By: Angela Viesti

CBD topicals are the gateway to healing. At least in my opinion.

I say this because as a cannabis advocate, I’ve seen people squirm at the idea of smoking a joint or eating an edible, usually because of an unpleasant past experiences. But the reaction to topicals is quite different.

When I came out about my cannabis consumption and career path to my family a few years ago, an older, somewhat conservative family member gleefully informed me that their friend had given them a homemade topical, which they kept stored in their refrigerator. I’ve since introduced a number of seniors to cannabis and CBD products, usually starting with topicals and exploring other forms of cannabis from there. Many of them go on to introduce their friends and family to CBD. It’s truly a pleasure to see people go from being skeptics to becoming advocates by way of their own healing journeys.  

Now that CBD has taken the health and wellness space by storm, I’m constantly being approached by clients who are curious about CBD and open to trying topicals. There are a few reasons why topicals are so popular and I’ll explore them with you here.

Traditional Topical Use

Like tinctures, cannabis and hemp-based topicals were among the early medicinal applications of cannabinoids, long before prohibition and the War on Drugs. Cultures from around the globe, beginning in parts of Asia, extracted the essence of cannabis and made medicines. The anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic properties of cannabinoids provide localized relief for hours with a relatively short onset.

Today, we see an influx of CBD topicals turning up everywhere, from the local drugstore to the local farmers market.

Topicals appeal to the mass market for a number of reasons:

• They’re discreet

• They’re versatile

• They’re effective

• They’re non-toxic

• And they’re non-intoxicating (most of them, at least!)

While topicals can be made at home by simply soaking plant material in fat or alcohol, a number of products now exist that marry traditional plant medicine with modern science and technology for better, more effective outcomes. Let’s explore them here.

A Modern Take on Topical Pain Relief

Some of the most common uses of topicals are for relieving localized pain, muscle soreness, cramps, and spasms, as well as treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and chronic dry skin. Cannabinoids like CBD already work wonders to relieve these symptoms, so adding other carefully selected ingredients amplifies their effectiveness.

Take Melt Pain Relief Lotion: Nano-emulsified CBD is blended into an aloe-based topical that absorbs quickly into the affected area, tackling inflammation and pain, while soothing and conditioning skin, locking in moisture. Essential oils like peppermint, menthol, capsaicin, and camphor relax the surrounding muscles and provide lasting relief. I have clients with severe arthritis who swear by Melt, noting that its non-greasy formula makes it great for everyday use. Whether you’re easing tension from a stressful day or a tough workout, or you’re battling pain from debilitating menstrual symptoms, Melt is an all-in-one remedy to keep handy.

Outside the Box Topicals

As mentioned above, applying CBD to the skin can improve its condition and relieve symptoms from chronic skin issues. It’s also effective in improving the appearance of skin and diminishing scars from acne and sun damage.

Bacteria, inflammation, excess oil, and hormones can cause acne flare-ups well beyond our teenage years. Of course, what you’re putting into your body plays a huge role in your skin’s appearance, but you can also support healthy skin from the outside. CBD is now found in beauty products and skincare-targeted topicals, like the Anti-Serum by Defynt.

A blend of antioxidant-rich CBD, anti-aging vitamins and minerals, and organic plant extracts work together to protect the skin from free-radicals and reverse signs of aging and sun damage.

Taking this outside-the-box approach to topicals a step further is the rise of CBD and cannabis-infused intimate products, commonly referred to as weed lube or CBD lube, although not all products in this category are actually lubricants. CBD increases blood flow and when applied to the genitalia, can cause greater sensitivity and arousal without the use of hormones. The presence of cannabinoids in a lubricant can help to bring about a sense of relaxation and ease tension.

Kush Queen’s Ignite CBD Lube is made with nano-emulsified CBD and non-toxic, latex- and toy-safe ingredients–and it’s actually a lubricant. Ignite can be used for solo exploration, is safe for use with toys, and is ideal for intimate moments with a partner or partners. Just be ready, though, because Ignite’s onset happens in a matter of seconds!

The CBD Self-Care Takeover

Self-care is all the rage right now and CBD is its perfect companion. Millennials aren’t adopting the all-work-no-play lifestyles that generations before us lived. Finding balance is about working toward our goals and taking better care of our bodies and minds. Cannabis has been a longtime staple in my self-care toolbox, ages before I called it “self-care”. What used to be lighting a joint for mental relief has expanded to include yoga, meditation, self-massage, and CBD-infused baths and showers.

