It’s not Halloween without a good ol fashioned pumpkin carving party. But it can get old carving the same old designs every year, why not spice it up by making a pumpkin bong! 

It might sound tricky, but we promise pumpkin bongs are very easy and eco friendly.  All you need is: 
- 1 pumpkin
- drill and drill bit (if you don’t have a drill you can use a screwdriver or knife)
- 1 downstem piece
- some super dank weed from Bloom 

Carve a small round hole through the middle of your pumpkin. Start small to make sure your downstem fits as snug as possible. 
Next you will make a carb by drilling another small hole. This hole should also go through the middle of your pumpkin. 
Now for the mouthpiece, you will make a third small hole on the opposite side of the pumpkin, about a 45 degree angle that is in the middle of the pumpkin. 
Insert your downstem, pack your bowl, and blaze into the sunset. 

Happy Halloween and happy blazing. 


HalloWEED

Do you like smoking weed and watching horror movies? You are not alone! Spooky movies are a fun way to socialize in a festive way. We want to help start the spooky season off right with an epic list of horror films that you should watch while stoned. Of course, not every stoner is a horror fan, and not every horror fan is a stoner, so we have compiled two lists funny scary and scary scary. 

Scary Scary

The Conjuring - Paranormals help a family who recently moved into a new home in the woods with supernatural presences in the house. It starts out harmless and escalates into more. 

It Follows - This film is CREEPY and WEIRD! Basically this girl (the main character) hooks up with a guy and a curse is put upon her. The only way to break the curse is to hook up with someone new and stick the curse on to them. 

Funny Scary 

This is The End - This film is funny both sober and stoned. Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel and many other funny celebrities experience a biblical apocalypse while at a party at James Franco’s house. 

Reefer Madness - This is a hilarious highly exaggerated cautionary tale that features what happens while using marijuana. 

The Lost Boys - Who doesn’t love an 80’s vampire film!? The Lost Boys is an epic movie about two brothers who relocate to a new town, discover the town is a haven for vampires. 


Halloween Movies to Watch Stoned

If you’re old enough to legally consume cannabis, you may remember an era before trendy cafes had sprung up on every other street corner. It was a time when much of the country was content to start their day with a hot cup of gas station coffee cut with 2% and sugar – when milk went un-frothed and “cold brew” simply referred to a pot that had been left off the hot plate too long.

No disrespect to good ol’ gas station java, but the point is that Americans didn’t always consider coffee something that could be segmented into different tiers of quality, influenced by factors as nuanced as the origin of the beans, the brewing method, or even the size and freshness of the grind. And that’s kind of where we are with cannabis edibles right now. While plenty of bud connoisseurs are picky about the flower they smoke, your average infused product consumer may have trouble believing that all edibles are, in fact, not created equal.

What makes a truly premium edible? Well, as you might expect from the above coffee analogy... quite a lot of things! Here are a few key tips to help you select the product that’ll give you the most high-quality bang for your buck.

Pay Attention to the Ingredients

This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how much undesirable stuff makes its way into your average bargain-priced edible. Artificial sweeteners, mineral oils, and other fillers can cause an upset stomach and (quite literally) leave a nasty taste in your mouth. You want to look for an edible that uses real sugar or other natural sweeteners.

But it’s not all about the sweet stuff. One of the biggest no-nos for THC gummies, in particular, is using gelatin as a thickening agent. A protein derived from animal byproducts (like bones and connective tissue), gelatin is not only off-limits to vegans and vegetarians, but it has a shockingly low melting threshold. The average gelatin gummie gets gooey around 90 degrees Fahrenheit – no match for the average summer day in Colorado, let alone Arizona or California. Gelatin also tends to produce a tougher, more rubbery texture than you'd find in gummies made without it.

At Wana Brands, we want as many consumers as possible to enjoy our gummies, regardless of dietary restrictions. That’s why our 11-years-in-the-making recipe contains only kosher, gluten-free, all-natural ingredients (including organic sweeteners and no high-fructose corn syrup). Perhaps most importantly, we thicken our gummies with fruit-derived pectin, meaning they’re not only completely vegan, but they can stand up to even the hottest weather without losing their satisfying, chewy consistency.

