1800 years ago hemp was considered to be an essential part of life in China, and was critical in the creation of paper, textiles, and medicines. The use of cannabis in modern-day China has mostly ceased, however, around the globe there continues to be an explosion in the CBD, hemp, and cannabis markets. What happened? Stick around to find out.

Hemp!

Hemp is a miraculous plant that produces strong fibers similar to cotton. Unlike cotton, hemp takes less water to grow, is gentle on soil, and is more durable and long-lasting than “the fabric of our lives”. 

The people of China have been using hemp as a household textile for thousands of years. The earliest example of hemp was discovered from rope imprints on broken pottery from 10,000 BC (that’s 12,022 years ago!). 

Hemp differs slightly from regular cannabis plants in that it contains less than 0.3% THC. CBD (the non-psychoactive pain alleviant) can be harvested from the hemp plant, but the reasons people in China were using hemp initially were not medically related.

The first paper in China was made of hemp. Clothing, rope, and strong bow and arrow strings were made of hemp. And then, eventually, medicine was made from hemp too. 

“Ma”

Shen-Nung was the Chinese emperor in 2700 BC and is known as the father of Chinese medicine. Often depicted to be cloaked in plants and outside in nature, Shen-Nung was a farmer.

In the name of finding a cure for the suffering of his subjects, Shen-Nung would often poison himself and then search for a cure in plants. Shen-Nugn would add his findings to the medical encyclopedia he compiled called “Pen Ts’ao” and among his findings was the cannabis plant, which was referred to as “Ma”. 

Ma was celebrated for its balanced female (yin) and male (yang) qualities. Shen-Nung believed that when the yin and yang are balanced that the body can perform in complete harmony, and conversely, when the body is out of harmony that it is unwell. 

Ma was used to treat menstruation pains, gout, rheumatism, malaria, constipation, and absentmindedness. 

Cannabis in Taoism

Taoism is a religion that was established in China in the year 221 BC. Much of the practice of Taoism is centered around achieving harmony with the universe and going with the flow. Practice often takes place at an altar and through meditation. 

Early Taoist shamans would consume cannabis and ginseng to reveal truths about the future. Use of cannabis was exclusive, reserved only for religious officials, and kept away from the masses. It is for this reason that cannabis is believed to be excluded from ancient texts. However, there have been traces of cannabis found in incense holders left at burial sites. 

By the year 200 (CE), the Han Dynasty of China had moved on from Taoism to Confucianism (a comparable set of beliefs) and cannabis was no longer used. 

Cannabis in Chinese Medicine

The Chinese physician and surgeon, Hua T’o, began to use cannabis as an anesthesia in experimental surgeries during the 2nd century (175-225). Hua T’o was encountering many wounded soldiers and wanted to help ease their pain. 

Hua T’o called his anesthesia, “mafeisan”. Mafeisan is a mixture of cannabis resin and wine, and it helped relieve Hua T’o’s patients from the horrors of early surgery. 

In 1500 BC cannabis first appeared in the Chinese Pharmacopeia.

Cannabis as a Dietary Staple

In the ancient Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907), cannabis was made into a type of porridge and eaten in a similar fashion to rice. In old texts, cannabis was referred to as “wu gu” meaning it was one of five staple food crops. 

In 2019 a tomb from the Tang era was discovered, and discovered in it was a jar of food. Upon further examination, many of the seeds contained in the jar were cannabis, but with a noticeable difference. Ancient cannabis seeds were twice as big as the modern day cannabis plant!

Modern Day Cannabis in China 

Nowadays it is a criminal offense to possess cannabis in China. China banned cannabis in 1985, after identifying it as a dangerous narcotic drug. If someone is caught selling cannabis for recreation, it could mean jail time, a fine, or even a death sentence. 

Contrary to their strict laws surrounding cannabis, China is one of the leading producers of CBD worldwide. How can both be true?

In recent years the Chinese government has allowed farmers to plant “safe” cannabis species that have low THC levels and high cannabinol, resulting in a compound which has a soothing effect but is not addictive.

In Summary

Even though people have been studying the medicinal effects of cannabis for almost five thousand years, we are still finding new takes on an old classic.

Cannabis has always been thought of as medicinal. Hemp has always been practical. Cannabis in China is a tale as old as time, and continues to build on itself to this day. 

When you want to tell someone you love them, you get them a dozen roses — when you want to tell someone you really, really love them, you roll them a rose petal blunt.

It might sound crazy, but as tobacco-laden blunt wraps continue to fade into obscurity, stoners are finding creative ways to continue enjoying their favorite method of smoking without any potentially harmful chemicals. In fact, many cannabis lovers are making the switch from wraps to rose petals for a special occasion or that extra special someone.

So whether you’re showing yourself some TLC, treating a friend for a birthday, or showing off for Valentine’s Day, read on to discover everything you need to know about how to roll a rose petal blunt.

