Cannabis Confessions: Jack Nichols Journey from Sneaky Teen to Creative Adult

Margaret 00:00:05 Welcome to Bite Me, the show about edibles. I'm your host, Margaret. And today, I'm thrilled to bring you the very first episode of a brand new series I'm calling Cannabis Confessions. In this series, I'm shining a spotlight on the incredible members of the cannabis community. Listeners like you by diving into their personal cannabis journeys, from their first experience to how cannabis plays a role in their everyday lives. These stories are heartfelt, inspiring and uniquely their own. In this inaugural episode, I'm sitting down with a listener of the show and a member of the cannabis community to learn about their journey, the lessons they've learned along the way, and their thoughts on edibles. Whether you're new to cannabis or been part of the culture for years, you won't want to miss this candid and relatable conversation. Please welcome Jack to the show and let's get into it. All right everyone, I am really excited to be doing this interview today because this is a first member spotlight Cannabis confessions, if you will. And I am joined today by my friend Jack and Jack.

Margaret 00:01:18 If you just want to introduce yourself, let us know where you live and if cannabis is legal where you live.

Jack 00:01:24 Right on. Well, my name is Jack Nichols and I'm very happy to be a part of this podcast. currently living in, Peterborough, Ontario. And, cannabis is legal here. Yes. I've been, grateful to be living in Canada, Canada for the past, I don't know, decade or so. So it's or longer than that, actually. So I've been I've been very fortunate to be able to enjoy it legally for quite some time now. Yeah. What a relief.

Margaret 00:01:57 Right. And legalization is not perfect here in Canada by any means, but it's definitely. It's definitely nice to have federal legalization because we have access. There's so much access, so.

Jack 00:02:09 There's access and there's yeah, there's just not that fear. Yes. You know what? If I get caught and then I have a record and just ridiculous stuff like that that used to exist and, not a part of my day anymore.

Margaret 00:02:27 Exactly. It's, it's really nice. So maybe you can start out by telling us the story of your first experience with cannabis and how it's evolved over time from that first time.

Jack 00:02:40 Well, the first time, I would have to say probably when I was 13 years of age, elementary school, I was pretty innocent. And we all were. Yes. And then walked through those golden gates of high school and, just had a ball, So I don't, to be honest with you, I don't quite recall my my very first moment with it. I knew I enjoyed it enough to go back for more. but the one thing that I do remember in my early days was I was the oldest grandchild on both sides. So I babysat for. I have, what is it, 11 aunts and uncles. So I babysat for every child. Okay. And so back in the day, yeah. With your TV, you had it literally get up and turn the channel, and they had a TV guide, you know, the book with all the channels and all the shows that were listed.

Margaret 00:03:39 I do remember those. Yes. Yes I do. Some of our younger listeners might not know what we're talking about, but.

Jack 00:03:46 But on the end table beside every couch, you'd open it up, there was a TV guide, and then I'd open it up and there would be their pot. Right.

Margaret 00:03:55 Okay.

Jack 00:03:56 So also back in the day, they used to have the the Pampers baby bottles with the baby bottle liners. That would go in that you'd fill with milk. So I'd go and snag a couple of those and they were never paying me enough to begin with. And I'd just snag some of their pot. I've since confessed to every one of them, which has been a lot of fun. But though that that's my earliest memory is, is, you know, before I had my own dealer or whatever was. Yeah, I'll babysit for you. Not a problem.

Margaret 00:04:27 Right.

Margaret 00:04:27 You're just giving yourself your own little bonus. I didn't realize this was going to be so true in the in terms of cannabis confessions that you were sneaking.

Jack 00:04:35 Oh. There's one.

Margaret 00:04:37 I love it.

Margaret 00:04:38 So you started out pretty young, like 13. Pretty young to be starting with cannabis, but you were sneaking it from the aunts and uncles who I'm sure probably. what did they say when you told them that you were you were kind of scooping.

Margaret 00:04:50 Some of their weed.

Jack 00:04:51 They they just laughed because I've since pretty much smoked with each and every one of them. Right. so they they just giggled and laughed. You know, it was 25 years after the fact that I finally confessed, you know, so they couldn't press charges. The statute of limitations had expired.