Quieting the constant mental noise is essential to self-healing. But it can also be extremely challenging when stress is high and personal time is low. Before meditating or practicing yoga, or whenever I’m in need of a quick pick-me-up, I’ll take a drop of Melt and massage it into the bottoms of my feet and my shoulders. The cooling sensation brings me back into my body and the self-massage gives me something to focus my attention on.

If I had a really hard day and need to get out of my head, I’ll draw a bath and throw in a Kush Queen Citrus Bath Bomb for a blend of invigorating scents and a relaxed vibe. There’s nothing else that can soothe my body and mind so completely and so quickly. Taking a CBD-infused bath is a form of meditation. It’s a break from my phone, an act of self-love, a moment to connect with myself without interruption. And like all topicals, it leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.

Topicals: Elevating You Daily

Now that you know what kinds of topicals are out there, share the knowledge! You may inspire a closeted cannabis advocate to come out.

---

Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories!

 

Ready to add some CBD topicals into your daily routine? Shop Kush Queen below!

Shop CBD Topicals

By: Olivia Alexander

Image Via CBS

As Pride season kicks off, its the perfect time to celebrate the shared history of cannabis and the LGBTQIA+ community. With the weed being so hot right now, we never want to forget that this progress was hard fought by some of the most marginalized people in society: the activist and leaders of the LGBT movement. It was the fight for LGBTQIA+ liberation and against HIV/AIDS that led to what we know as modern legalization. We don’t believe we would have progress without the work of these often overlooked heroes. It’s our hope to honor their spirit and keep their passion for medical cannabis access alive.

The Spark

Our modern Pride celebrations commemorate the Stonewall riots, which were only 12 years after the AIDS epidemic had first flared. This was only 3 years after the 1979 White Night Riots in San Francisco. These riots were triggered by the lenient sentencing of ex-cop and ex-supervisor Dan White for the assassination of openly gay Harvey Milk and his political ally, city mayor, George Moscone.

Harvey Milk was the first elected Queer in America, he pioneered decriminalization laws in his brief time in office. Milk was influential in the passing of Proposition W, the first initiative to decriminalize marijuana in San Francisco.

Image via PBS

The Shift

The death of Harvey Milk would lead to a more fervent community activism machine that would eventually mobilize local funds for AIDS care and research. It would also build momentum and agitate for statewide medical cannabis access. The outrage over Milk’s death would energize a community unknowingly on the brink of an emergency. It would lay the foundation for lifelong activists out of many LGBTQ individuals in a time they would need it most. Activist like Cleve Jones, who was elected in 1982 to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee where he served three terms. He was crucially in a position of power,  as the community demanded funding for AIDS research and care. Patients and activists were lucky to have Jones and the board of Supervisors in San Francisco during this time who allocated millions to AIDS programs in the early ’80s. The city of San Francisco allocated millions more than the National Institute of Health did for the entire country.

While San Francisco managed to deal with the epidemic in a compassionate and swift manner, AIDS funding and the search for treatment hit federal roadblocks. Ward 86, founded in San Francisco General Hospital, was known as the worlds first AIDS clinic, established with the board of supervisors investments. The FDA and NIH would drag its feet for years when it came to testing and making available promising treatments from overseas. But with AIDS, people could not wait for federal help.

As the epidemic spread and the Federal government did nothing to act, aids patients wondered if they would die from AIDS or from the side effects of AZT. To compound the issues, the Regan Administration began its war on drugs, denying AIDS patients access to Cannabis which helped to combat the painful side effects of treatment. Thousands with AIDS died alone and many were cast out by their own families.  

Image by Maureen Hurley

The Activists

While many watched and ignored as these injustices were unfolding, there were people like Mary Rathbun who refused to sit idly by. Mary was a volunteer at San Francisco General Hospital, also known as “ Brownie Mary” because would hand out cannabis-infused brownies to the patients.

Dennis Peron, a friend of Harvey Milk’s would rise to be the father of medical marijuana. Peron was part political activist, part outlaw. He was a local dealer previous to the epidemic but quickly saw the plants healing properties helped with the side effects of AZT. Peron’s lover, Johnathan West would long inspire his work around medical cannabis access and compassionate care.

Peron told the LA Times “Marijuana made me the person I am.” and shared how it felt when his lover lost the battle with AIDS. “At that point, I didn’t know what I was living for. I was the loneliest guy in America,” Peron said. “In my pain, I decided to leave Jonathan a legacy of love. I made it my moral pursuit to let everyone know about Jonathan’s life, his death, and his use of marijuana and how it gave him dignity in his final days.”

