Thank you President Trump for moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III
By Ruth Hill R.N.
Many speculate that the oil Jesus used to anoint the sick and perform miracles may have been cannabis oil. In The Great Book of Hemp, Rowan Robinson writes of an old Christmas Eve tradition still seen in Poland and Lithuania today: semieniatka, or hemp seed soup. Deceased family members who come back to visit their families over the holidays find offerings of Semieniatka under the tree. Roman Christians also used this custom to describe anyone who hadn’t converted to Christianity. It stretches back to ancient Scythian culture, where rituals surrounding death and funerals used cannabis.
Ever notice the red and white mushrooms on Christmas illustrations? Shamans are said to have eaten fly agaric mushrooms at the winter solstice in the northernmost regions of Europe and Siberia. This particular mushroom, Amanita muscaria, is a psychedelic fungus. Many iterations of the Wild Hunt describe fly agaric mushrooms growing wherever Wotan rode through the clouds. Nine months later, they magically sprout from the autumn equinox (September 21) to the end of December.
Indigenous Sami people of Lapland waited in their tents on the longest night for a shaman to arrive on a reindeer-drawn sled. Inside, he would consume fly agaric mushrooms and bestow “gifts” of healing and advice from another realm onto the family, who would then feed the holy man for his service. These well-fed shamans, dressed in red and white, honored the power and magic of these mushrooms, which allegedly gave people the sensation of flying through the sky.
The indica-dominant Christmas Tree strain might be our favorite take on that old tradition. It brings the sweet pine scent. Just like Christmas is on December 25, the Christmas Tree packs 25% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The Candy Cane strain comes from a few of the most well-known cannabis cultivars out there: AK-47, Mango, and White Widow. Once you spark this bud, the aroma smells just like you’d expect a marijuana nug named Candy Cane should.
Permafrost comes to us from two wildly popular and potent strains: White Widow and Trainwreck. Crystalline trichomes resembling freshly rolled snowballs cover the permafrost strain. Those trichomes are also responsible for the 20-23% THC levels.
Tokin’ Jew is a modern Cannabis brand made by Jews, for Jews, and anyone else who likes to get chai. Founded in 2020 by Will Cohen and Ben Kraim, two queer Jewish stoners with a propensity for pop culture and a plethora of “highdeas,” Tokin’ Jew has grown from an Instagram meme account to a worldwide community.
They are known for our irreverent takes on Jewish-Cannabis culture, and for creating products that resonate deeply with our fellow Jewish stoners, from smoking accessories like mezuzah pipes and menorah bongs to quality consumables like infused honey and chocolate gelt. While Chanukah ends on December 22, 2025, you can still visit their website, tokinjew.com, where every day is a High Holiday, and everything they create is guaranteed to make you say “oy vey.”
Remember not to mix alcohol with cannabis. Cannabis increases the delirium, anger, and other side effects of alcohol. More young Americans are replacing alcohol and cigarettes with safer cannabis. You have heard cannabis proponents say that there has never been a death due to cannabis in 5000 years. Are you aware of the scientific basis for this belief? There are NO receptors for cannabis in the brain stem. The brain stem is responsible for breathing. When a user becomes high, the slumber and side effects will wear off. They will never die because of the lack of receptors in the brain stem. However, there are many receptors for alcohol, opiates, methamphetamines, and other toxins that depress breathing and heart rate, leading to a lethal outcome.
Always remember the advice given on these Cannabis Corner pages. What is the rescue when getting high on cannabis? CBD peppercorns or any herb that has beta-caryophyllene. Beta-caryophyllene is the exact molecular structure of Cannabidiol (CBD), which is the rescue for THC.
To Tracy, Phil, and everyone at CV Weekly, I wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