Margaret 00:05:11 Yeah. So you waited until the right time?

Margaret 00:05:13 That's right. Yeah. That's awesome.

Margaret 00:05:15 So when you first started smoking, like, how how is that evolved? Because I know when I first started smoking, it was like an all day, every day kind of affair typically. And my cannabis use has changed significantly since then. So what is it like for you now?

Jack 00:05:31 Now what is it like? Yeah, yeah, now, now it is evolved.

Jack 00:05:35 It's a daily for me. Yeah, it is part of my routine. I, I, I, I thoroughly enjoy it. I use it for different reasons at different times. I know there's days that I've had where I probably haven't, you know, smoked, but, you know, if it's handy. You know, sometimes I will. It all depends on the occasion. It depends. I do a lot of writing, so it all depends on what? What I want to accomplish that day.

Margaret 00:06:11 Right. So you tailor it to sort of the goals and objectives for a day. And do you use it a lot around your writing? Oh.

Jack 00:06:20 Constantly. Constantly. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it'd be an interesting study. I'm not sure if if I am as equally as creative if it's a placebo thing, if, you know. But, I certainly personally feel I am more creative, more open. I do comedy, so I think I'm funnier, to be honest with you. yeah, I think it it really just helps.

Jack 00:06:48 Maybe just confidence wise, I, I'm not really, really sure I'm not, science, you know, Yeah. you know, it's kind of.

Margaret 00:06:59 Like an experiment of one.

Margaret 00:07:01 Yeah.

Margaret 00:07:02 But of course, I mean, lots of people have talked before about how cannabis can sort of get those creative juices flowing. You wouldn't be the first person who's using cannabis for creative purposes, though. I am curious when you or when you perform comedy, do you do it high? Because I don't know if that would make me feel more confident or give me a lot more anxiety.

Margaret 00:07:21 Yeah, I.

Jack 00:07:22 I definitely will have had a couple of polls. but not I wouldn't say I'm stoned, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, I just a little bit take the edge off type of thing, but I'm not. I am not stoned. You know, I'm like.

Margaret 00:07:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're not committed to.

Margaret 00:07:44 Like, a fact or anything when you're trying to, like.

Margaret 00:07:47 Be on your.

Margaret 00:07:47 Toes on stage or anything.

Margaret 00:07:49 Yeah.

Jack 00:07:49 Yeah, definitely definitely need that. And, mind you, that'd be an interesting study too. I'd be willing to participate in that.

Margaret 00:07:59 Well, you'll have to try some time and let me know how. What happens with that? Because I get.

Margaret 00:08:03 To have you in.

Jack 00:08:04 The audience.

Margaret 00:08:05 That's like also sort of like why some people will have a drink before they perform or something. The same reason they're just trying to take the edge off those nerves.

Margaret 00:08:12 But yeah.

Margaret 00:08:13 It seems like cannabis would be a safer way to do it. If you understand your dosing and you know how it affects you.

Margaret 00:08:19 So yeah, yeah, I.

Jack 00:08:21 Definitely feel like I have more control under under the influence of cannabis than I do under, you know, alcohol. Yeah. Mind you, having committed the, you know, same amount of time to alcohol. So.

Margaret 00:08:31 Right.

Jack 00:08:32 But but no for myself personally. Yeah. Yeah.

Margaret 00:08:36 To go now do you have a favorite method of consumption for your cannabis?

Margaret 00:08:42 I'll do it.

Jack 00:08:43 Any way, shape or form. convenience is probably what, you know, maybe I'm a I'm a lazy pothead. so I do like the vapes because they're good to go whenever you are. I do love edibles I love that it's a different it's a different. Hi. It's I like how my body gets more involved in and edible than just my mind maybe you know in my eyes. the spray I did the spray a lot at West and I kind of like that. That was neat. Yeah. I haven't really noticed it here but.

Margaret 00:09:26 Yeah I haven't.

Margaret 00:09:27 Seen. Well not that I go into dispensaries a whole ton but I haven't really noticed too many sprays on the market. Would they be just ones you'd spray under your tongue?