Image by Andy Kuno via The New York Times

The Change

It’s from these roots of activism and compassionate care that Peron and “Brownie Mary” would found the San Francisco buyers club, arguably known as one of the first dispensaries in American. Peron and Rathbun would help pass Proposition P in 1991. They would then go on to ultimately write Proposition 215 in 1996.

Sadly, Dennis Peron passed in early 2018, but the legacy he left behind will not be forgotten. It is thanks to him and the many other activists that committed their lives to supporting the medicinal use of Cannabis, that we are able to openly and passionately share this plant. This is why it is so meaningful to celebrate the LGBTQ communities work from the lens of a cannabis company. Our roots are deeply intertwined with LGBTQ history and now more than ever we believe in the importance of standing up for equality.

This year proceeds from our Pride Collection will be donated Trans Life Line as we stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community.

---

Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

 

Shop Kush Queen CBD Products and the Limited Edition Pride Collection below!

Shop Kush Queen

By: JS Brunson

Let’s talk about abortions. I’m going to be blunt with you because I don’t want to be deceptive. One of my best friends in college had an abortion. I didn’t find out about it until two years later. When I asked her why she kept such an important secret, she said she felt scared and ashamed and didn’t want to be judged. She said she knew it was the right decision for her, but feared if she was open about it her parents and friends would disown her. I remember looking at my friend as she was crying and pouring her heart out to me, and I told her that I would never judge her. That wasn’t my right to do so. I became so upset that she felt she had to defend her decision to the world. She felt she was alone in this. So much so that she went to the clinic by herself.

That moment forever changed me. After all that women have done for this world, including literally birthing it, I believe it’s shameful that we are still discussing what a woman is allowed to do with her own body.

Now in case you missed it, this is a loaded statement. Before I break it down, grab a CBD PreRoll and drop some Kush Queen Bare CBD Tincture into your coffee because, hunnie,… it’s going to get deep.

Before you go off on me claiming that I want to kill human beings, let me be clear. I’m not discussing that. Literally not at all. I am solely talking about the policing of women’s bodies. Whether that policing comes from the Bible, the Quran or the United States government, it’s wrong because it places the power out of the hands of the individual and into the opinion of the masses.

Every single person on this planet has been birthed by a woman. Yet, we have been policing women’s bodies since the beginning of time. Women have been called unfit, weak, useless, less than, etc. Women in the past have been regulated to wearing multiple layers of clothing so that their natural shape wouldn’t entice men. During the days of slavery, Black women’s bodies were stripped naked and put on display in traveling circuses because white men and women couldn’t understand how their bodies became so curvaceous. Women, and especially Women of Color, have been fighting for equal rights since the dawn of patriarchy. To sit here in 2019 and still have to fight for the choice of what I am allowed to do with my own body is insulting. Yah, I’m gonna need some more CBD (and maybe some controlled breathing)!

At the end of the day we aren’t talking about lives here, we’re talking about who holds the power over human beings. Is it not odd that Alabama, the same state that created the strictest abortion laws in modern history, executed a prisoner one day after declaring their heinous abortion laws. I’ll say that again. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey enacted a near total ban on abortions saying that a woman cannot legally abort her fetus once she finds out she’s pregnant even in the cases of rape and insest. That was on May 15th. On May 16th Alabama executed a convicted murderer. Which tells us that it isn’t about all lives but rather our perception of that person’s value in life. Where is the logic in that? Neither should be our choice. Should there be consequences in life? Absolutely. But those consequences should not be controlled by a person who has no real stake in the game.

HEAR THIS: If you have never been a woman, if you have never bled from your uterus multiple times a year, if you’ve never been faced with the decision of having to have an abortion or potentially living a life you aren’t prepared for, if you dislike people of color for whatever self-hating reason you have, then you should not have the authority to tell me what to do with my body.

If you’d like to learn more, including how you can get involved, I encourage you to visit: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/act.

There, you will be able to:

• Find an event near you

• Sign a petition to fight back against 6-week abortion bans

• Speak out to oppose the gag rule

• Find out how to contact your local lawmakers

No matter what side of the issue you’re on, one thing remains true. If we take away a women’s right to choose what she does with her own body, we give up our power to those who have the potential to use it for their own personal gain. Let’s keep our life given power of choice. Let’s stand in our truth and tell the world “Get Your Hands off My Womb!”

---

Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

 

Need some CBD to help relieve the Anxiety? Shop Kush Queen Below!

Shop Now!

