BY JACKIE BRYANT
IN THE BACK
CANNABITCH Packing the essentials
M
y phone buzzed as I crested the final mountain of my 20-mile hike. “Wine, Ibuprofen and water. That should be your regimen,” a friend of mine wrote, imparting her own advice for the same hike, which she completed last year. “Yes, wine, Ibuprofen and water... and edibles, a vape pen, oil and lotion,” I replied. I’m writing this column from Spain, where I’m walking the last section of the ancient Camino de Santiago hike. The hike is five days, 70 miles, and the route is both physically and mentally challenging. It’s a religious pilgrimage that has also turned into a type of modern day soul-searching excursion for the thousands that make the trek each year. To me, a relatively inexperienced hiker who is also not exactly in shape, one thing topped my packing list: cannabis. I tried to anticipate what I’d need and came up with the following: San Diego-based KB Pure Essentials (KBPE) CBD lotion and CBD oil (kbpureessentials.com), a gold Kurvana ASCND vape pen battery with an accompanying ASCND oil cartridge (kurvana.com) and District Edibles blue raspberry gummies (districtedibles.com). If that sounds like an aggressive regimen, try walking 20 miles a day without it and see how that goes. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that cannabis is a hiker’s dream. During the day, I have periodically administered around three droppers of the KBPE CBD oil, which I use at home for anxiety. It comes in a small bottle containing
@SDCITYBEAT
JACKIE BRYANT
What I will swear by is the KBPE lotion, which is scented with sandalwood and rose and provided a much-needed muscle relaxant at the end of each day. It also worked to convince my fellow hostel mates that I smelled good. What also helped come nightfall were the blue raspberry edibles, which are an Indica product. For the uninitiated, Indica cannabis strains are responsible for the classic “stoned” feeling, including a deep body relaxation. I was still jet lagged, so these edibles helped with sleep, while also providing pain relief and at 10 milligrams, they were the perfect dose. During the daytime, I supplemented the KBPE CBD oil with pulls from my Kurvana vape pen, which was stocked with the ASCND Candy Jack oil. This oil is Sativa-heavy with a high THC content and tastes sweet KB Pure Essentials CBD oil and Kurvana vape pen with citrus and pine notes. The Candy Jack strain also happens to be known for aiding in creativity, energy 0.5 fluid ounces, 125 milligrams of CBD as well as olive and pain, three key criteria needed for a successful souland peppermint oils. searching hike. The high from this oil is great—it’s like And considering I was woefully unprepared for this turning on a light switch in the brain where all senses hike, anxiety needed to be managed. So did the pain, electrify. Birds chirp louder, eucalyptus leaves display which emanated from my multiple, grapefruit-sized more silvery and the feet feel a bit lighter. One or two blisters, as well as my hips, knees and ankles. CBD is small pulls results in an enhancement, rather than a touted as an anti-inflammatory pain management tool high, too. All in all, exactly what one would want on a and I made it through some rough patches on the trek, long, grueling hike. I’m no doctor, nor am I an athlete, but cannabis while so maybe it worked after all, though I’m honestly not sure. But the mental effect of having something in hiking? It’s something to text home about. my pocket I knew I could reach for made me feel like the master of my pain-filled destiny, so the oil at least Cannabitch appears every other week. Follow Jackie Bryant helped settle my nerves. on Twitter at @jacqbryant.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 · SAN DIEGO CITYBEAT · 27