Try New Technology

The introduction of lab-testing into the legalized cannabis space has guaranteed consumers a new degree of potency and consistency. But beyond that, recent advances in technology are allowing edibles manufacturers to bring their customers highly customized experiences – from precisely dosed CBD/THC ratios to the buzzworthy, strain-specific live resin gummies popping up on dispensary shelves across the country (more on those in a future post).

At Wana, we’ve harnessed these innovations in a number of important ways, but one of the most exciting has allowed us to make new inroads in the realm of both onset and effects. Specifically, our fast-acting Wana Quick Gummies are powered by a new nano-technology which allows the THC to enter your bloodstream without detouring through your liver first. Not only does this result in an onset time of just 5-15 minutes, but it also delivers a lighter “head high” that feels more like smoking than the intense, body-focused experience of traditional edibles. Through the power of science, we’ve created an edible for people who don’t usually like edibles!

Whether or not Wana Quick Gummies are for you, their very existence can teach us a valuable lesson: when looking for an edibles brand, do a little research to find the ones committed to staying on the cutting edge of cannabis technology. They’re likely to bring you an experience you might never have thought possible.

And speaking of technical innovation, that brings us to our final tip...
For the Love of God, Think of the Terpenes!

In case you missed it, terpenes are the chemical compounds that give all plants –including cannabis – their unique smell, taste, and biological effects. They play a big part in determining how a particular strain of cannabis might make you feel.

Some people don’t believe it’s possible to include terpenes in your edibles, since they are stripped away when creating THC distillate. But research suggests it's possible to reintroduce terps at a later stage of the cooking process (we delved deeper into this topic in a previous blog post). At Wana, we believe so strongly in the power of terpenes that we’ve partnered with a leading research company to create three proprietary terpene blends based on the terp profiles of leading cannabis strains.

Why does this matter? Because these blends – each of which contains more than 30 unique terpenes –allow us to offer our products in class-specific varieties: relaxing indica, energizing sativa, and balanced hybrid. In other words, edibles companies that traffic in terpenes can provide their customers with more nuanced, specific experiences than those who don’t... and the more terps a product contains, the closer it will feel to your favorite variety of flower.

In Conclusion...

When it comes to what makes a quality infused treat, THC potency is really only the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully, these pointers have armed you with the knowledge you need to find the perfect, premium product you deserve!


How to Choose the Best Cannabis Edible?

It is no secret that cannabis makes you feel good. So what is the science behind cannabis that helps create these feelings of euphoria? Is it dopamine, or something else entirely? Can it really boost our moods, or is that just a myth? Let’s take a closer look! 

How Does Cannabis Help?
1. Reduced anxiety: Anxiety is something that affects millions of Americans in varying degrees, and it causes our brain’s neurotransmitters to become overactive and fire off at inappropriate and inconvenient times. Cannabis can provide some relief for anxiety, as many of the chemical compounds present in cannabis have been proven to reduce the symptoms, both mentally and physically. 

2. Mood stabilizer: As we learned, cannabis can help us feel heightened states of bliss and lightheartedness. However, studies have shown that it can do more than just temporarily boost moods, it can also help minimize mood swings and bring about overall mood stability. Cannabis can aid in the regulation of our brain’s neurotransmitters that can help us get better control of our emotions.

3. Fights depression: Since cannabis boosts anandamide in our brains, it can also help to combat depression. Remember, anandamide isn’t just about bliss: it also aids with memory, motivation, fighting chronic pain, and more. When some of these issues are remedied, the better we feel, allowing us to better handle new, unideal situations as they pop up.

4. Improved sleep: If there is one thing that can really eat away at a person’s mental health, it’s prolonged or chronic lack of sleep. Even just one night of poor rest can negatively influence your performance the next two days of school or work. Sleep is vital to the body, and without it, even basic tasks feel nearly impossible to complete.  

5. Positive outlook: With all of the above concerns being addressed, it’s easy to see why cannabis has a positive influence over a broad spectrum of mental health issues. If your anxiety is reduced, your mood is stabilized, and your sleep is better, it would be difficult not to have a sunny disposition. 