By: Angela Viesti

Summer’s right around the corner and that means pool parties, backyard BBQs, festivals, vacations, staycations, beach days, retreats and road trips. The quintessential summer agenda has me salivating for warmer weather so I can bust out the shorts & bathing suits that’ve been collecting dust since fall (because WTF SoCal?).

With the change in season comes the biggest threat to my fair skin–a sunburn. I always seem to get one good one each year (usually an awkward and embarrassing one), so caring for my skin post-burn is as essential as protecting it from the sun’s UV rays. Even if you don’t burn easily like I do, it’s still important to protect and care for your skin, especially if you’ve been exposed to more sun than is normal.

Other factors like dry heat, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures can make you a sweaty hot mess and wreak havoc on your skin’s condition and appearance–but they don’t have have to! My arsenal of Kush Queen’s CBD products that prime and heal my skin will be in heavy rotation all summer long and here’s how I plan on using them.

Chin Up

Your face is exposed to the elements more than any other part of your body. What you put on your face can either help or hinder your skincare goals. Every morning, wash your face with a gentle soap then dab a thin layer of DEFYNT Anti-Serum to your face and neck. Its gentle rose scent instantly calms and uplifts your mood–it’s like stopping and smelling the roses while you get ready. The water-based serum’s silky texture nourishes the skin and the Amplifi nano-CBD protects it from bacteria, acne, free-radicals, and inflammation.

This CBD infused serum saved my skin last summer when I had the opportunity to test it prior to DEFYNT’s official launch. I changed little about my skincare routine, other than applying the Anti-Serum twice daily before moisturizing, and my skin was noticeably clearer and brighter in less than 2 weeks. After a month, my pores had shrunk, I was devoid of acne, and my skin was glowing. The aloe leaf juice soothed and moisturized my sunburned face and prevented the dreaded snake-like peeling that comes with a burn.

Next on the agenda is a tinted moisturizer with SPF 50 UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection. I recommend that you always wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, even when it’s not hot or sunny. When you’re planning on being in the sun for extended periods of time, it’s wise to pack sunscreen so you can reapply as needed. Sunscreen protects the skin from signs of aging and can be instrumental in the prevention of skin cancer.

If you wind up with a sunburn and need to give your face some extra TLC, test out this DIY CBD Face Mask from our blog archives. Play around with the ingredients to find a blend that suits your skin type.

Neck Down

My fair skin isn’t just prone to sunburns; it’s also sensitive, making it susceptible to rashes, chapping and other irritating conditions. Not a good thing when it’s hot out and I’m on the move. This is when I pull out my Melt Pain Relief lotion and apply it directly to the rash or dry skin for soothing moisture and instant relief from irritation. Melt is an aloe-based lotion with pain relieving properties that can help heal your skin if you forgot to reapply your sunscreen.

We all know we should exfoliate, but how often do we take the time to actually do it? During the summer months we want to keep our skin healthy and looking its best. I love using Renew Lavender Sugar scrub on my feet and hands during an at-home mani-pedi, revealing soft, rejuvenated skin. Renew can be used as a pre-shave exfoliator to prevent ingrown hairs with CBD and essential oils that help condition the skin and minimize inflammation. Modify this DIY CBD Infused bath with cooler water and add a Renew scrub to keep your skin glowing.

From Within

Earlier this year, I talked about healthy skin from within. On the blog and I stand by my sentiments, particularly now that things are heating up in the Northern Hemisphere. What you consume will eventually be released, some of which happens through the skin. Do your best to eat as many whole, plant based foods as you can. Simply cutting out refined sugars and processed foods that are devoid of nutrition and replacing them with a healthy option will do wonders for your skin and you energy levels. If you don’t believe me, try it for 2 weeks and see how you feel. Add an antioxidant boost to your homemade dips or salad dressings with a dropper full of Bare Tincture. It only has two ingredients, olive oil and CBD, so you can add it to any recipe that calls for olive oil.

Dehydration is the enemy of healthy skin. While alcohol can feel like a refreshing summertime staple, it can be problematic because of its dehydrating effects. I love a cold IPA as much as anyone, but waking up hungover and parched is no fun. So make sure you’re drinking plenty of water when you choose to drink, especially during the summer, and especially when you’re at a festival or party where you’ll be on your feet or moving a lot.

Keeping your skin healthy is just that simple—always remember your sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and stock up on Kush Queen’s skin rescuing topicals this summer!

---

Don’t forget to follow and tag @Kushqueenshop & @kushqueenco in your Instagram posts and stories.

 

Ready to rescue your summer skin? Shop Kush Queen CBD below!

Shop CBD!