Humans have been toying with intoxicants since the beginning of time.
Cultures from ancient times all the way into our current modern era, have always sought, found and experimented with ways to alter their consciousness. It's human nature.
About 2 weeks after launching this platform and going "public" with my own cannabis use, I am grateful and thrilled to announce that I accepted a job with one of the largest cannabis distribution companies on the west coast. (The Universe always responds in a big way when you jump off the cliff in blind faith!)
I get to create educational material for a portfolio of brands to help people understand how to use cannabis intelligently and consciously. (Insert weeping face and worship hands emoji here.)
I have a huge heart for skeptics or people new to cannabis. I know that cannabis is not for everyone, but I also know it can help so many people once they overcome their fears or preconceived notions of the plant.
I also know that unpleasant experiences with cannabis are not uncommon and they are not helpful.
I used cannabis unconsciously for many years and I have had every unpleasant experience possible. Overindulgence led to panic attacks, nausea, dizziness, and altered vision and other sensory perceptions just to name a few.
Although I stand by the medicinal properties of cannabis, it is important to know that too much of a good thing is not always a good thing.
Unconscious, overindulgence of cannabis over periods of time can swing your symptoms in the direction of getting worse, not better. 

• If you want to use cannabis to settle your anxiety, and you consume too much plant energy, it will absolutely make your anxiety worse.
  
• If you want to use cannabis to lift your energy from a depressed stupor, and you consume too much over a long period of time, it will make you more depressed.
  
• If you want to use cannabis to reduce your pain, too much can disconnect you from the source of that pain in a way that will manifest more pain.
  

In this culture of recreational cannabis use, there is a danger looming for people who are under- or uneducated about the plant. Give unlimited access to powerful plant medicine to humans who are suffering in one way or another, and they will overindulge. And repetitive overindulgence, over a period of time, will lead to other issues.
The point of this community is to build awareness around the importance of conscious use of cannabis.
(Fear not, the conscious choice to consume cannabis for fun is still conscious. So we cool.)
The best thing we can do is continue to educate each other about how the plant helps people. Share with friends and family members that may be skeptical of its benefits. Identify times in your life when you're more inclined to use cannabis unconsciously or to numb out.
We're not here to get high, we're here to get whole.
Thanks for being here!

One of the things I hear on the reg in conversations around cannabis is, "I get anxiety when I use cannabis." Or "I'm too much in my head and it's intense when I consume it."
And my gentle and loving answer is that it's not the cannabis making you anxious. The cannabis just makes you awareof your anxiety.
In this overly-stimulating world we live in, I would bet that most people suffer with anxiety in some way.
However, as the adaptable and intelligent creatures we are, our brains are smart enough to hide our anxiety from ourselves.
The way I understand this is to imagine you have a black and white film of "anxiety" always running in the background of your mind. (Think: fast and pacing thoughts, insomnia, feelings of being rushed or late all the time, worry, tension, stress, etc.) That film is constantly playing, but because of all the available external stimuli readily available to us, we don't notice this anxiety film playing behind the scenes.
But it's there. And it's actually affecting every aspect of your life, whether you are consciously aware of it or not.
It feels like cannabis increases the intensity of whats going on internally, but really it just makes you aware of whats going on internally.
So, take the anxiety that you have been stuffing/ignoring/hiding from/ or just oblivious to for years, and then add a consciousness-altering plant energy to the mix.
Shit's gonna get crazy.
(Before I go any farther, I think its important to note that even as an experienced cannabis user, there are still times in my experience when cannabis does not serve me. And that is part of a conscious relationship to plant medicine. I have such immense respect for the power of the plant, that I am very intentional on choosing the time, place and environment that I consume. AND even then, the plant will always reveal what is under the surface. Teaching people how to maintain their awareness and hold the power of the plant energy is the reason I am doing all of this.)
So what's the solution?
How do you use it to help with anxiety when it feel like it makes the anxiety worse?
First of all, consume wayyyyy less. Seriously. One breath of cannabis. Less than 2mg of an edible. Slow the F down. You don't need that much.
Secondly, meet the plant with intention. Set an environment that is not overly stimulating. Set an intentions for your session and ask for clarity on what's playing behind the scenes of your subconscious. Go into nature. Keep a journal close by.
Try that for a little while and see what that does to your experience.
Overtime, you begin to build your tolerance for emotional intensity when you're sober. You turn down, and eventually turn off, the anxiety film that is running in your mind because you have created and maintained the mental agility to hold strong emotions.
If you find yourself "freaking out" or overwhelmed with the intensity of the plant energy, here are a few things you can do to turn down the dial a bit.