What You Need

If you want to roll a blunt with rose petals, it does take a few tools and little finesse. So let’s start by gathering everything you need to set you up for success. 

High-quality Weed

It’s not every day you roll up with rose petals so make sure to fill that bad boy with only the best of the best. Ask any of our budtenders, and they’ll know exactly what will fit the bill.

Grinder

The grind of your herb plays an important role in how the finished product smokes. For a smooth smoking experience, finely ground weed is the key so spare your fingers this time around.

Organic Rose Petals

Organic is the keyword here. You definitely want to invest in pesticide-free flowers to make sure that you’re not inadvertently ingesting any potentially hazardous chemicals. Go the extra mile and rinse the petals once you get them anyway, just to ensure that there isn’t any mystery debris lurking on the surface.

Baking Sheet

In order to make the flower petals rollable, they’ll need to be slightly dried out in the oven. Grab a small baking sheet that you can lay the petals on as you dry them out for just a few minutes.

Rolling Tray

There are a lot of moving parts in this process, so a rolling tray will help keep things nice and organized.

Concentrate (Optional)

When rolling a traditional blunt, most people use their saliva or water to seal it. Rolling a rose petal joint is slightly more complicated, so although it is not entirely necessary, a sticky concentrate like sauce or live resin can act as the glue for your blunt. Just keep in mind that cannabis concentrates are incredibly potent and should be approached with caution.

How to Roll a Rose Petal Blunt

Now that you have everything you need, follow this step-by-step guide and you’ll have a rose blunt in no time.

1. Preheat your oven to 250°F.

2. Grind up your weed. Roughly a gram should do the trick but it’ll vary from person to person.

3. Arrange three rose petals in an overlapping row on your baking sheet. Usually, three is enough for a blunt but you are free to toast an extra one or two just in case.

4. Once the oven is ready, toast your rose petals. As we mentioned above, rose petals need a light toasting to convert their silky texture to a slightly dried medium for weed. When they’re ready, they’ll appear slightly wilted and you can see the moisture collect under the petals when you lift them off the tray. Remove them from the oven immediately

5. Line up some ground flower down the center of your row of petals.

6. Gently roll up your petals as you would a normal blunt by tucking one edge of your rose wrap under the other and licking the edges to form a seal. If you’re choosing to go the concentrate route, heat it up a little until it’s sticky and carefully line the sealable edge with it.

7. If the blunt feels a little soggy, place your rose blunt back in the oven for a few seconds to dry it out. A few seconds should do it so be careful not to cook it.

8. Then, take your rose blunt out and let it cool for at least two minutes.

9. All that’s left is to spark up and feel the love.

Final Tips

No matter what you’re celebrating, nothing will set the mood quite like a rose petal blunt. So next time you feel like turning the everyday into something special, stop by JARS to grab some herb, make a pit stop at your local flower shop for organic roses, and create some floral stoner magic with this step-by-step guide.

For being such a useful plant, hemp has been embroiled in an on-again-off-again relationship with the United States. Hemp has been consistently outperforming other materials, and while people get excited about something new every now and again, hemp always seems to make a comeback.

The Many Uses Of Hemp

Hemp is an amazingly versatile plant. It is durable, strong, and great for making cordage (twine, rope, yarn) out of. When the pioneers were tugging covered wagons across America, it was hemp that was covering those wagons! Hemp can be made into fabrics, sponges, shoes. 

Hemp also has nutritional value. It can be eaten, or made into a milk alternative. Plus, growing hemp doesn’t deplete soil the way that cotton does, and it takes less water to grow.

And of course, hemp plants are often associated with CBD, the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis that is harvested and used in many products to relieve bodily pain. Hemp plants do contain a very small amount of THC, but less than 0.3%. 

In The Beginning

Hemp originally grew wild in China, its first record of use dates back to a rope pattern found on pottery from 10,000 years ago. 

Because of Spanish colonization, hemp first arrived in North America in 1545. It grows wild in open patches of land in the Midwest, and is known as “Ditchweed” and “Ragweed”.

Early America

By 1616 settlers were growing hemp in Jamestown to make ropes, sails for boats, and clothes.

In the 1700s farmers were ordered to grow hemp by the government as a staple crop. Even George Washington was hip to growing hemp. 

The first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper in 1776, and about a hundred years later Abraham Lincoln was using hemp to light his household lamps in 1840. 

The Marihuana Tax Act

For the first time in US history, people started to question the negative aspects of cannabis. In 1910 the Mexican Revolution was in full swing, and with it came many immigrants into the American Southwest. 

Blame was placed upon those of Mexican descent for “introducing” the concept of smoking cannabis, but we know that America has a messy history of blaming immigrants for its own problems. The United States started “protecting” people from the dangers of smoking cannabis, but mostly saw an opportunity to make a bunch of money. 

