I have extensive experience in content and copywriting, gaining experience in a variety of industries and styles; I’ve been a copywriter for a Medicaid/care CCO, created webcopy and SEO articles for many businesses, filled dozens of content holes for Leafly, created media-attracting press releases, oodles of radio ads, and all kinds of other copywriting.

My clients and editors report that my articles do well because they inform readers while also keeping them entertained and engaged, as well as my reliably meeting deadlines and conveying information in the tone requested. (Please check out My Words, Their Website for more information.)

Below you’ll find a small sampling of writing done for content marketing agencies.

Click on a topic to navigate:
Copywriting/Webcopy (JEMSU)
Savignon Interiors Homepage
TEBO Store Fixtures Homepage
LawnTech Homepage
Colorado Family Dentistry
NisonCo Cannabis Press Relations

Content Writing/SEO Articles (Foottraffik)
Why It’s Better to Get Your CBD Oil from a Dispensary
What is Ocimene
Cannabis for Muscle Spasms and MS
Cannabis Concentrates: What They Are & How to Use Them

Additionally, here is a sampling of my writing for radio ads.

And a few examples of copy + design:

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COPYWRITING/WEBCOPY

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SAVIGNON INTERIORS HOMEPAGE

The Answer to Your Interior Design Needs  

You deserve a space that speaks to who you are as an individual or brand, while also creating an ambiance that soothes and inspires – and Denver’s Savignon Interiors can bring your unique vision to life. We know that entrusting someone with the interior design of your home or workspace is a big deal; and we’re honored to have pleased our clients, in Colorado and beyond, for nearly 20 years. 

Our Fearless Leader  

Team Savignon is led by Gabriela, who has a formal graduate-level design education. She was trained at UC Berkeley in Interior Architecture as well by well-respected educators around the world. Before returning to Colorado, she traveled extensively and lived abroad for many years; enriching her palette and taste for unique elements. In addition to her native English, she is fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian – enabling her to participate in exclusive international projects. 

She now brings this worldy experience to the Denver metro area, with a distinctive international flair to her design. She and the rest of us on the Savignon team also participate in ongoing training and visits to national and international tradeshows. We’re also members of the Association for Interior Designers, a partnership that helps keep us accountable and trained as well on top of industry trends.

We’ve Got You Covered from Remodeling to Accessories  

Our experience helps ensure that you remain worry-free, and that mistakes aren’t made. We’ll handle everything; from structure to window treatment, and from furniture to products. We offer residential and commercial design and architecture, including: 

• Remodeling – We offer kitchen remodels and bathroom remodels as well remodeling other spaces in need of transformation. Our team has the creativity and know-how to create a space that fits how you live while reflecting your personal style.
• Space Planning – How a room is arranged is crucial to its design success. We’ll ensure that the room’s needs and functions are taken into consideration; and done so beautifully, comfortably, tastefully, and gracefully.
• New Construction – We’re knowledgeable about the construction and remodeling process, as well as the people and products involved. We collaborate with allied professionals to confirm that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, and aesthetically appropriate. 
• Color Consultation – Choosing color has as much to do with light, scale, and architecture as it does materials and furnishings. Let us take the guesswork out of color selection – making finding the perfect hue easy, and even fun. 
• Hunter Douglas Authorized Dealer – We’re proud to offer their luxurious window treatments with features like: energy-efficiency, automation, unparalleled quality, and, of course, beautiful and unique designs.

A Partner You Can Trust  

At Savignon Interiors we know that you are very busy, but also concerned about the important and costly decisions involved with interior design and architecture. We go the extra mile to ensure that your project is completed to utmost standards, making your investment a valuable one. 

This is the space where you’ll grow your business, host memorable dinner parties, or bathe your children – this project needs to be right, and we’ll make certain that it is. Our proven results and boutique approach to customer service keep our clients returning, and we’re sure you’ll be just as pleased.