• Get in nature or anywhere more expansive than your current surroundings.
  
• Turn down or off anything stimulating. TV's, music, annoying people that talk too much, whatever.
  
• Take a long, hot shower and imagine the anxiety washing down the drain.
  
• Put some relaxing spa-like music on in your headphones and focus on your slow, deep breathing.
  
• Do some yoga or gentle stretching. Move your body in any way that feels good to you.
  
• Consume some CBD (Which negates the psychoactive affects of THC)
  
• Constantly remind yourself that you are in control of your experience. You are not your thoughts and you are not your anxiety. You have the mental strength to override the anxiety film. (A mantra that has been absolutely pivotal for me in dealing with anxiety with or without the influence of cannabis.)
  

Cannabis is a consciousness-altering herb. Using it with intention gives tremendous clarity and insight and healing. However, it is altering your consciousness. You must develop a mindfulness practice in order to hold the intensity it can sometimes bring.
Cannabis + Mindfulness Practice = Emotional Wellness
Without mindfulness, you're just getting high. (Which sometimes is cool, too.)
Thanks for being here!
Sending you love and encouragement as you navigate your path to wellness!
Collette
Email me back and let me know where this lands with you. Does it make sense? Did I explain this complex topic in a way that makes sense to you? Do you need more clarity on something?

Welcome to the first of my Balancing Cannabis Newsletters!
I am so EXCITED that you're here because I am a cannabis nerd and I have been for a long time.
I have hid the fact that I use cannabis in shame for years and years! Literally! (Sharing now feels a bit like my first time on topless beach in Europe... woot!)
But seriously, I really do believe in cannabis and what it can do to help people. I am very excited that we are living in a time where we get to witness social and political change around a historically controversial topic!
It's a hell of a time to be alive!
I have so much insight and wisdom to share with you through this channel and I hope you find it entertaining and educational. I would be so grateful if would invite other people to join the list. Just forward them this email and have them click here if they want in on the goodness.
I intend to share anything and everything cannabis from the products available in legal markets, strains and dosing, what to do when you've had too much, the science behind the plant and probably some HIGH-larious stories from my young, dumb stoner days.
Even if you don't consume cannabis now, or if it's not yet legal in your state, I hope these emails will empower you to make choices that will help you on your journey. And maybe one day, if you fancy a smoke or an edible, you will be educated on how much and what type to choose.
I know that cannabis can have profound emotional and spiritual affects, because I have experienced them.
I also know that cannabis is an incredibly powerful plant and many people have some less-than-desirable experiences with it, because I have experienced that, too.
My intention is to bring balance to consuming cannabis.
Let's learn about the plant and what its doing to our energetic, emotional and mental systems first, before we blast off into space.
Let's set an intention for consuming plant medicine. Let's be intelligent and conscious. Let's leverage its power for our growth.
And once we've done all that, we can smoke a little joint and laugh our butts off.
I am so happy you're here. Thank you for supporting me.
I am going to chat about the most common thing I hear in regards to cannabis in my next newsletter: "I stopped smoking weed because it makes me anxious."
It's gonna be good!
I would LOVE some feedback. What do you want to know about cannabis? Anything goes. No shame in our game!
More soon!
Collette