Jack 00:09:36 Yeah, it was almost like a breath spray, you know? And, Yeah, you do like 2 to 3. I'm a bit of an extremist, so I would do maybe 10 to 12 or whatever. And, it it was a great bus. I really enjoyed that, but I haven't, I've got a good story about that.

Jack 00:09:57 Would you like to hear that one?

Margaret 00:09:59 Yeah, I would love to hear it. You're welcome to share. Right now.

Margaret 00:10:03 This is cannabis.

Margaret 00:10:03 Confessions, after.

Margaret 00:10:04 All. Well, here's another confession. Because,

Jack 00:10:07 I don't suffer green outs.

Margaret 00:10:10 Okay?

Jack 00:10:11 It very, very seldom I have suffered them. But like, it's it is you know, it could be years and years type of thing. So I was flying from I think it was Edmonton to Toronto and, and I'm going through my head, you know, the, the speech from the stewardess because I can recall the days where you could smoke on a plane and so on and so forth. A lot has changed, but there's nothing about this spray. And I figured, you know, it's small enough. It gets through security or whatever. So I buy a book was Elton John's biography, and I go to the, dispensary, and I and I purchased the spray and I'm on the plane and stewardess does her her chat and her spiel and and she doesn't mention anything about this pot spray.

Jack 00:10:59 So I pull it out and give myself, you know, 10 or 12 sprays and, you know, the plane takes off. We're in the air. I'm reading this book. I have lots of space because it was kind of Covid time. So I got my book and I'm reading it and I'm a cigarette smoker as well. So as I'm reading this book, I figured, you know what? I could really go for a smoke. I thought, I'll wait till the end of this chapter. Finish the chapter. And I set it down and put my hands on the armrest and push myself up. It was like, Holy shit, I'm on a plane. And then I had both, you know, the the the one in white and the one in red on my shoulders. Going your way to stone to be on this plane. And you are fine. You've smoked more than this. You've done more. You're fine. No, no, you are fucked up. You didn't even know you were up here.

Jack 00:11:50 It was. It was probably about five minutes of finally talking myself down out of the green cloud and, yeah, but that was there's another confession. Yeah. With the spray. Be aware of your environment.

Margaret 00:12:07 Right. I wonder, too, if the altitude would affect the like, how it the effect the the high. Because I have heard that when you drink alcohol at altitudes, it can make you feel more drunk. Yeah. So I've never actually looked into that. But that's a really interesting question, which could be why you actually greened out maybe for a few minutes.

Margaret 00:12:27 Yeah, that's very good.

Margaret 00:12:29 Yeah, yeah. Because your usual dose and suddenly you're like, you don't even realize you're on a plane. That would be a weird feeling.

Margaret 00:12:35 Yeah.

Jack 00:12:36 It wasn't good.

Margaret 00:12:37 You were getting ready to light that smoke too, weren't you?

Margaret 00:12:40 Oh, totally. Totally bad.

Jack 00:12:42 Yeah. They're lucky I didn't make it to the door.

Margaret 00:12:45 Right. Yeah. That's funny. Now, has.

Margaret 00:12:49 Cannabis helped you manage any challenges in your life, whether physical, emotional, Otherwise?

Jack 00:12:55 Oh, definitely.

Jack 00:12:59 yeah. My, my life's been been full of challenges, and, Yeah, I think it's added some patience where I've needed patience. you know, even healthwise, I think it stirred up an appetite when I needed to have one. I think there's so many benefits that we haven't even tapped into, to be honest with you. even the the creams, I've tried the creams and and they've helped and, Yeah, emotionally for sure. For sure. It's just for me personally, I usually only do sativa. but for me personally, cannabis is a very calming effect on me. For some reason, I think it kind of brings me a little, closer to earth, a little, grounding. yeah. It's, it's been a good friend for a very long time.

Margaret 00:14:01 Right. That calming effect is important to. And you mentioned also like how we're still learning stuff about it. And that's you know I feel like we're almost at the tip of the iceberg right now. 100 years of prohibition has just meant that we haven't learned as much as we possibly as we could have otherwise.