Start a conversation about your project today: (925) 872-9710.

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TEBO STORE FIXTURES HOMEPAGE

A Store That Makes Customers Want to Stay

Outfitting your store is more than just finding ways to hang your products, it’s about creating an environment that your customers will want to spend time in. Tebo Store Fixtures provides merchandising equipment that uses creativity and innovation to make your retail environment appealing and user-friendly. And whether you’re a first-time business owner or a seasoned veteran, we can help you display your goods in a way that encourages customers to stay…and shop. 

We’re a retail design expert and outfitter who’s proud to service a broad range of customers from around the world. With our expansive in-stock selection at our Denver, Colorado warehouse, we’ve got what you need at our fingertips – display cases, digital signage, fixtures, display walls – all the retail store fixtures to equip your store like a pro. And no matter what type of business you are, after over 50 years of providing retail store supplies; we’re probably going to know just what kind of merchandising fixtures you need.

Fixtures that Sell

Tebo Store Fixtures’ retail design specialists provide revenue-producing solutions. We’re armed with an understanding of consumer behavior and market trends, helping us support retailers in creating engaging experiences for their customers. Our mission is to provide you with quality display supplies that best showcase your products – not ours. How can we use store fixture equipment to highlight your selection today?

We Carry: Display cases, digital signage, slatwall, gridwall, apparel, jewelry supplies, store supplies, fixtures, gondola shelving, acrylic, and merchandising supplies for specialty shops.

Trust and Competency

At Tebo, serving our clients to the utmost standard is nothing new. We’ve been at it since 1968, that’s five decades of helping businesses present themselves with the best store fixtures possible – and people have noticed. Many of our featured clients are household names, like Puma, Warner Bros, Dish, Post Cereal, 4 Wheels, Verizon, and Crocs. 

We’re also there for you when you need us. We keep a huge inventory on-hand, enabling us to serve the Denver area ASAP with free pickup. For those ordering from this website, orders ship same day if ordered before noon on a weekday. It’s important to us that you have what you need when you need it. In addition to fixtures, displays, packaging, and merchandise; we consider ourselves to be in the business of customer service. 

No Matter Your Industry – If You’re in Retail, We’ve got you Covered

Whether you are a start-up or a flagship, a supermarket or restaurant, a boutique or multinational chain, our experienced team will guide you from the inception of your vision to opening day. We love serving a large range of businesses and open our arms to industries of all kinds – including the cannabis industry. 

Creating a successful retail environment is a challenging task with many moving wheels, and you don’t have to do it alone. Give yourself the gift of relief today. Stop by our Denver warehouse, or call (720) 571-0403 to start creating a space your customers don’t want to leave.

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LAWNTECH HOMEPAGE

You deserve a sanctuary, let LawnTech help.

Your home is your kingdom. It should be a place of sanctuary, not endless to-do lists. And when at work, you need to be focused on the job – not making your space appears professional. At LawnTech we take our lawn and home care services very seriously, knowing that the outcome impacts our client’s lives; and making sure that it’s a positive one. 

We have been in the lawn and home care services business since 1977, and we apply these four-plus decades of expertise to every project we take on. Whether your needs are residential or commercial, we value quality work and customer satisfaction. We get the job done right, efficiently, as well as affordably. And our trustworthy team ensures that it’s completed with professionalism and friendly service, done in a way that’s eco-friendly. 

And you can also rely on us – if any concerns do arise, know they will be addressed promptly and with attention to detail. We know that providing exceeding customer service is key to running a successful business. Providing all of our clients with quality work on a weekly basis is our goal, we aim for quality at every turn. 

Masters of Lawn and Home Care Service

We are masters of lawn maintenance in Denver, offering: lawn mowing, aeration, maintenance, fertilizing, landscaping, sprinkler systems, and more. We partner with quality local professionals and our staff is professionally trained and certified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. In addition to providing Denver with superior lawn care services, we also provide: roof and gutter cleaning, power raking, general clean-up, as well as the removal of snow, leaves, and pet waste.

Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or come from the commercial sphere; you can trust us to get the job done right. Let go of worries and know the peace of a well-kept environment, call LawnTech today at (303) 502-9441, email service@lawntechdenver.com – or read on for more details about our services. 

Expertise You Can Trust 

Hiring someone to care for your home or office is different than hiring a business to design a website. When people are caring for the spaces where you have your most treasured family memories and professional milestones, it’s important to hire a team that knows trustworthiness is a crucial part of the job. 

LawnTech is a locally-owned, family-operated company that has proudly served the Denver community for over 40 years. We were started by Greg Hegarty in 1977, who is now joined by his wife Sherry; and their sons, Joey, Michael, and Christian, who are active in the day-to-day operations of the company. And the rest of our staff is truly an extension of the Hegarty family, we believe this is essential to our decades of success.

Another key factor to our success is commitment to training and professionalism. We are, of course, licensed and insured as well as being eco-friendly. Our staff is also professionally trained and certified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Additionally, we partner with Green Industries of Colorado, AGFINITY, Pioneer Sand Company, ScienTurfic, and Alameda Wholesale Nursery to offer you industry-leading products and services.

When you hire LawnTech, you’re hiring a trusted team that cares. We want you to enjoy your beautiful, professionally manicured home and garden; without any worry of how it came to look so good. Our customer service philosophy is to put your needs first as a client, and it shows.

As a final act of trustworthiness, we guarantee total satisfaction on all services.

LawnTech Knows Lawns.

At LawnTech we know that lawn maintenance is so much more than running the lawn mower sporadically. We are passionate about lawn care services and have been learning the tricks of the trade for over 40 years. As a result, we offer a specially curated and expansive range of lawn services. Maintaining the appearance, health and vigor of your lawn requires special care in Denver’s arid climate – let us handle it.

Lawn Mowing: Keep your grass fresh and healthy with our weekly lawn mowing service. This inclusive service includes mowing, trimming, and edging, as well as cleaning sidewalks and driveways.

Aeration: Aeration controls and prevents water run-off, dry spots and certain diseases. It also stimulates root growth by allowing water, nutrients and oxygen to reach the grass roots.

Fertilization: We know that fertilization is key to having a beautiful lawn, and our intensive and careful plan ensures that it’s done right, from pre-emergent phases down to weed control.

Sprinkler Systems: Proper water is essential to having an exquisite yard. Specialists will design and install highest-quality professional systems, as well as providing expert repair and maintenance services.

Landscaping: Our landscape architects will work with you to add dimension and depth to your yard, creating the lawn and garden you’ve always envisioned!

Gardening/Weeding: This year when spring weeds begin to rear their ugly heads, call on team LawnTech to remove them, amend the soil, and add mulch to keep your gardens healthy and looking their best.

Sodding: Lawn technicians will tear out the old sod at your home or office, prepare the soil, and install new sod.

Tree Planting: Looking to add some foliage to your yard? Look no further! LawnTech will plant any type of tree or shrubbery you’d like.

Trimming: Are your hedges or bushes beginning to look overgrown, spilling over sidewalks, fences or roofs? Technicians will prune and shape hedges, shrubs, and small trees to make them not only look better but improve their overall health and longevity.

…But we’re so much more.

In addition to providing Denver with superior lawn care services, we also provide: roof and gutter cleaning, power raking, general clean-up, as well as the removal of snow, leaves, and pet waste.

You can rely on LawnTech to provide the feeling of peace and tranquility known when entering your freshly cleaned home or office. Your time is so important, we’ll help you find balance with it; allowing you to focus on the things that are important to you.

We’re also happy to work with your individual needs, schedules, and lifestyles; offering customized cleaning packages so we can serve you best.