5 Ways Cannabis Can Boost Your Mood

For many athletes, it can be a struggle to find something all-natural to help improve their performance. After all, it has to adhere to anti-doping laws as well as be safe to consume. So outside of herbs and supplements, what does this leave? Our answer: CBD.

Cannabidnoil, or better known as CBD, has grown in popularity over the last few years among athletes across all different sports. This is thanks to the many all-natural healing qualities of CBD, including its ability to help ease pain, provide better rest at night, and recoup sore muscles. And that’s only scratching the surface!

What is CBD? 

First, let’s take a closer look at CBD. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s okay to have some questions! CBD is actually an oil that is extracted from a cannabis plant. It is one of over 100+ different types of cannabinoids present in a cannabis plant. These cannabinoids are harvested from the leaves and buds before being extracted and separated. 
After extraction is done, CBD actually turns into a colorless, crystalline structure. When at room temperature, CBD is at its purest form. Both hemp and cannabis can be a good source of CBD. However, the CBD derived from cannabis tends to be more potent than when it is pulled from hemp. 

Benefits for Atheltes? 

So what health benefits can CBD provide for athletes? Based on recent research, there are quite a few!

1.)Reduces Pain and Inflamation 
If there is one thing that is true, athletes are no strangers to pain and inflammation. No matter the sport, workouts can certainly take their toll. Some studies have found that 
CBD could help to alleviate the pain and inflammation that inevitably comes from tissue damage and neuropathic pain. This is an excellent finding, especially for any sort of endurance athletes, such as long distance runners or swimmers. 

2.)Improves Gastointestinal Health
There were are some findings that CBD helps with gastrointestinal health. While some people might not think of the gastrointestinal tract when it comes to athletes, it can certainly be a real concern. This is due in part to the fact that athletes who push themselves through rigorous training regularly can actually reduce their oxygen and nutrient intake. 

3.)Improves Bone Health
Drinking milk loaded with calcium isn’t the only way to improve bone health! In the same aforementioned study, researchers took a closer look at how CBD also impacts our bones and skeletal system. From their findings, they were able to conclude that CBD could in fact work to help heal fractures and support the overall quality of bone density and disposition. This is great news, as a broken bone can certainly cause a major setback. 

4.) Reduces Stress and Anxiety
If you have ever prepped for a big game or championship competition, you know how nerve racking it can be. The anxiety can certainly shift your focus and distract you from being adequately prepared. This can have a huge, negative impact on your performance – after all, sports are just as much a mental game as a physical one. The less tense and anxious you feel, the better focused your mind will become. You will be able to rest better as well as pay attention to the things that really matter. Stress can certainly be draining and decrease our situational awareness. 

5.)Rest & Relaxation 
Perhaps one of the biggest negative factors is the lack of sleep or restlessness that can befall athletes. It can be difficult to get proper rest for several reasons, including anxiety or simply the inability to get your body to calm down after experiencing so many endorphins. This can get you back on track for your sleep schedule. After all, it can be difficult to compete when you’re plain exhausted!

6.)Alleviate Joint Pain 
Excercise is good for our health, but it can also be hard on our joints. Recovery is a key part of athletic performance, as this is what allows us to recoup and heal before going out again. If you find that you suffer from joint pain after a game or workout, CBD can help. Opt for a topical lotion or cream, or even add some CBD essential oils to a good soaking bath. This can be an all-natural alternative to pain medications that are often prescribed by doctors.

If you are an athlete, you don’t have to suffer through the pain, anxiety, or restlessness that can often be associated with playing sports. While the toll it takes on your body is bound to happen, CBD can be a great way to recover. After all, the goal is to stay in the game as long as you can! The key is to find a healthy, safe method of treatment that doesn’t violate doping laws. 


How CBD Can Enhance Your Athletic Performance

It’s that time of year, Spring Cleaning! And it’s probably much overdue for your pipe cleaning. If you can’t get air through your pipe or have noticed some build-up, you’ll need to give it a deep clean to get it working again. Here’s what you need to do.