Margaret 00:14:18 And so it's kind of an exciting time, because now that it's becoming more legal in so many jurisdictions, we're discovering all kinds of new things all the time. So it's interesting you mentioned that you find this grounding effect or this calming effect when you're typically consuming more sativa or the uplifting cultivars. Yes, because some people would find those like way too anxiety producing or just make their mind race too much. So it's just a nice demonstration of how cannabis affects everybody differently. And you do kind of have to experiment. So like you might experiment with smoking before you go on stage. You kind of have to experiment with all this stuff so completely.

Jack 00:14:58 and I and I've seen the negative impact on some people. I think maybe there's a, a sensitivity and allergy, you know, a chemical imbalance. You know, marijuana is not the only thing I've ever done type of thing. And but I've always thought that your mindset and your environment have got to be comfortable and feel safe to enjoy anything, right? You know, so if some people are trying something under, under different conditions that might not be very conducive to a positive high.

Margaret 00:15:38 Then, you know.

Jack 00:15:40 I think some things can be controlled so that you can have, the reaction that you want. But I do believe some people are sensitive and it doesn't agree with everybody.

Margaret 00:15:50 Yeah. Well, I mean, sometimes we forget when we're in these cannabis circles. Like, we want to believe that it's a panacea for all things. But like anything, there are those few exceptions where it's not ideal for those people. Fortunately, they can probably still use cannabis topicals, which I like to, you know, point out that it's such a versatile plant, even if you can't consume it for whatever reason, you can probably still have the benefits of a cannabis topical. But yeah, it's a it's an important reminder that it's not for everybody as much.

Margaret 00:16:20 As we want it to be. So and those.

Jack 00:16:22 Bath bombs are incredible.

Margaret 00:16:24 A yes.

Margaret 00:16:25 Yeah. Oh I love all the body care products. They're, delightful. They just make such a big difference to so many people as far as, like, the physical aches and pains that we experienced.

Margaret 00:16:34 So it's such a treat.

Margaret 00:16:36 Yeah. Yeah, it really is.

Jack 00:16:38 And I want to love myself.

Margaret 00:16:41 Yeah.

Jack 00:16:42 That's that's a treat for me.

Margaret 00:16:44 Yeah. Of course. And we should be all doing that. More like loving ourselves and just taking care of our bodies. So cannabis topicals are a beautiful way to do that, even if you can't consume for whatever reason. Like you mentioned, some people are sensitive to it. So yeah, yeah. And it's funny you mentioned the allergy because I'm not allergic to it. I am sensitive to THC when I smoke it or vape it, but I am allergic to the cannabis plant. Like if I touch it enough and stuff, I get hives and everything. And I mean, it doesn't really affect too much. I can, I still do it, I still grow and all those kinds of things. But and it's not surprising. I'm allergic to dogs and cats and, you know, hay and all these things. So the fact that I'm allergic to cannabis isn't that surprising, but I am one of those people that is allergic to it when I'm when I'm handling it.

Margaret 00:17:28 So I just have to be a little cautious too.

Jack 00:17:30 But that's amazing, though, that you're still able to enjoy it though, right? That's fantastic.

Margaret 00:17:35 Yeah. Well ingesting it like when I eat it and edible, it doesn't affect me in a negative way. It's just handling the actual plant material. Yeah. And sometimes cause me hives and that kind of thing. So yeah, but once it's processed into something like a tasty edible then or if and consuming it with a vaporizer or, you know, whatever. Then it doesn't bother me that way either. But. Yeah, right. Yeah. But as someone who's allergic to a lot of things, it's really not that surprising either. So. Right.

Margaret 00:18:02 Yeah.

Margaret 00:18:03 Now there's a lot of cannabis myths that are still kicking around these days, even though, you know, a lot of people have been working hard to sort of dispel some of these myths. But is there a cannabis myth or misconception that you've personally encountered that you'd like to set the record straight based on your own experience?

Jack 00:18:21 I think the one that I've always disagreed with, is it being a gateway drug?

Margaret 00:18:26 Yes.

Jack 00:18:28 it is not. You can take it from me. I'm 57. I've been smoking since I was 13, and my only commitment is cannabis, you know? it really does. Does not. It doesn't create a drive to try anything different or, you know, to climb a ladder. It doesn't it doesn't inspire that for for me anyway. I think maybe years ago, the only reason it could be considered a gateway is, you know, it was illegal, so you had to go to your drug dealer, you drug dealers, a businessman. They're going to want to sell you more of something. So they'll be the ones to introduce you to something different that they're selling. But it is it is not a gateway drug. I have yet to come across a scientific study that proves that it's a gateway drug. So, you know, I can understand it being said because, you know, children or young adults when they're, you know, going to start testing the waters, so to speak, you want them to have a healthy respect for anything they test and try.

