have been avid users of marijuana. Among them — Louis Armstrong, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Snoop Dogg, and even Madonna, who admitted that smoking weed had a positive influence on her creative process. It seems that weed is not only a gateway to hearing music from a new perspective, but also creating music from a new perspective.

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Whether it's the weekend and you're high with the munchies, or it's a weekday and your appetite is screaming louder than your urge to sleep after taking some pre-bedtime cannabis, finding food is always going to be a challenge at such a late hour. In addition, a lot of restaurants may have changed their hours or now close earlier because of Covid-19. 

Below is a list of places to get food that are still open late near San Jose. For anyone with a designated driver, the drive-through and takeout options are a reliable choice, and for anyone without a designated driver, there are a few restaurants that offer late-night delivery. All options listed below are both affordable and open after 10pm.

​1. Ramen Osaka
Location: 4035 Evergreen Village Square #40, San Jose, CA 95135
Closing time: 12am, Monday - Sunday
Style of food: Japanese
Services: takeout

2. La Victoria Taqueria 
Location: 140 E San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95112
Closing time: 3am, Monday - Sunday
Style of food: Mexican
Services: takeout

3. Pocha KLocation: 2340 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Closing time: 1am, Sun - Tues; 2am, Thurs - Sat; closed Wednesday
Style of food: Korean
Services: takeout, no-contact delivery

4. Tacos Los Tres ReyesLocations: 1) Old Tully Rd, San Jose, CA 95111; 2) 2520 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
Closing time: Old Tully Rd: 12am, Tues - Sun, closed Monday; Story Rd: 12am, Mon - Sun
Style of food: Mexican
Services: takeout

5. Dae Bak
Location: 3284 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Closing time: 2am, Mon - Sun
Style of food: Korean
Services: takeout, no-contact delivery

6. Spartan Taco Truck
Location: 447 E William St, San Jose, CA 95112
Closing time: 3am, Monday - Saturday, closed Sunday
Style of food: Mexican
Services: walk-up food truck

7. Coffee Lovers
Location: 1855 Aborn Rd, San Jose, CA 95121
Closing time: 12am, Monday - Sunday
Style of food: Vietnamese, Coffee & Sweet Drinks
Services: takeout, drive-thru

8. Danawa
Location: 2776 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Closing time: 2am, Monday - Saturday, 1am on Sunday
Style of food: Korean
Services: takeout

9. Chef Liu RestaurantLocation: 1198 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132
Closing time: 1am, Monday - Saturday, 12am on Sunday
Style of food: Chinese
Services: takeout

10. In n Out Burger
Locations: 

1. 550 Newhall Dr, San Jose, CA 95110
2. 5611 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95123
3. 2950 Capitol Expy, San Jose, CA 95148
4. 5590 Cottle Rd, San Jose, CA 95123

Closing time: 1am, Sun - Thurs, and 1:30am, Fri - Sat (Newhall, Capitol, & Cottle); 12am, Mon - Sun (Santa Teresa)
Style of food: Burgers
Services: drive-thru

​If you are a first-time or fairly new cannabis user, rolling a joint can be an intimidating process. Even for the most experienced users, it can be difficult. The more you practice, the more enjoyable the process becomes. After mastering the skills, rolling a joint will quickly transition from being a tedious step to an effortless part of the fun!

Step 1: Grind your cannabis
What is one of the best ways to start getting lit? Getting a weed or herb grinder. Grinders are very affordable and do the job faster with better results. Using finely ground weed instead of roughly ground weed makes the joint smoother and easier to roll. If you don’t have a grinder, you can grind the flower with your fingers, or with scissors. Just be aware that sticky residue from the buds may linger, and that these methods are slightly messier.

You may notice some powdery bits that have collected in the bottom chamber of your grinder. This part is called kief and it is packed with THC. To increase the potency of your joint, sprinkle the kief into the roll with your ground flower. This is a great way to take your high to the next level.

Step 2: Make and place your filter
Your filter (also called a crutch or tip) is usually made from some kind of paper with just the right amount of stiffness. Some commonly used options include index cards or business cards that aren't too thick. You can also use pre-cut crutches (the ones used in the video are RAW standard tips). Start by folding the material in an accordion fashion, making sure that the folds are as wide as you want the diameter of the rolled tip to be. Make just enough folds to create a "V" or "M" within the rolled tube, and then start rolling the paper into a cylindrical shape around the several accordion folds you just made. Place the filter at the end of your rolling paper.

Step 3: Fill rolling paper with freshly ground cannabis
Add about a half-gram of weed to the rolling paper. For reference, a half-gram of unground flower is about the size of a bottle cap on a beer. If a half gram is too chill for you, you can whip out a King-sized rolling paper and load it with a full gram instead.

Step 4: Shape and roll with ends of paper
Roll your joint up like a late-night munchies Taco Bell burrito! Pinch the ends of the paper between your fingertips to help shape the joint. The final product should look slightly cone-like. The filter should be at the smaller end of the cone.

Step 5: Make sure to tuck firmly
Smoking a loose, flimsy joint is such an unsavory way to get high, so tuck extra firmly to avoid such a dilemma. As you roll the paper, make sure to tuck the inner end of the paper into the roll as tightly as possible, ensuring all the contents are condensed together to help keep the joint firm and well-packed. Use all of your fingers to help maintain the shape during this process.

Step 6: Lick to seal
Lick the paper to seal the rolled joint, making sure to keep all the contents tightly packed in the roll as you do so.

Step 7: Pack and finish
Using a pen or other pointed object, pack the end of the joint into the roll.

Step 8: Twist end
After packing the end into the roll, twist firmly to close it up well. 

Step 9: Enjoy
Enjoy your joint. Light it up! Once both your joint and yourself are lit, everything should be smooth sailing now that the tedious part is over.