Ahhhh....4/20.
The Christmas for cannabis. April 20th of each year is the unofficial day of celebration of marijuana. Legend has it the term "4/20" was invented by a group of high school students in California in 1971 who called themselves the “Waldos”. Don’t ask me why.
For most, celebrating 4/20 means blazing up. But, there are other cooler ways to celebrate 4/20 that don’t require a lighter.
I think the best way to celebrate 4/20 is with RE Botanicals, the first national hemp CBD brand certified organic by the USDA. Hemp refers to the cannabis plant, and CBD (Cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in the hemp plant. It’s safe, non-addictive, non-psychoactive (won’t get you high) and has a ton of health benefits. So, a little hemp on 4/20 is the perfect way to show some love for cannabis and stay healthy while doing so.
Specifically, RE Botanicals sells tinctures, a combination of their organic hemp and MCT coconut oil that come in either the original or peppermint flavors. Now, how do you use these tinctures? Let me show you...
#1. In your Drink
Requiring only one squeeze from the dropper to have its full effect, it’s easy to sneak CBD oil into your drinks on 4/20. For breakfast, that can mean putting it in your tea or coffee. At lunch, drop it into your juice or coffee again--if you still haven’t woken up yet. I did this for a week with my coffee, and while the taste didn’t change drastically, I felt more relaxed as I drank it. But, the most exciting way to use RE Botanicals is at dinnertime, where you can mix it into your alcohol. The peppermint flavor is perfect to use in a mojito, and the original pairs nicely with any flavor combination. Each time I went out with friends, I squeezed a couple drops into my mixed drinks and let me tell you, it was a game changer.
#2. In your Food
Not only can you drink your dose of CBD on 4/20, but you can eat it too! The best places to incorporate CBD oil are in sauces, soups and salad dressings. Since I live in a dorm and don’t have a kitchen to cook for myself, I brought my RE Botanicals bottle with me every time I went out to eat and tested it with whatever I ordered.
My most successful attempts were in a salad I had at Pizzana in Brentwood and in a rice bowl I had at Sqirl, an awesome café in Silver Lake. I squeezed a couple drops onto the bowl before mixing it up, and I could barely taste the peppermint but sensed the relaxing effect immediately. I also tried it on my chocolate frozen yogurt at the infamous The Bigg Chill in West Hollywood, since chocolate and mint are a classic pairing. It definitely did not disappoint: I felt like I was eating a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie. I think it’s safe to say that these tinctures work with any food that is mixable, but I definitely wouldn’t drop it on a sandwich or pizza.
#3. Under your Tongue
The final and easiest way to use RE Botanical's tinctures is by simply putting a drop of it under your tongue. It’s recommended that you hold the oil in your mouth for 30-90 seconds so that it has time to reach its full effect. The best time to do so is before going to sleep or before any possibly anxiety-inducing event (i.e. job interview). Immediately after squeezing the dropper the oil relaxes you. Not the same feeling as being high, the CBD oil soothes your nerves and makes everything feel less stressful. On 4/20, I'd recommend squeezing a drop right under your tongue right before bed as a calming closer to the celebration.
Hope this helps and you have an awesome 4/20!