Jack 00:19:41 But, yeah, it's I, I firmly believe it's not a gateway drug.

Margaret 00:19:45 Right. I would say based on my own personal experience either. It is not a gateway drug. And I do remember the assemblies where the police would gather all the high school children and let them know that if you did cannabis, you were probably going to find yourself in an alley shooting up heroin. Yes, pretty short order. And that has turned out to be, for the most part, what I've seen, not just with myself or people I know. Completely untrue.

Margaret 00:20:07 Yes, exactly.

Margaret 00:20:09 Yeah. It was just some of that propaganda that really like to float around for way too long.

Margaret 00:20:13 Yeah, yeah.

Jack 00:20:14 Just a just a fear.

Margaret 00:20:17 Yeah, yeah, yeah, come on over.

Jack 00:20:19 It's fine.

Margaret 00:20:20 Yeah. And it's funny.

Margaret 00:20:21 Too, that you mentioned about the drug dealers I mean more back in the day because I guess, yeah, a good business person might try and introduce you to something else because they are trying to make money.

Margaret 00:20:32 But it was also really common to find drug dealers that only sold cannabis or.

Margaret 00:20:39 Maybe some mushrooms.

Margaret 00:20:40 Or something.

Margaret 00:20:40 Yeah, yeah.

Jack 00:20:44 Yeah. My guy was, pot and mushrooms. Yeah.

Margaret 00:20:48 Yeah. That was essentially that was that was impossible, right? Yeah.

Margaret 00:20:54 And actually, that brings something up. I wanted to touch on that. You mentioned earlier about people having like, uncomfortable experiences. because it's often talked about in the world of like, magic mushrooms about set and setting, but how much that actually applies when you're using cannabis as well. Set and setting is still a consideration that most people don't think about that much. But if you're typically used to consuming cannabis like I don't know what your house when you're watching a movie or something funny or whatever, and then suddenly you go to like a huge festival. Your experience is going to be different.

Margaret 00:21:26 Totally.

Margaret 00:21:27 Just keep that in mind.

Margaret 00:21:29 Totally.

Margaret 00:21:29 You're going into something, especially if you haven't done it before. Certain setting applies to cannabis just as much as it does to our to mushrooms.

Margaret 00:21:36 So yeah, and those.

Jack 00:21:38 Are usually the settings where you're invited to partake. Yes. Right. Is usually a an event. So I think that can attribute to a lot of people's, you know, first negative experience is just yeah, it's just having an improper setting for an introduction to something new.

Margaret 00:21:58 Right. So choosing the right setting is important because if you're doing it for the first time at a big event, there's tons of people and you've never tried something before, the odds that you'll have a more negative experience, I think, increase exponentially.

Margaret 00:22:11 Than if you're in.

Margaret 00:22:11 Like, you know, a smaller, safer place with people that you trust. Like it's.

Margaret 00:22:17 Just.

Margaret 00:22:17 Yeah, just something to keep in mind. Which brings me to my next question. Kind of fortuitously, if you will, what advice would you give to someone who's new to cannabis or they're curious and they're not sure where to start?

Jack 00:22:30 I would start slow. I would not mix at all. if you're going to try cannabis, I would commit to that being what you're going to enjoy that evening.

Jack 00:22:47 but I would recommend you. You start slow. You can always do more or have more, or smoke more, or eat more, whatever your means are. But start slow. But as we as we've discussed, you know, make sure you're you're in an environment that that you have some control over. You know, you know, the, the house or the, the property or with people that you know and are always been comfortable with, like you've already you're going to start something new. So I would make sure everything else is comfortable and old, you know, and then write the new person in, try the shoes on and see if they fit. But yeah, give yourself a chance to enjoy it.

Margaret 00:23:31 Yeah, I.