When Should You Clean a Pipe?

Realistically, you should do a deep clean of your pipe roughly every week, ideally sooner (especially if you smoke through it a lot). However, this is highly variable and provided you keep on top of basic cleaning and don’t smoke too often, you can leave it a little longer with minimal issues. Basic cleaning is simple: empty out any ash when you finish a session, and give it a little scrape as needed. If it’s starting to get blocked, you can also cover the carb, hold the bowl upside down over the trash and blow through the mouthpiece.
However, if you’re getting to the point where you have to scrape or blow out compacted material, this is a very good sign you should give your pipe a deeper clean. Since there’s no water involved with most pipes, it’s not as urgent as the need to clean a bong can be, but it’s still best to stay on top of it.

What You Need to Clean a Pipe

There are many different approaches to how to clean a glass pipe, but most sources recommended the isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt method. For this approach, you’ll need to gather the following items:
Zip-lock bag (big enough for your pipe), or a resealable container of some type
91% or higher isopropyl alcohol (i.e. “rubbing alcohol”)
Coarse table salt, epsom salt, kosher salt or similar
Dish soap
Sponge
Pipe cleaners, toothpicks, paperclips or similar (to help with stubborn patches)
Alternative methods generally involve very similar processes, so you will generally only need to replace the isopropyl alcohol and salt with something else. For example, a common solution for how to clean a pipe without alcohol is to use white vinegar and baking soda, so you can literally just replace these ingredients. We’ll cover these methods in separate sections if you’re interested.

How to Clean Your Weed Pipe

This approach is best if you’re interested in how to clean a glass pipe, or a wooden one. If you have a metal or ceramic pipe, you can check out an alternative method below.

Step 1: Clean Out Anything You Can
First off, make sure you’ve gotten any debris you can out of the pipe. Give it a good tap on the side of the trash can, cover the carb and blow in through the mouthpiece, and give the bowl a scrape to remove anything you can.

Step 2: Cover it in Isopropyl Alcohol
Put your pipe into the zip-lock bag or resealable container you’re using. Pour in enough isopropyl alcohol to cover the pipe, and then add a couple of teaspoons of coarse salt. Try to get good coverage of your pipe with the salt, at least so it will find its way into most of the inside. Close up the bag or container.

Step 3: Soak it For 12 Hours
Leave it to soak for around 12 hours – overnight is a good idea, or while you’re out at work.

Step 4: Shake it
After the 12 hour soak, give the bag some firm shakes, giving the salt mixture more chance to rub up against hard-to-reach places on the pipe.

Step 5: Wash it Down
Remove the pipe from the bag and give it a thorough rinse with hot water and dish soap. This is your final opportunity to get any resin or build-up off the pipe, so if you have a pipe cleaner, paperclip or anything to use, make sure you get it up. It should be easier after the alcohol and salt have worked on it for all this time. You can also use a sponge on the outside or any spaces you can reach.
Make sure to rinse it with warm water when you’re done cleaning. You’ll be inhaling things directly from this surface so you don’t want to leave any chemical residue.

Step 6: Let the Pipe Dry
Now it’s clean, you only have to wait for a little bit for it to dry. With pipes, it’s generally better to leave them to dry on their own rather than doing it with a towel. However, if you’re in a rush, you can certainly help the process along.


How To Clean Your Weed Pipe

Basically any individual who uses weed habitually has encountered the unplanned distress of getting excessively stoned (am I right?). It can happen to even the most seasoned smokers. You’ve probably been told before there’s not a lot you can do if this happens, you just have to wait it out. Generally speaking that’s true… but we have a few tricks to help the process and make it a little more comfortable. 

1. Learn from the experience. We had to make this number one because figuring out why it happened is the first step to making sure not to do it again in the future. 

2. Drymouth is a MF… so drink LOTS of water. Water will aid in the process of flushing out excess THC. Try adding some flavor like lemon or berries for added taste and electrolytes. 

3. Distract yourself, this might sound funny but it works. It might be tricky at first when you are panicking but if you can distract yourself from what you are feeling by focusing on an activity, it will help the time go by faster. Try coloring an adult coloring book, organizing a closet (or entire room). 