Get Started Today

When you partner with LawnTech, you’re getting thoughtful care that’s been honed with experience since 1977. Winter, spring, summer, or fall – we are here to keep your grass green, garden thriving, yard leaf-free, and your driveway clear of snow.

You deserve an environment that you love to work and live in. Contact us today to get started.

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COLORADO FAMILY DENTISTRY

Crowns and Bridges

At Colorado Family Dentistry, your happiness and health are our highest priorities. The dental health of Lakewood is our passion, and we take this responsibility to our community seriously. We’re led by Dr. Julia Kasper, who’s been practicing for over a decade and has earned fellowship status with the American Society of Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry, something only 5% of dentists have achieved nationwide.

Dr. Kasper and the highly skilled team at Colorado Family dentistry make sure to stay abreast on the latest dental technology and practices; ensuring you’re in capable hands when you choose us. We’ll also keep you in the loop, educating you on the services rendered and how to keep your smile healthy in the future. Two of such services are dental crowns and bridges. Read on to learn more, or schedule your appointment today.

Crowns 

Dental crowns are used to restore teeth by encasing the entire tooth to bring it to the desired size, shape, and color. They are tough and resilient, enabling them to fix teeth in situations where fillings cannot. This is a solution with multiple purposes as your crown will prolong the life of the tooth by making it stronger, in addition to solving your original problem. 

Some such problems:

• Fractures and Broken Teeth: It’s a rough day when you break or damage a tooth. We’ll get you looking and feeling good as new, and we’ll do so with care.
• Decay and Rot: When your tooth has been damaged by decay, we’ll get it out of there and restore the space thoroughly.
• Filling Replacement: Crowns are stronger than fillings, and are a great replacement for fillings that have started failing, leaking, or breaking.
• Function/Bite: When your mouth doesn’t quite bite like it ought to, we can use crowns to even it out or build up worn areas.
• Root Canals: When a root canal is done, it’s important to use a crown to seal out infection and prevent tooth breakage.
• Cracks: Like in your car windows, a crack is likely to indicate a future fracture is coming for you. We’ll prevent that fracture and the damage it would have caused.
• Severely Worn Teeth: Sometimes damage is a slow fade. We’ll restore your smile to its original facade.
• Aesthetics: We can change the color, size, and shape of your teeth; giving you the smile that you’ve always dreamed about.

Bridges

Dental bridges are an excellent solution when one or more teeth cannot be restored. They consist of two crowns that are attached to artificial teeth, or pontics, that fill the empty space. Bridges are usually made of porcelain fused to metal, but they also can be made entirely out of gold. They are cemented in place and not removable, a long-lasting tooth replacement.

Reasons for a Dental Bridge:

• Fill spaces created by missing teeth.
• Ensure that teeth still present stay in position – 
• And in doing so, maintain the shape of your face. 
• Restore or maintain your ability to properly chew and speak.
• Get you enjoying your smile again!

What to Expect 

While getting crowns takes two appointments, getting a bridge may require more. Either way, the first appointment will involve your getting several highly-detailed impressions that will be used to create your custom crown. After impressions are made, you will be carefully numbed and Dr. Kasper will prepare the tooth by removing decay and shaping the surface of your tooth to properly fit the crown.

Then we’ll use those impressions to create temporary crowns, false teeth (or pontics), and bridges as needed; which will stay in place until your custom-made pieces have been finished to satisfaction by a dental laboratory. We’ll place your temporary crown or crowns, and bridges if needed, making sure that you are biting properly. After 2-3 weeks for crowns, and 3 weeks if you also need bridges; you’ll come back in and we’ll get you cleaned up and cemented with your permanent custom-made crown(s) and/or bridges.

Our Knowledgeable Team is Here for You

During every step of this process, you can expect to be treated with impeccable care and thoughtful attention at Colorado Family Dentistry. Our goal is to help our patients have mouths that are healthy and free from: decay, gum disease, cancer, and pain. This, in turn, allows our patients to achieve overall health of their bodies. You’ll be amazed at the personal and comprehensive dental care you receive at our family-oriented office.

