It began in a peaceful garden with a freshly brewed cup of coffee from Vista Al Bosque, a remote region in western Guatemala. As I bathed in the warm, early morning rays, I contemplated how my day might unfold. My plan for the next fifteen hours was to engage with five different cannabinoids across four varying consumption methods in customized omakase style, designed by a friend, yoga teacher, cannabis professor and cutting-edge cannabinoid formulation scientist. Frontier cannabis technology was utilized where appropriate to reduce the onset time by improving solubility, and I sat with anticipation for my experience.

As I sipped my CBG-infused brew, I thought about just how much we have been learning about the wonders of this plant. I felt awakened by the coffee and thought about what the CBG might be adding to my morning. Cannabigerol (CBG) boasts anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, and its many uses include treating psoriasis, helping burn victims and addressing athlete’s foot. Taken internally with coffee, it has a calming and comforting effect due to its anti-inflammatory power. I also thought about how little we knew about this ancient herb as I looked ahead to what might unfold.

Get Lost In Nature To Find Yourself

A 12.5mg Delta-8 sublingual was my next course. Placed under the tongue, it would get absorbed more quickly and was placed as a pre-cursor to my morning yoga practice. A mild psycho-active, Delta-8 is useful for patients undergoing chemotherapy or experiencing motion sickness due to its appetite enhancing and anti-nausea effects. The CBG-coffee had calmed me down, and the Delta-8 relaxed me just enough for a focused thirty-minute vinyasa practice in the garden. My appetite sufficiently stimulated,

I followed a hearty breakfast with three THC-infused fruit bites. Each bite had 2.5mg of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the popular and powerful cannabinoid that helps conditions including asthma, autoimmune diseases, epilepsy, anorexia and glaucoma. A powerful side effect is euphoria, often described as the ‘high’. The fruit bites served as a sweet conclusion to breakfast, and I anticipated feeling them within an hour to 90 minutes as it typical of an infused edible. Instead, I felt them within 30 minutes, and knew the new technology was already making a difference.

I was focused for the remainder of the morning, and also appreciative of how I felt content, energetic and optimistic. These feelings are no strangers to me, and yet I was able to appreciate their presence more acutely. Lunch was accompanied by a home-made hot sauce, infused with more THC to complement the 7.5mg I had consumed three hours earlier. I estimated that I would have consumed a total of 10 mg of THC, a standard dose by market standards and a relatively mild one by mine. I went back to the garden with a smile as I thought about the next course on my omakase, a joint soon to be freshly rolled with XJ-13, a strain known for promoting clarity, attentiveness and creativity.

The classic joint offers a cannabis experience like no other, perhaps due to its unique ability to simultaneously combust as well as vaporize its contents, the fresh grind releasing wonderfully aromatic terpenes with scents of pine, citrus and earth. Our lungs are the quickest way to deliver cannabis into the bloodstream, and I felt the effects of XJ-13 immediately. Calm and relaxed, I also felt a burst of creative energy and motivation. It was then that I began to pen these thoughts, pausing frequently to admire the kaleidoscope of energy, creativity, wonderment and focus that engulfed me.

A couple of enchanting hours passed by, and it was now time for a sparkling lemonade, made with freshly ground ginger and CBDA bitters. An antibacterial, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA) is also thought to impact the 5-HT serotonin receptor, giving it powerful anti-depressant properties. Feeling grateful, elated, energized and joyous, I settled into an hour of late afternoon yoga as the sun transitioned into its evening glow.

Another 12.5mg of sub-lingual Delta-8 preceded dinner, leaving me sufficiently hungry and relaxed and my taste buds tantalized. They danced when I got to dessert - a cacao bar made with sprouted almonds, Saigon cinnamon, Peruvian cacao, cayenne pepper, raw local honey and 10mg of THC. Knowing that I had roughly 30 minutes before I would fully appreciate the effects of dessert, I settled in with a book on a comfortable recliner. As my mind wandered from the words on the page, I thought about how my day had progressed, how incredible this plant was, and how much we have yet to discover about the ways in which it can heal us.

I was ready to wrap my day, which also meant my final course in my journey – a Tulsi tea, infused with 3mg of CBN. Cannabinol (CBN) reduces anxiety, causes drowsiness, and is used to treat insomnia. It can be used with Melatonin and is a healthier alternative to Ambien. I rarely have trouble sleeping, and as I lay in bed thinking about how I felt relaxed from the Delta-8 and THC, I drifted off into a deep, restorative bliss that lasted for over ten hours. My body and mind were exceedingly calm when I awoke, and I felt a deep personal sense of contentment and ease from my experience. I also knew that we were just scratching the surface of this plant’s healing potential; and came away from my experience feeling grateful to be living in a time when cutting edge science can highlight the multi-faceted nuances of this original super-food.

A special thank you to Monica Vialpando, CEO of Via Innovations and MAZAKALI science advisor, for her contributions to our research.

Biology Supercedes Ideology