4. EAT! There are certain foods that are believed to help come down from a high but there’s very little data to back it. Heavier meals with more protein tend to help, usually after a good sandwich or pizza your high will feel a lot more manageable. 

5. CBD has calming side effects so try a dose or two of CBD. It might sound counterintuitive to use another cannabis product to ease a cannabis overdose, but CBD can help ease the effects of the THC. 

6. Get yourself in the right headspace, put on some relaxing music and grab a calming book. 

Hopefully some of these times help you next time you or a friend find yourself too baked. Remind yourself THC is short lived. One amazing thing about THC is you aren’t really ever in danger of consuming too much.  


Too High?

Ganja, weed, broccoli, marijuana, bud, mary jane — whatever you call your friendly neighborhood cannabis, it's actually got a stranger and longer history than you likely knew. The PR this plant gets nowadays seems to be a lot of glittery bongs and rainbows, but it has been used to heal stomach aches to anesthetic use throughout history. Between the 1850’s and 1930’s you could have picked some up along with other over the counter medicines at your local farmacy.  

It’s likely that our country has spent more time with legal weed than without. Weed tends to show up in the news for a few common reasons, drug bust, social movements, and medicinal findings. But here’s a fun weed theory you might not hear about in the news today, some believe weed use dates back to Homer days. 

The identity of a drug called nepenthe was spoken of in Homer’s Odyssey. Which is a famous epic and tragic tale of the Trojan War. The nepenthe drugs is described as one that banishes sorrows. Helen of Troy, she who launched a thousand ships, takes the nepenthe for herself and serves it to her guests to brighten their spirits. 

This has been debated time and time again. Various ideas have been presented as to what the “nepenthe” really was. It’s possible that Homer made this drug up on his own, but it’s a fun theory that the people back in 1200 BC were token it up. 


420 History

Stress is one of those things that we inevitably all deal with. It’s part of the human experience. But prolonged exposure to stress can become toxic in the sense it can cause harm to your physical well-being. Fortunately, certain cannabis strains can help promote relaxation and calmness to relieve feelings of stress. We have compiled a list of some of the best cannabis strains recommended to assist in alleviating stress that you can find right here at Bloom.

L.A. Cheese offers a spicy, cheesy, and overall dank flavor that may take you into a heavy, full-bodied high. L.A. Cheese is a great option for winding down at the end of the day with good company.
Blue Gelato has a sweet, citrusy, fruity blueberry flavor that has a slight sour exhale. The aroma has an earthy berry and herb scent, along with citrus. The blue Gelato is very uplifting and delightful. It provides a clear-headed effect that is perfect for a lazy afternoon at home. You’ll feel a cerebral onset a few minutes after your first toke.

Sour Dosidos Get ready to enjoy a high that melts down over the body. This strain has sweet, earthy, and floral aromas. Sour Dosidos has incredible trichomes and bright pistils with vibrant lemon green and purple leaves. The classic scents help aid relaxation. Enjoy a major chill session at home with this lovely strain. 


Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff 

It’s summer, you’re on the go, and we know how hard it can be to remember to reapply sunscreen. It burns, it itches and your skin looks tomato-red, you need a quick fix. Every product claims to have the solution and will tell you their products are the best in relieving sunburns. But are they using the magic plant? We’re not just talking about aloe vera but CBD. Try a cool combination of the two. 

Ingredients:
-1 large Branch of Aloe Vera OR purchase pure all-natural aloe vera
-50 mg's CBD Oil

Instructions:
1.Cut the branch off your aloe plant and lay it down on a paper towel or cutting board.
2.With the branch curving upward, slice a vertical line through without cutting it all the way – just enough to open it up to get at the gel part of the plant.
3.Use a spoon to scoop out all of the gel and place it into your blender.
4.Drop-in your CBD oil and mix it up so it is a nice liquid substance.
5.Place the mixture into a bowl. For extra relief put the bowl in the fridge to chill for an hour. Apply as needed and don’t forget to #BloomMT on social media with your creations. 


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