Margaret 00:23:32 Would agree with that too. And not mixing. I'm sure you're probably alluding to alcohol specifically in this case, which is excellent because the crossfade, as we like to call it, is an advanced move. And even for those of us who have done it a lot.

Margaret 00:23:49 It's still typically not recommended because your experience can vary widely when it comes to mixing alcohol and cannabis together, and it often doesn't go that great.

Margaret 00:23:58 No no, no.

Jack 00:24:02 I've been trying it for years and trying to master that. my, the one rule that I have so far is you have to smoke before you add the booze for me. Just for me, which is usually never the problem. But, Yeah. Somebody if somebody ever cracks that code, you know, give me the formula because it's even a 57 years of age, you know, been a cannabis user for over 40 years. started drinking around the same time, like my first, you know, first time drinking. yeah. I still haven't mastered it.

Margaret 00:24:45 Right.

Margaret 00:24:46 So if you haven't mastered by now. Then who has? Really?

Margaret 00:24:50 Yeah.

Margaret 00:24:50 I know you've had like 40 plus years of of tries to try and make it work.

Margaret 00:24:55 So yeah, maybe there's a few rock stars.

Margaret 00:25:00 Yeah, yeah. It's, it is best just to do one or the other.

Margaret 00:25:03 And I find also now like I'm drinking a lot less these days and I just find that I prefer to do one over the other. And usually it's cannabis anyway because cannabis doesn't make me feel like shit the next day.

Jack 00:25:15 So yeah, I just feel like I'm in a lot more control to, yeah, you know, I can sit down and have three beers and feel fine and I can sit down and have three beers and feel like I've had 12. So it's something that. Yeah, it's a, it's a math equation. I have yet to, to figure out if I find alcohol has so much more to do with, what if you've eaten?

Margaret 00:25:41 yeah.

Jack 00:25:42 What kind of mindset you're in. there's just too many variables that I think have to be all lined up with alcohol and with cannabis. I don't find the the rules are as strict.

Margaret 00:25:55 Right. Yeah. And again, if you do consume a little too much, then, you know, maybe you feel kind of icky the next day.

Margaret 00:26:02 Maybe, you know, you have that weed hangover, which is you feel a little groggy. Yeah, but I've had alcohol hangovers, and I wish it would just meant that I felt a little groggy. But usually it's way worse, especially as I get older. The hangovers are just horrible.

Jack 00:26:22 Oh, completely.

Margaret 00:26:23 Yeah.

Jack 00:26:24 You can be on your knees.

Margaret 00:26:26 Yeah.

Margaret 00:26:29 So this is why I usually cannabis wins out over the alcohol lately, these days and every time I open like up an app or whatever, it just seems like there's another study coming out being like that, that alcohol will kill you. So, you know, in the long term, it's just really not that great for you.

Margaret 00:26:43 So no no. Yeah. No.

Margaret 00:26:45 Yeah. Now, is there something that you've always wanted to know about cannabis but you were afraid to ask? And that's of course suggesting that I might have the answer. And I know it could be a question I'd have to get back to you on.

Jack 00:27:03 But yeah.

Jack 00:27:05 Is there, something I've always wanted to know. Geez I should actually have a question. I, I'm not sure if it's, you know, I've gotten to know cannabis pretty well. you know what I would like to know how to trim properly.

Margaret 00:27:28 Yeah.

Jack 00:27:29 I think it's fantastic that these people that have been reprimanded in the past, for growing and so on and so forth can now make six, six figures trimming and you know. And and I grow, grow up somewhere. yeah, because that is apparently the art, from what I understand.

Margaret 00:27:52 Right.

Margaret 00:27:53 And do you grow then? Like so you'd be growing your own cannabis. You'd need to trim because I probably could do better at my trimming as well.

Jack 00:28:00 Is that right? Yeah. yeah, I have, I have a family member that, is excellent at it. but I'm just never there during that process. you know, I've, I've been where, you know, the plants are all in the, in the bathroom, but you can't turn the light on to pee.

Jack 00:28:23 you know, I've been through all those phases. they have, tents as well. and also a large property that they, they do, grow in. So I, I absolutely love the art. I love that it's not something that you just water and walk away. I love that, you know.

Margaret 00:28:45 It. Did.

