By Amber Dorsey
As a long time cannabis consumer and somewhat of a flower purist, the concept of incorporating anything other than cannabis flower and its derivatives to my smokeables had me scratching my head. ‘Now why would I want to add anything else?’ was my whole vibe. I was quite the loud skeptic and would turn my nose up at the offer of an herbal infused joint when offered. ” I’m not trying to smoke herbs, I want the full THC!!”
However, after joining a cannabis focused book club I took the time to deepen my study of the plant and began to learn more about the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoids and all the different terpenes in my revered flower and how the addition of specific herbs or herbal blends could actually enhance my experience. Merging herbs & floral blends in with my cannabis?
I was intrigued. Skeptical as hell, but intrigued nonetheless.
Mixing cannabis flower with other florals and herbs did kind of make sense. After all, they are all plants. So when the opportunities were presented to me to try different blends, I went for it.
My first foray into herbal blends was with women founded and owned brand Barbari , well known for their herbal blends so I began my experimentation with them and opted for their Airplane Mode as I liked what the name implied – a relaxed and elevated state of mind and body.
Imagine my delight when I discovered that blend was sub labeled Relax/Restore/Revive , it was like the Universe was in full support of my journey and placing exactly the right things in my path as often happens with this plant. Upon opening the jar I was struck by how pretty the mixture was bright, bold and aromatic. The herbs invite the consumer to dive in head (or nose) first to experience an all new extension of the sacred smoke. A fusion of raspberry leaf, lavender sage rose and blue lotus, Airplane Mode enhances the ritualistic process of my cannabis consumption.
Of course they offer a variety of blends such as Period Daze, Car Sex, Free Time and Muse and encourage consumers to try them and figure out which blend works best for them. The incorporation of other herbs into my practice, reminded me that this plant is sacred and medicinal and that rolling up is more than what I do to consume. It’s a ritual and can be a very spiritual practice.
During my research I learned that herbal blends have been smoked and burned as incense for thousands of years and it seemed we were the ones late to the blended party. It’s up to us to make the effort to understand why and how so many different herbs have been used in ancient healing modalities and how important they can be to healing ourselves.
Not too long after my initial foray into adding herbal blends to my joints I discovered the Drew Martin brand and fell hard for their perfectly integrated herbal infused pre-rolls. They combine an amalgamation of known herbs & florals and incorporate them with a low dose THC flower for the perfect easily accessible smokable blend and quality aromatic. This is great for those of us who are new to herbal blending and relieves the pressure of getting the ratio of THC flower to herbs just right. Drew Martin takes immense pride in sourcing quality ingredients to add to their pre-rolls and enhance the overall user experience.
Who knew that this was going to suddenly be my thing? As a cannabis purist,I definitely didn’t see that coming.
They have a rose petal and peppermint blend that absolutely rocks my socks and a chamomile yerba santa and calendula blend that is my go-to for bubble baths and my self care weekends where I want to elevate but not be too buzzy or need to chill on the THC percentage. The herbs perfectly balance that high while still feeling like you’re elevating.
It’s been an absolute delight, delving deeper into herbalism and learning about the multitude of herbs that are good for incorporation and can actually enhance the overall cannabis consumption experience. And it is this writer’s belief that the addition of herbal blends is something that everyone should look into no matter where they are in their cannabis journey.
I implore those who are curious about blending to give it a try and see how it can enhance their ritual and deepen their relationship with the plant. You never know what you might discover!
