SWC Arizona

Setting the standard in care for medical marijuana in Arizona.

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Featured MMJ Strain: Dr. Who

Dr. Who, a potent indica-dominant hybrid, is a perfect choice for patients who need instant relief from pain, stress, appetite loss, multiple sclerosis, ADHD, mood disorders, or nausea without feeling lethargic or sedated.  Dr Who typically makes patients feel relaxed, uplifted, happy, euphoric, and focused.  Medicinally, Dr. Who is most reported to work as an analgesic, stress reliever, antidepressant, sleeping medication, and an anxiolytic. Dr. Who az medical marijuana strain (Photo Credit) Dr. Who, bred by TGA Genetics, is a fruity cross between Mad Scientist and Trainwreck.  Like many hybrids, the best of both worlds is introduced into the cannabis effect playing field: Indica-style relief with the uplifting and energetic effects of a sativa.  Since this hybrid is almost a 50-50 split of Indica and Sativa, it’s a strain for all day medication, whether waking up or going to bed. Dr. Who is an incredibly pungent strain, with scents and flavors of pineapple, grape, sweetness, and earthiness.  The sweet fruity flavors make Dr. Who an incredibly tasty strain to medicate with, a trait which draws connoisseurs to the strain.  The strain grows easily, with a natural resistance to mildew and according to TGA genetics’ website, “There are 4 main phenotypes. All have virtually the same smell and taste and all buds tend to show some purple. The main difference between phenotypes is in the bud structure and the dominant color; buds are either fingery or round, with pale green or purple as their chief color. The purple buds are particularly impressive.” Included below are three reviews of Dr. Who which MMJ patients posted on Leafly, a marijuana strain network for medical marijuana patients. “Dr. Who is now my favorite. It’s very tasty and is so fruity and tropical. The high is an Indica buzz but I get some hints of Sativa in there which uplifts me and energizes me. What’s is cool is the same time tho I could get up and carry on with my day.” -michaelh360 “me oh my oh! this stuff is delicious! gives me a lovely high that keeps me plugging along on my projects while completely losing track of time, something that’s hard to do when you have anxiety. thanks to the Dr :)” -FrostyPharm “Best strain around if you have ADHD. Makes me feel alert and calm”  -johnnyclem

Featured MMJ Strain: Platinum Wreck

Platinum Wreck, a hybrid strain perfect for chronic aches and pains, is an energetic pain reliever, perfect for all day medication.  Platinum Wreck is known to make patients feel euphoric, happy, uplifted, creative, and energetic, all while relaxed and in a positive state of mind.   Medicinally, Platinum Wreck is most reported to be a pain reliever, with antidepressant effects coming in at second most reported, and anxiolytic, anti-stress, muscle relaxant, and anti-nausea effects all reported as well. platinumwreck (Photo Credit) Platinum Wreck is a daytime strain, with pain relief followed by uplifting energetic rushes to keep patients awake and alert all day, even with heavy medication sessions throughout the day.  The strain is a cross between Trainwreck and Haze, two extremely fragrant and potent strains, both strong on the Sativa side of the medicinal effect spectrum. Platinum Wreck plants grow frosty evergreen buds that have a slightly platinum shade due to the heavy outer layer of resinous trichomes.  The buds are covered with persimmon-orange hairs which sprout out of the many dense green calyxes which form the buds.  The Flavors of Platinum Wreck are Sour and Sweet, with notes of honey and citrusy lemon-orange.  The high lasts for Two+ hours, making Platinum Wreck quite desirable due to its physical beauty as a strain, as well as the pain relieving qualities which it possesses. Included below are three reviews of Platinum Wreck which MMJ patients posted on Leafly, a marijuana strain network for medical marijuana patients. “1530: My pains are gone, I am able to think clearly at the moment. I plan to keep a journal throughout the effects process of this strain. I smoked a small bowl 0.2-0.3 grams. I smoked it between 1515 and 1530. I feel energetic and want to go do things.” -curlysgod “Strong, relaxing, helps my chronic pain and PTSD. It’s not good for thinking but sometimes that’s a good thing.” -girlwiththemostcake “Focused and intense head high balanced out by a mellow body high. great daytime strain for getting tasks done and enjoying your day.” -TheGivingTree2

What are THC and CBD?