Jack 00:28:46 I love the fact that cannabis needs a relationship for it to work?

Margaret 00:28:50 Yes, it really does.

Margaret 00:28:51 It does.

Margaret 00:28:52 It does bring people together to.

Jack 00:28:54 It, really. You know, I think a lot of our plants have a lot of the answers, period. But, yeah, it just needs a relationship in order for it to maximize its, its positive contributions. Right. And yeah. But I yeah, I would like to know how to trim better trimming techniques.

Margaret 00:29:15 I mean that's something I should look into myself. So I will do that very thing. And it's funny that you mentioned that, that that relative that you have, you experienced the harvest and stuff but never experienced trim jail because that's what they call it.

Margaret 00:29:28 Yeah. No, I.

Jack 00:29:29 Haven't been sentenced to the table with, you know, for hours and hours.

Margaret 00:29:34 Yeah.

Jack 00:29:34 I'm surprised. Right.

Margaret 00:29:37 Well, maybe next time you'll have to volunteer for a little bit of time. Do a little time.

Jack 00:29:42 I don't know the way you phrased it there.

Margaret 00:29:45 Well, I mean, that that term just comes about because usually.

Margaret 00:29:49 If you're.

Margaret 00:29:49 Harvesting plants.

Margaret 00:29:51 Right, you.

Margaret 00:29:52 Have to harvest, you have to do all the trimming at once typically. And it's it's a big job. It's a.

Margaret 00:29:57 Real job.

Margaret 00:29:58 Yeah. I mean it's all great to be like I got these massive yields, but then you have to do the work afterwards.

Jack 00:30:03 So I think they enjoy it.

Margaret 00:30:06 Yeah.

Margaret 00:30:06 Yeah I mean if you're doing it with people and you have some music going or you know, you're listening to something, then it can be sort of a communal experience too. Or even if you're just doing it by yourself, you can sort of, you know, put on something funny or.

Margaret 00:30:20 Listen to a.

Margaret 00:30:20 Podcast, listen to Bite Me, the show about edibles and and trim away so you know, it can't. But I have had the experience of having like, so much stuff to trim and it just feels really daunting sometimes at the beginning. So that's where the term trim gel comes from.

Margaret 00:30:36 Trim gel. Yeah, yeah.

Margaret 00:30:38 But also where the magic comes from because all that trim can be used in making edibles, so don't throw it away. People keep.

Margaret 00:30:46 It. It is.

Margaret 00:30:47 It can be cold.

Margaret 00:30:48 Yeah.

Margaret 00:30:50 just a couple more questions for you, Jack, before we go. What would surprise people about you?

Jack 00:30:59 well, it all depends, but I think, that I'm a trans man. Okay. Would, might surprise people or some people might go, I do it. But, but yeah, I think that might surprise people. And, you know, cannabis is definitely, helped me literally every step of the way on my transitional journey. It's provided me patience.

Jack 00:31:31 it's provided me some pain relief. It's provided, me a lot of laughter. I think it helps me express myself as well. so yeah, I think that's what might surprise people. And I think that's how, cannabis is definitely assisted me on my journey.

Margaret 00:31:52 Yeah. That's beautiful. And I thank you for sharing that, because I imagine that there have been times when that journey has been really difficult. I can't imagine somebody transitioning and being like, well, that was easy.

Margaret 00:32:04 Like.

Margaret 00:32:05 I don't think those words are probably ever been uttered in that sentence.

Margaret 00:32:07 So yeah.

Jack 00:32:09 You're the first person to ever say that.

Margaret 00:32:11 Right. And of course.

Margaret 00:32:13 I'm I'm joking because I recognize that there's no way that going on that journey is an easy thing.

Jack 00:32:18 But no, it certainly, it certainly hasn't been an easy task. But, I like having the conversations and the discussions. I think it just makes it a little more normal.

Margaret 00:32:31 Yeah, yeah.

Margaret 00:32:32 Well, thank you for sharing that, I appreciate that.

Margaret 00:32:34 My pleasure. It's probably.

Margaret 00:32:36 Not easy. And I guess the last question is, is there anything that you would like to leave the listeners any kind of. anything that you would like to leave the listeners with as we finish up this conversation?