A Colorado Family Dentistry, we strive to create an atmosphere that is fun, friendly, and clean. And for crowns, bridges, or any of our other services; you can count on our caring team to work hard to ensure that your experience is professional, comfortable, and consistent – doing our part to change people’s perception of the dentist from something negative to something positive. 

We look forward to caring for your family! Schedule your appointment today.

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NISONCO CANNABIS PRESS RELATIONS

Welcome to NisonCo Cannabis Press Relations

Choosing a public relations agency means selecting the people who will share your brand with the world. And when you’re in the cannabis industry, PR becomes especially important as you’re dealing with legal complications, stigma, and a sensitive burgeoning new industry. You and your team have worked hard, and it’s important that the impression you communicate is a positive one. 

When you trust NisonCo with this crucial responsibility, you can rest easy knowing that your cannabis PR is in good hands with our marijuana communications experts. We serve the gamut of businesses who could need marijuana PR: dispensaries, products, tech companies, hemp and CBD businesses, cannabis manufacturers, ancillary/accessory industries, and anyone else who might benefit from our services.

What We Do

We know that you’ve put care into establishing your business and we’ll help you take that impression to the next level. We offer a wide range of services that enable our clients to increase sales, brand awareness, and thought leadership within the cannabis industry. With NisonCo, you can:

• Develop a PR strategy
• Receive cannabis PR consulting
• Outreach to relevant reporters and reviewers via our our proprietary database
• Take media training
• Receive assistance in applying for awards
• Benefit from cannabis email marketing 
• Develop a tandem social media strategy
• Have content created
• Distribute press releases 
• Identify, secure and promote speaking engagements at premiere conferences and industry events

We’re passionate about the environment, and additionally provide:

• Sustainable Industry PR
• Green Tech PR
• Green Technology PR
• Agritech PR

We’re an Authority in Cannabis PR

We’re a team of PR specialists that’s poured their sweat, blood, and tears into the creation of the legal cannabis market; our staff has actually worked on many of the policy regulations that made the legal industry possible. Our forward-thinking and diverse staff are masters at connecting clients with industry leaders and educating on industry trends. We’re considered the “go-to” source for industry news by industry pros, whom we have long-standing relationships with.

You Can Trust Us

We know how hard you work to be ethical and elevate the cannabis industry. In addition to helping our clients continue to do so – our team is committed to the same objectives ourselves, and highly involved in cannabis advocacy. These values carry over to how we do business. We’re committed to honesty and transparency, it’s built into everything we do. (And since we’ve grown exponentially by word of mouth alone, it seems our clients appreciate it…) 

We won’t try to upsell unnecessary services or provide dishonest metrics – some firms will try to sell you on things like crisis communications for an additional $10k a month, but you won’t find that nonsense at NisonCo. Everything about PR is included in our retainer. We also have an all-remote team that hustles until the job is done; without the constraints of an office, we’re able to start our work day on the east coast and end it on the west coast.

We’ve been in cannabis PR since 2013, making us one of the first cannabis-specific firms out there. We know what we’re doing, and we get palpable results. Many agencies lean on a slew of ambiguous metrics, but we get you published in outlets that make an impact. We ensure clients benefit from coverage to elevate the profiles of industry leaders, when appropriate. We’re experts in pitching and managing relationships, but we also receive a number of inbound requests every day. 

A Cannabis PR Approach That Works

We’re confident in our approach because we have proven results that speak for themselves. For example, our founder has been featured by Good Morning America, Bloomberg TV, New York Times, Forbes, USA Today, and others. Reach out today to see what we can do for your brand!

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CONTENT WRITING/SEO ARTICLES

HAVE A HEART

WHY IT’S BETTER TO GET YOUR CBD OIL FROM A DISPENSARY

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is having its day in the sun. While you’ve probably heard that it’s a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant and it is believed to do things like calm anxiety, ease pain, and help with sleep (we’re still waiting on science to sort that out) — you might not know where it’s best to buy your CBD oil. It’s quite suddenly available everywhere: from bodegas to the internet, and, luckily, at cannabis dispensaries.