The “Marihuana Tax Act” was implemented in 1937. This law didn’t ban use or possession of cannabis, but instead added a tax on the sale of any form of cannabis or hemp. If someone was selling or buying hemp without paying the yearly tax of $24, the penalty was a fine of $2,000 or five years in prison. 

The Marihuana Tax Act was the first time “marijuana” was used as a term for hemp and cannabis plants in the US. 

Hemp For Victory

By the time World War II was in full swing, there was a need for resources. In 1940 the United States Government released an educational film called, “Hemp For Victory” with the intent to inspire and educate farmers on the benefits of growing hemp. 

The Marihuana Tax Act was temporarily disbanded while the war effort was under way, but once the US Navy had the hemp ropes they needed, the tax act was reinstated. 

The US government denied ever having made this film, but at the time it made quite an impact. In 1942 the government requested that a group of patriotic farmers plant 36,000 acres of hemp to meet the needs of the United States armed services in their war efforts. 

Plans were made to greatly expand the hemp industry, however after the war these intentions were forgotten and cheaper fabrics like: jute, nylon, and plastics came into play.

The War On Drugs

A rise in drug use from the 1960s prompted Richard Nixon to target substance abuse as his political touchstone. 

“Drug abuse is public enemy number one/I am not a crook!” 

-Famous quotes from Richard Nixon (not said at the same time) 

In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act was signed into effect and with it, put a statute in place calling for the regulation of mind altering substances. Thus began The War On Drugs. 

In 1971 the government began an initiative to stop illegal drug use, trade, and distribution by threatening prison sentences for dealers and users alike. Mostly this affected people of color in unfair proportions. 

Jack Herer

Known as “The emperor of hemp” Jack Herer was an outspoken advocate for the decriminalization of cannabis in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Herer touted hemp as a miracle plant, boasting it’s abilities to act as: a renewable source of fuel, medicine, food, fiber, paper and pulp.

Jack Herer believed that the United States government was keeping knowledge of the benefits of cannabis and hemp from its citizens on purpose. 

In Conclusion 

The legality of cannabis has had many ebbs and flows in the last 100 years, but the practicality of hemp is undeniable. 

Hemp has been around forever and it’s not going anywhere. Literally, hemp grows on the side of the road, and you can’t arrest a plant for doing it’s thing. 

For many, a simple cup of tea is the perfect way to start your day — while others prefer to start their day with a cup of weed-infused tea. Believe it or not, cannabis and tea make a delicious pair because most teas already have a naturally herbal flavor profile. Best of all? It really doesn’t matter what kind of tea or weed you use to make one of these unforgettable drinks at home. 

Whether you like to start your day with a spicy cup of chai tea or wind down for the night with a mug of soothing mint tea, read on to discover everything you need to know about how to make cannabis-infused tea. 

What You Need To Make Weed Tea

Before you can start crafting your cannabis tea, check the kitchen to make sure you have all the necessary ingredients. If you have a 420-friendly kitchen, you likely already have all of the following goodies right at your fingertips: 

Tea

As we mentioned above, any tea will do the trick, but we suggest selecting a tea that is strong enough to stand up the cannabis flavor. For example, the soft notes of jasmine tea might be easily overpowered while a robust Earl Grey tea will have no problem shining. 

Milk of Your Choosing

This recipe is closer to the latte family than a plain old cup of tea so milk gives it that creamy, frothy feel. If you just want a simple mug of tea without all the bells and whistles, you can simply mix a cannabis tincture or other infusion directly into your tea. But this recipe is going to take things up a notch.

Cannabis-infused Coconut Oil

It’s always good to have some cannabis-infused coconut oil on hand especially if you’re a tea or coffee drinker. It also helps give that silky smooth feel, latte-esque texture in your drinks and is a seamless way to infuse some cannabis into your routine. To make it, you simply do it the exact same way as cannabutter. 

Sweetener (Optional) 

Some people like sugar, others don’t. So while we do recommend a hint of sweetness, it’s completely up to you. 

Garnishes (Optional)

Depending on the type of tea you’re going to make, you may want to go the extra mile and top it off with some complementary garnishes. Think ingredients like flaked sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, or maybe even some chocolate chips. 

How to Make Cannabis Tea

Ingredients: (Make about 1 cup of tea)

• 2 tea bags of choice

• ⅔ cup hot water

• ⅓ cup warm milk of choice

• Cannabis-infused coconut oil or tincture of choice (amount depends on your desired dosage)

• Sweetener to taste

• Optional garnishes

Instructions: 

1. Brew both tea bags according to the packaging instructions in the hot water. Once the tea is ready, toss the tea bags and pour the liquid into a blender (or mug if you have a handheld milk frother). 

2. Top with warm milk, cannabis-infused coconut oil, sweetener (if using). Blend until light and frothy. 

3. Top with optional garnishes and enjoy! 

Thirsty For More?

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