Jack 00:32:51 I'd like to thank them for their time and and listening to our conversation and supporting your great podcast. yeah. I would just encourage people to, not shut the door on cannabis, and it doesn't mean you have to rush out and try it or, or whatever. but be open enough to allow everybody else to enjoy it anyway and set yourself up for a positive experience if you ever do want to try it. Yeah. I couldn't imagine. I couldn't imagine my life without it. I think I'd be miserable.

Margaret 00:33:39 I really do.

Margaret 00:33:40 Practice can have on your mood when you're just not feeling yourself. You're feeling beaten up by this world or feeling shitty. Like it really can. Sort of. Even if it just doesn't totally like erase that bad mood, it can at least sort of lift the cloud.

Margaret 00:33:56 Yeah.

Margaret 00:33:56 Yeah. Well I think it's, it's.

Jack 00:33:58 It's very versatile. because I think, you know, you have enough chemicals in your mind. So if, if I'm asking cannabis to help me creatively, I set that environment in my head. I've asked the question of it and quite often that's what it does. If I'm asking it to give me some patience, that's what it'll do. If I if I'm asking it because I'm not well to encourage an appetite, that's what it will do. Like it's it is ridiculously versatile, and I firmly believe you can almost set the gift you're going to receive from it prior to enjoying it.

Margaret 00:34:45 Right?

Jack 00:34:46 Doesn't always have to be for pleasure. It can actually have some medicinal, and calming effects.

Margaret 00:34:55 So that brings me to one more question, because I know I said that was the last question, but you said something that stuck out to me, which was, does that mean that whenever you consume cannabis, however you consume it, that you're doing like a bit of an intervention beforehand?

Margaret 00:35:08 I wouldn't say.

Jack 00:35:09 All the time. Definitely not, and certainly not when it's a social thing. I'm doing it to enjoy that moment and the people that I'm with. but absolutely, if I sat down to write, I set the intention and it's almost like a smudging or whatever. And then, yeah, enjoy my, my my cannabis. yeah. I firmly believe that you can do that. And I, I believe that cannabis is versatile enough to. to enhance what it is that you're asking it to do. you know, I haven't had enough experience, and I do have to get into more edibles because I have to quit smoking.

Margaret 00:35:54 Yeah, for a.

Jack 00:35:55 Surgery that I might. I want to have a healthy circulation to not smoke.

Margaret 00:36:01 Right.

Jack 00:36:02 And like I said, this is a relationship. You know, I'm not ready for a divorce.

Margaret 00:36:07 Yeah. You know.

Jack 00:36:08 I love my partner very much.

Margaret 00:36:10 Yeah. Yeah. And, can.

Margaret 00:36:13 Really help reduce the smoking, that's for sure. Because I find myself in the evenings if I'm eating edibles, like, I'll, I'll smoke a little bit beforehand, but as soon as I, as soon as that edibles high hits, I'm usually not needing to get any higher.

Margaret 00:36:27 Right. Right.

Jack 00:36:29 Yeah. And you know I know we've had a conversation beforehand, so I definitely need to sit down with you and and learn a little bit more about, edibles because I'm going to definitely want to be introducing that as a different, form for me to rely on or not rely, but to enjoy.

Margaret 00:36:48 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Well, luckily for you, I, have five years worth of content. Invite me the show about edibles and a website and all kinds of things for you to explore, so I can definitely help you with that.

Jack 00:36:59 Outstanding.

Margaret 00:37:00 Yeah.

Margaret 00:37:00 And with that, Jack, I just want to say thank you for spending your time with me today. I really appreciate it. You are the first member. Spotlight cannabis confessions. guinea pig, if you will. And I think you did fantastic. So thank you so much for joining me today.

Jack 00:37:15 Well thank you, Margaret. I had a I had a great time.

Margaret 00:37:17 If you've ever wanted to share your cannabis story, now's your chance.

Margaret 00:37:21 I'm inviting listeners and community members to join me for a future episode of Cannabis Confessions. It's easy, fun, and a wonderful way to connect with others who share your passion for cannabis. To book your interview, head to the link at the bottom of your podcast app and let's chat about your cannabis journey. Your story could be the next one featured. Stay. Hi, friends.