All CBD products are not equal, and it’s important that you know what you’re buying. There are many factors in regard to why it’s best to buy your CBD at a dispensary near you, and we’ll cover them, making sure that you don’t wind up with a bottle of snake oil, and do get the best out of your CBD experience.

There Are Many Cannabinoids like CBD

CBD is one of many compounds from the cannabis plant that are called cannabinoids. THC is the other popular one, but there’s actually thought to be hundreds of them. The most talked-about difference between THC and CBD is that the latter won’t get you high, but there are many other non-psychoactive cannabinoids available. Though other cannabinoids might wind up in your CBD oil bought from the corner store — including psychoactive THC — you can only intentionally get access to them from dispensaries.

Your nearby Have a Heart is able to offer products specifically created to serve your body and endocannabinoid system in different ways than CBD does. For instance, if you have nerve pain, the cannabinoid THCa might be a great relief. Researchers are still unlocking the potential (and even the availability) of different cannabinoids, and we’re excited to see what they find!

The Entourage Effect: Power-up Your Plant Medicine

These other cannabinoids are kind of like members of CBD’s team, and they work better when together! There are also factors like terpenes and flavonoids involved, all playing off of one another for a synergistic effect that your body and mind will benefit from. This is also referred to as using “whole plant medicine.” 

And even a very small amount of THC is thought to enhance the entourage effect, much smaller than the amount it takes to get a person stoned. In fact, you can benefit from whole plant medicine that includes THC in small doses without having a psychoactive effect. Keep an eye out for tinctures with labels like “18:1 High CBD” if that’s something you’d like to try out.

Buying at a Dispensary Means Products are Tested

Dispensaries are also required to test their products, which means that you’ll know what you’re getting; informing you about potential whole plant medicine as well knowing that the product is safe to put in your body. When you purchase CBD from other sources, they are only subject to the same standards as supplements, which basically means “healthy until legally proven dangerous.” There’s little-to-no testing done and no standard for quality. You could be buying an-y-thing when purchasing CBD from an unregulated source. 

Getting your CBD from a dispensary means knowing exactly what you’re buying, and that it’s ok to put into your body.

Get to Know All of this Powerful Plant, and Its World

Not only can you get access to other cannabinoids and products from your nearby dispensary, but you can also gain access to an entire industry and culture. People are realizing that the power of the cannabis plant goes far beyond munchies, and it’s resulting in a wildly exciting industry and scene. Help support the legalization of this powerful plant by shopping with the people who are making sure it’s done right.

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FOOTTRAFFIK: HAVE A HEART

WHAT IS OCIMENE

Cannabis 101: Terpenes Are Nature’s Aroma

Think of how cannabis smells. Beyond “delicious” and “skunky,” there’s a whole world of words in our lexicon to describe its fragrance. Cannabis can smell piney like a tree, earthy like the ground, citrusy in general, like specific fruits in particular, or a whole olfactory world in between. This variety in smell and taste is created by oils called terpenes, which also affect the high and therapeutic benefits of a strain or plant. Ocimene, with its sweet, fragrant, herbaceous, and woodsy aromas is just one of many of these compounds. (It’s also beloved by perfumers for its herbal scent, contributing to floral notes like lily and lilac.)

Terpenes are also found throughout the plant world, giving us many of the smells known by our noses. At least 100 terpenes come from the cannabis plant, and there are actually more than 20,000 known terpenes in existence. Originally thought to deter predators, terpenes actually help a plant’s survival and evolution by attracting pollinating insects, which helps spread the species by spreading its pollen. Terpenes can also attract the predators of insect herbivores, who then eat the bugs that would otherwise nosh the plant. Isn’t evolution neat?