THC and CBD are the dominant medicinally active chemicals in marijuana. Each has its own chemical composition, effects, and risks. And you don’t have to be an organic chemist to understand them. Here’s a basic primer: Marijuana itself is the dried components of the hemp plant (Cannabis) — leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. It contains an over 60 types of chemical compounds, called cannabinoids, with THC and CBD being the most abundant. Each strain of marijuana (i.e. Jack Herer or Blue Dream) has a different balance in chemicals, resulting in different effects on the body. Typically (and this is a generalization) indica strains are higher in THC, while sativa strains are higher in CBD.  Click here to learn more about indica and sativa. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most abundant ingredient in marijuana, and is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects, including the “high” typically associated with marijuana.  “Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. THC attaches to these receptors and activates them and affects a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception, according to NIDA.” (“What is THC”, Livescience, April 7, 2015.) THC has reported medical benefits, relieving pain, nausea, and depression, boosting appetite, as a sleep aid, and more. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, providing many of the benefits of marijuana without the “high” feeling. Some studies have actually shown that CBD can block some of the high that THC provides, balancing out the patient experience. As such, CBD products are an appealing option for patients who want relief from pain, anxiety, inflammation, as well as patients who need improved altertness (as CBD can counteract the “sleepiness” often caused by THC).  CBD Studies as published by the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, claim CBD can be useful in treating nausea, seizures, anxiety, depression, psychosis disorders and more. This graphic from AZ Med Testing helps explain some of the effects of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Cannabinoids az medical marijuana The bottom line? Knowing what symptoms you are trying to treat will help you determine whether a THC or CBD dominant product is the best choice for you. Stop by, talk to one of our dispensary agents, and we’ll be happy to help! Learn more! Here are some useful articles that expand on the differences between THC and CBD.

Bubble Hash: A Medical Cannabis Concentrate

bubble hash az medical marijuana

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What is Bubble Hash?

Bubble hash, also known as water hash, ice water hash, ice wax, or full melt, is a pure solvent-less medical cannabis concentrate made by the process of ice water extraction.  Bubble hash is a great medicinal concentrate because it’s able to be dabbed on a concentrate rig, ingested from a pipe, rolled up in a joint with a flower, or vaporized.

Bubble hash is solvent-less, meaning that there’s no solvent used to separate the trichomes from the plant material. This also means that once dried, bubble hash is ready to be used as medicine without further purging to remove any extraneous solvent.

Bubble hash is different than normal hashish because of its purity, since normal hash contains many impurities, and does not melt as bubble hash does.  Due to the purity of bubble hash, it’s possible to actually melt it without burning it, just like BHO or C02 oils, Full melt dry sift, or Rosintech hash.   The melt is rated by a star system, using an asterisk as a star to give a rating of 1* to 6*, one being no melt and 3* and above being full melt.

Bubble hash is made with Ice water extraction, a process which is done with multiple steps, each meticulously done by extraction artists to make potent and clean medicine.  First, plant material (trim or flower) is put into a screen and spun around in a machine that washes the material with ice and water in a screen bag.  This knocks all of the trichomes off of the plant matter and sifts them through a screen bag called a “Work bag” which contains and traps all of the wet plant material.  After the wash has gone for a while, the water is filled with trichomes and sifted through a series of screens that are typically 220u, 190u, 160u, 73u, 45u, and 25u.  Each different size of the screen creates a different grade of bubble hash, with the larger numbers being a coarser hash and the lowest number being a finer hash.

Bubble hash is potent medicine, and depending on what strain it’s made from and how well it’s made, it can potentially medicate better than a flower for many patients.  Since the bubble hash is pure trichomes, it’s a lot more potent than flower, and inexperienced patients may want to take caution when giving bubble hash the first try.

Cannabis Concentrate Experts in Arizona

Patients can medicate with bubble hash in many different ways, but one of the most tried and true ways to easily consume bubble hash is to consume it from a glass pipe with a screen.  For more advanced patients, bubble hash is dab-able and even roll-able when pressed into a patty, further showing the versatility of the concentrate.  Overall, bubble hash may be considered the safest medicinal cannabis concentrate to both consume and create.

Experience bubble hash for yourself from medical marijuana dispensaries like SWC Arizona. With two convenient locations in Tempe, AZ and Prescott, AZ, SWC Arizona are able to be the one-stop-shop for cannabis for many Arizonans. Shop our menu with online ordering available for MMJ cardholders.

 

 

Featured MMJ Strain: Serious 6

Serious 6, a Canadian sativa cultivated by Serious Seeds with supposed African genetic roots, is a spicy strain with potent flavors and effects.  Serious 6 is known to make patients feel aroused, creative, energetic, tingly, and focused.  Medicinally, Serious 6 is known to work as an antidepressant, anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and eye pressure reliever. Serious 6 was, according to Serious Seeds, “created by mixing genetics from Canada with Sativa-landraces from Africa through a long process of selection and cross-breeding.”  Serious Seeds meticulously added traits to the strain, such as anti-mold properties, and beautiful pink pistils that grow long and turn purple as flowering ends.  According Serious Seeds, “Half of tserious 6 az medical marijuana strainhe plants will show beautiful pink pistils. At the end of flowering these pink colors are substituted by purple colors of the calyxes and leaves. The Serious 6 is an almost pure Sativa with a very short flowering time, which also gives amazing results indoors. She will fill up and produce dense long buds glistening with trichomes” Included below are three reviews of Serious 6 which MMJ patients posted on Leafly, a marijuana strain network for medical marijuana patients. “I really liked this strain personally. It addresses a multitude of issues, like pain, nausea energy and even tingly pleasant body sensations, I’ll take it 🙂 …I have to give this medicated state an A+++ as I’ve been searching now for just over a month.” -mermaidbythec “Nice high though not much in the flavor department. Citrus, lemony pledge flavor, with a nice pure sativa high.” -lipskillet “85/15 Sativa dominant, AA+” -legreengreens
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