Terpene Magic in Cannabis

In the case of cannabis, terpenes like Ocimene are secreted from the same glands that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD. It works with those cannabinoids to create the various effects that cannabis has on humans, both in relation to the therapeutic and psychotropic experience. This teamwork is known as the ‘entourage effect’ and is a great argument for whole plant medicine.

Ocimene produces an energetic effect in cannabis, and is usually found in sativa strains. It shouldn’t be too hard to find strains high in Ocimene if you have access to a good dispensary. Strains that are often high in Ocimene are: White Fire OG, Chocolope, Dutch Treat, Super Lemon Haze, Purple Haze, Arjan’s Haze #3, Amnesia, Strawberry Cough, Golden Goat, Space Queen, or Himalayan Gold.

The Exciting Therapeutic Potentials of Ocimene 

In addition to cannabis, Ocimene is found in mint, parsley, basil, orchids, oregano, mango, mint, lavender, as well as other plants. Not a whole lot of research has been done yet, but it’s already proving to have many therapeutic benefits. It’s been shown to be anti-microbial, fighting off trouble-makers like Candida; a gut flora that’s prone to overgrowth. It’s also got great promise as an anti-viral, helping ward off SARS in this study. Another showed that Ocimene has potential as an anti-inflammatory.

It’s also an anti-congestant, helping the body expel excess mucus and phlegm; making it easier to breathe. While this is medically exciting, it also contributes to more coughing when smoking cannabis strains that are high in ocimene. Something else to note about Ocimene is that is also has a low boiling point, so use a low heat setting when vaping strains high in it to preserve the terpene’s benefits. And, as previously noted, it’s likely to give you energy; great for daytime but not bedtime.

To Sum It Up

Terpenes are a big part of why the plant world smells like it does, and cannabis is full of a variety of these aromatic oils. But they do more than make strains smell awesome, they have effects on both the high and therapeutic effects of the plant. Ocimene is going to make your herb smell sweet yet woodsy, give you an energetic boost with its high, and several therapeutic properties have already been discovered with this terpene. Enjoy!

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FOOTTRAFFIK: HAVEN

CANNABIS FOR MUSCLE SPASMS AND MS

Our muscles ought to be limber and pliable, but in many people, that’s unfortunately not the case. Muscle spasms and lack of spasticity are a problem for millions of people all over the world, making it painful and difficult to move; sometimes to the point of being completely debilitating. Luckily, we’ve got cannabis for muscle spasms and limited spasticity, with exciting progress on treating this malady.

Cannabis for Muscle Spasms and MS

Spasticity problems can happen for an array of reasons, but perhaps the biggest and most severe cause for muscle spasms and lack of spasticity is a disease called multiple sclerosis (or MS). MS is a progressive disease of the nervous system with no known cure that plagues 2.5 million people. It destroys a protective coating around the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord called the myelin sheath. This results in an array of symptoms, including loss of voluntary muscle control and spasticity.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, spasticity “refers to the stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms that are indicative of the disease.” This is a problem in 9 out of 10 MS patients, sooner or later. Some know it as mild muscle stiffness, but others endure constant ache, cramps, involuntary muscle spasms, or even paralyzation in severe cases. Sleep is hugely affected, which affects other symptoms as well.

MS and Cannabis: The Numbers Are In

In a 2012 study, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found a one-third decrease in spasticity in MS patients that consumed cannabis compared to participants given a placebo. The ability to move more is a huge deal, but it also reduced the patient’s perception of pain by 50% – far more than any other medication. 

Another study showed that 77% of subjects found cannabis helpful in managing symptoms, especially spasticity and pain. As cannabis legalization increases and stigma decreases, many more MS patients have turned to the plant for relief. 76% of respondents in one study said they’d consider using cannabis to manage their MS and 28% already are.

Other Conditions That Cause These Problems

MS is the most well-known of culprits behind spasticity problems, but other conditions can also cause spasticity issues. Some other causes are brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke, meningitis, fibromyalgia, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Other kinds of brain damage can also be the culprit, like diseases in addition to MS that compromise the myelin sheath, such as B12 deficiency and encephalitis.

How Cannabis Helps Muscle Spasticity

The exact reasons that cannabis is helpful in these matters are not known, but it is generally understood that anti-inflammatory properties that are the cause for the success of cannabis for muscle spasms. A study conducted at the University of South Carolina found that the immune system’s inflammatory proteins are deactivated by cannabis. As with many of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, research is just getting rolling; but it sure is off to an exciting start.

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FOOTTRAFFIK: CLEAR CHOICE

CANNABIS CONCENTRATES: WHAT THEY ARE & HOW TO USE THEM

We are blessed with a plethora of options when deciding how to consume our beloved herb. Cannabis concentrates are quickly becoming a favorite, especially with seasoned cannabis enthusiasts. Concentrates appear in many forms, but the essential common thread is that they isolate cannabis trichomes — and their powerful cannabinoids, like THC or CBD. 

The Power of Cannabis Concentrates

This isolation means that unnecessary plant material and other impurities are not consumed, which has a few benefits. For one, your pipe or bong will stay clean much longer; and one can only imagine that something similar is happening in the lungs… And, of course, concentrates are going to have a significantly higher percentage of cannabinoids; meaning that you can take much less of it for the same effect. 

But when it comes to psychoactive cannabinoids like THC, this can actually cause trouble. It’s very common for even veteran enthusiasts to get unpleasantly high on their first concentrate experience. Cannabis concentrates typically range between 50-80% THC, with superb products coming in as high as 90%. For comparison, cannabis flower ranges between 10-25% THC. Be very mindful of this while navigating concentrates for the first time. (And ask our budtenders for help!)

Terpenes can be hard to preserve during the extraction process, so the flavor may not be as enjoyable as flower. However, many companies have started adding terpenes in at the end, so that’s an option for a more flavorful concentrate. 

Dabbing has become one of the most popular methods for consuming concentrates, which involves heating a “nail” on a dabbing rig and applying the concentrate to the hot surface. You can also add concentrates to your bowl, joint, or compatible vaporizer.

Types of Concentrates

Hashish: Cannabis concentrates are currently experiencing a surge in innovation and popularity, but hash (the OG concentrate) has been around for centuries. It is formed by taking stalked resin glands from the cannabis plant and rubbing them together to remove the trichomes, as well as other similar methods. The result is a sticky brick or ball. 

Kief: You already know kief, also referred to as dry sift or pollen. It’s the sticky-icky on your fingers after rolling a joint, it’s the crystal-like substance at the bottom of your grinder. Kief is usually sifted to separate the trichomes, and like hashish, it frequently contains plant material.

Shatter: This name, and the ones that follow, describe the consistency of modern cannabis concentrates, which are generally free of all impurities. In this case, we’re talking about a hard glass-like substance that can also resemble pulled taffy.

Budder/Batter: These two are soft in consistency, making them great for spreading onto joints or blunts. Budder has a consistency similar to butter, and batter the consistency of cake batter.

Crumble: Indeed crumbly in texture, this concentrate has a honeycomb consistency.

Sugar/Sauce: A concentrate has a consistency similar to wet, sappy sugar is called “sugar.” Sauce is a thicker version that has a more uniform and prominent crystalline structure.

Distillate/Oil: As you may have guessed, this refers to a liquid, oily, consistency. Oil is what goes into cannabis cartridges and pre-filled pens, and it also can be found in syringes.

It’s an exciting time for cannabis, and the world of concentrates is no exception. Keep your eyes on this ever-changing market for continued evolution of our cannabis options.

In the market for top-shelf cannabis concentrates in Tacoma, Washington? Stop by our popular Tacoma dispensary for help choosing your new favorite products, or check out our online dispensary menu.